Songs that (IMHO) deserved to be bigger hits

[doomsdaymachine]

During the height of my AT40 listening - the early '80s - there were certain songs that I really liked and hoped would go Top 10. Sadly, some of them never even hit the Top 20. And several missed the 40 altogether! They included:

ANGEL IN BLUE, The J. Geils Band (#40, 1982)
ATOMIC, Blondie (#39, 1980)
BURNING FOR YOU, Blue Oyster Cult (#40, 1981)
CALL ME, Skyy (#29, 1982)
CH-CH CHERIE, The Johnny Average Band (#53, 1981)
DO YOU WANNA HOLD ME, Bow Wow Wow (#77, 1983)
DREAMIN', Blondie (#24, 1980)
DREAMING IS EASY, Steel Breeze (#30, 1983)
EARLY IN THE MORNING, The Gap Band (#24, 1982)
GENIUS OF LOVE, Tom Tom Club (#31, 1982)
GIVE IT TO ME BABY, Rick James (#40, 1981)
GOODBYE TO YOU, Scandal (#54, 1982)
HEART LIKE A WHEEL, The Steve Miller Band (#24, 1981)
HEART OF THE NIGHT, Juice Newton (#25, 1982)
HOLDIN' ON, Tane Cain (#37, 1982)
HOOKED ON SWING, Larry Elgart (#31, 1982)
I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU, Nicolette Larson (#53, 1982)
I WON'T STAND IN YOUR WAY, The Stray Cats (#35, 1983)
IF THE LOVE FITS, WEAR IT, Leslie Pearl (#28, 1982)
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, Blondie (#37, 1982)
JUST GOT LUCKY, JoBoxers (#36, 1983)
KIDS IN AMERICA, Kim Wilde (#25, 1982)
LIES, The Thompson Twins (#30, 1983)
LOVE PLUS ONE, Haircut One Hundred (#38, 1982)
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, Tavares (#33, 1982)
ROLENE, Moon Martin (#30, 1979)
SAUSALITO SUMMERNIGHT, Diesel (#25, 1981)
SHADDAP YOU FACE, Joe Dolce (#58, 1981)*
SO WRONG, Patrick Simmons (#30, 1983)
SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY, Marshall Crenshaw (#36, 1982)
SPACE AGE LOVE SONG, A Flock of Seagulls (#30, 1983)
SUN CITY, Artists United Against Apartheid (#38, 1985)
SWITCHIN' TO GLIDE, The Kings (#43, 1980)
THAT OLD SONG, Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio (#21, 1981)
VOYEUR, Kim Carnes (#29, 1982)
WALKING IN L.A., Missing Persons (#70, 1983)
WHIRLY GIRL, Oxo (#28, 1983)
WHISPER TO A SCREAM (BIRDS FLY), Icicle Works (#35, 1984)
WISHING (IF I HAD A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOU), A Flock of Seagulls (#26, 1983)
WORDS, Missing Persons (#42, 1982)
YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME, The Gap Band (#31, 1982)
YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING, Judas Priest (#67, 1982)

*I have a soft spot for novelty records. What can I say?

[pointpark04]

How about "Your Smiling Face" by James Taylor? I can't believe it only hit number 20 here in the states. For shame!

And "As Long as You Follow" by Fleetwood Mac, which only made it to 43 on the Hot 100 in late 1988.

And "Taken In" by Mike and the Mechanics, which peaked at number 32 in 1986.

And "The Sun Always Shines on TV" by a-ha. A great song, which only hit number 20 in the states in 1986.

And Peter Gabriel's classic, "In Your Eyes", which could only get to 26 in 1986.

"Under the Milky Way" by The Church deserved better than number 24 in 1988 - as did "Love Changes (Everything)" by Climie Fisher (number 23 in the same year).

And Level 42's "Lessons in Love" - are you kidding? It was much better than a number-12 song.

Thanks for frustrating me on a Monday night, doomsdaymachine. First, a Pat Boone anti-choice video, now this thread. What did I ever do to you?

LOL and ;-)

[pgfromwp]

"I Melt With You", by Modern English (#78).

[mga707]

I could probably compile at least as long of a list as the original poster, mostly from slightly earlier in time, but I'll only highlight one--one of (IMHO) the greatest pop songs of all time, which only managed to reach #26 in June of 1977 (although it did spend quite a few weeks in the Hot 100):

Dean Friedman's sublime "Ariel"!

[briguy52748]

Obviously, you know I'm going to list a bunch of country hits.

While there are a number that deserved pop airplay due to their crossover appeal, I'll mention just one to start with ...

* "He Stopped Loving Her Today" – George Jones. His No. 1 country hit from 1980, and amazingly never made the Hot 100.

This has been cited in many surveys as one of the best, if not the all time best, country song ever recorded. As you might know, it's the song about how a man's heartbreak over losing a beloved wife, girlfriend, soulmate, etc., is unrelenting ... and never goes away until his dying day.

I've always wondered how well that song would have done had it gotten any dose of airplay on CHR radio.

As far as true blue pop hits go ... it's that song about ...

"Ariel" – Dean Friedman.

Campy, kitsch-ish ... but loads of fun! Wish I was old enough in 1977 and I would have made THE video of this'n.

Brian

[doomsdaymachine]

Nov 12, 2012 20:46:07 GMT -5 briguy52748 said:

* "He Stopped Loving Her Today" – George Jones. His No. 1 country hit from 1980, and amazingly never made the Hot 100.

You're right; that is a great record! I ranked it at #52 on my personal list of '80s favorites:

rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/the_1980s__my_personal_top_300

And here's another great #1 Country hit from 1980 that missed the Hot 100:

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2012 19:45:26 GMT -5 doomsdaymachine said:

During the height of my AT40 listening - the early '80s - there were certain songs that I really liked and hoped would go Top 10. Sadly, some of them never even hit the Top 20. And several missed the 40 altogether! They included:

SHADDAP YOU FACE, Joe Dolce (#58)*

*I have a soft spot for novelty records. What can I say?

Good to see another fan of this song, had the 45 around 1980 when I was just a kid, still love it!



Have ya ever seen its cool music video on YouTube?

[vto66]

More Than Just The Two of Us--Sneaker (#34, 1982)
When The Lights Go Out--Naked Eyes (#37, 1983)
My Girl--Chilliwack (#22, 1981)
Invisible Hands--Kim Carnes (#40, 1983)
Who Do You Think You're Foolin'-Donna Summer (#40, 1981)
I Will Still Love You--Stonebolt (#28, 1978)

[woolebull]

Rappers Delight - Sugar Hill Gang (#36 1980)
Savannah Nights - Tom Johnston (#34 1980)
Last Train To London - ELO (#39 `1980)
99-Toto (#26 1980)
Steal The Night - Stevie Woods (#25 1982)
I Believe-Chilliwack (#33 1982)
Someday Someway - Marshall Crenshaw (#36 1982)
What About Me (Moving Pictures ( #29-1983, #46 1989)
Spice of Life - Manhattan Transfer (#40 - 1983)
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes - Asia (#34 - 1983)

I'm not sure if any of those were mentioned. Totally agree with Tom Tom Club, Sneaker, and A-Ha's "TV" being higher than what they posted.

Just a few of my favorites.

[donwa001]

Morning Desire - Kenny Rogers (#72, 1985)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoxeMmgvKiM

Twenty Years Ago - Kenny Rogers (#2 Country song 1987 - didn't chart on the HOT 100)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT3NDuGTJgk

I like these 2 songs better than his #1 duet with Dolly Parton "Islands In The Stream"

[seminolefan]

These are some of the songs I felt should've been more successful than they were:

Juicy Fruit - Mtume (#45, 1983)- went Gold despite not reaching the Top 40 on the pop chart
Object Of My Desire - Starpoint (#25, 1985)
Ain't Nobody - Rufus & Chaka Khan (#22, 1983)- this really should've went Top 10 IMO
Never Too Much - Luther Vandross (#33, 1981)
Make That Move - Shalamar (#60, 1981)
A Night To Remember - Shalamar (#44, 1982)
This Is For The Lover In You - Shalamar (1981, didn't chart on the Hot 100)
I Didn't Mean To Turn You On - Cherrelle (#79, 1984)
Everything I Miss At Home - Cherrelle (1988, didn't chart on the Hot 100)

[Deleted]

Roll Over Beethoven - Electric Light Orchestra (#42, 1973)
Showdown - Electric Light Orchestra (#53, 1973 & #59, 1976)
Daybreaker - Electric Light Orchestra (#87, 1974)
Do Ya - Electric Light Orchestra (#24, 1977)
Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra (#35, 1978)
It's Over - Electric Light Orchestra (#75, 1978)
Confusion - Electric Light Orchestra (#37, 1979)
Twilight - ELO (#38, 1981)
Rain Is Falling - ELO (#101, 1982)
Four Little Diamonds (#86, 1983)
Stranger - E.L.O. (#105 & #33 AC, 1983)

Follow You Follow Me - Genesis (#23, 1978)
Turn It On Again - Genesis (#58, 1980)
Abacab - Genesis (#26, 1981)
No Reply at All - Genesis (#29, 1981)
Man on the Corner - Genesis (#40, 1982)
Mama - Genesis (#73, 1983)
Illegal Alien - Genesis (#44, 1984)
Taking It All Too Hard - Genesis (#50, 1984)
Jesus He Knows Me - Genesis (#23, 1992)
Never a Time - Genesis (#21, 1992)

I Don't Care Anymore - Phil Collins (#39, 1983)
I Cannot Believe It's True - Phil Collins (#79, 1983)

Steam - Peter Gabriel (#32, 1992)

The Raven - The Alan Parsons Project (#80, 1976)
d**ned If I Do - The Alan Parsons Project (#27, 1979)

Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon (#40, 1976)
You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon (#23, 1987)
Graceland - Paul Simon (#81, 1986)

Love Stinks - The J. Geils Band (#38, 1980)
I Do - The J. Geils Band (#24, 1982)

Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation (#34, 1971)

Charity Ball - Fanny (#40, 1971)
Butter Boy - Fanny (#29, 1975)

Your Move - Yes (#40, 1971)

[brianmichaels]

Minimum Love - Mac MacAnally (#41, 1983)

[dukelightning]

Nov 13, 2012 0:54:05 GMT -5 seminolefan said:

These are some of the songs I felt should've been more successful than they were:

Juicy Fruit - Mtume (#45, 1983)- went Gold despite not reaching the Top 40 on the pop chart
Object Of My Desire - Starpoint (#25, 1985)
Ain't Nobody - Rufus & Chaka Khan (#22, 1983)- this really should've went Top 10 IMO
Never Too Much - Luther Vandross (#33, 1981)
Make That Move - Shalamar (#60, 1981)
A Night To Remember - Shalamar (#44, 1982)
This Is For The Lover In You - Shalamar (1981, didn't chart on the Hot 100)
I Didn't Mean To Turn You On - Cherrelle (#79, 1984)
Everything I Miss At Home - Cherrelle (1988, didn't chart on the Hot 100)

Could not agree more. Great set of songs that were mostly all victim of the turn away from soul music in the early to mid 80s, much to my chagrin I might add.

[miracleandwonder]

Honestly though, aren't the way songs are remembered today more important than their chart positions?

Burning For You, Goodbye To You, Kids In America, In Your Eyes, I Melt With You, Rappers Delight, Do Ya, Mr. Blue Sky, You Can Call Me Al and Your Move are all considered classics that are still well-known and receive respectable airplay on their respective formats. I know I hear Your Move and Burning For You more on classic rock than many songs that actually went to #1. Proof that chart peaks aren't the end of the story because all of those aforementioned songs still receive healthy airplay.