Over 2000 One Hit Wonder Songs!!
Last Update 04/03/16
Instrumental One Hit Wonders
- Artist
- Robert Maxwell
- Year
- 1964
- Song
- Shangri-La
- Chart
- 15
Robert Maxwell was a famous harpist who played on a number of radio shows, films, and TV programs. He also well-known for his skill in overdubs and comic effects. Two of his compositions, "Ebb Tide" and "Shangri-La", became an exotic standards. Especially the latter one, which became his only Top40 hit in 1964.
- Artist
- Horst Jankowski
- Year
- 1965
- Song
- A Walk in the Black Forest
- Chart
- 12
Horst Jankowski was famous German easy listening/jazz instrumental composer during the 1960s. He was best remember in US for his 1965 hit "A Walk in the Black Forest". This success led him to a record deal with Murcury. But his popularity in US declined after he turned to jazz recordings in the 1970s. He never returned to US chart again till his death in 1998.
- Artist
- The Waikikis
- Year
- 1965
- Song
- Hawaii Tattoo
- Chart
- 33
Despite sounding like someone from the Pacific, the Waikikis was actually a studio group from Belgium in the mid 1960s. Their most famous work was the surf instrumental "Hawaii Tattoo". Released in 1961, the song became smash hit in Belgium and Germany before entered Billboard Pop chart at no.33 in 1965. They never made another hit in US again and quietly ceased their activities by the end of 1960s.
- Artist
- San Remo Golden Strings
- Year
- 1965
- Song
- Hungry For Love
- Chart
- 27
San Remo Golden Strings was actually a studio group formed by members of Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the mid 1960s. They cut a couple albums in the late 60s, and one of them actually became a hit. "Hungry For Love" was a no.27 hit in 1965 - and their only song that reached Top40 chart.
- Artist
- Alvin Cash & the Crawlers
- Year
- 1965
- Song
- Twine Time
- Chart
- 14
Alvin Cash was an American R&B artist from the 60s. His luck came when he was called by ex-Motown producer Andre Williams to chant in a funky instrumental he written. The track "Twine Time" became an unexpected hit in 1965 and gave Cash a start he needed. Although he scored some more R&B hits, he never made it to the pop chart ever again.
- Artist
- Neal Hefti
- Year
- 1966
- Song
- Batman Theme
- Chart
- 35
Neal Hefti was a famous jazz composer who worked with many big bands such as Earl Hines, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman's First Herd. He contributed several chart hits for Herry James and Count Basie. He also penned for many films, including the theme for 1966's Batman TV series. Its popularity pushed it to Top40 chart and gave Hefti the only hit he ever had.
- Artist
- The Viscounts
- Year
- 1966
- Song
- Harlem Nocturne
- Chart
- 39
Not to be confused with another 60s UK rock group with the same name, this US version was an instrumental quintet from New Jersey. In 1959, they landed their first small hit with "Harlem Nocturne". But it was even better when the label re-released it in 1966, this time the song finally broke into Top40 chart. It was their only real hit before they called it a quit shortly after.
- Artist
- The T-Bones
- Year
- 1966
- Song
- No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)
- Chart
- 3
This US instrumental rock group was originally just an assemble of musicians. It was only after the success of the singles "No Matter What Shape", which became a smash Top5 hit in early 1966, that the actual band was formed. However, the follow-up album failed to create any impact, and they called it quit by the end of 1966.
- Artist
- Walter Wanderley
- Year
- 1966
- Song
- Summer Samba (So Nice)
- Chart
- 26
An organist Walter Wanderley was among the few Brazilian musicians who landed a long successful career outside his homeland. His US debut was a cover of Marcos and Paulo Sérgio Valle's "Samba de Verão" (titled as "Summer Samba"), which became a no.26 hit in 1966. Wanderly released more than a dozen LPs in US, but never made another chart hit until his death in 1986.
- Artist
- Davie Allan & the Arrows
- Year
- 1967
- Song
- Blue's Theme
- Chart
- 37
An American guitarist Davie Allan was a powerhouse behind soundtracks for several teens and bikers films during the 1960s. His breakthrough was an openning theme for biker film 'The Wild Angels' in 1966. This catchy instrumental with heavy fuzz guitar sound became a Top40 hit the same year. Allan continued to play and record throughout decades but unable to come up with another hit.
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