Rock Legends With Zero No. 1 Hits
During rock's zenith of cultural and commercial importance in the latter third of the 20th century, some legends failed to gain a No. 1 hit.
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2016
Brian Boone
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Stories By Brian Boone
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The Osmonds Released A Hard Rock Song In 1972 That Shreds Their Sunshine Pop Image
This unexpected hit single from the Osmonds, featuring environmentalist lyrics by Alan Osmond, was an early step in the evolution of heavy metal.
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5 Little-Known Facts About Neil Diamond's Connection To Elvis Presley
Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley enjoyed and respected each other's music, and their proverbial paths sometimes crossed outside of any music industry obligation.
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5 Neil Diamond Songs That Prove 1970 Was The Best Year Of His Career
In 1970, Neil Diamond climbed the charts with new hits ("Cracklin' Rosie"), re-releases ("Solitary Man"), and covers ("He Ain't Heavy ... He's My Brother").
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Why Carly Simon And James Taylor's Beloved 1974 Duet Mockingbird Is More Meaningful Than You Realize
Carly Simon and James Taylor's 1974 hit duet, "Mockingbird" was recorded during a meaningful time in the formerly-married couple's lives. Here's why.
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Hit Songs Rock Icons Refuse To Play Live
Artists like Pat Benatar, Depeche Mode, and Eric Clapton refuse to play certain songs. Here's a look at why they, and others, cut these songs from their shows.
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James Taylor's Only No. 1 Hit Is A 1971 Cover With A Whole Lot Of Heart
In 1971, a collaboration with a close friend and esteemed songwriter gave James Taylor the chance to reach No. 1, and that bond continued for decades.
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Albums That Serve As A Musician's Heartbreaking Final Goodbye
Art imitates life, and when these famed musicians saw their last days approaching, they poured their remaining energy into these heart-wrenching final albums.
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The Worst Band Poaches In Rock History
Stealing a musician away from another band is a cardinal sin of rock, as Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, and Dave Grohl all learned the hard way.
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These Bandmate Romances Shaped Rock History
Music and romance go hand in hand, and from Fleetwood Mac to the White Stripes, band relationships have inspired some of rock music's greatest ever acts.
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Musicians Who Soared To Fame After They Got Divorced
It can take years for a musician to reach a state of fame, fortune, and arena-headlining status, and in this time, relationships can come and go.
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Musicians Who Tanked Their Careers With One Regrettable Collab
Musicians collaborate for a variety of reasons, but sometimes it falls flat or even upsets fans. Here's a look at some regrettable collabs and their aftermath.
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Classic Rock Bands That Launched The Most Successful Solo Careers
Going solo is the dream of many a rock band member, but some were lucky enough to get their start in one of these legendary multi-superstar incubators.
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The Best Hidden Tracks In Rock History
Hidden tracks were utilized occasionally in the 1960s and 1970s but really took off as a practice in the 1990s with the widespread adoption of CDs.
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We Bet You've Never Heard These Underrated Blondie Songs
From a rejected theme for a famed franchise to a melancholy factory worker ballad, these are the underrated Blondie songs you should really give a listen to.
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Hit Songs Initially Rejected By Other Artists
Throughout the decades of rock and pop, several artists declined a song, allowing another musician to step in, step up, and make one of their signature tracks.
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Why 1963 And 1969 Were The Decade's Most Devastating Years For Music Fans
The music industry suffered two particularly harrowing blows in the 1960s when high-profile deaths occurred in both 1963 and 1969.
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Hit Songs That Only Exist Because Artists Didn't Back Down
Some hit songs initially didn't thrill the music industry's gatekeepers, and artists had to fight tooth and nail to have them released.
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Musicians Who Rescued Their Dying Careers With One Song
Everybody loves a comeback, and every so often, a musical dynamo of the past hits the Top 10 with an fresh hit. Artists like ABBA and Meat Loaf are just two.
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Eric Clapton Re-Recorded This Classic Song For A 1987 Michelob Beer Commercial
You may know "After Midnight" as a popular beer commercial, but its history is older than its 1987 debut — and was written by someone other than Eric Clapton.
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5 Singers Who Were Wrong About Other Hit Artists' Success
Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Mike Patton, and Neil Diamond have served up some pretty brutal commentary about up-and-coming artists.
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Rock Bands That Hit Record Career Lows At The Worst Time
No rock band has ever reached a place of popularity and blockbuster sales and stayed there forever — and some drop off at the worst times and never climb back.
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1968 Was The Biggest Flop Of The Decade For No. 1 Hits
While there were several songs you know and love to hit No. 1 in 1968, it was actually was the worst year of the 1960s as far as volume of No. 1 hits go.
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Hit Songs With Fewer Than 10 Unique Words In The Lyrics
It's so impressive that these songs became fan favorites with only a handful of words, and you know some of them — "Tequila" and "Wipe Out" for starters.
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This Masterpiece Of A Song Held The No. 1 Spot The Longest In 1972
Not only was this chart-topping song a huge hit in 1972, it also beat all other songs that year for the longest time in the No. 1 position.
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Classic Rockers Who Quit Struggling Bands Right Before They Hit The Fame Jackpot
Rush, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Clash, and Genesis all had members who quit before the struggling bands became famous rock stars.
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Classic Singers Whose Songs Hit No. 1 Shortly After They Died
Despite tragically dying in accidents, through misadventure, or at the hands of a murderer, these musicians had a post-mortem No. 1 hit just around the corner.
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