Songs released at the wrong time

[Cartman]

A couple of songs have sprung to mind which I think were released at the wrong time, both ones I like

Firstly Thinking of you by Sister Sledge, which was a minor hit when it was released in 1984, but sounded a bit out of context then as it had that great 79 disco sound. It was actually recorded in 79 when they were working with Nile Rodgers and Chic. If it had been released in 1979 it would have been a huge hit.

The other one is Are you ready for love by Elton John, which was also a minor hit when it was released in 79, but it didn't have the New wave or disco sound prevalent then, I thought it had a kind of 1976 ish  sound and vibe to it and if it had been released in 76 it would have been big

[Nightfly]

Dec 12, 2023 22:25:21 GMT Cartman said:

The other one is Are you ready for love by Elton John, which was also a minor hit when it was released in 79, but it didn't have the New wave or disco sound prevalent then, I thought it had a kind of 1976 ish  sound and vibe to it and if it had been released in 76 it would have been big

I've thought the same thing about this track, Carty. Sounds like a summer 76 hit, even with a touch of Philadelphia soul era of 1974.

The one that sticks in my mind for a released too late category is The Steve Gibbons Band and their cover of Chuck Berry's "Tulane". I'm sure it would have bigger during the 1974 rock n roll revival, but was released right in the middle of the Punk explosion of 77.

EDIT:- just had a quick check. Steve got to number 12 with the song, so didn't do too badly. However, you never hear it played on the radio.

[Del Boy]

Dec 12, 2023 22:25:21 GMT Cartman said:

A couple of songs have sprung to mind which I think were released at the wrong time, both ones I like

Firstly Thinking of you by Sister Sledge, which was a minor hit when it was released in 1984, but sounded a bit out of context then as it had that great 79 disco sound. It was actually recorded in 79 when they were working with Nile Rodgers and Chic. If it had been released in 1979 it would have been a huge hit.

The other one is Are you ready for love by Elton John, which was also a minor hit when it was released in 79, but it didn't have the New wave or disco sound prevalent then, I thought it had a kind of 1976 ish  sound and vibe to it and if it had been released in 76 it would have been big

I thought this had been reworked for the 2003 release from a minor B-side or something. I wasn't aware it had been around in 1979. Having had a quick listen I can't tell if the released 79 version is different from below, .
It seems the original is indeed from 76 and backed by The Spinners. Apparently it hails from recording sessions Elton had with Philly based artists . 

[Cartman]

Dec 13, 2023 11:37:14 GMT Nightfly said:

Dec 12, 2023 22:25:21 GMT Cartman said:

The other one is Are you ready for love by Elton John, which was also a minor hit when it was released in 79, but it didn't have the New wave or disco sound prevalent then, I thought it had a kind of 1976 ish  sound and vibe to it and if it had been released in 76 it would have been big

I've thought the same thing about this track, Carty. Sounds like a summer 76 hit, even with a touch of Philadelphia soul era of 1974.

The one that sticks in my mind for a released too late category is The Steve Gibbons Band and their cover of Chuck Berry's "Tulane". I'm sure it would have bigger during the 1974 rock n roll revival, but was released right in the middle of the Punk explosion of 77.

EDIT:- just had a quick check. Steve got to number 12 with the song, so didn't do too badly. However, you never hear it played on the radio.

Love that Steve Gibbons cover of Tulane Night.

[Cartman]

Another great cover from the same, summer 77, period was I knew the bride by Dave Edmunds. Both this and Steve Gibbons version of Tulane were on one of my mix tapes

[Dirty Epic]

'Until the End of Time" by Electronic (Bernard Sumner & Johnny Marr) is one such track I can think of.

More of a pumping Dance track without any sense of the indie/alternative rock history both Sumner and Marr had in the past it was due to be the second single from the 'Raise the Pressure' album which was released at the height of Blur/Oasis Britpop mania in 1996 and although it's an album I like (yes I know) it was very much against the grain of those times - whether a good or a bad thing.

I think both they and their record company dithered on the release and it became a fan only item - which I do not have I'm afraid, and made only a modest bit of noise in late 1997 over a year after it was on Raise the Pressure.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Until_the_End_of_Time_(Electronic_song)

If like Electronic's earlier stuff this had have come out around 1991-93 it arguably could have been a much bigger hit and fitted in with those times. For me it's good a bit of different stuff or quirky stuff emerges out of step or out of it's time sometimes.