With Bottom Feeders we take a look at the songs on the Billboard Hot 100 that Casey Kasem never got to announce. It’s an A-Z look at songs that charted no higher than #41 in the decade. Take a listen, enjoy and comment. And don’t forget, information on the top 40, airplay and bubbling under charts are on pages 2-4.
Section 1: The Ass End
Emilia
”Big Big World” 1998, #92 (2 weeks) (download)
I’m surprised that Emilia’s one shot didn’t last more than two weeks and chart much higher. It’s a pretty harmless but catchy pop tune that was right in line with the times. The song probably could have kicked it a minute sooner than it does but still, it’s a song that’s very radio friendly.
Laura Enea
”This Is the Last Time” 1992, #70 (14 weeks) (download)
Pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever heard this freestyle tune from the former winner of the Miss Italia Pageant. Strange thing too, although this sounds a heck of a lot like 100 other tunes in the genre, I really like this one better than most.
Bill Engvall & Travis Tritt
”Here’s Your Sign (Get the Picture)” 1997, #43 (20 weeks) (download)
Comedian Bill Engvall is certainly a name I didn’t expect to see here. One of the oddest tracks of the series, it’s an Engvall skit about being stupid set to a country backbeat and chorus sung by Travis Tritt.
Enigma
”Beyond the Invisible” 1996, #81 (3 weeks) (download)
I don’t know that I would get near this today but listening to the three Enigma hits before this really made me remember how great they were back in the day. Enigma was really just one person, Michael Cretu with the female vocals sung by his wife. Although ”Beyond the Invisible” was a great song, I’m still shocked it charted at all as you just wouldn’t think a dance oriented new age group could have hits off of three consecutive records, especially when they kept going back to the Gregorian chant well over and over again.
And I’m sure Enigma is the only band that can say they charted with songs featuring Gregorian chants, French choruses, Latin bible verses, illegal use of an aboriginal Taiwanese chant and a sample of a Latvian folk tune.
Jocelyn Enriquez
”I’ve Been Thinking About You” 1994, #80 (11 weeks) (download)
”Do You Miss Me” 1996, #49 (23 weeks) (download)
”A Little Bit Of Ecstasy” 1997, #55 (20 weeks) (download)
Stars on 54 (Jocelyn Enriquez, Amber and Ultra Nate)
”If You Could Read My Mind” 1998, #52 (14 weeks) and 1999, #99 (1 week) (download)
Jocelyn Enriquez is one of the few dance artists in the decade that I really remember very well. She got a lot of airplay in Philly mainly around two songs though, ”Do You Miss Me” and ”If You Could Read My Mind.” The former is one of the best dance tunes in the 90s while the latter is billed as being performed by Stars on 54 which were Enriquez, Amber and Ultra Nate. The song was re-released about six months after it originally charted once the movie 54 came out in 1999.
Entouch featuring Keith Sweat
”All Nite” 1990, #71 (7 weeks) (download)
Entouch were a NY R&B duo of Eric McCaine and Free. While ”All Nite” was their only taste of success on the charts, McCaine has had a decent career as a rap producer.
Enuff Z’Nuff
”Fly High Michelle” 1990, #47 (13 weeks) (download)
Enuff Z’Nuff never really was that great of a band but I always did like the uniqueness of Chip Z’Nuff’s voice and ”Fly High Michelle” remains one of the pinnacles of the hair metal movement. Just don’t judge on this abomination of a video.
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En Vogue
”Runaway Love” 1993, #51 (10 weeks) (download)
”No Fool No More” 1998, #57 (8 weeks) (download)
En Vogue had a fantastic run throughout the ’90s eventually going down as the 14th biggest artist of the decade. ”No Fool No More” and ”Runaway Love” are both good songs but can’t really compare to songs like ”Hold On” and ”My Lovin’.”
Enya
”Caribbean Blue” 1992, #79 (8 weeks) (download)
”Only If…” 1998, #88 (3 weeks) (download)
Enya is another new age mystery to me. ”Orinoco Flow” and ”Caribbean Blue” are definitely good songs but to think that she had another hit in ’98 is baffling to me. You would have thought that she would have stopped crossing over to the pop charts long before this but she even had a top 10 hit in ’01. And in reality ”Only If…” is a better tune than 90% of what’s in this series anyway.
EOL
”Love the Way” 1998, #79 (6 weeks) (download)
”Love the Way” isn’t a terrible song, it just has a shitty chorus. Fix that and spell out the group name (Elements of Life) and I actually think there’s a hit here.
EPMD
”Crossover” 1992, #42 (20 weeks) (download)
”Da Joint” 1997, #94 (3 weeks) (download)
Erick and Parrish Making Dollars are one of the most underrated rap artists of the decade. Erick Sermon has one of the greatest flows of any rapper in the decade and although they are an east coast favorite, they aren’t on the tip of everyone’s tongue like they should be. And while I think ”Crossover” is one of the greatest rap songs ever made, ”Da Joint” is also a favorite of mine because it was produced by Rockwilder who is one of my favorite creators of rap music of all time.
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