Rod Stewart is one of the biggest stars of the rock era. Both as a solo artist and a member of Faces, he's racked up such an impressive string of hits that he is ranked the 16th most successful chart artist of all-time. Across three decades, he's managed to rank in the top 30: he ranked #22 in the 70s, #23 in the 80s, and #16 in the 90s. He became a Grammy Legend Award winner in 1989 and was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1994. Stewart started his chart run back in 1971 with the monster hit "Maggie May," which spent five weeks at #1. He'd return to the #1 for eight weeks in 1976 with "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)", four weeks in 1979 with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?", and one last time for three weeks in 1994 with "All For Love." "All For Love" was featured in the movie The Three Musketeers, so it was appropriate to sing this song with two other superstars: Bryan Adams and Sting. Stewart's final appearance on the Top 100 was in 1998 when "Ooh La La" reached #39. This tune was first recorded with Faces back in 1973, kind of bringing things full circle. Stewart then crooned his way through the American Songbook series, which sold him tons more records despite a lack of chart entries. Stewart eventually returned to rock and pop, and it is a shame there isn't room on the Top 100 for his songs. "Beautiful Morning," from his 2013 record "Time," seems just as much of a contender as his classics.
Ray Stevens is often remembered as a comedic singer due to novelty hits like "Gitarzan" (#8 in 1969) and "The Streak" (3 weeks at #1 in 1974). But there was a more serious side, one that earned him another chart topper and a Grammy: "Everything Is Beautiful" spent 2 weeks at #1 in 1970. Dabbling in all sorts of genres through his chart career in the 60s and 70s, Stevens saw his last entry in 1979 when "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow" peaked at #49. "America, Communicate With Me" reached #45 in 1970 but its message still rings true today. This Georgia born singer and songwriter deserves to be remembered for being more than a funny guy.
London born singer and songwriter Cat Stevens scored a string of memorable acoustic hits in the early 70s, including "Wild World" (#11), "Peace Train" (#7), "Morning Has Broken" (#6), "Oh Very Young" (#10), and his Sam Cooke cover of "Another Saturday Night" (#6). Many will be surprised to learn that one of his most beloved songs, "Father And Son," did not hit the charts when it was released in 1971. The last appearance Stevens made on the charts came in 1979 when "Bad Brakes" peaked at #83. That same year he converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Yusuf has been quietly producing more music over the years, and his gentle voice is always pleasing on the ears.
While the Welsh band Stereophonics have scored hits in the UK, they've yet to chart in the US. The raspy vocals of lead singer Kelly Jones make them sound like a quintessential rock band. The lyrics have always been upscale ever since their debut album, "Word Gets Around," hit shelves in 1997. The band is still going strong after all these years. "Caught By The Wind" kicks off their 2017 record, "Scream Above The Sounds."
Van Stephenson was a singer and songwriter who largely wrote for country acts and was a member of the BlackHawk with Henry Paul in the 90s. But during the 80s, he released three solo albums that produced a handful of minor hits, most notably "Modern Day Delilah," which reached #22 in 1984. Stephenson's third and final album, "Suspicious Heart" from 1986, was a commercial flop without a charting single. The label tried with "We're Doing Alright," but perhaps "(We Should Be) Together Tonight" would have fared better. Sadly, Stephenson's career was cut short--he passed away from melanoma in 2001 at the age of 47.
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker scored a string of popular hits through the 70s and early 80s as Steely Dan. Blending soft rock, jazz, and salsa music, they teamed with ace studio musicians to create genre-bending music that sometimes had irresistible pop hooks. One of their early incarnations including comedian Chevy Chase on drums. Their first score was "Do It Again" in 1973, which sailed to #6. Their follow-up single, "Reeling In The Years," nearly broke the Top 10 again, peaking at #11. The two scored big again when "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" peaked at #4 in 1974, becoming their biggest hit. Another single from 1978, "Peg," stopped at #11 (Michael McDonald sang backing vocals on this crowd favorite). Steely Dan would get back to the Top 10 one more time in 1981 when "Hey Nineteen" reached #10. The follow-up single, "Time Out Of Mind," got to #22 and became their last chart appearance. The group broke up after that and Fagen pursued a solo career through the 80s. His best known song as a solo artist was 1982's "I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)," which went to #26. Steely Dan resumed working together in 1992 and released new material until Becker's death in 2007. Their 2000 "comeback" record, "Two Against Nature" did not put them back on the charts, but did earn them a Grammy for Album of the Year. "Dirty Work" is a terrific track from their early days in 1972 that never charted. It was covered by the Pointer Sisters in 1978 for their album, "Energy."
If you are a fan of 80s music and missed Maureen Steele back in the day, it is not too late to discover her 1985 record, "Nature Of The Beast." You may be familiar with her song "Boys Will Be Boys," which was featured on the soundtrack to the 1984 film, The Flamingo Kid. Steele only managed a single, brief appearance on the chart when "Save The Night For Me" peaked at #77. "Sidetracked" seemed like another cut from the record that had what it takes to make her a star, but it just wasn't in the cards. Steele soon left the music business and got into real estate.
Stealers Wheel were a Scottish rock duo comprised of Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan. They scored a major hit right out of the gate in 1973 with "Stuck In the Middle With You," which soared to #6. Their follow-up song, "Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine," could not match this success and stalled at #49. The group would return to the Top 40 once more in 1974, when "Star" reached #29. Due to disagreements with one another, they each embarked on solo careers--one successful...the other not so much. "Back On My Feet Again" is a peppy rock song that deserved better attention. It can be found on their 1973 album, "Ferguslie Park."
Starship is the third incarnation of a band that started in the 60s as Jefferson Airplane. Probably undergoing more personnel changes over the years than any other outfit, their second incarnation went by the name of Jefferson Starship beginning in 1974. This version of the band was led by Marty Balin and Grace Slick as before, but in 1979 singer Mickey Thomas (the famed vocalist who sang on the Elvin Bishop hit, "Fooled Around And Fell In Love") replaced Balin. By 1984, legal troubles with the name forced them to abbreviate it as Starship. Grace Slick was the only member to be present through each incarnation (she left the band in 1988). In addition to the name change, Starship was a huge departure from the band's sound as well. But adopting the 80s trend to mix synth pop with rock brought them the biggest hits of their career. Starship hit the top of the charts three times with "We Built This City," "Sara," and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." The band's popularity waned with the start of the 90s, making "Good Heart" their last chart appearance (#81 in 1991). "Girls Like You" is a rebel couple's anthem that was one of the stronger cuts from their 1987 record, "No Protection." This record had two hit singles with "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" (#9) and "Beat Patrol" (#46), but "Girls Like You" should have been a contender.
After the breakup of the Beatles, each member went on to a successful solo career. Ringo Starr was the voice behind hits such as "Yellow Submarine," "With A Little Help From My Friends," and "Act Naturally," and he soon demonstrated to the world that he could be a hitmaker on his own. Ringo scored his first big hit with "It Don't Come Easy," which reached #4 in 1971. The next year he was back in the Top 10 with "Back Off Boogaloo," which peaked at #9. Then he scored two back-to-back #1 hits with "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen." Ringo cracked the Top 10 three more times but the steam began to run out in 1975. By 1981, Ringo would have his final chart appearance when "Wrack My Brain" stalled at #38. Ringo has continued to make music through the decades, and released his latest album, "What's My Name," in 2019. I was surprised he didn't have a bigger career revival back in 1992 with the release of his comeback record, "Time Takes Time." It was his first LP since 1983 and featured many superstar guests and noted songwriters, including a cover of "Golden Blunders," done by The Posies. "Weight Of The World" seemed a perfect fit for radio at the time, sounding very much like a Traveling Wilburys tune.
Edwin Starr declared war on the charts in the late 60s. His first appearance was in 1965 when "Agent Double-O-Soul" went to #21. His first of two Top 10 hits arrived in 1969 when "Twenty-Five Miles" reached #6. His second reached the top spot: the classic anthem, "War," spent three weeks at #1 in 1970, a song that is now a Grammy Hall of Famer and in the R&R Hall of Fame as well. Despite becoming a superstar, Starr only had one more Top 40 hit with "Stop The War Now," which peaked at #26 in 1971. Throughout the rest of the 70s he maintained a presence on the lower half of the chart, and saw his final entry, "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio," top out at #79 in 1979. "Time" is an underrated song from Starr that was released just prior to "War" in 1970, but inexplicably did not chart. Like many of Starr's songs, the thoughtful lyrics are timeless. Starr passed away from a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 61.
Starclub was a pop rock band from England that nearly broke onto the Top 100 in the US with their infectious song "Hard To Get." The single was released in 1993 but didn't raise enough attention to stand out from the crowd. After its release, the band faded into obscurity. Still a great tune after all these years.
Starbelly is a powerpop band that released their debut record, "Everyday And Then Some," in 2002. While very popular in the genre, and boasting a bevy of songs with hooks and harmony, they've not been able to make a dent on the charts. Singer-songwriter Cliff Hillis, previously highlighted on this blog, was a member of the band. "Everyday" is one of the standout tracks from their debut. Their latest effort arrived in 2018, simply entitled "Four."
Ryan Star is a singer and songwriter from New York whose first major label record, "11:59," soared all the way to #28 on the Top 200 in 2010. He no doubt received a boost from his appearance on the reality TV talent show, Rock Star: Supernova in 2006. But the record failed to produce a single that made it to the Top 100 and he fell off the radar. His sophomore record didn't even crack the Top 200. "Right Now" is one of the stronger cuts from "11:59" that should have been all over radio in 2010. I hope we've not heard the last of this powerful voice.
Scott Stapp is the frontman for 90s icons Creed, a post-grunge hard rock band that racked up a string of hits at the turn of the millennium. In addition to his work with Creed, Stapp has fronted the band Art of Anarchy and released three solo records to date. As a solo artist, Stapp embodies the sound of Creed but hasn't broke onto the Top 100 yet. His baritone voice is strong, his songs are strong, and the spirit is strong, but no dice. "Gone Too Soon," a song for the departed, is from his solid 2019 effort, "The Space Between The Shadows."
Michael Stanley and his band (aka MSB) were trying to crack the charts with their brand of heartland rock since their formation in Cleveland in 1974. It was a long hard climb, but a record label change and a strong set of new songs resulted in their 1980 opus, "Heartland." "Heartland" gave the MSB their highest charting single when the excellent "He Can't Love You" peaked at #33 in 1981 (it deserved so much better!). Like other songs on the album, it features the great Clarence Clemens on saxophone. Unfortunately, the follow-up ballad, "Lover," tanked, stalling at #68 and taking the wings out of the sails for this record. "All I Ever Wanted" probably would have performed much better. MSB would see the Top 40 only once more when "My Town" reached #39 in 1983. The band's final chart appearance would soon follow with "Someone Like You," which peaked at #75.
One of the founders of the great dB's in the 80s, Chris Stamey has remained very active in the music business through his solo work, collaborative projects, and as a producer. Beyond belief, nothing from his six solo records has seen chart action. His last effort was 2015's "Euphoria," from which "Where Does The Time Go?" can be found. The track exemplifies Stamey's knack for hooks, melody, and thoughtful lyrics.
Hailing from Norway, the hard rock band Stage Dolls managed to crack the US charts only once. That moment arrived at the height of the hairband craze in 1989 when "Love Cries" reached #46. It comes from their self-titled album, which should have been a breakthrough record. It contains many other tracks, such as "Hanoi Waters," that should have qualified for the charts during that era.
The Stabilizers were a quintessential 80s synth pop band from the unlikely town of Erie, Pennsylvania. They scored a single chart appearance in 1987 from their only album when "One Simple Thing" managed to scratch its way to #93. The album's title track, "Tyranny," failed to chart when it was released as a follow-up single. An unreleased track from the band, "Maybe This Time," surfaced in 1991 on the soundtrack to the movie, If Looks Could Kill. "You Pull Me Down" closes out the group's lone album, which is cherished among collectors of the genre. Vocalist David Christenson passed away in 2017 from lung cancer at the age of 54.
Named after the SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, this Baltimore-based band rose to fame at the turn of the century with their single "Right Now." Co-written with Butch Walker (Marvelous 3), the tune almost hit the Top 100 in 2000. It comes from their debut record, "Now You See Inside." SR-71 seemed poised to hit the big time. "Now You See Inside" is packed with other potential hits, including "Politically Correct," "Non-toxic," "Fame," and the killer ballad, "Empty Spaces." Not sure who dropped the ball here, but I'm surprised this album didn't get more attention. Unfortunately, the band decided to sacrifice their sugary melodies for a dark and heavier sound on 2002's "Tomorrow," which proved to be a commercial flop. The album saw some personnel changes, too, with another Baltimore musician, John Allen (Child's Play, Charm City Devils), taking over the drums. The band leased a third album called "Here We Go Again" that was a strong return to form, but a day late and dollar short. It contained the song "1985," which was quickly redone by Bowling For Soup and became a popular hit, landing at #23 at 2004. The success showcased SR-71's frontman Mitch Allan's songwriting chops, which have served him well in writing tunes for others ever since. The band is also noted for rocking up other people's songs, including "In Your Eyes" (Peter Gabriel) and "Let It Whip" (Dazz Band).
Billy Squier is a noted guitarist and songwriter from Massachusetts who got his start in the band Piper. Despite no charting singles, the band received some critical acclaim and opened for none other than KISS. After two albums, Squier embarked on a successful solo career. Squier's big breakthrough arrived with his 1981 sophomore album (and arguably his best), "Don't Say No." Packed with little filler, it put Squier on the map with hits like "The Stroke" (#17), "In The Dark" (#35), and "My Kinda Lover" (#45). Squier strutted into the Top 40 twice more during the 80s with "Everybody Wants You" (#32) and "Rock Me Tonite" (#15). His career slowly fizzled and in 1989 his final chart appearance came with "Don't Say You Love Me," which stalled at #58. Outside of his greatest hits, there isn't much to write home about in Squier's catalogue. "Stronger" is an exception. From his 1989 album, "Hear And Now," this driving and memorable tune deserved better.
Squeeze is an English band that first made waves on the new wave scene in the late 70s and early 80s with classics like "Cool For Cats," "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)," and "Up The Junction," none of which charted in the US. That changed when Paul Carrack (Ace, Mike + The Mechanics) joined in 1981 and delivered "Tempted," which rose to #49. The band did not see the chart again until their breakthrough 1987 record, "Babylon and On." It gave them their first and last Top 40 hits: "Hourglass" and "853-5937," which went to #15 and #32, respectively. Carrack was in and out of the band, but rejoined for the recording of 1993's "Some Fantastic Place." One of the highlights is his tune, "Loving You Tonight," which feels like a sequel to "Tempted." The first half of this album is particularly strong, especially the leading track "Everything In The World." Not sure why this one didn't give the band a much-needed second wind. The band is still active, their last album having been "The Knowledge" in 2017.
