Does anyone know what chart positions Wendy & Lisa's releases got to?

I can only find out UK single positions (Waterfall #66 / Sideshow #49 / Are You My Baby #70 / Lolly Lolly #64/ Satisfaction #27/ Waterfall '89 #69/ Strung Out #44/ Rainbow Lake #70) but have no idea about Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Black chart (whatever it was called at the time!)

Imagine they charted better on R&B? Virgin in Europe I think promoted them more than Columbia in US but maybe that's a European perspective. Have no idea how the albums charted either?

http://www.billboard.com/artist/wendy-lisa/chart-history/5997#/artist/wendy-lisa/5997

[Edited 11/12/12 15:08pm]

yanowha said:

http://www.billboard.com/artist/wendy-lisa/chart-history/5997#/artist/wendy-lisa/5997

[Edited 11/12/12 15:08pm]

Thanks for that. I'm surprised they had so little chart sucess - would have thought Satisfaction especially would have been a US hit.

They weren't a very popular act. They got a tiny bit of airplay on MTV. The only video I recall BET playing was "Are You My Baby". It made it to the Video Soul top 20, it may have even gone top 10. I don't believe "Satisfacton" was released as a single in the US.

yanowha said:

They weren't a very popular act. They got a tiny bit of airplay on MTV. The only video I recall BET playing was "Are You My Baby". It made it to the Video Soul top 20, it may have even gone top 10. I don't believe "Satisfacton" was released as a single in the US.

That's a shame - they made some great music in that period, particularly on the Fruit At The Bottom album I think. I wonder what the issue was - lack of promotion? Falling in between 'black' and 'white' radio of the day? Their image?

bleekerstreet77 said:

yanowha said:

They weren't a very popular act. They got a tiny bit of airplay on MTV. The only video I recall BET playing was "Are You My Baby". It made it to the Video Soul top 20, it may have even gone top 10. I don't believe "Satisfacton" was released as a single in the US.

That's a shame - they made some great music in that period, particularly on the Fruit At The Bottom album I think. I wonder what the issue was - lack of promotion? Falling in between 'black' and 'white' radio of the day? Their image?

They didn't promote themselves as "sex symbols," they didn't use big-name producers and they didn't sound like Paula Abdul or Milli Vanilli. If Eroica had been released a few years later during the "Lilith Fair" era, I think it could have gotten more notice, especially on channels like VH1 at the time (though I strongly prefer Wendy and Lisa over the bland singer-songwriters that were in constant rotation on VH1 in the mid-90s).

I was in Germany - in AUG 1987 - and I always remember reading a paper how popular PRince was and Wendy and Lisa (posters in all the music stores etc) .

At one point - i remember a local paper having the top albums and Prince was #1 and Wendy and Lisa were #2...

It never translated to the states .... hell ... Germans are into David Hasselhoff ...

I think the only people that really followed Prince's proteges/former bandmates were die hards. Hell Prince's own popularity plummeted after Purple Rain. These people's music were not on the radio in Illinois where I lived, can't speak for the rest of the country. They didn't tour. The only place I saw most of their videos was on BET, with a limited audience. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to see them be popular, but it just didn't happen.

motherfunka said:

I think the only people that really followed Prince's proteges/former bandmates were die hards. Hell Prince's own popularity plummeted after Purple Rain. These people's music were not on the radio in Illinois where I lived, can't speak for the rest of the country. They didn't tour. The only place I saw most of their videos was on BET, with a limited audience. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to see them be popular, but it just didn't happen.

Not sure about their US touring schedule of the time, but they definately toured Europe more than once. I remember being gutted when I couldn't make their gig in London around 'Fruit At The Bottom' era. Generally I get the sense the promotion - especially in US - of their material was weak and radio support was limited. Not sure if its as simple as the fact they didn't sound like Paula Abdul... I don't think that was the only option - but I get the point!!

Thinking who the most successful lot from the "Prince camp" longterm are? Wendy & Lisa are now winning Emmys for their TV soundtrack work, Sheila worked with loads of people, Jimmy and Terry are an institution now - I reckon they've probably had their name on a few million more record sales than Mr P!!

bleekerstreet77 said:

motherfunka said:

I think the only people that really followed Prince's proteges/former bandmates were die hards. Hell Prince's own popularity plummeted after Purple Rain. These people's music were not on the radio in Illinois where I lived, can't speak for the rest of the country. They didn't tour. The only place I saw most of their videos was on BET, with a limited audience. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to see them be popular, but it just didn't happen.

Not sure about their US touring schedule of the time, but they definately toured Europe more than once. I remember being gutted when I couldn't make their gig in London around 'Fruit At The Bottom' era. Generally I get the sense the promotion - especially in US - of their material was weak and radio support was limited. Not sure if its as simple as the fact they didn't sound like Paula Abdul... I don't think that was the only option - but I get the point!!

Thinking who the most successful lot from the "Prince camp" longterm are? Wendy & Lisa are now winning Emmys for their TV soundtrack work, Sheila worked with loads of people, Jimmy and Terry are an institution now - I reckon they've probably had their name on a few million more record sales than Mr P!!

Working behind the scenes (writing, composing, producing, playing session dates, etc) gives an artist far more career longevity. And job security. Much smarter career path. No one rules the pop charts forever...Unless your name is Madonna.

Good point. Don't know how premeditated a career path it would be... for Wendy & Lisa I think the opportunity to score a movie (Dangerous Minds) came to them and then they were offered TV scores after that and then they became known for that. For Jam & Lewis yes they were on stage and doing promo with The Time, but when they left to write and produce other acts I imagine they just wanted more control over their careers. I think 'behind the scenes' is probably more to do with perception that the day to day working reality of a musician.. does that make sense?

afro75 said:

bleekerstreet77 said:

Not sure about their US touring schedule of the time, but they definately toured Europe more than once. I remember being gutted when I couldn't make their gig in London around 'Fruit At The Bottom' era. Generally I get the sense the promotion - especially in US - of their material was weak and radio support was limited. Not sure if its as simple as the fact they didn't sound like Paula Abdul... I don't think that was the only option - but I get the point!!

Thinking who the most successful lot from the "Prince camp" longterm are? Wendy & Lisa are now winning Emmys for their TV soundtrack work, Sheila worked with loads of people, Jimmy and Terry are an institution now - I reckon they've probably had their name on a few million more record sales than Mr P!!

Working behind the scenes (writing, composing, producing, playing session dates, etc) gives an artist far more career longevity. And job security. Much smarter career path. No one rules the pop charts forever...Unless your name is Madonna.

They had 3 top 10 hits in Holland and a few other hits.

I think their albums sold pretty well too.

And I think we were the only country they were popular

I totally get what you're saying. I guess what I was trying to say is that some folks measure a musical artist's success purely by the number hits on the charts. Pop chart stardom can be relatively short-lived, whereas the producers, writers, composers and session musicians have much more sustainable careers. And steadier paychecks.

bleekerstreet77 said:

Good point. Don't know how premeditated a career path it would be... for Wendy & Lisa I think the opportunity to score a movie (Dangerous Minds) came to them and then they were offered TV scores after that and then they became known for that. For Jam & Lewis yes they were on stage and doing promo with The Time, but when they left to write and produce other acts I imagine they just wanted more control over their careers. I think 'behind the scenes' is probably more to do with perception that the day to day working reality of a musician.. does that make sense?

afro75 said:

Working behind the scenes (writing, composing, producing, playing session dates, etc) gives an artist far more career longevity. And job security. Much smarter career path. No one rules the pop charts forever...Unless your name is Madonna.

When it was first released, the video for "Waterfall" got some decent airplay on MTV in the US (and I remember a sitdown interview the girls did with Mark Goodman, talking about the Revolution breakup, etc). No radio play.

The only Wendy and Lisa song I ever heard on the radio was "Are You My Baby?", and that was only on the "black" stations. The video got a lot of airplay on BET (and the girls performed on Soul Train), but thats it.

Around the time of "Eroica", I started to accept that the majority of American "music" fans just dont get it...then Sheryl Crow came out with "All I Wanna Do" and I wanted to throw up. I never understood why she was such a big deal and Wendy and Lisa were ignored. Promotion, promotion, promotion...I guess.

StonedImmaculate said:

When it was first released, the video for "Waterfall" got some decent airplay on MTV in the US (and I remember a sitdown interview the girls did with Mark Goodman, talking about the Revolution breakup, etc). No radio play.

The only Wendy and Lisa song I ever heard on the radio was "Are You My Baby?", and that was only on the "black" stations. The video got a lot of airplay on BET (and the girls performed on Soul Train), but thats it.

Around the time of "Eroica", I started to accept that the majority of American "music" fans just dont get it...then Sheryl Crow came out with "All I Wanna Do" and I wanted to throw up. I never understood why she was such a big deal and Wendy and Lisa were ignored. Promotion, promotion, promotion...I guess.

Exactly this. W&L were about three years ahead of the times. Sheryl Crow, Alanna Miles, Lilith Fair - all in the wake of "Eroica". But in pop music, second and third place are far more rewarded.

Alliasan said:

StonedImmaculate said:

When it was first released, the video for "Waterfall" got some decent airplay on MTV in the US (and I remember a sitdown interview the girls did with Mark Goodman, talking about the Revolution breakup, etc). No radio play.

The only Wendy and Lisa song I ever heard on the radio was "Are You My Baby?", and that was only on the "black" stations. The video got a lot of airplay on BET (and the girls performed on Soul Train), but thats it.

Around the time of "Eroica", I started to accept that the majority of American "music" fans just dont get it...then Sheryl Crow came out with "All I Wanna Do" and I wanted to throw up. I never understood why she was such a big deal and Wendy and Lisa were ignored. Promotion, promotion, promotion...I guess.

Exactly this. W&L were about three years ahead of the times. Sheryl Crow, Alanna Miles, Lilith Fair - all in the wake of "Eroica". But in pop music, second and third place are far more rewarded.

I get what you're saying - W&L were 5 years or so too early for the whole Lilith Fair moment and could well have benefited. I don't see much like-for-like comparison between them and someone like Sheryl Crow though. If anything their work at the time could maybe be positioned somewhere between Me'Shell NdegoOcello and kd lang - pretty diverse but to be fair I think that was the part of the issue as for as market positioning went.

Yes there were promotional problems but I think US radio etc found it hard to place them - one mistake could have been the singles from the first album - too clever and esoteric for mass market... if they'd come out to bat straight off post-Revolution with a single like 'Are You My Baby' or 'Satisfaction' it might have been a different story. 'Fruit' and the debut kind of came out the wrong way round...

robertlove said:

They had 3 top 10 hits in Holland and a few other hits.

I think their albums sold pretty well too.

And I think we were the only country they were popular

What were the top 10 hits there?

yanowha said:

They weren't a very popular act. They got a tiny bit of airplay on MTV. The only video I recall BET playing was "Are You My Baby". It made it to the Video Soul top 20, it may have even gone top 10. I don't believe "Satisfacton" was released as a single in the US.

Anyone know if their debut album charted in the UK?

bleekerstreet77 said:

robertlove said:

They had 3 top 10 hits in Holland and a few other hits.

I think their albums sold pretty well too.

And I think we were the only country they were popular

What were the top 10 hits there?

Lolly Lolly (was a big hit), Are you my baby? and I think Waterfall.

Very little, if any, radio interest in France from what I remember. I think our few music mags published good reviews but that wasn't enough.

Their music was sophisticated and catchy, but you know... How many amazing bands and artists fell into oblivion? Look at Kid Creole And The Coconuts or Terence Trent d'Arby... They didn't get half the success they'd have deserved, and I could name dozens of others...

StonedImmaculate said:

When it was first released, the video for "Waterfall" got some decent airplay on MTV in the US (and I remember a sitdown interview the girls did with Mark Goodman, talking about the Revolution breakup, etc). No radio play.

The only Wendy and Lisa song I ever heard on the radio was "Are You My Baby?", and that was only on the "black" stations. The video got a lot of airplay on BET (and the girls performed on Soul Train), but thats it.

Around the time of "Eroica", I started to accept that the majority of American "music" fans just dont get it...then Sheryl Crow came out with "All I Wanna Do" and I wanted to throw up. I never understood why she was such a big deal and Wendy and Lisa were ignored. Promotion, promotion, promotion...I guess.

That was the only song of theirs I heard on the radio as well. The last time I heard them mentioned on the radio was on the show "Lee Bailey's RadioScope" in the early 90s.. A caller asked "what ever happened to Wendy and Lisa because he loved the first two records" and Lee mentioned they'd just released "Eroica".

databank said:

Very little, if any, radio interest in France from what I remember. I think our few music mags published good reviews but that wasn't enough.

Their music was sophisticated and catchy, but you know... How many amazing bands and artists fell into oblivion? Look at Kid Creole And The Coconuts or Terence Trent d'Arby... They didn't get half the success they'd have deserved, and I could name dozens of others...

Except TTD and Kid Creole at least had one million seller a piece. Does anyone out there know if the Wendy & Lisa debut album charted in the UK? I would have thought given the level of Prince mania at the time it would have at least cracked the top 75...

bleekerstreet77 said:

databank said:

Very little, if any, radio interest in France from what I remember. I think our few music mags published good reviews but that wasn't enough.

Their music was sophisticated and catchy, but you know... How many amazing bands and artists fell into oblivion? Look at Kid Creole And The Coconuts or Terence Trent d'Arby... They didn't get half the success they'd have deserved, and I could name dozens of others...

Except TTD and Kid Creole at least had one million seller a piece. Does anyone out there know if the Wendy & Lisa debut album charted in the UK? I would have thought given the level of Prince mania at the time it would have at least cracked the top 75...

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...isa#Albums

Albums

• Wendy and Lisa (1987), Columbia Records (UK #84)

I think u need to read the dicography section where u got ur info at.. looks to me u got it from wikipedia.. shows the same info as u put for the singles that charted

bleekerstreet77 said:

databank said:

Very little, if any, radio interest in France from what I remember. I think our few music mags published good reviews but that wasn't enough.

Their music was sophisticated and catchy, but you know... How many amazing bands and artists fell into oblivion? Look at Kid Creole And The Coconuts or Terence Trent d'Arby... They didn't get half the success they'd have deserved, and I could name dozens of others...

Except TTD and Kid Creole at least had one million seller a piece. Does anyone out there know if the Wendy & Lisa debut album charted in the UK? I would have thought given the level of Prince mania at the time it would have at least cracked the top 75...

Coati Mundi was very bitter in the 80's, about how he still had to live in a small cheap appartment in NY while on the other hand playing in front of thousands. Maybe Darnell made more money, IDK.

Anyway if you want I can name you much more obscure, amazing bands that never really made it. I'm trippin' a lot on Eye To Eye lately... 3 albums and no one knows about them... How about Novo Navis, Mobiles, The Vels, Graham Haynes, Crustation, Cibbo Matto...? Just by searching through my music folder I could go on all night... These never sold a million... Even reasonably succesful bands such as Scritti Politti were considered failures by the industry, and still they were so good!