I disagree. Extraordinary Machine was very well recieved as was that other album I can’t remember but it had some ridiculously long title. She is pretty well respected as a musician and songwriter.
The British band Space had a decent hit in the U.S. with “Female of the Species” in the mid-90s. The album it was off of, Spiders, was absolutely terrific, start to finish. I thought the follow up, Tin Planet, was also chock-full of catchy, interesting, unique rock songs, but they never had another chart hit in the U.S.
Looking at their wikipedia page, I see they had several other chart hits in the U.K., though.
Re: Fountains of Wayne–Strange that Stacy’s Mom became their “greatest hit”, when it was kind of a throwaway song for them. My take on the band’s lack of success was that Jody Porter was always wasted on stage; Chris and Adam’s songwriting talent couldn’t make up for that.
Swiss duo Yello are best known for Oh Yeah! which was unforgetably used over the closing credits of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
They had been making albums since the early 80s and still put out a new album every few years.
They were my favourite band at the time Female Of The Species came out. It was my favourite song for years after that too.
Getting second billing to puppet shows. It’s a bit sad really.
Stepping into the wayback time machine…While they were actually a bit more than a OHW, **The Cowsills **never really achieved their full potential, nor did they ever come close to matching the popularity of Indian Lake. Loved that effortless 5-part harmony that seems to be peculiar to family groups. The band split up over internal squabbles, although the remaining members continue to perform occasionally even todaymore than 40 years after their one big hit.
Also, Brewer & Shipley achieved lots of notariety with One Toke Over the Line, but practically disappeared from view afterwards.
SS
Excellent! Enjoy!
Me as well. I still listen to it from time to time, and am amazed at how well it holds up.
Probably wise, given that all 5 of their albums have peaked in the top 10 on the US charts. I do love their work though…pretty darn good throughout.
The other album was “When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He’ll Win the Whole Thing Fore He Enters the Ring There’s No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You’ll Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won’t Matter, Cuz You Know That You’re Right.” I don’t know why I memorized that, when I can barely remember my own phone number, but I can’t get it out of my head.
Chumbawamba is my pick. Everyone only knows Tubthumping, but they have a huge catalog and have changed styles several times. Their recent stuff is British folk rock. Listen to the Tubthumper album, then listen to “The Boy Bands Have Won” and you wouldn’t think they’re the same band. The latter album is brilliant, by the way.
The only Fiona Apple song I’ve ever heard (and I’d wager the same is true for a great many other people) is her cover of Across The Universe from the Pleasantville soundtrack, FWIW.
Aztec Camera - Their first two albums are excellent, from first track to last.
The Go Gos - As above.
Big Country - Ahead of their time. In some of their early music you can hear Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
The Stray Cats - Whether or not you like rockabilly, you have to admit these guys made a lot of noise for a three piece band, especially if you ever saw them live.
Hair and The Rain, The Park, and Other Things both charted significantly higher than Indian Lake - #2 vs #10, according to Wiki, and checking a list of the overall popularity of the songs in a given year (by Billboard’s count), Hair is #13 for 1969, The Rain #49 for 1967, and Indian Lake #71 for 1968.
Then try “English Rebel Songs” for something really different.
I agree they’re great, but they weren’t quite one-hit wonders. They had 4 top 20 hits, and their first album even topped the Billboard charts for six weeks.
I won’t disagree with you there but I do think the long gaps between album releases has prevented Fiona Apple from reaching the level of fame that many people predicted she’d achieve when she first came on the scene in 1996. It was three years between her first and “When the Pawn…” and nearly six between that and “Extraordinary Machine.” It’s now been another six years since her last release.
I think we’re having a problem defining the terms here. The OP says
I think some people are equating sales or chart positions with status. To me, anyway, there can be great bands who have a few songs chart well, but still be virtually unknown except for “signature songs.” I see a difference between, for lack of a better term, a “musician’s musician” and mass fandom.
For instance, I love Wilco, and they have a lot of great music, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot hit #13 on Billboard’s charts, but I think the vast majority of people would be stumped to name one song by them.
Yes I like them, and they are still with us, on YouTube. Some of these are less toe-tapping than foot-stomping, and they are among my favorites. I couldn’t find “Angel Mama”, and I did find these for your (dancing) pleasure:
[ul]
[li]Maggie[/li][li]Got a Job[/li][li]Somebody Stole My Wife[/li][li]Hello Nadine[/li][li]Lady Rose[/li][li]Gonna Bop Til I Drop[/li][/ul]