Yesterday I established that Frankie Vaughan was the biggest chart act that I'd never heard of prior to the internet. The criteria was chart acts who made their Top 40 debut before my music memories begin in 1987 ranked by number of Top 40 hits they'd had. Frankie Vaughan was 38th on that list with 29 Top 40 hits to his name.
I quite enjoyed have a think about how I'd first come across each act so I thought why stop there. Here's the next batch with the ones I'd never heard the music of pre-internet in red:
Shirley Bassey: No specific memory of when I'd first head of her but sure it was to do with her singing James Bond songs
The Shadows: The first song of there's I'd heard was "Let Me Be The One" which was on a 70s compilation my mum had. Sounds nothing like a Shadows record really.
The Hollies: When they topped in the charts in 1988 with "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother". Incidentally they also had a song on the 70s compilation mentioned above with "I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top".
Perry Como: "Magic Moments" is one of those records I've always known. He was also on the above 70s compilation with "And I Love You So".
Four Tops: When "Loco In Acapulco" charted in 1988. I thought they were a modern group at the time.
Beach Boys: When they did "Wipeout" with the Fat Boys in 1987. They were also on the Now Christmas Album with "Little Saint Nick".
Cher: When she charted with "If I Could Turn Back Time" in 1989.
Electric Light Orchestra: I knew the name long before I knew any songs. I was aware they'd topped the charts collaborating with Olivia Newton-John but the first song I remember hearing was "Living Thing" in the late 90s when it was on a tape that got played at the shop I was working at.
Abba: My mum was a fan and played them all the time.
Madness: When "It Must Be Love" returned to the charts in 1992.
Bryan Adams: The summer of 1991 when it was impossible to avoid him.
Frankie Laine: Whilst Bryan Adams holds the record for most consecutive weeks at number one, Frankie Laine holds the record with most overall weeks with "I Believe". Knowing this fact made me intrigued by this record and I think it was pointed out to me when it appeared on the radio.
Pat Boone: We have the 2nd biggest chart act who I'd first heard via the internet. I think I already knew the name but even to this very day I'd struggle to tell you much about his music. He topped the charts in 1956 with "I'll Be Home" so I would have listened to this in the early days of YouTube when I listened to all the number ones I didn't know. His Top 40 career was over by 1962.
Billy Fury: Another chart act I first came across on the internet. He had no number ones though so would have come later than Frankie Vaughan and Pat Boone. He was at his chart peak in the early 60s before The Beatles came along. I've played a few of his songs but can't remember which was the first and when it was.
Donna Summer: In 1989 when she charted with "This Time I Know It's For Real"
Phil Collins: In 1988 when he topped the charts with "A Groovy Kind Of Love" which was also on Now 13.
Jackson 5: Pretty sure it was "Blame It On The Boogie". When Big Fun did their cover in 1989 I read in Smash Hits that it was written by Michael Jackson (turns out not that Michael Jackson) but was then told they originally did it in the 70s and heard it some point after that.
Hot Chocolate: They were on the 70s compilation I've already mentioned with "You'll Always Be A Friend".
Slade: On the Now Christmas Album.
Kate Bush: When she charted with "The Sensual World" in 1989.
New Order: When "True Faith" charted in 1987.
Bananarama: "I Can't Help It" was on Now 11 and I remember Siobhan leaving the group around the same time
Simple Minds: I was surprised to discover "Alive and Kicking" came out in 1985 so I wouldn't of remembered it charting but very much associate it with my early music memories.
Eurythmics: Their popularity was in decline by 1987 but I do remember the odd looking duo of a woman with short hair singing and a bearded bloke staying quiet in the background. I think "You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart" was the first song to register.
Adam Faith: A name I'd heard long before the internet but never heard any of his music until YouTube became a thing. His first 2 hits topped the charts so I listened to them in the early days of YouTube.
The Who: Heard about them smashing up their instruments first and then saw them do that very thing on "Sounds of the 60s" in the early 90s though I can't remember which song they played.
Showaddywaddy: They used to play "Hey Rock and Roll" on The Gladiators in the early 90s
Sting: We used to have a local radio station on at breakfast time and "Spread A Little Happiness" was played on it a lot.
Connie Francis: The 5th act I first heard on the internet. What all 5 acts have in common is that they were all around in the 50s. She had 2 number ones so would have heard them in the early days of YouTube.
Jim Reeves: My father was never really into music but one tape he did have was a Jim Reeves one.
Gene Pitney: When he did the remake of "Somethings Gotten Hold Of My Heart" with Marc Almond and topped the charts with it in 1989.
Stranglers: I remember "96 Tears" in 1990 without knowing who it was but first knowingly heard a song of there's when "Golden Brown" was on The Chart Show. Must have been one from the archives.
The Cure: I remember "Lullaby" coming out in 1989 and thinking that Robert Smith looked scary.
Marillion: Not until 2004 when they returned to the Top 40 after a long time away with "You're Gone". I remember much was being made of their comeback but I'd not heard of them before. That said I'm sure I'd heard "Kayleigh" prior to that.
Johnnie Ray: A name I'd heard before the internet but never heard his music until I listened to his 3 number ones in the early days of YouTube. He's another act who was around in the 50s but unlike the other 5 acts who I'd never heard pre-internet he have had a hit beyond the 50s.
Duane Eddy: I've known "Peter Gunn" for a long time but even now I'd struggle to name another of his records.
Kinks: Hard to pinpoint. I've known songs like "You Really Got Me" and "All Day And All Of The Night" for as long as I can remember and then some point realised they were by the Kinks.
Genesis: First aware that Phil Collins was also in a band and probably when I discovered "Invisible Touch" wasn't a Phil Collins record.
AC/DC: When I was into rock/metal in the early 90s and they were one of the legendary old bands we could appreciate. Would guess the first one I heard was "Highway To Hell".
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