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 and 3.
Thanks to Dave for pointing out last week that I seemingly had some kind of stroke and skipped over the entire second half of the letter O. So, for the first time in the five year history of this series, we go backwards from P to O!
Section 1: The Ass End
1 of the Girls
”Do Da What” 1993, #74 (4 weeks) (download)
As much as I loved the New Jack Swing era, I have to admit that unless you were one of the major bands in the genre, you pretty much sounded like everyone else. Every part of this reminds me of Kris Kross and therefore listening to this is something I will never ever ever do again.
One 2 One
”Peace of Mind (Love Goes On)” 1992, #95 (2 weeks) (download)
Although they had a decent career in Canada, Leslie Howe and Louise Remy only had two minor hits in the US, with ”Peace of Mind” being their first in six years. In the 80s when they were One To One, they were more pop while they became more adult contemporary when they changed to the number 2. After this, the two of them joined other musicians to form Sal’s Birdland which then morphed into Artificial Joy Club.
Onyx
”Throw Ya Gunz” 1993, #81 (3 weeks) (download)
”Shifftee” 1993, #92 (3 weeks) (download)
”Last Dayz” 1995, #89 (5 weeks) (download)
Although Onyx continues to release music, they didn’t really stick in people’s minds after the 90s. Fredro Starr was the leader of the group and for good reason as once he started to act as well people saw his commanding personality. The other voice you know from the group is Sticky Fingaz who had that ”I might go buck wild at any minute” type rap complimented by the fact that he always seemed to be screaming his lyrics. Their first two albums (Bacdafucup and All We Got Iz Us) were really solid records. The only real complaint about the group as a whole is that all four members had such similar styles that there was no real diversity in their sound, which I’m sure contributed to them fading out of the spotlight after album #3.
Orgy
”Blue Monday” 1999, #56 (20 weeks) (download)
It bothers me that not only do I still like Orgy’s cover of this New Order classic but at one point I was actually into the group as well.
The Original
”I Luv U Baby” 1996, #66 (16 weeks) (download)
When you watch the video and see Everett Bradley, the sole man behind The Original, I don’t know that you’d expect this type of music but ”I Luv U Baby” is probably one of the best dance songs of the entire decade.
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Or-N-More
”Everyotherday” 1991, #46 (8 weeks) (download)
Someone’s going to have to school me on Or-N-More as I know nothing about this group other than what the Billboard bible tells me — two guys from New York — one named Orfeh and the other being Mike More.
Ozzy Osbourne
”No More Tears” 1991, #71 (9 weeks) (download)
The No More Tears album for Ozzy was really his first solo success with buddy Zakk Wylde on guitar which really gave him a much needed kick in the ass musically. The title track had a bit of an alternative feel as well thanks to some songwriting by Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez. So you got something that was a blend of metal, AIC and some Faith No More.
Donny Osmond
”Sure Lookin’” 1991, #54 (12 weeks) (download)
Just like I did in the 80s version of this series, I still get a chuckle seeing Donny Osmond right after Ozzy Osbourne. Sadly enough, Donny Osmond might actually be cooler these days than Ozzy. Ha, no — just kidding. But that’s the only jab I take at Donny. While I’m too young to have grown up with him and I’m not an adoring female, I can appreciate that the guy has worked since he was a little boy and continues to reinvent himself. For that, he’s earned my respect.
The Outfield
”Closer To Me” 1992, #43 (11 weeks) (download)
By this point, the Outfield had made five records which all stuck to the very same formula and thus they played themselves out a bit. Their 1992 album Rockeye, would be their last one for six years and ”Closer To Me” was their final hit.
The Outhere Brothers
”Boom Boom Boom” 1995, #65 (20 weeks) (download)
I don’t think I could have ever told you that this song was done by the Outhere Brothers but everyone in the world is familiar with the chorus. I wonder what kind of residuals these guys make from this song today.
Outkast
”Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik” 1994, #74 (10 weeks) (download)
”Jazzy Belle” 1997, #52 (14 weeks) (download)
”Rosa Parks” 1998, #55 (17 weeks) (download)
Outkast — hands down one of the best rap groups of all time. As their career went on, they got more and more experimental and creative, which after a while matched their unique rhyming style. Although they have yet to make a bad album, it was really 98s Aquemini where they really hit their stride before creating two of the greatest hip hop songs of all time in ”B.O.B.” and ”Hey Ya!” No disrespect to Big Boi but Andre 3000 is one of the greatest rappers of my generation. And in typical off kilter fashion, Outkast of course has been on hiatus since they hit their peak years ago.
Ovis
”Regular Thang” 1994, #72 (13 weeks) (download)
Ovis really had no chance to be a hit. He was an ugly dude so videos really weren’t going to be his thing and he picked the genre of white boy alternative pop rap which was successful for a year or two.
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