Favorite "Lost (Hit) Songs"

"Why do hit songs become “lost" - songs you heard a lot at the time, but songs you don’t hear on broadcast radio now?" That's a question that Sean Ross, publisher of the essential newsletter RossOnRadio has been asking for over a year now.  Some hit songs no longer get played because they sounded bad back when they were hits and still sound bad today: "Billy Don't Be A Hero" and "I've Never Been To Me" are examples. But there are others that don't deserve to die, like Mel & Tim's "Starting All Over Again". Ross came up with a formula to track what songs are truly "Lost" as of 2021.  One note: Ross only tracks the plays from terrestrial radio stations.  So, no SiriusXM or other Internet Radio streams are counted.  If you are an AM/FM oldies station listener, you are most likely not going to hear "Ben" or the "Stars on 45 Medley" anytime soon.

Recently Ross asked his readers to send him 5 "Lost" songs that they like and here were the ones  I picked:

1. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Wait For Me

2. KLF/Tammy Wynette - Justified & Ancient

3. Joe Tex -I Gotcha

4. Mel & Tim - Starting All Over Again

5.Ray, Goodman & Brown - Special Lady

And here's the results of his survey:

Below are a list of "Lost Songs" that I like, taken from the Lost Songs 70-94 lists. I was surprised by how many of these I really liked, especially from the 70's.  But that's what happens when you grow up listening to AM Top 40 radio.

Alan Parsons Project - Time

Alice Cooper - I Never Cry

Alice Cooper - You and Me

Andy Gibb - Desire

Bangles - In Your Room

Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")

Billy Idol - To Be A Lover

Bob Seger - Shame On The Moon

Boz Scaggs - Jojo

Buckner & Garcia - Pac Man Fever

Charlie Dore - Pilot of the Airwaves

Cher - Dark Lady

Clarence Carter - Patches

Dan Fogelberg - Leader of the Band

Daryl Hall - Dreamtime

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Did It In A Minute

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Family Man

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Wait For Me

Dennis Coffey - Scorpio

Dirt Band - An American Dream 

Donny Osmond - Sweet and Innocent

Dr. Hook - Sexy Eyes

Elvis Presley - Way Down

Freda Payne - Bring the Boys Home

Gary U.S. Bonds - This Little Girl

George Michael - Monkey

George Michael - Praying for Time

Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn

Helen Reddy - I Don't Know How To Love Him

Herb Alpert - Diamonds

Hot Butter - Popcorn

Ike & Tina Turner - I Want To Take You Higher

Jackson 5 - Mama's Pearl

Jacksons - State of Shock

Jan Hammer - Miami Vice Theme

Janet Jackson - Because of Love

Janet Jackson - If

Jessi Colter -I'm Not Lisa

Jim Stafford - Spiders and Snakes

Joe Simon - Power of Love

Joe Tex - I Gotcha

Keith Carradine - I'm Easy

Kenny Rogers - I Don't Need You

KLF/Tammy Wynette - Justified & Ancient

Linda Ronstadt - How Do I Make You

Little River Band - Take It Easy On Me

Mariah Carey - Anytime You Need A Friend

Mel & Tim - Starting All Over Again

Melanie - Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) 

Michael Jackson - Ben

Michael Jackson - In The Closet

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

Neil Diamond - Love On The Rocks

O'Jays - Put Your Hands Together

Olivia Newton-John - Make A Move On Me

Osmonds - One Bad Apple

Partridge Family - Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted

Paul McCartney - No More Lonely Nights

Paul McCartney - Take It Away

P.M. Dawn - Looking Through Patient Eyes

Prince - Batdance

Ray, Goodman & Brown - Special Lady

Ray Parker Jr. - The Other Woman

Regina - Baby Love

Rhythm Heritage - Theme from "SWAT"

Rod Stewart - Passion

Roger Voudouris - Get Used To It

Samantha Fox - Naughty Girls

Sammy Davis Jr. - Candy Man

Shakespears Sister - Stay

Shalamar - Dead Giveaway

Shaun Cassidy - Hey Deanie

Stars On 45 - Stars On 45 Medley

Stevie Wonder - I Ain't Gonna Stand For It

Vangelis - Chariots of Fire