2DualsNotEnough
Addicted Member
The recent threads about the British Invasion bands,and the Who Guess Who debate made me think of another favorite topic of mine:Artists who were primarily known as singles artists rather than album artists.
I have a few conditions Ive put on this subject,just my own long held opinions.I feel you have to start this in the 60's,since most artists before this lived and died by the single,and albums were usually just a way to package already released hits.The other is that,yeah,most of the Motown stable were singles artists,but were so by design mostly,since most of their audience listened to the top 40 AM stations,and an album was considered a big purchase.But several of these artists,when given a chance to stretch out with the longer LP format later on(Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder)made great records.Im talking in circles here,but Im gonna include the Motown guys on my list who didnt become LP artists.Sue me.
The one I expect the most heat for is Creedence Clearwater Revival.Yeah,they made terriffic LPs,but their main canvas was the single,and few artists of that era made such wonderful use of their 2 minutes 50 as CCR did.
Here is a partial list of my favorite singles artists:
The Hollies
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Sam and Dave
Bee Gees
The Supremes
Martha and the Vandellas
CCR
The Guess Who
Little River Band
Temptations
Four Tops
Jackson 5
Monkees
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Buzzcocks
Sex Pistols
Madonna
Rhianna
Elton John
I know Im forgetting a hundred great ones.Whats your list look like?
Jimmy
I have a few conditions Ive put on this subject,just my own long held opinions.I feel you have to start this in the 60's,since most artists before this lived and died by the single,and albums were usually just a way to package already released hits.The other is that,yeah,most of the Motown stable were singles artists,but were so by design mostly,since most of their audience listened to the top 40 AM stations,and an album was considered a big purchase.But several of these artists,when given a chance to stretch out with the longer LP format later on(Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder)made great records.Im talking in circles here,but Im gonna include the Motown guys on my list who didnt become LP artists.Sue me.
The one I expect the most heat for is Creedence Clearwater Revival.Yeah,they made terriffic LPs,but their main canvas was the single,and few artists of that era made such wonderful use of their 2 minutes 50 as CCR did.
Here is a partial list of my favorite singles artists:
The Hollies
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Sam and Dave
Bee Gees
The Supremes
Martha and the Vandellas
CCR
The Guess Who
Little River Band
Temptations
Four Tops
Jackson 5
Monkees
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Buzzcocks
Sex Pistols
Madonna
Rhianna
Elton John
I know Im forgetting a hundred great ones.Whats your list look like?
Jimmy
