# Greatest number of Top 10 hits with no number 1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 29, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252 "2020-10-29T23:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/1 "2020-10-29T23:32:01Z")
Just wondering what artist or band can lay claim to the most top 10 hits ( in any genre) without ever actually having a #1 hit.? As a related question, how would you even go about researching this answer? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/2 "2020-10-29T23:58:28Z")
If we are just talking USA here, I’m going to put forth Creedence Clearwater Revival as a possible answer. Lots of Top 10, but no #1 on the Billboard chart. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/3 "2020-10-30T00:11:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If we are just talking USA here, I’m going to put forth Creedence Clearwater Revival as a possible answer. I think Springsteen has them beat. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/4 "2020-10-30T00:21:53Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I think Springsteen has them beat. Nope. Eleven #1 hits. [https://www.billboard.com/music/bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band/chart-history/HSI/2](https://www.billboard.com/music/bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band/chart-history/HSI/2) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/5 "2020-10-30T00:25:42Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > > I think Springsteen has them beat. > > Nope. Eleven #1 hits. > > [https://www.billboard.com/music/bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band/chart-history/HSI/2](https://www.billboard.com/music/bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band/chart-history/HSI/2) I don’t think that link says what you think. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/6 "2020-10-30T00:44:29Z")
Springsteen was going to be my guess as well. The link above says 12 top 10 hits (American) with 0 number ones (The 11 #1s is #1 albums, not songs). CCR is the highest runner up I’ve found so far, with 9 top 10 hits. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/7 "2020-10-30T00:46:42Z")
I quit following Springsteen after Silvio shot Adrianna. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/8 "2020-10-30T00:46:51Z")
Wikipedia has complete discographies for all major artists. You can check highest chart position for singles and count top tens. I Googled for acts with no number ones first. Been ninjaed while I was playing with names. Creedence Clearwater Revival has 9. Bruce Springsteen has 12. Missy Elliott has 5 but an additional 6 as featured artist. Somebody has done this for the [UK charts](http://chartwatchuk.blogspot.com/2015/09/most-hits-without-number-one.html). Bon Jovi wins with 18, followed by Janet Jackson at 17 and Nat King Cole at 16. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/9 "2020-10-30T01:00:03Z")
You can monkey with the Billboard link above by entering the artist name with hyphens for spaces into the URL and the top line will give you a summary count of #1s, Top 10 and Top 100 US chart singles. Other runner ups are ELO with 7, and surprisingly Journey with 6. I think every dance when I was in high school was required by law to play “Open Arms”, which peaked at #2. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/10 "2020-10-30T02:14:22Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t think that link says what you think. I sit corrected. > **[16 iconic musicians who have never had a No. 1 song](https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-singers-bands-never-had-number-one-song-2019-4)** > > Incredibly, these prolific musical acts, including Johnny Cash and Missy Elliott, have never reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/11 "2020-10-30T12:12:24Z")
If this type of music topic interests you, I could not recommend **“Hit Parade”** podcast more highly. It’s by a music historian, Chris Molanphy who basically looks at the stories behind billboard hits. He deals with both bands and eras of music. > **[Hit Parade](https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade)** > > What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. To answer your original post I believe he does concur that it is CCR. > **[CCR Still Holds the Record for Most No. 2 Songs Without a No. 1](https://slate.com/culture/2019/02/how-ccr-set-a-dubious-chart-record-with-five-no-2-songs-all-rock-classics.html)** > > Their runners-up are all classics. > In just a couple of years, Creedence Clearwater Revival generated one of the most amazing runs of hits in American pop history: from “Proud Mary” to “Green River,” “Bad Moon Rising” to “Travelin’ Band.” Reportedly, they even outsold the Beatles in America in 1969. But for all their success with those John Fogerty–penned classics, CCR never held the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100. All of those hits were No. 2s: a Billboard chart record they hold to this day, for most No. 2s without a No. 1. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/12 "2020-10-30T15:59:12Z")
This doesn’t quite work, does it? > [@GMANCANADA](#): > > All of those hits were No. 2s: a Billboard chart record they hold to this day, for most No. 2s without a No. 1. No Shit? Huh. I wonder if they’re pissed? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/13 "2020-10-30T19:03:17Z")
> [@GMANCANADA](#): > > To answer your original post I believe he does concur that it is CCR. As two people have already said, Springsteen 12, CCR 9. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/14 "2020-10-30T20:29:03Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This doesn’t quite work, does it? > > > [@GMANCANADA](#): > > > > All of those hits were No. 2s: a Billboard chart record they hold to this day, for most No. 2s without a No. 1. > > No Shit? Huh. I wonder if they’re pissed? Why would they be? A #2 single makes them a lot of money (if the record company doesn’t steal it). ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/15 "2020-10-30T21:07:34Z")
Reporter: Does it bother you to be called a one-hit wonder? Robin Scott: No. It’s one more than you’ve had. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/16 "2020-10-31T04:11:50Z")
I understand that Electric Light Orchestra has the most top 40 songs without a number one song (which wasn’t asked) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/17 "2020-10-31T16:10:11Z")
And James Brown has the most top 100 songs without a number one. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/18 "2020-10-31T17:41:11Z")
I was curious I went through my spreadsheet of favorite songs. I tried to do an equivalent of top 10 without being a number one. My top 2 is a tie with Rolling Stones and Jim Croce with 9. Third place with 8 was Bruce Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-top-10-hits-with-no-number-1/924252/19 "2020-10-31T19:11:58Z")
Check out [October 31’s](https://www.gocomics.com/ripleysbelieveitornot/2020/10/31) _Ripley’s Believe It or Not_.