Michigan native Del Shannon (Charles Westover) scored a string of hits in the 60s, including the chart topping classic "Runaway," which spent a month at #1. Follow up single "Hats Off To Larry" gave him his second biggest hit, landing at #5. He'd return to the Top 10 yet again in 1965 when "Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow The Sun)" peaked at #9. Del Shannon's songwriting talents also helped score hits for other acts, most notably Peter & Gordon, who took Del Shannon's "I Go To Pieces" to #9 in 1965. Bonnie Raitt's version of "Runaway" peaked at #57 in 1977. His career diminished in the 70s, but he mounted a bit of a comeback with a new album and cover of "Sea Of Love," which hit #33 in 1982. It was his first chart appearance in over a decade, but it would also be his last. Sadly, he committed suicide in 1990 at the age of 55. This "Move It On Over" was co-written by Del Shannon - not to be confused with the Hank Williams song with the same title (later covered by George Thorogood). Unlike most other songs in his catalogue, this one from 1965 is a garage rocker that sparkles with its raw energy and unbridled enthusiasm.
New York girl group The Shangri-Las got off to a hot start in 1964 with a pair of out-of-the-box hits. The brooding "Remember (Walkin' In The Sand)" reached #5 (Aerosmith took it to #67 in 1980) and the classic "Leader Of The Pack" gave them their one and only #1. The latter is a R&R Hall of Fame single. The group scored some other minor hits but returned to the Top 10 in 1965 with "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" (#6). By 1966 they would see their final chart appearance when "Past, Present, and Future" stalled at #59. "Footsteps On The Roof" is another gem from this talented group that didn't see any chart action, but remains one of their finest moments to my ears.
Shalamar was a funk, rock, and pop outfit that scored their first chart appearance in 1977 when "Uptown Festival (Part 1)" reached #25. They reached the Top 10 a few years later with "The Second Time Around," which peaked at #8. The band enjoyed a few other forgotten highlights along the way, including "Dead Giveaway," which reached #22, and "Dancing In The Sheets," which reached #17 and was featured in the movie Footloose. The group's last chart appearance was when "Amnesia" stalled at #73 in 1984. Jody Watley would soon depart for a successful solo career.
Shakespear's sister was a duo that formed in the late 80s and released one of the most critically acclaimed records of the early 90s. Their sophomore effort, "Hormonally Yours," yielded their biggest single in the US, 1992's "Stay," which soared to #4 (if you've never played the acoustic version, go do it now). Their excellent follow-up single, "I Don't Care," stalled at #55 for some reason - it deserved much better, as did many other tracks from this record, including "Goodbye Cruel World." The group was comprised of Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit, who was known earlier as Marcy Levy. Both had strong pedigrees: Fahey was in Bananarama and was married to Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, who co-wrote "Stay." Detroit co-wrote and sang backup on Eric Clapton's hit "Lay Down Sally," and released a solo debut record in 1982. Detroit was fired in 1993 and Siobhan cancelled the project in 1996. They revived things in 2009, but have yet to get back on the charts.
After his time in the Dwight Twilley Band in the 70s, singer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Seymour tried to ignite a solo career. He became a one-hit wonder on his own, reaching #22 in 1981 with "Precious To Me." Despite his bounty of bouncy melodies and crunchy guitar, Seymour could not make lightening strike twice. Super puzzling given how great songs like "I Found A Love" sound built for heavy radio airplay. Seymour left us too soon, dying of lymphoma in 1993 at the age of 41.
Seven and the Sun were a rock trio from Jersey that released a single album in 2002 called "Back To The Innocence." You may remember their single "Walk With Me," which received a decent amount of airplay back in the day, but bubbled under the Top 100 chart. Not sure why fame eluded this band - they seemed to have all the ingredients for success in the 2000s. They reportedly recorded a sophomore record, but it never saw the light of day. Two of the members tried their hand in a country band called Whiskey Falls before starting a music production company. The title track is a standout anthem for me from their one and only album.
If you want to learn what it is like to have 15 minutes of fame in a rock and roll band, check out Jacob Slichter's book, "So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life." Slichter was the drummer for 90s alternative rock band Semisonic, who scored a single chart hit in 1998 when the ubiquitous "Closing Time" reached #11. I am always baffled why the band didn't score more hits--they wrote terrifically catchy pop songs that were just what the world needed after grunge. Slichter's book reveals the likely reason was incompetent management and record labels. Even after a huge hit like "Closing Time," the band could not get back on the chart. It wasn't the band's fault. The follow-up record's lead single, "Chemistry," is fantastic. Lead songwriter Dan Wilson went on to a solo career, and has found great success writing for others, including Dixie Chicks and Adele.
Bob Seger has been cranking out the hits since the late 60s, although his final chart appearance was in 1991 when "The Real Love" reached #24. He was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 2004 and ranks as the 92nd most successful artist on the charts. His best decade was the 80s, in which he ranked #31. Throughout his stellar career, Seger managed a lone #1 hit, which arrived in 1987: "Shakedown," which was featured in the hit movie Beverly Hills Cop II. The closest he came to claiming the top spot again was in 1982 when "Shame On The Moon" spent 4 weeks at #2. Seger's last album was in 2017 and it is one of his most memorable efforts. Dedicated to his buddy Glenn Frey of The Eagles, who passed away in 2016, the album boasts some of his finest rockers and ballads. Among the latter is "I'll Remember You." Frey actually contributed backing vocals to Seger's first chart hit, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man," which reached #17 in 1969.
Hailing from Liverpool, The Searchers racked up a number of hits in the US in the 60s, most notably "Love Potion Number Nine," which spent two weeks at #3 in 1964. Their first chart appearance was earlier that year when "Needles And Pins" reached #13. Many will also remember "Don't Throw Your Love Away," which hit #16, also in 1964. Their final showing on the chart was in 1971 when the excellent "Desdemona" stalled at #94. The group tried to mount a comeback in the late 70s and early 80s with some solid albums, but poor promotion by the record label doomed the noble effort.
"Songs From & Inspired By Noisewater" is an obscure 2010 album by indie pop artist Timmy Sean. The record bursts with sunshine in the grand style of E.L.O. What a shame it didn't get more recognition - it had star-making potential. "If Your Mother Has Her Way" is just one of many highlights you'll enjoy.
Seals and Crofts were a soft-rock duo that scored several notable hits in the 70s such as "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl," and "Get Closer," all of which strangely peaked at #6. Their formula ran out of steam by the decade's end, with the unusually upbeat rocker "Takin' It Easy" (#79) becoming their last chart appearance. "This Day Belongs To Me" is an underrated cut from their 1977 album, "One On One," which served as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. One single from this album did hit the chart: "My Fair Share" went to #28.
Freddie Scott was an outstanding vocalist who rose to fame in the 60s with a lone Top 10 hit: his rendition of Carole King's "Hey Girl." He managed to hit the Top 40 once more in 1967 when "Are You Lonely For Me" reached #39. "(You) Got What I Need" came out in 1968 but didn't enter most people's ears until Biz Markie famously sampled the song in his smash hit "Just A Friend," which went to #9 in 1989.
The German hard rock band The Scorpions formed back in the late 60s and slowly rose to fame through the 70s. In the US, their first chart appearance arrived in 1982 when "No One Like You" reached #65. The follow-up single, the now classic "Rock You Like A Hurricane," performed better by reaching #25. Despite getting massive airplay and boasting a bevy of well-known songs, the band rarely saw chart success until their fourth decade of existence. In 1991, their power ballad "Wind Of Change" soared to #4. After one more blip on the chart radar with "Send Me An Angel," which stalled at #44, the band hasn't seen the chart since. As for many hard rock bands, The Scorpions struggled through the 90s, experimenting with new sounds and styles, failing to win new fans and losing some of the old ones. Then out of nowhere in 2007, they dropped their 16th record called "Humanity: Hour 1." Unusual for the band, this was a concept album about a civil war between humans and artificial life. A rather risky turn for the band, but the record gave the band some of the best reviews they've received in years. It is a personal favorite of mine from their extensive catalogue, as it represents a rejuvenating update to their sound and vision. And pulling in hit songwriters like Desmond Child, Eric Bazilian (Hooters), and Marti Frederiksen made every song sound like a single.
Scissor Sisters is a breath of fresh air - a throwback to the dance rock popularized by the likes of Elton John and E.L.O. Despite a lot of critical acclaim and decent airplay through the 00's, they've yet to score a chart hit. They came close with this one, "I Don't Feel Like Dancing," from their 2006 album called "Ta Dah."
In addition to his tenure in the successful bands Poco and The Eagles, vocalist, songwriter, and bassist Timothy B. Schmit has tried his hand at a solo career. He's scored two minor hits that broke onto the charts: a cover of "So Much In Love," featured in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, reached #59 in 1982 and "Boys Night Out" reached #25 in 1987. "A Better Day Is Coming" is a catchy mid-tempo number that seemed ripe for chart success in 1987, but it was ignored for some reason.
