There's also artists who have long careers but never have a hit. The Boss comes to mind. Born To Run was NOT a hit and even the record company was thinking of dropping him cause it was his 3rd record, no hits.

They say he was afraid of being labeled by one hit, and avoided putting hit songs out! He gave hits away to other artists cause he didnt want to release them himself. Id say his career choice worked for him.
Manfred Mann turned Blinded By The Light into a hit, When he released his version he probably thought it was a filler song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iaca30QbOo, compared to the hit version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpq35wyDi7I

He gave away hits like Because The Night to Patty Smith, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OjW1TDANxk
Gave away fire To The Pointer Sisters, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9S5EZgIJck
Protection to Donna Summer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBzoIJdPiZI

His first hit was Hungry Heart, and he almost gave that to the Ramones, Ramones said Bruce you write songs, write us one! But his manager said, not this time your keeping this one, was his first hit. He doesnt have many even top ten hits maybe a couple

Last edited by Fdemetrio; 12/14/19 10:34 AM.