Pop Archives

Johnny Farnham - One (1969)

(Harry Nilsson)
Australia Australia
#1 Sydney #1 Melbourne #3 Brisbane #9 Adelaide #4 Perth

Double-sided hit in Perth and Brisbane with Mr Whippy. Co-charted in Melbourne and Brisbane with the Three Dog Night (USA) version.

Johnny Farnham: enduring Melbourne pop star whose career took off after his first single, the neo-vaudeville novelty Sadie The Cleaning Lady, was skilfully publicised and became the best-selling Australian single of the 60s. He had a run of hits into the first half of the 70s, and branched out into TV and stage drama.

In the early 80s, by then known as John Farnham, he had a further hit with a powered-up version of the Beatles’ Help, and he fronted the Little River Band for a time. His real career revival came in 1986 with the hugely popular contemporary album Whispering Jack and its three hit singles including the #1 You’re The Voice.

Further reading: Milesago’s John Farnham page. The official site is at JohnFarnham.com.au.


Three Dog Night - One (1969)

(Harry Nilsson)
USA USA
#1 USA #1 Melbourne #3 Brisbane #16 NZ

Co-charted in Melbourne and Brisbane with Australian version by Johnny Farnham.


Nilsson - One (1968)

(Harry Nilsson)
USA USA
Original version

From Nilsson’s 1968 album Aerial Ballet


Aimee Mann - One (1995)

(Harry Nilsson)
USA USA
Later version

From the 1995 tribute album For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson

Later used on the soundtrack of the film Magnolia (1999)


Metallica - One (1989)

(Hetfield - Ulrich)
USA USA
Red herring
#57 Sydney #33 Melbourne #21 Adelaide #2 Perth

Same title but not the same song as ‘One’ by Johnny Farnham.

Live version, also charted in 1994.

Other charting red herrings:

U2 One (Bono-Adam Clayton-The Edge-Larry Mullen, Jr.), UK 1991, #4 Sydney #10 Adelaide #9 Perth #3 NZ

Mica Paris One (Bono-Adam Clayton-The Edge-Larry Mullen, Jr.), UK 1995, #39 Adelaide