"Why wasn't this a huge hit?!"

A thread to post your nominees for artists & songs that for, whatever reason, never made it commercially and mystifyingly so.

This one's from Canadian artist Michael Pagliaro and recorded and released in 1971 but, to my ears, it sounds pretty much undated.

 

There have been many of these,one that comes to mind for me..Alone With No Love[1969]The Contemplations,when released it didn't do anything but today a copy will go for[500.00]bucks...go figure!!!

 

Had this one back in the day, Beatley sounding.

 

Various Go Betweens songs come to mind

 

This got a lot of radio play in Canada... in fact, I heard it just the other day on a local classic rock station... always enjoyed his music.

 

How about the Odds, Nothing Beautiful.

 

The Motors, Love and Loneliness.

 

My favorite from the High Llamas: perfect verses, perfect sunshine pop refrain, and a noisy ending for the early 90's crowd

 

Eydie Gorme - "I Want You To Meet My Baby" (1964)

 

The Nashville Ramblers - "The Trains" (1986)



TV appearance and brief interview:

The Nashville Ramblers - The Trains + 2 on It's Happening!

 

IMO this should have been the follow up hit to Free's "All Right Now". Released as a single, it did nothing in the US ... it rocks as hard as anything by Free imo. Kossoff simply kills it on this long version of the song!!!

 

This is not so much a record that should have been a hit, but more precisely a song that should have.

P.F. Sloan wrote it and cut it, as did the Grass Roots and The West Coast PAEB. This version is by a Dallas garage band in 1967 and has a wonderfully sloppy enthusiasm.

The Noblemen - "Here's Where You Belong"

 

Why didn't these guys take off?




Sound a bit whiney - but I liked em at the time (late 80s)

 

Speaking of The Beatles...

Don't Let Me Down reached # 35 as the flip side to Get Back, which hit #1 at the same time. Being in the top 40 may make it a "hit", but not a resounding one.

Don't Let Me Down is more deserving of a showcase than a B-side...but, hey, that's how good they were...

 

I always thought this number from Little Jackie (2008) was a beautiful, clever & joyous tune that it had hit all over it.

 

I don't mean to flood the thread w/ power pop folk rock but I just remembered this track. As far as I know its biggest chart impact was on a local Detroit radio station, where it got to #19.

Incredibly, this was enough to get the band on an L.A. TV show (IIRC Shivaree -- a clip survives but is no longer on YT). Who paid for them to fly out there?

The Human Beings - "Because I Love Her" (1965)

 

Love this Canadian band have no ideas why they never caught on in the US




Blue Rodeo - "5 Days In May" [Official Video]

 

Most of the Zombies singles from the 60's really should have been big hits.

 

Ditto!

 

Always thought this sounded like it should have been a pop hit at the time (1978). It's got a little disco flair.

 

Is that the same band from the 60's that had a hit that basically said 'no no no no no nobody' over and over? Can't recall the correct title, and youtube is blocked where I work.

 

Songs that deceived more success (IMHO)

Redskins -Bring it Down
In Tua Nua - Heaven Can Wait
Shack - Natalie's Party
This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren

Artist who deserved more:

Anathema
Band Called O (The knife)
Caravan
Doll by Doll
Nektar
Spring

 

And while i'm at it.