Overshadowed by The Hit

Sometime success can hurt an artists entire body of work. One giant hit can pigeonhole a musician to the majority of the listening world. And it hurts even harder when that one song is nothing like the greater art that the artist has created before– and after– the hit.  But if you delve a little deeper, past what top 40 radio was playing, you can find entire albums full of brilliant stuff.

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1. Warren Zevon

The Song Everyone Knows:   Werewolves of London.  What They Don’t Know:  Warren Zevon was one of the premier singer-songwriters to emerge out of the Southern California music scene of the 1970s. He was the go to songwriter for Linda Ronstadt at the height of her success and lauded extensively by critics. His third album, Excitable Boy was an across the board success, with the single ‘Werevolves Of London cracking the Top 30. It would become his calling card as it was featured in the Martin Scorsese film, The Color Of Money  and on The Larry Sanders Show. But that album and song merely scratches the surface of Zevon’s lyrical genius. His self-titled 2nd album is considered by his fans an even better work than Excitable Boy. Later works such as Mutineer, Life”ll Kill Ya and the Grammy Award winning The Wind are just as strong. It’s all a much broader look at one of rock’s most daring and revered writers.

2. Randy Newman

The Song Everyone Knows:  Short People.  What They Don’t Know:  One of the greatest composers and satirists of the last 50 years, Randy Newman has released several classic albums including 12 Songs, Sail Away, Good Ol’ Boys, Land Of Dreams and more recently, Harps And Angels. He’s scored over 30 films including Ragtime, The Natural, Avalon, plus several Disney-Pixar films. The artists who have covered his songs runs like a ‘Who’s Who’ of American popular music. He’s won an Academy Award, 6 Grammys, and three Emmys. A member of the Songwriter’s and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. But what’s the one song that people recognize Randy Newman for? ‘Short People’, his 1977 hit that Newman refuses to perform anymore. Do yourself a huge favor: Go out and get any of the albums aforementioned albums here. Or pick up the box set Guilty: 30 Years Of Randy Newman, which covers the best of his studio work, live tracks, demos and film scores.

3. J Geils Band

The Song Everyone Knows.  Centerfold.  What They Don’t Know:  Nearly 15 years after its formation, The J. Geils Band – with a huge assist from a fledgling video music channel called MTV – got their first and only #1 single with ‘Centerfold’. The song also marked a musical and commercial turning point for the Boston-based band, which was more known for its high energy R&B/blues-influenced shows and albums throughout the 1970s. The brilliant live recordings Full House and Blow Your Face Out puts those talents on full display and is a much stronger representation of the J.Geils Band experience than ‘Centerfold’ ever could do.

4. Van Morrison

The Song Everyone Knows:  Brown Eyed Girl.  What They Don’t Know:  It’s the song that has been featured in countless TV shows and movies. It’s heard in bars, at weddings, and is a must-play for an cover band. ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ is far and away Van Morrison’s best selling and successful single of his long and distinguished career. But to summarize his creative output to just that song would be denying yourself to near transcendent works such as Astral Weeks, Moondance, His Band And Street Choir, Tupelo Honey, and It’s Too Late To Stop Now. These are life-changing albums that show why Van The Man is, well, Van The Man.

5. Devo

The Song Everyone Knows:  Whip It.  What They Don’t Know:  Devo’s huge hit came off their third album, Freedom of Choice. They are forever linked to it. Except the band was around for 8 years before it even came out and has released great albums before and after Whip It. In 1980, their music video for the song is what they’re to this day most known for. Whipping off peoples clothes with their signature “energy dome” red helmets on, it’s a new wave classic.  But instead of complaining about “Whip It” you could be listening to  Are We Not Men? We Are Devo.  Check out Jocko Homo.   Devo still tours today, and founding member Mark Mothersbaugh has been making music for film, TV and video games consistently for the last 30 years.

6. Rancid

The Song Everyone Knows:  Ruby Soho.  What They Don’t Know:   Rancid was a bay area punk band that blew up once Green Day took hold of the entire country in the early 90s. They’re best known for their hit Ruby Soho, off of …And Out Come the Wolves, which got heavy play on MTV. But Rancid members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman were making great music from the time they were kids, with the legendary short lived band Operation Ivy which preceded Rancid. They’re currently working on their 8th studio album, still making the music that they and their fans love. Their earliest work, Energy, will blow your mind with the thought of kids that young were playing so tight. The album preceding the one Ruby Soho was on, had the brilliant Salvation on it which people simply don’t realize exist.

7. Harvey Danger

The Song Everyone Knows:  Flagpole Sitta.  What They Don’t Know:  The hit off of Harvey Danger’s debut album in 1997 first gained traction when their frontman Sean Nelson got the song to Washington alt rock radio station KNDD. In just a few weeks, the song became the stations most requested. The song broke huge and began getting put onto film soundtracks. Their follow up album, King James Version, gained critical acclaim but didn’t have that one giant commercial hit. Songs like Sad Sweetheart of the Radio proved the band had chops. Harvey Danger put out one more album before finally calling it quits in 2009.