What band/artist most changed their style in pursuit of the almighty dollar?

I'd say M.C. Hammer, but not for the reasons most people would think (the commercials, the cartoon, etc.), but because he tried to go the Gangster route.

There was a rock band named Exile that had a late' 70s hit with a song called Kiss You All Over. Finding limited success after that, in the '80s they shifted to a country band , and landed some more songs on the country charts.

I hate to say this because they are one of my favorite bands but Duran Duran. They started out as a goth punk type band (they sounded a lot like Joy Division) but then moved more into pop and teen idol status, though at the time (the 80's)they still kept their punk roots. Then in the 90's really put out a great album (The Wedding Album)that was a hit on the alternative charts. However, to get more R&B and hip hop fans they decided to work with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. After that they put out a fantastic album that goes back to their alternative moves and their latest album once again is trying to reach hip hop/R&B fans. Honestly I don't get this because they were never a R&B or hip hop band and never appealed to those fans. Instead they are alienating a lot of their long time fans.

There was a rock band named Exile that had a late' 70s hit with a song called Kiss You All Over. Finding limited success after that, in the '80s they shifted to a country band , and landed some more songs on the country charts.
The question is how long would they have lasted if they had stayed where they were?

God bless you and them always!!! :) :) :)

Holly

P.S. This is my most favorite song from them. :) :) :)

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Exile actually formed in 1963 (as The Exiles) and had little chart success until "Kiss You All Over" which was #1 for 3 weeks. Their follow up single ("You Thrill Me") peaked at #40. Lead singer Jimmy Stokely was ousted from the band a year later and with his health declining passed away in 1985 at age 41. I don't know if Exile's switch to country was because of money or maybe they just wanted to try something new. Regardless though, it was a smart move on their part as they racked up 10 #1 country hits between 1983 - 1987.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_You_All_Over

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i am a big fan but i have to say the doobie brothers they started out with a style that was sillmilar to the greatful dead and later became more well known as a soft rock/pop band

i am a big fan but i have to say the doobie brothers they started out with a style that was sillmilar to the greatful dead and later became more well known as a soft rock/pop band

You can thank Michael McDonald for that, I was a fan until he took over the lead vocals from Tom Johnston.

The question is how long would they have lasted if they had stayed where they were?

I think Country & Western Music is dull and overrated beyond belief. No offense.

I think Country & Western Music is dull and overrated beyond belief. No offense.

You're really behind the times, it hasn't been called country & western music in years.

I love that song "Kiss you all over" by Exile! It's a beautiful song!

Just because an artist/band changes their musical direction it doesn't always mean it was for more money.

The Oak Ridge Boys were gospel from the 1940's until 1977 when the lineup at the time decided to switch to country/pop. My guess is that they made more money but that may or may not have been a factor in their choice.

I used to work in country radio and people would be surprised how many formerly rock artists switched to country. Some had success (Exile, Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish, etc)while others not as much or lasting success. The reason is because country artists generally have a longer career. Also, much of what is country today is really rock with twang. Then of course you also have the country artists who wanted mainstream pop success as well so are now considered both country and pop.

Just because an artist/band changes their musical direction it doesn't always mean it was for more money.

The Oak Ridge Boys were gospel from the 1940's until 1977 when the lineup at the time decided to switch to country/pop. My guess is that they made more money but that may or may not have been a factor in their choice.

I suspect they did it because they did it when it was common. If you look at the pop charts around this time you'll see country acts like Dolly Parton, Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys and Kenny Rogers (who of course started as a psychedelic act). Then there were the basically one hit wonder songs like Somebody's Knocking that were country and pop. This was a big trend until the mid 80s and New Wave (and many would call these acts sellouts as New Wave was a mainstream form of punk). Then this trend would start again in the mid 90's and I don't think ever stopped.

much of what is country today is really rock with twang.

You are correct about that. I dislike what passes for country music today, it's rocked up garbage with a twang. I prefer the old school country music, the type of stuff you'd see and hear on Hee Haw with Roy Clark and Buck Owens. Now THAT is real country music.

If you look at the pop charts around this time you'll see country acts like Dolly Parton, Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys and Kenny Rogers (who of course started as a psychedelic act).

I know that crossover artists were big on the pop charts at that time. Ronnie Milsap, Anne Murray, Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal Gayle & the ones you mentioned were among the most successful.

You're really behind the times, it hasn't been called country & western music in years.
He is not behind the times. He means "honky tonk" type music. Calling it country and western means it is dull.... bland.... and it all sounds the same. I'll agree with Vahan on this matter. Country music sucks IMO.

Metallica with the Load album. I still hate them for softening their sound.

Metallica with the Load album. I still hate them for softening their sound.
I give them a break as they were getting older and they had to cut their hair. You can't stay 25 forever. Their age was showing. That's all.

He is not behind the times. He means "honky tonk" type music. Calling it country and western means it is dull.... bland.... and it all sounds the same. I'll agree with Vahan on this matter. Country music sucks IMO.

He referred to it as country & western music, it hasn't been officially called that since 1962 when the western part of it was dropped. My reply had nothing to do with whether or not he liked country music. The term country & western doesn't mean it's dull or bland. It refers to a genre. Whether or not you or Vahan like country music is irrelevant.

He referred to it as country & western music, it hasn't been officially called that since 1962 when the western part of it was dropped.

The music itself is behind the times which might be why Vahan referred to it as "country and western."
All of the male country singers sound like broken lawn mowers.
That's just the way it is.

The music itself is behind the times which might be why Vahan referred to it as "country and western."
All of the male country singers sound like broken lawn mowers.
That's just the way it is.

It's been behind the times for years, this I will agree with you on. I'm a huge fan with a massive record collection but I can't listen to this stuff they try to pass off as music today and not just country. I mean pop, rock, R&B, etc... I stopped listening to 'new' music in the early 90's and try to avoid it all costs but of course that's not always possible.

It's been behind the times for years, this I will agree with you on. I'm a huge fan with a massive record collection but I can't listen to this stuff they try to pass off as music today and not just country. I mean pop, rock, R&B, etc... I stopped listening to 'new' music in the early 90's and try to avoid it all costs but of course that's not always possible.
Yes, I totally agree with you. Today's country music is just trash.... like Luke Bryan for example.... he really sounds like a broke lawn mower.... his hideous song "This Is How We Roll" makes me sick. I hate it. And whoever (I forget the name) but whoever sings that ridiculous song "Beer With Jesus" also sounds like a broke lawn mower.
I did like the old stuff like Crystal Gale or even Merle Haggard and some Conway Twitty.
Today's "country music" isn't even music. It's just ridiculous nonsense.

I had to look it up but Thomas Rhett sings "Beer With Jesus." Thankfully I've never heard it and that has to be one of the dumbest song titles ever. :rolleyes:

I had to look it up but Thomas Rhett sings "Beer With Jesus." Thankfully I've never heard it and that has to be one of the dumbest song titles ever. :rolleyes:
:lol: :lol: :lol:

That song is HORRIBLE! Unfortunately, I heard a clip of it a long time ago when I was flipping through radio stations. Sean Hannity was playing that pitiful song on his radio show.

I think Country & Western Music is dull and overrated beyond belief. No offense.
None taken. I do have to say though that it isn't all boring when there are so many different forms of it now pretty much or least music that falls into the country category now because it isn't considered pop enough, or R&B enough, etc. which actually irks me. There is a new girl singer in country who I don't think sounds country at all. To me she sounds too much like a teeny bopper who I guess wasn't pop enough for pop radio therefore we in country music are the ones who are stuck with her, Kelsea Ballerini is her name. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

God bless you always!!! :) :) :)

Holly

P.S. My newest favorite is someone that I pretty much had to find on my own and they actually got started in pop music, but later on made the full transition to country music, the late beautiful precious Billy Joe Royal that is, (If only I had found him sooner.) All that I can tell you is to not rely on what other people think is the best. Who you think should fall into that category is out there. The sad thing about it though is that you get very little help in finding what is good from other people if you get any help at all. :( :( :(

I think it depends on what you mean by "selling out".

I think the whole style of modern country music has definitely sold out. I agree modern country music is awful. With their deciding to appeal to rock, and R & B and pop fans it's disgraceful (never mind how sexual the lyrics have become!). I have nothing against those styles of music necessarily, it depends on the artist. But I hate turning one style into another and still calling it something that it's absolutely not. The whole "bro country" style is especially disgusting. And most of the singers nowadays are terrible. You can still find good real country music and country music singers out there but you have to really look for it. But it's worth it. It's a shame they just won't play it on the radio

I grew up listening to country music so I'm a lifelong fan, so yes I'm really offended by people who say it's boring or stupid. But that's your problem. People who think that way obviously don't get it and they never will.

Ed.

I think it depends on what you mean by "selling out".

I think the whole style of modern country music has definitely sold out. I agree modern country music is awful. With their deciding to appeal to rock, and R & B and pop fans it's disgraceful (never mind how sexual the lyrics have become!). I have nothing against those styles of music necessarily, it depends on the artist. But I hate turning one style into another and still calling it something that it's absolutely not. The whole "bro country" style is especially disgusting. And most of the singers nowadays are terrible. You can still find good real country music and country music singers out there but you have to really look for it. But it's worth it. It's a shame they just won't play it on the radio

I grew up listening to country music so I'm a lifelong fan, so yes I'm really offended by people who say it's boring or stupid. But that's your problem. People who think that way obviously don't get it and they never will.

Ed.
You yourself just said that today's country music is "awful." :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

Modern "country" is awful. When I say good and real country I'm talking about traditional sounding country. That's the only kind that matters. Real traditional country that can make you cry or happy or sad and touch your soul is good music.

Ed.