Artists who had hits years before their signature chart run

[jlthorpe]

These acts are known for having numerous Top 40 hits within a few years' time, but also had one hit years before that run.

Rick Springfield: Had one Top 40 hit in 1972. Didn't chart again until 1981, and then had 16 hits between 1981 and 1988.

Billy Ocean: One Top 40 hit in 1976, and then 11 hits between 1984 and 1989.

Carole King: One Top 40 hit in 1962, then 13 hits (11 charted hits and two B-sides) between 1971 and 1980.

[mkarns]

I'd add Bob Seger: One top 40 hit in 1969, none for eight years, then 18 from 1977-91.

[1finemrg]

Also Paul Revere and the Raiders. Snuck into the Top 40 in 1961, then 14 Top 40 singles between 1965 and 1971.

[woolebull]

I know this probably does not meet your requirements because it was only three years, but there is something about "The One Thing" by INXS in 1983 that totally segregates it from the rest of their Top 40 hits from 1986-1997 (12 if you go by R and R). I was young in 1986 (12) when "What You Need" came out, but I didn't remember "The One Thing" at all. To this day it has always stuck out to me as a song from a totally different time.

I know that chronologically it wouldn't fit. It just has always felt that way to me. I also put Atlantic Starr, but to a much lesser extent, in that category.

BTW, I never thought about it until I just looked at a list of INXS's Top 40 hits, but "Listen Like Thieves" didn't hit the Top 50. That song seemed to be everywhere in the summer of 1986. I find that fascinating that "The One Thing" hit the top 40 and "Thieves" did not.

[1finemrg]

This doesn't quite fit, but I have to mention it. Jim Peterik reached #2 as guitarist and lead singer of the Ides of March with "Vehicle". 11 years later, Survivor began their Top 40 chart run with Jim on keyboards.

[woolebull]

Again, maybe not exactly what you're looking for but Aaron Neville had one hit in 1966 before having a nice little run of four Top 40 hits between late 1989 and 1993 (R and R). He might have hit the country chart with "Grand Tour" during that time (1993) as well.

[mct1]

Depeche Mode

Steve Winwood (as a solo artist)

Yes (from a Top 40 perspective) and Toto don't quite fit this pattern, but come close.

The Moody Blues don't exactly fit the pattern, but like INXS their first Top 40 hit was stylistically very different from their later hits, and separated from any of the others by at least a few years.

From an AOR/Classic Rock persepective, Deep Purple more-or-less follows this pattern, with "Hush" being the early hit that's stylistically different from their later material. But "Hush" wasn't the only Top 40 hit the early version of the band had, and the later version of the band was so album-oriented that they only hit the Top 40 once.

[freakyflybry]

Barbra Streisand almost qualifies, and I thought she did, but I forgot that in addition to "People", "Second Hand Rose" also made the top 40 in the 60's well before her 70's-80's streak of hits.

However, I found a big name that does qualify. Aretha Franklin first hit in 1961 with "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody", and then had a streak of top 40 hits lasting over two decades that started in 1967.

The Guess Who first hit in 1965 with "Shakin' All Over", then their major streak of hits started in 1969.

The Spinners also almost qualify: one hit in 1961, another in 1965... then their decade-long streak of hits starting in 1970.

[jlthorpe]

Some good examples being mentioned.

Another act I was considering was Tony Orlando. He had two hits in 1961, then 8 years passed before he hit again with the group Wind, then he had 14 hits with Dawn between 1970 and 1976.

[pgfromwp]

Olivia Newton-John: in summer 1971 she had a modest hit with "If Not For You"; then, almost 2 1/2 years later, she began her major chart run with "Let Me Be There".

[woolebull]

May 23, 2014 5:56:10 GMT -5 jlthorpe said:

Some good examples being mentioned.

Another act I was considering was Tony Orlando. He had two hits in 1961, then 8 years passed before he hit again with the group Wind, then he had 14 hits with Dawn between 1970 and 1976.

If we are going two hits, then let me offer Robert Palmer to the discussion. Two hits in 1978 and 1979. Six years would pass before he would hit the top 10 with The Power Station and then the next year solo. From 1985-1991, including the Power Station hits, he had 10 Top 40 hits, including a number one and a couple of number twos.

[woolebull]

Another one, if we bend the rules a bit and use R and R...Lenny Kravitz. One massive hit in 1991, a small top 40 hit in 1993, and then no more top 40 hits until the end of the century. Beginning in 1999 he would have 8 more Top 40 hits, including a number one almost a decade after his first hit.

[johnnywest]

On the Hot AC chart, Adele had a mediocre hit in 2008 with "Chasing Pavements." In 2011, she came back strong with 3 #1s in a row: "Rolling In The Deep," "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire To The Rain," then another Top 10, "Rumour Has It."

[pb]

David Bowie had an odd chart history reaching top 40 once in 1973 (with a song from 1969), a few times in 1975-6 including one #1, and then several records between 1982 and 7.

J Geils Band reached top 20 once in 1974 before having two big hits in 1981.

[dukelightning]

J Geils had that top 20 hit in 1974 but they also hit the top 40 in 1972 and then twice in 1980 before hitting big in 1982. Not even sure what they did in 1982 qualifies as 'a major chart run'.