One Hit Thunder

Latest Episodes:

“Wherever You Will Go” by The Calling (f/ Erin Mallory Long) Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re exploring the career and music of The Calling, a band that somehow managed to define the early 2000s with their massive hit “Wherever You Will Go.” Whether it was the song’s appearance in Coyote Ugly or simply the right sound at the right time, The Calling burst onto the scene with one of the biggest songs in the history of Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs chart. But like many rock bands who never built a strong following through years of touring and grassroots growth, their success faded almost as quickly as it arrived. Does The Calling deserve more than having a song you might still hear wherever you will go, like the grocery store or the gas station, or was their success the most anyone could hope for in their situation? Today, we’re joined by Erin Mallory Long to find the answers.

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“I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls Nov 12, 2025

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What happens when a hairdresser decides to buy a used synthesizer and start a band with his friend and his brother, despite having little musical experience? You get A Flock of Seagulls, a group whose sound (and haircuts) perfectly capture the spirit of the early 80s. The unforgettable music video for “I Ran (So Far Away)” became an MTV staple in the channel’s early days, propelling the band into the Billboard Top 10. So why are we talking about this Grammy Award–winning band on a show about one hit wonders? Because our Patreon supporters demanded it (and because they technically did only have ONE huge song.) This week, we’re diving into the career and catalog of this distinctive group to find out if there’s more to love than just their iconic 1982 hit.

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“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop (f/ Erik J. Brown) Nov 05, 2025

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Long before his 1976 hit, Elvin Bishop was already one of the world’s most respected blues guitarists. Everyone from the Grateful Dead to Bo Diddley was eager to collaborate with him, and his work with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band eventually earned him a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite his confidence and experience as a world-class musician, Bishop had the humility to recognize when a bandmate was better suited to sing the song. That selfless decision gave us the version of “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” we know today. It’s a perfect feel-good classic that has been featured in everything from Friday Night Lights to Guardians of the Galaxy. This week, we’re joined by bestselling author Erik J. Brown to explore the career and music of Elvin Bishop and decide whether we should love him or leave him alone.

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“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon Oct 29, 2025

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It’s Halloween, so we thought it would be crazy not to dive into the legendary artist who brought us the lyric “little old lady got mutilated late last night.” That’s right…this week, we’re diving into the life and career of Warren Zevon and his most famous single, 1978’s “Werewolves of London.” A dark sense of humor paired with a songwriting voice all of his own made Zevon a favorite among his contemporaries, from Jackson Browne to Linda Ronstadt to Bruce Springsteen. Unfortunately, he may have slipped under the radar to some casual music listeners. This week, we’re here to howl as loud as we can about the incomparable Warren Zevon.

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“Flood” by Jars of Clay (f/ Katie Hampton) Oct 22, 2025

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This week, we’re joined by Matt Kelly’s Christian Cringe co-host Katie Hampton to become one with the mud. Yes, we’re exploring the career and music of Jars of Clay, the rare mainstream crossover from the Christian music scene who made their mark in 1996 with the alternative rock radio hit “Flood.” Despite a bit of blowback from their religious fanbase, the band was able to balance their success while still staying true to their faith. In the end, it was their work BEYOND the world of music that may have reserved them a front row seat in heaven. But was their music good enough to “lift them up” to THUNDER status? Tune in to find out.

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“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead Or Alive Oct 15, 2025

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This week, our Patreon voted for us to explore the music and career of Dead or Alive, the British pop band responsible for the endlessly catchy and danceable 1985 single, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).” Led by the eccentric and androgynous Pete Burns, Dead or Alive were a perfect mix of the end of disco and the start of new wave. Their rise up the indie charts in the UK led them to a major label, but even then, it was the band’s belief in themselves and their music that resulted in the massive hit that has stood the test of time. Should you be spinning the REST of the Dead or Alive’s records right round though? That’s what we’ll be deciding this week.

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“A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton (f/ Eric Taft) Oct 08, 2025

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Whether you were rockin’ out to it in 2002 or watching Terry Crews sing every word to it a few years later, Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” is a song that can stir up a lot of feelings and emotions for those who lived it. Even though the song’s earnest delivery and theater-kid presentation SHOULD make it an artifact from the turn of the century, there’s something special about it that keeps it relevant decades later. This week, we’re joined by return guest Eric Taft to dive into the career and back catalog of Vanessa Carlton to decide if we should make our way downtown to pick up all her records or run a thousand miles away from her music.

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The 2005 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft Oct 01, 2025

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The DREAM TEAM of Chris Fafalios, Matt Kelly, Matthew Milligan, and Tony Hartman are BACK to draft the very best albums from the year 2005. From the launch of YouTube to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, these albums were the soundtrack to a year filled with highs, lows, and in-betweens. Who will draft the very best collection of records with their theoretical 100 dollars? Tune in to find out!

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“The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones (f/ Zak Shaffer) Sep 25, 2025

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This week, we're diving into one of the most bizarre R&B hits of the 80s. With its slick production and dramatic monologue, “The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones became a Top 10 smash in 1986 before fading into obscurity. Not EVERYONE forgot the track, however, as Donald Glover and the cast of Saturday Night Live resurrected it in 2018 with a spot-on and hilarious parody. This week, we’re joined by Two Dollar Late Fee host Zak Shaffer to unpack this forgotten gem, the wild narrative it spins, and the legacy of a one-hit wonder who made heartbreak sound strangely cinematic.

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“Harlem Shake” by Baauer (f/ Chris Dalla Riva) Sep 18, 2025

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In early 2013, the Billboard Charts underwent a major change by incorporating YouTube streams into their formula. Almost immediately, the internet responded with chaos. The bizarre, bass-heavy electronica track “Harlem Shake” by producer Baauer skyrocketed to #1, fueled by a wave of absurd, meme-fueled dance videos that dominated social media. It became the first instrumental track to top the Hot 100 in over two decades, but just as quickly as it rose, it vanished, taking Baauer's mainstream presence with it. This week, we're joined by musician and data analyst Chris Dalla Riva, author of the upcoming book Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves, to explore how a joke, an algorithm, and a relatively unknown producer collided to create one of the strangest chart-toppers of all time.

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