CANONICAL artists that had NO hits. EVER.

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The Shaggs.

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Jandek

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Elton John

― experimental grandma (deangulberry), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

The Stooges

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

UK SPECIAL

Wire
A Certain Ratio
Devo
Velvet Underground

― Chairman ROFLMAO (Dom Passantino), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Did VU have any hits in America though?

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard "Rock And Roll" on oldies radio when I was in NY for the Siren Festival.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Did it chart when released though?

Daniel Johnston

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Big Black

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Velvet Underground had no chart singles and the first two lps scraped into the top 200, but Loaded didn't. The third lp scraped into the top 200 when in was rereleased in the 80s.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Black Flag
Minor Threat
The Germs

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost: So seems like the so-called "popular" VU record wasn't.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

(we are still talking singles here FTR)

Guided by Voices
Sebadoh
Belle and Sebastian
Superchunk

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it always puzzled me that 'pure pop' evangelists go on and on about Big Star, who I don't believe ever troubled the charts much.

― Soukesian, Friday, 22 October 2004 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Nick Drake

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Right, no hits for Big Star, damn I shoulda thought of that.

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

If Elton John didn't have any hits, neither did the Ramones.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Around the time of the VU reunion tour, I remember fun conversations with older folk at work who'd actually seen the Beatles and the Stones often in pretty small venues: 'The Velvet who? Naaaww . .'

― Soukesian, Friday, 22 October 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

but, um, the world is FULL of canonical artists that never had any hit. no one's said the sex pistols yet (zip in the US), or the modern lovers, or husker du, or x. or any of a million others. the canon is by-and-large about albums. hits are about singles. two very different things. what would seem more interesting to me is canonical artists that had no top-200 albums ever.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The question is if they had NO hits EVER, so groups who have canonical hits over time like the Velvets (I heard "Sweet Jane" on the alt-station in the 90s plenty) and the Stooges ("I Wanna Be Your Dog" gets play) seem less applicable than others.

If they'd used the original version of "In The Street" for That '70s Show or if "September Gurls" was getting revisionist radio play I'd almost put Big Star in the same category.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post: lots of kids know "roadrunner" from movies and whatnot now, re: modern lovers.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The Spinal Tap

― darien, Friday, 22 October 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha, I don't really care.
Redefine the parameters of the thread as you see fit.

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

pere ubu

― a banana (alanbanana), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

john cage

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Suicide. My favourite band. Like I give a shit about any pop ideal. But oft mentioned by those who believe in same. Dream baby dream.

― Soukesian, Friday, 22 October 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the Ramones' "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" got up to, oh, #81 or so. But that was as close as they got. Albums did somewhat better.

Have the Fall ever charted in the U.S. (outside of college charts)? I'd be very surprised.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I was about to say that the Fall qualify stateside.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Led Zeppelin had none - in the UK at least.

― scotstvo (scotstvo), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

King Crimson.

― cdwill, Friday, 22 October 2004 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Can

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

fugazi

― Remy (x Jeremy), Saturday, 23 October 2004 01:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Captain Beefheart

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Saturday, 23 October 2004 03:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Leonard Cohen
Tom Waits
Ry Cooder
Doc Watson

― jim wentworth (wench), Saturday, 23 October 2004 03:40 (twenty-one years ago)

leonard cohen had hits sung by other people, at least.

― peter smith (plsmith), Saturday, 23 October 2004 04:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Led Zeppelin had none - in the UK at least.

#21 Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love Sep 1997

― Chairman ROFLMAO (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 23 October 2004 07:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Belle and Sebastian have had a few UK Top 30 singles, and I'm sure some of the LP's made the Billboard hot 100.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Saturday, 23 October 2004 07:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Belle and Sebastian have had three top 20 singles, no less.

― Chairman ROFLMAO (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 23 October 2004 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Long live albums!!!

Did Led Zep really have no hits in the UK? I mean while they were together as a band?

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 23 October 2004 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Led Zep didn't release singles in the UK.

Tom Waits' "Downtown Train" charted when it was covered by Rod Stewart.

I assume Shirley Collins has had no hits, ever. Bless her.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Saturday, 23 October 2004 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

So Led Zep released singles in the U.S.? I need to know these things and I don't wanna look them up. Where's Myonga? Asleep probably. What the hell am I doing drunk at 3AM?

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 23 October 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Doug, the Ramones got closer -- "Rockaway Beach" and "Do You Wanna Dance" both went to No. 66. Hooray.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Saturday, 23 October 2004 09:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and Robert Johnson.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Saturday, 23 October 2004 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Can had a top 30 in the UK with "I Want More" according to AMG

AMM
This Heat
Dog-Faced Hermans
Thela
The Congos
Glenn Branca
Everyone on No New York
Rocket from the Tombs
Neu!
Ash Ra Tempel
Amon Duul II
Cluster
(but not Tangerine Dream)
Spacemen 3
The Sonics

― mattp, Saturday, 23 October 2004 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

actually Beefheart's "Do Wah Diddy" was a local, L.A. hit in, what, '66?

they're not exactly "canonical" but the Flamin Groovies never had a hit.

Big Star never had a hit, nor for that matter did anyone buy their albums before about 1978. I don't think 15 people in Memphis even knew about them for that matter. Too busy getting 'luded out to Alvin Lee and Trapeze. It is kind of insane that "September Gurls" basically has never been played on commercial radio stations--except I recall that it was played on the radio in, like, Winston-Salem?

What about Funkadelic? Parliament had a hit with "Flash Light," didn't they?

The Stooges never had a hit, did they?

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Sunday, 24 October 2004 01:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha, I've heard "September Gurls" on the radio, but only the Bangles version.

― the apex of nadirs (Rock Hardy), Sunday, 24 October 2004 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke

― Alex in NYC (deangulberry), Sunday, 24 October 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

"Eighties" wasn't some sort of hit, somewhere?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 24 October 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

#16 in the UK for "Love Like Blood" constitutes a pretty sizeable hit, Alex, and you know it.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 24 October 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Belle and Sebastian have had three top 20 singles, no less.

In the US?
Alex and I don't keep up with UK charts, apparently...

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Sunday, 24 October 2004 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Funkadelic had at least two R&B Number Ones, and Parliament had tons of hits going back to when they were the Parliaments.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 24 October 2004 07:33 (twenty-one years ago)

>Funkadelic had at least two R&B Number Ones, and Parliament had tons of hits going back to when they were the Parliaments.

I did not know that! Will have to find out what they were. And yeah, "I Want to Testify" was a hit for the Parliaments in '67.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Sunday, 24 October 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Daniel Johnston.

― cdwill, Monday, 25 October 2004 02:58 (twenty-one years ago)

John Cale.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 25 October 2004 10:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Funkadelic's No. 1s were "One Nation" and "Knee Deep."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 25 October 2004 10:09 (twenty-one years ago)

The Slits

― Sami (Sami), Monday, 25 October 2004 10:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Kool Herc
Too Short
Gang Starr

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 25 October 2004 10:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Black Moon
Ghostface Killah

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 25 October 2004 10:54 (twenty-one years ago)

By what definition of "canonical" do we include: The Shaggs, Jandek, A Certain Ratio, Daniel Johnston , The Germs , Sebadoh, Belle and Sebastian, Superchunk, Fugazi, AMM, This Heat, Dog-Faced Hermans, Thela, Glenn Branca, ANYONE on No New York, Rocket from the Tombs, Ash Ra Tempel, Spacemen 3, The Sonics, Too Short, Black Moon??

"Canonical" is just about the reddest of red-flag words I encounter on ILM, anyway, but you'll have to argue some to convince me there's an overwhelming critical or popular consensus on any of these folks. Entry to this mythical canon has to entail more than just somebody somewhere liking you, doesn't it?

― briania (briania), Monday, 25 October 2004 11:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I see. Well, anyway, we can still live and dream in the hope that some great dragon-slayer will appear to liberate us from the unassailable three-headed canonical monster that is the Shaggs, Too Short and the Dog-Faced Hermans.

― briania (briania), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, if were talking about real canonical artists, how about Juan Atkins? He's usually considered the first techno producer, yet I don't think he's ever had any hit singles nor albums.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember Charlie Parker having too many hit records either...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Ghostface Killah

What about that song with Another Level? I'm sure he's really proud of that now.

― Chairman ROFLMAO (Dom Passantino), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

The closest to a canonical hip-hop act to have never had a UK top 40 I can find is Mobb Deep. Which isn't that impressive.

― Chairman ROFLMAO (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 09:48 (twenty-one years ago)

These have all been mentioned above and all have had hits in the UK.

Can - I Want More #26 (Aug 1976)

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner #11 (Jul 1977)
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Egyptian Reggae #5 (Oct 1977)
The Modern Lovers - Morning Of Our Lives #29 (Jan 1978)

Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker #22 (May 1977)
Ramones - Swallow My Pride #36 (Aug 1977)
Ramones - Don't Come Close #39 (Sep 1978)
Ramones - Baby I Love You #8 (Jan 1980)

Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove #9 (Dec 1978)

That makes the British charts between 1976-78 seem more interesting than they actually were. Can were on Top of the Pops (but then so were King Crimson and other hairy "big brother" acts)

― What did you do in the war, Dadaismus? (Dada), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Elton John, Puhlease

Oh, and sebadoh had a top 40? 30? single with something off "The Sebadoh," I'm guessing "Flame." Wouldn't really class them as "canonical" though.

― Ben Dot (1977), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, Nick Drake.

― Ben Dot (1977), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost: Lou Barlow had a #29 spot on the Hot 100 with the Folk Imposion and "Natural One." Sebadoh only charted on "Modern Rock" which maybe doesn't count?

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

not canonical either way, agreed.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), October 24th, 2004. (later)

I didn't type that.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 28 October 2004 02:32 (twenty-one years ago)

that dean, whatta kidder!

― From a Land of Grass Without Mirrors (AaronHz), Thursday, 28 October 2004 03:19 (twenty-one years ago)

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