Free Fallin' - Tom Petty. Only got to no. 64. A sad state of affairs for my favourite driving sing-along song.
Yeah, a shame.
Although often played on British TV & Films, "Oh Yeah" by Yello didn't even chart in the UK.
Also, the Robert Palmer song "You Are In My System" is often played on Irish Radio
shows devoted to 80s music, so it's a surprise to learn that it never actually charted here.
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.
Also famous as the song Madonna had played at her wedding to Sean Penn.
Hall and Oates out of touch - number 48 but a US #1. Would have thought this song would have charted a lot better here. My favourite song of theirs.
the followup 'Method Of Modern Love' reached #22 and it was barely memorable in comparison. I think it was a case of high sales week November against low sales January.
One I found out about recently: "On and On" by Stephen Bishop. It was a reasonable hit in America and I've definitely heard it on the radio in this country but according to my Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, he's never had a hit in the UK top 75.
Another song I remember being played A LOT on Radio 2 in the '90s was "Shakespeare in Love" by Layla Kaylif. Again, she's never charted in this country.
Tameside Radio have just played Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London, which was released in 1978 but never a hit.
True but it did get to Number 1 (sort of ) in 2008 when it was sampled on All Summer Long by Kid Rock. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama was sampled as well, which was never a hit in the UK in the seventies either, in fact I don't even know if it was released. It did get to No44 in 2008, probably as a result of the Kid Rock song.
I remember phoning up a radio station (which shall remain nameless) when that Kid Rock song first came out to find out what it was after they'd just played it. The presenter answered the phone (it was during the next record being played) and I said, "What was that song you just played? It samples Werewolves of London. You know, the old Warren Zevon song."
She had no idea what I was talking about.:D
I did like All Summer Long, but I think it would have been better if they'd left the "Ah -hoos" in.:)
This thread probably shows that because you know and love a song, you maybe think it was more popular than it was. I have to say that I have never heard of most of the songs mentioned in this thread so not surprised they weren't hits.
For me, the shock is Dennis Edwards, Don't Look Any Further. I thought that was a huge hit but turns out it didn't make the Top 40
Two that spring to mind for me - both got loads of radio airplay when they were released - are;
Sailing - Christopher Cross https://youtu.be/yyYhZ9HH8cI
This thread probably shows that because you know and love a song, you maybe think it was more popular than it was. I have to say that I have never heard of most of the songs mentioned in this thread so not surprised they weren't hits.
You may not recognise the titles but I bet you've heard quite a few of them. If somebody had said "On and On" by Stephen Bishop I would have said I'd never heard of it, then I actually listened to it and realised I certainly had heard it. Sometimes the titles just don't jump out on you. And anyone listening to Radio 2 (the UK's most listened to radio station) in the late '90s would certainly have heard Shakespeare in Love by Layla Kaylif because they played it A LOT.
"+ 1 " by Martin Solveig seemed to get as much airplay on the music channels as his Top Ten hit "Intoxicated", yet the former song only got to number 57 in the UK charts.
That's the thing, in 1971 the Top 40 wasn't a thing. The chart be it Radio 1 or Melody Maker was the Top 30. It's not to say there wasn't a top 40, it was a top 50 or 75 but Radio and Tv only reported a top 30. Anyway the point to me was I always thought Diamonds did much better. 38 isn't even that great nowadays or do you think that is a big hit?
Comments
Whole Lotta Love by Led Zep got to 21 in 1997
Same goes for Yesterday too
Led Zeppelin's version finally did chart in 1997, albeit briefly.
Yeah, a shame.
Although often played on British TV & Films, "Oh Yeah" by Yello didn't even chart in the UK.
Also, the Robert Palmer song "You Are In My System" is often played on Irish Radio
shows devoted to 80s music, so it's a surprise to learn that it never actually charted here.
Also famous as the song Madonna had played at her wedding to Sean Penn.
George Michael-Freedom '90
But it only got to 28 apparently
the followup 'Method Of Modern Love' reached #22 and it was barely memorable in comparison. I think it was a case of high sales week November against low sales January.
I thought of that. A couple more well known Bowie songs weren't hits for Bowie, Oh You Pretty Things and The Man Who Sold the World.
One I found out about recently: "On and On" by Stephen Bishop. It was a reasonable hit in America and I've definitely heard it on the radio in this country but according to my Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, he's never had a hit in the UK top 75.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljuJnUYozUg
Another song I remember being played A LOT on Radio 2 in the '90s was "Shakespeare in Love" by Layla Kaylif. Again, she's never charted in this country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3DQDWXAhpw
I was amazed to find only got to 57. Considering they were the true Human League they deserved more success.
True but it did get to Number 1 (sort of ) in 2008 when it was sampled on All Summer Long by Kid Rock. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama was sampled as well, which was never a hit in the UK in the seventies either, in fact I don't even know if it was released. It did get to No44 in 2008, probably as a result of the Kid Rock song.
I remember phoning up a radio station (which shall remain nameless) when that Kid Rock song first came out to find out what it was after they'd just played it. The presenter answered the phone (it was during the next record being played) and I said, "What was that song you just played? It samples Werewolves of London. You know, the old Warren Zevon song."
She had no idea what I was talking about.:D
I did like All Summer Long, but I think it would have been better if they'd left the "Ah -hoos" in.:)
according to wikipedia it did'nt chart over here.
FGT was banned from the BBC because it called Ronnie Reagan a "Fascist" and Auntie
was afraid the lyric was libellous:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5R152hTbVPQdYjn29q5jt4/16-songs-banned-by-the-bbc
For me, the shock is Dennis Edwards, Don't Look Any Further. I thought that was a huge hit but turns out it didn't make the Top 40
Sailing - Christopher Cross
https://youtu.be/yyYhZ9HH8cI
Bright Side Of The Road - Van Morrison
https://youtu.be/rCDZzf4ragg
You may not recognise the titles but I bet you've heard quite a few of them. If somebody had said "On and On" by Stephen Bishop I would have said I'd never heard of it, then I actually listened to it and realised I certainly had heard it. Sometimes the titles just don't jump out on you. And anyone listening to Radio 2 (the UK's most listened to radio station) in the late '90s would certainly have heard Shakespeare in Love by Layla Kaylif because they played it A LOT.
Wasn't it yet another of Mike Read's one-man crusades? That, and 'Relax'.
So it actually did reach the top 40. ;-)
Wasnt a hit in the UK until a collaboration with Status Quo in 1996.
Every day's a school day!
also time of the season by Zombies, it still gets big radio air play today on some of the crappy stations
That's the thing, in 1971 the Top 40 wasn't a thing. The chart be it Radio 1 or Melody Maker was the Top 30. It's not to say there wasn't a top 40, it was a top 50 or 75 but Radio and Tv only reported a top 30. Anyway the point to me was I always thought Diamonds did much better. 38 isn't even that great nowadays or do you think that is a big hit?