Top 10 Two Hit Wonders in Rock Music

#10: The Rembrandts

You’ll probably know The Rembrandts best for their song “I’ll Be There For You” and its use on the TV Show “Friends”, but that wasn’t the only chart success they carved out. In fact, it wasn’t even their highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100. A few years prior to that commercial boost, the band managed to reach the number-14 spot with “Just The Way It Is, Baby”, three places higher than their next hit. By the time their original run had concluded, these would be the only top-50 singles that the band would ever manage.

#9: Fastball

Though their window of success was brief, Fastball pulled off a pretty respectable run of success in the late 90s. It was their second album that saw them break into the mainstream with their two biggest hits. “The Way” shot them to the top of the US Alt charts, becoming a gold record in the process. Then, they earned another slice of commercial success with “Out of My Head” the following year. This time, they made it to the twentieth spot on the Billboard charts. As it would turn out, these two songs would be the final major splashes they would make, even though they would go on to consistently release music for the next twenty five years.

#8: Ugly Kid Joe

Those of you who were around in the 90s will no doubt remember Ugly Kid Joe and their rendition of Harry Chapin’s “Cats in the Cradle”. That wasn’t their only big hit, though. The band’s debut single, “Everything About You”, was actually a top-ten success, catapulting them to fame in 1991. It’s a far more cynical record than their second hit, giving no indication of what would eventually follow. Two years later, the band reached an entirely new level of fame, breathing new life into a song from a bygone era. Unfortunately, this would be the last time they ever charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

#7: Blues Traveler

No list of two-hit wonders would be complete without a mention of Blues Traveler. Though they still have a devoted fanbase who can’t get enough of their sound, their true commercial peak came in 1995. In that one year, the band scored a top-10 hit in the US with “Run-Around”, which would go on to be known as their signature song. Then, their follow-up single “Hook” managed to hit number 23, earning acclaim for its satirical commentary on the entire pop music machine. Despite following these tracks up with a few modest commercial performances, Blues Traveler would never match the heights they reached in 1995.

#6: Tesla

Hard rockers Tesla were a mainstay on the US Mainstream Rock charts for pretty much the entirety of their careers. However, the only true crossover hits they had came during a two-year period between 1989 and 1991. The first track, “Love Song”, was a hopeful power-ballad that went on to become a gold record. Then a second smash-hit came in the form of a cover of Five Man Electrical Band’s “Signs”. Both songs made it into the top-10 on the Billboard charts, but despite consistent sales of their follow-up albums, their singles would never chart in the top-50 again.

#5: Golden Earring

Dutch icons Golden Earring are best-known for charting in the US in 1973 with the infectious rocker “Radar Love”. They were superstars in their home country, and by no means two-hit wonders there after five number-one hit singles. However, their career followed a peculiar trajectory when they somehow climbed even higher on the US charts a decade later. In 1982, their track “Twilight Zone” came out of nowhere to reach number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. To this day, both songs are staples of classic rock radio, retaining heavy rotation to this day.

#4: The Romantics

For new-wave band The Romantics, their signature song “What I Like About You” only grew in its appeal years after it was released. Sure, it initially cracked the top-50 at number-49, but it eventually proved its enduring quality with its cult status. The band’s actual highest-charting single was “Talking In Your Sleep,” which rose all the way to number-3. Even though the track was unsuccessful in the United Kingdom, it hit number-15 when it was covered by Bucks Fizz in 1984. Those two tracks aside, they didn’t exactly make the biggest impact, but remain popular to those in-the-know to this very day!

#3: Falco

Despite being a huge star in his home of Austria and in many other parts of Europe, it took a little longer for Falco to crack the US market. When he did, though, he became truly unavoidable in 1985. Who can forget the jarring synths and chants of “Rock Me Amadeus” - by far his most famous release. What some people forget, is that he also followed that song up with “Vienna Calling”, which charted in the top-20 in multiple countries. The novelty wore off quickly, it seemed, and despite continuing success abroad, he never managed to replicate that success.

#2: Men Without Hats

The upbeat, synth-driven pop music of Men Without Hats was truly welcome when they entered the musical field in 1982. Their song “The Safety Dance” was the perfect introduction to the band, hitting the top-15 of a number of countries, while peaking at number-three in the US. For many groups, that brief flicker of success would’ve been it, but Men Without Hats once again achieved a gold record with “Pop Goes The World” in 1987. It was carefree music for a simpler time and their quirkiness went down an absolute treat.

#1: Quiet Riot

Glam metal heroes Quiet Riot struggled to make an impact with their first two albums - albums that featured legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads. When Rhoads left in 1979, oddly enough, the band took off. Their third album opens with the one-two attack of “Cum On Feel the Noize” and “Bang Your Head (Metal Health)”. As it turned out, the group would take the idea of putting your best foot forward very literally. These two songs would be by far and away their highest charting singles, the only tracks to crack the top-50 of the Billboard Hot 100. To this day, they have a special place in our hearts for that major splash they initially made. The quintessential two-hit wonder!

But which two-hit wonder sticks out in your memory? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.