What are Dan Fogelberg’s 5 Biggest U.S. Hits?

Dan Fogelberg epitomized the sensitive, singer/songwriter type to such an extent he often got some grief for it. Which is a shame, because Fogelberg not only possessed a firm grasp of the craft of songwriting, but he also touched a nerve with fans who related to the topics he highlighted in his songs.

Although he sprinkled songs on the Top-40 charts over a decade-long period, four of the five songs on this list came during an incredible hot streak from 1979 to 1981. Here are Dan Fogelberg’s five biggest U.S. pop hits.

5. “The Language of Love” (No. 13 in 1984)

Give some credit to Fogelberg for being able to adapt with the times, at least for a little while. By 1984, his brand of soft rock had mostly faded to the background in the U.S., in favor of more MTV-friendly sounds. But there he was in that fabled year in music, slugging it out with the Madonnas and Princes of the world via a Top-15 single. It helped that he juiced things up a little bit on this track, which features crunchy guitars bashing out a memorably catchy riff. “The Language of Love” proved he could rock out quite well, even delivering a stinging solo to cinch it.

4. “Same Old Lang Syne” (No. 9 in 1980)

Fogelberg’s masterpiece, it’s a surprise it didn’t do even better than No. 9 on the charts. Maybe that’s because we’ve been hearing it classing up holiday playlists ever since. Yes, it’s true, Fogelberg actually met his old lover in the grocery store, which precipitated “Same Old Lang Syne.” As is often the case, meeting someone from the past causes us to contemplate what’s bothering us about our present. The song’s conclusion, when the two depart, perhaps to never see each other again, and saxophonist Michael Brecker bleats out that sad refrain of “Auld Lang Syne,” brings the chills every time.

3. “Leader of the Band” (No. 9 in 1981)

Another big-time heart-tugger taken from Fogelberg’s life. To his credit, he had the wherewithal to write this touching tribute to his father while dad was still alive to hear it. “The Leader of the Band” succeeds in large part because it doesn’t attempt to sanctify the man. Instead, it speaks to his steadiness and hard-earned wisdom. Songs about the loss of a parent are tough to pull off because you can easily skew too maudlin or too cold. Fogelberg nailed the balance just right, and as a result, deeply affected a ton of listeners who lived through similar scenarios.

2. “Hard to Say” (No. 7 in 1981)

Perhaps sensing his popularity was at its zenith, and the winds of musical change were about to blow against him, Fogelberg went for the gusto on his 1981 album The Innocent Age, making it a sprawling double LP. Not only does it include “Same Old Lang Syne” and “Leader of the Band,” but you also get his horse racing standard “Run for the Roses,” and “Times Like These,” which made it to the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. But the highest chart position on the album belonged to “Hard to Say,” a typically bittersweet rumination on the pitfalls of love that benefits from a guest vocal by Glenn Frey.

1. “Longer” (No. 2 in 1980)

It is generally beyond an artist’s control which of their songs succeed and fail. Dan Fogelberg’s reputation as the softest of soft rockers largely emanated from this song that just missed the top of the charts in 1980 (songs by Queen and Pink Floyd kept it at No. 2) after being released on Fogelberg’s Phoenix album in 1979. The song is a somewhat simple ode, melodically and lyrically (although bonus points go to Fogelberg for slipping forest primeval into the plot). The flugelhorn solo by Jerry Hey is quite pretty. If nothing else, “Longer” deserves credit for cluing people into Fogelberg’s fine body of work.

Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images