No, he was always a niche guy. I always equated him with Elvis Costello. Very talented and immensely popular, but only to a narrow niche of the market, and nowhere near the the group who makes artists huge.
His big mistake was after MTV made him a star with the “Stepping Out” video, he refused to make videos. He was also changing styles with each album.
I remember rock critic Dave Marsh being interviewed around 1984. When asked for predictions of Next Big Thing, he hesitated but mentioned liking Jason and the Sorchers. Their “Fervor” ep did well in the Village Voice critics poll but the two full length albums didn’t sell. I saw them open for Stevie Ray Vaughn at Hofstra and right from the beginning the audience reaction was loud boos and raised middle fingers.
I always crush a beer can on my forehead when I hearthis.
People got pretty excited about Susan Boyle’s first performance. Then she released a CD and, not so much excitement…
Jason (Ringenberg) now enjoys some Nashville-area regional success as children’s entertainer Farmer Jason. Jason and the Scorchers still tours the UK from time to time, with Farmer Jason dates interspersed. I may or may not be a weirdo adult who attends Farmer Jason shows without any children in tow…
There were several from St. Louis who came close, but for whatever reason didn’t quite hit the top.
Nick Nixon was a country songwriter and singer. Back in the 70’s he wrote a #1 country song. As a singer, his voice was described as “cross between Charlie Pride, David Wills, and a little Moe Bandy on the side.” He paid his dues and was a regular draw on tours, but never hit it big. Eventually he cut back on touring and opened a club in St. Louis.
Fontella Bass got her start singing gospel music in church. She was signed by Chess Records and had a million-selling hit with the song Rescue Me. She got into a fight over song credits and royalties, split with the label and largely got out of the business.
Gayle McCormick had a big voice and a lot of sex appeal. She went to L.A. and sang with the group Smith. They had abig hit and she was signed to a solo contract. Her solo career failed to take off, and after a couple of unsuccessful albums, she also left the business.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - there is possibly more good music available now than there has ever been before in the history of music. The thing is, you have to go looking for it - you won’t hear any of it on the radio.
They were never megastars but this is what happened with XTC - Andy Partridge has pretty bad stage fright and hated performing live so they just stopped doing it. They would put out an album and that would be it. Then went on a long hiatus before releasing more albums. They still put out some solid material but the lack of live performances and public appearances impacts their popularity.
And every time I ask “So direct me to the new Who. Cars. Peter Gabriel. Kate Bush.”
All I ever see are links to tepid shadows.
She probably didn’t come all that close to the big time, but I really liked “The People You Know” by Robynn Ragland. For a year in St. Louis it was hard to avoid that song, but I was still always happy when it came on the radio. “We all moved away but those days wrote a book in my life.” Good stuff. I think she still performs locally sometimes, but she makes her living as a lawyer now.
This is logically equivalent to me asking who the OutKast of 1983 was. There wasn’t one. Today’s great new music isn’t Kate Bush, just as she was not the Beach Boys of her time.
If you’ve made up your mind that there hasn’t been any good music made since 1989, there’s not much I can tell you. I’m having a ball listening to all the excellent music that the kids are putting out these days. 
The Sheepdogs - Feeling Good.
The Strokes - Juicebox.
The Ting Tings - Great DJ.
Vampire Weekend - Horchata.
Of Monsters and Men - King and Lionheart.
Florence and the Machine - Shake It Out.
Sheena’s biggest album was, in fact, her sixth, which was her only record to go platinum in the United States. She continued to produce hits into the early 90s and was one of the biggest-selling female artists of the 80s. Hell, she had a minor but very important role on Miami Vice! Overall, I’d say she was pretty huge.
One I would have predicted was going to be a massive success was Remy Shand. His first album went platinum in his native Canada and earned him a Juno award for Best R&B/Soul Recording. South of the border his sales were a little more modest but he was nominated for four Grammys and seemed like a guy who would dominate blue-eyed soul for the next decade.
I’ve heard he wound up battling depression and that took him out of the spotlight. In the last couple years he has started recording again and putting out the occasional single online. And he follows me on Twitter, which is sweet. I’d love to see him put out another album though, 'cuz he still has the talent.
Sure there was an OutKast of 1983. It was probably Madness, maybe The Specials. Almost certainly British I grant you. But there was an OutKast. OutKast had an eclectic sound that isn’t afraid to get political or push the boundries of what is considered safe to say about relationships. There were plenty of bands like that.
Granted there were probably no bands AS eclectic as OutKast. Mayyyyyyybe Fishbone. Oingo Boingo had vastly different kinds of songs but at the end of the day they were California punk…with horns.
And it’s funny you chose Kate Bush and the Beach Boys. Both are considered by many to be the greatest representation, musically, of their respective countries.
The Ting Tings? I love The Ting Tings. And they can’t hold a candle to any artist I mentioned above. If there is more great music today than at any other point in history…then the greatest should be able to produce mind-blowing, thoughtful work, and while I like what was posted above…IMHO it’s not Earth-shattering like
The Final Cut
Hunky Dory
The Dreaming
Peter Gabriel III
If there’s more great music available now than at any point in history…who is the 2015 version of Keith Moon? Or Pete Townshend? We’re not even talking about musical style now, we’re talking about talent crossed with an insatiable desire to fuck some shit up.
I would compare the Tings Tings at best to the B-52s. Whom I like a lot. But they’re no Cars.
I did like The Sheepdogs though. And I like Die Antwood (though they weren’t listed)
And please don’t flame me guys. I GET what you’re saying. And agree to an extent. I just don’t see new music that’s…serious is the word I’m looking for I guess. A level of seriousness in the music by people who don’t take themselves too seriously. If that makes any sense. The Eurythmics made very serious music, but I never thought they considered themselves the pinnacle of art.
But thank you for the links. I liked them a lot, and sorry if I’ve offended anyone.
Are you familiar with Imogen Heap?
I don’t know where this fits, but it seems like the “music industry” ™ is trying hard to push Lana Del Rey, and I have no idea why. I’m hoping she’s on this list sooner rather than later.
Liz Phair (already mentioned) has a career and all, it’s just not the career I wanted her to have. I was (am) a fan of Exile in Guyville. I stopped following her years ago, though.
I thought the Toadies were going places. I thought L7 was too. I’m not a good picker of popular favorites.
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I don’t know where this fits, but it seems like the “music industry” ™ is trying hard to push Lana Del Rey, and I have no idea why. I’m hoping she’s on this list sooner rather than later.
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Oh yes!
I’m too cynical to care when it comes to pop music, especially new acts that get overhyped but she almost makes me angry. Why is she still around? No voice, no character, snooze-inducing songs. She’s not even that good-looking which is often the only excuse new pop star have (boys or girls for that matter).
Seriously, WTF 
?
Maybe he’ll still make it big—some day, some way.
I had only heard the name but checked her out this morning.
YEAH BABY. That’s what I’m talking about! A talented genius with a great voice just doing her own thing. I don’t find her relatable in the way Kate’s story songs are on Kate’s first 4 or 5 albums but there’s definitely a ‘genius soundscape thing’ going on that Kate does these days.
Imogen is awesome. Thanks for the suggestion.