Bands that are hurt by their biggest hit

[lazarus]

I can think of several bands that are known primarily for one song, which isn't even close to their best song.

Examples:

Pet Shop Boys: "West End Girls" Lots of great stuff in their catalogue, but this is the one that gets played all the time.

Men Without Hats: The only song you'll hear is "Safety Dance". Check out "Pop Goes the World" sometime. Wonderful pop song.

B-52s: Not quite as bad, but these 80's stations seem to forget that they recorded anything but "Love Shack." I prefer "Party Out of Bounds", "Rock Lobster", "Private Idaho", a ton of other songs to that one.

Anybody got any others?

[Tikki]

1. I guess a classic example is.....Melanie..

Melanie (Safka Schekeryk)

She was out there, in the 60's, with "Lay Down (candles in the rain)" and she did that "Brand New Key" song and, then, seemed to disappear.

But if you poke around, you will find that she has a huge World-wide fan base and has continued to record and tour, successfully, over the last three decades.




Tikki

[babylonsister]

2. I love "White Bird" by It's A Beautiful Day.

I compiled a CD before it was illegal to do so, but couldn't come up with many songs. They just weren't that popular, I guess.

[Neecy]

3. Blondie

This band has done some amazing stuff (No Exit is terrific), but about the only song Blondie recorded that ever gets airplay is the putrid "The Tide is High". Funny that a band that started as punk is known primarily for a dumb pop tune.

On edit: I'd add Cyndi Lauper to this list. She has amazing pipes yet her biggest hit was probably her worst vocal performance ever in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (and another dumb tune to boot). Listen to her perform Unchained Melody - the rendition is much slower than the original, done in a very melancholy way, amazing. Yet she's known for tripe. Ick.

[DODI]

4. Alan Parsons - Eye in the Sky

[tuvor]

5. Simple Minds, "Don't You Forget About Me."

Their three albums that preceded that single--Sons and Fascination, New Gold Dream, and Sparkle in the Rain--are gorgeous, must be heard to be believed (especially NGD) and then they went and recorded that Billy Idol reject, and it was all downhill from there.

Urgh!

[coloradodem2005]

6. Extreme- "More Than Words".

This was the best known song by them, as well as "Whole Hearted". The thing is, their follow-up album was "III Sides To Every Story" which some say is as good as Dark Side Of the Moon. However, the album suffered from not having a "More Than Words" type song on it and from coming out in the wrong time for an album like that (1992). I don't have the album, but I would like to get it, however I would like to but I can't find it anywhere.

Read what someone wrote about the album here and you will see what I am talking about.

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl

[Systematic Chaos]

11. I bought it based on the video that was released for it

Very good stuff. Find it on ebay if you have to. Not a weak song on it. Great musicians and an album with a serious message that manages not to get bogged down in said message.

[Maestro]

7. Let's see

I recommend investigating The Verve Pipe who got tons of airplay in '96 I believe with "Cup of Tea" and "The Freshman" then faded it would seem. But their other albums are quite good. I am not sure if they are broken up as a band, but Brian Van de Ark, the lead singer, put out a solo album last year that is wonderful. No air play on radio though.

Also, remember Duncan Sheik who got air play with "Barely Breathing" also in '96? He has put out two more albums that are exceptional.

I wish the BoDeans would get more air play. They did for a while and a few songs in rotations over the years, but never got the respect they deserved.

I'll look through my collection for more.

[mark414]

8. dexy's midnight runners

their collection is killer but no one can get over that "one hit wonder" perception...it's too bad, really

[dean_dem]

9. Devo

Such a great catalog of songs that "Whip It" does not even begin to do justice.

[NewHampshireDem]

10. Bob Seger, 'Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" and Steve Miller, "Abracadabra"

Bob Seger was one of the top selling artists of the 1970's and should be remembered for some great music ... but like many of that era (including Steve Miller), is remembered for one song (or two if you include 'Like a Rock,' though I doubt many people could name the artist when they hear the Chevy commercial.)

BTW, I heard a terrific cover of 'Til It Shines' by Lyle Lovett and Keb Mo ... damn near moved me to tears.