No Hit Wonders

Cafe Society
41

Well, since it seems I can’t let a music thread go by without mentioning The Tragically Hip, but they really fit this category.

If we’re talking about US charts, they’ve had no hits. In Canada, however, they are second only to Rush as being a National Treasure.

It’s amazing to me that Fully Completely and Day For Night didn’t break here in the US. I thought when Dan Ackroyd invited them to play SNL in 1995(?) would have been the catalyst for them to make it big here, but no dice. They even played “Nautical Disaster” for chrissakes!

Alright. Rant over. I’m calm now.

42

The Minutemen… or did they finally get a posthumous hit when Jackass picked up “Corona”?

43

Robert Johnson’s recordings did fairly well on their release, but nothing great. (His first release, ‘Terraplane Blues’ was his biggest seller). Keep in mind, the Depression was still going strong, and it was tougher on the poor blacks who bought blues records.

But as far as I know, there were no charts for ‘race’ music at the time – in many cases, there aren’t even accurate sales figures.

44

Violent Femmes self titled album is another slow but steady seller. It has gone platinum (sales of over one million) but it peaked on the Billboard chart at #171. (in 1991! despite being released in 1982) [Hijack]Hmm… Soundscan was introduced in 1991. Coincidence??[/hijack] Several songs from this album received tons of alternative/modern-rock/whatever-they-call-it-this-week airplay in the mid 1990s, but none charted as singles.

45

Little Feat, they’ve been around for a bit, had some tunes on the radio, but usually are only know and loved by the truly hip. :slight_smile:

46

The Who never reached #1 either on the album or single charts in the USA. Their only Top 10 single was “I Can See for Miles,” which reached #9. They’ve had lots of Top 10 albums, but never quite made the top slot.

47

What a travesty! The most annoying song The Who ever made is the only one to break the Top Ten?!

“Pinball Wizard” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” are far better than the whinefest of “I Can See For Miles.”

48

Their Top Ten albums:

Tommy - #4
Live at Leeds - #4
Who’s Best - #4
Quadrophenia - #2
The Who By Numbers - #8
Who Are You - #2
The Kids Are Alright - #8
Face Dances - #4
It’s Hard - #8

49

Ah, but they have had several Top 20 singles: Who Are You, See Me, Feel Me and You Better You Bet to name a few.

50

I thought ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ was a hit too, based on how much I heard it on the AOR stations. It’s a great song, but I sure got sick of it (for a while).

51

Two of my favorites, Leonard Cohen and John Prine, have huge, devoted followings but no Top 40 hits that I can think of.

52

This episode is scheduled to run this Sunday morning at 3am (EST).

53

I’m pretty sure John Prine never cracked the top 40, but a number of artists have had major hits covering his songs.

Another one is Warren Zevon, who got as high as #21 with Werewolves of London, but that’s about it.

54

I think Zevon’s last album had the biggest sales numbers of his career, or the biggest initial sales at least.

55

It may be, although “Exictable Boy” would be close - both albums went gold. But even his most popular albums never cracked a million in sales.

56

And let us not forget… Yanni.

57

I’ve never heard Wilco on the radio (except maybe college radio) so I’d guess they probably count.

58

What about reggae? Did Bob Marley or Peter Tosh ever make the Top 40?

59

Nope.

60

They get occasional airtime here in the Bay Area, since they’re from here and all. Once I saw a Jeep with the license plate “XPRIMUSX”, and I’ve always wondered if it belonged to one of the band members.