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.
Section 1: The Ass End
Shabba Ranks
”Family Affair” 1994, #84 (2 weeks) (download)
”Let’s Get It On” 1995, #81 (9 weeks) (download)
I remember walking around saying the word ”Shabba” over and over again in the 92/’93 range because you know, he said his name every 10 seconds in his songs. For as much as I heard his name in the 90s, I would have thought he’d have had way more hits than he really did. I also remember going to the store and having a really hard time picking up an album called X-tra Naked. That was a record for ladies, not high-school Steed.
Rapination and Kym Mazelle
”Love Me the Right Way” 1993, #97 (4 weeks) (download)
Italian producers, English singer. Boy, there was a sure fire formula for a dance hit in the 90s, wasn’t there?
Rappin’ 4-Tay
”Ain’t No Playa Like” 1996, #73 (11 weeks) (download)
Somewhere between Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and Too Short, this dude was in jail before his debut came out but still had a few hits before the West Coast Rap movement started fading out. On the album this track was called ”Ain’t No Playa (Playaz Shit)” and was a rap remake of the Four Tops ”Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got).”
Raven-Symone
”That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of” 1993, #68 (8 weeks) (download)
Well, here’s one that’s simply ridiculous. Little Olivia Kendall from the Cosby Show putting out a record at the age of 7. The album had a song on it called ”Hip Hop Teddybear” for heaven’s sake. If I’m not mistaken, this was the first time Missy Elliot appeared on a charting track, having written the song for Raven (and credited as Melissa Elliot).
Then there’s the video with three sides; the pampered diva, the hardcore rapper and the Janet Jackson ”Rhythm Nation”-ish dancer. And if that’s truly Elliot in the video than damn, she looked way different back in the day. Definitely not supa fly.
http://youtu.be/zEEQClfZLUA
Collin Raye
”One Boy, One Girl” 1995, #87 (7 weeks) (download)
I’m surprised I’ve never heard this one at a wedding before as it’s a perfect love song for that type of event. Mr. Raye was the definition of adult country having also dueted with Jim Brickman on multiple occasions. ”One Boy, One Girl” honestly, is quite a sweet song though and now that I’ve said it, I guarantee you I’m going to hear it at my next wedding reception in August (because I’m going to request it!)
Ray J
”Everything You Want” 1997, #83 (6 weeks) (download)
I really like this tune from the debut of Brandy’s brother. But who cares — the dude had sex with Kim Kardashian on camera. Hi-fives all around.
Rayvon
”No Guns, No Murder” 1994, #94 (4 weeks) (download)
Watcha me-a not-a talk about-a Reggae artist-a Rayvon and-a move on-a ta da next song-a.
Reality
”Yolanda” 1993, #72 (10 weeks) (download)
”Yolanda” never made it to Phila, I’m sure of it. No, wait — I’m not sure but I’ve never heard this one before. From what I’ve read, this was huge in Chicago where the duo behind the group were from. The two dudes; Bad Boy Bill and Essential Rudolph. Yes, the dude named himself Essential Rudolph. From this point forward I expect to be called Indispensible Steed.
Real McCoy
”Automatic Lover (Call For Love)” 1995, #52 (19 weeks) (download)
I’m pretty sure I could listen to Real McCoy all day long. Though, since ”Automatic Lover” sounded just like every other Real McCoy maybe it would get tiring. The Another Night album has survived many a collection purge over the years so maybe I’ll have to try it.
Rebekah
”Sin So Well” 1998, #80 (6 weeks) (download)
Rebekah’s Remember To Breathe record always sticks in my mind for the way it crept up on DJ’s at my college station, WTSR. We had a pretty strict college alternative format and as music director at the time, I put the record in heavy rotation to see what it would do. Initially it didn’t get played much since people thought it was a straight R&B record. But the record was a great mix of R&B, pop and alternative that made it a pretty unique disc. DJ’s picked up on it from this single and soon spun the hell out of it making it one of those, don’t judge a book by its cover moments.
The Rebel Pebbles
”Dream Lover” 1991, #42 (10 weeks) (download)
Let’s just get past the ridiculous moniker for a second. Although ”Dream Lover” isn’t a bad song at all, it’s got not one ounce of uniqueness to it, trying to capture the void left by the Bangles with a Christina Amphlett sound-alike behind the mic.
Redhead Kingpin and the FBI
”3-2-1 Pump” 1992, #52 (15 weeks) (download)
If you had mentioned the name Redhead Kingpin to me, I think I would have told you they were a ska band — the name just has that vibe. But Redhead Kingpin was a New Jersey rapper named David Guppy who absolutely ruined the great funkiness of EW+F’s ”Let’s Groove” on this track.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
”Give It Away” 1991, #73 (15 weeks) (download)
Although I was familiar with the Chili Peppers before this, it wasn’t until Blood Sugar Sex Magik came out that really started liking them. For me, their first three records are unlistenable and even Mother’s Milk isn’t that great. But BSSM sounded like no other record in 1991 and really is still quite unique if you listen to it today. Even more amazing is that it has 17 tracks on it and it’s still a front to back masterpiece. The fact that it’s so good makes the follow up — One Hot Minute — even that much less enjoyable.
Redman
”Can’t Wait” 1995, #94 (4 weeks) (download)
”Funkorama” 1996, #81 (4 weeks) (download)
”It’s Like That (My Big Brother)” 1996, #95 (2 weeks) (download)
”Whateva Man” 1997, #42 (15 weeks) (download)
Redman is a damn good rapper and a damn fine comedic actor when paired with Method Man. Acting wise, I think they need each other as a team. Musically, Red & Meth stand on their own but their collaborations are a ton of fun. None of those are here though but “It’s Like That” and “Whateva Man” are fun songs too.
Reel Tight
”(Do You) Wanna Ride” 1998, #80 (1 week) (download)
Warren G signed these guys to G-Funk, they released one album and two singles then faded away into oblivion.
Reel 2 Real
”I Like To Move It” 1994, #89 (6 weeks) (download)
Whaaaaaaaaa? ”I Like To Move It” only hit #89? That’s amazing considering the chorus has been used 10,000 times since this point.
Reiss
”Boom Bye Yae” 1998, #90 (2 weeks) (download)
Whaaaaaaaa? We go from one of the most well known songs of the decade to what is probably one of the least. I don’t know a thing about Reiss, this song or who female singer Michie Mee is.
Rell
”Love For Free” 1998, #86 (3 weeks) (download)
First clue your song sucks… Jay-Z raps on it and it only goes to #86.
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