Some songs are so good, the idea of them not topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart seems absurd. Oddly enough, that’s exactly what happened to the following four legendary rock songs from 1973. Despite being so loved at the time, and still so loved today, each of these tunes narrowly missed the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100. Without further ado, let’s take a look at a handful of top-notch rock songs from 1973 that never made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!
“Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band debuted this beloved country rock classic back in 1973, and it remains their signature song to this very day. However, it just narrowly missed the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart after it was first released. Interestingly enough, the No. 1 spot above the No. 2 spot that “Ramblin’ Man” scored was “Half-Breed” by Cher, whom Gregg Allman would later marry.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Live And Let Die” by Wings
Paul McCartney kicked off his post-Beatles career with a bang, and the 1973 anthem James Bond tune “Live And Let Die” should have been a No. 1 hit. For some reason, it didn’t quite get there. After the song was released, it quickly became the most successful Bond theme song up to that point. And yet, it only made it to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, not reaching No. 1 wasn’t such a bad thing. “Live And Let Die” by Wings would later earn a Grammy nomination for Best Original Song. It was the first Bond theme to be nominated for such an honor.
“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” by Elton John
How about a little glam rock a la Elton John? “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” is still such a good song today. And back in 1973, it was so ahead of its time that one could call it proto-punk. Despite being such a beloved tune from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, this song only made it to No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart.
“Long Train Runnin’” by The Doobie Brothers
Remember this lovely boogie rock entry on our list of songs from 1973? “Long Train Runnin’” by The Doobie Brothers dropped that very year and was a quick Southern rock hit. The track peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100 chart, but I think it should have made it way higher.
Photo by Rino Petrosino / Mondadori Portfolio by Getty Images
Most Viewed
-
UNSPECIFIED – SEPTEMBER 01: Photo of Raspberries (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
LAS VEGAS – APRIL 06: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn perform "The Cowboy Rides Away' onstage during the 44th annual Academy Of Country Music Awards' Artist of the Decade held at the MGM Grand on April 6, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ACM2009/Getty Images for ACM) -
Huty23631 0001 -
UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 04: Photo of Emmylou Harris, December 4, 1979, California, North Hollywood, Palomino Club, Emmylou Harris. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
American singer, songwriter and pianist, Ray Charles (1930 – 2004) performing at the Olympia in Paris, France on May 18, 1962. (Photo by REPORTERS ASSOCIES/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) -
Paul Revere & The Raiders Perform American pop group Paul Revere & the Raiders perform in matching outfits, probably on a television studio set, mid 1960s. The band includes Mark Lindsay (third left) as the vocalist and Paul Revere (right) on keyboards. (Photo by Authenticated News/Getty Images) -
Joan Jett at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, March 28, 1982. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – APRIL 1975: Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd onstage at the Sports Arena in April 1975 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)