One Hit Wednesday

Tracey Ullman is an English-born stage and television actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter and author. In 1983, her debut album featured her cover version of Kirsty MacColl's 'They Don't Know' which went to #8 in Feb. of '84. Tracey Is probably best known as a 'Sketch Comic' and for her numerous television appearances, both in the UK and US. She had her own variety show from '87-'90, in which the hit series 'The Simpsons' was spun-off from. She also had a hand in launching the career of Paula Abdul as Abdul was Ullman's choreographer on her television show. Abdul used alot of her own music on the show for the dance numbers.

Nena (Both her name and the name of her band) is a German singer and actress who released her debut album in 1983. The album yielded the song '99 luftbaloons' which became a #2 hit here in the US. And Although an 'english' version was released and went to #1 in the UK, it was the original German version that charted here in the US. Both versions were played frequently on US radio. With numerous album releases and hit singles in Germany, this remains Nena's only hit in the English speaking world.



Agnetha Faltskog is a Swedish recording artist and entertainer
best known as the lead vocalist for the super group ABBA. In 1983 she released a post-ABBA solo album which produced her first, and only, Top 40 hit in the US. The song 'Can't Shake Loose' hit #29 in August of 83. All-in-all Agnetha has released eleven solo albums including 4 post ABBA. Although she has yet to re-chart in the US, she has numerous hits in other countries. She re-joined ABBA when the band re-united in 2004 and is still performing with them today.


Charlene  was an American R&B singer who originally released the song 'I've Never Been To Me' in 1976. The song charted at #97 and did not fair well initially. After leaving the music business all-together in 1982, a Florida radio DJ began playing the song at his girlfriends request. The song gained popularity and quickly caught on around the nation. It eventually would peak at #3 here in the US and would become a #1 hit in the UK. Several covers have been done over the years and VH1 considered the song the number 75 one-hit wonder of all time in 2002.


Toni Basil is an American singer-songwriter, actor, filmmaker, film director and choreographer. She recorded her first songs in 1966 including a track called 'Breakaway' for the movie of the same name. In 1982 she released 'Mickey' which became an international hit and was #1 in the US. The song is actually a cover of a song called 'Kitty' which was recorded by the UK band 'Racey' in 1979. With some slight modifications to the arrangement and the addition of the 'Oh Mickey you're so fine' chant, Toni had herself one of the biggest one-hit songs ever. The song ranked as the #6 one-hit wonder of the 80s by VH1 in 2003.