DAILY DIRT: We start with Michael, and then work our way downward

1. What singers went on to be more successful as an individual artist after leaving their previous group(s)?

Rankings of this nature are, of course, entirely subjective, and mine is no different. But what I’ve tried to do today is incorporate both personal opinion with chart success.

Putting today’s piece together was easy — at the beginning. Starting with Michael Jackson and working my way down was a no-brainer. And actually, No. 2 was pretty easy, too. From No. 3 onward required a lot of lists and listening to a lot of old tunes. Hope you enjoy the finished product, even though I’m pretty sure you’ll be inserting your own preferences — and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!

1. Michael Jackson (Jackson 5)

After signing with Motown, the Jackson 5 became the first group in history to debut with four consecutive chart-topping singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became a teen idol soon afterward and released his first solo album – “Got to Be There” – in 1972. He’s now considered the most successful entertainer of all time, according to Guinness World Records.

Chart entries as solo artist: 51 songs, 30 albums

Chart entries with group: 31 songs, 26 albums

2. Rod Stewart (Faces)

Not included in today’s numbers are Rod the Mod’s brief, yet impactful stints with such groups as Steampacket, Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men, Shotgun Express, which included Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green (who went on to form Fleetwood Mac) and the Jeff Beck Group, which also included Ronnie Wood.

Chart entries as solo artist: 52 songs, 44 albums

Chart entries with group: 1 song, 4 albums

3. Tina Turner (Ike and Tina Turner)

The release of 1984’s “Private Dancer,” which included her smash hit “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” proved to be the turning point in her career.

Chart entries as solo artist: 17 songs, 12 albums

Chart entries with group: 17 songs, 12 albums

4. Diana Ross (Supremes)

Ross went solo in 1970 and has sold more than 75 million albums over the course of her decades-spanning career.

Chart entries as solo artist: 40 songs, 44 albums

Chart entries with group: 45 songs, 37 albums

5. Cher (Sonny and Cher)

Cher launched her solo career while still active in the duo and later, after splitting personally and professionally from Sonny Bono (who died in a skiing accident in 1998), broke a variety of chart records for a female artist.

Chart entries as solo artist: 33 songs, 30 albums

Chart entries with group: 18 songs, 12 albums

6. Eric Clapton (Cream)

Don’t forget, Clapton was also a part of the Yardbirds and Blind Faith. The man’s resume is simply ridiculous.

Chart entries as solo artist: 23 songs, 45 albums

Chart entries with group: 5 songs, 9 albums

7. Beyonce (Destiny’s Child)

She’s now the most awarded singer and female artist in Grammy history, with 11 chart-topping singles to her name.

Chart entries as solo artist: 65 songs, 12 albums

Chart entries with group: 14 songs, 9 albums

8. Sting (Police) Sting recently sold his songwriting catalog – which includes The Police material – for an estimated $300 million.

Chart entries as solo artist: 20 songs, 21 albums

Chart entries with group: 13 songs, 11 albums

9. Lionel Richie (Commodores)

Richie embarked upon a solo career in 1982 and remains a star draw to this day. His chart-topping and Grammy-winning sophomore album “Can’t Slow Down” remains one of the best-selling LPs of all time. 

Chart entries as solo artist: 20 songs, 14 albums

Chart entries with group: 25 songs, 18 albums

10-tie. Phil Collins (Genesis)

By the early 1980s, Collins was penning major hits for both the group and as a solo artist. He officially left Genesis in 1996 and later won an Oscar for the song “You’ll Be in My Heart,” from the soundtrack to Disney’s “Tarzan”.

Chart entries as solo artist: 27 songs, 12 albums

Chart entries with group: 22 songs, 21 albums

10-tie. George Michael (Wham!)

Michael’s debut solo album “Faith” spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and spawned four No. 1 singles.

Chart entries as solo artist: 19 songs, 11 albums

Chart entries with group: 9 songs, 4 albums

2. Did you know (Part 424)

• That on May 30, 1935, Babe Ruth had his final major league at-bat. Playing for the Boston Braves, he grounded out to second base.
• That five days before that May 30 finale, Babe Ruth hit his 714th and final home run.
• That on July 8, 1918, Babe Ruth sent a 10th-inning blast over the fence at Fenway Park, scoring a guy named Amos Strunk to give the Boston Red Sox a 1-0 walk-off win against the Cleveland Indians. Rules at the time regarding the game-winning run reduced the Babe’s “home run” to a triple. Which means the Bambino could/should have actually ended his career with 715 home runs.
• That in 1942, pitcher Jim Tobin hit three runs in a single game. He remains the only pitcher to ever hit three homers in one game. AND, the night before, Tobin hit a home run as a pinch-hitter, meaning he homered in four consecutive at-bats.
• That three sets of MLB brothers have homered on Mother’s Day: William and Wilson Contreras, Joe and Dom DiMaggio and Jason and Jeremy Giambi.

3. Here are some horrible jobs that make decent money:

• Animal breeding technicians earn about $70,000 a year. They extract semen from farm animals. 
• Port-a-potty owners/cleaners make about $75,000.
• Odor specialists, who smell people’s bodies all day, make as much as $85,000.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Just remember, when a woman says she is running five minutes late, think five minutes left in the fourth quarter and both teams have their full allotment of timeouts. You’re welcome.