Canon-forming and pop

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

On today's poll thread Cis raises the spectre (which may be a benign spectre, and may not be spectral at all) of a 'pop canon'.

I have a couple of questions which may or may not relate to it:

Are there any very well-known (and ideally well-loved) pop songs that weren't especially popular when first released?

Are there any very well-known and well-loved pop songs that have never actually been hit singles?

Comments

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Unfinished Sympathy was v. popular at the time! OK as a single it only got to #13, but Blue Lines sold truckloads in 1991 on the back of it.

I think "Stairway to Heaven"'s popularity grew over time (i.e. the peak of its popularity was probably in the mid/late 70s rather than in '71) and it stayed a strong contender in the all-time faves list throughout the 80s. However, since Led Zep never released singles in the UK, it's difficult to accurately judge the exact arc.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Also if this (http://www.virginradio.co.uk/music/charts/top_500/index.html) is anything to go by, "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls (which I've never heard, I think!). I know it was a massive airplay hit in the US, but it barely scraped into the Top 30 in the UK at the time, and I assume the Virgin Radio voters are mostly Brits.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

I think you might have hit the nail on the head there. And it's to do with US TV and films, I reckon. We all know 'Iris' because it was used in 'City of Angels' and by the same token, I believe Phantom Planet's 'California' falls into that category by being the theme from The O.C.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

...I thought 'Unfinished Sympathy' missed the top 20! 'You Oughta Know' by Alanis M did, and that also became a standard of sorts.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

also unfinished sympathy got shedloads of radio play, also video play, back when they actually showed promos on mtv...