"I Ain't Done Wrong" by The Yardbirds

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.

"Goodbye Cruel World" by Shakespear's Sister

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.

"Love Like A Rocket" by Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof is perhaps best known as the man who organized the superstar charity group called Band Aid, which recorded the now holiday classic "Do They Know It's Christmas?" The highest the song ever went was #13 in its debut year, 1984 (it has since been re-released and re-recorded with new musicians).

Geldof was also in the popular new wave band The Boomtown Rats, who had a single hit in 1980 with "I Don't Like Mondays" going to #73. While most people think that is just a generic tune about the start of the work week, it was actually about Brenda Spencer, a teenager who shot two people on a Monday in 1979.

Geldof also had a few releases as a solo artist, putting him back on the charts in 1986 when "This Is The World Calling" hit #82. Here's an unusually upbeat tune from Geldof on that same album (the album was "Deep In The Heart Of Nowhere") that should have done even better, but it failed to chart. And yes, that is Eric Clapton, who lent his guitar chops to the song.

"I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is one of the greatest musicians of our age and has dominated the music scene since his first hit, "After Midnight", reached #18 in 1970. Most of his biggest hits came from that decade, but he still had a productive career adapting his rhythm and blues rock to the 80's sounds. In the 90s he came back in a big way with the heartbreaking hit "Tears In Heaven", which went to #2 in 1992. Clapton went on to have one of the most successful "unplugged" albums ever, hitting #1 for 3 weeks and selling over 10 million copies.

2001's "Reptile" didn't spawn any charting singles (Clapton's last top 100 hit was "My Father's Eyes", which hit #16 in 1998), but the album did very well, clawing its way to #5. I think it is one of his best records from that decade - it shifts between musical styles effortlessly yet still sounds like a cohesive collection. "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" is among the rocking tracks on this record, initially a #11 hit for Stevie Wonder in 1980, who sounded as if he were mocking a country singer.

Embedding is disabled for the video for some reason, but you can check it out here.