It's probably already been said, but Rainbow covered "Since You Been Gone" in 1979 and it hit #57 on Billboard's Top 100. Not sure why their version did better than the Currie's - they're virtually identical and you'd figure that two sisters recording a song together would be a big enough novelty that they would have had the more successful of the two versions...crazy world....
I LOVED "No Time to Lose" too!! I remember taping it back in the day by holding the microphone from my cassette player to the radio..!!! (God, I'm old...).
A whole lot of records that probably stiffed out on 98 CKGM in Montreal. We are all entitled to our opinions, so I would argue that American radio was so lost after Disco Demolition that, if it had direction, would have embraced "I Don't Like Mondays" by Boomtown Rats and perhaps "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick." The UK was 12 to 18 months ahead of the U.S. well into 1983 on many records, and even into 1986 there was a "wait and see" attitude on big hits there. All of the songs here suck
I agree with everything you said, except for the last line.
MTV was having an impact on the US market by the early 80's, but there was a lot of material coming from the UK, Australia, and else where because the US labels were looking for the next big thing. Hall and Oates would be the biggest US group between 1980 and 1985.
I like "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". It never made a peep on the US charts.
I agre THE ROCKETS "CAn"T SLEEP" was a great song and should have charted MUCH higher....most of the others I never heard of and I think they charted properly lol
Zwol sounds like Todd Rundgran, no? I remember three of these tunes: I'm Not Gonna Cry Anymore, No Time to Lose, Since You've Been Gone. The others sound like top 40 hits from a paralell Earth in which some minor differences in history allowed for these rather than the top 40 we got. Interesting. Much appreciated.
I remember the majority of these songs by their catchier lines. though I too lived thru the seventies and have no other memories of them besides their hooks haha! You did some research.
Not knowing these songs is no knock on your knowledge (say that three times real fast). These songs are obscure for one reason or another, but they had the support of a record label, a disc jockey, or the music buying public for a short period of time. All I do is revisit that point in time and add context.
fun compilation, many cheesy (BUT fun) songs and some old personal favourites like Fabulous Poodles, Moon Martin and Tarney-Spencer Band. Davey Faragher of the Faragher Brothers was many years later in John Hiatt's band and nowadays he is one of the Imposters (Elvis Costello's band).
The Gibson Brother's Cuba was an enormous hit in Italy and it's been played to death for the last 32 years! but no wonder, it's a genius combination of salsa and disco. However the version you included sounds a bit different from the 1979 release, sounds more like a later remake
Hmmm.... it could be a remake, but I do not believe so. Most of these songs are from the original 45 or an old K-Tel/Ronco compilation album. It is probably a radio edit of the song. I know there are long play versions of "Cuba" that are available.
no time to lose is a song in heavy radio rotation. maybee the album sold better. you know, like early sabbath, & very early grand funk. no top 40, but gold albums
bad production & forced disco/slow dance beat hurt most of these songs. moon martins song wood b a hit in 73..i think cherie curry was fired by the runaways, because they wanted 2 b known as a relevent band , not a band that just had a sexy blonde up front/ it worked/, nancy brooks song is a rip off of kiki dees , i got the music in me, so if it became a hit kiki would of sued. this is fun stuff tho. i had some near misses mysef. keep up the good research!
"No Chance"! I remember playing my best one-handed guitar solo ever on this song after I dropped my pick in some club - I was groping around for it while I noodled out a melody with my left hand. This is great - I think that's the only one of these ten songs I ever heard 'til now (and I was class of '79.)
I'm surprised you didn't include "Who Listens To The Radio?" by The Sports, "Children Of The Sun" by Billy Thorpe, "Remember Walking In The Sand" by Louise Goffin(which is actually better than the original and Aerosmith's own remake), and the unforgettable "I Do The Rock" by....Tim Curry.
Looking back, I should have included that songs by The Sports. It's catchy and I like it. I have a copy of Tim Curry's pop album on an old cassette. Got it at a Woolworth's for 50 cents.
@TammiWayKewl I have the album of Tim Curry's that was sent to the radio stations back then. I won it at a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Curry had some good songs on that album. I'll try to find it and at least post the cover art.
I'm listening and comparing these to other songs that were hits. I guess the reason these didn't fly right up the charts was that they are trying to be disco songs without the hotness and sharpness. They sound like the singers were told "this is what's going on, sing this way." They have the same kind of harmonies and rhythms. They don't have any subtext. BUT: About at 8:30 there's a song by Cherie and Marie Curry, Since you've been gone, that is kinda cool!!
I'm listening and comparing these to other songs that were hits. I guess the reason these didn't fly right up the charts was that they are trying to be disco songs without the hotness and sharpness. They sound like the singers were told "this is what's going on, sing this way." They have the same kind of harmonies and rhythms. They don't have any subtext.
Wow! Thanks! The only one I remember is 'No Time To Lose' by Tarney Spencer Band. I just completed ripping all my vinyl to mp3 and it took all summer. So now I'm looking for things my collection misses lol Great videos! :) (former DJ Trai) Tracy Emert :)
Nicely done! I always thought No Time To Lose was a bigger hit than it was. I guess it got pretty solid airplay in Detroit. Funny how regional hits have disappeared and everybody hears the same shit across the country!
Also, I remember Rainbow's original version of Since You've Been Gone, but never heard this one before.
Cuba and Que Sera de mi Vida? by the Gibson Bros. did reach the first places here in he local listings of Guatemala. The Farragher Bros. did score a good song here too "I'll never let your love behind me" . Any way great songs thanks for sharing them. Rgds from Guatemala.
@dobleanchorecords Good you say that. I'm in Germany here and they played "Cuba" in heavy rotation in the radios. It's far from being called "gone to oblivion". It would be a bit stupid to only see "his" country (e. g. the USA or the UK) as center fro m where to draw the conclusions.
This was neat, thanks for sharing - this just goes to show why 1979 ties with 1984 as my all-time favorite Hot 100 years - the competition was SO fierce that even some great songs like these had no place to go on the charts. Now I bet at least a few of these could be big hits because they'd have very little competition IMO :\
You are welcome. More years are on the way. During the late 1970's, there were at least 500 songs charting in a given year. In the late 2000's, there are barely 300 songs charting a year.
Excuse "Slchager", but I take exception of your sparse synop of the Gibson Brothers. They Had a moderate dnace hall(disco) hit with "Oh, What A Life". Of course, you don't even mention this!!! I just down-loaded their hit yesterday after an earlier posting was erased by YT for---whatever.
1 Blondie Sunday Girl 2 Roxy Music Dance Away 3 Anita Ward Ring My Bell 4 Earth Wind & Fire With The Emotions Boogie Wonderland 5 Peaches & Herb Reunited 6 M Pop Muzik 7 Electric Light Orchestra Shine A Little Love 8 McFadden & Whitehead Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now 9 The Shadows Theme From 'the Deer Hunter' (Cavatina) 10 David Bowie Boys Keep Swingin'
One of the UK top tens from 1979 might show why it was so difficult for these artists. 1979 charts were the best.
I believe, from my research, Russ Ballard of Argent wrote and first recorded the song in 1976. A bunch of artists including Head East and the Currie sisters recorded their versions in 1978 and 1979. Rainbow had the biggest hit in the UK and it is the version most widely remembered.
You found The Tarney Spencer Band's hit... which once got a fair bit of play on classic-rock radio... maybe you can help me find another hit:
I can't remember the title (Couldn't make out much in a song, let-alone identify one at the time (I was so young)) but the key chorus-lyric was "Superflash" or something sounding like that. It sounded like a Disco song, and I've never found it. Years latter, Tomy toys bought the rights & used it as the base of their jingle for the Gyrobots TV-ad. Help me!
I remember "No Time To Lose" fondly. Did the Currie Sisters do "Since You've Been Gone" before Rainbow did it? Going by the year, I'm thinking they did, but I'm not sure. It sounds pretty good!
@ToddSweeneyOnce@ToddSweeneyOnce "Since You've Been Gone" was also performed by Head East (yes, the same band famous for the classic rock staple "Never Been Any Reason") in 1978. It also charted low on the charts.
That's the Euclid BEACH Band, not the Euclid Street Band...they took their name from a much-beloved and long-closed amusement park on the east side of Cleveland. Rich Reising, one of the main members of the group, is a friend of mine...he's had a traveling piano bar that's played around the Cleveland area for a couple of decades now.
You are correct. Somehow, between writing my notes and creating the slides, I replaced "Beach" with "Street". It is correct in all other locations but in the video. Unfortunately, YT will not allow me to swap the video with a corrected version.
Give my regards to Rich, I really enjoyed their music. There seemed to be a large music scene in Cleveland around this time, with some of the music reaching the national stage.
@nccvball: Unfortunately, I haven't seen Rich in person in about 16 years--I hope he's still doing a show somewhere that I can see him in person (I sing a couple of songs with him). I did reconnect with him via Facebook, though...he recently celebrated his 62nd birthday.
It's funny you should mention Facebook. When I started doing these videos a few years ago, most of the artists were nearly impossible to find online. Now, nearly all of them have a MySpace or Facebook page. Just goes to show how the technology is becoming so ubiquitous.
@nccvball : Tell me about it...I've found DOZENS of off-beat artist pages on MySpace in particular...one-hit wonders like the Count Five, the Gestures and the Spiral Starecase, to name a few, on down to cult acts like the Chocolate Watch Band, and even Northern soul performers like Bobby Hutton and Rufus Wonder...totally amazing!
Jon Pousette-Dart had a number of great songs like "Amnesia" and "What Can I Say" in the mid-'70s. He lives in Derry NH and still performs regularly to this day. Charlie had a number of hits that just missed the Top 40, including "Turning To You" and "Watching TV". It's possible that the reason that the song by the Cooper Bros. didn't chart higher was that their label folded that year and had no promotional budget anymore. Moon Martin's other hit was (I believe) called "Rolene".
To all - Need some help locating another very little played song at the end of the 70's. The title (I think) was Little Girl That Lives the Down the Lane.
wow - the only one of these I've ever heard / heard of was "Mirror Star". this is a great list and looks like you've put an incredible amount of work into this (and the others). i was living in a fairly large southern city with a high population and quite a few radio stations in the 70s.
That's where I first heard this song. Rhino released a series of DIY punk CD's that were grouped by region or music type. I had a copy of the Boston collection and I believe the British volume that contained "Mirror Star".
The Singles market was far bigger then, and to get to Number One, meant a large volume of sales in any one week. To-day you get a number 1 with less than 4 000 sales. The Top 40, indeed 100 is effectively dead.
The cost of issuing a Single is far greater now than an Album, and the only purpose a single serves now is a window dressing for the album. In any case you can download as easily as but.
Mostly, there's a reason WHY these songs tanked. I do like No Time To Lose though. Punk had a purpose if it kept the rest of this shyt off of my radio : )
I agree that "No Time To Lose" should have been bigger. I hear that song on the radio quite often & my eldest brother taped it off the radio back when he was in junior high. I've liked that song since I was a small girl.
"Mirror Star" might qualify under the ignoble, (and financially unfortunate) heading of an "Invisible Hit" it was a big cult hit among the early Punk and New Wavers, you couldn't read an interview with in the early 80's without someone saying how much this song meant to them and represented something that they lived through... Made a lot of Brit "underground" and "DIY" "Hits" compilations.
Most of that stuff sounds so dated now, with the exception of The Fab Poos.You missed others, such as I Don't Like Mondays which I believe was 1979 also.
@lucidferd I was just browsing around and read your text...I have that Mistress album on vinyl.
I am able to burn it to CD. Obviously some cracks and pops, but not bad at all. I love that album. I don't know how vital this is to you. probably this guy and his compilations could help more than I.
I just can't get enough of these things that you posted up. Did you do 1970? If you haven't yet I got a good song for you The Klowns "Lady Love" which should have gone higher on the charts but it stalled at #95.
I do not believe I have heard Whiteface but I know Louisiana LeRoux. I have "Nobody Said It Was Easy (Lookin' For the Lights)" on a K-Tel cassette somewhere.
la cancion cuba de the gibson brothers sono bastante aqui en el peru el año 79 tan igual como el disco samba de two man sound excelentes temas que recuerdos tan hermosos.
1. Not bad. 2. Oh dear 3. ha ha ha, you joking mate? 4. Sorry i fell asleep. 5. 12 year olds' love song 6. TJ hooker 7. OK if you're middle aged and female 8. fuck off a? 9. Emo MotR shite. 10. Yawn. 11. What? My dog just pulled the plug on my laptop. 12. WTF? My dad just pulled a face. 13. I'm falling in to a coma. Did you just pull up the worst songs in history? 14. Fucking awful cover. what are you on mate? Do DO Do DA DO?????? 15. Are you a head injury patient...? That'll do.
I know there was a long version, something like 11 minutes long, and then the 45 version which is around 4:30 in length. I have both but this is from the single version.
I don't think the Tarney-Spencer tune would count as not a hit. It may not of charted high but it has beenin heavy rotation at least in Minnesota on the classic rock station for about 30 years.
"Since you've been gone" was also a huge AOR hit for Rainbow. Don't know at the moment who did the original but I am interested enough to find out.
It got to number 41 in the UK, but their two follow-ups ("Ooh What A Life" and "Que Sera Mi Vida") got to numbers 10 and 5 respectively. "Cuba" was rereleased in the UK in 1980 and it reached number 12. That was followed by "Mariana" which got to number 11.
Having Watched All Your Videos Can I Just Say How Much I Enjoyed Them. In The 70's I Was A Big Fan Of Splinter, Sherbet And The Brilliant Liner Aka Blackfoot Sue, The Spoilers, Outside Edge And As They Are Today Cry Wolf.
I Am Now Going To Find Out A Bit More About Fools Gold, Sundown Company, Batdorf & Rodney And Head East Who I Liked The Sound Of. I Would Love To know When The CD Comes Out ?
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
I forgot how bad the 70s were until I heard these songs. Why on earth did they think these songs were worth putting on vinyl? I hope that at least the records have been recycled, rather than going into a landfill.
try renaming this - songs that never shouldve been made made in the 1st place, ( one exception, cherie and marie currie - cherie was in the band runaways that gave us joan jett and lita ford)
prob all talented acts but there s just no 'hook' .....2 sound ok bt all that ''walkin thru the park and reminicing'' boring sound ......yawn
paulpanch 2 months ago
no i dont hear any hits..........sounds like the brady bunch
dickylee12 2 months ago
appreciate all the work you put in, but these songs weren't a hit for a reason. i did like...since you've been gone...
skontch1 2 months ago
It's probably already been said, but Rainbow covered "Since You Been Gone" in 1979 and it hit #57 on Billboard's Top 100. Not sure why their version did better than the Currie's - they're virtually identical and you'd figure that two sisters recording a song together would be a big enough novelty that they would have had the more successful of the two versions...crazy world....
Davio87 2 months ago
I LOVED "No Time to Lose" too!! I remember taping it back in the day by holding the microphone from my cassette player to the radio..!!! (God, I'm old...).
Davio87 2 months ago
No Time to Lose great song , i remember this song was played on WCOZ in Boston in the early 80's
tw1964 2 months ago
Good stuff, thanks for posting.
PtolemyJones 3 months ago
Didn't like any of them. Thanks for the video.
SoCalDualSport 3 months ago
There is a reason these songs never made it...THEY SUCK!! But..hey, to eachs own!! That's just my opinion!!
lessismore2010 3 months ago
good research i had some pousette dart that was way better than that tune
phildirt3 4 months ago
@phildirt3
Pousette Dart is one of those bands that had great albums that did translate into any hits. Time has been good and Jon is still making music.
nccvball 4 months ago
Thanks for posting this. I really liked The Coopers, Curries and Zwol.
4everinthe80s 4 months ago
I agree that Mirror Star should have been a hit and No Chance too.
clydebk 4 months ago
A whole lot of records that probably stiffed out on 98 CKGM in Montreal. We are all entitled to our opinions, so I would argue that American radio was so lost after Disco Demolition that, if it had direction, would have embraced "I Don't Like Mondays" by Boomtown Rats and perhaps "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick." The UK was 12 to 18 months ahead of the U.S. well into 1983 on many records, and even into 1986 there was a "wait and see" attitude on big hits there. All of the songs here suck
JakeDolfan72 5 months ago
@JakeDolfan72
I agree with everything you said, except for the last line.
MTV was having an impact on the US market by the early 80's, but there was a lot of material coming from the UK, Australia, and else where because the US labels were looking for the next big thing. Hall and Oates would be the biggest US group between 1980 and 1985.
I like "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". It never made a peep on the US charts.
nccvball 5 months ago
Sorry none of these suggestions of yours should have been HITS. They flopped for a reason.
EddieAlda 6 months ago
Glad to see Mistress on this List I Really enjoyed Listening to them in 1979.
Along with other non radio play Bands as The Beat,Plimsouls,20/20,Shoes etc
ballisticsports 6 months ago
anyone know about a song that sounded like sister sledge or chic that went "my life is music" or had the word "space" in the song?
The096757 6 months ago
Call out my name was a great song.
Cheessa 6 months ago
I agre THE ROCKETS "CAn"T SLEEP" was a great song and should have charted MUCH higher....most of the others I never heard of and I think they charted properly lol
455Transam 6 months ago
Cherrie and Marie's version was much better than Head East's...loved I Need You and Stay The Night...thanks for the reminders!
tyme4dindin 7 months ago
i need you was a great song. great post buddy!!!
bencrea1 7 months ago
Glad to see you included the Tarney Spencer Band.That is a great album
keithr63 7 months ago
@keithr63
Thanks. One of these days, I would like to interview Tarney or Spencer... I have a feeling there is a good story or two to tell.
nccvball 7 months ago
@nccvball I remember the "No Time to Lose" tune it got quite a bit of airplay in Detroit back then.
455Transam 6 months ago
@nccvball Sound a lot like the Little River Band. I actually remember hearing this song.
bw020566 6 months ago
@keithr63 Completely agree. Always one of my favorites as well. I was beginning to think I was the only one that owned this album...
trinzeon 3 months ago
Zwol sounds like Todd Rundgran, no? I remember three of these tunes: I'm Not Gonna Cry Anymore, No Time to Lose, Since You've Been Gone. The others sound like top 40 hits from a paralell Earth in which some minor differences in history allowed for these rather than the top 40 we got. Interesting. Much appreciated.
nobodady1 7 months ago
I remember the majority of these songs by their catchier lines. though I too lived thru the seventies and have no other memories of them besides their hooks haha! You did some research.
jenafuller 7 months ago
@jenafuller
Thanks, yes it did take a little bit of research. As each year passes, it does get easier to find more about these artists.
nccvball 7 months ago
A lot of fun finding this video.
quoamerica 7 months ago
@quoamerica
Glad you had fun. Check out my other videos if you like forgotten songs from the best eras of pop music.
nccvball 7 months ago
Wow, thought I knew music, but I've never heard of any of these.
bw020566 8 months ago
@bw020566
Not knowing these songs is no knock on your knowledge (say that three times real fast). These songs are obscure for one reason or another, but they had the support of a record label, a disc jockey, or the music buying public for a short period of time. All I do is revisit that point in time and add context.
nccvball 7 months ago
thanks now i know why these werent hits haha
plasteringtony 8 months ago
@plasteringtony
You're welcome. They were hits, just not that big.
nccvball 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
fun compilation, many cheesy (BUT fun) songs and some old personal favourites like Fabulous Poodles, Moon Martin and Tarney-Spencer Band. Davey Faragher of the Faragher Brothers was many years later in John Hiatt's band and nowadays he is one of the Imposters (Elvis Costello's band).
maxslamer 8 months ago
Comment removed
maxslamer 8 months ago
tarney spencer and the runaways girl only thing woth listning the rest is filler radio play
MrRuss64 9 months ago
The Gibson Brother's Cuba was an enormous hit in Italy and it's been played to death for the last 32 years! but no wonder, it's a genius combination of salsa and disco. However the version you included sounds a bit different from the 1979 release, sounds more like a later remake
TheViralSBK 9 months ago
@TheViralSBK
Hmmm.... it could be a remake, but I do not believe so. Most of these songs are from the original 45 or an old K-Tel/Ronco compilation album. It is probably a radio edit of the song. I know there are long play versions of "Cuba" that are available.
nccvball 7 months ago
I can see why these weren't bigger hits. They sound a lot like a song that was a hit, but they come up short.
itsglen9646 9 months ago
great set !!!
09rockmusic 9 months ago
Charlie briefly charted in '83 with It's Inevitable..............I think the video is on YT.
lurch321 9 months ago
currie girsl song sounds is the best.
The096757 9 months ago
@The096757 C & M Currie's version of SYBG sounds so much better than Head East's!
MadameLil 9 months ago
@MadameLil
i agree the currie girls are way better than head east.
The096757 8 months ago
I can see why Zwol was not a bigger hit..,. quite simply, musically speaking... he was shite.
t0mme1981 10 months ago
Funny how I'm "shazaming" some of these songs (to compile a list for myself) and most of them are not recognized. Guess they are obscure!
feelingcrafty 10 months ago
Every time I hear "Cuba," it reminds me of the party scene in the movie "North Dallas Forty," a very underrated movie.
lakebay972 11 months ago
The Liner tune was awesome!
sewitt60 11 months ago
@sewitt60
You're totally right. I loved it!
feelingcrafty 10 months ago
The Gibson Brothers- Cuba was massive in the UK
sewitt60 11 months ago
To the one who referenced Tim Curry "I Do The Rock" ... AMEN! And you mustn't forget "Paradise Garage" - and it goes like this.....
jtmichaelson 11 months ago
thank you for this greatful vid and all the others....saved now in my favorite vids....thanks u !
greetings from germany
~Tine~
Christine1966 1 year ago
no time to lose is a song in heavy radio rotation. maybee the album sold better. you know, like early sabbath, & very early grand funk. no top 40, but gold albums
tommieparch 1 year ago
bad production & forced disco/slow dance beat hurt most of these songs. moon martins song wood b a hit in 73..i think cherie curry was fired by the runaways, because they wanted 2 b known as a relevent band , not a band that just had a sexy blonde up front/ it worked/, nancy brooks song is a rip off of kiki dees , i got the music in me, so if it became a hit kiki would of sued. this is fun stuff tho. i had some near misses mysef. keep up the good research!
tommieparch 1 year ago
Jesus these are fucking brutal.
Nautilus1972 1 year ago
"No Chance"! I remember playing my best one-handed guitar solo ever on this song after I dropped my pick in some club - I was groping around for it while I noodled out a melody with my left hand. This is great - I think that's the only one of these ten songs I ever heard 'til now (and I was class of '79.)
Panufo 1 year ago
they r all bollocks....
paulthepill 1 year ago
is zwol from the west coast of canada he sounds like he is from california
spacepatrolman 1 year ago
@spacepatrolman
Nope, as far as I know, Walter Zwol is from Toronto, Ontario.
nccvball 1 year ago
I'm surprised you didn't include "Who Listens To The Radio?" by The Sports, "Children Of The Sun" by Billy Thorpe, "Remember Walking In The Sand" by Louise Goffin(which is actually better than the original and Aerosmith's own remake), and the unforgettable "I Do The Rock" by....Tim Curry.
TammiWayKewl 1 year ago
@TammiWayKewl
Looking back, I should have included that songs by The Sports. It's catchy and I like it. I have a copy of Tim Curry's pop album on an old cassette. Got it at a Woolworth's for 50 cents.
nccvball 1 year ago
@TammiWayKewl I have the album of Tim Curry's that was sent to the radio stations back then. I won it at a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Curry had some good songs on that album. I'll try to find it and at least post the cover art.
MrFrankTalon 1 year ago
@TammiWayKewl ---Oh yeah! BIG YES on Billy Thorp. "Children of the Sun" was a great AOR track.
JimHadar1 10 months ago
I'm listening and comparing these to other songs that were hits. I guess the reason these didn't fly right up the charts was that they are trying to be disco songs without the hotness and sharpness. They sound like the singers were told "this is what's going on, sing this way." They have the same kind of harmonies and rhythms. They don't have any subtext. BUT: About at 8:30 there's a song by Cherie and Marie Curry, Since you've been gone, that is kinda cool!!
Lisarata 1 year ago
I'm listening and comparing these to other songs that were hits. I guess the reason these didn't fly right up the charts was that they are trying to be disco songs without the hotness and sharpness. They sound like the singers were told "this is what's going on, sing this way." They have the same kind of harmonies and rhythms. They don't have any subtext.
Lisarata 1 year ago
REAL music by REAL musicians...Not like the CRAP we hear today.
bjroberts65 1 year ago
Wow! Thanks! The only one I remember is 'No Time To Lose' by Tarney Spencer Band. I just completed ripping all my vinyl to mp3 and it took all summer. So now I'm looking for things my collection misses lol Great videos! :) (former DJ Trai) Tracy Emert :)
toolofthesouth 1 year ago
@toolofthesouth
I am in the process of doing the same. Very time consuming.
nccvball 1 year ago
Great job! This is great to see, love the songs One Way Love and No Time To Lose
atkman74 1 year ago
Liner do not sound like Christopher Cross, but like Neil Sedaka!
pianoman74 1 year ago
@pianoman74 Neither one. Bee Gees.
psykdiva 1 year ago
Nicely done! I always thought No Time To Lose was a bigger hit than it was. I guess it got pretty solid airplay in Detroit. Funny how regional hits have disappeared and everybody hears the same shit across the country!
Also, I remember Rainbow's original version of Since You've Been Gone, but never heard this one before.
jerryg1964 1 year ago
I assume the one chart song by the Gibson Brothers was 'Que Sera Mi Vida?". I have the cuba album on both vinyl and CD.
plaetoe 1 year ago
I love your lists. They are tremendous. THANKS FOR POSTING THEM!!!
JackOfferlott 1 year ago
I love the Nancy Brooks song. Maybe you can post it or link it so someone posting it.
charliethemaddawg 1 year ago
Mirror Star is one of my favorites from 1979.
macprohawaii 1 year ago
I was waiting for that one that really stood out and made me think..yes, this should have been a hit!. No, they all belonged where they were
Yeppr 1 year ago
Cuba and Que Sera de mi Vida? by the Gibson Bros. did reach the first places here in he local listings of Guatemala. The Farragher Bros. did score a good song here too "I'll never let your love behind me" . Any way great songs thanks for sharing them. Rgds from Guatemala.
dobleanchorecords 1 year ago
@dobleanchorecords Good you say that. I'm in Germany here and they played "Cuba" in heavy rotation in the radios. It's far from being called "gone to oblivion". It would be a bit stupid to only see "his" country (e. g. the USA or the UK) as center fro m where to draw the conclusions.
pianoman74 1 year ago
This was neat, thanks for sharing - this just goes to show why 1979 ties with 1984 as my all-time favorite Hot 100 years - the competition was SO fierce that even some great songs like these had no place to go on the charts. Now I bet at least a few of these could be big hits because they'd have very little competition IMO :\
falldownhard 1 year ago
@falldownhard
You are welcome. More years are on the way. During the late 1970's, there were at least 500 songs charting in a given year. In the late 2000's, there are barely 300 songs charting a year.
nccvball 1 year ago
@nccvball this is awesome! Thank you! Love the song by Bandit One Way Love
atkman74 1 year ago
@falldownhard SINCE YOU VE BEEN GONE is a cover of RAINBOW. :)
radomer 1 year ago
Thanks for posting -- this was great!
thegreatvinceby 1 year ago
I have heard 2 of these songs, most were not bad except for that cuba thing
gymer15 1 year ago
Tarney Spencer and the Cherrie sisters are the only two that had and deserved hits....
CSXer 1 year ago
Excuse "Slchager", but I take exception of your sparse synop of the Gibson Brothers. They Had a moderate dnace hall(disco) hit with "Oh, What A Life". Of course, you don't even mention this!!! I just down-loaded their hit yesterday after an earlier posting was erased by YT for---whatever.
Atomank68 1 year ago
1 Blondie Sunday Girl 2 Roxy Music Dance Away 3 Anita Ward Ring My Bell 4 Earth Wind & Fire With The Emotions Boogie Wonderland 5 Peaches & Herb Reunited 6 M Pop Muzik 7 Electric Light Orchestra Shine A Little Love 8 McFadden & Whitehead Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now 9 The Shadows Theme From 'the Deer Hunter' (Cavatina) 10 David Bowie Boys Keep Swingin'
One of the UK top tens from 1979 might show why it was so difficult for these artists. 1979 charts were the best.
1010joseph68 1 year ago
I love all of your clips. It's great to some tunes that might not have gotten a fair shake on the charts.
I'd also have to add Fotomaker-Miles Away & Nick Gilder-Here Comes the Night as songs that should have been bigger hits
patc71s 1 year ago
This made me wonder who first performed the song "Since Youve been Gone"
I know that both Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow and Head East had both recorded versions of it. I never knew of the version with the two girls until now.
351460 1 year ago
@351460
I believe, from my research, Russ Ballard of Argent wrote and first recorded the song in 1976. A bunch of artists including Head East and the Currie sisters recorded their versions in 1978 and 1979. Rainbow had the biggest hit in the UK and it is the version most widely remembered.
nccvball 1 year ago
I don't see "Where Will Your Heart Take You?" by Columbus, OH (my home state)based Buckeye which hit #64 in 1979 (or was it 1980) on this list.
This is an above average collection of minor hits. I find many to my liking.
bucky468 1 year ago
Cracker? As in the same Cracker that scored a major AOR hit in 1994 w/the single "Low" from their "Kerosene Hat" LP? Interesting I'd say!
bucky468 1 year ago
You found The Tarney Spencer Band's hit... which once got a fair bit of play on classic-rock radio... maybe you can help me find another hit:
I can't remember the title (Couldn't make out much in a song, let-alone identify one at the time (I was so young)) but the key chorus-lyric was "Superflash" or something sounding like that. It sounded like a Disco song, and I've never found it. Years latter, Tomy toys bought the rights & used it as the base of their jingle for the Gyrobots TV-ad. Help me!
nickelindimer 1 year ago
heck yes! as a bit of a guitar player its awesome to find such gems on youtube thanks alot for taking the time to load these up for a quick listen
imalaffer 1 year ago
@imalaffer
My pleasure. More are on the way.
nccvball 1 year ago
Thanks for posting..some of the songs are trully a hit..
TheBuench 1 year ago
I remember "No Time To Lose" fondly. Did the Currie Sisters do "Since You've Been Gone" before Rainbow did it? Going by the year, I'm thinking they did, but I'm not sure. It sounds pretty good!
ToddSweeneyOnce 1 year ago
@ToddSweeneyOnce @ToddSweeneyOnce "Since You've Been Gone" was also performed by Head East (yes, the same band famous for the classic rock staple "Never Been Any Reason") in 1978. It also charted low on the charts.
bucky468 1 year ago
That's the Euclid BEACH Band, not the Euclid Street Band...they took their name from a much-beloved and long-closed amusement park on the east side of Cleveland. Rich Reising, one of the main members of the group, is a friend of mine...he's had a traveling piano bar that's played around the Cleveland area for a couple of decades now.
recordman64 1 year ago
@recordman64
You are correct. Somehow, between writing my notes and creating the slides, I replaced "Beach" with "Street". It is correct in all other locations but in the video. Unfortunately, YT will not allow me to swap the video with a corrected version.
Give my regards to Rich, I really enjoyed their music. There seemed to be a large music scene in Cleveland around this time, with some of the music reaching the national stage.
nccvball 1 year ago
@nccvball: Unfortunately, I haven't seen Rich in person in about 16 years--I hope he's still doing a show somewhere that I can see him in person (I sing a couple of songs with him). I did reconnect with him via Facebook, though...he recently celebrated his 62nd birthday.
recordman64 1 year ago
@recordman64
It's funny you should mention Facebook. When I started doing these videos a few years ago, most of the artists were nearly impossible to find online. Now, nearly all of them have a MySpace or Facebook page. Just goes to show how the technology is becoming so ubiquitous.
nccvball 1 year ago
@nccvball : Tell me about it...I've found DOZENS of off-beat artist pages on MySpace in particular...one-hit wonders like the Count Five, the Gestures and the Spiral Starecase, to name a few, on down to cult acts like the Chocolate Watch Band, and even Northern soul performers like Bobby Hutton and Rufus Wonder...totally amazing!
recordman64 1 year ago
no time to lose,ive heard that one . what gold to find these. nice job since u been gone nice song. peace
Bond007Brian 1 year ago
where can I get a downloadable list off all these songs?
anthonym267 1 year ago
what a bunch of lame songs. b sides at best. boo.
dmlevitt 1 year ago
Jon Pousette-Dart had a number of great songs like "Amnesia" and "What Can I Say" in the mid-'70s. He lives in Derry NH and still performs regularly to this day. Charlie had a number of hits that just missed the Top 40, including "Turning To You" and "Watching TV". It's possible that the reason that the song by the Cooper Bros. didn't chart higher was that their label folded that year and had no promotional budget anymore. Moon Martin's other hit was (I believe) called "Rolene".
elc1960 1 year ago
To all - Need some help locating another very little played song at the end of the 70's. The title (I think) was Little Girl That Lives the Down the Lane.
Not the movie, the song.
THB79 1 year ago
@THB79
I think you are referring to "Strange Little Girl" by Sad Cafe. The song tells the story of the movie/book.
nccvball 1 year ago
... and "No Time to Lose". and "Since You've Been Gone" - the head east and rainbow versions.
doofus0123 1 year ago
wow - the only one of these I've ever heard / heard of was "Mirror Star". this is a great list and looks like you've put an incredible amount of work into this (and the others). i was living in a fairly large southern city with a high population and quite a few radio stations in the 70s.
doofus0123 1 year ago
@doofus0123
That's where I first heard this song. Rhino released a series of DIY punk CD's that were grouped by region or music type. I had a copy of the Boston collection and I believe the British volume that contained "Mirror Star".
nccvball 1 year ago
We are talking 30+ years ago.
The Singles market was far bigger then, and to get to Number One, meant a large volume of sales in any one week. To-day you get a number 1 with less than 4 000 sales. The Top 40, indeed 100 is effectively dead.
The cost of issuing a Single is far greater now than an Album, and the only purpose a single serves now is a window dressing for the album. In any case you can download as easily as but.
MrChristopher1964 1 year ago
@MrChristopher1964
Sad but true. The number of songs that chart each year has been dwindling for quite a few years,
nccvball 1 year ago
Mostly, there's a reason WHY these songs tanked. I do like No Time To Lose though. Punk had a purpose if it kept the rest of this shyt off of my radio : )
rabidgoldfish65 1 year ago
I agree that "No Time To Lose" should have been bigger. I hear that song on the radio quite often & my eldest brother taped it off the radio back when he was in junior high. I've liked that song since I was a small girl.
SpankRamen2 1 year ago
"Mirror Star" might qualify under the ignoble, (and financially unfortunate) heading of an "Invisible Hit" it was a big cult hit among the early Punk and New Wavers, you couldn't read an interview with in the early 80's without someone saying how much this song meant to them and represented something that they lived through... Made a lot of Brit "underground" and "DIY" "Hits" compilations.
rampantunicorn 1 year ago
canadians just cant get a break can they
spookeddudedevito 1 year ago
Thank god for punk
dortyhoor 1 year ago
Great collection but there could be more!
Other low charting songs that should have been bigger:
"Touch Me When We're Dancing" by BAMA (The original version done years before The Carpenters made it a big hit)
"I Do Believe in You" by PAGES
"Too Late" by SHOES
"Church" by BOB WELCH
"Run Home Girl" by SAD CAFE
"Love is Gonna Come at Last" by BADFINGER
"Elena" by the MARC TANNER BAND
charliesbear 1 year ago
Most of that stuff sounds so dated now, with the exception of The Fab Poos.You missed others, such as I Don't Like Mondays which I believe was 1979 also.
senorbellaco 1 year ago
"I´m Not Gonna Cry Anymore" was also performed by Benny Mardones in 1981
wwwolferl 1 year ago
could you post the complete song by mistress---mistrusted love? i like the melody already from that small sound clip.
lucidferd 1 year ago
@lucidferd I was just browsing around and read your text...I have that Mistress album on vinyl.
I am able to burn it to CD. Obviously some cracks and pops, but not bad at all. I love that album. I don't know how vital this is to you. probably this guy and his compilations could help more than I.
1rockpile 1 year ago
Since You've Been Gone is the only one I remember being somewhat popular...
... I think the rest of them might have found their justifiable place at the bottom of the heap :)
BernardProfitendieu 1 year ago
You never heard of the cooper brothers lol "Rock n roll cowboys and show some emotion"???
this band was put together by Les Emerson of the "5 man electrical band" fame
gottselig2004 1 year ago
If it came out after July 12, 1979,and it was disco, it was dead in the water! Disco Sucks! Chicago Rocks!
seanpatf 1 year ago
@seanpatf
I believe ESPN had a documentary on the rally back in 2009. That was disco's Altamont.
nccvball 1 year ago
What about "Love Comes to Everyone" by George Harrison? Great song that went nowhere. According to Wikipedia, it didn't even chart.
awguy 1 year ago
1979 i guess everybody was still stuck on Grease lol
misteeq64 1 year ago
I just can't get enough of these things that you posted up. Did you do 1970? If you haven't yet I got a good song for you The Klowns "Lady Love" which should have gone higher on the charts but it stalled at #95.
LolaCrazy222 1 year ago
@LolaCrazy222
Not yet, 1972 and 1985 are next on the list.
nccvball 1 year ago
Do you remember the band Whiteface? How about LaRoux?
belliottx 1 year ago
@belliottx
I do not believe I have heard Whiteface but I know Louisiana LeRoux. I have "Nobody Said It Was Easy (Lookin' For the Lights)" on a K-Tel cassette somewhere.
nccvball 1 year ago
la cancion cuba de the gibson brothers sono bastante aqui en el peru el año 79 tan igual como el disco samba de two man sound excelentes temas que recuerdos tan hermosos.
Jorgemgp80 1 year ago
Rolene by Moon Martin was a great tune!
RonRaddio 1 year ago
i havent seen all your posts , but what about CITYBOY !? :)
akashaman 1 year ago
Yep, that would be another but their big hit "5.7.0.5" did reach #32 or #33. I may need to do a volume two for 1979.
nccvball 1 year ago
One of the Faragher Brothers, Davey, has been a session bassist in LA for some time, and is now a member of Elvis Costello's band, the Imposters.
Cheezebaron 2 years ago
Cool! I did not know that.
nccvball 1 year ago
I've always been interested in obscure songs, especially those that got brief airplay. Thanks for sharing these!
khanlovr 2 years ago
You are welcome. I hope to post more soon.
nccvball 1 year ago
yep my friend there is a definite reason that none of these songs did very well - they are all fukkin shite !
CHIZVON 2 years ago
Russ Ballard wrote the original "Since You've Been Gone."
Danimal14222 2 years ago
hornetobiker 2 years ago
here here i'm more into the obscure disco songs. these songs are pretty good! thx 4 posting
aniraina21 2 years ago
This version of Cuba is not the club hit version released on Island Records. Sounds like a remake.
barriobajaj 2 years ago
I know there was a long version, something like 11 minutes long, and then the 45 version which is around 4:30 in length. I have both but this is from the single version.
nccvball 1 year ago
"Call Out My Name" reminds me of something Todd Rundgren would have done
kirbygene 2 years ago
SOUNDS LIKE STEELY DAN.
truth2masses 2 years ago
i think head east did the original version
of "since you been gone",but don't quote
me on that.ian gomm's "hold on" should
also be on this list.
stevecc62 2 years ago
Rainbow did a version of "Since You Bren Gone" in '79 as well.
beatlefan64 2 years ago
I don't think the Tarney-Spencer tune would count as not a hit. It may not of charted high but it has beenin heavy rotation at least in Minnesota on the classic rock station for about 30 years.
"Since you've been gone" was also a huge AOR hit for Rainbow. Don't know at the moment who did the original but I am interested enough to find out.
argo138 2 years ago
was'nt Cuba a massive UK and European hit?
funkg 2 years ago 3
It got to number 41 in the UK, but their two follow-ups ("Ooh What A Life" and "Que Sera Mi Vida") got to numbers 10 and 5 respectively. "Cuba" was rereleased in the UK in 1980 and it reached number 12. That was followed by "Mariana" which got to number 11.
The Gibson Brothers are French.
Enerjee 2 years ago
Yes, but not in the US. It was a hit in the discotheques but only hit the lower rungs of the national charts.
nccvball 1 year ago
@funkg
Yes, yes it was. It was also a US club hit and can still be heard in some clubs but it was only a minor hit on US pop radio.
nccvball 1 year ago
@funkg
Yes it was. It was also a big dance/disco hit in the US but failed to hit high on the US pop charts.
nccvball 1 year ago
WOW,
Sorry to say, I've NEVER heard ANY of these songs
Getrealpeeps 2 years ago
love the Cooper Brothers
RomanticAnticsxo 2 years ago
Cuba by The Gibson Brothers - Outstanding!
LuckyCharmStudio 2 years ago
Having Watched All Your Videos Can I Just Say How Much I Enjoyed Them. In The 70's I Was A Big Fan Of Splinter, Sherbet And The Brilliant Liner Aka Blackfoot Sue, The Spoilers, Outside Edge And As They Are Today Cry Wolf.
I Am Now Going To Find Out A Bit More About Fools Gold, Sundown Company, Batdorf & Rodney And Head East Who I Liked The Sound Of. I Would Love To know When The CD Comes Out ?
Many Thanks For Some Great Videos
podge65 2 years ago
The Tarney-Spencer Band song was the best of the bunch.
perez24 2 years ago
I liked that Nancy Brooks song too. She had a great voice and seems to have vanished into thin air.
Mominator 2 years ago
oh shit thats where 3t got that from lol 3t -i need you
dedrawilliams 2 years ago
fail
dedrawilliams 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I forgot how bad the 70s were until I heard these songs. Why on earth did they think these songs were worth putting on vinyl? I hope that at least the records have been recycled, rather than going into a landfill.
BirdsEatCats 2 years ago
@BirdsEatCats I Gotta agree, there is a reason none of these songs were hits; They were terrible, but all in their own unique way.
bfnputz 2 years ago
try renaming this - songs that never shouldve been made made in the 1st place, ( one exception, cherie and marie currie - cherie was in the band runaways that gave us joan jett and lita ford)
swamibubba 2 years ago
No.3 Gibson Bros "Cuba" was a Top 10 hit in the UK
krakenwave 2 years ago
Cuba was a big hit around the world, except for the US. Occasionally, you can find the song played on disco-themed radio shows.
nccvball 2 years ago
Always liked 'No Time To Lose' by Tarney Spencer. Other than that, there's not much here that jumps out.
Jacksn42 2 years ago
That whole album was great. I'd love to have it on CD.
Mominator 2 years ago
"Since You've Been Gone" was not Head East or Rainbow originally. Written by Russ Ballard... good songwriter. So much for "afficienado."
Morty72 2 years ago
Ambrosia, Gino V., Firefall, Steely, I miss em all.
cluffshawn 2 years ago 2