Bands whose big (if not only) hit was written by somebody else in the band besides the main songwriter

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...no doubt causing band tension and acrimony and deep soul-searching on part of main songwriter re exactly what their purpose in life was besides holding back the rest of the band. I'm sure this has been done already with a more wieldy thread title.

― dave q, Saturday, 22 May 2004 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"Take My Breath Away" by Berlin
"Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds (originally intended for Billy Idol)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 04:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh fuck....someone else in the band. Sorry, ignore my post.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 04:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"Beth" by Kiss. Presumably their biggest ever hit, written by drummer Peter Criss (with, doubtlessly, massive amounts of help from Bob Ezrin).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Clint Conley wrote probably the (2?) biggest songs by mission of burma, but most of their songs were not written by him.

― autovac (autovac), Saturday, 22 May 2004 04:30 (twenty-two years ago)

straitjacket fits "down in splendour" and "sparkle that shines" both written by brough not carter, even though carter wrote most of the songs

(calling these 'hits' is a stretch i realise)

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Saturday, 22 May 2004 04:32 (twenty-two years ago)

the straitjacket fits 'biggest' song (since they didnt have hits)is surely 'she speeds'. thats the one that most people remember.

― colin lengis, Saturday, 22 May 2004 06:41 (twenty-two years ago)

How about -- "Bands whose big (if not only) hits were SUNG (and written) by somebody else in the band besides the main SINGER"

I present - Blue Oyster Cult! the "big three" were all by Buck. Poor Eric, you really gotta feel for him.

― Broheems (diamond), Saturday, 22 May 2004 06:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought of BÖC the moment I saw this thread. Pixies: "Gigantic".

― prostpilso (nestmanso), Saturday, 22 May 2004 07:04 (twenty-two years ago)

the straitjacket fits 'biggest' song (since they didnt have hits)is surely 'she speeds'. thats the one that most people remember.

not in australia. "down in splendour" got the biggest push and sold the most here. i can't speak for anywhere else so maybe you're right.

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Saturday, 22 May 2004 07:13 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't "should i stay or should i go" (written by mick jones) the clash's biggest hit?

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 22 May 2004 07:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Way" by Fastball was written by the non-main songwriter in the band if I remember. A fine song, actually

― nickalick, Saturday, 22 May 2004 08:15 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't "should i stay or should i go" (written by mick jones) the clash's biggest hit?

Yeah, but Jones had written many of the Clash's songs to the point that it's not that surprising. That drummer Topper Headon wrote the music to "Rock the Casbah" is probably a closer fit here.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 08:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Mick (co-)wrote almost all the songs! Topper recorded everything except one guitar part and the vocal on Casbah, too.

Love - Alone Again Or.

― kit brash (kit brash), Saturday, 22 May 2004 08:45 (twenty-two years ago)

the doors - light my fire

― Toon (Skelter), Saturday, 22 May 2004 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

'Making Plans for Nigel' - XTC

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Saturday, 22 May 2004 10:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Colin Moulding wrote lots of XTC's bigger songs, tho'.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 10:05 (twenty-two years ago)

true but he's not the main songwriter so i reckon it counts

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Saturday, 22 May 2004 10:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Doors´ "Light My Fire" was actually written by Krieger & Manzarek. Of course, Manzarek wasn´t the main songwriter of the group but Krieger penned several hits later. Morrison wasn`t only one.

― Margus Kiis, estonian rock critic (Margus Kiis, estonian rock cri), Saturday, 22 May 2004 11:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Shamefully, the only reason I started this was as an excuse to mention Night Ranger but then I recalled that "Sentimental Street" charted almost as high as "Sister Christian" which still was better than all of Jack Blades' songs, imagine that, being out-written by a drummer. Well it was either this or 'TS: Night Ranger 'Interstate Love Affair' vs Stone Temple Pilots 'Interstate Love Song'' but this is better don't you think? Guess the quality of the radio stations in the area I'm currently incarcerated in. Hint #2, another band that fits original thread q: TROOPER

― dave q, Saturday, 22 May 2004 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

does jefferson whateverthefuck's "miracles" count here?

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 22 May 2004 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

The Undertones at least co-own this thread - "My Perfect Cousin" was their only top ten hit and was a Michael Bradley/Damian O'Neill song as opposed to being written by John O'Neill as per usual.

― darren (darren), Saturday, 22 May 2004 23:56 (twenty-two years ago)

And whilw we're at it, many say that Orange Juice's most enduring moment was "Felicity", a James Kirk composition rather than Edwyn Collins (though, ok, Rip It Up was the big chart hit)

― darren (darren), Saturday, 22 May 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

But Kim Deal didn't write "Gigantic." She just sang it, which is more like Ben Orr singing (but not writing) "Just What I Needed" or "Drive." I think Deal's only Pixies credit was "Silver."

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Sunday, 23 May 2004 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Did the Gin Blossoms kick out their main songwriter (the one who later killed himself) before New Miserable Experience came out or after?

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 23 May 2004 02:40 (twenty-two years ago)

slightly after. i think most of the touring for it was done without him

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Sunday, 23 May 2004 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

The Pogues's biggest American hit I think was "Tuesday Morning" written by Spider Stacy

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Sunday, 23 May 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" were songs that Grace Slick brought along from her previous band. And she wasn't the main songwriter in Jefferson Airplane, was she?

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 23 May 2004 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Marty Balin left because he wasn't getting the credit, despite it being -- to him anyway -- "his" band.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 23 May 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Colin Moulding wrote the first two hits of XTC, and a high percentage of his songs were singles, even though he'd only get one or two on per album.

TOTP2 had "Life begins at the Hop" repeated recently, with Col up front (singing and playing bass) and APartridge in the 'dark' at back alongside Dave Gregory. Bet that went down well...

― mark grout (mark grout), Sunday, 23 May 2004 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

If I'm not mistaken Cake's "The Distance" was not written by John McCrea, who otherwise more or less is Cake. And the guy who wrote it isn't in the band anymore... and I still don't knwo his name.

― no opinion, Monday, 24 May 2004 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

stretching the definition of hit a little, the best known track by the Lucksmiths ("T-shirt Weather") was written by Mark the bass guy (rather than Marty the guitar guy who writes probably more than three-quarters of their stuff)

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Colin Moulding wrote the first two hits of XTC, and a high percentage of his songs were singles, even though he'd only get one or two on per album.

Yep, in the face of Partridge writing 90% of the band's output. So XTC eminently qualifies as a band whose big (if not only) hit was written by somebody else in the band besides the main songwriter.

― You're the Wish You Are I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

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