Immensely popular bands/artist great songs you would never hear on the radio

[Spartan Squad]

I don't listen to "the radio" anymore, but one of my favorite songs is Queen's "Spread Your Wings," and I can't recall ever hearing that played.

@Batman is right about Metallica. It's like everything other than the Black Album has been memory-holed, which is crazy because their best stuff came before that. Has "Fade to Black" ever gotten airplay?

Side note: Discussions like this are why I'm so glad I never have to listen to the radio again. Being able to listen to whatever I want, whenever I want is worth whatever I'm paying Amazon Music per month.

I want to say Fade To Black is never played unless the station has a dedicated Metallica segment (when I was a teen/early 20s my rock station had Mandatory Metallica Mondays).

But you might hear For Whom The Bell Tolls. Things like Enter Sandman, Wherever I May Roam, Fuel, Unforgiven II and similar were much more mainstream.

 

[swingline]

I hear Uncle Tom's Band once in a great while.

Truckin'

 

[Scout]

Truckin'

Sugar Magnolia

 

[swingline]

Saw my baby down by the river
Knew she had to come up soon for air

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Springsteen's Human Touch is a great song on a great album and got very little radio play.

That got a decent amount of airplay way back in the day, but you're right, it's mostly a forgotten album. I don't think Bruce likes it that much and I know the diehards didn't like it but I loved it. "I Wish I Were Blind" is such a good sad song about an unrequited crush.

And though this world is filled with the grace
And beauty of God's hand
Oh, I wish I were blind when I see you with your man

 

[Slacker]

"Point Blank" is one of the best songs on "The River,"
and it's an underrated Springsteen clashic across all his albums.

 

[Batman]

I remember that "Secret Garden" song by Springsteen, from the Jerry Maguire song with the movie clips spliced in, getting some radio play. But I probably haven't heard that song since 1997.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

I want to say Fade To Black is never played unless the station has a dedicated Metallica segment (when I was a teen/early 20s my rock station had Mandatory Metallica Mondays).

But you might hear For Whom The Bell Tolls. Things like Enter Sandman, Wherever I May Roam, Fuel, Unforgiven II and similar were much more mainstream.

Ozzy's Boneyard on Sirius X/M plays early Metallica fairly regularly. Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All have the most songs played. Blackened, Harvester of Sorrow, Master of Puppets, and Welcome Home (Sanitarium) have all received air play recently.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

I remember that "Secret Garden" song by Springsteen, from the Jerry Maguire song with the movie clips spliced in, getting some radio play. But I probably haven't heard that song since 1997.

Shhh. Don't hex it.

 

[Scout]

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Wow ... could crank out a list.

For now, I'll stick with one from a guy who didn't do holiday music, but admitted this one was as close to a holiday piece as he was going to get:

 

[Twirling Time]

The only pre-Black Album Metallica songs I hear occasionally are "One" and "Master of Puppets." And those are on small market stations that still cling to the Album Rock format of the 1990s. And I don't know if I've heard much on the radio *since* the Black Album.