10 songs that weren’t huge hits the first time

July 6, 2024, 15:00

Which of your favorite songs was better the second time around? From The La’s to Radiohead, they weren’t all instant chart hits.

If it doesn’t work the first time, then reissue, repackage, reevaluate… Sometimes genius isn’t appreciated in the artist’s lifetime. Sometimes it gets a second chance.

1. Electric Six – Attention! High voltage

   Originally released in 2001, when the Detroit band was still known as The wild bunchThe dancefloor favourite was remixed into a new version when the band signed to UK-based label XL. Since there was already a band called The Wild Bunch, the group decided to go with the Electric Six Nickname and the rest is history: The title reached number 2 in the British charts.

   

   Electric Six – “Danger! High Voltage” (Hi Res)

   
   
   

2. The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry

   When Robert Smith When he first released his lovelorn song in the summer of 1979, it failed to chart. By 1986, he had transformed into the disheveled pop star we know and love, and re-recorded the classic hit to include on a compilation of the band’s singles. It peaked at number 22.

   

   The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry

   
   
   

3. The Clash – Should I stay or go?

   Originally included on the Battle Rock Album, this classic reached a respectable number 17 when it was released as a double A-side with Straight to hell in 1982. However, after the song was used in a Levis jeans advertisement in 1991, it reached the top spot in the UK.

   

   The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go (Official Video)

   
   
   

4. James – Sit down

   When the Manchester band released their classic album in 1989, it was on the Hard trade label and lasted a whopping seven minutes. It did well on the indie charts but only reached number 77 on the national charts. By 1991, the band had signed a deal with major label Fontana and the track had become a live favorite, with the crowd literally sitting on the floor during the song. Now that “Madchester” was a thing, Sit down was re-recorded and reached number 2. It was included as an additional track on the reissued Gold mother album and remains the band’s most famous song. Here is the video for the 1989 version.

   

   
   
   

5. Radiohead – Creep

   Radio 1 felt this stone cold classic was “too depressing” to play when it was released in September 1992 and it only managed to peak at number 78. After some enthusiasm in countries as far apart as New Zealand and Israel, the song was re-released a year later and peaked at number 7.

   

   
   
   

6. The La’s – There She Goes

   One could never blame Read Frontman Lee Mavers about throwing yourself into something. This modern Merseybeat classic reached number 59 in the national charts when it was first released in October 1988, but the accompanying album took another two years to arrive. When the song was reissued to promote the LP, it reached a more respectable number 13.

   

   The La’s – There She Goes

   
   
   

7. Kraftwerk – The Model

   “Das Model” was originally included on the Düsseldorfer Droids’ 1978 album. the human machinebut when the record company was looking for a B-side for their new single Computer Love in 1981, this oldie was snapped up. Its emotionless techno groove was noticed by New Romantic club DJs, who started playing the B-side instead of the A-side. The track reached number 1 in the UK in February 1982.

   

   Kraftwerk – The Model (official video)

   
   
   

8. The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You

   This Stones-lite classic only made it to number 42 when it was first released in September 2000. However, after its appearance in a popular TV commercial for Vodafone, the track landed straight back at number 5 in November 2001.

   

   The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You

   
   
   

9. The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink

   This new wave classic only made it to number 43 in July 1981 when the track was lifted from the Furs album Talk Talk Talk. However, in the summer of 1986, the song gave its name to the classic John Hughes film starring Molly Ringwald, and a re-recorded version re-entered the charts, reaching number 18.

   

   PSYCHEDELIC FURS: Pretty in Pink (HD)

   
   
   

10. Joy Division – Atmosphere

    Factory’s finest had a unique approach to their discography, thanks largely to the whims of manager Rob Gretton. He passed two of the band’s best songs – the beautiful Atmosphere and the terrifying Dead Souls – on to French label Sordide Sentimentale, who released them on an extremely limited edition 7″ in March 1980. After John Peel played the songs extensively on the radio, fans clamored for a wider release of the songs, and Atmosphere graced a 12″ – which, annoyingly, was only available in the US.

    This edition was eventually reissued in the UK, but none of these releases sold well enough to chart. Eight years later, Factory compiled most of Joy Division’s rarities onto an album called Substance 1977-1980 and released Atmosphere as a promotional single, complete with an iconic video directed by Anton Corbijn. Almost a decade after it was recorded, Atmosphere climbed into the lower rarities of the Top 40, peaking at number 34.

    

    Joy Division – Atmosphere (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)