After his tenure with The Police, Gordon Sumner (better known simply as Sting) launched a solo career that continued decorating the charts with his songs. His first arrived in 1985 with "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," a timely tune for someone who just exited their band. The song became Sting's biggest hit as a solo artist, reaching #3. He would see the top spot in 1994 as part of a superstar trio. With the help of Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, Sting reached #1 for three weeks with "All For Love" from The Three Musketeers. In-between those hits, Sting racked up an impressive number of other Top 40 entries including "Fortress Around Your Heart" (#8), "We'll Be Together" (#7), "All This Time" (#5), and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" (#17), which won him a Grammy for Pop Male Vocal. Heading into the new millennium, Sting scored a Top 20 hit for the third decade in a row when "Desert Rose" reached #17. He then disappeared from the charts until 2006 when a duet with Sheryl Crow, "Always On Your Side," peaked at #33. To date, he has not returned. "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" is a hugely underrated song that actually appeared on the lower end of the Top 100 twice. Its original entry went to #94 in 1996, but it resurfaced as a tweaked duet with country star Toby Keith in 1997, making it to #84.
Liz Phair became an indie-rock sensation in the early 90s with her frank lyrics and lo-fi sound. Her debut album, "Exile in Guyville," was one of the most critically acclaimed records of the decade and positioned Phair to be a new voice for the 90s. Her sophomore record, "Whip-Smart," continued this trend, and delivered her first chart hit when the rocking "Supernova" landed at #78 in 1994. But her subsequent singles and albums didn't gain any traction and she was fading from the scene. In 2003, Phair retooled her sound and released a more radio-friendly record that was self-titled. Containing songs co-written and performed with Michael Penn, and perhaps influenced by her friend Sheryl Crow (Phair sings wonderful backing vocals on Crow's hit, "Soak Up The Sun"), the songs featured more pop hooks and slicker production. Despite besting her first chart appearance with "Why Can't I?", which reached #32, the album and new direction were largely panned by critics. Phair's subsequent releases retreated back to her indie rock sound. The title track from "Whip-Smart" remains one of my favorite tunes by Phair. A sweet little ditty about her son, this delightful song rings with slacker sincerity and has a brilliant chorus you'll be singing for days.
The origins of the legendary Fleetwood Mac go all the way to back to 1969. The name is derived from founding members Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. Christine, John's wife, joined in 1970. But the most significant change for the band that helped catapult them into the limelight was the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in 1974. With these five members in place, the band would reach incredible heights, starting with their 1975 self-titled record. It marked a bold change for the band's sound, transforming British Blues into harmonious rock and pop. The band's 1977 masterpiece, "Rumours," remains one of the best-selling albums of all-time and produced their only #1 hit, "Dreams." The record yielded 3 additional top ten hits including "Go Your Own Way" (#10), "Don't Stop" (#3), "You Make Loving Fun" (#9). The band remained strong all the way until 1990, with additional hits like "Sara" (#7), "Hold Me" (#4), "Big Love" (#5), and "Little Lies" (#4). But with the departure of the irreplaceable Buckingham in 1987, the band struggled to maintain success. A surprise comeback record was released in 2003 called "Say You Will." Overall it marked the 17th studio record for the band. It is a mixed affair, but the title track provides a reminder of what makes Fleetwood Mac so amazing and should have put the band back on the charts. And can you hear Sheryl Crow on backing vocals? The record did give the band one last appearance on the top 100. The track "Peacekeeper" waved a white flag at #80.
Sheryl Crow burst onto the music scene in the mid-90s with her #2 smash, "All I Wanna Do", which became an anthem for the decade. Before she launched her solo career, she sang backup for the likes of Michael Jackson, George Harrison, and Don Henley. Her debut album "Tuesday Night Music Club" went to #3 and secured her a Grammy for Best New Artist of 1994. Crow is still going strong - in 2013, she released a country-tinged record called "Feels Like Home" that became her ninth top 10 album. My pick for one of her best non-charting records is "Diamond Ring", from her excellent sixth album, "Detours", which went to #2 in 2008. Fun fact: Despite incredible success, Crow has never scored a #1 album (4 of them went to #2). "Diamond Ring" is Sheryl Crow doing what she does best. Wearing her heart on her sleeve with just barely an acoustic guitar to accompany her astonishing heartfelt vocals. Very earnest tune, masterfully done.
