# Musicians Whose Weakest Works Get the Most Airplay **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777 "2010-08-19T19:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/41 "2010-08-19T23:54:31Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Warren Zevon. I believe **Werewolves of London** is the **only** song of his that ever gets played on the radio. You may not like his other songs, but they are at least more complex and well-crafted than WoL. I’ve heard _Lawyers Guns and Money_ more often than Werewolves, but I never hear my favorite _The Envoy_. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/42 "2010-08-20T00:25:44Z")
Traffic is badly represented, but the only song of theirs you ever hear on the radio “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” is actually one of their best. The Animals are only represented by “The House of the Rising Sun,” which is OK, but not their best. But that’s a common issue with classic rock: other than the Beatles and maybe the Rolling Stones, there is a very small number of songs for any group, and almost never any album cuts. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/43 "2010-08-20T00:26:29Z")
Pearl Jam had a lot of great hits, so why do I keep hearing “Evenflow”? Ditto Alice in Chains and “Rooster”. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/44 "2010-08-20T00:35:03Z")
Zappa’s “Valley Girl.” ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/45 "2010-08-20T00:54:09Z")
The Canadian group **Trooper** had a minor hit in the US with the song [Raise a Little Hell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBRrCRfsf5c&feature=related) It charted 59 on the Billboard 100, probably the only song Americans are familiar with. It is a bit of novelty song given the “profane” lyrics. But they had some other songs in the mid to late 1970s like _Cold. Cold, Toronto ; Round, Round We Go_ and my favorite _(it’s Been a) Long Time_. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/46 "2010-08-20T01:00:45Z")
I am — coincidentally —right this very moment digitizing my ancient vinyl copy of Johnny Paycheck’s country music album “Someone To Give My Love To”. You probably aren’t familiar with the eponymous track, nor “Your Love is the Key to it All”, “Love is a Good Thing”, “She’s All I Live For”, “The Rain Never Falls in Denver”… I bet the only thing you’ve heard him do is “Take This Job and Shove It”, right? ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/47 "2010-08-20T02:36:19Z")
I love **Dire Straits** , and I do like “Walk of Life,” but it gets way more airplay than it deserves. They have so many better songs; Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing, and Tunnel of Love come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/48 "2010-08-20T02:43:15Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > > [@joebuck20](#): > > > > I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith. > > Feel free to close this thread now. > > That rests on the assumption that anything else Aerosmith did was any good. WTF is wrong with you? “Toy in the Attic” album anyone? “Rocks”? “Get Your Wings?” Come the fuck on. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/49 "2010-08-20T02:55:50Z")
Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? I can’t imagine a bigger waste of time. My car has a 6 CD changer so I can listen to my favorite songs at any time. At home, I have custom playlists. I have the radio off about 95% of the time. Actually, I don’t even listen to music anymore. If I do, it’s the music video, not only the song. I think the last time I actually tried to listen to the radio was maybe 1998 or before Napster. I used to listen to music stations to hear what the kids were listening to and to keep my music tastes up to date. Around that time, maybe the only one I would nominate for this thread would be David Bowie’s sellout record…the one he made just to pay the bills. I think Dancing in the Sheets was on it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/50 "2010-08-20T03:25:30Z")
Gary Numan’s “Cars”. He did a lot of neat stuff in the late 70s and early 80’s, but all you heard on the radio was “Cars”. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” was a good call. Even after they stopped making progressive albums, that’s one of their weakest singles. “Shoot High, Aim Low” is much cooler. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/51 "2010-08-20T03:26:50Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? I occasionally goto the grocery store or a restaurant or other public place that has the radio on. That’s about it. That’s enough to know what the kids listen to these days. That, and the MTV, which still periodically plays music when Snookie can’t post bail, and Xzibit needs more time to finish pimpin’ an '81 Yugo. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/52 "2010-08-20T03:43:15Z")
John Lennon’s only #1 hit in his lifetime was “Whatever Gets You Through The Night”. Chuck Berry’s only #1 hit is “My Ding-a-Ling”. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/53 "2010-08-20T03:46:39Z")
“Rock the Casbah” by The Clash. I think that in terms of records sold it was their biggest hit, but it (and, for that matter, the whole of “Combat Rock”) is artistically far below their earlier work. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/54 "2010-08-20T04:17:44Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > > [@gaffa](#): > > > > Why is it played on commercials and sporting events? > > Because it’s simple stupid fun, of course–practically made to order for those purposes. > > I agree it’s the least interesting of the Rundgren stuff I’ve heard, which isn’t all that much. Yup, it’s catchy, bouncy, happy, no “deeeeeep thoughts” required. ---
**Author:** ![statij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@statij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statij)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/55 "2010-08-20T04:29:46Z")
No Rain by Blind Melon. Not that it’s necessarily a bad song, it was just WAY overplayed and I don’t think many people realize what a phenomenal (if way too short lived) band they were. They show up on “One Hit Wonders” shows and it just kills me. I prefer almost every other song of theirs to No Rain. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/56 "2010-08-20T05:05:59Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? > > I can’t imagine a bigger waste of time. My car has a 6 CD changer so I can listen to my favorite songs at any time. At home, I have custom playlists. I have the radio off about 95% of the time. Actually, I don’t even listen to music anymore. If I do, it’s the music video, not only the song. > > I think the last time I actually tried to listen to the radio was maybe 1998 or before Napster. I used to listen to music stations to hear what the kids were listening to and to keep my music tastes up to date. So you only listen to music you already own, that’s clear. How do you find new music to like? And in fact you say you don’t even listen to music, so why are you in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/57 "2010-08-20T06:10:25Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I never could understand why Led Zeppelin’s D’yer Mak’er got so much airplay. Worst song on the album. I feel the same, but I think this is an example of why an artist’s most ambitious work might not be suitable for airplay. “No Quarter” is a late-night song if it’s a radio song at all. “The Ocean” is not complete if you don’t get to hear _We’ve done four already but now we’re steady…_ at the beginning, and perhaps the DJs won’t or can’t jack the sound up and back down again. Radio songs have to grab the listener’s attention and hold it, but without distracting them too much. And many fine songs require more concentration than “D’yer Maker” or “Owner of a Lonely Heart” or “Werewolves”. ---
**Author:** ![asian\_riff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@asian\_riff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asian_riff)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/58 "2010-08-20T07:09:19Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? > > I can’t imagine a bigger waste of time. My car has a 6 CD changer so I can listen to my favorite songs at any time. You still listen to CDs? ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/59 "2010-08-20T10:18:09Z")
The first song that popped into my head was “Time In a Bottle” by Jim Croce. “Operator”, “Big Bad Leroy Brown” and “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim”, get some airplay, but they don’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/60 "2010-08-20T13:17:52Z")
Gary Wright had hits with “Dream Weaver” and “Love is Alive”. I prefer Love is Alive, but I hear it maybe once for every hundred Dream Weavers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777.md?page=4)