Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists Heartbreak Beat - Psychedelic Furs Eternal Flame - The Bangles Why Can't I? - Liz Phair Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3682#msg-3682 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:23:12 -0500 Phorum 5.2.23 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4024#msg-4024 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4024#msg-4024 madisdadi Trouser Press Tue, 07 Feb 2006 13:13:58 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4005#msg-4005 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4005#msg-4005

Many popular songs, including the ones I mentioned have an anthemic hook, which propels them into mainstream popularity. (or at least attempts to) They are formula and and sometimes musically unchallenging. Like Kyle Minouge sings, "Just Can't getcha out of my head" Not always a bad thing, but if you follow a bands career and realize that a song is going after $$$ wheather it has artistic merit or not is still a sell out of sorts. I think a lot of the bands who have had break through mainstream hits in this discussion have contributed something musically significant. We all recognize and respect this, which is why it's difficult to hear them do something pedestrian. There are always those unintentional fluke hits the world takes into thier hearts for whatever reason as well. Keep listening. ;~)



Post Edited (02-06-06 07:26)]]> xhead Trouser Press Mon, 06 Feb 2006 08:25:40 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4004#msg-4004 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4004#msg-4004 rhettlawrence Trouser Press Mon, 06 Feb 2006 03:11:50 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4001#msg-4001 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,4001#msg-4001
]]> Manila Syndicate Trouser Press Sun, 05 Feb 2006 23:17:23 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3997#msg-3997 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3997#msg-3997
Quote

U2's "With or Without You" and R.E.M.'S "The One I Love" are two good examples.
...of changing their sound
Just would like to point out the abrupt change in style REM managed in guitar/vocals to get that hit. Perfect example of... sell-out (from plectrum jangle-pop to power chords; from mumbled obscurities to sense - true, the joke was on the listener but also calculated)
U2's Josh Tree is so far from "Three", "Boy", or even "War", I don't even know where to start.
REM and U2 are probably just bad examples of the subject since they're both muti-massive sellers and have been in the mainstream for so long.
But I just won't have it.
Now watch this board typify. I will take them blame on this one.]]> Paganizer Trouser Press Sun, 05 Feb 2006 20:05:31 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3992#msg-3992 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3992#msg-3992
With "sell-out" songs it boils down to the intent of the artist in creating it. If the artist copied a formula in writing the track to have a hit and didn't write it from an honest, artistic base, then that definitely is a sell-out as we know it. But if a musician or group happen to come up with a great song that appeals to a wider audience, no fault should be laid on the songwriter's door. U2's "With or Without You" and R.E.M.'S "The One I Love" are two good examples. Massively popular which broke the respective groups to a worldwide audience, one cannot accuse those bands and the songs of being sell-outs as the tracks are among the best in terms of quality and relevance. And there's no doubt that the group's did not have a hit in mind when writing and recording those songs.

]]> Manila Syndicate Trouser Press Sun, 05 Feb 2006 17:07:10 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3964#msg-3964 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3964#msg-3964
X- "Burning House Of Love"

Divinyls- "When I think About You I Touch Myself"

David Bowie- "Let's Dance"

Joan Jet- "I Love Rock and Roll"

I agree, "Heart of Glass" was definatley a natural progression for Blondie. Always experimenting with different pop/rock gernes, Blondie's disco take on heart of glass was one that worked for the band.]]> xhead Trouser Press Sat, 04 Feb 2006 03:52:37 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3943#msg-3943 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3943#msg-3943 blasmo Trouser Press Fri, 03 Feb 2006 17:15:25 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3885#msg-3885 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3885#msg-3885 Had to be physically held back from clocking Micheal Des Barres between the horns for his vapid Paul Rogerisms, and I used to love the guy in Silverhead and Detective.
Damn talk about missed opportunities!]]> madisdadi Trouser Press Thu, 02 Feb 2006 13:13:31 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3847#msg-3847 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3847#msg-3847
Lips like sugar -Echo & the Bunnymen
Original (W)rapper - Lou Reed

any new wave or hard rock group that put broadway choreography in their 80's videos

Great singles by never cared anyways

Cruel Summer -Bananarama
Ray of Light -Madonna]]> James K Trouser Press Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:09:01 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3846#msg-3846 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3846#msg-3846 rhettlawrence Trouser Press Tue, 31 Jan 2006 14:28:06 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3839#msg-3839 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3839#msg-3839
And he was a very underrated drummer himself.]]> SplitGuy Trouser Press Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:35:55 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3822#msg-3822 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3822#msg-3822
Jaki Liebezeit is number one.]]> breno Trouser Press Sat, 28 Jan 2006 11:17:06 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3817#msg-3817 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3817#msg-3817
BRONCOES in '07!]]> STEVE Trouser Press Sat, 28 Jan 2006 04:02:20 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3797#msg-3797 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3797#msg-3797 ira Trouser Press Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:00:06 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3793#msg-3793 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3793#msg-3793 www.wfmu.org]

luv the cookies!


maybe we'll hear an 8 track of IR/Weiss demos on TP DJ night

that'll get steve up from FLA]]> michael baker Trouser Press Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:22:10 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3792#msg-3792 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3792#msg-3792
[www.blondie.net]


(Incidentally, there's a great Fast compilation everyone should own.)

And just to correct the historical record, Jimmy was a member of Knickers, which was actually founded by Jim Green and singer Steve Gallow. I joined them and Jim bowed out in favor of, as it happened, Jay Weiss, who had been in Milk and Cookies. We got Jimmy in the band thanks to Miki Zone of the Fast, who recommended him to us. Then he went and joined Blondie!

Incidentally, i got an email from a guy at WFMU yesterday who's posting some old Milk n Cookies stuff on their website.]]> ira Trouser Press Thu, 26 Jan 2006 09:53:43 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3786#msg-3786 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3786#msg-3786 Hence, Heart of Glass = intentional, non sell-out, imo.]]> Paganizer Trouser Press Wed, 25 Jan 2006 17:00:06 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3785#msg-3785 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3785#msg-3785
Mother's btw had as many good bands as CBs did. Shit , at the end of'75/'76I saw Talking heads, Ramones, Wayne (not yet Jayne) County, Mink DeVille, Thee Heartbreeeeakers, Tuff darts (with Robert Gordon) and ,as I try to remember through the fried nuerons, I think I saw a band called the knickers which was Destri's old band featuring Ira ( not the yo lo tengo guy) Robbins open for the Boyz or Dodger or one of those. Could be wrong though.]]> madisdadi Trouser Press Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:59:25 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3777#msg-3777 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3777#msg-3777
I was a late-comer to Blondie. I didn't know anything about them before *Parallel Lines*. My brother bought that album, and we saw Blondie on tour that year -- in fact, he saw them four shows in a row on that tour -- and I remember thinking, "Why do most of my friends listen to crap, when they could be listening to music by a group this talented and this cool?"

As I learned more about the band (mostly in the more mainstream rock mags of the day -- having not yet found a copy of *Trouser Press*), I got the impression that "Heart of Glass" was a sell-out move by a once edgy band. When I picked up their first two albums, though, "Heart of Glass" made more sense as part of their overall creative growth. It seemed less a sell-out than an attempt at something different, by a band that always had been willing to add new sounds and styles to its bag of tricks.

Sure, some artists do go out of their way to reach the big massive audience. Quite often, though, a sell-out is in the eye of the beholder. Gina Arnold put it thus: "It happens whenever a band's fan base expands to include more people than you're likely to ever be able to meet."]]> Delvin Trouser Press Tue, 24 Jan 2006 14:23:55 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3776#msg-3776 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3776#msg-3776 I remember seeing them play it and thought "someday this will be their biggest hit, take them right out of the punk scene and into the mainstram"]]> madisdadi Trouser Press Tue, 24 Jan 2006 11:59:20 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3766#msg-3766 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3766#msg-3766 Delvin Trouser Press Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:56:57 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3756#msg-3756 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3756#msg-3756 It's a nice-looking sculpture, but it's a sell-out.
You used to sculpt a piece that only I could understand.
You obviously molded this piece, not for the culturally elite, but for the obsequious masses who want to ogle, not for enlightenment, but for fleeting and precariously vicarious entertainment lacking emotional investment.
Now I have to share you with the mediocrity-based tastes of mid-America (slash England slash Australia) instead of with a few like-minded individuals and that makes me disillusioned with your intentions; particularly the intention-set I had ascribed for you.
Because the sculpture uses form and lines already proven to attract the casual viewer, I know you prescribed a formula with the intent of increasing monetary income. This is mutually exclusive of design for purely artistic reasons; previously the reason you attracted a fan base.
Or, from a Pagan standpoint, you fucked-over the muse and now you must pay.



Post Edited (01-21-06 17:30)]]> Paganizer Trouser Press Sat, 21 Jan 2006 16:58:37 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3749#msg-3749 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3749#msg-3749
The band (individual) was peaking when they weren't or were high.

I like pop music and i think everyone should like it too.

Just imagine, all of us born to write the greatest pop song ever.

You'll be rich and famous too. I only dream that you would write my song too.]]> STEVE Trouser Press Sat, 21 Jan 2006 04:45:57 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3746#msg-3746 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3746#msg-3746 josefina Trouser Press Fri, 20 Jan 2006 21:27:16 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3741#msg-3741 Re: Biggest Clash Singles by Worthwhile Clash (til Clash point) Clash https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3741#msg-3741
Rock the Casbah. Disco. As in, the anti-punk (voice turns deep and echoes). To fans of the band it was the worst digression imaginable (and somehow worse than previous dance excursions). Granted, digressions are almost the point in Clash-world, but this had the "now let's make money" stamp. It was the song that imploded the band because Strummer hated it, Jones liked it (his production) but quickly regretted it and would take BAD in a different direction (danceable but not inherently disco). It had to do with an indirect manifesto that was vague but yet a pact between the band and its fans and is better historically reviewed via British Press of the time. But the construction of the song is interesting, indeed, and there are fascinating components. The song started as a piano rag by Topper. That piano rag is obvious on the original vinyl LP but was mixed low for the single release. However, CD releases use the single mix!
Before one thinks "Rancid copied the Clash but stopped at Combat Rock", check out The Transplants 'Diamonds and Guns'. It features members of Rancid and the base of the song is a piano rag which mimics the line from the original version (and is a fun LP).
Rock the Casbah was the intended hit attempt by the band, not Should I Stay, which was an Album-radio hit before the record company released it as a single. Rock the Casbah, as a single, charted on the top 40 in Dec 82/Jan 83 for 15 weeks, reaching #8. Should I Stay didn't have this success on the US charts (but was popular in bar soundtracks/jukeboxes/ads/movies/etc.). It reached the Top 40 in the UK more than a decade later (after the implosion) when it was featured in an ad for "trousers".
The "laser-gun" sounds are prominent on the single/CD version.
Arguably, Rock the Casbah wasn't the first Clash track to receive a 12" disco remix. Mustapha Dance was released 18/6/82. The Magnificent Seven was released as The Magnificent Dance and as a 7" special remix the previous year. This is Radio Clash was arguably disco and the EP included 3 remixes, however, the interest at the time was less dance floor and more "Teach the punks to rap and scratch"

I always liked the live versions of Should I Stay though not particularly the one on the official live LP. Check out the Shea Stadium version.

There are many Clash tracks that are still vinyl-only as well as great bootleg tracks.

]]> Paganizer Trouser Press Fri, 20 Jan 2006 17:27:49 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3739#msg-3739 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3739#msg-3739 josefina Trouser Press Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:58:25 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3735#msg-3735 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3735#msg-3735 nosepail Trouser Press Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:04:11 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3717#msg-3717 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3717#msg-3717
Blondie - Heart of Glass]]> breno Trouser Press Thu, 19 Jan 2006 21:16:58 -0600 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3712#msg-3712 Re: Biggest Sell-out Singles by Worthwhile (up til that point) Artists https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,3682,3712#msg-3712 Delvin Trouser Press Thu, 19 Jan 2006 17:31:44 -0600