With Bottom Feeders we take a look at the songs on the Billboard Hot 100 that only got a little love. 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 2-3.
Section 1: The Ass End
Gina Thompson
”The Things That You Do” 1996, #41 (20 weeks) (download)
It’s different for me now that I’m paying attention to charts. Back in the day the only reason I knew about the charts is from listening to Mr. Kasem in the morning. Looking at the Billboard bible (the Top Pop Hits book), Joel Whitburn and his research crew give a ton of information about artists through the 80s and then from the 90s on there are just things that end up being a little shady. Like this one, I think.
The book lists her original ”The Things That You Do” as the hit with the ”Remix” as the B-Side. However, the single was ”The Things You Do (Bad Boy Remix)” with Missy Elliot having a rap — or so I believe. Either way, one of the versions hit the chart and that would be her only Hot 100 hit.
Tony Thompson
”I Wanna Love Like That” 1995, #59 (16 weeks) (download)
Tony Thompson was the lead singer of Hi-Five. But I don’t even want to talk about the song. I’m sure it happens a lot but Thompson is the only person I’ve ever heard of dying from an overdose of Freon. In 2007, he apparently was outside an apartment complex, huffing Freon directly from the air conditioner through a pipe. I’m only addicted to buying records, so I can’t relate to drug addiction but that sounds like a serious addict right there.
Thunder
”Dirty Love” 1991, #55 (13 weeks) (download)
Wow. Thunder. I had completely forgotten about ”Dirty Love” as it was just a blip on the radar of hard rock. Had this come out in 1988, this would have been a massive hit but they were just a little too late to the commercial hair metal game to have a hit making career. For what it is though, it’s a fantastic song.
Tiana
”First True Love” 1990, #81 (12 weeks) (download)
Unlike Thunder, which I simply forgot about, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of Tiana before. But why would I after listening to ”First True Love?” There’s nothing wrong with the song but it’s exactly the same as one of 100 freestyle songs of the time.
Timbaland & Magoo featuring Missy Elliot
”Here We Come” 1998, #92 (4 weeks) (download)
While he’s had some huge rap hits, it’s not like Timbaland is really known for his rapping. He put Missy Elliot on the map and now he’ll forever be linked to Justin Timberlake, producing all of his stuff. He’s had a great producing career but his signature sound has gotten a little repetitive at this point and time.
Timmy T
”What Will I Do” 1990, #96 (4 weeks) (download)
”Over and Over” 1991, #63 (6 weeks) (download)
Timmy Torres is just simply fascinating to me. The guy couldn’t sing for shit and yet got a #1 song in ”One More Try” under his belt. In the history of #1 hits, that tune ranks up there with the worst of them. But I give him credit, he wrote most of his own stuff, so at least he wasn’t given that tune from someone else. But damn, it’s really hard to listen to any of his tuneless music and off-key vocals.
Aaron Tippin
”For You I Will” 1998, #49 (20 weeks) (download)
”I’m Leaving” 1999, #87 (3 weeks) (download)
Aaron Tippin had plenty of hits on the country chart but has only crossed over to the Hot 100 four times in his career.
TKA
”I Won’t Give Up On You” 1990, #65 (8 weeks) (download)
”Crash” 1990, #80 (7 weeks) (download)
”Louder Than Love” 1991, #62 (11 weeks) (download)
”Maria” 1992, #44 (18 weeks) (download)
TKA featured lots and lots (and lots) of dancing and lots of women in tight dresses but in fact were one of the better freestyle artists. They had a nice mix of pop, dance and hip-hop in their music so that every single didn’t sound exactly the same.
http://youtu.be/yHxZ-mvH65Q
TLC
”Get It Up” 1993, #42 (17 weeks) (download)
”Silly Ho” 1999, #59 (9 weeks) (download)
TLC were easily one of the greatest female R&B groups of all time. I would have really liked to have seen what they’d be doing today if Left Eye hadn’t been killed in 2002. One listen to the forgotten ”Silly Ho,” and you can hear that they would have had a chance to be a hit today as well. Granted, Left Eye was a little disgruntled before she died but it still would have been nice to see if they could have made it through.
Amazingly enough, for all their hits and being the 8th biggest artist of the decade, they only released three albums while the trio were together.
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