The Ultimate under-appreciated song

[cartman]

This is to follow on to QS's thread about two-hit wonders. Not really sure how to quantify this, but I'd be interested in hearing what people think were songs that were passed over for chart glory when they were released, but had the staying power to become classics or later obtained chart glory after being re-released.

One example that comes to mind is 'Layla' by Derek and the Dominoes. When it was first released, it only climbed to #51 on the Billboard Hot 100. Now it is considered one of the all-time great rock and roll songs.

[MrBug708]

So like a song that was more popular by a cover version?

[cartman]

No, it would be the original song and artist. So something like Jimi Hendrix's version of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower' wouldn't count. But something that would count would be Simon and Garfunkle's 'The Sound of Silence'. It was originally released to little fanfare (didn't even make the charts) but then the track was re-worked to add an electric guitar overlay, and it is now a classic.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Back In Black ... peaked at #37 on the Hot 100 ... but is the title & most identifiable track on the 3rd best selling album worldwide ever. Album is 22x Platinum.

[rowech]

I think most of the answers on this thread will be tough to gauge because if I'm not mistaken, there is a time limit on how long a song can be to chart. Songs like Stairway to Heaven never charted but I don't believe it ever had a chance to.

[rowech]

I also think you're going to gravitate almost entirely towards 70s or early 80s rock music as well.

[cartman]

I think most of the answers on this thread will be tough to gauge because if I'm not mistaken, there is a time limit on how long a song can be to chart. Songs like Stairway to Heaven never charted but I don't believe it ever had a chance to.

The 'time limit' was that in the past, to be eligible for inclusion on the Billboard Chart, the song had to be commercially released as a single. 'Stairway' was too long to fit on a 45, and the band refused any edits of the song to fit, so it never was eligible.

[cartman]

I also think you're going to gravitate almost entirely towards 70s or early 80s rock music as well.

Dola quote,

I've got one from the 90s in mind. Waiting to see if someone else posts it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Eligibility prevents me from mentioning Dark Side of the Moon ... it was never a single

[CrimsonFox]

No, it would be the original song and artist. So something like Jimi Hendrix's version of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower' wouldn't count. But something that would count would be Simon and Garfunkle's 'The Sound of Silence'. It was originally released to little fanfare (didn't even make the charts) but then the track was re-worked to add an electric guitar overlay, and it is now a classic.

I disagree with that. All Along the Watchtower is an example of making something your own song. There is no question how vastly different the Hendrix version is from Dylan and the impact and artistic mojo Hendrix had with the song. IT's a staple today and wasn't then. Heck back then most probably had never heard of the original either. I think you'd be surprised at just what songs ARE covers that you didn't realize were.

[cartman]

Yes, but I'm talking about a song that was released, didn't hit #1, but the song later enters the pantheon of great tunes. Cover songs are a whole other topic. Unless it was a cover song that was passed over and later recognized as a great song. But something like 'All Along the Watchtower' or 'Blinded By The Light' where the covers became instant hits aren't what this thread is referring to.

[sabotai]

Pretty much everything not a Bob Dylan cover from Jimi Hendrix.

Purple Haze, Hey Joe and The Wind Cries Mary all charted in the UK (Top 10 all 3), but only Purple Haze charted in the US (#65). Voodoo Child was #1 in the UK, never charted in the US. So I guess under appreciated in the US.

"Have a Cigar" from Pink Floyd never charted, but Wikipedia says it was only released as a single "in some markets".

"Wish You Were Here" also didn't chart except in Norway.

"We Die Young" from Alice In Chains was their first single and never charted.

[Matthean]

is the title & most identifiable track on the 3rd best selling album worldwide ever

"You Shook Me All Night Long" I think earns that title. Granted, it's hard for either to not be identifiable.

[BYU 14]

Have to go with "It's late" by Queen, I think it was the best song on News of the World and only reached #72 on the charts. Again was probably hurt from being cut down for Radio play.

[Lathum]

Bat out of Hell

[Grover]

Led Zeppelin didn't have a single charted single in the UK until the 1997 re-release of Whole Lotta Love.

[lighthousekeeper]

Lust for Life. (the original by Iggy, not the Bruce Willis cover version. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugrats_Go_Wild))

[ISiddiqui]

"Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. It's highest chart performance was 76 on the Billboard Charts, but is (or at the least its guitar riff) basically known by everyone.

[stevew]

New Radicals "You get What You Give" only hit #36
Closer by Nine Inch Nails only got to 41.

[stevew]

I'm somewhat surprised that Hunger Strike(Temple of the Dog) and Are You Gonna Go My Way(Kravitz) never crossed over into top 40 radio at all. Neither charted. Both of those seemed like huge songs that still would get some AirPlay I'd think.

[JonInMiddleGA]

"Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. It's highest chart performance was 76 on the Billboard Charts, but is (or at the least its guitar riff) basically known by everyone.

{raises hand} Umm, do I get to be the exception that proves the rule?

I suspect that I'd probably recognize having heard it at some point but wouldn't have the foggiest who the artist was unless I happened to catch the title & have a good brain moment & connect the dots.

edit to add: Obviously I wasn't quite awake enough when I commented originally, upon review I don't think being able to identify the artist was part of the criteria for your rule. And yeah, I knew I'd heard it by about the fifth note.

[Qwikshot]

I would figure the song would have not charted but perhaps due to a re-issue in a movie or television or commercial is brought to a new light.

i.e. VW when they placed "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake in a 1999 commercial. Drake who has been dead since '74 suddenly was sought out again musically. In 2004, two of his singles charted again.

I know this well because that VW commercial was my introduction to Nick Drake and made me seek out more of his works. But this is an extreme.

[whomario]

"Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. It's highest chart performance was 76 on the Billboard Charts, but is (or at the least its guitar riff) basically known by everyone.

I also thought of that as being a good example.
It also became the anthem in stadiums 4 years after release at the 2008 Euros (soccer) and had great chart success because of it, it´s still highly popular at many sporting events here in Europe.

[cartman]

I also thought of that as being a good example.
It also became the anthem in stadiums 4 years after release at the 2008 Euros (soccer) and had great chart success because of it, it´s still highly popular at many sporting events here in Europe.

Not to mention being Italy's theme song in their 2006 World Cup title run.

[Kodos]

Have to go with "It's late" by Queen, I think it was the best song on News of the World and only reached #72 on the charts. Again was probably hurt from being cut down for Radio play.

LOVE that song. Only discovered it a couple of years ago.

[mauchow]

New Radicals "You get What You Give" only hit #36.
That song was played on Glee last night.

[ISiddiqui]

I also thought of that as being a good example.
It also became the anthem in stadiums 4 years after release at the 2008 Euros (soccer) and had great chart success because of it, it´s still highly popular at many sporting events here in Europe.

Popular at American sporting events as well (which is where I assume JIMG heard it - which is also why I say just about everyone knows it, or at least the guitar riff).

[DaddyTorgo]

I dunno if anything that charted can really be called under-appreciated guys...

[Warhammer]

Bat out of Hell

+1

[whomario]

I dunno if anything that charted can really be called under-appreciated guys...

under-"anything" is allways a relative thing. If Tom Brady would suddenly get paid "only" a million dollars a year he´d still be way more under-paid than a 3rd string lineman making the minimum, a firm can be under-staffed with 500 workers even though many other companies wouldn´t even have enough standing room for that many ;)

[Passacaglia]

Wicked Game?

EDIT: Never mind, that charted very well, just not until a couple years after it was released.

[Maple Leafs]

Apparently "Thunder Road" was never even released as a single even though it shows up on a ton of "best song ever" lists. Also, "Born to Run", which according to Wiki peaked at #23 in the US and didn't get higher than #17 anywhere (in Sweden). Oddly, Springsteen has never had a #1 in the US, even though "Born in the USA" producted six top tens.

Also, while clearly not under-appreciated I was shocked to see that "Thriller" never hit #1 in the US as a single. Peaked at #4. Weird.

[kcchief19]

I'm gathering that what cartman is looking for is a song that was released by an artist, went absolutely nowhere, then later was re-released or revived and became a huge hit.

While not necessarily a classic, I present this as and sample of what I think you're looking for -- the band Sheriff release the song "When I'm With You" in 1983 and it peaked at No. 61. In 1988, a DJ who liked the song started playing it, it picked up popularity and spread like wildfire, eventually getting re-released by the record company and hitting No. 1.

Another less than perfect example: the Righteous Brothers hit No. 4 -- a nice hit, but without a doubt the duo for 25 years was best known for "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" and "You're My Sound and Inspiration," both of which hit No. 1.

When the song appeared in "Ghost" in 19990, the song got new life. Due to a Billboard chart rules, slow reaction from the record companies and messy licensing issues, the song didn't hit No. 1, even though it was the most played song in the country for a long run. Eventually two different versions of the song ended up charting at the same time, a vinyl-only release that hit No. 13 and a cassette-only release that peaked at No. 19. "Top Gun" aside, "Unchained Melody" may now be the signature song for the Righteous Brothers.

[kcchief19]

This could almost be a separate thread, and I'm sure there are other examples I'm missing off the top of my head. But consider this:

Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Green Day and Creedence Clearwater Revival -- none of these acts have ever had a No. 1 single.

[cartman]

Another song that came to mind was U2's 'One'. It did reach #10 in the charts, but that doesn't reflect the how the song is viewed today.

[larrymcg421]

Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" topped out at #26 on the charts, but it's use three years later in Say Anything has given it iconic status.

[Ryan S]

This could almost be a separate thread, and I'm sure there are other examples I'm missing off the top of my head. But consider this:

Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Green Day and Creedence Clearwater Revival -- none of these acts have ever had a No. 1 single.

I don't know about the US, but in the UK, Led Zeppelin was famous for never releasing singles, so many of the famous Led Zeppelin songs may have never had a chance to chart.

[Aylmar]

I'm gathering that what cartman is looking for is a song that was released by an artist, went absolutely nowhere, then later was re-released or revived and became a huge hit.

While not necessarily a classic, I present this as and sample of what I think you're looking for -- the band Sheriff release the song "When I'm With You" in 1983 and it peaked at No. 61. In 1988, a DJ who liked the song started playing it, it picked up popularity and spread like wildfire, eventually getting re-released by the record company and hitting No. 1.

Another less than perfect example: the Righteous Brothers hit No. 4 -- a nice hit, but without a doubt the duo for 25 years was best known for "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" and "You're My Sound and Inspiration," both of which hit No. 1.

When the song appeared in "Ghost" in 19990, the song got new life. Due to a Billboard chart rules, slow reaction from the record companies and messy licensing issues, the song didn't hit No. 1, even though it was the most played song in the country for a long run. Eventually two different versions of the song ended up charting at the same time, a vinyl-only release that hit No. 13 and a cassette-only release that peaked at No. 19. "Top Gun" aside, "Unchained Melody" may now be the signature song for the Righteous Brothers.

Assuming you mean "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" by the Righteous Brothers? Also, their version of "Unchained Melody" is a cover for a song that had already been to #1 in 1955 and was nominated for an Oscar. Does it still qualify in that case?

[johnnyshaka]

Elvis' "A Little Less Conservation" was originally released in '68 and topped out at 69 but was re-released and used in Ocean's Eleven and hit #1 in a dozen countries around the world.

[Ksyrup]

Hallelujah as both the original by Leonard Cohen and the cover by Jeff Buckley might work here as well. I don't know how well the original charted, but I doubt Buckley's version did. Both became extremely popular years later, thanks to Rufus Wainwright's version in Shrek and the constant singing of the song on American Idol.

[johnnyshaka]

Hallelujah as both the original by Leonard Cohen and the cover by Jeff Buckley might work here as well. I don't know how well the original charted, but I doubt Buckley's version did. Both became extremely popular years later, thanks to Rufus Wainwright's version in Shrek and the constant singing of the song on American Idol.

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah_(Leonard_Cohen_song)#Chart_positions)

[Matthean]

Hallelujah as both the original by Leonard Cohen and the cover by Jeff Buckley might work here as well. I don't know how well the original charted, but I doubt Buckley's version did. Both became extremely popular years later, thanks to Rufus Wainwright's version in Shrek and the constant singing of the song on American Idol.

Heard this on the radio as I was coming home and instantly thought of this thread.

I thought I could sneak one in with "Amazing Grace," but it hit number one.

[Matthean]

Oddly, Springsteen has never had a #1 in the US, even though "Born in the USA" producted six top tens.

Bruce Springsteen...none of these acts have ever had a No. 1 single.

Sort of true. "Blinded By The Light" was written by Springsteen and hit #1.

"Fire" covered by The Pointer Sisters hit #2.

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[stevew]

Wrapped up like a douche

[Grover]

In terms of not getting chart success upon its release and very often being overlooked by the covers done of the song: The La's "There She Goes"