’70s One-Hit Wonders You’ll Always Remember

Many bands or artists release a song and almost immediately it's a hit with audiences. The song is played on the airwaves, and sold in stores, and it appears as though they are poised for stardom, with an inevitable follow-up hit songs ready to make the same splash as their debut. But it doesn't always end up like this. Some artists were fortunate to have top records and continue with long and profitable careers – The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith – but others didn't see quite the same successes.

Like artists before and after them, many artists from the 1970s didn't do as well as others and go down in history as one-hit wonders from the '70s.A one-hit wonder, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is "a musical group that has achieved recognition on the basis of one widely popular song." The 1970s were full of them. From Disco to rock, many artists achieved fame for one song and seemingly disappeared.

These are 70's one-hit wonders you'll always remember. Songs are listed in alphabetic order by song title. (Also read up on the One-Hit Wonders From the '80s You Can't Get Out of Your Head.)

Imagine a song about passionate afternoon encounters skyrocketing up the charts with the couples' lush harmonies. It's a slower song with airplane sounds adding to the chorus. They won "Best New Artist" with this song, but failed to climb back up the charts with subsequent releases and broke up in 1981.

• Year: 1978
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and Canada

This rock band reached 1. with this song from their debut album. They tried to get back up the charts with other releases but failed to find repeat success. By 1980, the band wasn't doing much so bassist and singer Ronn Moss opted to move on to acting, taking on the role of Ridge Forrester on "The Bold and the Beautiful" for 25 years. He also spent several years on "The Bay."

• Year: 1977
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and Canada

This British band has a Beach Boys-ish feel. It's a catchy bubblegum pop song with great harmonies and catchy instrumentals.

• Year: 1974
• Billboard Rank: 4. in the U.S. and 1. in Canada

Coming from Ohio, this pop group covered this song originally by England's Paper Lace, who also had a 1. hit with it. It's a song about a man who heads off to war despite his fiancée pleading to stay safe and return to her.

• Year: 1974
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and 1. in Canada

It's surprising that this rock band only had this hit. Members would go on to play with bands like the Allman Brothers. In the end, the song's popularity and fantastic guitar weren't enough to launch them into the mainstream.

• Year: 1977
• Billboard Rank: 18. in the U.S. and 3. in Australia

Johns received a guitar from his dad when he was a kid. He never slowed down and ended up years later with a song about picking up a hitchhiker and having a one-night stand. It's been covered many times over the years, including a cover by Waylon Jennings.

• Year: 1975
• Billboard Rank: 5. in the U.S.

She's of no relation to the late Whitney Houston, but her voice was just as powerful. Thelma Houston's version was also a cover of a Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song where Teddy Pendergrass sang the lead.

• Year: 1976
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and 4. in Canada

With the Bee Gees backing her up, Sang's slow song features lush harmonies and her lead vocals are just as gorgeous. Her smooth vocals on the chorus might leave you stunned that she never did as well as she should have.

• Year: 1977
• Billboard Rank: 3. in the U.S. and 2. in Australia

Coming from the band Sweeney Todd, a band also known for starting the career of Bryan Adams, Gilder had one big hit with this song. It earned him a Juno for "Single of the Year."

• Year: 1978
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and 1. in Canada

"My pappy said son you're going to drive me to drinking if you don't stop driving that hot rod Lincoln." That line kicks off a rocking, half-spoken story song about late-night racing. The bass and guitars in this country-rock song add to the build-up before the police stop him.

• Year: 1972
• Billboard Rank: 9. in the U.S. and 7. in Canada

If you've heard of Paul Carrack (Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics), you're already familiar with his voice. "How Long" was Ace's only hit, and Carrack re-recorded it in 1996 and found success with it a second time when it went to 32.

• Year: 1974
• Billboard Rank: 3. in the U.S. and Canada

McCoy's success never topped "The Hustle," which also created a dance to go with it. He did write songs that became hits for others, such as Melba Moore and David Ruffin. Tragically, McCoy had a heart attack before his 40th birthday. He never had the chance to top the success this one song brought him.

• Year: 1975
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and many other countries

Oddly enough, the inspiration for this song wasn't just about his girlfriend breaking up with him. He also wrote it after his favorite car broke down.

• Year: 1978
• Billboard Rank: 4. in the U.S. and 1. in U.S. Adult Contemporary

Stewart's biggest hit was a cover of an Eddie Floyd song. While she never had the same success, she did go on to be a Goodwill Ambassador for Unicef.

• Year: 1979
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and Canada

It's his only hit, but it's put him on the charts in two decades. After the reissue in 1998, he ended up at 15. in the U.S. and 1. in New Zealand. It's also been covered by CeeLo Green and Jack Black and The Vamps for the Kung Fu Panda movies.

• Year: 1974
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and 1. in Canada

The actress well known for her work with Carol Burnett also had a 1. hit that put her on the list of '70s one-hit wonders. As she's best known for her acting, people don't often realize she's also a talented singer.

• Year: 1973
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and 1. in Canada

The band originally broke up in the early 1970s but reformed in 1978. It's a good thing as this second run led to this 1. hit. They didn't have the same success after it though. The band went their separate ways and worked on other projects.

• Year: 1976
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. and 2. in Canada

This Scottish band had a very catchy song "Stuck in the Middle With You." Lead singer Gerry Rafferty would go on to have three solo hits. It's a catchy '70s song that was covered by Grace Potter as the theme song for "Grace & Frankie" and was a key addition to Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs."

• Year: 1973
• Billboard Rank: 6. in the U.S. and 2. in Canada

Suzi Quatro's appearance as Leather Tuscadero on "Happy Days" caught my attention. When she agreed to sing with Britian's Norman on this duet, it quickly became a song you could sing over and over. His gravelly voice and her more melodic tone work well together.

• Year: 1978
• Billboard Rank: 4. in the U.S.

He had plenty of hits writing for the Eagles, but he only had this hit as a solo artist. He also appeared in James Taylor's "Her Town Too" in 1984.

• Year: 1979
• Billboard Rank: 1. in the U.S. (Adult Contemporary)

While you're taking a trip back to the one-hit wonders of the '70s, also check out the fashions from the 1970s.