On That Note: Hits that time forgot

[cyclones500]

QUOTE="cyhiphopp, post: 6131841, member: 7155"]You know what, watching the School of Fish video again, I can see why it didn't fit in the grunge era. The sound could fit, but they are way too clean cut. Great song though.[/QUOTE]

True. It didn't have the "gritty" appearance of how grunge was portrayed, and was about a year too early to get swept into the vortex. I agree, song is solid pop and I still like the look of the music-video.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

The first thing that jumped into my mind was a cross-over hit from 1982 by Sylvia. Sylvia was a country singer who was quite successful on those charts throughout the 1980s, with three top 10 country albums, eleven top 10 and two #1 songs on the country singles chart, and winning the Academy of Country Music's Female Vocalist Award for 1982 (in spite of NEVER being nominated for a CMA award in the same category).

The song is called "Nobody." It was the second single from the album "Just Sylvia" and it soared to #1. Then, pop radio caught on and it ran up the Billboard Hot 100 to #15 and Cashbox Top Singles to #9. "Nobody" won the BMI Song of the Year award for most country airplay. Billboard ranked it the #2 country song for all of 1982. Sylvia has said she loved the song immediately because of the hook. The very first time she heard the demo, she was singing along by the end and knew she HAD to record it.

Sylvia never had another pop hit, which was surprising because of how pop-friendly her music was. Songs like "Snapshot" and "Like Nothing Ever Happened" would have fit in well on pop radio. I think cross-over songs are possibly more readily forgotten and dismissed than others. Many people (who are old enough to remember) might think that "Nobody" was just a country song and forget that it was simply a massive HIT that didn't need to be categorized. There was no official video for "Nobody," unfortunately.

Excellent choice! I had forgotten all about that one...used to LOVE it. Still do, I suppose.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Here's a song I heard recently that took me awhile to place. It reached number 13 on the Billboard charts and was number 1 on the dance charts for 2 weeks.

I remember the song but I also more readily remember the Ja Rule sample of it for "Livin It Up", which probably boosted interest in Stevie's original song.

 

[SCyclone]

Soon as I read the OP, I thought of this one:

We listened to this endlessly in college.

 

[SCyclone]

Another one I listened to a lot, but eventually kind of forgot:

 

[cyhiphopp]

This song was number 1 for 6 weeks and Rolling Stone rated it as the 41st most popular song of all time. It was also Michael's 7th top ten hit of the year. That is a huge song and I don't hear about this song ever. That's even though it is sung by, arguably, the two most popular musicians of the rock era.

I remember watching this video in the mid 80s. Such a good song. The novelty of the story based video was a huge part of it's popularity. I wonder if the song didn't end up having the same staying power after the videos novelty wore off. It's a great song, but maybe didn't do as well on the radio without the visuals.

Looking at the wikipedia I found out there is a 2015 remix which has the vocal parts switched. It sounds pretty cool and gives the song a different twist:

 

[MeanDean]

Soon as I read the OP, I thought of this one:

We listened to this endlessly in college.

Excellent example. We had one of our classmates bring this to school and played it as a part of her persuasive speech, which was, to buy the album. This would have been about 1971 if memory serves me correctly. But you never hear it at all anymore.

 

[MeanDean]

This is probably one of my favorite Who songs. Was released in the US but only reached #40, but I do remember it. Especially love the bass line. I never hear this. This would fit perfect on classic rock station.

I read somewhere the group did not want to release it as they had moved on to a different style of music and this was more in their older groove. Which may be why I like it as I love their older hits like The Kids Are Alright, My Generation, I Can't Explain, etc.

 

[MeanDean]

Another mid 70's gem that gets overlooked for his earlier All Things Must Past and Living in the Material World stuff.

Reached #20 in 1975. I don't think I've heard this on radio in 40 years.

 

[cyclones500]

Two examples from Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (eventually shortened to Dr. Hook). Consistently charted throughout 70s and into the early 80s. Now, it seems like the band never existed.

I attribute some of it to changing tastes in pop music and perhaps an unfocused approach (including a foray into late-disco, “Sexy Eyes” and some soft-rawk like "Sharing the Night Together"). Even so, in addition to the following, four other Dr. Hook singles reached top 10.

“The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” (1972) … U.S. #6



“Sylvia’s Mother (1972)” .. U.S. #5

 

[Gonzo]

Not sure I'm grasping today's category, but when I read it through for some reason this came to mind...

 

[cyclones500]

A lotta good citings so far, keep it coming

 

[jcyclonee]

Not sure I'm grasping today's category, but when I read it through for some reason this came to mind...

That's not a terrible example. Also, this is now the worm in my ear.


Hold me now, (hold me in your loving arms) whoa
Warm my heart (warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me (stay with me)
Let loving start
Let loving start, wo-o-ooooo....

 

[Gonzo]

That's not a terrible example. Also, this is now the worm in my ear.


Hold me now, (hold me in your loving arms) whoa
Warm my heart (warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me (stay with me)
Let loving start
Let loving start, wo-o-ooooo....

You're welcome.

 

[VeloClone]

Hit #7 in the US in 1971. I think it gets a lot less play time than many other Three Dog Night hits.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Two examples from Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (eventually shortened to Dr. Hook). Consistently charted throughout 70s and into the early 80s. Now, it seems like the band never existed.

I attribute some of it to changing tastes in pop music and perhaps an unfocused approach (including a foray into late-disco, “Sexy Eyes” and some soft-rawk like "Sharing the Night Together"). Even so, in addition to the following, four other Dr. Hook singles reached top 10.

“The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” (1972) … U.S. #6



“Sylvia’s Mother (1972)” .. U.S. #5

I remember hearing The Cover of the Rolling Stone while riding in the car with my dad. It really isn't on the Classic Rock stations at all anymore though.

Dr Hook and the Medicine Show makes me think of Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem though.

 

[jcyclonee]

I remember hearing The Cover of the Rolling Stone while riding in the car with my dad. It really isn't on the Classic Rock stations at all anymore though.

Dr Hook and the Medicine Show makes me think of Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem though.

 

[VeloClone]

Right in line with off the wall hits like The Cover of the Rolling Stone is Funky Worm from The Ohio Players which believe it or not reached #1 on the R&B charts and #15 overall:

 

[cyhiphopp]

Trying to think of songs that were big hits that I just don't hear anymore. Particularly from my 90s specialty era. A lot of my favorite songs from then either weren't big hits at all or are still pretty well covered on 90s radio.

Here's a few I haven't heard in a long time, but I remember they were huge for a short time in the 90s. They also classify as One Hit Wonders, but they are also Largely Forgotten One Hit Wonders:



I remember this one because I stole the CD from my older brother and listened to it from start to finish for a few months straight. But a lot of people forgot about it after it's short tenure as a single. Fronted by Kim Deal from The Pixies and her twin sister Kelley, the whole "Last Splash" album is full of awesome alternative surf rock.



The Rentals is a band that I still love but had only one big hit. Fronted by Matt Sharp, the former bassist of Weezer, it is reminiscent of Weezers early work. I'd highly recommend their ironically titled debut album "Return of the Rentals".




Very distinct style set it apart. It was on a few soundtracks and got a lot of radio play in 1996.



Another super distinct sound and of course the fact that it is sung by a man. I remember the video was unique and caught attention as well.

 

[Cyfan1965]