This forgotten band was one of the most successful pop acts of the 1980s

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As a gamer who grew up in the 80s, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing some truly iconic music during my formative years, and Air Supply was undoubtedly one of them. With their soft rock ballads echoing through the halls of my childhood home, they were the soundtrack to many a game session.

1980 saw the Australian band Air Supply publishing their fifth studio album. Singer Russell Hitchcock and guitarist Graham Russell could never have anticipated what was to follow next. Up until then, they had enjoyed only a limited amount of success in Australia; however, for some unknown reason, their “Lost in Love” album, filled with soft rock love songs, resonated strongly on a global scale.

The album achieved its highest position on the Billboard 200 albums rankings, generating three tracks that landed in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 songs list. Over time, it gained double-platinum certification, having sold over two million copies globally.

About a year after, the band unveiled “The One That You Love,” yielding an additional three top-five chart hits, with the titular song peaking at number one.

Air Supply might be the forgotten genius of the 1980s

In 1982, the band launched another successful album titled “Now and Forever”. This release resulted in a top-five single and two additional top-40 hits. The following year, their self-titled album yielded another top-20 hit.

From 1980 to 1986, the band boasted an impressive run with a total of eight top-five hits, eleven top-40 hits, and thirteen songs that made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Here is a list of their top eight hits:

Songs Top Chart Position Year
The One That You Love 1 1981
All Out of Love 2 1980
Making Love Out of Nothing at All 2 1983
Lost in Love 3 1980
Every Woman in the World 5 1980
Here I Am 5 1981
Sweet Dreams 5 1981
Even the Nights are Better 5 1982

In approximately four years, achieving eight chart-topping music hits is an extraordinary accomplishment that’s hard to surpass. However, one legendary rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, managed to outdo this feat between 1968 and 1971 with a total of nine top 10 hits. To add to their impressive record, they had four additional hits in the top 40 and three songs on the Hot 100 chart. Remarkably, despite these successes, Creedence Clearwater Revival never managed to reach number one on the charts with a single song.

While Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) continues to be celebrated as an iconic rock band, Air Supply has largely faded into obscurity. One factor that may have contributed to this difference is the nature and timing of their songs. In contrast to CCR’s rock-focused music with a heavier, more substantial sound, Air Supply found success primarily with soft rock ballads.

Without a doubt, Air Supply’s commercial success is unquestionable. Although “The One That You Love” was their only number one hit, “All Out of Love” has proven to be their most enduring track, as stated by Graham Russell, the songwriter and guitarist for the band. Graham claims that this song has been played on the radio more than seven million times.

Should you find yourself yearning for some heartfelt, emotionally charged love ballads that carry a gentle breeze, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Air Supply a spin. Though they may not be the go-to band for today’s youth, they have undeniably mastered their craft and left an indelible mark on music history. Their achievements are truly worthy of greater recognition.

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2024-09-25 16:00