a lot of times, people judge an albums worth on it's sales. If it sells 10 million copies, it's considered a success, if it sells less than expected, it might be considered a flop. However, record sales aren't the be all, end all because there are albums that sold less than 1 million copies (that were expected to sell more) that I preferred over 10-15 million selling blockbusters.

What are some of the albums that were commercial disapointments that you personally loved?

David Bowie - Low, Lodger, as well as every album he's released since 1995 (I'd say the last 5 cd's combined didn't sell 1 million... but they were all great)
Madonna - American Life
Cher - Living Proof
Jewel - 0304 (it did "okay" but was still her lowest selling album)
Prince - Graffiti Bridge
Robbie Williams - Sing When You're Winning (huge hit overseas, didn't even make the top 100 here)
Kylie Minogue - Body Language
Olivia Newton-John - Soul Kiss & The Rumour
Donna Summer - Cats Without Claws

I wouldn't consider Kylie's Body Language a flop just yet, it's fairly new.

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
I wouldn't consider Kylie's Body Language a flop just yet, it's fairly new.

well, it's like #158 currently this week and it only peaked at #42. It's been out longer in England and it's already been considered a flop there (Fever was successful here, but in the UK, it was comparable to something like Eminem Show or 50 Cent). If Red Blooded Woman (the current release) doesn't become a hit, I dunno if anything else can save the album.

But I still love it, and I think it's the R&B record people like Beyonce SHOULD be making. The album is so Prince-influenced

Every Family album, especially A Song For Me (did not chart in USA; number four in UK) and Fearless reached only number 177 in USA, but made it to number ten in UK).

http://home.online.no/~schoenen/fam2.jpg

http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover200/dre100/e153/e153064rhvi.jpg

P.S. Americans have no taste! :p

Too many to name for me. I've mentioned in the past I'm a big Me'shell Ndegeocello fan, have all her albums and none of them were hits. I tend to be attracted to artists who are just out of the mainstream anyway, so I probably have a long list of favorite flop albums. I'll listen to popular stuff sometimes, but most of what I really enjoy isn't chart-topping stuff.

Practically every Prince album after Diamonds & Pearls. Speaking of a Prince influenced abum, Beck's Midnite Vultures is a favorite flop of mine, though it might have sold a mill.

The year Miseducation of Lauryn Hill came out, my favorite album was "Prototype" by Rachid. That album did nothing but I still listen to it all the time.

ABC's "Up", Res' "How I Do" and the last two Seal albums are on my list as well. I'm sure there's others, I just can't think of them right now.

Rush have not had a million selling album since 1985, but they've continued to make great music and are one of the very few veteran rock acts who are as good now as they have ever been.

Steve Perry's "For the Love of Strange Medicine." Former lead singer for Journey, it was his follow up album to his "Street Talk" album, which sold well, and this one although good didn't sell as well as the first. Awesome voice.

I also agree with Vashti1999, Me'shell Ndegeocello not a commercial success, but is an awesome bass player, who gets no recognition. She is awesome.


India Arie's "Trip to India" she is such a good songwriter, but she has been overshadowed by Alicia Keyes. Tremendous talent saw her live, and very humble.

Paul McCartney's "Press to Play" good album.



:wave: :winkgrin :winkgrin :winkgrin

TLC- 3D, it only went double platinum, a flop in TLC standards.

Missy Elliott- This Is Not a Test!- a GREAT album, much better than Under Construction, I can't believe no one is buying this.

Pink- Try This!- this is Pink at her best, creatively, and vocally. One of the most overlooked albums of recent years.

All Saints- Saints & Sinners- great from beginning to end. I don't think they even tried to release it here in the U.S.

Tiffany's "The Color of Silence" it was a great album she's a rocker now and not like she was in the 80's it even got great reviews but nobody would buy it because it's from Tiffany

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
Pink- Try This!- this is Pink at her best, creatively, and vocally. One of the most overlooked albums of recent years.

this one shocked me too. I'd be hardpressed to think of another artist with an album as successful as M!sundaztood with a followup as unsuccessful as Try This.

I admit I personally cannot listen to Pink anymore because it reminds me of an ex that's best forgotten to me.

Nick Carter's solo album, Now or Never: I loved it! It has an 80s rock vibe mixed with pop. It hasn't sold more 250,000 copies, so it's considered a flop compared to Justin Timberlake's.

Hear clips here: http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2729656

JC Chasz's solo album, Schizophrenic: Another 80s vibey album. Hasn't been out long, but he practically off the charts already and he's had no hits from it.

Hear clips at: http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2936898

I LOVE Geri Halliwell's first solo CD. I don't think it did that well. I don't know. But I like it.

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
TLC- 3D, it only went double platinum, a flop in TLC standards.

Missy Elliott- This Is Not a Test!- a GREAT album, much better than Under Construction, I can't believe no one is buying this.

Pink- Try This!- this is Pink at her best, creatively, and vocally. One of the most overlooked albums of recent years.

All Saints- Saints & Sinners- great from beginning to end. I don't think they even tried to release it here in the U.S. i agree with TLC. But... Try This (Pink) flopped?

REO Speedwagon - Nine Lives (1979) follow up to the very successful You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish(1978) and previous to the highly successful and highly commercialized High Infidelity. Nine Lives is just a great straight-forward rock album. This was a Gary Richrath album full of blistering guitar solos and great rock melodies (and no ballads either!)

Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts(1979) I know they were baked out of thier minds while recording NITR. Joe Perry didn't even finish the recording sessions! Nevertheless it is another underrated and unappreciated album from one of my favorite bands. Check out the great cover of the Yardbirds "Think About It" Your ears will literally smoke!

Speaking of Aerosmith, how 'bout 1982's Rock In A Hard Place (their Columbia swan song)? I know Perry and Whitford are absent from the album, replaced by the capable Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, but the album smokes. "Bolivian Ragamuffin'" and "Jailbait" - you can't pass those songs up. Joe Perry even wrote in the liner notes of Pandora's Box that he wishes he'd participated in "Jailbait."

The album, of course, flopped, and was critically panned. But save for the awful "Prelude To Joanie," Rock In A Hard Place is quite enjoyable.

Originally posted by TradingMooses
I LOVE Geri Halliwell's first solo CD. I don't think it did that well. I don't know. But I like it.

AH me too!! Schizo Phonico or whatever the hell it was. Hahaha I love that album!

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
AH me too!! Schizo Phonico or whatever the hell it was. Hahaha I love that album! Schizophonic. :D

Originally posted by AKA
Speaking of Aerosmith, how 'bout 1982's Rock In A Hard Place (their Columbia swan song)? I know Perry and Whitford are absent from the album, replaced by the capable Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, but the album smokes. "Bolivian Ragamuffin'" and "Jailbait" - you can't pass those songs up. Joe Perry even wrote in the liner notes of Pandora's Box that he wishes he'd participated in "Jailbait."

The album, of course, flopped, and was critically panned. But save for the awful "Prelude To Joanie," Rock In A Hard Place is quite enjoyable.

I agree on all counts AKA! Rock In a Hard Place was/is a great album. Thanks for reminding me of this album- I haven't listened to it in a long time.

I remember getting the cassette version of RIAHP for my 16th birthday back in 1982. It didn't leave my tape player for the next 3 months!