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Famous Band Turns One Hit

Since the band can be formed, it can also be broke up at any certain point. Many groups disbanded when their popularity reached its peak because one or more members want to establish their own solo career. Some artists quited the bands because they wanted to pursue different musical style. Most of the time, the disband naturally occured when the group's popularity declined and artists did not want to continue with the band. But for whatever reason, the artists who chose to continue their musicianship usually faced the hardship of making a name for themselves. The majority of them could not dubplicate the success as when they were in the band - some later retired. These are the list of those who used to be in the popular bands, but afterward could only make one lone hit for themselves.

 

Michael Nesmith & the First National Band: Joanne: 1970: #21
Micheal Nesmith is best known as a member of the Monkees, the popular pop group of the 1960s. After the band broke up by the end of 1960s, Nesmith went to form another band named the First National Band with his friend. One of their singles "Joanne" became no.21 hit on Billboard chart in 1970.

 
 

John Phillips: Mississippi: 1970: #32
The American singer/songwriter John Phillips is best known as the leader of the Mamas & the Papas, the folk-rock vocal band that delivered several hits of the 1960s. After the band split by the end of 1960s, each member went on his/her own solo career. Phillips released his first solo album "John, the Wolf King of L.A." in 1970. The album was not sold well and only spawned one small hit singles. "Mississippi" became the lone hit in Phillip's entire career. He died in 2001 at the age of 65.

 
 

Graham Nash: Chicago: 1971: #35
A famous British singer/songwriter Graham Nash started his career by forming the Hollies, one of the most successful British band of 1960s and 1970s. He left the band in 1968 and was joined by David Crosby and Stephen Stills to formed the supergroup called Crosby, Stills & Nash. (Neil Young sometimes joined them) They briefly split up in 1971 to release their own solo albums. Nash's "Song for Beginners" produced a no.35 hit "Chicago" and became the lone solo hit in his entire career.

 
 

Paul Stookey: Wedding Song (There Is Love): 1971: #24
Noel "Paul" Stookey was a musician who was best known as a member of Peter, Paul & Mary, one of the most successful folk band in the sixties. After they disbanded in 1970, only Stookey managed to make a solo hit. His singles "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)", which he composed for his former-bandmate Peter Yarrow's wedding ceremony, became a no.24 hit on Billboard in 1971. It soon became a wedding standard and has been covered by many artists since then.

 
 

Little Jimmy Osmond: Long Haired Lover From Liverpool: 1972: #36
James Arthur "Jimmy" Osmond is the youngest sibling of the popular family-group of the 1970s - the Osmonds. During the hight of their popularity, Jimmy went on record his solo works. One of his singles, "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool", topped the UK chart and climbed to no.36 on US chart in 1972. It was his only success outside the Osmonds, and made him the youngest artist to top the UK chart.

 
 

Gregg Allman: Midnight Rider: 1974: #19
Greg Allman would be best remembered as a founder and lead singer of member of Allman Brothers Band. In 1973, he released his first solo album 'Laid Back' - a collection of his own works along with some covered recordings. His version of Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider" used solo vocal and additional horn sound was added to the song. It went straight to no.19 on Billboard chart the following year and remains the only hit version for this song - and his only solo hit so far.

 
 

Rick Derringer: Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo: 1974: #23
Rick Derringer experienced his first success in the music world when his band, the McCoys, landed their first hit "Hang On Sloopy" in 1968. After the band split by the end of 1960s, Derringer continued as a solo artist and, sometimes, a guest lead guitar for some of Steely Dan's records. He created only one hit record for himself with covered version of Johnny Winter's "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" became a hit singles in 1974. Derringer still releases solo album, but no more hit so far.

 
 

Graham Central Station: Your Love: 1975: #38
Bass guitarist Larry Graham was best known for his works with Sly & the Family Stone, and the pioneer the 'slap bass' technique. He left the band in 1972 to help producing a band named Hot Chocolate (not the British's band who made "You Sexy Thing"). He later joined the band and changed its name to Graham Central Station. The band landed several R&B chart hits, but only 1975's "Your Love" (R&B#1) became top40 hit on pop chart. It was their only pop chart success til they disbanded in 1979.

 
 

John Sebastian: Welcome Back: 1976: #1
John Sebastian was probably most welknown as a leader of the popular 1960s band the Lovin' Spoonful. He went on a solo career after the band split up in 1968. His biggest solo success was a theme song "Welcome Back" from the TV series "Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975-1979), which top the chart in 1976.

 
 

Ace Frehley: New York Groove: 1979: #13
Paul Daniel Frehley (aka Ace Frehley) was the first original member of the costumed metal band KISS to leave the band in 1983. However, his solo career started much earlier that. In 1978, each member of KISS tried to released his own solo album. Out of the four, Ace's album was the most successful and actually spawned a hit. "New York Groove" became a top20 the following year and Ace's lone solo success.

 
 

Larry Graham: One In A Million You: 1980: #9
After doing funk for more than a decade, Sly& Family Stone's original member, Larry Graham, decided to shift his style by the end of 1970s. He disbanded Graham Central Station and started recording his own solo album in 1979. The result was the debut album in the following year, which produced top10 hit "One In A Million You". It was the biggest and the only his own solo hit in his entire career.

 
 

Felix Cavaliere: Only A Lonely Heart Sees: 1980: #36
The American organist Felix Cavaliere was one of the founder of the Young Rascals (later the Rascals), the band responsibled for several big hits in the second half of 1960s. Cavaliere went solo after they disbanded in 1972 but none of his solo works can match his success with the band. Only his 1980's singles "Only A Lonely Heart Sees" scratched the top40 chart.

   
 

Tom Johnston: Savannah Nights: 1980: #34
Tom Johnston was best known for his role as guitarist of the Doobie Brothers. After recovered from serious illness in the mid 70s, he found that he did not like the change in the band's sound and decided to leave in 1977. He released 2 solo albums but none was successful, although one singles from his debut album did become a top40 hits - which gave him a brief small success. He rejoined the Doobie for good in 1988.

 
 

Roger Daltrey: Without Your Love: 1980: #20
As the lead vocal of the Who, Roger Daltrey has one of the most recongnizable voice in music. Although he had been periodically released his solo albums since 1973, they were obscured by his main band's works. Even after the band broke up in early 1980s, his solo works still could not match up with his works with the Who. Only one singles put his name on US chart. "Without Your Love" became top20 hit in 1980 and remains his lone success outside the Who so far.

 
 

Donald Fagen: I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year): 1982: #26
Donald Fagen was best known as one of the two main force behind the Steely Dan, a popular American jazz-rock band of the seventies. A year after they broke up in 1981, Fagen released his debut solo album 'The Nightfly'. The record went platinum in both UK and US, and was regarded as Fagan's masterpiece. It also gave birth to Fagan's only solo top40 hit "I.G.Y.", which climbed to no.26 on US chart. Steely Dan reunioned in 1993 and Fagan's third solo album released in 2006.

 
 

Agnetha Fältskog: Can't Shake Loose: 1983: #29
Represented by the first letter 'A' in ABBA, Agnetha Fältskog was one of the most famous Swedish artists of the 1970s. After ABBA, she continued her solo career and released 3 English-language albums during 1980s. The albums did well in Europe and landed several hits in several countries. However, US only heard of her again, once, in 1983 when her singles "Can't Shake Loose" broke into Billboard pop chart.

 
 

Frida: I Know There's Something Going On: 1983: #13
Anni-Frid Lyngstad was best known as the lead vocal of Swedish's famous pop group ABBA. She released her first solo debut album in 1971 under the alias "Frida". Her first English-language solo album came after ABBA years. 1982's 'Something's Going On' was produced by Phil Collins and gave her the only hit outside ABBA. The title track became no.13 hit the following year.

 
 

Patrick Simmons: So Wrong: 1983: #30
Patrick Simmons was a co-founder and another lead guitar for the popular rock band Doobie Brothers, along with Tom Johnston. He left the band in 1981, shortly before the band decided to break up. His first solo album appeared in 1983. It contained a hit singles "So Wrong", which was Simmons only solo hit.

 
 

Jim Capaldi: That's Love: 1983: #28
Although he may not be as famous as Steve Winwood, but drummer Jim Capaldi was also a co-founder of British's rock band Traffic and co-written many of the band's hits. He had frequently been released solo albums since 1972. But his success came with 1982's Fierce Heart when an album's singles "That's Love" reached no.28 in US chart. He never charted again until his death in 2005.

 
 

Dennis DeYoung: Desert Moon: 1984: #3
An American singer/songwriter Dennis DeYoung was regarded as a power force behind one of the arena rock pioneer band - Styx. He turned to solo career after the Styx broke up in the mid 1980s. His debut solo album, Desert Moon, became a hit album in 1984 and yielded his biggest solo hit. The title-track ballad became top5 and his only solo top40 so far.

 
 

KC: Give It Up: 1984: #18
During the disco era, KC & the Sunshine Band was only second to Bee Gees in term of popularity and success. In 1979, one of the band leader Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey decided to to go solo. But none of his solo works could catch up his success in the disco period. Only 1983's singles "Give It Up" could cracked the chart to become top20 on US chart the next year. Casey retired the following year.

 
 

Godley & Crème: Cry: 1985: #16
Kevin Godley and Lol Crème were 2 of the original 4 founding members of 10cc, the famous British art rock band of the 70s. In 1976, Godley and Crème left the group in order to promote their invention "The Gizmo" and released their own recordings - which did not receive a warm welcome from critic and market. Some of their singles hit the UK chart but only 1985's "Cry" could break into US chart. The duo had more successful career as music video producer in the early 80s.

 
 

Philip Bailey & Phil Collins: Easy Lover: 1985: #2
Philip Bailey is best remembered as the lead vocal of popular R&B group of the 70s - Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1982, Bailey signed a solo contract with Columbia. But after his solo debut did not went well, he persuaded Phil Collins to come help him with his second solo album. The result was far better and the duet singles "Easy Lover" became no.2 hit in 1985, and Bailey only hit outside his main band.

 
 

UB40 with Chrissie Hynde: I Got You Babe: 1985: #28
Chrissie Hynde was an British female guitarist/songwriter who was the main force behind the Pretenders, one of most popular punk rock/new wave band of the 1980s. In 1985, she worked with the British reggae band UB40 for one of their singles from the album Baggariddim. A cover version of "I Got You Babe" became no.1 hit in UK and climbed to no.28 on US chart. It was the only hit Hynde ever made outside the Pretenders.

 
 

Ric Ocasek: Emotion in Motion: 1986: #15
Ric Ocasek was a guitarist and one of the lead vocal of the popular new wave band - The Cars. During their peak in the early 80s, Ocasek also tried to released his solo materials - with no success. His second attempt proved to be a bit better when an album's singles "Emotion in Motion" became no.15 hit in 1986. His solo career turned out for a better after the Cars disbanded by the end of 1980s, but he still didn't make any more hit for himself.

 
 

John Taylor: I Do What I Do: 1986: #23
John Taylor was wel-known as a bass guitarist of successful rock band Duran Duran. In the mid 1980s, he attempted his first solo works by recording the singles for the sountrack of the movie 9½ Weeks. "I Do What I Do" turned out to be an unexpected hit and climbed to no.23 on Billboard chart in 1986. He started his full solo career after he left the band in 1997, but never score another hit again.

   
 

Benjamin Orr: Stay The Night: 1986: #24
Benjamin Orr was a bass guitarist and lead vocal of the Cars. He started his solo career shortly after the release of the group's Greatest Hits album. His debut album The Lace was quite a success with the help of top40 hit singles "Stay the Night". He never released another solo album again until he died from cancer in 2000.

 
 

Andy Taylor: Take It Easy: 1986: #24
Andy Taylor was best known for his works with Duran Duran in the early 80s. In the mid 80s, he tried on a side-project by forming Power Station with Robert Palmer. The temperary band turned out to be a success and Taylor left Duran Duran not long after that for a solo career. With the help of ex-Sex Pistols' Steve Jones, his debut album was released in 1987. It contained the hit singles "Take It Easy", which was used as soundtrack for the movie American Anthem. It was the only solo hit in Taylor's career.

   
 

Timothy B. Schmit: Boys Night Outr: 1987: #25
As a member of the Eagles, the definitive country-rock act of the 70s, and a songwriter of Eagles' top10 singles "I Can't Tell You Why", people would natural think that Timothy B. Schmit will have a success solo career after Eagles disbanded 1982. But in fact, Schmit's solo career was not a good one. All of his first 3 solo albums were not commercially successful, and only 1987's singles "Boys Night Out" did become a hit.

     
 

Bill Medley & Jennifer Waynes: (I've Had) The Time of My Life: 1987: #1
Bill Medley was one of the successful musician duo act of the 1960s, the Righteous Brother. After the duo aparted in 1968, Medley continued as a solo artist with many albums in the following decades. However, none of his singles were success. He hit it big time in 1987 when he teamed up with Jennifer Warnes to record a soundtrack for the movie Dirty Dancing. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" became no.1 smash hit of the year and Medley's only moment of fame in his solo years.

 
 

Morris Day: Fishnet: 1988: #23
The Time was a short live funk/dance group that actived during the first half of 1980s with a couple of chart hits. After the band broke up, the band vocalist, Morris Day, began his solo career with the debut album in 1985. But it was not until 1988 that he would have a hit again. "Fishnet" was Day's only top40 so far.

   
 

Bryan Ferry: Kiss and Tell: 1988: #31
Bryan Ferry was the frontman of Roxy Music, one of the most avant-garde art rock group of the 70s and early 80s. Ferry dissolved the band in 1983 to concentrate on his solo career. His works were very successful in UK but he could not cracked into US, until his 1988's singles "Kiss and Tell" broke into Billboard top40 chart. It was his only solo success in US.

 
 

Jane Wiedlin: Rush Hour: 1988: #9
Jane Wiedlin was best known as a member of the Go-Go's, the most popular female band of the new wave era. She was also the first to leave the band to pursue her solo career. But her solo career did not go as well as when she was with the band. Still, she managed to make one top10 hit in 1988 with "Rush Hour".

 
 

Susanna Hoffs: My Side of the Bed: 1991: #30
L.A. guitarist/singer Susanna Hoffs was best known as a member of the poplar all-female pop band of the 80s - the Bangles. She tried to establish a solo career after disbanded but none of her solo albums was success. Only her first singles did become a no.30 hit on the chart in 1991. She reunited with the Bangles in 2000.

 
 

Raphael Saadiq: Ask of You: 1995: #19
Raphael Saadiq started his profession as a lead vocal and bass guitarist of Tony! Toni! Tone! - a successful group with several R&B hits during their active years between 1988-1996. Saadiq then began his solo career with a soundtrack for 1995's film 'Higher Learning'. The singles "Ask of You" became a top20 hit on pop chart that year. So far, he released 2 more solo albums in 2000s, but never made a hit again.

 
 

Dionne Farris: I Know: 1995: #4
Arrested Development was an alternative rap group from Atlanta, Georgia that found their success in early 1990s. Dionne Farris was an "unofficial" member of the group, although she was always remembered as the vocal behind the group's 1992 monster hit "Tennessee". She then went on released her solo debut in 1994 with 'Wild Seed -- Wild Flower'. The album was a success, powered by the monster hit singles "I Know". Her next solo effort appeared in 1997, but produced no more hit so far.

   
 
Kevon Edmonds: 24/7: 1999: #10
Kevon Edmonds is a younger brother of producer/singer/songwriter Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and a member of success contemporary R&B band After 7. After the group split in late 1990s, Kevon released his first and only solo album, 24/7, in 1999. The title-track singles was a big hit that climbed to no.10 on Billboard chart that year.
 
 

Jordan Knight: Give It to You: 1999: #10
Jordan Knight was a member of New Kids on the Block, the five-teenage singing group that enjoyed the enormous success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group disbanded in 1994 to persue their own career. Knight released his selt-title debut album in 1999. The album went gold and yielded one hit singles "Give It to You". He reunited with the rest of the band in 2008.

 
 

Joey McIntyre: Stay the Same: 1999: #10
Joey McIntyre was another member of the eighties teen-idol group New Kid on the Block to embark on his solo career after the band split up in the mid 1990s. His first debut album, Stay the Same, was released in 1999. Its title-track singles went on to be no.10 hit on Hot 100 chart the same year.

 
 

Filter: Take a Picture: 1999: #12
Richard Patrick was a guitarist of the original live-band members of the American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nail from 1989 through 1993. He then left the NIN to form a band Filter with his friend Brain Liesegang. They released their debut album, Short Bus, which only produced a small hit. They hit the breakthrough with the second album, Title or Record, in 1999 when a singles "Take a Picture" became no.12 hit on pop chart and pushed the album to platinum.

 
 
 
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