• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

And The Stiffs Just Keep On Comin'

Though I suppose a song that hits the top 20 isn't necessarily a stiff how many of you remember Survivor's follow up to Eye Of The Tiger, "American Heartbeat"? I heard it on the AT40- 80s this morning and I honestly don't remember hearing it back in the day.
 
I'm honored for the Stiffie nomination - thank you.

This accolade prompted me to dig out the box of 45's saved from my youth.

As a kid in the late 50's or early 60's, I must have signed up or joined something with WLS or WCFL (no idea which). One day a 45 is in my mailbox from the station: Eddy and Teddy singing Bye Bye Butterfy and Star-Crossed Lovers. No idea which is the A or B side on this Mala label item. Did this get any airplay anywhere?

Also found: Roxville, PA by the Admiral Tones on anoher famous label: Felsted. It must have been played on the radio because I bought it.

Certainly not stiffs, but for your reminiscing pleasure:

Marlee ML-0094A, Wild Weekend (Todaro-Shannon), The Rebels; ML0094B, Wild Weekend Cha Cha (Todaro-Shannon), The Rebels

and

Swan S-4140-R, Rockin' Crickets (T. Shannon-P. Todaro, Rockin' Rebels; S-4140-H, Hully Gully Rock (C. Cisco-L. Markash), Rockin' Rebels.
 
The Train - 1910 Fruitgum Company

Don't it make you want to go Home - Joe South

I'm Gonna Make You Mine - Lou Christie
 
Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren (1961)

Yeah, I know, it made it all the way to number 3, but when was the last time you heard it?
 
Yes, Goodbye Cruel World is rarely heard (although I did hear it on XM within the month), here's one that I'll bet hasn't been heard since 1974...

Steppin' Out, Gonna Boogie Tonight (Tony Orlando & Dawn)

While we've got the "best of" out of the CD case, let's examine their other stiffies:

Summer Sand
Look In My Eyes Pretty Woman
Who's In The Strawberry Patch with Sally
I Play and Sing
What Are You Doing Sunday
Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose

All made it to the top 40 but never generated the staying power of Candida, Knock Three Times or Tie a Yellow Ribbon.

Does anybody have any artist/group with more "stiffs", or has Tony claimed the title?
 
4 records or 3 cassettes for $19.95? LOL!!!
That Nilsson song (Jump Into The Fire) is a stiff for sure.
But that spot is the biggest stiff of all. You think those Cheech and Chong "impersonators" are accountants by day?
 
JimMcGrath said:

Well, there was at least a forgotten 45 in there: Friends - Elton John.
Debaser said:
4 records or 3 cassettes for $19.95? LOL!!!
That Nilsson song (Jump Into The Fire) is a stiff for sure.
But that spot is the biggest stiff of all. You think those Cheech and Chong "impersonators" are accountants by day?

Heck, I remember three 45's for 69 cents.
 
Being a fan of The Raspberries and Eric Carmen (before his "All By Myself" phase), a guy with a great voice and range, serious musicianship and superb arrangement skills, I submit for your consideration, "Overnight Sensation." Don't think this one has made it to the thread. And if you're one of the first 25 callers, there's an added bonus, "Let's Pretend."
 
Believe it or not, I have just completed a review of the entire thread... and I am honored to have been able to contribute two selections to the Stiffies...

I can't say that I've thought of anything to add at the moment, though...
 
JIBGUY said:
Does anyone still play "A Song of Joy" by Miguel Rios? Top 10 song (reached
#10) in 1972 ?

Haven't heard that one since my ma bought me the 45 ages and ages ago. Pretty sure it was around 1969 or 1970 though.
 
Now that the classic hits stations are beginning to dip pretty deeply into the 80s, some of the real "disappearing acts' include Donnie Iris (remember "Ah, Leah" from 1980-81, which I think hit top 5 nationally?) and Howard Jones ("What Is Love?", "You Know I Love You" and "No One Is To Blame"). They were everywhere on the dial back in the day...now, noplace...
 
Bob1370 said:
Now that the classic hits stations are beginning to dip pretty deeply into the 80s, some of the real "disappearing acts' include Donnie Iris (remember "Ah, Leah" from 1980-81, which I think hit top 5 nationally?) and Howard Jones ("What Is Love?", "You Know I Love You" and "No One Is To Blame"). They were everywhere on the dial back in the day...now, noplace...

Actually, you can hear some of these "lost classics" on Canadian stations like Classic Hits 95.3; Giant 91.7 and Q-107. The songs must have some Canadian Connection. "No One In To Blame" was in rotation at Mix 104.1 (and arguably could be in at least lunar rotation on Classic Hits 104.1) and Donnie Iris comes up from time to time on 97 Rock as well. On a side note, there's a song that has survived five format changes at 104. "Crocodile Rock" has been in rotation at WNYS, Hot 104, Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT, Oldies 104, Mix 104.1 and again at the "new" Classic Hits 104.1. The song must have some of Roger Christian's "magic."
 
The song "Ah! Leah!" has come up on at least one of the "listener survey" tapes that I've done for radio research.

"Lunar rotation"... That earned a LOL, sir... ;D
 
Silkie said:
JIBGUY said:
Does anyone still play "A Song of Joy" by Miguel Rios? Top 10 song (reached
#10) in 1972 ?

Haven't heard that one since my ma bought me the 45 ages and ages ago. Pretty sure it was around 1969 or 1970 though.

Right you are. That was a hit just before I came to Buffalo in 1970.
 


Back
Top Bottom