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

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

How Soon is Now is probably one of the best known and loved Smiths singles (and probably most recognisable to non-fans) but only ever made no. 24.

And There is a Light that Never Goes Out was never a proper single (was released in 1992 though, presumably as some kind of greatest hits tie-in.

In fact only one of their singles even made the top 10