How the magical voice of midwestern rock and soul artist Ruby Winters alluded radio is beyond me. She managed to score a handful of modest hits that never got above the 90s in the Top 100, such as "Make Love To Me" (with Johnny Thunder) (#96), "I Don't Want To Cry," (#97) and "Guess Who," (#99) all from 1967-1969. She got her start in music as a singer in the Charlie Daniels band. "I Want Action" is a stellar song that should have helped make Ruby Winters a household name. At least in the UK she had a Top 10 hit when "I Will" charted in 1977. She stopped releasing records by the end of that decade. Winters passed away in 2016 at the age of 74.
The younger brother of blues artist Johnny Winter, Edgar starting racking up some hits with his group in 1972 when "Keep Playin' That Rock 'N' Roll" landed at #70. Their breakthrough hit would arrive shortly thereafter when the classic "Frankenstein" made its way to #1. During its tenure, Winter would work with a number of talented artists who later had successful musical careers of their own. The Edgar Winter Group scored another hit with "Free Ride," which peaked at #13 in 1973. The song was penned by member Dan Hartman, who wrote or co-wrote their remaining chart appearances. Following some personnel changes that put guitarist Rick Derringer (The McCoys) front and center, the group managed one more Top 40 entry before the end of their chart career - that was when "River's Risin'" reached #33 in 1974. Ronnie Montrose was also a member of the group from 1972-1974. The genre-blending anthem "Give It Everything You Got" comes from the band's 1971 effort, "White Trash." After his group's hey day, Edgar Winter did a great deal of session work for artists as diverse as Tina Turner and David Lee Roth.
Formerly a member of Alice Cooper's band, Kip Winger formed his own outfit during the hairband craze of the late 80s. Riding this wave, Winger scored with hits like "Seventeen" and "Headed For A Heartbreak," which reached #26 and #19 in 1989, respectively. Like many melodic rock bands in the early 90s, Winger struggled in the face of grunge. Nonetheless, they managed to score a few more chart appearances, including their biggest hit, "Miles Away," which peaked at #12 in 1991. "Down Incognito" was the first single from their 1993 effort, "Pull." This is a terrific tune that I never grow tired of hearing, and I am puzzled why it didn't attract more attention to this more mature record. Winger has continued to release the occasional album in-between Kip's solo efforts.
Amy Winehouse was an English soul singer and songwriter who made the oldies sound new again. She burst onto the music scene in 2007 with "Rehab," which soared to #9, while it's B-side, "You Know I'm No Good" reached #77. Astonishingly, nothing else, including the excellent title track from her landmark album "Back To Black" charted in the US. Following her death at the age of 27 in 2011 from alcohol poisoning, Winehouse scored one other Top 100 appearance in a duet with the legendary Tony Bennett. "Body And Soul" peaked at #87 and won a Grammy for Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Jackie Wilson (aka Mr. Excitement) was one of the greatest rock and soul singers of the 60s, ranking as the 15th most successful chart artist of that decade. With a track record of hits like "Lonely Teardrops" (#7, 1959), "Night" (#4, 1960), "Alone At Last" (#8, 1960), "My Empty Arms" (#9, 1961), "Baby Workout" (#5, 1963), "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" (#11, 1966), and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher" (#6, 1967), it was a no-brainer to see him inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1987. It is a shame Wilson did not live long enough to see the honor. He had a debilitating stroke while performing in 1975 and passed away in 1984 at the age of 49. "Helpless" is an underrated track from the tail end of Wilson's chart career. Released in 1969, the song seemed poised to set him up to be a mainstay on the charts into the 70s, but that didn't happen. Wilson's chart career ended in 1972 when "You Got Me Walking" stalled at #93.
Carl Wilson made his mark on rock and roll history as a co-founder of the Beach Boys with his brothers. But he did not enjoy this type of widespread success as a solo artist. His only chart appearance was a minor hit from 1983 called "What You Do To Me," which stalled at #72. "Time" is an upbeat pop song that deserved more attention and might have given Carl Wilson's solo act the exposure it needed. But he stopped after releasing two albums in the early 80s, then rejoined the Beach Boys. Sadly, Wilson passed away at the age of 51 in 1998 from lung cancer.
The troubled songwriting genius Brian Wilson has made an indelible mark on music history as co-founder of the Beach Boys with his brothers. Wilson has struggled with substance abuse and mental illness, which has marred his career as a solo artist. After years of being a recluse, Wilson emerged to record and perform again, sometimes with the Beach Boys. In 1998, a comeback album of sorts was released along with its title track, "Your Imagination." The song nearly put this master of songwriting and harmony back on the Top 100, but it bubbled under. As one might expect, this kind of talent was passed down through the generations. Brian is the father of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, who were two thirds of the trio comprising Wilson Phillips.
Al Wilson was a talented vocalist from Mississippi who got his start in an outfit called The Rollers in the early 60s. He landed on the chart for the first time in 1968 when "The Snake" reached #27. By 1974, he found himself at the top with "Show And Tell." Wilson struggled to match that success as musical tides shifted in the mid-70s to more disco and dance oriented material. He achieved two more Top 40 appearances before disappearing from the charts in 1976: "La La Peace Song" and "I've Got A Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)" reached #30 and #29, respectively. "Ain't Nothing New Under The Sun" is a happy-go-lucky song incorporating some 70s bubble gum pop from his 1976 album, "I've Got A Feeling." If you're looking for another cut to showcase his vocal talents, check out "For Cryin' Out Loud" from his masterful 1973 album, "Show And Tell." Wilson passed away in 2008 from kidney failure at the age of 68.
Chuck Willis was an underrated blues rock artist who helped pioneer the sound in the 50s. Hailing from Atlanta, he got his start on the charts in 1957 when "C.C. Rider," a song that earned a spot in the R&R Hall of Fame, reached #12 (his second biggest hit). He soon followed this success with "Betty And Dupree," which made it to #33 in 1958. Tragically, Willis suddenly passed away from a bleeding ulcer. He was only 30 and did not live to see his biggest hit crack the Top 10 a month after his death. "What Am I Living For" soared to #9, with its B-side, "Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes," going to #24. Willis had one final single chart later in 1958 when "My Life" peaked at #46. Despite his truncated career, Willis left behind a bounty of terrific songs to lift your mood or console those who were unlucky in love. "Wrong Lake To Catch A Fish" is a popular favorite in his catalogue.
Robbie Williams got his start in the English boy band Take That, which scored a major hit in the US when "Back For Good" soared to #7 in 1995. While Williams has found phenomenal success in the UK, where he's scored seven #1 hits, his solo career in the States has inexplicably failed to take off. The chart appearances Williams enjoyed in the US are limited largely to two singles from the fantastic 1999 record, "The Ego Has Landed." "Millennium" and "Angels" reached #72 and #53 that year. Williams resurfaced on US charts once more with Avicii in 2014 when "The Days" peaked at #78. Williams is a prolific writer and terrific singer who deserved more attention in the US. Riffing off a lyric from The Who, "Old Before I Die" is another underrated cut from "Ego."
Larry Williams was one of the great pioneers of rock and soul. His songs were covered by the likes of The Beatles, but he also scored a handful of hits himself. His biggest single was "Short Fat Fannie," which soared to #5 in 1957. That same year, "Bony Moronie" and "You Bug Me, Baby" reached #14 and #45, respectively. Williams then fell into trouble with drugs, landing him in jail and disrupting his hot streak. Outside of a minor blip back on the charts in 1967 when "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" peaked at #96, he was never heard from again. Tragically, he took his own life in 1980 at the age of 44. "Slow Down" is another classic by Williams that should have charted when it first came out in 1958. The tune was later covered by The Beatles, who took it to #25.
Hailing from Gary, Indiana, Deniece Williams started her career in music as a backup singer for Stevie Wonder in the early 70s. Her first charting single after striking out on her own was "Free," which reached #25 in 1977. It wasn't long before the world embraced her vocal talents and helped Williams to the #1 spot. Williams claimed that honor twice: "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" hit #1 in 1978 and "Let's Hear It For The Boy," from the Footloose soundtrack, hit #1 in 1984. Unexpectedly, her career began to wane after that massive success and "I Can't Wait," which seems like a perfectly suitable song for the era, stalled at #66 in 1988, and became her final chart appearance.
One of my favorite albums of the 90s is a little known effort by Andrew and David Williams, the twin nephews of the legendary crooner Andy Williams. From the 50s to the 70s, Andy Williams racked up hit after hit including "Butterfly" (#1 for three weeks in 1957), "Can't Get Used to Losing You" (#2 for four weeks in 1963), and "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story" (#9 in 1971). Remarkably, Andy Williams returned to hit the charts again in 2016, 2017, and 2018 with his classic holiday favorite "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year." It's best showing was at #10 in 2018. But enough about Andy. What about his twin nephews? They first hit the charts as kids in 1974 when a cover of "What's Your Name" reached #92. After doing some growing up, they returned as mature songwriters of their own in 1992 under the moniker of The Williams Brothers. Their self-titled album was a modest success and deserved much more attention. "Can't Cry Hard Enough" is a song that gives me chills every time I hear it. It managed to reach #42 and is the only single to have charted from this incredible heartfelt acoustic-based album.
Wildfire was a pop group from Georgia that brought back the Beach Boys sound by scoring a lone chart appearance with their peppy little ditty "Here Comes Summer." In 1977, this single reached #49 and the group was never heard from again.
Matthew Weiner is a singer and songwriter from New York who changed his name to Matthew Wilder (good move) and scored a classic 80s hit in 1984 when "Break My Stride" strutted to #5. He's largely considered a one-hit wonder, but he did have two additional chart appearances: "The Kid's American" and "Bouncin' Off The Walls" went to #33 and #52, respectively. Wilder then got into music producing, most notably helping No Doubt with their initial success in the 90s. "I Was There" is a deep track on Wilder's debut CD, 1983's "I Don't Speak The Language." In my mind, this one may have been a better follow-up to "Break My Stride" that would have kept radio interested in him for a longer time.
Kim Wilde is an English singer and songwriter best known for her rendition of "You Keep Me Hangin' On," a song that she took to #1 in 1987 just as The Supremes did in 1966. Wilde is the daughter of another chart artist, Marty Wilde, who also recorded under the moniker Shannon. Marty Wilde was a co-writer on a number of his daughter's songs. Kim Wilde first hit the US charts in 1981 with her classic "Kids In America," which reached #25, her second biggest song. Her chart career in the US ended abruptly in 1988 after "You Came" stalled at #41. "Never Trust A Stranger" arguably would have made a better follow-up to "You Keep Me Hangin' On." The song is more energetic and filled with the 80s synths blasts that made its predecessor famous. Plus, the song has a superb vocal in the chorus that is worth the wait. It appears on her 1988 album, "Close."
Danny Wilde is the singer and songwriter behind bands like Great Buildings and The Rembrandts, the latter of which had a handful of chart hits including the smash "I'll Be There For You," the theme song to Friends. In-between these projects, Wilde has released numerous solo efforts, but none that produced a single that cracked the Top 100. But if you enjoy his work in The Rembrandts, you will undoubtedly appreciate his solo albums. "Time Runs Wild" may be the closest Wilde's had to breaking through as a solo artist. It is a great tune, and was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Dream A Little Dream. The track also kicks off his 1988 album, "Any Man's Hunger," his only one to chart on the Top 200.
Wilco was formed in 1994 by members of the alternative country act Uncle Tulepo. Their early work continued in that vein, but has evolved constantly over the decades. They are like a box of chocolates now - play a song and you're never quite sure what you're going to get. Which may explain the lack of success on commercial charts. But Wilco have always been darlings of music critics and their work has won the band several awards, including two Grammys. "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(Again)" is one of the catchiest songs in their extensive catalogue. If Wilco ever wrote something that stood a chance to break the Top 100, this tune from 1999's "Summerteeth" was it.
Jane Wiedlin was a member of the Go-Go's before striking out on her own in 1983. Her first chart appearance came that year as "Cool Places" reached #49, followed by "Blue Kiss" in 1985, which stopped at #77. In 1988, Wiedlin would find widespread success with her biggest hit, "Rush Hour," which zoomed to #9. The momentum could not be maintained though, and her follow-up, "Inside A Dream," stalled at #57. "Give!" is another 80s delight from her 1988 album "Fur." Puzzling why this one was not released as a single.
Few groups embodied the rebellious spirit of rock like The Who. Led by the signature vocals of Roger Daltrey and guitar phenom and songwriter Pete Townshend, The Who have garnered all sorts of honors and awards since their formation in London in 1964. The Who maintained a presence on the US charts across three decades. Their biggest hit was in 1967 when "I Can See For Miles" peaked at #9. As the 60s transitioned into the 70s, The Who scored one of their biggest albums with the rock opera Tommy, which yielded three Top 100 entries including "Pinball Wizard" (#19) and "See Me, Feel Me" (#12). By 1983, the band had exhausted its chart run, but landed another Top 20 hit in 1981 when "You Better You Bet" reached #18. Speaking to the band's vast influence, Townshend's songs have been covered by many other artists. Several well-known classics never saw chart action, including "Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland)" and "Go To The Mirror!" "I Can't Explain" was the band's first Top 100 entry, landing at #93 in 1965. Not sure why it wasn't a bigger hit for the band then, and why the 1989 version by The Scorpions failed to chart, too.
