Artists who had hits years before their signature chart run

[lasvegaskid]

Whitney just missed the top 40 w/Teddy Pendergrass long before You Give Good Love.

[pb]

May 23, 2014 10:13:48 GMT -5 dukelightning said:

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'.

True, unless you count Peter Wolf's solo hits as continuing the run maybe.

[freakyflybry]

Dire Straits had a hit in 1979 with "Sultans of Swing", then three more from 1985-86.

[pb]

May 22, 2014 21:09:08 GMT -5 1finemrg said:

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.

If you count that, there is the similar case (mentioned by Casey at least once) of the Champs "Tequila" in the 50's followed by two former members Seals & Crofts having several hits in the 70's. However, S&C weren't in the Champs yet when they recorded that song, at least according to current internet info.

[mstgator]

May 23, 2014 10:58:32 GMT -5 lasvegaskid said:

Whitney just missed the top 40 w/Teddy Pendergrass long before You Give Good Love.

Not sure I would consider "less than a year" to be "long before", but I guess it's worth noting.

[freakyflybry]

Linda Ronstadt first hit as a solo artist (discounting her hit with the Stone Poneys) in 1970 with "Long Long Time". Nearly five years later she would start her streak of hits with "You're No Good".

[1finemrg]

From this week's 70s top 40 show. Not a major chart run, but Yvonne Elliman charted in 1971 with "I Don't Know How To Love Him" then had 4 hits between 1976 and 1979.

[jlthorpe]

I changed the title of the thread to read "signature chart run" instead of "major chart run". I think it's more appropriate for acts like J. Geils Band who didn't have a lot of hits during the period they're known for. Also changed it to read "hits" instead of "one hit" for acts like Tony Orlando and Robert Palmer.

Another example I thought of is ZZ Top. One hit in 1975, one in 1980, and then their signature run - six hits between 1983 and 1986.

[woolebull]

May 24, 2014 7:35:30 GMT -5 jlthorpe said:

I changed the title of the thread to read "signature chart run" instead of "major chart run". I think it's more appropriate for acts like J. Geils Band who didn't have a lot of hits during the period they're known for. Also changed it to read "hits" instead of "one hit" for acts like Tony Orlando and Robert Palmer.

Another example I thought of is ZZ Top. One hit in 1975, one in 1980, and then their signature run - six hits between 1983 and 1986.

ZZ Top is another solid one.

Here's an interesting one, I think. In 1995, a group that was not known well here in the States (though loved in Europe) eeked out a number 35 hit entitled "We've Got It Goin' On" (R and R). Two years later, this group went from barely scratching the Top 40 to a string of 10 straight Top 10's (R and R) from the end of 1997 through 2000. Those would be the Backstreet Boys.

[pb]

Another borderline one is Yes. Two entries in 1971-2 (one of which only reached #40) and then four circa 1984-8 including a #1.

[jlthorpe]

Cliff Richard could fall into this category. He had one hit in the 50s, one in the 60s, one in 1976, and then a string of six hits between 1979 and 1982.

[johnnywest]

On the dance chart, Madonna had "Everybody" and "Burning Up" before her long string began with "Holiday."

Also, Backstreet Boys had "We've Got It Goin' On" on the R&R/CHR chart in 1995 a couple years before their mainstream success began.

[johnnywest]

Fergie had hits with Wild Orchid and Black Eyed Peas and a few solo hits before “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”