Top 40 Music on Compact Disc: 50s/60s/70s non-top 40 hits

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Topic: 50s/60s/70s non-top 40 hits

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sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 7:57am \| IP Logged

MTV's probably the reason there's a ton of 80s songs that didn't chart highly but are still well-known, but could we compile a list for 50s/60s/70s music as well?

I'm more familiar with BILLBOARD than with CASHBOX, so if any of these hit the top 40 on CASHBOX I'll humbly withdraw them. But a few that come to mind:

La Grange - Z Z Top
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
More Than A Woman - Bee Gees
Sail On Sailor- Beach Boys
Break On Through (To The Other Side) - The Doors
New York City Rhythm - Barry Manilow
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel

Anyone care to append?

Edited by sriv94 on 07 February 2008 at 2:24pm

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AndrewChouffi
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 8:19am \| IP Logged

Hi Doug,

Great topic!

For correction purposes "Fortunate Son" reached 14 as a Billboard side & 6 as a Cashbox side.

It certainly was a hit at the time & a hit for all-time.

Andy

sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 8:30am \| IP Logged

Correction made.

Also thought of:

Lights - Journey
Living In The U.S.A. - Steve Miller Band
Mexico - James Taylor
Roll Over Beethoven - Electric Light Orchestra
Guitar Man - Elvis Presley (1968 version)
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie

Edited by sriv94 on 07 February 2008 at 2:23pm

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eriejwg
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 10:02am \| IP Logged

Interesting observation here. "Living In The U.S.A." was originally on a 1968 release, Sailor. The album was re-released as Living In The U.S.A. in 1973.

sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 11:52am \| IP Logged

eriejwg wrote:

Interesting observation here. "Living In The U.S.A." was originally on a 1968 release, Sailor. The album was re-released as Living In The U.S.A. in 1973.

And "Living In The U.S.A." (the song) charted after "The Joker" took off.

I figured the 80s songs on the list far outdistance the earlier decades combined--to do one for each of the decades would be very short lists.

Edited by sriv94 on 07 February 2008 at 11:52am

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bdpop
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 1:10pm \| IP Logged

My 2 cents:

Too Late - Journey
I'll Supply the Love - Toto
Make You Feel Love Again - Wet Willie
Crying In the Night - Buckingham Nicks
Georgy Porgy - Toto
Walk Right Now - The Jacksons
Blame It On the Boogie - The Jacksons
One Life To Live - Lou Rawls
Alison - Elvis Costello
Midnight Light - LeBlanc & Carr
Clouds - David Gates
Part Time Love - David Gates
Who Was It - Hurricane Smith
Hurt - The Manhattans
In the Bush - Musique
San Francisco - Village People
Drivin' Around - The Raspberries
Carolina In the Pines - James Taylor
Knock Knock Who's There - Mary Hopkin
Ma Na Ma Na - Piero Umilllni
Showdown - ELO
Ma Ma Ma Belle - ELO
Flashback - 5th Dimension
Tequila Sunrise - The Eagles
Roll With the Changes - REO Speedwagon
Time For Me To Fly - REO Speedwagon (Had this song come out in the 80's, it would had been a number one hit)

sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 1:39pm \| IP Logged

I think "Time For Me To Fly" was rereleased in 1980 (before Hi Infidelity came out).

And I believe the James Taylor track you're referring to is "Carolina In My Mind."

"Tequila Sunrise" is a great choice. A few more:

Danny's Song - Loggins & Messina (before that bitch Anne Murray ruined it [kidding])
Bandstand Boogie - Barry Manilow
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Wheel In The Sky - Journey
Let It Bleed - Rolling Stones

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Brian W.
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 1:47pm \| IP Logged

"Tiny Dancer" was top 40 in both Cash Box and Record World, Doug.

I think "More Than a Woman" is considered a BeeGees classic only because they wrote it, just like "Nothing Compares 2 U" is a Prince classic.

"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" never charted because it wasn't released as a single.

But good list... keep 'em coming.

Edited by Brian W. on 07 February 2008 at 1:48pm

Brian W.
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 1:50pm \| IP Logged

I'll add:

Pinball Wizard - Elton John (promo single only)
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder wouldn't allow a commercial release or an edit, as covered in other threads)
Song for Guy - Elton John (#1 hit in England but only bubbled under in the U.S.)

sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 1:52pm \| IP Logged

A lot of these never charted because they weren't single releases, or they were B-sides that didn't get listed. "More Than A Woman" is a great example--radio tended to play the Bee Gees' version more than Tavares' version (even though Tavares' version squeaked into the top 40, while the Bee Gees' version wasn't issued as a single then).

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sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 1:55pm \| IP Logged

Brian W. wrote:

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder wouldn't allow a commercial release or an edit, as covered in other threads)

Already added.

Brian W. wrote:

Pinball Wizard - Elton John (promo single only)

Was that an edited single, or a straight reissue of the LP version?

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Brian W.
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 2:05pm \| IP Logged

Quote:

Brian W. wrote:

Pinball Wizard - Elton John (promo single only)

Was that an edited single, or a straight reissue of the LP version?

Running time matches the album version, according to Eltonography.com.

Edited by Brian W. on 07 February 2008 at 2:06pm

mstgator
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 2:06pm \| IP Logged

sriv94 wrote:

La Bamba - Ritchie Valens

This one made #22 in Billboard (it was the flip side of his smash "Donna"). Perhaps you're thinking of the equally catchy "Come On, Let's Go" which only hit #42.

Brian W.
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 2:20pm \| IP Logged

"All My Loving" actually made it to #31 in Cash Box, #32 Record World, Doug. (Cash Box, at least, was still completely sales-based at the time; I believe Record World was, too.)

Etta James' "At Last" made it to #30 in Cash Box. Don't have Record World info for that year.

sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 2:21pm \| IP Logged

A few more (a lot of these tend to be AOR/classic rock staples):

Fool For The City - Foghat
Woman From Tokyo - Deep Purple
Highway Star - Deep Purple
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy
Someone To Lay Down Beside Me - Linda Ronstadt

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sriv94
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 2:24pm \| IP Logged

Now that I think about it, "Jessica" also hit the top 40 in CASH BOX.

This may be the first thread ever where I edit it to complete nothingness. :)

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Hykker
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 5:51pm \| IP Logged

bdpop wrote:

What station plays these songs today? The few songs on this list that I've even heard of disappeared from the radio when they dropped off whatever chart they appeared on in the first place. "Favorite songs that should have been hits" is a whole 'nother thread.

BTW, wasn't "Carolina In The Pines" by Michael Murphey? JT's song was "Carolina In My Mind".

TimNeely
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 6:33pm \| IP Logged

You have two different categories of songs here: Those that never charted because they were never issued as commercial singles (or weren't until years after their albums were issued, by which time most stations couldn't add the song as a "current hit" with a straight face), and those that were issued as singles but didn't catch on with the Top 40 crowd.

I'm going to list some that you might hear on the radio today, usually on "classic rock" stations. These lists are far from complete.

Never released as commercial singles (or not until years later):
The Beach Boys -- All Summer Long
The Beatles -- A Day in the Life
The Beatles -- Michelle
The Beatles -- Back in the U.S.S.R.
The Beatles -- Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles -- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Beatles -- In My Life
The Beatles -- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
The Beatles -- Here, There and Everywhere
The Beatles -- With a Little Help from My Friends
The Beatles -- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
David Bowie -- Ziggy Stardust
The Doors -- L.A. Woman
The Doors -- The End
Eagles -- Desperado
Eagles -- In the City
Fleetwood Mac -- The Chain
Arlo Guthrie -- Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Jethro Tull -- Aqualung
Billy Joel -- The Stranger
Elton John -- Burn Down the Mission
Elton John -- Love Song
Elton John -- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Elton John -- Teacher, I Need You [a top 5 hit in Philadelphia in 1973 as an LP cut]
Led Zeppelin -- Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin -- Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Led Zeppelin -- All My Love
Led Zeppelin -- Heartbreaker
Steve Miller Band -- Serenade
The Moody Blues -- Legend of a Mind
Van Morrison -- Moondance
The Rolling Stones -- Under My Thumb
The Rolling Stones -- Sympathy for the Devil
The Rolling Stones -- Gimmie Shelter
Bob Seger -- Turn the Page (Live Bullet version)
Bruce Springsteen -- Rosalita
Bruce Springsteen -- The Promised Land
Bruce Springsteen -- Thunder Road
The Who -- Baba O'Riley
The Who -- Bargain
Andy Williams -- Moon River

Low-charting, non-charting or B-sides of singles:
David Bowie -- Suffragette City
Jackson Browne -- The Pretender
The Byrds -- Chestnut Mare
Joe Cocker -- With a Little Help from My Friends
Jimi Hendrix -- Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix -- Hey Joe
Jimi Hendrix -- Foxey Lady
Journey -- Feelin' That Way/Anytime
Led Zeppelin -- Hey, Hey, What Can I Do
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- For You
The Moody Blues -- Ride My See-Saw
Pink Floyd -- Time
Pink Floyd -- Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd -- Run Like Hell
The Rolling Stones -- Street Fighting Man
Bruce Springsteen -- Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Thin Lizzy -- Jailbreak
The Who -- My Generation
The Who -- The Kids Are Alright
The Who -- I Can't Explain
The Who -- Love, Reign O'er Me

Edited by TimNeely on 07 February 2008 at 6:39pm

eriejwg
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 9:11pm \| IP Logged

"Time For Me To Fly" is from 1978. The LP has one of my favorite titles ever, You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish.

MCT1
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Posted: 07 February 2008 at 10:58pm \| IP Logged

in the parallel 50s/60s/70s thread, MCT1 wrote:

TimNeely wrote:

You have two different categories of songs here: Those that never charted because they were never issued as commercial singles...and those that were issued as singles but didn't catch on with the Top 40 crowd...I'm going to list some that you might hear on the radio today, usually on "classic rock" stations. These lists are far from complete.

Looking at all the responses in both threads, I see four different categories:

1) Songs that were popular with Top 40 audiences, but weren't Top 40 hits because they weren't eligible to chart (generally because they weren't released as singles at the time). Examples: "Into The Groove", "Isn't She Lovely", numerous Beatles album cuts.

2) Songs that weren't popular with Top 40 audiences when new, but eventually became popular with audiences that listen to formats that play old Top 40 hits, to the point where a modern observer who isn't familiar with chart data might assume that these songs must have been Top 40 hits. Examples: "What I Like About You", "I Melt With You".

3) Songs that were/are popular with some type of non-Top 40 audience (AOR seems to be the main focus in the responses of this type so far) but never crossed over to Top 40 audiences. Examples: numerous Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd songs.

4) Songs that people feel should have been Top 40 hits. Everyone's are different.

I'm not sure what the original poster had in mind, but in this post I'd like to focus on #1 and #2. They are probably the easiest to define, and the most relevant for this board. By contrast, #3 and #4 both cover a lot of ground.

The '50s, '60s and '70s really predate my Top 40 listening, so I can't speak from firsthand experience, but the following seem like they may fall under #1 (or if not, then #2):

"Under My Thumb" - Rolling Stones
"Maybe I'm Amazed" (1970 studio version) - Paul McCartney
"Isn't She Lovely" - Stevie Wonder
"All My Love" - Led Zeppelin

There are a lot of Beatles songs that were never released as singles that I hear regularly on Oldies/'60s & '70s stations today, including most of those that Tim listed.

Did Top 40 radio play "Stairway To Heaven" when it was new? I remember hearing it on a Top 40 station in the early '80s. They had an all-request show on Friday night, and every Friday someone would call in and request it. Aside from that, you would rarely if ever hear the station in question play a Led Zeppelin song.

Upthread, someone mentioned "Mexico" by James Taylor. While looking through a chart book a couple of years ago, I was surprised to realize that this song had missed the Top 40. It's not necessarily a matter of the song gaining in popularity over the years, because I can remember hearing it back in the '70s when I was small and the song must have been fairly new. Maybe it was a regional thing (I live near Boston, and Taylor obviously has ties to this area), I don't know.

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