May I say yet again I am impressed with Whistledog's trivia; and Henk....how many people have heard of "The Shirts."
I have...

Laurie Anderson (b. June 5, 1947, MFA Columbia U., sculptor, violinist, performance artist, composer, songwriter, singer, film maker)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Superman_%28For_Massenet%29

Anderson had music released earlier on the 1750 Arch Records compilation "Women In Electronic Music--1977,"* which was insular to the athe arts scene and academics.  In 1980, music archivist B. George released Anderson's "O Superman" on his indie One Ten Records.  How many of you have heard of Meredith Monk?  About as many as would have heard of Laurie Anderson if British DJ John Peel (of Peel Sessions fame) had not picked up on "O Superman."  Peel began airing "O Superman" and the public's interest grew.  Warner Brothers had enough confidence in Anderson to sign her.


Warner Brothers release of "O Superman" saw the song rise all the way to #2 on the British Charts and to #1 in the Netherlands.  In her native U.S.A., it never even bubbled under the Hot 100. 

On college radio it was a different story.  Among the New Wavers, the No Wavers, and the lovers of "strange music," Anderson found a loyal audience.  Dr. Demento broadcast the single many times as well.  "Oh Superman" b/w "Walk the Dog" enabled Anderson to take her stage show "United States," on tour.  This was followed by a 5-record boxed set called "United States--Live" and studio albums "Big Science" and "Mister Heartbreak," which reached #124 and #60 on the U.S. album charts respectively. 

Ironically, Anderson's work became more pop-song structured by the mid-80s, exemplifed by the "Strange Angels" album.  In fact, "Babydoll," from that album, hit #7 on the U.S. "Modern Rock" charts, but this does not qualify as "Top 40."  Nonetheless, Anderson remains synonymous with "performance artist," and her recordings, performances, and lectures are anticipated by enthusiastic fans a quarter century after her initial pop success.

I am sentimental about Laurie Anderson because she is one of the greatest influences on my interests in music to this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Anderson
http://www.americancomposers.org/laurieanderson.jpg

*http://www.newworldrecords.org/album.cgi?rm=view&album_id=17117

On a sidenote: Annie Golden starred in the 1979 movie "Hair".

She was also in "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1984) as a lounge singer.  A lot of Downtown hipsters were in that movie, though!

Lords of the New Church - early-mid 80s post-punk new wave group led by American singer Stiv Bators.  They had three hits in the UK, all which bubbled under the Top 75: 'Dance With Me' (UK #85, 1983), 'Let's Live For Today' (UK #91, 1983) and 'M Style' (UK #97, 1984).  They were one hit wonders in Canada with 'Open Your Eyes' (CAN #34, 1982)


What?  No mention of their cover/parody of Madonna's  Like a Virgin?  For shame! :)

What?  No mention of their cover/parody of Madonna's  Like a Virgin?  For shame! :)

But I like BiGod 20's "Like a Prayer" better!

May I say yet again I am impressed with Whistledog's trivia

Thanks Max :)  I've got more ...


From America ...

Roni Griffith - Early 80s Hi-NRG singer who was popular in the clubs, but saw no success in the US Hot 100.  She was a one hit in the UK with (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up (UK #63, 1984) and in Canada with Desire (CAN #34, 1981), the latter which is advertised on the German issue of the Desire  single ...

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/336/fa1sr0.jpg


SPYS - A short-lived project formed in 1981 by ex-Foreigner members Al Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi (who both left Foreigner after the 'Head Games' album).  Their 1982 single Don't Run My Life only reached US #82, but it scored a #24 placing on Toronto's CHUM-FM, a Top 30 chart which somewhat helps define hit singles in Canada

Gamma - A brief early 80s rock band formed by Ronnie Montrose.  They released 3 albums between 1979-1982, and a 4th (comeback) album in 2005.  They were somewhat of a cult success, but only managed 2 minor hits in the US Hot 100 with: I'm Alive (US #60, 1980) and Right the First Time (US #77, 1982).  The latter reached #27 in Canada

Paul Lekakis - New York born dance singer infamous for his sex themed 1987 single Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room).  The song only got to US #43 and UK #60, but it went all the way to #2 in Canada

Maria Vidal - Her 1984 single Body Rock  (from the film of the same name) was an International smash, but it just barely scraped into the US Top 50

Jennifer Rush - New York singer who initially was not a big success in her homeland.  Her 1985 single The Power of Love was #1 in the UK before it reached North America in 1986.  It eventually soared to #1 Canada, but it stalled at #57 in the US.  A 2nd single called Ring of Ice  also saw the UK Top 40 in 1985.  Her first (and only) US Top 40 hit was the 1987 Elton John duet Flames of Paradise

Kasim Sultan - As a session guitarist and member of Utopia, he found moderate success in America, but as a solo artist, he had no US Hot 100 hits.  His 1982 single Don't Break My Heart  reached #34 in Canada

George Thorogood and the Destroyers - His song Bad to the Bone as well as a few others were popular sure, but get this:  He had zero Top 40 hits in America :o  Their 1982 cover of the classic Isley song Nobody But Me was a Top 40 hit in Canada


Here is one from South Africa ...

Juluka - They were a world music group from South Africa led by British born singer Johnny Clegg.  I happened upon a site that listed Top 40 hits in South Africa, and they did not appear.  Their 1983 single Scatterlings of Africa  was a Top 40 hit in Canada (CAN #29, 1984) and even reached #44 in the UK, but was not a hit in America.  Clegg later went on to form a group called Savuka and had another Top 40 hit in Canada with 'Cruel Crazy Beautiful World' (CAN #34, 1990) which (along with 2 other songs) were minor his in the UK.  They also had no success in America

What?  No mention of their cover/parody of Madonna's  Like a Virgin?  For shame! :)


I almost mentioned that one, but it went uncharted.  I wish it had of been a hit though.  It was a great version! :)

Although they don't really qualify, I'd like to mention The Trammps.

I know they had a big hit in their home country (with "Disco Inferno", which peaked at #11 in US), but other than that their songs saw little to no chart action in US (Pop Singles/Billboard Hot 100 Charts, that is). "That's Where the Happy People Go" (#27), "Hold Back the Night" (#35) and "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" (#64) are all.

In The Netherlands however they've had 10 Top 40 hits. Oddly enough, "Disco Inferno" isn't one of them (it got stuck in bubbling under section).

Love Epidemic: #11, 1974
Shout: #5, 1975
Trusting Heart: #31, 1975
Save a Place: #36, 1975
Hooked for Life: #22, 1975
Zing Went the Strings of my Heart: #11, 1975/1976
Hold Back the Night: #12, 1976
That's Where the Happy People Go: #25, 1976
New York City: #15, 1978
Move: #34, 1984

I do remember being on holiday in Orlando and we kept hearing songs by Bush on the radio and I kept asking 'who's this?' to my friernd and she got quite irritated in the end as they were British and I'd never heard of them.

Here's one from America ...  ROBIN BECK

With no hits at all her American homeland, she was internationaly popular with a pair of German hits in 'Save Up all Your Tears' and 'First Time', the latter which topped the UK chart in 1988.  'First Time' was also recently remixed and re-sung by Robin Beck in a fantastic new remix version by a Sweedish dance group called SUNBLOCK

Though it never charted here in Canada, I remember the original 'First Time' real well from it's use in Coca-Cola advertisements.  It's still a song I enjoy!

Here's one from America ...  ROBIN BECK

With no hits at all her American homeland, she was internationaly popular with a pair of German hits in 'Save Up all Your Tears' and 'First Time', the latter which topped the UK chart in 1988.  'First Time' was also recently remixed and re-sung by Robin Beck in a fantastic new remix version by a Sweedish dance group called SUNBLOCK

Though it never charted here in Canada, I remember the original 'First Time' real well from it's use in Coca-Cola advertisements.  It's still a song I enjoy!
Never liked Robin Beck's First Time for it knocked Enya of the number one spot.

Never liked Robin Beck's First Time for it knocked Enya of the number one spot.


#2 is a good spot for Enya.  It's like they say .. the ones at the top of the chart are the ones that get old fast. 

Look where Enya is now 8) 

But where is Robin Beck? lol

#2 is a good spot for Enya.  It's like they say .. the ones at the top of the chart are the ones that get old fast. 

Look where Enya is now 8) 

But where is Robin Beck? lol
True, where is she?

True, where is she?


Robin Beck still puts out CDs (Independent mostly), and apparently she can be seen touring with Sunblock performing 'First Time' at small venues.  Meanwhile, Enya is putting out triple platinum CDs, and selling out arenas all over the world! 8)

Robin Beck still puts out CDs (Independent mostly), and apparently she can be seen touring with Sunblock performing 'First Time' at small venues.  Meanwhile, Enya is putting out triple platinum CDs, and selling out arenas all over the world! 8)
BTW, Enya has never performed in concert based arenas.

BTW, Enya has never performed in concert based arenas.


Not even with Clannad?

I would've thought she could sell out Wembley

Not even with Clannad?

I would've thought she could sell out Wembley
As a solo artist, she is a perfectionist, she has actually said herself that she cannot recreate the studio sound live on stage, especially when she record her distinctive vocal sound by multi-tracking her voice (eight times, I believe).