h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have to add my own favourite band, the Blue Öyster Cult, to the Hall of Fame as a band more famous anywhere else than Britain who only ever managed one chart hit in this country...

How do you place a group to whom touring and recording LP's are way bigger priorities than having single hits? I mean, Led Zeppelin NEVER officially released any singles but will always be remembered for their one "hit", Whole Lotta Love, because for so long that was the theme to Top of the Pops. And, of course, a lot of people will think Zeppelin are one-hit wonders because they will think "Stairway to Heaven" was released as a single, they will insist it was released as a single, it must have been released as a single... when it never ever was!

B.Ö.C. only had one hit in the UK, but had six or seven in the USA and Japan: for instance, "Godzilla", despite the subject matter being the eponymous giant lizard who stomps Tokyo, was a smash-hit there but flopped dismally in the UK. And no one-hit wonder will ever last for twenty years (with its starting lineup) and release fifteen studio LP's, quality ranging from "mediocre" to "genius")

And B.Ö.C. might have had a second hit in the UK with "Going Through the Motions", but Ian Hunter, with or without Mott the Hoople, got in first with his version of the song. Bad timing? This must play a part, if two or more bands/singers all fancy a go at the same song... whoever gets their version in first has the edge.