Hit Parade | Second-Chance Hits Edition Part 2 (December 29, 2023)

Overview

In this episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy continues his exploration of “Second Chance Hits”—songs that initially flopped or faded into obscurity, only to later make triumphant returns and scale the charts. Through a blend of storytelling, chart analysis, and pop trivia, Molanphy counts down a subjective Top 12 of his favorite second-chance success stories, spanning genres and decades, with cameos from Motown legends, holiday icons, and unexpected viral sensations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Defining Second Chance Hits

• Second chance hits are songs that either flopped on their initial release or started as obscure album tracks, only to find success later due to various “catalysts” (movies, new artist fame, viral trends, or a DJ’s inventive meddling).
• Chris clarifies that some well-known examples—like Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”—are omitted from this list, as they were covered in previous episodes (00:52).
• The countdown is shaped both by chart performance and Molanphy’s editorial judgment.

#12: Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand – "You Don’t Bring Me Flowers"

(03:39-06:05)

• Story: DJ Gary Guthrie combined solo album versions by Diamond and Streisand into a “duet” that became a radio sensation. The two legends re-recorded it together, resulting in a #1 hit.
• Quote:
  “A DJ’s activism had turned two deep cuts into a single smash second chance hit.” — Chris Molanphy (06:01)
• A testament to fan and DJ power, long before the TikTok era.

#11: The Weeknd & Ariana Grande – "Die For You (Remix)"

(08:19-10:20)

• Story: Originally a minor album cut from 2016, “Die for You” went viral on TikTok in 2022, returned to radio and the charts, and then hit #1 in 2023 after Grande joined for a remix.
• Quote:
  “You can think of The Weeknd’s latest chart topper as a second chance twofer—a bottom-up social phenomenon, spurred by fans, followed by a good old-fashioned top-down promotional reboot.” — (10:07)
• Emphasizes the synergy between grassroots virality and label-driven pushes.

#10: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – "The Tears of a Clown"

(11:18-13:36)

• Buried as an unreleased album track in 1967, released in the UK as a single in 1970 to fill a scheduling gap, became a UK and then US #1 hit years later.
• Quote:
  “A promotional reboot second chance hit had only affirmed Smokey’s status as a Motown legend.” — (13:19)

#9: Aerosmith – "Dream On" and "Walk This Way"

(13:47-17:14)

• Both songs found delayed chart success after failing on initial release (“Dream On” charted at #59, then cracked the top 10 three years later; “Walk This Way” flopped in ’75, soared in ’77, and was reborn in 1986 with Run DMC).
• Quote:
  “Walk This Way kept coming back over two decades. But ‘Dream On’ deserves honorable mention.” — (17:04)

#8: Louis Armstrong – "What a Wonderful World"

(17:14-20:04)

• A 1968 UK #1 and US flop, Armstrong’s ballad resurged in 1988 after being featured in Good Morning, Vietnam, reaching the US Top 40 two decades after its release.
• Quote:
  “Satchmo’s posthumous hit got its second chance thanks to a movie.” — (20:04)

#7: John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band – "On the Dark Side"

(21:10-23:08)

• The Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack flopped in theaters but went viral on cable TV; the song was reissued in 1984, hitting #7 on the Hot 100.
• Quote:
  “In the John Cafferty/Eddie and the Cruisers story, you could see the gears of the industry turning, but the affection for the movie and its music was a bottom-up phenomenon.” — (23:00)

#6: Miguel – "Sure Thing"

(24:35-27:41)

• A 2011 R&B hit that became a pop radio smash in 2023, after TikTok sped-up versions took off. Classic example of social media reviving catalog songs.
• Quote:
  “Miguel’s second chance hit crossed him over with a whole new audience.” — (27:22)

#5: The Righteous Brothers – "Unchained Melody"

(27:41-32:43)

• The 1965 original peaked at #4; reissued and re-recorded in 1990 after Ghost reignited interest, both versions charted simultaneously in the Top 20.
• Quote:
  “No second chance hit is quite like the Righteous Brothers’ ‘Unchained Melody’—the original was a big hit; the return was a cultural phenomenon.” — (32:18)

#4: David Bowie – "Space Oddity"

(32:43-36:17)

• Released in 1969, barely bubbled under the Hot 100. Re-released in 1973 after Bowie’s breakthrough, finally hit #15 and defined his persona.
• Quote:
  “Second chance hits made David Bowie’s career on this side of the Atlantic. He turned and faced the strange and was rewarded for it.” — (36:19)

#3: Charlene – "I've Never Been to Me"

(36:52-39:50)

• Flopped at #97 in 1977; rediscovered in 1982 by a DJ, reissued, and soared to #3. Later became a drag anthem in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
• Quote:
  “Charlene’s second chance hit is a no joke major legacy, a career defined by a single hit.” — (39:50)

#2: The Moody Blues – "Nights in White Satin"

(40:16-43:08)

• Too long for radio in 1968 and initially flopped; a more radio-friendly edit in 1972 sent it to #2 on the Hot 100, catalyzing the Moody Blues’ US career.
• Quote:
  “You might say the Moody Blues made a career out of their second chance hit.” — (43:08)

#1: Brenda Lee – "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree"

(44:09-48:11)

• Released in 1958 by a 13-year-old Lee, peaked at #14 in 1960 and become a holiday radio staple. In the streaming era (2013+), it ascended the Hot 100 each year, finally hitting #1 in December 2023, making Lee the oldest artist to top the charts (78).
• Quote:
  “Brenda Lee showed us the new old-fashioned way... It's never too late to be brought back.” — (48:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This list is more art than science... the end result is still largely subjective.” — Chris Molanphy (01:13)
• “A DJ’s activism had turned two deep cuts into a single smash second chance hit.” — (06:01)
• “A bottom-up social phenomenon, spurred by fans, followed by a good old fashioned top-down promotional reboot.” — (10:07)
• “Second chance hits made David Bowie’s career on this side of the Atlantic.” — (36:19)
• “Brenda Lee’s legendary career had been reduced to just one Christmas song. Now Brenda has done it... she doesn’t seem to mind being associated with Christmas at all.” — (48:03)

Memorable Timestamps & Song Segments

• [03:39] – Origin of the “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” duet
• [08:19] – The Weeknd’s “Die for You” TikTok revival
• [11:18] – “Tears of a Clown” history
• [13:47] – Aerosmith’s chart rollercoaster
• [17:14] – Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”
• [21:10] – “On the Dark Side” and HBO’s influence
• [24:35] – Miguel hits TikTok stardom
• [27:41] – The rebirth(s) of “Unchained Melody”
• [32:43] – David Bowie’s American breakthrough
• [36:52] – Charlene’s unlikely comeback
• [40:16] – “Nights in White Satin’s” second wind
• [44:09] – Brenda Lee’s historic Christmas #1

Takeaway

Second chance hits, whether revived by movies, DJs, social media, or changing musical tastes, reveal how unpredictable the journey to pop immortality can be. Chris Molanphy’s countdown demonstrates that no hit is ever truly dead—and some, like Brenda Lee’s holiday classic or “Unchained Melody,” are merely waiting for the right moment (or medium) to shine. As Chris muses, "It's never too late to be brought back" (48:03).

Host: Chris Molanphy
Producer: Kevin Bendis
Release: December 29, 2023
Podcast: Hit Parade | Slate

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