LinkedMusicians posted in the group Open Mic (Open Discussion)
Name a band or solo artist widely seen as a one-hit wonder that you feel has been greatly underappreciated.
21 Comments
Tangential, but how do we even define a “Hit” these days? Spotify plays? Do Billboard lists still exist (or matter?) . The way publishers attack (foolishly IMO) any use of “their” music on media sites like YouTube, how do people “discover” “new” (to them) music, aside from personal recomendations?
Billboard remains the industry standard for the recording industry, — and we carry Billboard magazine articles here at LinkedMusicians in the Knowledge Hub. But measurement has become significantly more complex than it was in the days when radio and vinyl dominated. Today, Billboard determines hits based on radio airplay, audio impressions, digital song sales, and streaming activity. 1,500 streams is the equivalent of one album sale.
The song that comes to my mind is Life in a Northern Town by Dream Academy. Love the harmonies and the feel of that song. Here is a little tidbit, David Gilmour did some sound effect/tape effects for the song.
Coincidentally, I was just listening to Dream Academy yesterday. I’m big on rock trivia. The band’s big inspiration was Nick Drake — I love his music. What songs beyond their big hit do you like? “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is one of my favorite comedies, and their cover of a Smith’s classic is featured in the movie:
@peter I have just been listening to an excellent doc about the making of 5 Leaves Left
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This reply was originally much longer but I had ‘posted an inappropriate word’ I assume it may have been BBC!
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Nope obviously not that one! It will forever be a mystery!
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Too be honest, Life in a Northern Town is the only song I really listened to by them. I really should looked at them closer, something I will rectify real soon.
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Good call @doug – as a young lad from the deadly dull town of Hartlepool in north east England I loved that song. The place is significantly less dull now with a folk festival and several music venues but the only good night out in those days was the excellent folk club (the best I have ever been to in my life and not just because it was my first!)
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Great thread @peter – sorry I am late to the party – been away for over a week and then had a mountain of emails to get through. I still haven’t posted my holiday pics on Facebook.
My one hit wonder is renaissance who were, and still are, one of my favourite bands. I started off well with their Live at Carnegie Hall double album which gave me a taste for their orchestral prog sound – as I loved both genres they were right up my street. As far as I can recall their only hit in the UK was this one – a lovely song but far away from their epic numbers. About 10 years ago they came to Holmfirth Picturedrome around 25 miles from my home in Bradford but I don’t like driving in the dark so missed them
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Renaissance never crossed my radar which is surprising because I am a huge prog fan. I truly love Annie’s voice. Great share!
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Look at that, we spend so much time on deals that I didn’t realize that you were a huge prog fan too. I great up as a huge fan of Yes, Genesis (up to, Invisible Touch), King Crimson, Rush, ELP, Kansas… My first major rock concert was ELP, a birthday gift from my youngest sister. At maybe age 7 – 9, I was completely in love with ELP’s Trilogy album, especially the title track. I suppose some people might consider ELP a one hit wonder, with “Lucky Man” being their hit.
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Yes was one of my first loves. Strangely enough, it was I’ve Seen all Good People that turned me onto them. It is decidedly not what I would consider a prog song except maybe the last half but that part didn’t make the radio edit. ELP was never into making “hits” so it not surprising that Lucky Man is the only song that charted. Funny, Genesis ceased to exist for me after Invisible Touch too. I would add Jethro Tull though they hated the Prog Rock monikor. The only band on your list I never could get into was Rush. I could not stand Geddy Lee’s voice which is strange because I love Neil Young and Dylan.
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I think ELP’s Pictures At An Exhibition may have been the album that got me into prog! I was a classical fan from about 11 when I first heard Holst’s The Planets at school – the only good part of a music lesson I can remember – the rest of my memories were of the sadistic Scottish music teacher forcing us to learn the recorder (which I later came to love – a bit), telling us to learn our lines & spaces and making us write out the school song (Henry VIII’s Youth Will Needs Have Dalliance’ ten times! I don’t think I had heard the original inspirations for the ELP version at that time so it worked both ways! I wasn’t a huge fan but I did like some of their stuff
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I used to love Rush around the time of the Permament Waves & Spirit of Radio albums but wasn’t so keen before or after that. I saw them at Southampton Town Hall when I was living in nearby Winchester and they were one of the the most disappointing band I have seen – they prided themselves on getting the exact sound of the albums but of course that removed any spontenaity from the group – or maybe it was just a bad night!
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@Doug Really glad that you enjoyed it! Annie has my favourite female voice ever possibly apart from English folk singer Nancy Kerr whose voice is also sublime but in a very different way! Check out Renaissance’s Live AT Carnegie Hall, Scherezade, Ashes Are Burning, Prologue, Turn of The Cards, Novella and Song For All Seasons – after that hey got a less interesting due to line up changes and (sadly) people going to the great gig in the sky. I do need to revisit those later albums though to see if time has improved them!
Semisonic. Most people only know them from “Closing Time”, but their first album, “Great Divide” is a nice collection of power pop with a slight hippy influence.
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I agree! And I think their album “All About Chemistry” is also really good.
My wife (then girlfriend) and I saw Semisonic and did a meet and greet for their tour supporting “All About Chemistry.” Dan Wilson was really cool and down to earth. We got into a discussion on songwriting and our mutual fondness of Carole King’s songwriting (he co-wrote some songs with her on that album). Dan has since won a few Grammys, co-writing songs with Adele, Chris Stapleton, and others. Semisonic does tour every so often and planned on touring this year, but sadly, the bassist had a stroke, although — happilly — he is recovering from what I’ve read. (I follow Dan on Facebook).
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I can’t believe I forgot about Neil Finn / Crowded House. The band is mainly known for the song, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and possibly, “Something So Strong.” So, they’re not exactly seen as one hit wonders, but close. And I think Neil is a superb singer/songwriter. Crowded House and Neil Finn solo have many, many great songs.
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I remember “Locked Out” and “Distant Sun” getting some play when they were released. My favorite album of theirs is “Woodface”, though. It’s packed with so many greats, from “Fall at Your Feet” to “Four Seasons in One Day”, and of course “Weather With You”.
I’ll go first. There are a number of bands seen as one-hit wonders that I believe are underappreciated. But one that immediately comes to mind is Living Colour.