[Music] Top Bands who never had a hit song

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I would hardly call Wind and Wuthering MOR!

​

I would.

 

[Hamilton]

Led Zep was my first shout. I would imagine that Yes never had a hit single either.

Led Zeppelin have got to be the biggest on this list if we allow their number 4 billboard position for Whole Lotta Love to pass us by. That was their only top 10 hit in the States.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

For me, that would be Terry Reid (had a few of his songs covered by The Raconteurs, Rumer, Chris Cornell) but most people have never heard of him. I've been lucky to have seen him play live numerous times, in his later years. Certainly a character. (Chris Robinson obviously influenced by him).

The guy known more for turning down joining Led Zep than his music.

 

[HantsSeagull]

Doves

 

[big nuts]

Doves

There goes the fear got to number 3

Black & White town also went top ten.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Pink Floyd only had one number 1/top 10 hit.

Obviously doesn't qualify for "no hits", but must be up there for the biggest band/least chart success ratio.

 

[Anger]

Harvey Danger - having Flagpole Sitta, Moral Centralia and Happiness Writes White amongst other worthy tracks. Flagpole Sitta is the stand out candidate for being a hit, but wasn’t.

Also, Napalm Death.

 

[studio150]

Led Zep was my first shout. I would imagine that Yes never had a hit single either.

Two top 10 singles for Yes

 

[maltaseagull]

I would! Turned to mush pretty fast after Gabriel left.

IMHO, like ....................................

Wind and Wuthering was made AFTER Gabriel left and that was definitely not mush!

At least get your facts right before slating off the band.
They made some great stuff before and after he left.
Their stuff after Duke was nowhere near as good

 

[studio150]

I disagree. A song's popularity is not defined by its chart sales.

2 examples: we will rock you by queen. An iconic global song where anyone could name within a few seconds of the intro. But it was a B side. Same reason: We are family by Sister Sledge

Great examples given We Are Family was a top 10 single, and you have already had a response on Queen.

 

[maltaseagull]

I would.

Sorry, but after listening to a selection of your choices I don´t think you have the right to call anything mush!

 

[Austrian Gull]

As the definition of a hit song seems quite flexible, let me add Talk Talk to the mix - no Top 10 singles, radio standards like "It's My Life" and "Such a Shame" didn't even make the Top 40 , absolutely massive in continental Europe.

Unlike some of the other acts on this thread they contributed to this lack of success - offhand to the press, quitting playing live etc.

I can't go a day without hearing a Talk Talk song on the radio here but in the UK?

 

[happypig]

Led Zep was my first shout. I would imagine that Yes never had a hit single either.

Wonderous stories, number 7 in 1977. Owner of a lonely heart (Planet Rock, daily, twice sundays) got to number 1 in the US.

 

[boik]

I give you A Certain Ratio. 12 albums across 40+ years, over 30 singles none of which troubled the Top 40. Not even Mickey Way.

 

[METALMICKY]

I was just thinking of the Canadian band Rush who have sold a ton of records and have a huge fan base. However, I seem to recall that they had one song called Spirit of the Radio which made top 20 here.

 

[Randy McNob]

Great examples given We Are Family was a top 10 single, and you have already had a response on Queen.

Apologies, thought I heard somewhere WAF was the B side to The Greatest Dancer. scrap that

But We will rock you was the B side to We are the champions, so if people want to split hairs and say only chart singles count then We are the champions is a hit song and We will rock you isn't and that's why I disagree

 

[GT49er]

Wind and Wuthering was made AFTER Gabriel left and that was definitely not mush!

At least get your facts right before slating off the band.
They made some great stuff before and after he left.
Their stuff after Duke was nowhere near as good

We both agree they've gone downhill since they were good, then.
I just think they started going downhill earlier than you do. So, if 'getting your facts right' is important, the fact is that I won't change my opinion and you won't change yours.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Kurt Cobain’s favourites The Vaselines spring to mind.
Playing at Hope and Ruin in March but too late if you don’t have a ticket.

 

[jackalbion]

Literally every band I listen to , but obviously obligatory mention of Pavement.

 

[herecomesaregular]

The guy known more for turning down joining Led Zep than his music.

According to the man himself this actually isn't true, yet he gets asked about it every interview.