So far this week I’ve covered artists who came just short of a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 without quite reaching the milestone.
Today’s band never even got close. Their highest ranking song on the chart peaked at #23 and they’ve had only two other titles in the top 40. But I’m including them because they managed that while releasing the second highest-selling album in music history.
Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded for a little less than four years but managed to generate a boatload of hits in that time. They released seven Gold or Platinum albums during that span, and put 11 songs in the Top 20 of Billboard’s Hot 100.
But the classic rock band did not manage to score a #1 hit. Instead, they are the ultimate bridesmaids, with five different singles (and seven songs) hitting #2 — a frustrating record.
On the strength of a few albums in the mid-90s and early 00s, Shania Twain became the top-selling female country artist of all time, a title she holds to this day.
Her 1997 album Come On Over received a rare double-Diamond designation and remained on the Billboard 200 for more than a year while topping the country chart for 50 weeks. It was a crossover blockbuster, with pop country songs everybody knew by heart and memorable music videos showcasing Twain’s pin-up appeal.
Backstreet Boys are the most successful boy band of all time, having sold more than 100 million albums worldwide since their 1996 debut. They are one of just a few acts in history to have released multiple Diamond albums.
They have received nine Grammy nominations and embarked on several record-breaking world tours.
What Backstreet Boys haven’t done, however, is put a song atop the Billboard Hot 100.
The revelation in yesterday’s post that Bruce Springsteen has never had a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 got me wondering how many other major artists are in the same boat.
Turns out it’s quite an extensive and surprising list, long enough for me to dedicate the next three weeks to the topic.
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