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Great songs that were Top 40 hits that you never hear on the radio

Okay, how about anything/everything by Boz Scaggs?

As Surferdude aptly notes, conventional programming wisdom scoffs at the notion that there's a real market for this stuff--mostly 70's/80's pop.

But conventional wisdom has brought us to a point where both cume rating (people using radio) and TSL are dropping like a rock, because we're boring the shit out of the average person. So they look for "something different" and find it on internet radio and/or XM/Sirius. Not the majority of people--but millions of them.

My girlfriend listens to something called Live365 on the net--a "jock" called Booberry Two (I think)--and listens to stuff like "The Top 100 Hits of August 31, 1973." She has a doctorate and makes a hell of a living as a college professor--so, not your average chick. But she finds "regular radio" boring as hell.

Here's an idea: instead of putting the 3rd Country station on in a given market... or the 5th Urban station... try "something different."

Of course that's what "Jack" was supposed to be. Unfortunately it was just an illusion of "something different." (Kind of like putting plain old tap water in a bottle and labeling it "Mountain Spring Water)."

And "Serpentine Fire" by Earth, Wind & Fire.
 
redneckriviera said:
Okay, how about anything/everything by Boz Scaggs?

As Surferdude aptly notes, conventional programming wisdom scoffs at the notion that there's a real market for this stuff--mostly 70's/80's pop.

But conventional wisdom has brought us to a point where both cume rating (people using radio) and TSL are dropping like a rock, because we're boring the ------ out of the average person. So they look for "something different" and find it on internet radio and/or XM/Sirius. Not the majority of people--but millions of them.

My girlfriend listens to something called Live365 on the net--a "jock" called Booberry Two (I think)--and listens to stuff like "The Top 100 Hits of August 31, 1973." She has a doctorate and makes a hell of a living as a college professor--so, not your average chick. But she finds "regular radio" boring as hell.

Here's an idea: instead of putting the 3rd Country station on in a given market... or the 5th Urban station... try "something different."

Of course that's what "Jack" was supposed to be. Unfortunately it was just an illusion of "something different." (Kind of like putting plain old tap water in a bottle and labeling it "Mountain Spring Water)."

And "Serpentine Fire" by Earth, Wind & Fire.

Yeah I almost forgot Boz Scaggs he too sees little airplay. I agree 100% with your comments.
 
Crazy Love-Poco
Suddenly-Cliff Richard & ONJ
Dreamin & We don't talk anymore-Cliff Richard
All those years ago-George Harrison
Song On the radio-Al Stewart
we just disagree-Dave Mason
Just remember I love you & Strange Way-Firefall
Touch Me When We're Dancing-Carpenters
Pretty Lady-Lighthouse
Show & Tell-Al Wilson
It's gonna take a miracle-Denice Williams
Love's been a little bit hard on me-Juice Newton....huh huh huh he said [EDIT]
Baby Love-Regina
Holiday-The Other Ones
What are we doin' in love-Kenny Rogers & Dottie West
Sky High-Jigsaw
Take it Away-Paul McCartney
They Don't Know-Tracy Ulman
Who Found Who-Jellybean & Elisia Fiorillo
Hold On-Santana
Got a hold on me-Christie Mcvie
Let's hang on-Barry Manilow
Don't let go-Wang Chung
Don't call us we'll call you-Sugarloaf
Life is a rock but the radio rolled me-Reunion
Black Superman-Johnny Wakelin
Run Joey Run-David Geddes
Stars on 45-Stars On...
Really Wanna Know You-Gary Wright
...& hundreds more I'd love to spin back to back. Now THAT would be a killer format. :)


[EDIT-offensive content]
 
cARLOS Blake said:
Crazy Love-Poco
Suddenly-Cliff Richard & ONJ
Dreamin & We don't talk anymore-Cliff Richard
All those years ago-George Harrison
Song On the radio-Al Stewart
we just disagree-Dave Mason
Just remember I love you & Strange Way-Firefall
Touch Me When We're Dancing-Carpenters
Pretty Lady-Lighthouse
Show & Tell-Al Wilson
It's gonna take a miracle-Denice Williams
Love's been a little bit hard on me-Juice Newton....huh huh huh he said [EDIT]
Baby Love-Regina
Holiday-The Other Ones
What are we doin' in love-Kenny Rogers & Dottie West
Sky High-Jigsaw
Take it Away-Paul McCartney
They Don't Know-Tracy Ulman
Who Found Who-Jellybean & Elisia Fiorillo
Hold On-Santana
Got a hold on me-Christie Mcvie
Let's hang on-Barry Manilow
Don't let go-Wang Chung
Don't call us we'll call you-Sugarloaf
Life is a rock but the radio rolled me-Reunion
Black Superman-Johnny Wakelin
Run Joey Run-David Geddes
Stars on 45-Stars On...
Really Wanna Know You-Gary Wright
...& hundreds more I'd love to spin back to back. Now THAT would be a killer format. :)


[EDIT-offensive content]

Wow some good ones in there and a few that have been mentioned earlier. I agree Juice Newton was a hottie in the 80s.

Also how about..
On The Border/Al Stewart
 
surfdude said:
You guys are programming a station with a .3 share. Fun to remember these songs,
but only old DJs remember most of these songs (I'm one of them).

But with a few exceptions. 90% of those songs would be unfamiliar to at least 50% of a classic
hits station's audience. And, half of the ones that knew them...wouldn't want to hear them!

Many of those songs listed on this thread were NOT played on major market top 40 stations.
That's the point! It's not the same 75 MAINSTREAM tested, overanalyzed, overplayed mess which radio has now become. I would think a format like this would be a goldmine waiting to happen(even satellite radio doesn't have a cool format like the one we're dreaming of on here.
Ball & Chain-Aldo Nova
What does it take-Honeymoon Suite
Get Down-Gilbert O' Sullivan
Does She Love That Man-Breathe
Valotte & Too Late for goodbyes-Julian Lennon
Turn Back the clock-Johnny Hates Jazz
Can we still be friends-Todd Rundgren
I just wanna stop-Gino Vanelli
Lonely Nights-Bryan Adams
The best was yet to come-Bryan Adams
In the heat of the night-Bryan Adams
My side of the bed-Suzanna Hoffs
It's now or never-John Schneider
Dial My Heart-The Boys
Room to move-Animotion
What about love-'Til Tuesday
Only the young-Journey
Give to live-Sammy Hagar
You be Illin'-Run D.M.C
Missing You-Diana Ross
Boy in the box-Corey Hart
Time will reveal-Debarge
Chuck E's in Love- Rickie Lee Jones
I.G.Y(what a beautiful world)-Donald Fagan
New Fronteers-Donald Fagan
We're Ready-Boston
Beat of a Heart-Scandal
Take me to heart-Quarterflash
(theme from)Nightshift-Quarterflash
Don't let it end-styx
Leave a tender moment alone-Billy Joel
Someone to love-Babyface/Jon B.
Notice Me-Nikki
More than you know-Martika
I remember holding you-Boys Club
I'd still say yes-Klymaxx
Who's Johnny-El Debarge
Do what you do-Jermaine Jackson
Love theme from St. Elmo's Fire-David Foster
Sukiyaki-A Taste of Honey
I like dreamin-Kenny Nolan
Take a little rhythm-Ali Thompson
Hold me til the mornin' comes-Paul Anka
Night Owls-Little River Band
Hot Rod Hearts-Robbie Dupree...& more!
 
What a great thread! I recall hearing so many of these forgotten classics in the middle of the night in the middle of the week in the middle of winter on one tape-automated FM or another in the middle of nowhere.
 
redneckriviera said:
Okay, how about anything/everything by Boz Scaggs?

But conventional wisdom has brought us to a point where both cume rating (people using radio) and TSL are dropping like a rock, because we're boring the ------ out of the average person. So they look for "something different" and find it on internet radio and/or XM/Sirius. Not the majority of people--but millions of them.

Here's an idea: instead of putting the 3rd Country station on in a given market... or the 5th Urban station... try "something different."

If anyone wants to hear what "hitting the nail on the head" sounds like translated into English, this guy just did it for us. Couldn't have said it any better.

You're right..anthing by Boz..also, anybody mention Magic by Pilot?
 
allenv said:
Let's pool our resources and buy a station!!!!! I'll put in the first nickel...


Allen

I'll contribute the second nickel.
 
Double J said:
surfdude said:
I've been researching these songs since '87, there IS a reason they're not played anymore.
They're either "unfamilar" or "dislike a lot", with a few exceptions on your lists.

Hey Surf...Research this...BRUCE BY RICK SPRINGFIELD! HAHAHA!!!
Good time charlie's got the blues-Danny O' Keefe
Do what you want be who you are-Hall & Oates
Emotion in motion-Rick O Casek
Jane's Gettin' serious-Jon Astley
Alien-ARS
You can't get what you want(til you know what you want)-Joe Jackson
You & I-Eddie Rabbit & Crystal Gayle
No More Lonely Nights-Paul McCartney(C2CAM uses as bumper sometimes at least)
Vox Humana-Kenny Loggins
Bop 'til ya drop-Rick Springfield
10,9,8-Face to Face
Pop goes the world-Men w/o hats
Be near me-ABC
I'll be over you-Toto
Heartbeat-Don Johnson
Strange but true-Times Two
I've been in love before-Cutting Crew
Something Real(inside me inside you)Mr. Mister
Is it love -Mr. Mister
Little Liar-Joan Jett
Living inside myself-Gino Vanelli
Just Got Lucky-The JoBoxers
General Hospitale-The Afternoon Delights
Surf should sit and listen to a few old vinyl American Top 40 shows from 1A thru 4B all the way through...from the cue tone all the way through "Shuckatoom" at the end!
 
Hey Carlos,
I love your lists.You know your tunes man.Thanks for the posts.I love Bruce by Springfield great song!!!!
 
Thanx Allen! I've still got the old picture sleeve 45 of Bruce...I'd like to be the first to plug my 8 c.d box set coming soon...cARLOS' Favorites and Other cARLOS Classics You Just Don't Hear Anymore"...here's just a few more soul stir-ers...

Hearts-Marty Balin
the Beatles Movie Medley
the Beach Boys Medley
Go for a soda- Kim Mitchell
Walking Away-Info. Society
Shake for the shiek-Escape Club
Not enough love in the world-Don Henley
Moonlight on Water-Kevin Raleigh
Piece of Paradise-PM
Dominos-Robbie Nevil
What's it to ya-Robbie Nevil
Under the milkyway-the Church
I don't mind at all-Bourgous Tagg :eek:
Dare to Fall in Love-Brent Bourgous
Welcome to the Boomtown-David & David
Digging your scene-the Blow Monkeys
Modern Day Delilah-Van Stevenson
The one you love-Glen Frey
Bad Boys-Wham U.K
Lessons in Love-Level 42
Uh-Oh-(Fallin in love)-Miami Sound Machine
Common Ground-the rhythm Corp
Touch & Go-Emerson Lake & Powell
Still got the blues for you-Gary Moore
Boys night out-Timothy B. Schmitt
Lights out-Peter Wolf
Come as you are-Peter Wolf
Livin' next door to Alice-Smokie
How 'Bout Us-Champagne
19-Paul Hardcastle
Love Changes Everything-Clime Fisher
Crazy-Icehouse
Don't call us we'll call you-Sugarloaf
...I'll pitch in a quarter if I can be Music Director! :p
 
Hi everyone,
I didnt see this song listed, and I have only heard it as a child on WQXI 790 in Atlanta way back when.. Ive got a good love-Christopher Bond.. Its a great song, so where is it in the lists?
 
The funny thing is that the vast majority (over 95%) of the songs everyone lists are available on Sirius and XM on their channels. I don't have to hope to drive thru a city and pick up for 15 minutes some old, seldom played former Top 40 hits, I can listen to them anytime, anywhere I want to.
 
That's our point,you should not have to go the satellite route.Its a great and different direction for a station to take.If you present it live and local and dare
God Forbid, not to sound like anyone else the station will be a winner....

Allen
 
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