50 One-Hit Wonders of the '60s: Trivia Questions and Answers

The TriviaTalent Team · 7 min read

You hear the first four seconds — a twangy guitar, a cheap organ — and your foot is already tapping. You may never have known the band’s name. But the song? You have carried it for sixty years.

That is the magic of the one-hit wonder: one lightning strike, one perfect record, and then the act is gone. Here are fifty of the best from the 1960s, the answer under each one. See how many you can name before the chorus gives it away.

Number-Ones Out of Nowhere

Each of these reached the very top of the Billboard Hot 100 — and each was its act’s only hit.

1. What 1962 instrumental, named after a new communications satellite, did Joe Meek produce for Britain’s the Tornados?

“Telstar.” It hit number one that December, and Margaret Thatcher later called it her favorite piece of music.

2. Which novelty record carried Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s Boris Karloff impression to number one just before Halloween 1962?

“Monster Mash,” with his Crypt-Kickers.

3. In 1963 a Japanese-language ballad spent three weeks at number one in America. Who sang it, and what did U.S. labels rename it?

Kyu Sakamoto. The original title means “I look up as I walk,” but it became “Sukiyaki” — one of the only non-English songs ever to top the Hot 100.

4. A real Belgian nun, billed as the Singing Nun, had a four-week number one in 1963 with which French-language song?

“Dominique” — the only Belgian single ever to top the U.S. chart.

5. Which 1966 number one, built on a cheap Vox organ riff, came from ? and the Mysterians?

“96 Tears,” sometimes called an early punk record.

6. In 1966 Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, a real Green Beret, topped the chart for five weeks with which ballad?

“The Ballad of the Green Berets,” later ranked the number-one song of the whole year.

7. Which 1966 number one won a Grammy for the New Vaudeville Band, its singer crooning through cupped hands like a 1920s megaphone?

“Winchester Cathedral.”

8. In 1968 Jeannie C. Riley became the first woman to top both the pop and country charts, with which Tom T. Hall story-song?

“Harper Valley P.T.A.”

9. Which 1968 number one by John Fred & His Playboy Band played on the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”?

“Judy in Disguise (With Glasses).”

10. A fictional band from the Archie comics had a four-week number one in 1969, with Ron Dante singing lead. Name it.

“Sugar, Sugar.”

11. Which gloomy 1969 number one by Zager and Evans peered thousands of years into the future?

“In the Year 2525,” six weeks on top.

12. Which 1969 chart-topper by the studio group Steam began as a throwaway B-side?

“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”

Surf, Sun and Summer

Turn these up with the windows down.

13. Which 1964 surf novelty by the Trashmen was mostly one wild, squawking word?

“Surfin’ Bird.”

14. The Surfaris gave 1963 a great drum break and a cackle at the start with which instrumental?

“Wipe Out.”

15. Which echoing 1963 guitar instrumental by the Chantays is named for a breaking wave?

“Pipeline.”

16. The Rivieras sang about sunshine and fun in which 1964 hit?

“California Sun.”

17. Which 1964 Hondells hit put a little motorbike at the center of a surf singalong?

“Little Honda.”

Dance Crazes and Party Starters

Push back the furniture; the needle is dropping.

18. The Castaways had one hit — name their snarling 1965 garage stomper.

“Liar, Liar.”

19. The Capitols told everyone to do which dance in their gritty 1966 hit?

The “Cool Jerk.”

20. Cannibal & the Headhunters rode which 1965 dance anthem and its “na-na-na-na” hook?

“Land of a Thousand Dances.”

21. The Swingin’ Medallions sang of a rough morning after in which 1966 party record?

“Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love).”

22. The Gentrys kept the floor moving in 1965 with which aptly named hit?

“Keep On Dancing.”

23. Robert Parker told everyone to kick off their shoes in which 1966 dance hit?

“Barefootin’.”

Novelty and Just Plain Fun

24. Napoleon XIV had a 1966 hit built on a nervous laugh and a trip to the “funny farm.” Name it.

“They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!”

25. Which bouncy 1962 piano instrumental by Denmark’s Bent Fabric was named for a neighborhood cat?

“Alley Cat.”

26. Bonanza star Lorne Greene talked his way to a 1964 hit with which Western ballad?

“Ringo.”

27. Which 1968 revival had Tiny Tim fluttering in falsetto over a ukulele?

“Tip-Toe Thru’ the Tulips With Me.”

28. Saxophonist Boots Randolph gave 1963 which honking instrumental romp?

“Yakety Sax.”

From Across the Water

29. Procol Harum’s 1967 debut rode a Hammond-organ line borrowed from Bach — UK number one, US number five. Name it.

“A Whiter Shade of Pale.”

30. Which 1967 hit by Australia’s the Easybeats counted down to the weekend?

“Friday on My Mind.”

31. Jamaica’s Millie Small brought a skipping ska beat to the charts in 1964 with which song?

“My Boy Lollipop.”

32. Spain’s Los Bravos sang which brooding 1966 hit?

“Black Is Black.”

33. Desmond Dekker & the Aces brought a Jamaican sound to the U.S. charts in 1969 with which hit?

“Israelites.”

34. Unit 4 + 2 built which 1965 hit around two building materials?

“Concrete and Clay.”

35. The Honeycombs, notable for a woman on drums, asked which question in 1964?

“Have I the Right?”

Garage, Psychedelia and the Strange

As the decade turned, the hits grew louder and weirder.

36. Iron Butterfly’s 1968 epic ran over seventeen minutes, its garbled title born of a singer slurring “in the garden of Eden.” Name it.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The trimmed single, their only Top 40 hit, reached number 30.

37. Strawberry Alarm Clock’s swirling 1967 hit was named for a sweet, fragrant pairing. What was it?

“Incense and Peppermints.”

38. Count Five played which fuzzed-out 1966 garage classic?

“Psychotic Reaction.”

39. The Standells growled through which 1966 garage anthem?

“Dirty Water.”

40. The Lemon Pipers jingled through which 1968 bubblegum-psych hit?

“Green Tambourine.”

41. Buffalo Springfield had one Top 40 hit — this 1967 protest song — though its ranks held Stephen Stills and Neil Young. Name it.

“For What It’s Worth.”

42. The Seeds pushed which snarling 1967 garage single?

“Pushin’ Too Hard.”

Soul, R&B and the Groove

43. The Soul Survivors found their one hit in 1967 with which song about a crowded road?

“Expressway to Your Heart.”

44. J.J. Jackson reassured everyone in 1966 with which soul hit?

“But It’s Alright.”

45. The gospel group the Edwin Hawkins Singers crossed over in 1969 with which joyful song?

“Oh Happy Day.”

46. South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela had a sunny instrumental number one in 1968 with which hit?

“Grazing in the Grass.”

47. Mercy floated onto the charts in 1969 with which soft hit?

“Love (Can Make You Happy).”

One More for the Road

48. Scott McKenzie told a generation to wear flowers in their hair in which 1967 anthem?

“San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair).”

49. French bandleader Paul Mauriat gave 1968 which lush orchestral instrumental?

“Love Is Blue.”

50. Guitarist Mason Williams fingerpicked which bright 1968 instrumental?

“Classical Gas.”

Frequently asked questions

What makes a song a “one-hit wonder”?

The usual rule is an act that reached the Top 40 only once. A few released other records, but in memory they are tied forever to the single song that made them famous.

Did any of these acts go on to bigger things?

A handful did. Buffalo Springfield, one-hit wonders on paper, included Stephen Stills and Neil Young, who became giants of the 1970s. For most, though, the one hit was the whole story — and what a story.

Are these good for a singalong or a quiz night?

Wonderfully. Read the clue, let folks shout out the title, then play a few seconds of the record to settle any arguments. For more, spin our doo-wop trivia questions and answers, or jump ahead a decade with our 1970s music trivia questions and answers.

Where can I check these facts?

Every artist, title, and year here is drawn from the reputable sources listed below.

Sources

Name that tune? Play our trivia quizzes and find out how many you really remember.