Shoulda bin a top ten hit

[Johnny Yesno]

A thread for posting tracks that you reckon obey 'the rules' of pop and do it well yet, for one reason or another, didn't make a dent in the charts. Perhaps the rest of the act's output would have lacked broad appeal. Maybe it was in a foreign language. Or the timing of the release was poor. It might not have had sufficient promotion or it could have been an album track.

Show me proof that popularity is all about marketing and not just music writing ability.

Here's a couple to start things off:

Macdonald Duck Eclair - The Yellow Go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE0UDfM-vm4

Buffalo Daughter - Oui Oui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGHtzg5tMZk

Reverend Horton Heat - In Your Wildest Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZJgJZLy21I

[One off man mental]

Robyn Hitchcock - Airscape - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FUgViZU2Pg

Touch of the John Hughes on this one, see no reason why it couldn't have followed Kerr and co to the top of the charts

[Steven]

John Lennon even said himself that UA didn't put enough marketing in to make ELO's Showdown a hit.

I especially like he's worked out it's a pastiche of I Heard It Through The Grapevine and Lightning Strikes Again, also.

[Avril Lavigne]

"She's Got Me Dancing" by Tommy Sparks should have been a #1 hit all over the place but somehow only managed to get into the UK charts at #22 before quickly being forgotten by everyone.  I can't help but think part of its lack of success was down to the video directed by Eric Wareheim which probably didn't gel with the sensibilities of most of the chart-music-buying public of 2009:
https://vimeo.com/3884738

[Billy]

Sonny J's Can't Stop Moving - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Y8XpFtLbk

Will never forget the shock I had when checking the charts the week of release, and not seeing it in the top ten...or twenty...or forty...or seventy-five. It peaked at #80.

A year later they had another go, plonked a stronger beat over the top and it got as high as #40 that time at least, but still feels like the big summer hit that never was.

From about the same time, I was fully expecting J Majik & Wickaman - Crazy World to be a massive hit. I don't even think a video was ever made though, and it went low top 40. Five years later it could have been a huge #1 I reckon.

[Twed]

Sonny J's Can't Stop Moving - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Y8XpFtLbk

I guess it's because we hadn't all forgotten The Go! Team and Lemon Jelly yet. That song is Ladyflash + Nice Weather For Ducks + Space Walk. Even the video is a rip.

[Urinal Cake]

Wonder Girls- Nobody  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QZBn1e9pr2Q should have been the first K-Pop crossover hit into Western markets. Catchy song, cute dance, good video and attractive members. Even an English version. Apparently they were touring with the Jonas Brothers in the US as well. Guess they needed to be OTT and funny.

[Johnny Yesno]

"She's Got Me Dancing" by Tommy Sparks should have been a #1 hit all over the place but somehow only managed to get into the UK charts at #22 before quickly being forgotten by everyone.  I can't help but think part of its lack of success was down to the video directed by Eric Wareheim which probably didn't gel with the sensibilities of most of the chart-music-buying public of 2009:
https://vimeo.com/3884738

Good one. It's got one of those bass lines that would sound good through a wall. You know they're having a great party in there.

[Johnny Yesno]

Sonny J's Can't Stop Moving - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Y8XpFtLbk

Will never forget the shock I had when checking the charts the week of release, and not seeing it in the top ten...or twenty...or forty...or seventy-five. It peaked at #80.

That is inexplicable.

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Not necessarily an obscure one, but to this day I cannot believe that Janelle Monáe's 'Dance Apocalyptic' failed to enter the singles charts. I thought that would be a major summer hit, but no.

[Johnny Yesno]

Not necessarily an obscure one, but to this day I cannot believe that Janelle Monáe's 'Dance Apocalyptic' failed to enter the singles charts. I thought that would be a major summer hit, but no.

Something about that reminded me of another song that should have been a summer hit:

The B-52's - "Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpKEzFZYqBg

Although, according to Wikipedia 'The single peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, their fourth Top 10 entry on that chart'. Whatever the fuck the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play is.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

My favourite B-52's song!

Thought it had never been played live but they finally dug it up a few years ago, it would seem! Found this recording and bloody hell the vocals are diabolical at times. Kind of wish they hadn't bothered haha

[SteveDave]

I was positive that "Nanny In Manhattan" by Lilys would be number one.

A fun, poppy guitar song.
Used in an advert.
Short.

Number 16 with a bullet. Probably not helped by a quite bad TOTP performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZXa8xnoZM

[SpiderChrist]

Singer's Hampstead Home - Microdisney

[BJB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofhpVpNuc_k

In A Room

Dodgy

might have been in the top 10

Can't be arsed checking





Had too much JD

[Dr Syntax Head]

I was positive that "Nanny In Manhattan" by Lilys would be number one.

A fun, poppy guitar song.
Used in an advert.
Short.

Number 16 with a bullet. Probably not helped by a quite bad TOTP performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZXa8xnoZM

Yes! That is one brilliant tune. In fact the Lillies should have been bigger.

[Dr Syntax Head]

God damn I love pre Monkey House Dandy Warhols. This got to 13. Shoulda bin a top ten hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APrpB-i4d_E

[Hat FM]

there is a paralell universe where 'spanish dance troupe' by gorky's zygotic mynci was at number one for 4 weeks.

sorry, can't put up a youtube link as i'm at work...

[mrpupkin]

Anyone with some time on their hands fancy making a Spotify playlist of this thread?

[holyzombiejesus]

Obligatory Summer Smash post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUQvXDONtnY

[holyzombiejesus]

Obligatory Go-Betweens post.

https://youtu.be/3XDmasbARtE?t=1

I could choose most of their singles, some of which I prefer to this. But this was to be their moment, the point in time where one of the best bands ever would finally get their much deserved break through. There was a decent promo budget, A-listed by Radio One, REM support, 2(!) videos. Charted at number 80 and vanished the next week. Reissued a few months later: 82.

[Brundle-Fly]

Morgan - Miss Parker UKcharts No 74 in 1999.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K7WMMQJlkw

[the ouch cube]

Singer's Hampstead Home - Microdisney

Or 'Gale Force Wind'. An evil echo of 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth' redone for Thatcherism's decadent period, it shoulda been a shoe-in.

[Howj Begg]

Obligatory Go-Betweens post.

https://youtu.be/3XDmasbARtE?t=1

I could choose most of their singles, some of which I prefer to this. But this was to be their moment, the point in time where one of the best bands ever would finally get their much deserved break through. There was a decent promo budget, A-listed by Radio One, REM support, 2(!) videos. Charted at number 80 and vanished the next week. Reissued a few months later: 82.

Oh man, both The Go-Betweens and Denim are fucking great. This post adds nothing, just wanted to say.

[SpiderChrist]

Fuck. Wish I'd chosen that Go Betweens tune now. What a ruddy marvellous song that is.

[Crabwalk]

Or 'Gale Force Wind'. An evil echo of 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth' redone for Thatcherism's decadent period, it shoulda been a shoe-in.

Or 'Birthday Girl'.

But when you consider that even major artists close to their peak - such as Dusty Springfield in '69 with 'Am I the Same Girl' - could miss the Top 40 altogether, it shows how arbitrary chart placings have always been.

I mean, Stevie Wonder missed out on the UK top 10 with 'Uptight', 'Superstition' and 'Higher Ground'. And Bowie with 'Fame', 'Young Americans' and 'Heroes' for fucksakes!

[Kane Jones]

I have no idea if it charted or not, but Amplifier by The dB's is an early 80s power pop gem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKEqGcES4Xw

[Vodka Margarine]

'You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve' - Johnny Boy   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4GdI_bTD4

Ok, they weren't exactly chasing a smash hit with that title but still sorely overlooked indie-pop brilliance. Had 'number 23 and straight out again' written all over it, got to number 50. And straight out again.


'Away' - The Bolshoi   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4FzFu-ze8pA

Mid-80s? Check. Post Cult and Cure goth sound married to U2 histrionics? Check. Huge chorus? Check. Hit? Nope.


'Yeah' - The Wannadies   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3lEeV-lfqHU

Tragically forever lumbered with that song, the record buying public had largely forgotten they existed by 2000. Shame. A great singles band.


'Buy Nothing Day' - The Go! Team   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ4f_lgdYz8

The only single that's about twenty songs glued together I've ever heard that sounds effortless from start to finish. This is well liked but it unjustly never managed to make an impression outside of 6Music listeners. When they said 'buy nothing', they didn't mean this!


'This Summer' - Squeeze   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0rY5506sboQ

Arguably one of their superior 'wilderness' era singles but underperformed even after a re-issue and ample airplay.

[hewantstolurkatad]

'You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve' - Johnny Boy   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4GdI_bTD4

Ok, they weren't exactly chasing a smash hit with that title but still sorely overlooked indie-pop brilliance. Had 'number 23 and straight out again' written all over it, got to number 50. And straight out again.

Probably best known now for getting like #167 on Pitchfork's best singles of the 00s

[Dr Rock]

Anyone with some time on their hands fancy making a Spotify playlist of this thread?

While this thread was obviously designed to usurp my 'Let's Make A Compilation CD' thread, I have neverthess nicked about half of these for my own use. Keep 'em coming!


I'll add this - Sons Of The Stage by World Of Twist. Peaked at number 47.

https://youtu.be/rgEw_YtfxYM