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Post by chrislc on Mar 20, 2019 19:36:01 GMT -5
This is subjective of course -
But I'll start with the Grass Roots. Their hits were so radio-friendly and catchy, almost like jingles or commercials. And lots of future airplay on AC and oldies formats.
But they consistently charted lower than I would have predicted. I wonder if their label let them down.
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Post by mkarns on Mar 21, 2019 6:41:05 GMT -5
ELO? A lot of well orchestrated but catchy hits touching on different styles, several of which get much recurrent play. But in Billboard at least none got higher than #4.
And Bruce Springsteen should have had at least one Billboard #1.
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Post by Jessica on Mar 21, 2019 14:12:37 GMT -5
Totally agree that Bruce Springsteen should have had more number ones especially from “Born In The USA”.
It’s hard to believe The Grateful Dead only has one big hit “Touch Of Grey”.
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Post by doofus67 on Mar 21, 2019 15:25:33 GMT -5
The Kinks. They had such a long chart career and so many great, distinctive records. But they never could quite crack the top five. The best they could do was two 6's and two 7's.
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Post by 80sat40fan on Mar 21, 2019 17:22:40 GMT -5
For as much airplay as Journey songs receive today, it's hard to believe they never had a #1 song in the Hot 100. They only have six Top 10 hits with classics like "Separate Ways" and "Don't Stop Believin'" not making the Top 5. Classic rockers like "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin" and "Any Way You Want It" didn't make the Top 10, and other rock staples like "Lights" and "Wheel In The Sky" didn't even make the Top 40.
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Post by slf on Mar 21, 2019 20:20:21 GMT -5
Oh, there are so many acts that fall into this category, but I'll mention two, one well-known and one obscure.
1. The Fifth Dimension---Sure, they had a very successful career and many hits. But being that their harmonies were so gloriously spot-on, and their singles were so sharp and well-produced, they should have had more than just two #1 singles. The fact that the iconic "Up, Up, And Away" didn't go all the way to the top is enough of an outrage by itself.
2. The Montanas---They were an obscure British pop/rock group of the mid-to-late '60's that, despite many fine releases, never even had a chart hit in Britain. Ironically, one of those releases, "You've Got To Be Loved" was a mid-charting hit here in America and was a big hit in certain US cities. Another non-charting song "Run To Me", also was a hit in some US cities. Both songs are stellar examples of late '60's sunny, bubblegum pop. I have a Montanas CD of all their releases, and, IMHO, several other songs of theirs, along with the two aforementioned ones, could have been big hits here in America if they had been properly promoted.
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Post by pb on Mar 22, 2019 13:44:16 GMT -5
This is subjective of course - But I'll start with the Grass Roots. Their hits were so radio-friendly and catchy, almost like jingles or commercials. And lots of future airplay on AC and oldies formats. But they consistently charted lower than I would have predicted. I wonder if their label let them down. The liner notes of their singles CD on Real Gone mention that their singles consistently did better on Cash Box than Billboard, for what it's worth. |
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Post by pb on Mar 22, 2019 13:46:38 GMT -5
Led Zeppelin comes to mind for underwhelming singles chart performance considering how ubiquitous their songs have been on radio, but I guess they and their label thought it was better to concentrate on albums and concerts anyway.
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Post by listenerwants2know on Mar 22, 2019 14:58:12 GMT -5
One of my big favorits: The Cars
Only #3 with "Drive" and the late Benjamin Orr, #4 with "Shake It Up" and #7 with "You Might Think" and "Tonight She Comes".
And ... uh it´s magic ... "Magic" only at #12 ... just a little bit of magic, that´s true ...
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Post by matt on Mar 22, 2019 16:00:48 GMT -5
And Bruce Springsteen should have had at least one Billboard #1. Springsteen would've had multiple #1's if the Hot 100 had taken album sales into account. He, like the Eagles, Prince, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, etc. probably had lesser success on the singles charts because people weren't buying his singles--they were buying the full albums. A definite flaw in Billboard's chart model, especially during the 70's and 80's. |
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Post by jlthorpe on Mar 22, 2019 19:10:39 GMT -5
Steely Dan - only three Top 10s, with just one making the Top 5 ("Rikki Don't Lose That Number"). Some of their best songs didn't even make the Top 40 ("Kid Charlemagne" and "Pretzel Logic", to name two).
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Post by doofus67 on Mar 22, 2019 23:34:10 GMT -5
Steely Dan - only three Top 10s, with just one making the Top 5 ("Rikki Don't Lose That Number"). Some of their best songs didn't even make the Top 40 ("Kid Charlemagne" and "Pretzel Logic", to name two). "Bad Sneakers" is a favorite of mine. It Bubbled Under at #103. |
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Post by mkarns on Mar 23, 2019 8:30:33 GMT -5
Led Zeppelin comes to mind for underwhelming singles chart performance considering how ubiquitous their songs have been on radio, but I guess they and their label thought it was better to concentrate on albums and concerts anyway. Plus their songs were likely far less of a presence on top 40 pop radio than at AOR and now also classic rock. You’re right that they focused on albums, rock radio, and tours, not singles (in Britain they didn’t release any 45s at all.) |
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Post by at40nut on Mar 23, 2019 9:17:23 GMT -5
There is another British Quartet people are forgetting about-The Who. They only had one Top 10 hit with 1967's "I Can See For Miles" which peaked at #9. They had just as many Top 40 hits as Foreigner (16), but only a hand full of Top 20 hits-"Pinball Wizard" 1969 (#19) "See Me, Feel Me" 1970 (#12) "Won't Get Fooled Again" 1971 (#15) "Join Together" 1972 (#17) "Squeeze Box" 1976 (#16) "Who Are You" 1978 (#14) "You Better You Bet" 1981 (#18)
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Post by listenerwants2know on Mar 23, 2019 11:31:03 GMT -5
Talking about the 60s and "The Brits": The Dave Clark Five
Only one #1 with "Over And Over", #4 with "Bits And Pieces" and #6 with "Glad All Over".
And not among Billboard´s Hot 100: "Red Balloon", the cover of "Callow-La-Vita" of the Raymond Froggatt Band.
By the way: From the Raymond Froggatt Band comes a certain "Louis Clark", from 1981 to 1986 also a member of the Electric Light Orchestra.
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