100 One-Hit Wonders of the 1970s You Should Know About!

In the music industry, some tunes blaze through the charts like a meteor, leaving an indelible mark on our memories.

Known as one-hit wonders, these songs burst into the limelight with an unforgettable tune. They’re melodies that reached international success and captivated audiences around the world.

We love one-hit wonders because they’re undeniably catchy. Fortunately, numerous artists left their legacy with a single song in the 70s.

Join us on a nostalgic journey as we explore the melodies that define the biggest one-hit wonders of the 1970s!

One-Hit Wonders of the 1970s – An Overview

Young Female Singer Giving a Performance

The 1970s was a vibrant era for music, showcasing a rich tapestry of disco, rock, funk, and pop. This period was marked by the emergence of some of the greatest one hit wonders, artists who, despite their brief spotlight moments, gifted the world with tracks that became timeless anthems.

During this decade, artists like Edison Lighthouse, Frijid Pink, and the Sugarhill Gang rose to prominence. The disco fever also saw acts like Rosemary Goes and their groovy dance tracks dominating the airwaves.

Meanwhile, the rock scene boasted its share of one-hit wonders. This includes Norman Greenbaum’s hit song, “Spirit in the Sky.”

One-hit wonders are some of the best songs of the 1970s because they’re a novelty in the music industry. They have a unique style and are like a surprise treat for many!

100 One-Hit Wonders of the 1970s

If you think one-hit wonders are interesting, here are 100 singers and bands that only rose to the top once in the 1970s.

  1. (I NEVER PROMISED YOU A) ROSE GARDEN by Lynn Anderson (Peaked at #1 in 1971)
  2. 5-10-15-20 (25-30 YEARS OF LOVE) by The Presidents (Peaked at #11 in 1970)
  3. AFTERNOON DELIGHT by Starland Vocal Band (Peaked at #32 in 1976)
  4. ALL RIGHT NOW by Free (Peaked at #4 in 1970)
  5. AMERICANS (A CANADIAN’S OPINION) by Gordon Sinclair (Peaked at #24 in 1974)
  6. AMERICANS by Byron MacGregor (Peaked at #4 in 1974)
  7. BABY FACE by Wing and a Prayer Fife and Drum Corps (Peaked at #19 in 1976)
  8. BEACH BABY by First Class (Peaked at #61 in 1974)
  9. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE by The New Seekers (Peaked at #11 in 1971)
  10. BIG YELLOW TAXI by The Neighborhood (Peaked at #29 in 1970)
  11. BRANDY (YOU’RE A FINE GIRL) by Looking Glass (Peaked at #41 in 1972)
  12. CAN THIS BE REAL by The Natural Four (Peaked at #31 in 1974)
  13. CAT’S IN THE CRADLE by Harry Chapin (Peaked at #50 in 1974)
  14. COME AND GET YOUR LOVE by Redbone (Peaked at #5 in 1974)
  15. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT by King Harvest (Peaked at #13 in 1972)
  16. DEAD SKUNK by Loudon Wainwright III (Peaked at #16 in 1973)
  17. DISCO LUCY (I LOVE LUCY THEME) by Wilton Place Street Band (Peaked at #24 in 1977)
  18. DON’T HOLD BACK by Chanson (Peaked at #21 in 1979)
  19. DON’T GIVE UP ON US by David Soul (Peaked at #17 in 1977)
  20. DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD by Santa Esmeralda (Peaked at #8 in 1977)
  21. DRIFT AWAY by Dobie Gray (Peaked at #52 in 1973)
  22. DUELING BANJOS by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell (Peaked at #2 in 1973)
  23. EMOTION by Samantha Sang (Peaked at #3 in 1978)
  24. ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG) by Rupert Holmes (Peaked at #1 in 1979)
  25. FALLING by Lenny LeBlanc (Peaked at #13 in 1977)
  26. FLOAT ON by The Floaters (Peaked at #38 in 1977)
  27. FUNKYTOWN by Lipps Inc. (Peaked at #1 in 1979)
  28. GOD, LOVE, AND ROCK AND ROLL by Teegarden and Van Winkle (Peaked at #22 in 1970)
  29. GOT TO BE REAL by Cheryl Lynn (Peaked at #12 in 1979)
  30. HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by Frijid Pink (Peaked at #26 in 1970)
  31. I CAN HELP by Billy Swan (Peaked at #1 in 1975)
  32. I LIKE DREAMIN’ by Kenny Nolan (Peaked at #97 in 1977)
  33. I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE by Alicia Bridges (Peaked at #43 in 1978)
  34. I’M GONNA TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING by Rubicon (Peaked at #28in 1978)
  35. I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING (IN PERFECT HARMONY) by The Hillside Singers (Peaked at #13 in 1971)
  36. IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH DECEMBER by Merle Haggard (Peaked at #4 in 1974)
  37. IN THE MOOD by Henhouse Five Plus Too (Peaked at #40 in 1977)
  38. IN THE SUMMERTIME by Mungo Jerry (Peaked at #1 in 1970)
  39. INDIANA WANTS ME by R. Dean Taylor (Peaked at #5 in 1970)
  40. JEANS ON by Lord David Dundas (Peaked at #17 in 1977)
  41. JIM DANDY by Black Oak Arkansas (Peaked at #25 in 1974)
  42. JOY by Apollo 100 and Tom Parker (Peaked at #6 in 1972)
  43. JUNK FOOD JUNKIE by Larry Groce (Peaked at #9 in 1975)
  44. KUNG FU FIGHTING by Carl Douglas (Peaked at #1 in 1974)
  45. LET’S LIVE TOGETHER by The Road Apples (Peaked at #35 in 1975)
  46. LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE by Smokie (Peaked at #25 in 977)
  47. LOVE GROWS (WHERE MY ROSEMARY GOES) by Edison Lighthouse (Peaked at #30 in 1970)
  48. LOVE HURTS by Nazareth (Peaked at #23 in 1976)
  49. LOVE IS THE DRUG by Roxy Music (Peaked at #30 in 1975)
  50. LOVE JONES by Brighter Side of Darkness (Peaked at #16 in 1972)
  51. MA BELLE AMIE by Tee Set (Peaked at #5 in 1970)
  52. MAGIC by Pilot (Peaked at #5 in 1975)
  53. ME AND BOBBY MCGEE by Janis Joplin (Peaked at #1 in 1971)
  54. MIDNIGHT RIDER by Gregg Allman (Peaked at #19 in 1974)
  55. MISSISSIPPI QUEEN by Mountain (Peaked at #21 in 1970)
  56. MONTEGO BAY by Bobby Bloom (Peaked at #8 in 1970)
  57. MORE, MORE, MORE by Andrea True Connection (Peaked at #40 in 1976)
  58. MR. BIG STUFF by Jean Knight (Peaked at #51 in 1971)
  59. MY SHARONA by The Knack (Peaked at #1 in 1979)
  60. NATIVE NEW YORKER by Odyssey (Peaked at #21 in 1977)
  61. NEW YORK GROOVE by Ace Frehley (Peaked at #13 in 1978)
  62. NICE TO BE WITH YOU by Gallery (Peaked at #73 in 1972)
  63. OH, BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? by Hurricane Smith (Peaked at #3 in 1973)
  64. OHIO by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Peaked at #40 in 1970)
  65. ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND by Think (Peaked at #23 in 1972)
  66. ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK A HEART by Kenny Dale (Peaked at #97 in 1979)
  67. O-O-H CHILD by Five Stairsteps (Peaked at #8 in1970)
  68. PAINTED LADIES by Ian Thomas (Peaked at #34 in 1974)
  69. PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC by Wild Cherry (Peaked at #23 in 1976)
  70. POP MUZIK by M (Peaked at #7 in 1979)
  71. PRECIOUS AND FEW by Climax (Peaked at #3 in 1971)
  72. RAPPER’S DELIGHT by Sugarhill Gang (Peaked at #36 in 1979)
  73. RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE by Blues Image (Peaked at #4 in 1970)
  74. SEASONS IN THE SUN by Terry Jacks (Peaked at #2 in 1974)
  75. SHANNON by Henry Gross (Peaked at #43 in 1976)
  76. SHORT PEOPLE by Randy Newman (Peaked at #2 in 1977)
  77. SILVER MACHINE by Hawkwind (Peaked at #61 in 1972)
  78. SKY HIGH by Jigsaw (Peaked at #60 in 1975)
  79. SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING by 100 Proof Aged in Soul (Peaked at #8 in 1970)
  80. SPIRIT IN THE SKY by Norman Greenbaum (Peaked at #5 in 1970)
  81. SPRING RAIN by Silvetti (Peaked at #39 in 1977)
  82. SUNSHINE by Jonathan Edwards (Peaked at #4 in 1971)
  83. SWEET CITY WOMAN by The Stampeders (Peaked at #91 in 1971)
  84. SWEET MARY by Wadsworth Mansion (Peaked at #7 in 1971)
  85. TAKE A LETTER, MARIA by Anthony Armstrong Jones (Peaked at #85 in 1970)
  86. THE HUSTLE by Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony (Peaked at #14 in 1975)
  87. THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED by Paper Lace (Peaked at #1 in 1974)
  88. THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA by Vicki Lawrence (Peaked at #36 in 1973)
  89. THE RAPPER by The Jaggerz (Peaked at #2 in 1970)
  90. THE WHITE KNIGHT by Cledus Maggard & the Citizen’s Band (Peaked at #19 in 1976)
  91. THEME SONG FROM WHICH WAY IS UP by Stargard (Peaked at #21 in 1978)
  92. TIGHTER, TIGHTER by Alive N Kickin’ (Peaked at #7 in 1970)
  93. VEHICLE by The Ides of March (Peaked at #70 in 1970)
  94. VENUS by Shocking Blue (Peaked at #1 in 1970)
  95. WE CAN’T HIDE IT ANYMORE by Larry Santos (Peaked at #36 in 1976)
  96. WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN by Todd Rundgren (Peaked at #20 in 1971)
  97. WELCOME BACK by John Sebastian (Peaked at #1 in 1976)
  98. WEREWOLVES OF LONDON by Warren Zevon (Peaked at #21 in 1978)
  99. WHISPERING (CHERCHEZ LA FEMME) by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band (Peaked at #27 in 1977)
  100. WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER by Timmy Thomas (Peaked at #1 in 1973)
Young Female Singer Giving a Performance

Final Thoughts

One-hit wonders add a unique hue to the pop chart canvas. From disco songs to rock anthems, one-hit wonders in the 1970s left an indelible mark despite their brief rise.

It’s definitely worth celebrating the huge success of the songs that continue to resonate with us today.

If you appreciated this article on the one-hit wonders of the 70s, you may want to check out our hit song list of 1974!