NM

[mu_hilltopper]

Wrong, all wrong.

"Sex and Beer" by Pat McCurdy. 

4 shows a week for 30 years and counting.

[GooooMarquette]

How about "Piano Man" by Billy Joel?

Released in 1973, and I believe he was still touring pretty regularly up until the past couple of years.


Edit: Crap, just saw it was on Lenny's list...

[warriorchick]

Wrong, all wrong.

"Sex and Beer" by Pat McCurdy. 

4 shows a week for 30 years and counting.

that is not a hit anywhere outside the 414 area code.

[rocky_warrior]

Many good guesses, but it's probably some one-hit-wonder from the 80s that has been doing crappy shows for the last 40 years  just to make some dough.  As to who that is...I'll tap the one hit wonders list and say "Dexys Midnight Runners" with Come on Eileen...

[Hards Alumni]

So Glow and I were listening to the radio, and he wondered aloud what pop or rock song has been played the greatest number of times in concert by its original artist.  It would have to be someone who has been around a long time and does a lot of touring.

Glow originally came up with "Rock and Roll all Night" by Kiss, but then agreed with my guess of "Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett. He released the song in 1974, and has toured nearly every summer since then.

Any other guesses?

I'm going to agree with Jimmy Buffet.

Or possibly something by Cheap Trick... or Bon Jovi - Livin' on a prayer.

[warriorchick]

Many good guesses, but it's probably some one-hit-wonder from the 80s that has been doing crappy shows for the last 40 years  just to make some dough.  As to who that is...I'll tap the one hit wonders list and say "Dexys Midnight Runners" with Come on Eileen...

Definitely not them. Last time they were on VH1's "Where Are They Now", the lead singer was not in a good place mental health - wise.

If we are going that route, I vote for Vanilla Ice.

[Hards Alumni]

I saw the iceman, himself, perform ice ice baby at a bar on A1A in Daytona.

Then my friends threw me in the pool twice and we were 86ed.

[rocky_warrior]

Definitely not them. Last time they were on VH1's "Where Are They Now", the lead singer was not in a good place mental health - wise. 

If we are going that route, I vote for Vanilla Ice.

Hah, fair enough.  I actually had no idea their history - but looking into it, the band quickly dispersed, but Kevin Rowland (lead) has emerged from his troubles and is performing with a "new" Dexys group.  So there's still a chance...

[rocky_warrior]

Since I took my guess, I resorted to googling.  Nothing definitive, but Wayne Newton's 30,000+ shows (most in Vegas) probably all included "Danke Schoen "

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Beach Boys probably have a song or two up on that list. I think they've toured every year since 1963. Gotta imagine they played California Girls and Surfin' USA at least 99% of those shows

[JakeBarnes]

Rocket Man our Your Song by Elton John.

[brewcity77]

This might be fun to dig around in.

https://www.tableau.com/about/blog/2019/7/data-music-which-artists-use-same-old-setlists-gig-after-gig

I didn't look into all the low-down variety, high frequency artists, but Alice Cooper's position does stand out on their chart, and according to this link, his most frequently played song is School's Out.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/alice-cooper-63d63aa3.html

If anyone is really curious, that site is probably the closest place to having the answer.

[warriorchick]

Since I took my guess, I resorted to googling.  Nothing definitive, but Wayne Newton's 30,000+ shows (most in Vegas) probably all included "Danke Schoen "

You might have a winner here.

[swoopem]

I would go with Sugar Magnolia by the Grateful Dead.

The Dead's most played song is Me and my Uncle which is a cover. Their most played original is Playing in the Band. With over 2,600 shows I'd agree that those songs have been played the most

[swoopem]

Sorry, I should have been clear that it had to be a hit song.

Also, Jerry Garcia has been dead for 25 years.  It's not really the same band.

If you don't think Sugar Magnolia is a hit then you need to get your ears checked.

If you want to talk post Jerry era the songs have been performed just as many times. Bob Weir is a true road dog. Hell, the current band Dead and Company has been around for 5 years now and are probably hovering around 150 shows. Not to mention all the other bands

Also, Bob joined the band when he was 16. He's probably played guitar and sung on stage more than anyone in the history of the world....at least to the largest audience ever

[warriorchick]

The Dead's most played song is Me and my Uncle which is a cover. Their most played original is Playing in the Band. With over 2,600 shows I'd agree that those songs have been played the most

But they aren't hits.

The Dead has had only had one top-40 single, and it's "Touch of Grey"from 1987.

And my ears are fine.  Hits are defined by sales.

[swoopem]

Put on the closing of winterland New Years 78 Sugar Mag and tell me that's not a hit

[warriorchick]

Put on the closing of winterland New Years 78 Sugar Mag and tell me that's not a hit

How many copies did it sell?  How much airplay did it get? That's what determines a hit. 

There are plenty of great songs that aren't hits.

[The Sultan]

But they aren't hits.

The Dead has had only had one top-40 single, and it's "Touch of Grey"from 1987.

And my ears are fine.  Hits are defined by sales.

Oh.  So most played pop song.

I guess switching the goalposts is a thing here too.

[swoopem]

How many copies did it sell?  How much airplay did it get? That's what determines a hit. 

There are plenty of great songs that aren't hits.

You ever hear of Deadheads doing tape trading? It probably got around to more people than any hit record did

Also Touch of Grey was top 10. At least give them their dues

[🏀]

You ever hear of Deadheads doing tape trading? It probably got around to more people than any hit record did

Also Touch of Grey was top 10. At least give them their dues

There's not 50 million dead heads.

Move along sir, this is a rational discussion that doesn't need to include the typical Grateful Dead half-truths that get thrown around.

[mu_hilltopper]

that is not a hit anywhere outside the 414 area code.

You are wrong and should sit there in your wrongness.  McCurdy is an international star.

[warriorchick]

Oh.  So most played pop song.

I guess switching the goalposts is a thing here too.

Not switching goalposts, just clarifying the criteria. 

I am sure there is some schmo at Chuck E. Cheese that has to sing the Happy Birthday song a hundred times a day, but we aren't counting that, either.

[Galway Eagle]

Not switching goalposts, just clarifying the criteria. 

I am sure there is some schmo at Chuck E. Cheese that has to sing the Happy Birthday song a hundred times a day, but we aren't counting that, either.

If the Macarena counts then it's that for sure

[brewcity77]

According to Setlist, Sugar Magnolia isn't the Dead's most played song & pales compared to School's Out with fewer than 600 times played.

https://www.setlist.fm/stats/grateful-dead-bd6ad4a.html