Talk about some good memories.
The other day, a song came on Spotify that I hadn’t heard in years. It was “99.9% Sure (I’ve Never Been Here Before)” by Brian McComas. The song was a huge hit back in 2003, but once it fell off the charts, we never heard anything more from Brian McComas.
This got me thinking about other one-hit wonders in country music. Not every artist is going to be like Luke Combs and hit #1 with every song. Sometimes an artist has one song blow up, and that’s it. But those songs can be pretty damn good.
Here are some more fun one-hit wonders to listen to if you want to take a trip back down memory lane.
“Johnny & June” – Heidi Newfield
Heidi Newfield was best known as the lead singer of Trick Pony – until she released “Johnny & June” as her debut solo single. This song spent 27 weeks on the country charts, and Newfield was never able to follow it up with any success. When your first single is a song about the greatest love story in the history of country music, it’s going to be hard to top that one.
“Don’t Ask Me How I Know” – Bobby Pinson
This song, a song about learning lessons the hard way, speaks to me a lot more now that I’m 31 than it did back in 2005 when I thought I knew everything already. “Don’t Ask Me How I Know” made it just inside the top 20 of the country charts, and was Bobby Pinson’s only hit as a singer. But he’s managed to reach the top of the charts several times as a songwriter, including another song about learning lessons the hard way: He was a co-writer on Eric Church’s “Some of It.”
“Break Down Here” – Julie Roberts
Julie Roberts wasn’t able to turn any chairs when she auditioned for The Voice in 2013, but back in 2004 she had a big hit with “Break Down Here.”
“Pray for You” – Jaron and the Long Road to Love
This was the most relatable breakup song in country music until Wheeler Walker, Jr.’s “Fuck You Bitch” came along and took that crown. While Jaron had actually been on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Crazy for This Girl” as part of Evan and Jaron, “Pray for You” was the only country hit for Jaron and the Long Road to Love. Probably because nobody could even remember that ridiculous name.
“Who I Am” – Jessica Andrews
You may not remember the name Jessica Andrews, but if I tell you she’s Rosemary’s granddaughter I bet you’ll remember this song.
“Jukebox Junkie” – Ken Mellons
Ken Mellons may have only had one hit, but it’s a classic.
“Baby Likes to Rock It” – The Tractors
I was five years old when this song came out, and it’s one of the first country songs that I remember asking to listen to on repeat. The ridiculous lyrics are sure to get stuck in your head, and we also got a ridiculous music video that’s straight out of the 90’s. But damn if this wasn’t a good song. Unfortunately, it was also the only hit for The Tractors.
“Should’ve Asked Her Faster” – Ty England
Ty England started out as a guitarist and background singer for Garth Brooks, but quit in 1995 to pursue a solo career. Now I’m not saying that was a mistake, but he did only have one song reach the top 20 of the country charts.
“Just Got Started Lovin’ You” – James Otto
James Otto had the biggest song of 2008 with “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” – but he could never follow it up with any success, and it remains his only song to reach the top 20 of the country charts.
and of course…
