The 1980s were a great decade for one-hit wonders. Part of that may have been the impact of MTV. One great video could get an artist instant attention, but such snackable fare didn't necessarily make a career. Another factor was the changing nature of music at the time: New wave and rap in particular opened the gates to a slew of emerging artists. Some went on successful runs, but many charted just one hit single.
On this week's episode of USA TODAY's Dad Rock podcast, hosts Patrick Foster and Jim Lenahan (the titular dads) discuss some of their favorite one-hit wonders from the '80s, from Dexys Midnight Runners to Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock and several others in between. (They even take requests on the telephone, on a wavelength far from home.) Listeners offer their picks, including songs from Diesel and The Church.
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