You'd never know of the legendary influence of Neil Young just by looking at his track record on the Top 100. Young has had an interesting career over the decades, beginning in 1965 with his time in the Mynah Birds, which featured Rick James on vocals. From 1966-1969 he was in Buffalo Springfield. Outside of adventures as a part of Crosby, Stills & Nash, he's been primarily a solo artist (sometimes with his band, Crazy Horse), earning him adoration from more recent acts like Pearl Jam, who christened Young as the "Godfather of Grunge." Young first hit the charts as a solo artist in 1970 when "Cinnamon Girl" went to #55. His breakthrough hit arrived in 1972 when the classic "Heart Of Gold," which features Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor on backing vocals, soared to #1. He followed this up with what would become his last Top 40 hit to date: "Old Man," which got to #31 later that year. His last chart appearance was when "Little Thing Called Love" stalled at #71 in 1983. Despite not breaking onto the charts, many of Young's rockers and ballads have become familiar classics, including "Down By The River," "The Needle And The Damage Done," "Southern Man," "Rockin' In The Free World," and "Harvest Moon." "Philadelphia" showcases Young's softer side and may just be one of the most beautiful songs ever written that most people have forgotten about or never heard. It can be found on the soundtrack to the 1993 movie of the same name.
It is distressing that such an intelligent singer and songwriter like Pete Yorn has yet to see chart success. He made a big splash with critics upon the release of his debut album in 2001, "Musicforthemorningafter," but none of that great press translated into singles cracking the Top 100. "Life On A Chain" is from that magical and refreshing album. Yorn is a prolific writer and has released many other great tracks worth your time, including "Murray," "Crystal Village," "My Father," and "Calm Down." Also notable are his duets with the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Liz Phair.
Yipes! was a rock band from Wisconsin that managed to score a single entry on the chart in 1980, their rendition of "Darlin'," originally done by The Beach Boys. The Yipes! took their cover version, which is simply outstanding, to #68. On the same album ("A Bit Irrational"), the Yipes! also did a cover version of "Come See About Me," made famous earlier by The Supremes. In 1981, their label dropped the band but they returned in 2018 with a new (third) record called "Yipes!!!" (you see what they did there?)
Yes is one of the few prog rock bands that has been able to hit the charts at all, let alone for three decades. They achieved two Top 40 hits in the 70s with "Your Move (I've Seen All Good People)" landing at #40 in 1971 and "Roundabout" peaking at #13 and winning a slot in the R&R Hall of Fame (the band itself was induced in 2017). Yes has never been a stranger to shifts in personnel, but at the start of the 80s some members split to join Asia while others came aboard to see Yes hit the top of the charts with "Owner Of A Lonely Heart." The band followed up this newfound success with "Leave It" (#24) and "It Can Happen" (#51). These singles came from their best-selling album from 1983, "90125." The album is named after its catalogue serial number, not a zip code. In 1987, singles from their next album, "Big Generator," returned Yes to the charts. "Love Will Find A Way" and "Rhythm Of Love" peaked at #30 and #40, respectively. In 1991, Yes would see their final chart appearance when "Lift Me Up" stalled at #86. With the abandonment of a strong commercial sound, radio resumed saying "No" to Yes. "It Will Be A Good Day (The River)" is a pleasant mid-tempo track from their 1999 effort, "The Ladder."
It's not every day you hear a rambunctious pop punk band injecting a healthy dose of violin into their music. But that's what Yellowcard have been doing since they formed in 1997. The band draws its name from the "yellow card" used in soccer, which is an official caution given to a player. It's a bit surprising that Yellowcard isn't bigger than they are. They got off to a reasonable start in 2004 when "Ocean Avenue" bolted to #37, but that has remained the band's only Top 40 entry since. Their follow-up record produced one more chart entry when the title track, "Lights And Sounds," made it to #50. And their final chart appearance to date literally just made the Top 100 in 2011: "For You, And Your Denial" peeked in at #100. This prolific and hard-working band has a lot to be proud of in their catalogue. "Keeper" is from their overlooked 2007 album, "Paper Walls."
Yaz (originally called Yazoo) was a synth pop group that had some modest chart success in the US in the early 80s. Yaz was comprised of Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke (formerly of Depeche Mode) and their 1982 record, "Upstairs at Eric's" is considered a landmark release in the genre. In terms of chart hits, though, it left quite a bit to be desired. "Situation" stalled at #73 and "Only You" only reached #67. "Don't Go" is the track that kicks off this album and feels more like a hit, but it didn't chart. Moyet would strike out on a solo career and Clarke later formed a similar band, Erasure. Both would find greater chart success beyond Yaz: Moyet had a #31 hit in 1985 with "Invisible" and Erasure would score three Top 40 hits in the late 80s and 90s.
English rock band The Yardbirds have a rather short tenure on the US charts given their tremendous influence. The band was also the early stomping grounds where superstars like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page honed their craft. The Yardbirds got off to a promising start in the US in 1965 as "For Your Love" and "Heart Full Of Soul" soared to #6 and #9, respectively. They'd follow these babies up with other classics like "I'm A Man," which hit #17, and "Shapes Of Things," which hit #11 and became a R&R Hall of Famer. The group would achieve two more Top 40 entries in 1966 with "Over Under Sideways Down" (#13) and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (#30). After several personnel changes, the group would break up in 1968. Members found other successful projects or solo work. Jimmy Page formed The New Yardbirds, which grew into Led Zeppelin. Sadly, lead singer and harmonica player Keith Relf died in 1976 at the age of 33 after suffering a massive electric shock while playing guitar. "I Ain't Done Wrong" did not chart, but showcases the raw energy of a bold new band aiming to reform rock and roll. The song builds into a fierce climax that foreshadows the heavier edge that Led Zeppelin would later bring to the table.
In 1981, funk pop and rock duo Yarbrough & Peoples scored a minor hit when "Don't Stop The Music" reached #19. But this pair from Texas could not repeat this success, only charting twice more on the Top 100 with "Don't Waste Your Time" (1984) and "I Wouldn't Lie," (1986) which peaked at #48 and #93, respectively. "Let Me Have It (From The Start)" is a an upbeat dance number with a rock edge from their 1984 album, "Be A Winner." Sounds like it could have been in the running for inclusion on the Flashdance soundtrack, so it is odd that it didn't get more attention back in the day.
Hats off to "Weird Al" Yankovic for carving out a niche in novelty songwriting, many of which parody rock or rap favorites. Yankovic is one of the most successful artists in this genre, and his antics have amassed some pretty big chart hits. While musical styles have changed since his start in the early 80s, Yankovic has showed an amazing ability to adapt and keep making hits. Yankovic's first chart appearance goes all the way back to 1983 when "Ricky," a parody of "Mickey" by Toni Basil, peaked at #63. But what really made him a household name was his parody of "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. Yankovic's "Eat It" soared to #12 and won him a Grammy for Comedy Record. Yankovic would continue to make the charts chuckle from time to time, but his biggest hit to date arrived in 2006 when "White & Nerdy," his parody of "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire landed at #9--his first and only Top 10 hit so far. Yankovic's last chart appearance was in 2014 when "Word Crimes," a parody of "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, reached #39. But I wouldn't count Yankovic out yet. If history is any indicator, he will be back on the charts again soon. "Yoda" explores one of his favorite things to sing about other than food: Star Wars. It is a parody of "Lola" by The Kinks that can be found on his 1985 record, "Dare To Be Stupid."
XTC was an English band that began cranking out delectable intelligent pop music since their formation in the early 70s. They achieved a hey day in the 80s on college radio, but not quite enough to break onto the American Top 100 in a big way. The band's only Top 100 appearance in the US finally arrived in 1989 when "The Mayor Of Simpleton" reached #72. Lightning almost struck twice with the equally excellent "Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" from 1992, but that single didn't chart. "Dear God" is a bold and fantastic song from 1987 that was probably too edgy for commercial radio, yet deserved to be broadcast far and wide.
Xavion was a funk rock group from Tennessee that nearly broke onto the Top 100 in 1984 with their single, "Eat Your Heart Out." The band carries another historical distinction as being the first Black rock group to appear on MTV. "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" is another fiery track that seemed poised to do well in the mid-80s, but that was not in the cards for Xavion. The track comes from their only record, 1984's "Burnin' Hot."
Hailing from Tennessee, Overton Vertis (O.V.) Wright was a tremendous blues singer whose moving works never broke onto the Top 40. The closest he came was in 1970 when "Ace Of Spade" reached #54. Wright passed away too early in 1980 from heart failure at the age of 41. "That's How Strong My Love Is" bubbled under the Top 100 in 1964, introducing the world to his emotive voice.
Gary Wright is a soft rock artist who helped pioneer the use of the synthesizer in rock music, propelling his dreamy songs onto the charts. His two biggest both hit #2 in 1976: "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive." Wright had difficulty repeating his Top 40 success until 1981 when "Really Wanna Know You" reached #16. That song became his final chart entry. Wright then shifted more into soundtrack work and world music. For example, check out "Hold On To Your Vision" from the Cobra soundtrack. "Heartbeat" was the second single from his 1981 album, "The Right Place." It bubbled under, and I am surprised this catchy upbeat number didn't fare better. It may also be one of the first videos to feature the keytar?
Betty Wright is largely known as a one-hit wonder, cracking the Top 10 in 1972 with "Clean Up Woman," which peaked at #6. She only had one other Top 40 hit, and that's when "Girls Can't Do What The Guys Can Do" landed at #33 in 1968. She was able to sustain a modest career further into the 70s, but her final chart entry as a solo artist arrived in 1975 when "Where Is The Love" stalled at #96. She resurfaced in 1990 when her duet with Grayson Hugh, "How 'Bout Us," peaked at #67. Wright's catalogue is extensive and worth mining - her soulful voice makes every song shine. "Shoorah! Shoorah!" comes from her 1974 album, "Danger High Voltage." Wright passed away in May, 2020 at the age of 66.
After leaving The Waterboys in 1986, British singer and multi-instrumentalist Karl Wallinger began performing as World Party. World Party has obtained a single chart entry in the US that dates back to 1987 when "Ship Of Fools (Save Me From Tomorrow)" peaked at #27. Trying to ride this wave of success into the 90s was difficult, although World Party remained a favorite at college radio. One of the songs that should have gotten more attention was "Way Down Now," from the 1990 record, "Goodbye Jumbo." In the early days, World Party featured Sinead O'Connor on a couple tracks, and "She's The One," featured on 1997's "Egyptology," was covered by Robbie Williams.
Lucy Woodward is a singer and songwriter who spent most of her time in the 2000s singing backup for Rod Stewart (and many other notable artists). She has a diverse musical palate and has released a number of solo records, all of them sounding like a different artist. Her 2003 debut "While You Can" is the most pop-rock oriented to date. Filled with a bevy of catchy tracks, it is remarkable that none of them broke onto the Top 100. The closest was "Dumb Girls," which bubbled under that year.
While successful in their native UK, the alternative rock band The Wonder Stuff never achieved the breakthrough they deserved in the US. Rising to fame in the late 80s and early 90s, the band's leader and lyricist Miles Hunt challenged listeners to think while enjoying the crafty hooks of their choruses. 1993's "Construction For The Modern Idiot" is one of my favorite records of the decade. Like a lighthouse in a sea of grunge, this record showed that you can still sing biting lyrics without compromising melody. "On The Ropes" was the lead single and remains one the finest songs in their catalogue.
Born Steveland Morris in Michigan, Stevie Wonder started off his illustrious career in music in 1962. Billed as "Little Stevie Wonder," he was only 13 at the time of his first hit. Wonder has been racking up chart hits since the early 60s, scoring #1 smashes in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. In addition to countless awards and honors, he is ranked as the 6th most successful chart artist of all-time. Wonder has amassed nine #1 hits, his most successful being a duet with Paul McCartney: 1982's "Ebony And Ivory" stayed at the top for seven weeks. His first #1 goes back to 1963 when "Fingertips - Pt 2" hit the top spot and secured a place in the R&R Hall of Fame. Wonder himself was inducted in 1989. His final #1 was in 1985 when "Part-Time Lover" claimed the top spot. His final Top 10 was the follow-up single, "Go Home," which hit #10. Wonder maintained a bit of a chart presence in the 90s with songs like "Gotta Have You" and "For Your Love," which reached #92 and #53, respectively. "For Your Love" earned him two more Grammys. His final chart appearance was in 2005 when "So What The Fuss" peaked at #96, a song that also featured En Vogue and Prince. With that song, Wonder became one of the elite artists to have had a charting single for 5 decades in a row. "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me" is a hidden gem in his catalogue that kicks off his 1980 release, "Hotter Than July."
Songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Bobby Womack was a man of many talents. He toured with Sam Cooke and played session guitar for many artists over the years. One of the greatest funk and R&B singers this side of James Brown, Womack should have been more of a household name. While Womack may not be remembered as often as he should, he scored a large number of modest hits on the lower half of the Top 100 across three decades. His biggest hit was "Lookin' For A Love," which landed at #10 in 1974. Other than that, he only had three Top 40 entries: "That's The Way I Feel About Cha" (#27), "Nobody Wants You When You're Down And Out" (#29), and "Harry Hippie" (#31). His final chart appearance was in 1984 when "Love Has Finally Come At Last," done with Patti LaBelle, stalled at #88. "What Is This" goes far back into Womack's humble beginnings, a terrific track from his 1969 album, "Fly Me To The Moon." Womack passed away in 2014 at the age of 70.
Wolfmother is a hard rock trio from Australia that honors the sounds and styles of classic 70s rock. The closest they've come so far to cracking the US charts was in 2006 when "Woman" bubbled under. "Best Of A Bad Situation" is from their popular 2016 effort, "Victorious." How good does this band need to get before becoming a force to be reckoned with on the US charts?
The former lead singer for the J. Geils Band, Peter Wolf (whose real name is Peter Blankfield) had a modestly successful solo career in the 80s. Two of his most notable hits included "Lights Out," which reached #12 in 1984 and "Come As You Are," which reached #15 in 1987. He scored one additional Top 40 entry in 1984 when "I Need You Tonight" peaked at #36. By 1990, Wolf reached the end of his chart career. His farewell entry was "99 Worlds," which stalled at #78. "Shades Of Red - Shades of Blue" is another underrated rocker from that 1990 album, "Up To No Good." Leaving the dated 80s sounds behind, Wolf continues to release records. Most notably, his 2002 effort, "Sleepless," ranked among the Top 500 greatest records of all-time in Rolling Stone.
Bill Withers has given us some of the most beloved soul classics in history, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (#3), "Lean On Me" (#1), "Use Me" (#2), and "Just The Two Of Us" (#2, a duet with Grover Washington, Jr.). All were Grammy winners except "Use Me." Like many artists famous in the 70s, Withers had difficulty adjusting to the evolving music scene of the 80s. After "Just The Two Of Us," which hit the chart in 1982, Withers only scored one more: "In The Name Of Love," which went to #58 in 1984. "Family Table" is an overlooked favorite of mine from his 1975 album, "Making Music." I wish Withers would have done more upbeat material like this.
English singer, songwriter, and synth wizard Steve Winwood has helped propel many groups to successful heights, including The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, and Traffic. But he is perhaps known best as a solo artist, one of the most successful of the 80s. Winwood's solo chart career began to take off in 1981 when "While You See A Chance" soared to #7. After an interlude of minor hits, he came back in a big way in 1986 when "Higher Love" became his first #1 smash. From the monster album, "Back In The High Life," it was the first in a string of hits like "Freedom Overspill" (#20), "The Finer Things" (#8), and the title track, which featured James Taylor on backing vocals and went to #13. Winwood then revived some of his earlier 80s tracks and breathed new life into them, most notably the excellent "Valerie." "Valerie" only went to #70 in 1982 but its remix became a big hit in 1987, reaching #9. Windwood scored a second #1 with "Roll With It" in 1989, followed by another string of consecutive hits in "Don't You Know What The Night Can Do" (#6), "Holding On" (#11), and "Hearts On Fire" (#53). He'd finish his chart career after another album in 1990 produced a single entry when "One And Only Man" went to #18. Mining more of his early 80s material, "While There's A Candle Burning" is another overlooked gem.
