What songs should have been massive hits,but were not?

Xanadu 1980 on the filp side of the album was ELO'S they had big hits Xanadu should have been bigger then it was.

Recently...

Pink, "Who Knew"
Fiona Apple, "Extraordinary Machine" and "Oh Sailor"

Leave The Light On - Beth Hart

Lifts You Up - Beth Hart

L.A. Song - Beth Hart

Is That Too Much To Ask - Beth Hart

There's a bunch of other songs she did that should have been huge hits, but these ones definitely stand out!!

Coalmine - Sara Evans
How Far - Martina McBride

In Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues

Too Gone Too Long - EN Vouge

How Far - Martina McBride
YES. Beautiful woman with a beautiful voice.

In Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues
:confused: Top Ten hit.
Did you want it to go all the way to number 1? :lol:
Great song!!

:confused: Top Ten hit.
Did you want it to go all the way to number 1? :lol:
Great song!!
It didn't seem it at the time, and I seldom hear it on the radio these days. The song also doesn't seem like it's a household name today. But hell yeah, Number 1 would have been better. :lol:

All Summer Long-The Beach Boys
Wendy-The Beach Boys
I'am The Walrus-The Beatles
Arrow Thourgh Me-Paul McCartney and the Wings
Getting Closer-Paul McCartney and the Wings
Breezin-George Benson
Rock and Roll Woman-Buffalo Springfield
Go Insane-Lindsey Buckingham
The Weight-The Band

All Summer Long-The Beach Boys
Wendy-The Beach Boys
I'am The Walrus-The Beatles
Arrow Thourgh Me-Paul McCartney and the Wings
Getting Closer-Paul McCartney and the Wings
Breezin-George Benson
Rock and Roll Woman-Buffalo Springfield
Go Insane-Lindsey Buckingham
The Weight-The Band

OMG Paul's "Arrow Through Me" is the best! I agree. :wave: :D

"Anything"- Natural Selection
"The Freshman"- The Verve Pipe

River Deep Mountain High- Ike and Tina Turner. It only hit #81 in the States, but I think it was big in all other countries.

River Deep Mountain High- Ike and Tina Turner. It only hit #81 in the States, but I think it was big in all other countries.


Great choice, she really sounds great on that one.

Love your avatar! :wave:

Cherchez La Femme-Dr Buzzard's original Savannah Band
LIving inisde Myself-Gino VAnnelli.

Bad Time to be in Love by Grandfunk Railroad

It didn't seem it at the time, and I seldom hear it on the radio these days. The song also doesn't seem like it's a household name today. But hell yeah, Number 1 would have been better. :lol:

You're darn right #1 would've been better, This song reached #9 on the Billboard hot 100 the week of 7/19/86 and while still a very respectable position, The #1 song that week was Invisible Touch by Genesis and Your Wildest Dreams is 100 times better than that piece of crap. :mad:

Here's the top 10 for that week:

10: LOVE TOUCH - ROD STEWART
9: YOUR WILDEST DREAMS - THE MOODY BLUES
8: THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS (TO MAKE YOU CRY) - BILLY OCEAN
7: GLORY OF LOVE - PETER CETERA
6: WHO'S JOHNNY - EL DeBARGE
5: HOLDING BACK THE YEARS - SIMPLY RED
4: DANGER ZONE - KENNY LOGGINS
3: NASTY - JANET JACKSON
2: SLEDGEHAMMER - PETER GABRIEL
1: INVISIBLE TOUCH - GENESIS

Macho Man-Village People
Poetry Man-Phoebe Snow
At Seventeen-Janis Ian

I've always wondered why Henry Mancini's "Moon River," from late 1961, reached only #11 on the charts. I thought for sure it would have been a #1 song. Although it did stay in the top 40 for 16 weeks.

Also Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," from 1962, which peaked at #19.

In Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues

Best Moody Blues song ever, without a doubt!!! Definitely should have been number 1!!

"The Freshman"- The Verve Pipe
Didn't that go to number one? How much more of a hit can it be? As a matter of fact I thought it was over played when it came out. Maybe they played it more around here because they were local.

I've always wondered why Henry Mancini's "Moon River," from late 1961, reached only #11 on the charts. I thought for sure it would have been a #1 song. Although it did stay in the top 40 for 16 weeks.
Still, even though it didn't reach #1, it's truly a classic today.

'Moon River' holds a lot of sentimental value for me, as this rambling post I made a few years ago indicates, lol.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=101060&highlight=Moon+River

Best Moody Blues song ever, without a doubt!!! Definitely should have been number 1!!

I think "The Voice" by The Moody Blues is a better song, and its top chart position was #15.

I always loved that song.


"The Voice"

Won't you take me back to school
I need to learn the golden rule
Won't you lay it on the line
I need to hear it just one more time
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Won't you tell me again
Tonight

Each and every heart it seems
Is bounded by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is greeted by a lonely one
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Oh won't you tell me again
Tonight

'Cos out on the ocean of life my love
There's so many storms we must rise above
Can you hear the spirit calling
As it's carried across the waves
You're already falling
It's calling you back to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one that it's calling you

Make a promise take a vow
And trust your feelings it's easy now
Understand the voice within
And feel the changes already beginning
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Won't you tell me again
Tonight

And how many words have I got to say
And how many times will it be this way
With your arms around the future
And your back up against the past
You're already falling it's calling you
On to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one it's calling is you

Each and every heart it seems
Is bounded by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is greeted by a lonely one
Won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Oh won't you tell me again
Tonight

You're darn right #1 would've been better, This song reached #9 on the Billboard hot 100 the week of 7/19/86 and while still a very respectable position, The #1 song that week was Invisible Touch by Genesis and Your Wildest Dreams is 100 times better than that piece of crap. :mad:

Here's the top 10 for that week:

10: LOVE TOUCH - ROD STEWART
9: YOUR WILDEST DREAMS - THE MOODY BLUES
8: THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS (TO MAKE YOU CRY) - BILLY OCEAN
7: GLORY OF LOVE - PETER CETERA
6: WHO'S JOHNNY - EL DeBARGE
5: HOLDING BACK THE YEARS - SIMPLY RED
4: DANGER ZONE - KENNY LOGGINS
3: NASTY - JANET JACKSON
2: SLEDGEHAMMER - PETER GABRIEL
1: INVISIBLE TOUCH - GENESIS

Holy crap, Invisible Touch is such a bad song. It's got to be one of Genesis's worst. Definitely up to that point in their career it is.

Holy crap, Invisible Touch is such a bad song. It's got to be one of Genesis's worst. Definitely up to that point in their career it is.

It's pretty bad, but I'd have to say "Trowing It All Away," "In Too Deep" and (though it came five years later) "Hold On My Heart" are worse. They all sound like solo Phil Collins songs. A far cry from "The Fountain Of Salmacis," "A Trick Of The Tail," "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" or "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway."

Interesting to see that "Invisible Touch" kept Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" from the top spot that week.

"Hold On My Heart"

I love that song AKA. I thought "I Can't Dance" was their worst.

I agree with your assessment of "I Can't Dance." It was a gimmicky song, and there was no getting away from it in 1992. Really, the last two albums Genesis did with Phil Collins weren't all that great (while they had some good songs on them).

However, I think that Calling All Stations, while it bombed in America, was a good album and a nice return to form for Genesis. Kind of sad to see that they gave Ray Wilson the shaft after that tour.

Bad Time to be in Love by Grandfunk Railroad

The Jayhawks do a great version of that song on Tomorrow the Green Grass.


Speaking of that album, the song "Blue" should have been a hit for them.

Excellent tune.

I would have thought that "It's Only Rock And Roll (But I Like It)" by The Rolling Stones and "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John were not bigger hits. Neither song made the top ten here in America.

I agree with your assessment of "I Can't Dance." It was a gimmicky song, and there was no getting away from it in 1992. Really, the last two albums Genesis did with Phil Collins weren't all that great (while they had some good songs on them).

However, I think that Calling All Stations, while it bombed in America, was a good album and a nice return to form for Genesis. Kind of sad to see that they gave Ray Wilson the shaft after that tour.


Invisible Touch is not one of their better albums, but I love We Can't Dance. I think that "Hold On My Heart" is a great balled. "I Can't Dance" might be a little corny, but it is a fun song.

I think "The Voice" by The Moody Blues is a better song, and its top chart position was #15.

I always loved that song.


"The Voice"

Won't you take me back to school
I need to learn the golden rule
Won't you lay it on the line
I need to hear it just one more time
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Won't you tell me again
Tonight

Each and every heart it seems
Is bounded by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is greeted by a lonely one
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Oh won't you tell me again
Tonight

'Cos out on the ocean of life my love
There's so many storms we must rise above
Can you hear the spirit calling
As it's carried across the waves
You're already falling
It's calling you back to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one that it's calling you

Make a promise take a vow
And trust your feelings it's easy now
Understand the voice within
And feel the changes already beginning
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Won't you tell me again
Tonight

And how many words have I got to say
And how many times will it be this way
With your arms around the future
And your back up against the past
You're already falling it's calling you
On to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one it's calling is you

Each and every heart it seems
Is bounded by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is greeted by a lonely one
Won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Oh won't you tell me again
Tonight

That was a great song!! I also always really liked, "I Know You're Out There Somewhere". Not sure how it did on the charts, but I'm sure it probably should have done better then it did.

River Deep Mountain High- Ike and Tina Turner. It only hit #81 in the States, but I think it was big in all other countries.

I agree, this is one of the most beautiful songs Tina ever made. I love it.
I resent seeing Ike's name as if he has some credit due to him for this song.
Here is a small story behind that:

The single was among the first recordings that Ike & Tina Turner did for Phil Spector's Philles Records. Spector was aware of Ike Turner's controlling attitude in the studio, and resultantly drew up an unusual contract: the River Deep - Mountain High album and single would be credited to "Ike & Tina Turner", but Ike was not to be allowed in the studio, and only Tina Turner's vocals would be used on record.

The single was rereleased three years later.

Bad Time to be in Love by Grandfunk Railroad
Great song. "Well let her be somebody else's queen...."

Does anyone know how the song, 'You Get What You Give' by New Radicals, placed on the charts? I love that song.

Does anyone know how the song, 'You Get What You Give' by New Radicals, placed on the charts? I love that song.

It actually did pretty good, peaking at number 2 on the charts. Overall, it was the 32nd biggest hit of 1999. Here's (http://www.tophitsonline.com/archive/1999tho/top100of1999.htm) the link. That was an awesome song. Their song "Someday We'll Know", was also really good!!

Here's a little piece of info that some of you may not be aware of. Danielle Brisebois, who played Stephanie on the last season of All In The Family, and later on on Archie Bunker's Place, was actually a member of The New Radicals. I was surprised to find that out.

It actually did pretty good, peaking at number 2 on the charts. Overall, it was the 32nd biggest hit of 1999. Here's (http://www.tophitsonline.com/archive/1999tho/top100of1999.htm) the link. That was an awesome song. Their song "Someday", was also really good!!

Here's a little piece of info that some of you may not be aware of. Danielle Brisebois, who played Stephanie on the last season of All In The Family, and later on on Archie Bunker's Place, was actually a member of The New Radicals. I was surprised to find that out.
You beat me to it. I was ready to post this info. As well as the tidbit abt Danielle.

You beat me to it. I was ready to post this info. As well as the tidbit abt Danielle.

Sorry Irene!! That's happened to me quite a few times as well. :)

Great minds at work again. :lol:

Here's a little piece of info that some of you may not be aware of. Danielle Brisebois, who played Stephanie on the last season of All In The Family, and later on on Archie Bunker's Place, was actually a member of The New Radicals. I was surprised to find that out.
Had a few solo albums (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=DANIELLE|BRISEBOIS&sql=11:2l66mped9f7o~T2), too.

It actually did pretty good, peaking at number 2 on the charts. Overall, it was the 32nd biggest hit of 1999. Here's (http://www.tophitsonline.com/archive/1999tho/top100of1999.htm) the link. That was an awesome song. Their song "Someday We'll Know", was also really good!!

Here's a little piece of info that some of you may not be aware of. Danielle Brisebois, who played Stephanie on the last season of All In The Family, and later on on Archie Bunker's Place, was actually a member of The New Radicals. I was surprised to find that out.
Thanks for the 411 Brad! That's interesting. I remember the song was played for a car commercial.

Back in 1982 I was DJing at a club called The Whisper in Van Wert, Ohio.
It was only about a 45 min. drive from Ft. Wayne, In. which is where a lot of our crowd came from.
Anyway, one of the songs that I used to play a lot was by a group called Balance. Their only top 40 hit was called Breaking Away (http://www.esnips.com/doc/451114ee-7c12-48f9-af69-42beb47d5089/Balance-Breaking-Away). Never made the top 10, but I thought it was deserving. Sure used to pack the dancefloor. ;)

Great minds at work again. :lol:

That's right!! :nod:

Thanks for the 411 Brad! That's interesting. I remember the song was played for a car commercial.

You're welcome!! I remember that commercial too. If I'm not mistaken, it's actually a pretty recent commercial, because I can recall seeing it not too long ago. The song also played in the movie, "A Walk To Remember", with Mandy Moore.

The song also played in the movie, "A Walk To Remember", with Mandy Moore.
I remember that. It was recently played in another movie, but I can't remember which one. I watch so many movies that they all blur together. It was within the past month or so.

Len- Steal My Sunshine
Salt n Peppa- Whatta Man
U2- Elevation
Young MC- Bust A Move
MC Hammer- I Got It From The Town
Hazen Street- Back Home
The Outfield- Winning It All
Bon Jovi- Everyday
Daft Punk- One More Time
Epidemic- Walk Away
MC Hammer- Too Legit To Quit
Nelson- After The Rain
Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song

I remember that. It was recently played in another movie, but I can't remember which one. I watch so many movies that they all blur together. It was within the past month or so.

I think I know which movie you're referring to, I just can't recall the name at this moment.

It really is unfortunate that The New Radicals broke up after only one album. They had a great sound, and were so much better then alot of the groups we hear today. Would have been nice to hear more from them.

Stealing Kisses - Faith Hill. I knew it wouldn't be a huge hit, because it's just not very radio friendly, but it's definitely one of the best tracks off her last album.

I think I can list a few great songs that failed to make the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In fact, these songs, in my opinion, sound like they could have easily made the top 40, even though, in reality, they actually did not.

"I Melt with You" by Modern English
"It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls
"Situation" by Yazoo (aka Yaz in the U.S.)
"What I Like About You" by The Romantics
The title track to Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" album

To me, every song from my late beautiful precious Billy Joe Royal that was put out there should have gone all the way to #1.

God bless you and his family always!!!

Holly

The title track to Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" album

That song was big in England

New Edition- Can You Stand the Rain

Shai- If I Fall in Love(Remix)

Pat Benatar- Shadows of the Night

Expose- Let Me Be The One

ABBA- One Man, One Woman

Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) had many many big hits but astonishingly never reached # 1 in the USA! Unbelievable! They were outnumbered by the many bubblegum hits of the day(late 60's/early 70's) like "Sugar Sugar" for example which went to number one above CCR. Criminal!:eek:

It's The Things You Do [US Edit]--5ive
It Only Hurts--Default

Question Mark and the Mysterians' version of "Do Something To Me", which IMO is better than the one by Tommy James and The Shondells.

Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) had many many big hits but astonishingly never reached # 1 in the USA! Unbelievable! They were outnumbered by the many bubblegum hits of the day(late 60's/early 70's) like "Sugar Sugar" for example which went to number one above CCR. Criminal!:eek:

I think being stuck at the #2 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 is nowhere near as bad as failing to make the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 altogether. The Top 40 is the most important part of the Hot 100 chart, and the Hot 100 is more important than any of Billboard's other genre-specific singles charts (R&B/Hip-Hop, Adult Contemporary, etc.).

Also, is there anyone who thinks Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" should have occupied the top spot of the Hot 100 instead of Chuck Barry's "My Ding-a-Ling", because of the controversy surrounding the latter song?

Speaking of Moody Blues...

...this song should've made it on the charts...
e8ZP74rrSW0

I'm also a fan of Procol Harum, and though I do like "A Whiter Shade of Pale", this song should've been a Top-40 gem...
mOj3kJKy-_U

And...practically anything by Jimi Hendrix! The only Top-40 song he had was a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"...but he's known for songs like this as well...
IZBlqcbpmxY

...lately, there's only a few Jimi Hendrix vids on YouTube...what's going on?

I think being stuck at the #2 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 is nowhere near as bad as failing to make the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 altogether. The Top 40 is the most important part of the Hot 100 chart, and the Hot 100 is more important than any of Billboard's other genre-specific singles charts (R&B/Hip-Hop, Adult Contemporary, etc.).

Also, is there anyone who thinks Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" should have occupied the top spot of the Hot 100 instead of Chuck Barry's "My Ding-a-Ling", because of the controversy surrounding the latter song?

What I am saying is that CCR had so many great hit songs that deserved a #1 spot. I was always astonished that they never achieved it. And I agree with you that though I am not an Elvis fan "Burning Love" sure was a much better song than "My Ding-A-Ling!:lol: Go figure!:confused:

Here's a song by The Left Banke that should've gotten some airplay...
Z6d9k-Nn0P4

Though Strawberry Alarm Clock had "Incense and Peppermints"...here's another great song that should've gotten airplay...
col-il_9owk

And this Nilsson song, though played a lot on Classic Rock stations should've gotten a top-40 nod...
8QghwNqlCRE

About the song What I Like About You, I just found out that there was a cover version done by some guy named Michael Morales in 1989. The cover version did reach the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The Morales version of "What I Like About You" had a peak position of #28, compared to the #49 peak of the original version by The Romantics (a #49 peak on the Hot 100 can be viewed as disappointing).

Another song whose original version flopped on the U.S. Hot 100 and a cover version did not was "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". The original version by Cherrelle had a peak of only #79 on the Hot 100. A cover by Robert Palmer that was released in 1986 got all the way to a #2 peak on the Hot 100.

Some of these selections are odd because they made the top 10 and some songs don't make number 1 for a variety of reasons. Having said that these are songs I thought of:

Rio-Duran Duran. This only made #14 (though did chart higher on the rock chart). One of their best by far.

I Melt With You-Modern English. Never charted top 40, only go to #78 but charted on the rock chart.

Sunday Bloody Sunday-U2. Only charted on the rock chart.

Radio Free Europe-REM. Only made # 78.

By the rock chart, in 1981 Billboard created a "rock" chart for alternative and album orientated songs. This chart was split in 1988 into AOR (basically classic rock artists) and alternative. The artists I mentioned were big pop bands but have done better on the alternative charts.

You're right Penny Lane CCR had a few songs that probably should've been number one. I believe they had 5 or 6 songs go all the way to number 2 on the Billboard pop chart. Which is the most songs to reach number 2 by any act on Billboard without ever having a number one hit. And yes that's a record that's still standing I think.

Ed.

Here are a few tunes from the 70's that I think deserved to do better on the charts, all of these failed to break into the top 40 on Billboard.

San Bernadino- Christie. Only made it to #100 on Billboard.

Money Back Guarantee- Five Man Electrical Band. Only made it to #72 on Billboard.

Summer Sun- Jamestown Massacre. Only made it to #90 on Billboard.

Mammy Blue- Stories. Only made it to #50 on Billboard.

Silly Milly- Blue Swede. Silly song, but deserved to do better than just #71 on Billboard.

January- Pilot. Only made it to #87 on Billboard.

Two more songs from the 70's that I think should have at least made it into the top 40, but fell short.

You, Me And Mexico- Edward Bear. Only made it to #68 on Billboard.

You Are The One- Sugar Bears. Only made it to #51 on Billboard, but was a top 10 hit in Chicago, making it to #6 on the WCFL survey in April 1972.

That song was big in England

Yeah, #6 on the UK Singles Chart, but guess what its peak position on the U.S. Hot 100 was?

It was #46.

How about a big hit in the UK that never charted on the Hot 100 at all? "Girls on Film" by Duran Duran. It made #5 in the UK Chart, and became popular and widely-known after its video received heavy airplay on MTV in the U.S.. Duran Duran didn't make an appearance on the U.S. Billboard Pop Top 40 until 1983, with "Hungry Like the Wolf".

Does anyone know how the song, 'You Get What You Give' by New Radicals, placed on the charts? I love that song.

It peaked at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Jan 99, spending four weeks in the top 40.

CCR had a slew of great hits but unbelievably never had a #1 in the USA. :eek:

CCR had a slew of great hits but unbelievably never had a #1 in the USA. :eek:

Creedence Clearwater Revival actually still holds the record for the most songs to reach number 2 on the Billboard pop chart without ever having a number 1 song: They had a total of five songs reach number 2 without ever having a number one hit on Billboard.

Ed.

Roxette's Spending My Time. I think it only reached 36 or 35 on the Billboard pop chart. It should've at least gotten into the top 10 if not all the way to number 1. It's one of their best ballads in my opinion.

Ed.