Proclaim This

That hasn't suited American radio, which has continued to shun every record released by the Proclaimers in the wake of their lone hit, the goofy but infectious "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles," which was included on their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith but didn't soar up the U.S. charts until it was used as the theme song for the Benny & Joon soundtrack five years later.

True to form, the pair soldiers on for the faithful all over the world, particularly in Australia, the U.K. and Canada, where ears and airwaves are more receptive to simple, honest pop music. The band headlined a recent outdoor festival in their homeland, which drew more than 100,000 fans.

"It's difficult in the Clear Channel world, where a small amount of people decide who's going to be on the radio," Charlie laments. "Truthfully, though, I don't worry about it too much. We're going to do the kind of records we want to do and hope that people like it. That's always been the philosophy, and so far, it's worked."