Songs that should have been bigger hits when they were released

[MichaelWinicki]

What songs can you think of that are great songs but for one reason or another didn't sell?

I offer three:

Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" which was released after his death and charted in the UK but never charted in the US. Just a beautiful song. Maybe his best IMO.

Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World". It was the best selling single in the UK in '68 but never broke the Billboard top 100 in the US. We hear it all the time in various places. A legitimately great song.

And here's a song that I think is terrific, and again its a song we hear all the time...

The Rolling Stones "She's a Rainbow". Only reached the 10th position in the Billboard top 100.

 

[JoeKing]

Thin Lizzy "The Boys are Back in Town". One of my favorite bands of all time and this is one of their best songs. I never thought they got the respect they deserved from the American rock audience.

 

[cowboyec]

my Elvis top 5
•Big Boss Man....w/Jerry Reed on guitar...this is a classic recording...damn near perfect.
stalled just inside the top 40 but should've charted MUCH higher...fusion of r&b,rock and country w/gospel flair.
•Guitar Man...w/Jerry Reed...another classic from the same session as Big Boss Man....Elvis tears into this classic that charted outside the top 40.It was used to perfection in the great 68 comeback special.
Elvis' vocals on the single are priceless....should've been atleast a top 10 hit.
•I've Lost You...recorded at the historic nashville marathon sessions in June of 1970...it was Elvis' 2nd top 40 single.....stalling inside the 30s.Beautiful ballad....solid arrangement.....Elvis' vocals carry the day here...it was released as a forerunner to the classic Thats The Way It Is LP....rca used a LIVE version on that album...but I think the studio version...used on the single...was better.Hauntingly beautiful....raw....real.....probably too ambitious at the time.
•I'm Leavin.....recorded in '71....the single stalls inside the top 40....a true classic recording...and one of Elvis' favorites.This beautiful...ghostly ballad should've gotten more traction and been a top 10 hit.His vocal performance on this'n here....just awesome.
•An American Trilogy....recorded in Vegas LIVE in Feb of '72....the single charted outside the top 40.....getting burried some where in the 60s.ONE OF HIS GREATEST PERFORMANCES EVER.Shouldve been a #1 hit.This ballad...lyrically,arrangement and Elvis' vocals...PERFECT.

 

[kskboys]

He Drinks Tequila and She Talks Dirty in Spanish

 

[Runwildboys]

Happy Birthday.........Think about it.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Happy Birthday.........Think about it.

You owe GeneSimmons some coin

 

[CouchCoach]

You owe GeneSimmons some coin

McCartney owns that song.

 

[The Fonz]

Too many to list but I remember back in the 90's a CD by the Bee Gees( Alone) and there is a song titled I surrender did not get airtime at all and to me it should have been the single.

 

[Runwildboys]

You owe GeneSimmons some coin

Why is that?

 

[Xelda]

I could probably spend five years in this thread alone. The Fonz, you have a new fan. The Bee Gees were under appreciated with the exception of the unfortunate Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. I don't know what hit #1 but most of it didn't, so I'll submit these.

 

[Rockport]

I could probably spend five years in this thread alone. The Fonz, you have a new fan. The Bee Gees were under appreciated with the exception of the unfortunate Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. I don't know what hit #1 but most of it didn't, so I'll submit these.

I wonder what happened to them. They were great and then they just kinda went away.

 

[Runwildboys]

I could probably spend five years in this thread alone. The Fonz, you have a new fan. The Bee Gees were under appreciated with the exception of the unfortunate Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. I don't know what hit #1 but most of it didn't, so I'll submit these.

I like the pre-Saturday Night Fever stuff, like How Can You Mend a Broken Heart and Lonely Days.

 

[Runwildboys]

I wonder what happened to them. They were great and then they just kinda went away.

I think Barry is the only one still living.

 

[Rockport]

I think Barry is the only one still living.

Lot’s of good music from that era.

 

[cowboyec]

Elvis had several GREAT hits that failed to reach number one and I'll never understand why...considering how CLASSIC they are:
Can't Help Falling In Love
His Latest Flame
Little Sister
Return To Sender
Bossa Nova Baby
She's Not You
In The Ghetto
Don't Cry Daddy
Kentucky Rain
The Wonder of You
Burning Love
Way Down

all made the top 10...but failed to reach number 1.....and all are included on many Greatest Hits packages over the years.

 

[kskboys]

Barroom Buddies by Clint Eastwood and Merle Haggard

 

[cowboyec]

Barroom Buddies by Clint Eastwood and Merle Haggard

Bronco Billy.....GREAT movie.
I had that soundtrack as a kid......love the song Cowboys and Clowns by Ronnie Milsap.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Oklahoma Nights - Troy Aikman, 1993

 

[Stash]

Oklahoma Nights - Troy Aikman, 1993

 

[Xelda]

Oklahoma Nights - Troy Aikman, 1993

Is that Randy White? Joe Avezzano? Is that a young Gollum behind Troy? JAY NOVACEK! Not a clue.