Flashback Hits:

If you love old music, there’s nothing like going through old cassettes and CDs in search of lost treasure… and nothing sweeter than unearthing 80’s one-hit-wonder gold. You know, those bands and singers who had massive success with just one song but were never able to repeat it again no matter how hard they tried? Oh, the ecstasy and the agony!

It seems the 80s had more one-hit wonders than any other decade. These artists not only had killer songs, amazing hair, and crazy outfits, they were also the most likely to suffer the dreaded one-hit wonder curse. Imagine, sky-rocketing to international chart domination, touring the world, and then… nothing. One minute you’re Top of The Pops and the next you’re washing up pots. The music business can be so cruel.

But, no matter how much bad luck they had later in their careers, nobody can deny their ability to write at least one incredible pop music chart-topper. So, one-hit wonders of the 80s, we salute you! Here’s are just a few of the many fabulous one-hit-wonder mega-smash hits of the 1980s…

10. "Take on Me" by A-Ha (1984)

This synth-pop classic is possibly the worlds greatest example of the one hit wonder. Never before has a song been so huge, so loved, so played… and a general public so disinterested in any follow-up songs. Perhaps the public weren’t totally disinterested Take On Me but Norwegian band A-Ha were never going to be able to live up to this humongous 1984 mega-hit. With a killer hook, groovy 80s synth lines and an unnervingly high male falsetto at the end of the chorus, this pop monster ended up being number one in nine different countries.

9. "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)

As soon as you hear that opening fiddle you’re transported to the green green grass of Ireland… Released as the first single from their album, Too-Rye-Ay, the song's insanely catchy chorus is derived from an Irish folk song called "The Green Fields of France". Unfortunately for Dexy’s Midnight Runners one Irish folk-to-pop crossover was all anyone wanted and they gradually faded away over time.

8. "I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls (1981)

Written by Flock of Seagulls singer Mike Score (he of the amazing fox-head style hairdo), this was an incredibly infectious new-romantic pumper that was as at home on the radio as it was on the dance-floor. Chock full of 80’s sequenced synths, it was band's third single in 1981 and became a top ten hit when it reached number nine in the UK singles chart. After it’s success fans seemed to also run so far away and The Flock of Seagulls were unable to make another landing.

7. "Mickey" by Toni Basil (1982)

Starting life as a choreographer, Toni Basil blew-up the world’s charts with this killer ear worm. Unfortunately, not much happened after “Mickey” for Toni but the song’s enduring popularity is evident in the countless remakes, by singers in many musical genres, ranging from Elvis Presley to Nikki Minaj.

6. “I Want Candy” Bow Wow Wow (1981)

Annabella Lwin, better known as Baby Annabella, was lead singer and style leader for Bow Wow Wow. “I Want Candy” which was a cover a Strangelove’s recording, rocked hard utilizing the tribal drum sound that was big with other acts of the time like Adam Ant. Even thought this song had people dancing around the globe it was a hard act to follow and the band quickly slid into obscurity.

5. “99 Luft Balloons” Nena (1984)

Coming out of Germany, Nena and her band invaded the world’s charts with this undeniably sun-filled pop gem. With possibly the bounciest synth hooks of the 80s, a decade dominated by bouncy synth hooks, it was impossible to not walk down the street singing 99 Luft Balloons even if you had no idea what the words meant. A true pop classic from a band that did not hang around anywhere near long enough.

4. “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” Dead or Alive (1985)

From the mega production team of SAW, who went on to Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue, Dead or Alive were a two man group. Fronted by the legendary Pete Burns, resembling a cross-dressing pirate, the song “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” was a dance-floor and pop radio mega-monster. Unfortunately legal problems and obscurity followed for the band. In fact, it was stated that years decades later the song had been played over 500 million times on YouTube, yet the band hadn’t received a cent from it. Ouch!

3. “Pass the Dutchie” Musical Youth - 1982

Whilst still in their teens, Musical Youth had a giant success with this reggae flavoured super-nova hit song. Story is the original lyric was pass the kutchie, which meant marijuana. Given the age of the band members the record company thought this was not such a good idea and changed kutchie to “Dutchie”, which is a Jamaican serving bowl used at family dinners. The rest is pop history! Unfortunately the band broke-up not too long after due to internal disputes.

2. “Turning Japanese” The Vapors - 1980

Never has a song about masturbation sold so many records! The first, and pretty much last, single from The Vapors was a post-punk guitar pop classic that had everyone doing the pogo. From the opening oriental guitar hook to the fast and punchy choruses everyone couldn’t get enough. That was until everybody realised it was less a love song and more about unrequited love and the aforementioned masturbation. Needles to say The Vapors kind of evaporated after their first and only hit.

1.“Funkytown” Lipps, Inc. - 1980

If you wanted to “keep movin’ and groovin’ with some energy” in 1980 there was only one place to go… Funkytown! Created by a producer as a studio project, a way of working common now but new at the time, this was an instant radio and disco mega-hit that blew-up the airwaves and dominated world charts for months. Unfortunately, no matter how much energy they gave it, the funk failed Lipps Inc and they could never match the magic of Funkytown again.