Great pick - did much better in the United States where it's seen as an early 80s classic, and that's how it's become much more well known here. Thankfully the other big Flock of Seagulls hit, 'Wishing I Had A Photograph of You' went top ten here.
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes incredibly only reached no.82
First time I heard this was aged about fifteen, not the Carmen original but the Eurodance cover that reached #16 here in 2004! Listen (if you dare): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMoLNLisv8
Always thought this was one of the big rap hits from the late 80s but turns out it only reached #41 in the UK charts.
Elton John - Step Into Christmas
Being a Christmas song you're likely to hear this at some point in December but when released it peaked at #24. I thought it had been a top 10 hit at least in the 70s. Also interesting to note that the original Are You Ready For Love? peaked at #42 in 1979 whilst Norman Cook's remix got to #1 in 2003.
Great pick - did much better in the United States where it's seen as an early 80s classic, and that's how it's become much more well known here. Thankfully the other big Flock of Seagulls hit, 'Wishing I Had A Photograph of You' went top ten here.
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I think GTA:Vice City was what made it more popular here as I didn't know it at all until that game came out
First time I heard this was aged about fifteen, not the Carmen original but the Eurodance cover that reached #16 here in 2004! Listen (if you dare): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMoLNLisv8
It's always the ones that became hits that were not intended at first to be released that interest me. B sides etc
Or big classics that were never even singles that we all know.
Starbuck - Moonlight feels right 1976. Big hit in the US and big radio hit .
Harry Chapin - Cats in the cradle
Janis Ian - Fly too high
Godley & Creme - Englishman in new york
Kansas - Carry On Wayward son
Flash and the Pan - And the band played on
Donald Fagen - New Frontier
Don Henley - Dirty Laundry
Chris White - Spanish wine.....another radio hit
Carry On My Wayward Son ;-) My ringtone so I know it's correct:D
'Summer of 69' by Bryan Adams always gets a mention in these type of threads.
Played all the time on Heart FM and their like but never made the UK Top 40.
The same applies to Heaven which barely scraped the Top 40 in 1985 to reach No.38. The DJ Sammy version in the early 00s was much more successful. It got to No.1
ETA: Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea only reached No.53 in 1988. Over the last few years with the advent of downloads it re-enters the lower end of the Top 40 every December.
Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 only reached No.47 in 1981 which is surprising as it's become somewhat of a karaoke classic
The same applies to Heaven which barely scraped the Top 40 in 1985 to reach No.38. The DJ Sammy version in the early 00s was much more successful. It got to No.1
ETA: Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea only reached No.53 in 1988. Over the last few years with the advent of downloads it re-enters the lower end of the Top 40 every December.
Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 only reached No.47 in 1981 which is surprising as it's become somewhat of a karaoke classic
Dolly's Here You Come Again never entered the 40 either. Got lots of radio play and a perfect pop song. Better than 9 to 5
The radio hit side of this is more interesting to me, things that got airplay but didn't make the top 40. Gerard Kenny's New York New York could be an example.
That version (there are several) has approaching 5 million views on YouTube yet it only got to 51 in the UK charts, it was released as a double A-side.
80s kids may remember this as the song from 'Weird Science' that wasn't "Weird Science". 90s kids will remember this as the song from the end of Clueless - well, the penultimate song before the credits roll to "Need You Around" - which I have the UK CD single release of, so it probably counts for this thread itself!
Always thought this was one of the big rap hits from the late 80s but turns out it only reached #41 in the UK charts.
Elton John - Step Into Christmas
Being a Christmas song you're likely to hear this at some point in December but when released it peaked at #24. I thought it had been a top 10 hit at least in the 70s. Also interesting to note that the original Are You Ready For Love? peaked at #42 in 1979 whilst Norman Cook's remix got to #1 in 2003.
Wasnt Tiny Dancer also a non charter when it was released that has become popular since?
That version (there are several) has approaching 5 million views on YouTube yet it only got to 51 in the UK charts, it was released as a double A-side.
Good call!
Just remembered another Xmas tune: Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses.
Comments
Smooth Radio plays that several times a day.
Great pick - did much better in the United States where it's seen as an early 80s classic, and that's how it's become much more well known here. Thankfully the other big Flock of Seagulls hit, 'Wishing I Had A Photograph of You' went top ten here.
First time I heard this was aged about fifteen, not the Carmen original but the Eurodance cover that reached #16 here in 2004! Listen (if you dare): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMoLNLisv8
Always thought this was one of the big rap hits from the late 80s but turns out it only reached #41 in the UK charts.
Elton John - Step Into Christmas
Being a Christmas song you're likely to hear this at some point in December but when released it peaked at #24. I thought it had been a top 10 hit at least in the 70s. Also interesting to note that the original Are You Ready For Love? peaked at #42 in 1979 whilst Norman Cook's remix got to #1 in 2003.
I think GTA:Vice City was what made it more popular here as I didn't know it at all until that game came out
I've heard it before, bloody awful 😁
And, iirc, those who brought the single didn't actually get the remix version.
Great pick!
It's always the ones that became hits that were not intended at first to be released that interest me. B sides etc
Or big classics that were never even singles that we all know.
Cheers! :cool:
Carry On My Wayward Son ;-) My ringtone so I know it's correct:D
The same applies to Heaven which barely scraped the Top 40 in 1985 to reach No.38. The DJ Sammy version in the early 00s was much more successful. It got to No.1
ETA: Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea only reached No.53 in 1988. Over the last few years with the advent of downloads it re-enters the lower end of the Top 40 every December.
Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 only reached No.47 in 1981 which is surprising as it's become somewhat of a karaoke classic
Dolly's Here You Come Again never entered the 40 either. Got lots of radio play and a perfect pop song. Better than 9 to 5
The Church - Under the Milky Way hit #24 in the US, only hit #90 in the UK.
Til Tuesday - Voices Carry #8 in the US, never charted in the UK at all.
General Public - Tenderness #27 in the US, #95 in the UK.
Talking Heads - Burning Down The House #9 in the US, failed to chart in the UK
Real Life - Send Me an Angel #26 in the US, failed to chart in the UK.
The Allman Brothers - Jessica #29 in the US. Never charted in the UK, which is ironic once you listen to it and realize where you know it from.
That version (there are several) has approaching 5 million views on YouTube yet it only got to 51 in the UK charts, it was released as a double A-side.
80s kids may remember this as the song from 'Weird Science' that wasn't "Weird Science". 90s kids will remember this as the song from the end of Clueless - well, the penultimate song before the credits roll to "Need You Around" - which I have the UK CD single release of, so it probably counts for this thread itself!
Wasnt Tiny Dancer also a non charter when it was released that has become popular since?
Good call!
Just remembered another Xmas tune: Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses.
Yesterday got to number 8 in 1976