Musical Dice -- Memorable First Hits

     When this song was Bon Jovi's first hit, peaking at #39 in 1984, I didn't pay attention to the song. It was over a decade later when I started to pay attention to the song, first hearing it on VH-1's Behind The Music, Bon Jovi, plus I started hearing it on the classic rock radio stations. It came a long way since it was Bon Jovi's first top 40 hit.

     Yes I know, "Dream On" came out in 1973, before "Sweet Emotion" reached #36 in 1975. But "Dream On" wasn't a top 40 hit until its re-release in 1976. "Sweet Emotion" was the first to enter the top 40, and it still is a big staple of classic rock music radio stations. For that reason, "Sweet Emotion" as Aerosmith's first top 40 hit is listed as one of the most memorable first hits.

     It is amazing that just 14 years after the Kinks had their first hit with the original version of this song, Van Halen had their first hit with this cover version, reaching #36 on the chart in 1978. As energetic as this version is, it is easy to see why this version is also a classic rock staple. I even like this version better, and I don't say that often about remakes.

     I suppose, back in early 1976, the idea of female rockers seemed absurd to the male-dominated rock and roll world. This could explain why this song only reached #35 on the chart in 1976. But over time, Heart has been accepted as legitimate female rockers, and as far as which songs of theirs are being most frequently on classic rock radio stations, this song certainly is one of Heart's most played songs, along with "Barracuda" and "Magic Man." Rock on, Heart!

     I fell in love with this song the moment I first heard it, back in 1981. In my mind, there was no doubt that this was going to be a classic. I loved the bass and the rhythm guitar, as well as the lyrics. Apparently, the classic rock community felt the same way, for look what a classic rock staple it is now. So how the hell did this song only manage to climb up to #35 on the chart? From what I recently learned, Loverboy's record label, Columbia Records had a falling-out with some of the Canadian promoters who were supposed to promote the Canadian group. So as a result, the song wasn't promoted as much as it should have been, and as a result, it only reached #35 in 1981. I think all the singles from Loverboy's first two hit albums suffered from that as well. Some of the other singles that came out during that time included "Working For The Weekend" (#29 in early 1982), and "The Kid Is Hot Tonite" (#55 in 1981). In my opinion, that was when Loverboy was at their best.

     To be honest with you, I didn't pay attention to this song until a few years after the song was a hit. I was watching this special on Martin Luther King, and I kept hearing snippets of this song during the special. It only then occurred to me that the song was about Martin Luther King. The song itself peaked at #33 in 1984, and it is now easy to see why this first top 40 hit for U2 became such a classic.

     As big of a classic rock song this one is, it's hard to believe that in 1979, when this song became the first top 40 hit for the Police, the song never got higher than #32 on the chart. Timing was the key here, as 1979 was still dominated by disco, plus there was already a huge hit out that year about street walkers ("Bad Girls" by Donna Summer). But there's no holding down a classic, as time has proven.

     I don't think anyone would have thought this would go down as an easy-listening classic at first. For the song was only a short-lived #31 hit in 1975. But once Dan Fogelberg starting having bigger hits, people took notice of his earlier hits, like this song. Me, I first was exposed to Dan Fogelberg via his biggest hit "Longer" (#2 for 2 weeks in 1980). When I heard this song, I liked it immediately, and for that reason, it's included on this list. Incidentally, I think a similar thing happened to Billy Joel, regarding his first hit, "Piano Man."

     I knew this was a great song from the first time I heard it. Despite the song only peaking at #27 in 1978 for the Cars' first hit, it soon became a classic rock staple. Further cementing the song's legacy is the fact that it's been featured in commercials in recent years.

     What Billy Joel fan DOESN'T know this classic? Rolling Stone Magazine, in fact, named it one of the 100 greatest rock songs ever written. Billy Joel wrote this song, drawing on his experience, playing piano in a bar/lounge in L.A. under the stage name Bill Martin. The characters in the song were based on actual people he met during this stint. As huge of a classic as this is, it's hard to believe that back in 1974, the year "Piano Man" was a hit, the song only spent four short weeks in the top 40, only getting as high as #25. You never know, do you, where a classic is going to come from?

     On a personal note, I once sang this song karaoke in an auditorium at a religious retreat, and I was surprised at the great many kids less than half my age who knew this song. In fact, on two of the choruses, I had the audience sing them. At least a dozen people told me afterwards that I really rocked, with that performance. I suppose that's good. LOL

     I was really on the fence on whether or not to include this one. For yes, this is a great song, written by Bob Dylan, and I think it deserved much better than its #25 peak on the chart in 1971. But I haven't heard this first hit of Olivia Newton-John's in any real measurable amounts. But what made me ultimately decide to include this in the article, was the fact that I'd first heard this song as a long-distance dedication on American Top 40. I figured that someone else thought enough of the song to use it in a long-distance dedication, and Casey Kasem thought enough of the song to use it on his show, so there must be something timeless about the song. So here it is.

     It is an amazing fact that other people were hitting the top ten with songs Bruce Springsteen wrote, before he did. "Fire" by the Pointer Sisters was written by Bruce Springsteen, and went to #2 for 2 weeks in 1979. And "Blinded By The Light" went to #1 for a week for Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1977 -- a song Springsteen had written and recorded several years earlier. Up until Bruce himself first got to the top ten himself toward the end of 1980 (with "Hungry Heart," which reached #5), the best Bruce Springsteen was able to do was #23, which was where his first top 40 hit "Born To Run" got to on the Billboard Hot 100. A stone classic like this song, only #23 on the chart? It's all about timing, when it comes to these charts. But it was also like Bruce Springsteen was destined for greatness, but it was just a question of when he'd be fully recognized.

     As big of a classic as this song was from the beginning, it's hard to believe that Pat Benatar's first hit, "Heartbreaker" never got higher than #23 on the chart in 1980. And less than a year after fellow Crysalis Records label mate rock and new-wave group, Blondie, female-led, reached #1 with "Heart Of Glass." The problem may have been that Crysalis Records may have been more heavily promoting another Blondie song that was out about the same time as "Heartbreaker." That song being "Call Me" by Blondie, which eventually became the top song of 1980. Both are now stone classics, fortunately.

     In all honesty, I think it was due to Sybil's 1989 remake of this song that people started taking notice of the original version of this song, which reached #21 for Dipnne Warwick in early 1963 (Sybil reached #20 with her version). But Dionne Warwick's long string of hit songs began with this song. For whatever reason why this song got attention, I'm glad it did.

     In retrospect, I find it incredible that this song could only manage a #16 peak on the chart in early 1984, given what a big classic this song has gone on to be. I thought it was a great song from the beginning. However, Madonna, to say the least, had since made up for the short-coming of "Holiday," for her following 17 singles were ALL top ten hits!! "Holiday" paved the way for all that and much more.

     This song has become a staple of classic rock radio stations. It talks about an astronaut who is lost out in space. It reached for David Bowie in 1973, and was his first hit. But what a classic it is. And it even inspired a follow-up story hit, "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schiling (#14 in early 1984).

     I can only imagine that when this song became the Pretenders' first hit, people were mistaking lead singer Chrissy Hynde for Linda Ronstadt. I, being a naive 9th grader at the time, made the same mistake. It could also explain why the song only peaked at #14, once people realized it isn't Linda Ronstadt on lead vocals. All that aside, the song's a great song, and it's easy to see why it's become a classic.

     Linda Ronstadt is one of those few artists that can say that they had hits in the 60's, the 70's, the 80's, and the 90's. It all began with this song Linda had as lead singer of the Stone Poneys. The song, written by Michael Nesmith of the Monkees peaked at #13 in early 1968. To me, this is one of her best and most memorable songs. Love that harpsichord in the song.

     Only because singer/songwruter Jackson Browne was stuck when it came down to writing this song, did this song become a hit for the Eagles, because Browne's friend Glenn Frey of the Eagles, helped him finish the song. It became the Eagles' first hit, and it's been such a classic rock staple, that it's hard to believe that it only reached #12 in 1972. Regardless, the song is such a great sing-along song, that it is sung quite often at karaoke.

     Definitely, one of the Temptations' most memorable hit songs, was their first top 40 hit, which reached #11 in 1964. It was written by Smokey Robinson, and became a hit for other artists as well. Rita Coolidge reached #20 with her version in 1978, Hall & Oates reached #20 with their version in 1985 (recorded live at the Apollo with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations), and UB40 reached #6 with their reggae-flavored version in 1990. A great first impression, and an enduring song.

     In a way, it's hard to believe that such a huge staple of oldies radio stations, like this song, never got higher than #11 on the chart back in 1964. This was the hit that started the Four Tops' long run of hits. Another indication of the timeless quality of this song, is the fact that just three years later, Johnny Rivers took his version of this song to #3 in 1967.

     To be honest with you, it took me years to warm up to this song. It was only after I kept repeatedly hearing this as an oldie, that I started to like the song. Obviously, this first top 40 hit by Prince has become a classic, and because of that, I'm including it here. It reached #11 in early 1980.

     I think this song, by far, is the song that people most closely identify with Tom Jones. It was his first top 40 hit, peaking at #10 in 1965, and it helped him win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of 1965. Oddly enough, this was NOT the song that got the highest on the Billboard Hot 100 for Tom Jones. That award actually goes to the Paul Anka-penned "She's A Lady" (#2 for 1 week in 1971). But "It's Not Unusual" was definitely a great start.

     On a personal note, someone had once requested that I sing "It's Not Unusual" karaoke. I did it, even though I'd never sung that song before. The lady who requested that I sing the song, said I did a great song. I'm glad I sang it.

     With all the many many big hits Bryan Adams had in his long career, it's easy to forget that the hits began with this song. I liked from the first time I heard it, and I remember thinking that I hope I get to hear more out of this singer. His follow-up single "Cuts Like A Knife" is my favorite, even to this day. "Straight From The Heart" reached #10 in 1983, and gets played from time to time on the easy-listening stations. To be fair, he rocks too.

     From the time I first hears this song, I loved it. Am I the only one that noticed that part of the melody of this song appears to have been taken from the classic Clover's song "Love Potion Number 9?" Given that, it seems like a crazy coincidence that this song, Santana's first hit, would peak at #9 in 1970. It would later be sampled in rapper Mellow Man Ace's 1990 rap song "Mentirosa," indicative of the classic song that first Santana hit is.

     Another stone classic, to say the least. Yes I know, "Border Song" came out before "Your Song," but Elton John's version never made the top 40 (Aretha Franklin's version reached #37 in 1970). But it was "Your Song," which reached #8 in early 1971, that started the whole Elton John phenomenon, becoming his first top 40 hit.

     The first time I heard this song, I thought, wow! This is lively and fresh (all sampling of "Super Freak" by Rick James aside). I was hooked instantly. I couldn't have been the only one who felt that way, for "U Can't Touch This" was easily the most played song of 1990. The only reason why it never got higher than #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 was because of its limited availability as a single. Most people, including myself, opted to buy the album, making "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em" easily the top album of 1990. Yes, The Hammer came down hard with his first top 40 hit!

     It's very hard to deny this song, which has been a staple of both oldies and classic rock radio. It was the Kinks' first hit, and it reached #7 in 1964. It is the song that most people first identify as being by the Kinks (it isn't the one that got the highest on the chart for them--"Tired Of Waiting For You" and "Come Dancing" both reached #6).

     I definitely liked this song basically from the first time I heard it. And I still hear it from time to time, illustrating its timeless quality. The hits of Huey Lewis & the News began with this song, which reached #7 on the chart in 1982. And they had 11 other top ten hits since then. Picture that!

     It's kind of complicated, when it comes down to Neil Diamond. Why? Before he started having hits of his own, a song he had written, had become a hit for Jay & the Americans, which was "Sunday And Me" (#18 in 1965). Also, prior to "Cherry Cherry" becoming a hit, he had a song out that didn't make the top 40 at the time, but would later be a hit for him, called "Solitary Man" (#21 in 1970). "Cherry Cherry" became Neil's first top 40 hit, reaching #6 in 1966. As a bonus, this song was a hit again when a live version (from "Hot August Night") went to #31 in 1973. No wonder this is one of Neil Diamond's most memorable songs.

     What amazes me about this song is the fact that it took so long for this song to become a hit. For the song, written by lead singer Dennis DeYoung about his wife Suzanne, flopped iniially when it was released in 1972. It wasn't until 1975 that the song caught on, reached #6 on the chart, and ultimately became a classic.

     From the time Steely Day first hit the airwaves, and started having hits, beginning with this #6 hit from 1973, people knew that this duo would be no ordinary rock band. They wrote lyrics nobody even thought of, without being obscene. Their material was often times esoteric in nature, and required some thought from the listener, to get the meaning of a given song. But this different approach to recording songs was definitely welcome, as reflected in the fact that so many of Steely Dan's songs, including this one, have become such classics.

     Without a doubt, this song has become a huge staple on oldies and classic rock radio stations. The song went to #5 on the chart in 1967, and it started it all for Jefferson Airplane, who later evolved into Jefferson Starship, and then Starship. Rock on!

     What else can be said about this classic song that was Chuck Berry's first top 40 hit? It went to #5 in 1955, spending a record-setting 11 weeks at #1 on the R & B chart. It blazed the trail for many more timeless Chuck Berry classics.

     It all seemed to fit: A first hit called "Feels Like The First Time," and a #4 hit for For-eigner in 1977. Plus, it is a great song, which is now a classic rock staple.

     Yes I know, "She's Gone" initially came out in 1973, three years before "Sara Smile" became a hit, but "She's Gone" wasn't a top 40 hit until after "Sara Smile" was the first top 40 hit for Daryl Hall and John Oates, peaking at #4 in 1976. A song Daryl Hall had written about his then-girlfriend Sara Allen had gone on th become a big easy-listening classic. Unfortunately, the relationship fell apart after about 20 years, but the song's timeless quality lives on.

     As it turned out, this song was not indicative of the hits that Boyz II Men would typically have. But as I would learn several years later from a music industry insider, the guys who would on THREE separate occasions, have the biggest hit of the Rock Era, they needed a lively uptempo song as their first hit, to gain an audience, before they hit them with the slow stuff. That idea worked for Cyndi Lauper in 1984, and it worked for Boyz II Men here. "Motownphilly" peaked at #3 in 1991, almost becoming one of the ten biggest hit songs of the year. More importantly, "Motownphilly" paved the way for their many hit ballads, including the three that would later each become the biggest hit of the Rock Era for a while. Those songs were: "End Of The Road" (#1 for 13 weeks in 1992), "I'll Make Love To You" (#1 for 14 weeks in 1994), and "One Sweet Day" (with Mariah Carey, spending 16 weeks at #1 from late 1995 to early 1996). "Motownphilly" was certainly not a bad start!

     Out of the many many hits Duran Duran had, I think this is the song most people think of first, when it comes to this group. Technically, it isn't their biggest hit, only reaching #3 on the U.S. pop chart in 1983, but it was their very first top 40 hit in the U.S. Out of all of Duran Duran's hits, it's this one I hear the most.

     What a classic this song was to start Smokey Robinson & the Miracles off having big hits! This was #2 for a week in 1961, and would later be a #4 hit for the Captain & Tennille in 1976. It is one of the Miracles' most memorable songs, and it happened to be their first major hit.

     From what I understand, Cyndi Lauper's record company wanted to make "Time After Time" her first hit single, but Cyndi Lauper was dead set against that, citing that she didn't want her first impression to be that of a balladeer (like Barry Manilow, for example). So that's how "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" became Cyndi Lauper's first hit single. In all fairness, this is the song Cyndi Lauper seems to be best remembered for, anyhow. It stalled at #2 for 2 weeks in 1984, playing second-fiddle to a little ditty called "Jump" by Van Halen. "Time After Time" did reach #1 as the next single. I think things pretty much worked out the way Cyndi Lauper wanted it.

     Yes, this is my favorite Christopher Cross, not "Sailing" (the subject of a conversation at a dinner table, when I was a freshman in college, where everyone else said "Sailing" was their favorite Christopher Cross song, and I was labeled a non-conformist for not going along with them). Being true to myself, I said this song is my favorite Christopher Cross song. This song, Christopher Cross's first hit, came very close to reaching #1, stalling at #2 for 4 weeks behind "Call Me" by Blondie (the eventual top song of 1980). Granted, "Sailing" is a classic song, but I'm glad to say, so is this song.

     The whole Monkees sensation began in 1966 with their TV show and this song, their first hit. It spent a week at #1, and started their nice string of hits. Now I have to admit, when I was a kid, and saw these guys on TV, I was not impressed at all. I thought they were very silly. But when I started getting into rock and roll music, about a decade later, when I started hearing their hit songs, I started to like them. And hey, not nearly everybody's first hit can be a #1 hit. Way to go!

     On a more personal note, I was at a karaoke party, hosted by a friend of mine, who wanted to get a group of us to sing this song, and she wanted me to participate. I was very reluctant at first, because I didn't know the lyrics all that well. But I did sing with the group, and in fact, I was the only one to sing "Take the last train to Clarksville" in that special way toward. My friend Libby said afterwards that I kept the group together by doing that. Just a fond memory of mine I thought I'd share with you.

     I liked this one from the first time I heard it. It comes as no surprise that this song has gone on to become a classic. And Blondie was lucky enough to go to #1 with their first hit. It spent a week at #1 in 1979 -- the first of 4 #1 hits they had. Bravo, Blondie!

     The Jackson 5 certainly made a huge splash with this, their first top 40 hit, which went to #1 for a week in early 1970. And this became one their most enduring songs. Nothing like that first hit, huh?

     Undoubtedly, this song has become a classic, and it was the first hit for one of the most successful duos of the Rock Era. "The Sounds Of Silence" spent 2 weeks at #1 in early 1966, and on a personal note, was played at my mom's funeral (I think she was drawn to the line "Silence like a cancer, grows," since she died of cancer). I'm sure this song is related to by millions of people, not just me.

     One of the most recognizable and memorable guitar rifts ever, comes from this song. It was the first hit for the Animals, and their biggest hit, spending 3 weeks at #1 in 1964. Anyone who is or was heavily into gambling, cab relate to this song.

     This is one of these songs that I try to forget what it's really all about. Yes, the song is really a drug reference, talking about heroin. But I like to just look at it as just a fantasy journey of some sort. I do like the song. For whatever reason, this song made quite an impact, when it became America's first hit, spending 3 weeks at #1 in 1972, and becoming one of the ten biggest hits of the year.

     It's hard to get first impressions bigger than this one: A totally blind young 12-year-old boy from Saginaw Michigan, performs live in Chicago, not only wows the audience with his performance, but also in the process, records what would be one of the biggest live songs ever recorded, and what would be one of the ten biggest hit songs of 1963. Little Stevie Wonder was only 13 years and 3 months old when "Fingertips" spent 3 weeks at #1 in August of 1963. A most memorable first hit for the man who would later be known as simply Stevie Wonder!

     I look at the video for this song, and I can't help but wonder, what the hell happened? For it seems like yesterday when these two 21-year-old kids were coming out in their Choose Life T-shirts, and dancing to this lively number. This song was the duo's first top 40 hit in the U.S., spending 3 weeks at #1 in 1984. The song was written by George Michael, inspired by a note he saw, written by his bandmate Andrew Ridgely, meant for his mother -- the note reading "Wake me up-up before you go-go." Wham! was basically the brainchild of George Michael, so that's why this entry is listed the way it is. Such a tragedy, considering that George Michael is now deceased. But what a way to launch such an awesome career into the stratosphere!

     Let me be honest with you: I am not a big Mariah Carey fan (my wife, a.k.a. Mrs. MusicalDice, has Mariah Carey as her favorite singer. My favorite singer is another Long Island native, Billy Joel). But I can't deny what an impact Mariah Carey had with her very fist hit, "Vision Of Love." It spent 4 weeks at #1 in 1990, becoming one of the ten biggest hit songs of the year, and also winning her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. It is not too many artists who could say that their first 5 hits all went to #1. Not too many could say that they had at least one #1 hit in 11 straight calendar years. But those are SOME of Mariah Carey's big accomplishments, all beginning with this song. And yes, I do like this particular song by Mariah Carey.

     1964 was the Beatles' breakout year, and what a breakout year it was for the Beatles! At one point, they had over a dozen songs on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, and for one week, they had ALL of the top five songs!! And it all started with "I Want To Hold Your Hand," which spent 7 weeks at #1, and became the top song of the year. The song would have spent even longer at the top, had it been for one of their other songs ("She Loves You"), which bumped it out of #1. It wouldn't happen for another 30 years before anyone would accomplish that. Each of the four members of the Beatles were talented and accomplished singers/songwriters/musicians. Indeed, there would never be another group like the Beatles!

     Even the King of Rock And Roll had to start somewhere. And what a first hit this was! It spent 8 weeks at #1 in 1956, becoming the top song of that year. Whqt a way to start, and what a classic this song is!

     Before I conclude this article, I have a few more things I have to say: I am well-aware that some real big-name recording acts were not mentioned here. In some cases, like James Brown and the Rolling Stones, their first hits were not that memorable (let's be honest: Who remembers that "Tell Me (You're Coming Back" was the Rolling Stones' first top 40 hit, or when was the last time you heard it on an oldies or classic rock radio station?). Or in some other cases like E.L.O. and Journey, I feel that earlier non-top 40 songs of theirs, had bigger impacts than their actual first top 40 hits. Finally, I'm sure you've noticed that I didn't include Whitney Houston in this article. In this case, I can't stand her first top 40 hit, "You Give Good Love" (hey, it's my website, and I get to decide what goes on the website).

     All that said, if there's a recording act that had a very memorable first top 40 hit that you feel I missed, please email me at musicaldice323@gmail.com, and let me know. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this article! ☺