RockLists.com

Artist · chart history

Too Much Joy

Band Scarsdale United States Formed 1986

Too Much Joy formed in 1986 in Scarsdale, United States. Too Much Joy has 151 chart appearances on 27 radio countdowns from 7 stations on RockLists, spanning 1990–2014. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Crush Story”, which appears on 22 lists with a best position of #14. The station that charted Too Much Joy most often is CD101 (Columbus, OH), with 135 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 1991.

151appearances
27countdowns
15songs charted
7stations
0#1 finishes
1990–2014years

Too Much Joy came out of Scarsdale, New York, and played alternative rock like the class clowns who had actually done the reading. They started out as the Rave, until Tim Quirk borrowed a new name from a phrase he'd spotted after his first mushroom trip, which sums up their outlook better than any manifesto: wide-eyed, a little giddy and never entirely straight-faced.

The original lineup had Quirk singing, Jay Blumenfield on guitar and vocals, Sandy Smallens on bass and vocals and Tommy Vinton on drums, with Tommy LaRussa minding the kit for a spell early on. Their song titles do half the talking: "Long Haired Guys From England", "King of Beers", "Susquehanna Hat Company", "Song For A Girl Who Has One". Son of Sam I Am set the tone in 1988 with "That's A Lie!" and "Clowns", wisecracks riding on scrappy, hook-happy guitars.

Cereal Killers, in 1991, was the high-water mark, and "Crush Story" is the one that stuck: a sugar rush of a song, all bounce and bashful grin. Mutiny followed in 1992 with "Donna Everywhere" and "Starry Eyes", but nothing they made after Cereal Killers matched its success.

Smallens left on good terms in 1994, and producer William Wittman, who still plays with Cyndi Lauper, stepped in on bass and vocals. ...finally came out in 1996 and Green Eggs and Crack in 1997, the year the band went on hiatus, grumbling that the business side of music had drained the joy out of playing it. A fitting exit line for a band named after the stuff. They weren't quite done, though: Gods and Sods, stitched together from studio outtakes, came out of the vaults in 1999 and 2001.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

Songs by Too Much Joy on radio countdowns

#SongStrengthListsBest#1sPeak year
1 Crush Story
1,430		 22 #14 – 1991
2 That's A Lie!
968		 18 #51 – 1990
3 Donna Everywhere
763		 17 #40 – 1992
4 Long Haired Guys From England
683		 8 #51 – 1991
5 Susquehanna Hat Company
617		 7 #239 – –
6 Bored With Love
520		 7 #516 – –
7 Clowns
515		 14 #864 – –
8 Song For A Girl Who Has One
511		 7 #542 – –
9 King of Beers
484		 7 #619 – –
10 Drum Machine
482		 7 #625 – –
11 Starry Eyes
345		 7 #979 – –
12 Nothing On My Mind
274		 7 #1213 – –
13 Seasons In The Sun
167		 13 #1544 – –
14 The Kids Don't Understand
140		 6 #1533 – –
15 William Holden Caulfield
8		 4 #1952 – –

Albums with charting songs

Where each song was first released, from MusicBrainz.

Year-end chart timeline

Combined year-end countdown points per year. Taller bars mean more songs placing higher across more stations.

90 91 92

Every countdown appearance

Year#SongCountdown
2014 1171 Crush Story CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1683 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1777 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1793 Clowns CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1923 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2013 1111 Crush Story CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1621 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1707 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1727 Clowns CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1853 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2011 1049 Crush Story CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1572 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1656 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1657 Clowns CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1799 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2010 1017 Crush Story CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1506 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1588 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1589 Clowns CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1725 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2009 1078 Crush Story CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1476 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1557 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1558 Clowns CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1686 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2008 1063 Crush Story CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1473 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1536 Clowns CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1544 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1670 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2007 1142 Crush Story CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1549 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1588 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1591 Clowns CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1667 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2005 31 Crush Story CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 57 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 203 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 240 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 291 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 517 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 626 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 908 Clowns CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1016 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1214 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2004 28 Crush Story CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 54 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 202 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 239 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 288 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 516 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 625 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 908 Clowns CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1016 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1213 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1537 The Kids Don't Understand CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1858 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2003 28 Crush Story CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 53 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 201 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 239 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 288 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 516 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 625 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 908 Clowns CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1016 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1213 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1537 The Kids Don't Understand CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1856 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1591 That's A Lie! Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2002 28 Crush Story CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 53 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 201 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 239 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 288 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 516 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 625 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 919 Clowns CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1031 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1228 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1533 The Kids Don't Understand CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1892 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1952 William Holden Caulfield CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2001 319 Crush Story WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 28 Crush Story CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 53 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 201 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 239 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 288 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 516 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 625 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 919 Clowns CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1031 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1229 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1536 The Kids Don't Understand CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1907 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1969 William Holden Caulfield CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2000 319 Crush Story WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 29 Crush Story CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 58 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 201 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 239 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 274 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 516 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 625 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 915 Clowns CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1030 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1226 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1535 The Kids Don't Understand CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1908 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1955 William Holden Caulfield CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
1999 237 Crush Story WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999 29 Crush Story CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 58 That's A Lie! CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 200 Long Haired Guys From England CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 239 Susquehanna Hat Company CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 274 Donna Everywhere CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 516 Bored With Love CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 542 Song For A Girl Who Has One CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 619 King of Beers CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 625 Drum Machine CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 864 Clowns CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 979 Starry Eyes CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1226 Nothing On My Mind CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1535 The Kids Don't Understand CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1908 Seasons In The Sun CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1965 William Holden Caulfield CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1996 180 Crush Story WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996)
1996 479 Donna Everywhere WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996)
1994 205 Crush Story WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994)
1994 454 Donna Everywhere WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994)
1992 40 Donna Everywhere WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1992
1992 180 Crush Story Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1992)
1991 14 Crush Story KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1991
1991 51 Long Haired Guys From England KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1991
1991 62 Crush Story Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1991
1990 80 That's A Lie! KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1990
1990 51 That's A Lie! 91X Top 91 Songs of 1990
1990 71 That's A Lie! Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1990

Comments

Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about Too Much Joy.

Be kind and stay on topic. Guidelines

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.