Mind The (Self-Imposed) Gap –

Generally, I am the type of person that loves finding an artist’s work and delving into their catalog.

However, although there are many wonderful songs over the years that should have prompted a deeper dive…

I never sought out another song by that artist.

There are reasons for this:

1:

• I was lazy.

2.

• I suspected that this was the one great song by this particular artist, and if I heard more by them, I would be disappointed and maybe even love their great song less.

3.

• I did not have access to another song by the artist in the wild.

Mind you, I am An Old. So this made more sense pre-Napster/streaming, and I really don’t have an excuse anymore (see #1).

I’m not sure if this is just a “me” thing, so let’s see what y’all think. I have grouped some great songs into two categories. But first…

Honorable Mentions:

o “When Your Heart Is Weak” – Cock Robin (it took me 20+ years to hear a second song – turns out, the band has a female singer, too!  She’s great!)
o “She’s A Beauty” – The Tubes (though I know and love “Dancin'” from the Xanadu soundtrack)
o “Close The Door” – Teddy Pendergrass (I have heard several Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes songs)
o “Hey Ya!” – Outkast (it took me 20+ years before I heard (and loved) “Bombs Over Baghdad”)
o “Love Train” – The O’Jays (it took me 20+ years before I heard “Backstabbers,” which is a 10.)

With that out of the way…

Let’s start with the first category:

THE SONG RULES, AND I BET THE ARTIST HAS SEVERAL OTHER BANGERS, BUT I NEVER INVESTIGATED FURTHER FOR SOME REASON:

o “I’m Not In Love” – 10cc
o “Werewolves Of London” – Warren Zevon
o “Marquee Moon” – Television
o “Shotgun Down The Avalanche” – Shawn Colvin
o “Charles” – Scrawl
o “Come On Eileen” – Save Ferris
o “Love Song” – Sara Bareilles
o “Killing Me Softly” – Roberta Flack
o “Selling Jesus” – Skunk Anasie 
o “Free” – Phish
o “Ace Of Spades” – Motorhead
o “All My Friends” – LCD Soundsystem
o “My Sharona” – The Knack
o “Universal Heart Beat” – Juliana Hatfield
o “Life’s Been Good” – Joe Walsh
o “No Promises” – Icehouse
o “Son Of A Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield
o “Punk Rock Girl” – Dead Milkmen

… And the second:

THE SONG RULES, BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE ARTIST HAS NO OTHER SONGS ANYWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AND THAT WILL MAKE ME SAD

o “Teenage Dirtbag” – Wheatus
o “Smooth Criminal” – Alien Ant Farm
o “Nellie The Elephant” – The Toy Dolls
o “Genius Of Love” – Tom Tom Club
o “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man
o “Million Miles Away” – The Plimsouls
o “I’ll Melt With You” – Modern English
o “Here It Goes Again” – OK Go
o “Respectable” – Mel & Kim
o “Up On The Sun” – Meat Puppets
o “The City Sleeps” – MC 900 Ft. Jesus
o “King Without A Crown” – Matisyahu
o “I Predict A Riot” – Kaiser Chiefs
o “And We Danced” – The Hooters
o “Feel The Pain” – Dinosaur Jr.
o “Groove Is In The Heart – Dee Lite

Anyone else have these self-imposed gaps?

Any artists listed here that I’m an idiot for not listening to more of?

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