Concrete Blonde are an American alternative-rock band from Los Angeles, fronted by the distinctive Johnette Napolitano, whose place on this list is a matter of measurement rather than judgement. Critically respected with a devoted following, they built a real catalogue across the late 1980s and 1990s, including the cult favourite "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)".
But streaming gathers around one song. "Joey", released in 1990, is a soulful, aching rock ballad about loving an alcoholic, and it became their biggest hit, reaching the US top 20 and remaining their best-known track.
On streaming, "Joey" sits near 65 million plays, while their next most-streamed track trails at around ten million. That puts the ratio above 6, past our 5.0 line.
So by our strict, numbers-only measure, Concrete Blonde register as a certified one-hit wonder, and we flag the caveat firmly. This is a respected band with a deep, varied catalogue and a loyal cult audience. It is only that one heartfelt rock ballad reached the wider public far beyond the rest of their work, and on streams it now stands well ahead. Among devoted fans, songs like "Bloodletting" are every bit as cherished, but it is the aching "Joey" that the casual streaming audience keeps returning to.