It was really difficult to avoid going disco in the late 70s, even if you cut your teeth being a soft rock singer. The prolific Carly Simon scored an impressive array of hits before the advent of disco, including classics like "You're So Vain" (featuring Mick Jagger on backing vocals, #1 for 3 weeks), "Mockingbird" (with James Taylor, her husband from 1972-1983, #5), "Nobody Does It Better" (#2), and "You Belong To Me" (written with Michael McDonald and featuring James Taylor again, #6). She won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1971 and her constant presence at radio made her the #39th most successful chart artist of the 70s. From the same 1978 album that spawned "You Belong To Me" comes a disco song from out of nowhere called "Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)". And it ain't half bad! Actually grows on you pretty quickly. But thankfully, Simon didn't linger in disco long. She returned to her roots and scored a #11 hit in 1980 with "Jessie." The magic began to wear off by 1987, and "Coming Around Again," which peaked at #18, become her last Top 40 appearance.
Ranked as the 10th most successful chart artist of all-time, the indelible Rolling Stones began their chart career in 1964 with a Buddy Holly cover - "Not Fade Away" landed at #48. Their first Top 10 was not far off: "Time Is On My Side" hit #6 later that year. The Stones would go on to score an astonishing five #1 hits in the 60s and three in the 70s. While they haven't hit the top spot since "Miss You" landed there in 1978, the band did land more in the Top 10 and even more in the Top 40. Their last Top 10 hit was in 1989 when "Mixed Emotions" peaked at #5. Their last Top 40 hit was later that year, when "Rock And A Hard Place" peaked at #23. The band continued to scratch the charts through the 90s, despite massive changes in musical trends. That gives them a remarkable string of hits across four decades. The Stones are still going strong on tour but haven't released a studio record of original material since 2005's "A Bigger Bang," which is where the earnest "Biggest Mistake" is lifted.
Living Colour is known largely as a one-hit wonder for their stereotype-busting smash, "Cult Of Personality," which topped out at #13 in 1989 and won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band failed to sustain this success, although did score one additional top 40 hit with the catchy "Glamour Boys," which featured Mick Jagger on backing vocals and hit #31. "Love Rears Its Ugly Hit" is a brilliant tune from their sophomore record, 1990's "Time's Up." Why this song didn't burn up the charts is beyond me. After the lackluster performance of "Time's Up," this groundbreaking and talented band dropped off the radar.
The massively talented Jackson family took the charts by storm as The Jackson 5 beginning in 1969 with the #1 smash "I Want You Back." They followed this up with three more consecutive #1 hits: "ABC," The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." They almost made it six #1 hits in a row, but "Mama's Pearl" and "Never Can Say Goodbye" both topped out at #2. The group shortened their name to simply The Jacksons in 1976. They continued to rack up more hits on the charts through the 70s, earning them the 6th most successful artist from that decade (and #72 of all-time). By the 80s, the hits were a little fewer and far between, but the runaway success of brother Michael rejuvenated interest in the family group. Thanks to a little help from Mick Jagger, The Jacksons landed a #3 comeback hit in 1984 with "State Of Shock." "Walk Right Now" is a funky pop song from the band's 1980 effort, "Triumph." The song only reached #73, but remains an overlooked favorite of mine.
