Richard Marx spent his younger years surrounded by music and elements of the music business. Born in Chicago as an only child, his mother had been a singer, and his father was a jazz musician.
His father founded a jingle company in the 60s and entered into a growing and very competitive market. Young Richard did some early recordings for some of his father’s clients. Maybe it was there he was bitten by the recording bug. If it was, then it helped him in a career as a songwriter, performer, and producer. He wrote some very good material, so let’s take a look back and choose the Top 50 Richard Marx songs.
What He Wanted to be
He wanted to be a musician from a very young age, and even at school, he wrote music and produced demos. All aspiring musicians and songwriters need that stroke of luck. Marx’s came when one of his tapes was heard by Lionel Ritchie.
To get advice and encouragement from a luminary of the time was impressive. But Ritchie went further by convincing Marx’s parents that Los Angeles was the place to be. He offered no promises, just some introductions.
After School’s Out
After school had finished, Marx moved to the west coast. None of Ritchie’s introductions bore any fruit, however. Plenty of rejections, though. Richard Marx was luckier than some, and got some work as a session singer and waited for his time to come.
Of course, it did. In turn, he became the only singer to have their first seven singles go to the Top 5 on the American chart. His work has covered a few decades and includes some memorable songs. So, let’s look back and choose ten of the best Richard Marx songs.
Top 50 Richard Marx Songs
1 Angelia
This is a song from his second album, Repeat Offender, and was released in 1989. Repeat Offender was a big success reaching #8 in the UK and hitting the top spot in America and Australia. The single also did well, making #4 in America. This song could best be described as a Rock Ballad. It has plenty of orchestrations and drums very much at the front of the mix.
It’s an interesting arrangement in that the song seems to have a chorus that is building toward a big-sounding verse. But, when it gets there, it quiets down.
The story goes that he had finished the song and was stuck for a four-syllable name that would fit. He was on a flight, and one of the attendants serving him was “Ange-LI-a.” Problem solved.
2 Front Row Seat
Coming to a more recent recording now and a choice that might seem a little strange. This was taken from an album released in 2010, LIMITLESS. It didn’t make a chart entry anywhere. Furthermore, he had not registered an American entry as a performer since 1997. However, for me, this is a good example of his songwriting ideas not changing very much.
He has always been able to write good songs about real-life situations, whether they are about him or not. This is one of those. A good Pop song with a great chorus with plenty of good vocals.
Ever had one of those nights where everywhere you go is either sold out or closed? If so, you will understand what he is singing about and how sometimes you just wish you could get away.
3 Hazard
It is fair to say that Richard Marx is known for his love songs more than anything else. That said, this track is rather a diversion away from that theme. It was released on the album Rush Street in 1992. “Hazard” reached #3 in The UK and #1 in Australia. Likewise, it peaked at #9 in America and also reached #3 in Canada.
This is a song about a lady called Mary who disappears mysteriously. The song follows the story of a local social outcast, the narrator of the story, who proclaims his innocence of the crime.
The lyrics are very cleverly written, intertwining the narrator’s relationship with Mary with flashbacks of his childhood, and in particular, of his mother. His guilt or innocence is left for the listener to decide. Marx was worried that it might not be well-received by the public, but the success the song had must have allayed those fears.
4 Don’t Mean Nothing
This is his very first single from 1987, taken from his debut album called simply Richard Marx. Both the album and the single were successful. The single reached #3 in America and #8 in Canada. It just crept into the Top 100 in the UK at #78. As a result, it is one of the most successful Richard Marx songs.
Some of the lyrics are interesting and may well have been the result of the constant rejections he had seen in the previous years. You can hear this in lines like, “The director smiles as you walk in the door – He says, “I love your work, babe” but – You’re just not what we’re looking for.”
Those experiences probably only reaffirmed what he already suspected and what most of us came to know. It’s not what you know but who you know.
5 Satisfied
This is a track from his second album, Repeat Offender. After his first album, this was a highly anticipated work. The single was released in 1989 and went to #1 on the American chart and #2 in Canada. It peaked at #52 in the UK. This song was one of five singles released from that second album that kept him in the Top 100 in America for over a year.
Once again, interesting lyrics that might be offering a glimpse at what he might be thinking. He had seen success with the first album and was possibly thinking about his future.
Did he constantly want to tour, or was there a better way?
The song refers to people working their steady 9-5 jobs, getting tired and going home, and doing the same the next day. “We work our bodies weary to stay alive – There must be more to living than nine to five – Why should we wait for some better time? – There may not even be a tomorrow – Ignore the hesitation, that ties your hands – Use your imagination, and take a chance.”
It wasn’t long after this that he shifted his emphasis to the writing and production of music rather than just recording and touring. Despite that shift, this remains one of the most well-known Richard Marx songs.
6 Now And Forever
Richard Marx was well-known for writing songs about his wife, Cynthia. They had been married for five years when he penned this song. It reached #13 in the UK, #7 in America, and #6 in Canada. It was released on his album, Paid Vacation.
“Now And Forever” was meant as an acknowledgment of how he felt about her and of how grateful he was that he would always be with her, hence the title. In the end, it didn’t work out like that because they were divorced in 2014.
7 Should’ve Known Better
We have already seen how Marx often wrote songs about things that happened to him or around him. “Should’ve Known Better” is another one taken from his impressive debut album entitled Richard Marx. It reached #50 in the UK, #3 in America, and #21 in Canada.
The song contains a certain animosity about a past lover who he still feels something for. Quite often, he writes songs about his love for someone. But, in this case, it was heartbreak that gave him the song.
8 Hold On To The Nights
Another song is taken from that first album released in 1988, and another American #1. It also reached #60 in the UK and did well in Canada at #6.
This is a song where I can’t help thinking the story mirrors another big hit, but not for Richard Marx. Once again, it is an incident that he witnessed that he is referring to and using as his inspiration for the lyrics.
His friend met a girl whilst they were both in a relationship with other people. There was something between them, and the feeling is very much mutual. However, they decide to go back to their partners and not continue with their developing relationship.
As is common with situations like this…
He wonders if he has done the right thing and worries if he had just lost his “right one.” If you can’t picture what the other song might be, take a listen to “I Love You, I Honestly Love You” by Olivia Newton-John from 1974.
9 Endless Summer Nights
We do seem to be taking a lot of songs from that first album, and here is another one. This song reached #2 in America, #4 in Canada, and #50 in the UK. Additionally, it was voted one of the best summer love songs.
The song was inspired by a holiday he took with his future wife, Cynthia, the year before they were married. In some ways, a song that is a little different from what we might expect. Drums right up front of the mix with an almost jazzy saxophone.
10 Right Here Waiting
I suppose there is only one place to finish this list of the Top 50 Richard Marx songs, and that is this song. It was taken from the second album, Repeat Offender.
Unsurprisingly, this was Richard Marx’s biggest hit song reaching #1 in five countries and #2 in the UK. What is surprising is that it wasn’t meant as a song initially. He had been refused a visa to visit his wife Cynthia, who was in South Africa filming. So, he wrote her a letter that formed the basis of the lyrics of the song. He was persuaded to turn it into a song, and I am sure he was glad he did.
To a certain extent, it has been played so much over the years that it has slightly lost its original effect. Nevertheless, it is still a very beautiful love song with a heartfelt message that struck a chord when it was released in 1989. As a result, it’s one of the most popular Richard Marx songs of all time.
11Take This Heart
12Nothing Left Behind Us
13The Way She Loves Me
14Over My Head
15Children of the Night
16Nowhere to Run
17Ready to Fly
18Silent Scream
19Should’ve Known Better (Acoustic)
20One More Time
21Straight from My Heart
22Angel’s Lullaby
23What’s Wrong With That
24Days in Avalon
25When November Falls
26Hold On to Your Dreams
27Dancing with My Father
28Through My Veins
29Every Day of Your Life
30The Edge of Forever
31Wait for the Sunrise
32Turn Off the Night
33O Holy Night
34To Where You Are
35Someone Special
36Christmas Spirit
37Christmas Mornings
38I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
39Little Drummer Boy
40The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
41Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
42Silent Night
43Jingle Bell Rock
44Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
45Winter Wonderland
46O Come All Ye Faithful
47Hallelujah
48What Child Is This?
49My Father’s Chair
50Miracle
Searching for More Songs with Sentiment?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Best Songs About Crushes, the Top Songs About Home, the Top Songs About Unrequited Love, the Top Secretly In Love Songs, the Best Goodbye Songs, and the Best Songs About Missing Someone You Love for more great song selections.
50 Best Richard Marx Songs – Final Thoughts
Was Richard Marx a songwriter first? Some would say yes. But, he did have a very good voice, and his career is sometimes compared with Bryan Adams. Adams was the voice, and Rock n Roll was first. Marx is somewhat different. His songs were very good, and that is what made him stand out. You can hear more in Richard Marx – Greatest Hits.
In the 90s, his recording success dried up, but that was probably due to his shift of working emphasis I mentioned earlier. He became more of a producer of his songs than a performer of them. And, of course, producing for other people. However, he has left us with a great body of work, some of which we have looked at here.
Until next time, happy listening.
