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We quite often hear of UK bands (and for that matter comedians) not being able to 'crack' America, but I was having a discussion about whether there are any bands who were/are BIG in America but who are almost unheard of here, or who never sold any records here. Does EVERYTHING that's big there make it over here?
We had no good suggestions. Do you?
(p.s. To answer my own question, I guess there are some huge mainstream right-wing country artists who are largely ignored here. But in rock and pop?
[Post edited 14 Nov 2022 16:03]
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USA music question on 16:03 - Nov 14 with 2762 views
I guess the main thing is Country and Western Music which is insanely big in the South and doesn't make it over here at all
Someone like the Dixie Chicks who had albums in back to back years that sold well over 10 million copies each but barely cracked 100k here
EDIT - Had a further look and Hootie and the Blowfish went 21x Platinum there (21 million copies sold) and just 100k in UK with Cracked Rear View
As suspected Dixie Chicks well up there, Shania Twain maybe the only country artist who cracked it both sides of the pond with Come on over which went 20x Platinum (20 million) in US and 10x (3.5 million) Platinum in UK
Even more so than the Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks has 8 albums that have gone at least 10xPlatinum in the US, and never had 1 go platinum in the UK
I guess the main thing is Country and Western Music which is insanely big in the South and doesn't make it over here at all
Someone like the Dixie Chicks who had albums in back to back years that sold well over 10 million copies each but barely cracked 100k here
EDIT - Had a further look and Hootie and the Blowfish went 21x Platinum there (21 million copies sold) and just 100k in UK with Cracked Rear View
As suspected Dixie Chicks well up there, Shania Twain maybe the only country artist who cracked it both sides of the pond with Come on over which went 20x Platinum (20 million) in US and 10x (3.5 million) Platinum in UK
Even more so than the Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks has 8 albums that have gone at least 10xPlatinum in the US, and never had 1 go platinum in the UK
Going back to the late 90s, Bush (who are British) were massive in the USA but struggled badly over here.
A week after they played in 20k plus arenas for some tour over there they played in a pub in Camden - their second album did ok with a couple top ten singles but they were never anywhere near as popular over here as to what they were over there.
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USA music question on 17:18 - Nov 14 with 2573 views
Talking about not being able to crack the US, I was at an American summer camp in 1979, and a British friend was sent a tape of Stiff Little Finger's Inflammable Material which was about as punk an album as you could get. So even though the US, with the New Yorks Dolls and especially the Ramones, had invented punk rock, it had never really ventured outside Manhattan. As a result, our fellow American counsellors were completely shocked and disgusted at it, while we were excited by its rawness.
[Post edited 14 Nov 2022 17:19]
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USA music question on 17:21 - Nov 14 with 2563 views
USA music question on 17:28 - Nov 14 by GlasgowBlue
And Grand Funk Railroad. Massive in the US in their time.
When the British Invasion waned US did their own thing and a lot of US bands failed to make it in UK, Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears, I'des of March, Association , Family Stone Buckinghams all spring to mind as being big in States but non- runners, or one hit wonders here..Have seen most of them live at Abbey Road on the River or on Flower Power Cruise.
The most disappointed group we saw were Lovin Spoonful, just one of original member who although a non singing drummer back in the day was front man. Have however seen John Sebastian, as a solo performer, and he was amazing as were THe Cowsills. Not been back to States since 2019 doubt if will make it again as the flight is too much for the wife.
USA music question on 17:09 - Nov 14 by MattinLondon
Going back to the late 90s, Bush (who are British) were massive in the USA but struggled badly over here.
A week after they played in 20k plus arenas for some tour over there they played in a pub in Camden - their second album did ok with a couple top ten singles but they were never anywhere near as popular over here as to what they were over there.
The bass player in Bush was also in Transvision Vamp
I went travelling around the Deep South in September and found this noticeable both ways. I was going into live music bars that took requests and they didn't know any Oasis or Robbie Williams and barely knew much about Ed Sheeran bizarrely.
Travelling around Alabama and Tennessee (Nashville in particular) there was obviously a huge country music following - it completely dominates all other genres. Eric Church and the Zac Brown Band are particularly popular and Garth Brooks as mentioned.
One I've probably got into most is Luke Bryan - insanely popular out there and has some proper country bangers. I imagine a lot of Americans have made love to 'Strip it down' by Luke Bryan.
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USA music question on 18:46 - Nov 14 with 2369 views
The bass player in Bush was also in Transvision Vamp
I didn’t realise that - I had no idea that they are still going. Just had a quick check on wiki - one of their latter albums peaked at number 18 in the US (very respectable) whereas it only made number 200 over here. Quite strange really.
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USA music question on 19:07 - Nov 14 with 2324 views
I went travelling around the Deep South in September and found this noticeable both ways. I was going into live music bars that took requests and they didn't know any Oasis or Robbie Williams and barely knew much about Ed Sheeran bizarrely.
Travelling around Alabama and Tennessee (Nashville in particular) there was obviously a huge country music following - it completely dominates all other genres. Eric Church and the Zac Brown Band are particularly popular and Garth Brooks as mentioned.
One I've probably got into most is Luke Bryan - insanely popular out there and has some proper country bangers. I imagine a lot of Americans have made love to 'Strip it down' by Luke Bryan.
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