JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Pop: Sells Because of What?

Record companies have been producing general pop songs since before the "chart" type songs began. Aside from obvious novelty songs like "Flying Purple People Eaters", which was by the way recorded by a well known folk musician of the time, Sheb Wooley, most of the junk records were contrived by the studios using studio singers and musicians.

Tony Orlando was a successful record producer in the 60's. He produced and sang a song called "Candida" under the pseudonym of "Dawn". The song became so popular that he later had to create the trio of Tony Orlando and Dawn. Terry Jacks, "Seasons In The Sun" was a studio creation from the 70's. "The Night Chicago Died", "Love grows Where My Rosemary Goes", "Hot Pants", made up bands like "The Grass Roots"..etc. I can go on forever.

The point is that they were all contrived songs, names, and bands, made up by record companies and recorded by "play for hire" musicians to stack the charts.

It's no different today. They use the same MO, only the music today sounds different (and crappier) because of the times.