While some artists are one-hit wonders that only have one hit song, other artists released one hit album. In some cases, the band broke up and never created another album after their debut, and in other cases, they released numerous other albums but never a hit one. No matter what happened to cause their career to be so short-lived, these artists are considered one-album wonders.
While some one-album wonders decided to stop making music after their hit album, others continued to make music but struggled to create an album as successful as their first hit. Even though they only released one hit album, many of these artists continued to tour for years after their initial success. After all, it only takes one memorable album to make you famous.
These artists prove that you don’t have to have a long career to be remembered. They may have only had one hit album, but they focused on quality over quantity and the impact of their music still lives on. From The New Radicals to Gotye, these artists are considered some of the best one album wonders of all time.
After reviewing sources like Rolling Stone and Apple Music, 24/7 Tempo created a list of the greatest one album wonders in no particular order. We also reviewed Reddit threads on the topic to determine some of the most memorable artists. (After this article, check out The Biggest Debut Albums in Music History.)
Here are 12 one album wonders whose music still lives on today:
Sex Pistols
- Hit album: “Never Mind the Bоllocks”
- Released in 1977
The Sex Pistols were an English punk band with a pretty short career. Even though they only released one studio album, their music significantly influenced the punk rock scene and pop culture in general. Some of the bands that claimed to be influenced by the Sex Pistols include The Clash, The Slits, and Subway Sect. The Sex Pistols were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Fine Young Cannibals
- Hit album: “The Raw & The Cooked”
- Released in 1989
Fine Young Cannibals was an award-winning pop rock band from Birmingham, England. Though they released two studio albums, the one they’re remembered for is their second album, “The Raw & The Cooked.” Two songs from this album hit the top of the charts in the U.S. After the success of “The Raw & The Cooked,” Fine Young Cannibals released one more song for a compilation album before calling it quits.
Vanilla Ice
- Hit album: “To the Extreme”
- Released in 1990
Vanilla Ice is a rapper mostly known for his hit single, “Ice Ice Baby.” However, that wasn’t his only hit. Vanilla Ice is also known for “Play That Funky Music,” “I Love You,” and “Ninja Rap.” “To the Extreme” was originally released as “Hooked” under an independent label but the album was rereleased when Vanilla Ice signed with SBK Records. Vanilla Ice released five other albums after his hit album, but none as successful as “To the Extreme.”
The La’s
- Hit album: “The La’s”
- Released in 1990
A rock band from Liverpool, The La’s only released one studio album titled, “The La’s.” The single they’re most well-known for is “There She Goes,” but their music was better received in England than in the U.S. While their album reached No. 30 overseas, it only made the Top 200 list in the U.S. In the late 90s, most of the band members went their separate ways and some joined other bands.
Lauryn Hill
- Hit album: “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”
- Released in 1998
Lauryn Hill was a trailblazer in many ways, especially as a female rapper. She has numerous accomplishments in the music industry from being named one of the 50 Great Voices to being named one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Despite her significant influence on the music industry and the fact that she’s considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, her only solo studio album was “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
New Radicals
- Hit album: “Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too”
- Released in 1998
New Radicals was an alt-rock band that only released one album, “Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too.” The band’s lead singer, Gregg Alexander, previously released two solo albums before forming New Radicals, but his solo albums were unsuccessful. Their hit song “You Get What You Give” made Rolling Stone’s list of 50 Best Songs of the Nineties. The only time the band came together to perform the song again was during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
Life Without Buildings
Group of young friends partying and celebrating at summer music festival. They are dancing in front of stage. Wearing casual clothing
- Hit album: “Any Other City”
- Released in 2001
Life Without Buildings, an indie rock band based out of Scotland, was made up of former students from the Glasgow School of Art. Throughout their short-lived career, they released four singles and one live album. “Any Other City” was their only studio album. Even though the band broke up after the release of “Any Other City,” Pitchfork added this album to their list of the Top 200 Albums of the 2000s.
Interpol
- Hit album: “Turn on the Bright Lights”
- Released in 2002
The American rock band Interpol released their first album in 2002, which reached the top of numerous charts. The album was first released in the UK before being released in the U.S. and became the No. 1 album on the Top 50 Albums of the Year list from Pitchfork Media. Interpol’s unique sound influenced bands like The Killers and She Wants Revenge. They ended up releasing six more albums, but the success of “Turn on the Bright Lights” couldn’t be replicated.
Evanescence
- Hit album: “Fallen”
- Released in 2003
Evanescence is a rock band based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Singer Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody appeared on the scene right in time to revive the dying sub-genre of gothic alt-metal. “Bring Me to Life,” the band’s first single, was an instant hit as was their first album, “Fallen.” They ended up getting five Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. Even though Evanescence went on to release four more albums, none were as successful as “Fallen.”
The Postal Service
INDIO, CA - APRIL 13: Musician Ben Gibbard of the band The Postal Service performs onstage during day 2 of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 13, 2013 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
- Hit album: “Give Up”
- Released in 2003
The Postal Service, a popular indie pop band, only released one studio album. “Give Up,” which the band released in 2003, received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold over a million copies in the U.S. “Give Up” was the highest-selling record for Sub Pop Records since Nirvana released “Bleach.”
Gnarls Barkley
- Hit album: “St. Elsewhere”
- Released in 2006
Gnarls Barkley is a duo with CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse. They’re best known for their hit single, “Crazy,” which was on their first studio album, “St. Elsewhere.” This album hit the top of the charts in the UK and reached No. 4 on the Billboard charts in the U.S. The duo did go on to release one more studio album, “The Odd Couple,” in 2008, but it only sold around 250,000 copies compared to their first album, which sold over a million copies.
Gotye
- Hit album: “Making Mirrors”
- Released in 2011
Gotye is a singer and songwriter based out of Australia. His song “Somebody That I Used to Know” was the best-selling song of 2012 and hit the top of the Billboard charts. “Making Mirrors” wasn’t Gotye’s only studio album, but the success of this album was also the peak of his career. It was also the last album he released and led to him winning a Grammy for Record of the Year. (Check out the Albums That Stayed at No. 1 the Longest.)