Favorite Lesser Known Hits By Well Known Artists (1 Viewer)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Looking for some favorite songs among popular artists that hit the Billboard Top 40, but you will seldom hear on garden variety "hits" stations (either commercial radio. Sirius/XM, Pandora, etc.).

May be subjective in terms of what is lesser known, but have at it. I'll start it off with one I really like, but never hear unless on my own iPod:

Rod Stewart - "Passion" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sklwrKjrQYE) - #5 in 1980.

Leroy Hoard · Aug 12, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-DYM7JvMA

Lots of Van Halen to choose from, most stations only play a song or two from each album.

Parrothead · Aug 12, 2013

just off the top of my head- there are tons of them..

Asia - Wildest Dream

Steely Dan - Haitian Divorce

Genesis - Ripples

Journey - Mother Father

REO Speedwagon- Roll With the Changes

Supertramp - School

Styx - Castle Walls

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ballad of Curtis Lowe

James Taylor - Copperline

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Just to clarify, looking for songs that hit Billboard Top 40 charts, not necessarily AOR deep cuts.

Here's another example:

John Cougar - "Hand To Hold On To" (peaked at #19 in 1982)

Ilov80s · Aug 12, 2013

Life's What You Make It - Talk Talk

This Will Be Our Year - The Zombies

Only You and I Know - Dave Mason

It's About Time - The Beach Boys

Change - Tears for Fears

Pale Shelter - Tears for Fears

Rock Me On the Water- Jackson Browne

These Days- Jackson Browne

The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar- Bob Dylan

Changing of the Guard- Bob Dylan

Talking in Your Sleep- Gordon Lightfoot

One Less Set of Footsteps- Jim Croce

Straight Into Darkness- Tom Petty

Too Much Ain't Never Enough - Tom Petty

Rebel - Tom Petty

I'm Cryin- The Animals

Victoria- The Kinks

Living on a Thin Line - The Kinks

This Time Tomorrow- The Kinks

Ramble Tamble - CCR

Sinister Purpose- CCR

Lonely People- America

Nothing but Flowers- Talking Heads

Thank You For Sending Me an Angel- The Talking Heads

Yankee23Fan · Aug 12, 2013

Queen has a ton. Father to Son might be one of their better songs that never gets any love.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

"The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)" by Jouney (#34, 1981)

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
John Cougar - "Hand To Hold On To" (peaked at #19 in 1982)

John "Cougar" Mellencamp had a couple of nice ones before American Fool:

"I Need a Lover" (#28, 1979)

"Ain't Even Done with the Night" (#17, 1981)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
"The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)" by Jouney (#34, 1981)

Good one. To stick with Journey, "Still They Ride" hit #19 in 1982. Probably one of my favorite Journey songs.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
... songs among popular artists that hit the Billboard Top 40, but you will seldom hear on garden variety "hits" stations (either commercial radio. Sirius/XM, Pandora, etc.) ...

Rod Stewart - "Passion" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sklwrKjrQYE) - #5 in 1980.

Great idea for a thread. These "hits" stations always leave so much off the table.

Speaking of Rod Stewart, a lot of his early-80s output is just totally glossed over by commercial radio. Another #5 hit, "Young Turks" is rarely played these days.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
zamboni said:

... songs among popular artists that hit the Billboard Top 40, but you will seldom hear on garden variety "hits" stations (either commercial radio. Sirius/XM, Pandora, etc.) ...

Rod Stewart - "Passion" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sklwrKjrQYE) - #5 in 1980.

Click to expand...

Great idea for a thread. These "hits" stations always leave so much off the table.

Speaking of Rod Stewart, a lot of his early-80s output is just totally glossed over by commercial radio. Another #5 hit, "Young Turks" is rarely played these days.

I hear Turks every now and then, but not so much the title track "Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)" (#20)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

How about some early Stones: "Heart Of Stone" (#19, 1964)

Amused to Death · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
John "Cougar" Mellencamp had a couple of nice ones before American Fool:

"I Need a Lover" (#28, 1979)

Great song and I always forget its JCM until the vocals come in (referring to the original album version with the long instrumental intro).

dmac37 · Aug 12, 2013

Styx- Miss America

John Cougar- A little night dancin & small paradise

Mark Knopfler- the way it is

David Bowie- panic in detroit

Fleetwood Mac- I don't wanna know

Joe Cocker- woman to woman

Kansas- Portrait "He knew"

Patti Smith- Frederick

The Police- So lonely

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Amused to Death said:
Doug B said:

John "Cougar" Mellencamp had a couple of nice ones before American Fool:

"I Need a Lover" (#28, 1979)

Click to expand...

Great song and I always forget its JCM until the vocals come in (referring to the original album version with the long instrumental intro).

Pat Benatar does a decent cover of it as well.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

dmac37 said:
Styx- Miss America

John Cougar- A little night dancin & small paradise

Mark Knopfler- the way it is

David Bowie- panic in detroit

Fleetwood Mac- I don't wanna know

Joe Cocker- woman to woman

Kansas- Portrait "He knew"

Patti Smith- Frederick

The Police- So lonely

Come on, man.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

S&G - "At The Zoo" (#16, 1967)

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

Heard one on the radio this morning that I hadn't heard in 20+ years. Had to Google the lyrics to remember who sang it:

"I Don't Want to Live Without Your Love", Chicago (post-Peter Cetera, #3 in 1988)

Jules Winnfield · Aug 12, 2013

INXS - Don't Change (best song they ever had and I rarely hear it on the radio)

The Bangles - Going Down to Liverpool, James, Hero Takes a Fall

Spandau Ballet - Through the Baricades

The Alarm - One Step Closer to Home

Amused to Death · Aug 12, 2013

Lou Reed - Dirty Blvd.

Jules Winnfield · Aug 12, 2013

I really like this Bob Dylan song but ever hear it on the radio. Here is a live version from '75

Isis

comfortably numb · Aug 12, 2013

Stumbled upon this one from oasis when I was making a playlist for Spotify.

My new favorite song

Talk Tonight-Oasis (1995)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycaocta_OCw

ETA: Never mind, just realized you wanted songs that hit the top 40

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Jules Winnfield said:
INXS - Don't Change (best song they ever had and I rarely hear it on the radio)

Agreed the best song they ever did. Actually came up on my shuffle this morning.

Only hit #80 in the US, so doesn't quite fit the bill though.

Jules Winnfield · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
Jules Winnfield said:

INXS - Don't Change (best song they ever had and I rarely hear it on the radio)

Click to expand...

Agreed the best song they ever did. Actually came up on my shuffle this morning.

Only hit #80 in the US, so doesn't quite fit the bill though.

I didn't read your original post but that's an interesting point

Come on. Lets get into character

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

Heart's "How Can I Refuse?" (#44 Billboard Hot 100, #1 Billboard Top Tracks Airplay, 1983). Didn't quite sell enough as a single to break the Top 40, but got a lot of airplay as an album track in major markets.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Never hear this one and it's one of their best:

Bee Gees - "Holiday" (#16, 1967)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

This one did better than I thought, but got a bit lost in the shuffle of hit after hit after hit by them in the early '80s.

Hall & Oates - "Did It In A Minute" (#9, 1982)

Really like the groove to this one.

simey · Aug 12, 2013

Bee Gees - Fanny, Be tender with My Love (#12, 1975)

whoknew · Aug 12, 2013

Rick Springfield -

I've Done Everything For You (#8 on Billboard Hot 100)

Love is Alright Tonite (#20)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

simey said:
Bee Gees - Fanny, Be tender with My Love (#12, 1975)

Good one. Was also gonna go with "Nights On Broadway".

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

whoknew said:
Rick Springfield -

I've Done Everything For You (#8 on Billboard Hot 100)

Love is Alright Tonite (#20)

Except for "Jesse's Girl", Springfield's catalog is largely ignored by commercial radio these days. Nice call.

Kenny Powers · Aug 12, 2013

Jules Winnfield said:
I really like this Bob Dylan song but ever hear it on the radio. Here is a live version from '75

Isis

One of my favorite Dylan songs. One of my favorite Dylan albums, as well.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
whoknew said:

Rick Springfield -

I've Done Everything For You (#8 on Billboard Hot 100)

Love is Alright Tonite (#20)

Click to expand...

Except for "Jesse's Girl", Springfield's catalog is largely ignored by commercial radio these days. Nice call.

Agreed - I'd also add "Affair Of The Heart" as another good tune.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

"Angel in Blue", J. Geils Band (#40, 1982)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Really like this song:

Kinks - "A Rock 'N Roll Fantasy" (#30, 1978)

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

"Make Believe", Toto (#30, 1982)

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
"Make Believe", Toto (#30, 1982)

Nice one - haven't heard that in ages.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
Really like this song:

Kinks - "A Rock 'N Roll Fantasy" (#30, 1978)

Speaking of ... can't remember the last time I heard "Destroyer"** (#3 Billboard Top Tracks Airplay 1981) on terrestrial radio. I don't think I was shaving yet.

Don't know about satellite stations.

** can't believe that song got bogged down at #85 on the Hot 100. Our local DJ must've loved that song ... played it a ton.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

Amused to Death · Aug 12, 2013

whoknew said:
Rick Springfield -

I've Done Everything For You (#8 on Billboard Hot 100)

Love is Alright Tonite (#20)

Hear the bolded quite regularly on an '80s station in the Philly market actually. The other one, not so much.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

"Urgent", "Waiting For A Girl Like You" and "Juke Box Hero" are well-played, but I think "Break It Up" (#26) from the same 4 album is much less played but also solid.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

Yes

Great track. Commercial radio seems to think Rob Thomas discovered Santana in the late '90s

Another nice one: "Winning" (#17, 1981)

JoeSteeler · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

just heard Santana-Winning (#17, 1981) on a classic rock station. cant remember last time i heard it.

Jules Winnfield · Aug 12, 2013

JoeSteeler said:
zamboni said:

Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

Click to expand...

just heard Santana-Winning (#17, 1981) on a classic rock station. cant remember last time i heard it.

I think the last time I heard it was after a Minnesota Strikers victory back in the 80s

JoeSteeler · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
zamboni said:

Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

Click to expand...

Yes Great track. Commercial radio seems to think Rob Thomas discovered Santana in the late '90s

Another nice one: "Winning" (#17, 1981)

JoeSteeler said:
zamboni said:

Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

Click to expand...

just heard Santana-Winning (#17, 1981) on a classic rock station. cant remember last time i heard it.

zamboni · Aug 12, 2013

Doug B said:
zamboni said:

Santana - "Hold On" (#15, 1982)

Click to expand...

Yes Great track. Commercial radio seems to think Rob Thomas discovered Santana in the late '90s

Another nice one: "Winning" (#17, 1981)

And if you want to go further back with Santana, I'd add "No One To Depend On" (#36, 1972)

DocHolliday · Aug 12, 2013

zamboni said:
Doug B said:

"The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)" by Jouney (#34, 1981)

Click to expand...

Good one. To stick with Journey, "Still They Ride" hit #19 in 1982. Probably one of my favorite Journey songs.

Really good song.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

Four from The Boss:

"Prove It All Night" (#33, 1978)

"Fade Away" (#20, 1981)

"I'm Going Down" (#9, 1985)

"Fire (Live)" (cover of the Pointer Sisters' hit written by Springsteen -- #46 Billboard Hot 100, #14 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay, 1987)

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

Erm, just thought of something: I'm sure NYC and NJ radio stations still play those Springsteen tracks all the time

But down here in the sticks, they've been overlooked for a long time.

Doug B · Aug 12, 2013

JoeSteeler said:
Just heard Santana-Winning (#17, 1981) on a classic rock station. cant remember last time i heard it.

Hearing these kinds of tracks on a radio station gives me hope that somewhere, a few DJs are still allowed to dig a little deeper for their tracks than from some corporate list.

Favorite Lesser Known Hits By Well Known Artists (1 Viewer)

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