Singles that weren't hits but are now considered classics!

Question inspired listening to the car radio today! The show theme was playing singles that weren't hits but are now considered classics. It obviously depends on territory as the single may have been a hit in certain countries but one song that was played was Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' which bombed here in the UK. Now considered a classic and a staple on FM & Digital radio stations.

 

I'm thinking of "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. It was originally released on his 1986 album "So", and although released as a single, it didn't really burn up the charts. But later in time as it was used in movies, soundtracks, etc., it became what some would consider a classic Gabriel tune. I heard it played on radio all through the 90's but don't recall it hardly being played at all in the 80's.

 

Good call!

 

Tuesday Afternoon by the Moody Blues. While it was certainly released as a single, I don't believe it was ever considered a hit, per se.

 

Led Zeppelin Rock and Roll. A classic song that reached only number 47 on Billboard Hot 100.

 

7+7=

 

Peaked at #48 in the USA:

 

One that comes to mind is "Heroes" by David Bowie.

In the USA at least, in 1977 this song was released as a single but failed to even crack the Billboard Hot 100. Today, I believe it is regarded as one of his "signature songs" and gets played in a lot of movies, TV shows, etc.

 

"River Deep, Mountain High" performed by Ike and Tina Turner and produced by Phil Spector.
It made #88 on the Billboard Hot 100 when released in 1966. The song made #33 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of all Time in 2010. So I think that it meets the qualifications for this thread.

 

It was the first Moody Blues single I bought in the US.

 

"Michelle" wasn't even a released single in many countries, right? Yet ya couldn't run an Oldies station without it.

 

Peaked at #63 in the USA:

 

Cream - "Badge"
Deep Purple - "Woman From Tokyo"
Who - "Substitute"
JHE - "Purple Haze", "Hey Joe"
Jimmy Cliff - "Many Rivers To Cross"

 

Petty: American Girl, Breakdown, I Need to Know. All flopped.

And any Big Star song you'd care to name.

 

Another good call! Never knew that Heroes didnt crack the Billboard top 100 which surprised me! Dont think anyone could deny Heroes is a Bowie classic !

 

The Who "My Generation"

 

"Blitzkrieg Bop" by the Ramones (didn't chart)
"Forever Young" by Alphaville (charted twice but didn't make the top 40, peaking at #93 in 1985 and #65 in 1988)
"Mamma Mia" by Abba (barely made the top 40 in the U.S.)
"What I Like About You" by the Romantics (didn't make the top 40, peaking at #49)

 

Despite its horrid sound quality, "River Deep, Mountain High" is one of my favorite songs.

Spector thought it was his masterpiece when he finished it.

When it tanked, he went into seclusion and semi-retirement he was so depressed.

Then he took up his wonderful hobby with guns.


(BTW, Ike isn't on the song at all -- Spector paid him [can't remember the sum] to keep him out of the studio)

 

Tuesday Afternoon was all over the radio where I grew up.

 

Femme Fatale - and it was a B side

 

Shout (Isley Brothers song) - Wikipedia

The Isley Brothers' Shout, parts 1 & 2, only made it to #47 on the Hot 100.

 

Black - Wonderful Life.

 

No version of "What's So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding" was ever a hit single.

Nor was anything ever recorded by The Band. If not for Joan Baez, Robbie Robertson would have missed the singles charts entirely.

 

Classic rock radio staple “Never Been Any Reason” by Head East only made it to number 68.