Bands that have had ten or more UK top 40 singles without ever having a top ten hit

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Yes, I know I'm obsessed with the minutae of UK chart trivia, but... well, give us a hand here.

Ones that I'm fully aware of:

AC/DC: 19 top 40 singles, biggest hit "Heatseeker" (#12, Jan 1988)
Super Furry Animals: 17 top 40 singles, biggest hit "Northern Lites" (#11, May 1999)
Del Amitri: 15 top 40 singles, biggest hit "Nothing Ever Happens" (#11, Jan 1990)
Cypress Hill: 13 top 40 singles, biggest hit "Rap/Rock Superstar" (#13, Apr 2000)

Nearly there is Beck: 9 top 40 singles, biggest hit "The New Pollution" (#14, Mar 1997)

But, yeah. Statistic relax me and I need relaxing. Any other ideas on who's managed this wonderous fete?

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

shed 7?

gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought I had Pearl Jam there for a second, but "Spin The Black Circle" actually made #10 in Nov 1994.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Shed Seven managed a sole top ten hit at #8 with "Going for Gold" in Mar 1996. Their other 14 top 40 singles all failed to reach the top 10.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fall?

J2DanceR, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

10 Fall top 40 hits? Surely you jest.

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fall have only managed three forays into the top 40, their biggest hit being "There's A Ghost In My House" (#30 May 1987).

The Wedding Present and Idlewild have both had one solitary top ten single solely to annoy me.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

(What I'm also learning from this is that Wire, Devo, Suicide, and A Certain Ratio have managed a sum total of zero top 40 hits between them)

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

stupid question, is there a good place to find out UK Top 40 information from the past on the net? i've seen sites that hit the number ones, but i was looking for something a little more in-depth.

jonviachicago, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

www.everyhit.com is what I use. Not brilliant for "this day in history" stuff, but great for checking out band chart placings.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.newton7/top40/

Best Site Ever!

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

KoRn: 10 top 40 singles, biggest hit "Here To Stay" (#12, Jun 2002)

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks Tico. that one somehow managed to elude my Googling over the past several weeks.

jonviachicago, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

It took a Levis related re-release almost 10 years after their breakup for The Clash to hit the UK Top Ten. With that one, they even hit #1 though.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

factlet: B Real made the Top 10 indepently of Cypress Hill as part of the gaggle of hip-hop geese behind 'Hit 'Em High (Monstars Anthem)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

isn't it funny that Sting, after ALL THIS TIME, has only had one top 10 hit on his own?

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Public Enemy are with Beck on 9 Top 40 hits but none in the Top 10 (tho again Chuck D did reach the ten by appearing on Public Domain's 'Rock Da Funky Beats')

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Cranberries also stuck on 9 (highest are, surprisingly, 'Salvation' and 'Promises', both peaking at #13)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

The Clash would be up there if it wasn't for Levi jeans

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

The Cult have 12 (highest: Lil Devil at #11)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Gene have 10 ('For The Dead' #14)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Saint Etienne except for that one they did with Paul van Dyk which got to number 7. But otherwise a number 11 and two number 12s is/are the best they have managed.

Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

(which is to say, 17 non-top-10s, 18 if you include How We Used To Live which was chart-ineligible)

Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Inspiral Carpets: 11 ('Dragging Me Down' #12)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Levellers on 11 including a remarkable six singles peaking between #13 and #11

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Little Angels (10)
Monie Love (9)
Mission (12)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Thunder have 15 (they were more popular in Japan apparently)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

(isn't it lucky for us all i keep the Guiness Book of British Hit Singles by the desk at all times for just these occasions? hey is that a life over there?)

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Lucky doesn't even begin to describe it Steve.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:42 (twenty-one years ago)

The Wildhearts: 13 top 40 singles, biggest hit "Sick of Drugs" (#14, April 1996)

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The number of longterm chart participants that just had to have a solitary top ten single to annoy me (Green Day, Mica Paris, Rage Against The Machine, SAMMY DAVIS JNR!)...

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

SKUNK ANANSIE! 10 hits, highest is Brazen 'Weep' at #11.

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Stevem take your book of hit singles to Spain!

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

everyhit.com is awesome!
Solitary top 10: Aerosmith ("Don't Want to Miss a Thing, #4), otherwise, 14 outside the top ten.

Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

wow, really? Aerosmith have had at least four top ten hits in Aussie..

the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

"Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was their first, and only, US #1. Thus, Bruce Springsteen and CCR are arguably the most successful artists to never have a #1 (the CCR case is particularly intruiging, with five #2's, totalling about 11 weeks at #2).

And which act has the most UK Top 40 hits without having a #1? If you don't know, check the "record breakers" at everyhit ... I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise here ...

Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Depeche Mode, innit? And Billy Fury's had the most top 10 singles without having a number one.

And... most top 75s without a top 40 used to be This Petrol Emotion, but now its Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.

Any calls on most top 40s without a top 20? I'll open the bidding at Ben Folds Five (with, surprisingly, five).

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:15 (twenty-one years ago)

And which act has the most UK Top 40 hits without having a #1?

i'm guessing Janet Jackson

stevem (blueski), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep, it's DM, with 36 (peak at #4).
Curve also have five top 40's, but the highest was 22 (and the other four didn't crack the top 30!)

Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:20 (twenty-one years ago)

What I'm also learning from this is that Wire, Devo, Suicide, and A Certain Ratio have managed a sum total of zero top 40 hits between them)

Didnt ACR have a US top 40 in the r&b charts?

bill stevens (bscrubbins), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Janet had 34 prior to 2002 - her new single is released in a few weeks...

most top 40s without a top 20

New Model Army have 7

stevem (blueski), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Janet is a good guess, with 17 TOP TEN hits (one short of the record -- Bon Jovi) but no number ones.

Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

> Bruce Springsteen and CCR are arguably the most successful artists to never have a #1


Sorry to go off-topic, but I should point out here that James Brown never had a #1 on the pop charts. (US)

Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

By "successful", I meant act with considerable chart placings but no #1's. James Brown had two (?) top 10 hits, but Bruce and CCR have had many.

Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

So Beck has never hit UK Top 10?

He clearly did with "Loser" here in Norway, which was a huge hit in early 1994.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 4 March 2004 01:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Bob Dylan has never hit #1 on either side of the Atlantic. You can hardly get more successful than him.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 4 March 2004 03:26 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...
Nas: 10 top 40 singles, biggest hit "If I Ruled The World" (#12, Aug 1996)

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...
Beck has now made it up to 10 now with "E-Pro", and SFA draw AC/DC on 19.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 September 2005 09:52 (twenty years ago)

What's the highets chart entry of a saint etienne single?

paulx, Friday, 2 September 2005 10:37 (twenty years ago)

Saint Etienne have had 14 hits but their highest chart position was #11 with "He's On The Phone," unless you count the partial exceptions of Paul van Dyk's "Tell Me Why (The Reason)" and Cola Boy's "7 Ways To Love," both of which made #7 but are not strictly speaking "Saint Etienne" records.

Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 September 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

ta marcello

paulx, Friday, 2 September 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

How many bands have managed 15 or more top 40 hits?

Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Friday, 2 September 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)


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