“Feels So Good” and “Chuck E’s in Love” were megahits. They transformed the careers of their creators.
But any fan of Mangione or Jones will tell you that it’s far from their best work. Not even close. And yet, that’s what the crowds came to hear.
In a long tail world filled with browsing, it’s easy to confuse “popular” with “great.”
It’s more productive to aim for great.