In 1965 both the Moody Blues (Denny Laine) and the Guess Who (Chad Allan) were one hit wonders in America. We all know what happened when both regrouped with different singers.
I suddenly thought of The Moody Blues before I read your article. All five original members are now dead. But Justin Hayward and John Lodge who replaced Denny Laine and Clint Warwick in time for the group's breakthrough, and therefore completing what was to be the group's classic lineup are still with us. In the UK, the original lineup were almost one hit wonders, but had a few smaller follow-up UK hits, but nothing for them to get excited about. Denny Laine then had an unsuccessful solo career, but during that time recorded the original version of Say You Don't Mind (which you may know better by Colin Blunstone), and then during the early seventies became a member of Paul McCartney's group Wings. Clint Warwick joined up with this Where Are They Now brigade, but in fact left the music world and took day jobs, until his death around 2004 or 2005.
Fairport Convention brought in Sandy Denny as a replacement lead vocalist in 1968 encouraged by their producer and it encouraged the band to bring in their own compositions for their classic album Unhalfbricking'. Sandy brought 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' and Richard Thompson 'Genesis Hall'. Sure not a big seller but it set the gold standard in British Folk Rock.
I give an honorable mention in this category to Steely Dan. David Palmer sang lead and backing vocals on a few tracks on the debut album, Can't Buy A Thrill, most notably the song Dirty Work, which got a lot of FM airplay. Palmer was also the frontman in some of the TV performances that survive from that era. He was pretty much out of the picture after CBAT, with Donald Fagen becoming the main vocalist. Of course CBAT was a big hit, but Steely Dan rose to even higher commercial heights with later releases.
I love your topics. They are so original and fun. Yardbirds was kind of a cheat, so along those same lines, I would say Sabbath with Dio. Iron Maiden after Paul Dianno. Journey after the Santana years vs the Steve Perry... Deep Purple... Thanks for the great vid!
They never got big, but Fairport Convention's biggest albums were the ones after Sandy Denny replaced Judy Dyble. Fitting, as they were initially kind of seen as the UK's Jefferson Airplane
Another excellent topic ! Can’t think of anything to add but 2 of the ones you mentioned are among my favorite transitions in terms of success, that being Genesis and Fleetwood Mac. Although I’m a big fan of both Gabriel and Green, I think it’s very impressive how those bands excelled under their replacements, and that they both occurred around the same time, ‘75 and’ 76. Many people Ive known never liked Phil Collins or Stevie Nicks but honestly, I don’t have any issues with them because of the quality of music they released on their first 2 albums from their respective groups. I always thought Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering were both exceptional pieces of work and should have been every bit as successful as the Fleetwood releases of that same time period. But to keep me from typing up a book, I understand the reasonings behind it. It’s just rock and roll 😀.
Fantastic idea for a new video here. I love Peter Gabriel Genesis as well as Phil Collins Genesis. I didn’t recall Trick of the Tail was the official switch release. I definitely learned a few things from this video.
The Young brothers of AC/DC were from Scotland, but moved to Australia. Although I am no expert on them, Bon Scott and Phil Rudd were the only Australian member of the group's first known lineup. The other three were from the UK. The Young brothers' older brother George Young was in a sixties band The Easybeats, best known for the 1966 hit Friday On My Mind, but of whom three were British, and the remaining two were Dutch. Brian Johnston who replaced Bon Scott in AC/DC was from Newcastle, and originally lead singer of British Glam Rock band, Geordie who had mild success in the UK around 1973.
You are the only one who has mentioned the JA - X vocal stylings connection! I’ve always wondered if Exene & John consciously share that assessment? It’s so obvious to me but other people think I’m crazy.
I was at a record store back in late 1980 and the clerk was playing the Los Angeles album from X. My first thought immediately was that the vocals reminded me of JA and I picked up the album on the spot.
The Guess Who. They originally were Chad Allan’s band and a one hit wonder until keyboardist Burton Cummings took over and they pushed their way back on the charts and into superstar status. I know you don’t like the later Chicago, but their biggest time as a popular hit making band skyrocketed after Peter Cetera quit and Jason Sheff replaced him and then Bill Champlin fronted them after mainly being a back up singer now having enormous #1 hits. Some of that is pretty good. Especially check out Champlin fronting them in 1990’s “Hearts In Trouble” from the film Days of Thunder. It is NOT a Cetera style soft rock ballad at all, but a slowly bluesy rock song. Also I know you don’t like Van Hagar, but you have to admit the band had huge hits in the late 80s and early 90s with Sammy and they won awards. If you’re going to do the Yard Birds to Led Zeppelin thing, then you have to also do the Andy Wood & Mother Love Bone to Eddie Vedder & Pear Jam thing too. I’d also contend that Audioslave is Rage Against the Machine now fronted by Chris Cornell.
Black Sabbath was basically done in the late 70's, when they replaced Ozzy with Dio. The Dio albums didn't eclipse the early 70's albums, but still, gave the band a huge resurgence.
Just a correction, Tom. Brian Johnson is from a band called Geordie pronounced JORDY. This is a nickname given to people from the north-east of England, around the Newcastle area. Geordie are not from Australia,they're from Newcastle. Great video though.
Journey and Iron Maiden really took off as well after Steve and Bruce came on board. All respect to Dickinson and I love his era but I actually preferred Paul Di'Anno. Nice job Capo!
Brian Johnson was AC/DC's third singer. They were going nowhere in Australia until Bon Scott, already a veteran of the Oz music scene came along and with his help they skyrocketed first in Australia before heading to the UK
One could argue that many of the bands mentioned lost some of their special attraction and originality when they chased after commercial success and their music often became blander. In my case I stopped buying Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, Blood Sweat & Tears, Small Faces and the Yardbirds albums when they changed direction with their new singers. I stuck with Pink Floyd a bit longer but eventually gave up buying any more of their albums after Animals. Maybe it is because my musical tastes tend to head in the opposite direction to those of the general public.
I totally agree with your assessment. In most cases bands do become blander when they chase after commercial success. Genesis is a prime example here. Never liked the Collins era, except for Trick Of The Tail.
Correction here, Genesis did not first play in the U.S. on the Selling England By The Pound tour, they first played the U.S. on the Foxtrot tour, playing in both NYC and Boston and then they came back on a second leg of that tour in 1973 to do a more extensive tour of the U.S. and Canada before going into to the studio in August of 1973 to record Selling England by The Pound which was released in October of 1973.
Bon Scotts singing was very strongly inspired by Alex Harvey's style from the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. This influence is completely missing in his successor's style.
I only like Journey's first album. I know commercially they took off after getting a new lead singer. . .but I can't stand that version of the band. All the ones you listed I really like.
Hmm. Have I got anything? Maybe not... the bands I can think of that replaced singers usually got worse, at least, in my estimation. The Flamin' Groovies? When Roy Loney quit the band and was replaced by Chris Wilson, the singing got technically better, and they got a little more success with Shake Some Action, but they changed in direction and it felt like the heart of the band was gone. I don't blame you for not tackling the unholy mess that was The Drifters, from original lead singer Clyde McPhatter to Ben E. King to heaven-knows-who -- they ALL had hits. Bands with two or more voices singing lead have so much more going for them from the start, like your Jefferson Airplane/X examples. Flipper was like that, and Television when Richard Hell was still in it. There's another post for you. I never liked Al Kooper as a singer. He was in Electric Flag, too, and their vocals sucked. Distinctive keyboard player, mercurial producer, OK. The problem is, I didn't like David Clayton Thomas, either -- that big, brash, booming voice, like Nick Gravenitas. Can't argue with success, I guess. Maybe I'll think of something later.
Yeah, Management owns The Drifters, which is why there is still a version touring today. But they stopped having any hits in the 1970's, even relocating to the UK, where their popularity continued longer than in America.
Scott Morgan of the Rationals was asked to join BS&T as a replacement singer but Scott declined the offer because he didn't want to ditch the Rationals. Interesting.
@@tomrobinson5776 They sold more with Hagar! It was like The Doobie Brothers. I liked the first guy over McDonald and Roth over Hagar but the 2nd rendition did better....not by much! 1984 back to Van Halen were classics! Bonn Scott was awesome as is Johnstone. It's all a matter of taste but the successes cannot be denied. Cheers!
