Big Country "The Buffalo Skinners"

Scottish rock band Big Country is largely considered a "one hit wonder" in the US since their only top 40 single was "In A Big Country", which hit #17 in 1983. But the band continued to crank out some incredible records until lead singer Stuart Adamson sadly took his own life in 2001.

The band's 1993 effort, "The Buffalo Skinners", should have been a huge comeback. Big Country reinvigorated its sound, shaking off the 80s style for a harder-edged rock sound. But beyond that, "The Buffalo Skinners" is just an outstanding collection of songs, all of which are equally melodious and thought-provoking. It would easily be on my list of "desert island" albums.

Here are some of the highlights:


  

"I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care)" by Motorhead (RIP Lemmy Kilmister)

An icon in the hard rock world passed away this week, 70 year old Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. The band never had a charting single in the US, but their music has made an indelible impression on the genre and inspired many bands to rock (and party) hard since their formation in 1975.

I can't think of a more suitable track that embodies Lemmy than "I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care)", the lead single from their 1991 album, "1916". Incidentally, "1916" was the band's highest charting album, landing at #142 on the Billboard Top 200.

"Heart of Wilderness" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Colorado rock band Big Head Todd and the Monsters seemed secured in mainstream success with their breakout record, "Sister Sweetly". The album spawned several standards of 90s radio including "Bittersweet", which bubbled under the top 100 at #104 in January of 1994. While the album only went to #117, it created enough buzz to get the band's follow-up, "Stratagem", to #30. 

"Stratagem" failed to generate a hit single, so the band took 3 years to craft their next record, 1997's "Beautiful World". Helmed by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads, "Beautiful World" was a glorious return to form and saw the band flexing their blues muscles too. Filled with sizzling rockers and sultry ballads, "Beautiful World" reached a respectable #56 on the albums chart and put the band back on the mainstream rock charts, too (thanks to "Resignation Superman").

Here's another wonderful cut from "Beautiful World" called "Heart of Wilderness":

"Burned" by Better Than Ezra

Splashing onto the music scene in the 90s, pop rock band Better Than Ezra enjoyed several successful records before the close of the decade. The band only had one top 40 hit with "Good", which went to #30 in 1995.

Better Than Ezra has been quietly making fantastic records ever since, despite not getting a fair shake at radio anymore. Their mix of catchy rockers and heartfelt ballads fit perfectly alongside any of their contemporaries. For example, check out this awesome cut from their 2005 record, "Before The Robots".

Better Than Ezra released their eighth record just last year, "All Together Now" - check it out!

"8 Arms" by Big Bang Babies

A day late and dollar short, Big Bang Babies arrived on the glam and hair band scene with their self-titled debut in 1992. The song "8 Arms" is a triumph - a total homage to Cheap Trick and the perfect love song for octopuses. 

Don't miss their rocking cover of "Winter Wonderland", too!

"Mad At The World" by Big Car

Chances are you probably haven't heard of the band Big Car, which released their only record, "Normal", back in 1992. They will sound familiar, but you won't be able to put your finger on why. Here's why:  two of the members, Miles Zuniga (vocals, guitar) and Joey Shuffield (drums), went on to form the more successful band called Fastball in 1995.

Big Car foreshadows what Fastball is better known for:  driving riffs and catchy choruses wrapped around witty lyrics. Big Car was likely a victim of bad timing - a pop rock band stuck in-between hair bands, grunge, and pop divas didn't stand much of a chance. Fortunately the music scene settled down by the mid-1990s, giving these guys (as Fastball) the break they deserved.

"Falling Apart" by Benjamin r

Independent singer/songwriter "Benjamin r" released "The Other Side Of Nowhere" in 2009. He (aka Robert Selvaggio) offers a no-nonsense approach to modern rock and sounds somewhere in-between Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) and Mark Kano (Athenaeum). His record is filled with catchy rockers and some more laid back numbers. "Falling Apart" is the standout track for me, which should have given this indie artist a much bigger audience.

Go to his web site for more information.

"Feed The Tree" by Belly

Belly was a short-lived 90s band led by the prolific Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, The Breeders). They had a single Top 100 appearance with the gorgeous song, "Feed The Tree", which climbed to #95 in the spring of 1993. It is surprising this tune didn't get to the top of the tree.

Like most songs in the 90s, the lyrics are enigmatic, but that is just one of its charms (along with an unshakably catchy melody sung well). According to Songfacts, "The metaphor is the tree that would be planted on large farms as a point of reference to getting around (the only tree sometimes). Because nothing would grow under the large tree, the family would be buried under it. Hence:  Take your hat off, boy when you're talking to me and be there when I feed the tree." 

"The Art Of Letting Go" by Pat Benatar

The first female artist to get airplay on MTV, Pat Benatar laid the groundwork for many a female rocker. She's had a bevy of well-deserved hits, but this tune is a favorite of mine that doesn't get enough recognition. I would rank the vocal performance in "The Art Of Letting Go" to be among Benatar's best.

"The Art Of Letting Go" concludes Benatar's seventh album, aptly named "Seven The Hard Way". The record came out in 1985 and boasted the hits "Invincible" (which went to #10) and "Sex As A Weapon" (which went to #28). The album itself got to #26. Maybe it would have charted even higher if this song were released as a single?

"Happy" by William Bell

How in the world "Happy" by Memphis R&B artist William Bell wasn't a major hit is beyond me. This infectious tune would make even Dick Cheney dance. On second thought, push that image from your mind and just enjoy the video below.

Bell never really got his due back in the 60s and 70s. He had a few modest hits starting with "You Don't Miss Your Water" in 1962. His biggest hit did not arrive until 1977 with "Tryin' To Love Two", which went to #10. He hasn't been on the chart since. 

Billy Idol must have been a fan, though. He covered Bell's tune, "I Forgot To Be Your Lover", which went to #45 in 1969. Idol took it to #6 in 1986 retitled as "To Be A Lover".

"Looking For A U.F.O." by Adrian Belew

I'm willing to bet many of you never heard of Adrian Belew, but I bet you've heard him perform in some capacity. Discovered by Frank Zappa, Belew was an accomplished singer and guitarist as a sideman for the likes of Talking Heads, David Bowie, and Paul Simon. He was also a member of the prog rock band King Crimson.

Belew's only chart appearance as a solo act was for the song, "Oh Daddy", which made it to #58 in 1989. In 1990, he released his 5th album, "Young Lions", which is filled with a mix of melodic and experimental rock. There is a duet with David Bowie ("Pretty Pink Rose"), a cover of the Traveling Wilburys song, "Not Alone Anymore", and even a broadcast from an evangelist called Prophet Omega.

Among the more accessible cuts is this snappy little number, "Looking For A U.F.O." Not just a great commentary on world affairs, the song also features a pretty obvious nod to the Talking Heads.

"Boyfriend 2" by Terry Anderson

North Carolina singer/songwriter Terry Anderson first broke onto the music scene in the 80s, when his song, "Battleship Chains" was used by The Georgia Satellites. The tune followed-up their monster hit, "Keep Your Hands To Yourself", which went to #2 in 1986. "Battleship Chains" was a great song, but stalled at #86.

After the demise of Georgia Satellites, lead singer Dan Baird went solo and relied on Anderson for another hit. He found it with "I Love You Period", which went to #26 in 1992.

Anderson has released several solo albums as well, filled with gritty bar band music and his trademark sense of humor. "Boyfriend 2" comes from his 2001 record, "I'll Drink To That".

"It's All Been Done" by Barenaked Ladies

Everyone knows the fun-loving and quirky Canadian band, Barenaked Ladies. Whether you've been a fan since their early days in the late 80s, or just like the Big Bang Theory theme song, odds are you appreciate their knack for witty lyrics and clever harmonies. 

The band had their big breakthrough in the US with their album, "Stunt", which hit #3 on the Billboard Top 200. "Stunt" contained their only #1 hit, "One Week", which spent exactly one week at the top of the chart in 1998.

The follow-up single was the super catchy song, "It's All Been Done". This is an amazing tune with bright guitars and crazy infectious harmonies that should have easily sailed into the top 5, but instead it stalled at #44.

  

"Staring Into Space" by BBMak

BBMak?! Hear me out, music fans. Most of us know this English trio more or less as a schmaltzy boy band that got lucky with their one hit from 2000, "Back Here". The single that made them famous helped send their debut album, "Sooner Or Later", to #38 on the Billboard Top 200. Subsequent singles failed to catch on in the US, though.

On their sophomore effort, the boys cranked up the guitars a bit more, bringing a rock edge to their catchy pop songs. "Into Your Head" got to an impressive #25 on the album chart, but failed to generate a hit single. "Out Of My Heart" should have done much better then it did, but it stalled at #56 when released in 2002.

The follow-up single is even better - "Staring Into Space" has an infectious chorus, terrific backing vocals (these guys truly had a gift for harmony), and a snappy guitar line. It's a shame this new direction didn't help BBMak secure more fans - it would have been interesting to see how their sound evolved along this trajectory. But in 2003, the boys broke up and got involved in other projects. 

"Days of the Week" by Stone Temple Pilots (RIP Scott Weiland)

Scott Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots helped define the music of the 90s. They exploded onto the scene in 1993 with "Plush", which earned them a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance, and had a #1 hit record with their sophomore effort, "Purple".

After a couple more successful albums, the band split up and Weiland made some solo records and fronted the supergroup Velvet Revolver. STP got back together with Weiland for a few more years, but his continued problems with substance abuse drove the band apart again. Sadly, Weiland has passed away at the age of 48.

One of the band's last singles was also one of their best. But the musical landscape had shifted when this came out in 2001, so it failed to chart on the Billboard Top 100.

"You Know, I Know" by The Moberlys

Jim Basnight is a singer/songwriter who has been under the radar since his career began in the late 1970s. In addition to his solo work, he's fronted numerous bands, including one called The Moberlys. There is a garage rock urgency to most of his early work, drawing comparisons to bands like The Replacements. "You Know, I Know" is a sunny, 70s-styled pop song that will have you humming the hook for days.

"Anna Lee (Sweetheart of the Sun)" by The Bangles

It is hard to think of the 80s without having The Bangles come to mind. They dominated the charts with numerous hits like "Manic Monday" (#2, 1986), "Walk Like An Egyptian" (#1, 1986), "In Your Room" (#5, 1988) and "Eternal Flame" (#1, 1989). But by the end of the decade, turmoil had set in and the girls parted ways. Susanna Hoffs launched a solo career, which probably would have been more successful had it not come at a time when grunge was chopping off the head of any song that made you smile.

Time heals wounds, so The Bangles eventually got back together and released two more albums, "Doll Revolution" in 2003 and "Sweetheart of the Sun" in 2011. While the latter was only three fourths of the band (Michael Steele sat this one out), it marked a return to the Billboard Top 200, landing at #148.

The title track is a wonderful return to form and should have put The Bangles back in the Top 10.

"Laredo" by Band of Horses

Band of Horses is a sublime modern rock/folk band that strives for melody and harmony, so obviously they aren't going to have any songs charting on the Billboard Top 100. However, they have scored on the album chart and other specialized charts. "Laredo" is from their breakthrough 2010 release, "Infinite Arms", which managed to go all the way to #7 on the Billboard Top 200. "Laredo" was also recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 50 songs of that year. 

"Goodbye Forever" by Balaam And The Angel

Balaam and The Angel was an underrated trio of brothers from Scotland who blended melodic rock with a touch of goth, kind of like The Cult. They should have risen to greater heights in the US during the late 80s, but their biggest album, "Live Free Or Die" only made it to #174, propelled by the underground hit (meaning that it failed to chart), "I Love The Things That You Do To Me".

Their follow-up record didn't even chart in the US, but contained plenty more hard rock and pop anthems, such as this one - "Goodbye Forever":

"Don't Let Me Hide" by The Badlees

The Badlees were a folk rock band from Pennsylvania poised to hit the big time in the mid-90s with their acclaimed release, "River Songs". Their sound fit comfortably alongside other popular artists of the time, such as Counting Crows, Edwin McCain, and Shawn Mullins.

Excitement surrounded their long-awaited follow-up, "Up There, Down Here", which didn't arrive until 1999 due to record label problems.

  
"Don't Let Me Hide", the lead-off single, should have secured this band a bigger place in music history, but it failed to chart.

"I'm Through Loving You" by Balance

Balance was an AOR band that released a single, self-titled album in 1981. The band featured Peppy Castro (Blues Magoos) on vocals and Bob Kulick (brother of Bruce Kulick from Kiss) on guitar. The trio was rounded out by Doug Katsaros on keyboards. 

The band scored one top 40 hit with "Breaking Away", which climbed to #22 in the summer of 1981. The follow-up tune, "Falling In Love", only got to #58.

The only album from the band called Balance reached #133 on the Billboard Top 200.

Fans of 80s pop-rock and AOR should enjoy a lot of the other songs on this underrated release. My favorite is the upbeat rocker, "I'm Through Loving You".

"Straight To Your Heart" by Bad English

Bad English is a reunion of sorts for the classic rock outfit, The Babys, who we recently featured earlier this week. The lineup features lead singer John Waite, keyboardist Jonathan Cain (Journey), and bassist Ricky Phillips, all who played on the Babys album, "On The Edge". Rounding out Bad English were guitarist Neil Schon (Journey) and drummer Deen Castronovo (who would later join Cain and Schon in a Steve Perry-less Journey).

Their self-titled debut album was a big success, spawning the #1 smash, "When I See You Smile", and several other hits. The follow-up record was plagued by internal grumblings that the band's sound was gravitating too close to the "pop" end of the spectrum, away from the "rock" end. The band broke up before mixing of the record was complete, pretty much sealing the record's fate.

"Backlash" was the 1991 sophomore effort from supergroup Bad English.

Nevertheless, "Backlash" reached #72 on the Billboard Top 200 and its lone single almost cracked the top 40 (stalling at #42). It is one of the stronger cuts off this inconsistent album, arguably one of the catchiest rockers the band composed.

"Little Angel" by Bad Company

There aren't too many bands willing or able to move forward after the lead singer decides to leave. Many people probably figured Bad Company was done with the departure of Paul Rodgers in 1982 after six albums, but the band experienced a rebirth with the addition of new vocalist, Brain Howe. Howe used to sing for Ted Nugent but joined forces with original Bad Company members Mike Ralphs and Simon Kirke in 1985. By then, Rodgers was busy singing with The Firm. 

"Fame and Fortune" was the first record with Howe, which failed to generate any major action on the charts. Filled with keyboards to play to 80s trends, the sound was quite askew from the guitar-driven work that fans were expecting. But by the next album, "Dangerous Age", this new version of Bad Company was attracting a new fanbase comprised of melodic rockers falling in love with the remarkable range of Brian Howe.

"Holy Water" (1990) would be the watershed moment for the Brian Howe-era Bad Company. Howe wrote most of the album and it catered to the popular hairband arena rock of the day. "Holy Water" did a number on the charts and marked a huge comeback for the band.

The follow-up record, Howe's last with Bad Company, was released in 1992. While it didn't match the stunning success of "Holy Water", "Here Comes Trouble" did rather well given the dynamic music scene at the time. 

"Here Comes Trouble" reached #40 on the Billboard Top 200 and went gold.

The first single, the excellent "How About That", got to #38, but the power ballad follow-up, "This Could Be The One", died out at #87. "Little Angel" is a catchy mid-tempo rocker that probably would have done well if released a couple years earlier.

"Postcard" by The Babys

Despite a handful of minor hits in the late 70s, classic rock outfit The Babys remains generally underrated. The band "gave birth" to several notable careers in melodic rock:  lead singer John Waite had a solid solo career in the 80s and keyboardist extraordinaire Jonathan Cain (who joined the band in 1979) took to Journey. Those two plus another former member of The Babys, bassist Ricky Phillips, would hit the charts in a big way once again as Bad English in the late 80s.

The Babys released 5 studio albums in their hey day, with "On The Edge" being their last. The album marked a shift from classic rock to melodic rock more fitting to the emerging 80s sound.

"On The Edge" was released in 1980 and went to #71 on the Billboard Top 200.

"On The Edge" only generated one charting single, "Turn And Walk Away", which went to #42. Seems a fitting epitaph for the band, which broke up after this release. An unnoticed cut from this album that I thought deserved better is "Postcard" - check it out.

"Romanticide" by Tal Bachman

It's not surprising that the son of Randy Bachman, from legendary bands The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, would also prove to be a talented singer and songwriter. What is surprising is that he only had one major hit, 1999's "She's So High", which got to #14 on the Billboard Top 100.

Tal Bachman's smash hit "She's So High" was the lead single from his debut album.

Follow-up singles "If You Sleep" and "Strong Enough" failed to chart in the US, effectively making Tal Bachman a one-hit wonder. To my ear, these are two of the weaker songs on the record.

"She's So High" was sufficient to propel his album to #124 on the Billboard Top 200, but I can't help but wonder if greater success could have been attained if the catchy pop rock tune, "Romanticide" would have been released as a follow-up single instead.

 

Other notable cuts from this record include "Darker Side of Blue" and "Looks Like Rain". Tal Bachman released a little-known sophomore effort in 2004 called, "Staring Down The Sun". 

"Painless" by Baby Animals

Despite extraordinary success in their native Australia, the hard rock band Baby Animals couldn't catch a break in the US during the tumultuous music scene of the early 90s. 

"Painless" is a puzzle. It is a terrific song that should have fit comfortably into rock, grunge, or pop - it is crazy that it didn't create a buzz like similar songs such as "Joey" by Concrete Blonde.

"That's The Stuff" by Autograph

80s rockers Autograph are best known for their epic ode to music, "Turn Up The Radio", which went to #29 in 1984. Thanks to the success of this single, their debut album, "Sign In Please", went gold and - strangely enough - also went to #29 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.

The band's follow-up record, "That's The Stuff", was filled with more anthems and feel-good rockers, but fell short. The album only reached #92 and failed to generate a charting single.

After the first single, "Blondes In Black Cars", bombed, the band released the far superior title track. Now this is a song that should have cleaned up the charts in 1986.

"The Crying Scene" by Aztec Camera

Aztec Camera's name now refers to two items of antiquity:  the Aztecs and cameras. This indie pop band from Scotland thrived on the college rock scene during the 80s, delivering their moody but melodic offerings. One of their more eclectic albums, "Stray", nearly made them a household name in the US.

"Stray" was released in 1990 but failed to chart on the Billboard Top 200.

The musical styles on "Stray" run the gamut from lounge, jazz, soft rock, to straight up rock. My favorite was the lead off single, "The Crying Scene", which not only contains sound advice for living, it is a super catchy rock song.

As lead singer Roddy Frame declares in the song, "You only get one hit"...in the US at least, this was the one for Aztec Camera, shooting to #3 on the US Modern Rock chart.

"I Know You're Waiting" by Autopilot Off

Autopilot Off is a melodic punk band that formed back in the mid-1990s and released their one and only major label record nearly 10 years later in 2004.

"Make A Sound" dropped in 2004 and climbed to #119 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.

Some of the songs caught traction, most notably "What I Want", which was co-written by Tim Armstrong of the landmark punk band Rancid. You can clearly hear a Rancid vibe in this song. The track that I keep going back for is "I Know You're Waiting".

In 2005 the band went on hiatus, but they've been releasing a handful of new tracks lately through their web site.

"Beautiful" by Avion

There is a rather confusing history behind the pop rock band called Avion. Avion emerged from the ashes of a band called The Tories, and the common thread here is the talented singer and songwriter Steve Bertrand. Some of the songs from The Tories also appear on this lone release from Avion.

The self-titled record from Avion was released in 2004. 

This is a brilliant, nearly flawless record from start to finish - I don't know how in the world it got overlooked. Filled with catchy, hard-edged pop songs and gorgeous ballads, Avion should have taken the country by storm. My favorite track is "Beautiful" - check it out.

"Flat Tire" by Athenaeum

The North Carolina band Athenaeum arrived on the alternative rock scene in the late 90s with their indie release known as the "Green Album". After selling 10,000 copies or so, the band got signed to a major label and released "Radiance", which spawned the hit "What I Didn't Know". "What I Didn't Know" made it to #58 on the Billboard chart, but subsequent singles from this outstanding record failed to chart. 

"Flat Tire" was released as a follow-up and, in a perfect world, would have catapulted the band to the heights of counterparts like Gin Blossoms or Better Than Ezra. "Flat Tire" is a wonderful song, building to a soaring chorus with superb harmonies. 

Athenaeum released a couple more records but further success eluded the band. Lead singer and songwriter Mark Kano has released some excellent solo work; co-founder Nic Brown became a writer and English professor at Clemson University. 

Released in 1998, Athenaeum's major label debut boasts several should have been hits, including "Flat Tire", "On My Mind", "No One", and "Unnoticed"

"Time For Livin'" by The Association

The Association was one of the biggest bands of the late-60s, boasting a string of classic hits like the number one smashes "Windy" and "Cherish", the #2 smash "Never My Love", and other top 10 hits like "Along Comes Mary" and "Everything That Touches You".

A lesser known single by the group is "Time For Livin'", which just barely broke the top 40 by reaching #39 in 1968. The track comes from the band's "Birthday" album, which climbed to #23 on the Billboard Top 200 that same year. Some days, all you need is a sunny song like "Time For Livin'" to put life back in perspective.

Like "Never My Love", "Time For Livin'" was written by The Addrisi Brothers, who got a nod from Off The Charts here. "Time For Livin'" would prove to be the band's last song to hit the top 40.

"An Extraordinary Life" by Asia

The 1980s was the decade for AOR, especially bands who liked to name themselves after continents. Asia had a good run back in the day, scoring a handful of hits including two that broke the top 10: "Heat of the Moment" (#4 in 1982) and "Don't Cry" (#10 in 1983). 

The band faded from the airways by 1990 and it might surprise some of you that they are still releasing records. Much to the delight of their fanbase, Asia has always stayed true to their prog rock roots, writing like it is still 1982.

In 2008, Asia released their 11th album,"Phoenix". The record is aptly named as it features the four original members who made the quadruple platinum debut record in 1982.

How badly were fans eager to hear the original line up of Asia? The record debuted at an impressive #73 on the Billboard Top 200. The band's last appearance on that chart was back in 1990 when their hybrid greatest hits/new songs release, "Then and Now", went to #114.

I'm not a huge fan of progressive music, but I love a nice slab of catchy melodic rock. The closing track on "Phoenix" fits the bill: "An Extraordinary Life" is an extraordinary song.

"Me Myself I" by Joan Armatrading

Joan Armatrading has earned a great deal of critical acclaim through the decades and found commercial success around much of the world; however, in the US, she's often considered a one-hit wonder since "Drop The Pilot" is her only chart appearance (hitting a modest #78 in 1983).

Armatrading is known for incorporating a variety of different genres into her eclectic songs. But at the start of the 80s, her record "Me Myself I" marked a transition to more radio-friendly pop. 

Armatrading's 1980 album, "Me Myself I", was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who also worked with Blondie.

While it didn't churn out any charting singles, "Me Myself I" turned out to be Armatrading's highest charting album in the US, reaching #28 in 1980. The title track is one of my favorite songs by this underrated artist.

Brian Vander Ark - Resurrection

Brian Vander Ark is the man behind the huge 90s hit, "The Freshman", which his band, The Verve Pipe, took all the way to #5 on the Billboard Chart in 1996. The single helped propel their album, "Villains", to #24 and platinum sales, but despite this success a follow-up hit eluded the band.



Brian Vander Ark released his first solo record, "Resurrection", in 2004. The contemplative lyrics remain a strong suit in his solo work and the music is markedly more "coffeehouse" than alt rock. The formula works well for Vander Ark's storytelling vocals.

He's released a number of additional solo albums since then, as well as albums with a reunited Verve Pipe, but "Resurrection" is the one I always find myself going back to...here are the main reasons why:

"People Are Only Sorry When They're Caught" by Graham Alexander

Who says nobody makes good music these days? New Jersey singer/songwriter Graham Alexander released a new record late last year entitled, "Repeat Deceiver", which should be making this rising star a household name. It isn't easy to pigeon-hole his style into a single genre, and maybe that's what makes this record so much fun to listen to over and over again.

My favorite track is below - check him out today.

Tasmin Archer – “Great Expectations”

Arriving on the scene in 1993, Tasmin Archer provided an alternative to the alternative rock and grunge saturating the music scene. Her keen songwriting skills and amazing voice should have propelled her debut record, “Great Expectations” to extraordinary heights. Despite reaching #1 in the UK and Ireland, the leadoff single, “Sleeping Satellite”, only rose to #32 in the US.  

Tasmin Archer’s debut record, “Great Expectations”, went to #115 on the US Billboard Top 200. It deserved to go much higher.

“Great Expectations” is one of those records I can play in its entirety and never have the urge to hit the "skip" button. Archer’s voice can be delicately soulful or anguished and raspy. She writes poignant and thoughtful lyrics and sings them with equal passion. “In Your Care” is one of the most striking songs I’ve ever heard about abuse.

Some of my favorite tracks from the record are below – the music has held up well with age and you won’t regret adding this one to your collection.

“Hush” by Billy Joe Royal (RIP)

In honor of Billy Joe Royal, who passed away Tuesday, I’d like to highlight one of his underrated songs from 1967. While most people are probably familiar with this classic, it only reached #52 on the Billboard chart.

Deep Purple made "Hush" a household song in 1968, landing at an impressive #4 on the charts. 

Billy Joe Royal stormed onto the pop scene in 1965 with his smash hit, “Down In The Boondocks”, which went to #9. He never topped this hit, but came close with singles like “I Knew You When” and “Cherry Hill Park”. He transitioned to country in the 80s and found additional success, scoring 15 hits on the country charts.

Read more here:  SingerBilly Joe Royal dies

“I’ll Bring The Whole World To Your Door” by Angel

One night when he was taking a break from entertaining groupies with his freakishly long tongue, Gene Simmons was hanging out at a nightclub and got turned on by the sound of a glam band called Angel. He was so enamored with them that he convinced Casablanca, the record label that signed Kiss, to bring Angel onboard. Known for their all-white attire, they looked like the opposite of Kiss, whose members were always dressed in black. But musically, these two bands had quite a bit in common.

Through the late 70s, Angel’s songs evolved from long prog rock pieces to shorter pop rock nuggets. Angel deserved more, but only had two charting singles – “That Magic Touch” went to #77 in 1977 and “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore” went to #44 in 1978.

But the song I’d like to highlight here is from the band’s 1979 record, “Sinful” – arguably their most radio-friendly. “I’ll Bring The Whole World To Your Door” is a melodic rock masterpiece that captures the essence of 70s rock radio.

Angel’s lead singer Frank DiMino went on to sing “Seduce Me Tonight” for the Flashdance soundtrack and actually put out a new solo album this year. Keyboardist Gregg Giuffria scored some modest hits in the 80s with his new band, Giuffria, and later with House Of Lords. 

Cover songs – Anberlin

Modern rock band Anberlin masterfully blends musical genres and it seems they have a fondness for 80s music. You’ll hear hints of synth pop and industrial music in many of their original songs, but they’ve also covered a number of 80s hits.

Here they are performing “Enjoy The Silence”, which was Depeche Mode’s biggest hit ever, landing at #8 on the Billboard chart in early 1990.

They also covered “The Promise”, from the one-hit wonders, When In Rome, who took the song to #11 in 1988.

Anberlin has also covered the classic 1986 Smiths song, “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”.

Anberlin has covered other tunes beyond the 80s…including Radiohead’s “Creep” and this classic from Bob Dylan.

All of the above cover songs can be found on Anberlin’s 2007 release, “Lost Songs”.

“We Can’t Be Friends” by American Hi-Fi

The third album by alternative rock band American Hi-Fi was a pretty big departure for the band. With Butch Walker at the helm as producer, the album was markedly more lighthearted and melodic than its grittier predecessors.   

“Hearts on Parade” was released in Japan in 2004, but got its US release in 2005.

Most people remember this band for their breakout single, “Flavor of the Weak”, which just missed the Billboard Top 40 in 2001. The leadoff single from “Hearts on Parade” was “The Geeks Get the Girls”, but it failed to chart. Nevertheless, the album reached #129 on the Billboard Top 200.

The track I keep going back to is “We Can’t Be Friends”. The band's sense of humor is on full display in the lyrics, and the chorus is one of the catchiest the band has ever written. Overall, a very slick and memorable song!

“Playing The Game” by AM

“Troubled Times” may be one of the best albums of the 2000s that you’ve never heard – but I’m willing to bet you’ll recognize some of the tracks. While none found its way onto the Billboard Top 100 chart, all 10 songs on this debut album by AM were placed in a TV show or movie.

“Troubled Times” is the 2005 debut album from singer/songwriter AM.

My favorite from the record is the catchy gem, “Playing The Game” – check it out below.

“Ordinary” by The Alternate Routes

Singer/songwriter Tim Warren and guitarist Eric Donnelly formed The Alternate Routes in the early 2000s. You may have heard their single from 2007 called “Time Is A Runaway”, which the band played on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, or their more recent song, “Nothing More”, which received airplay on the popular TV show NCIS. “Nothing More” was inspired by the group Newtown Kindness, which formed following the 2012 school shooting in the band’s home state of Connecticut.

The Alternate Routes first released their debut record, “Good and Reckless and True”, in 2005. It was re-released by Vanguard Records in 2007 with different artwork.

“Ordinary” is the lead-off track from “Good and Reckless and True”, and remains one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. I’m not alone in acknowledging this song's greatness, as it won an Independent Music Award in 2006. 

Warren is at his most earnest singing this song, asking “When you die will you be surrounded by friends?” The song lures you in gently and then builds to a chill-inducing climax – Warren’s vocal performance towards the end will leave you speechless.

“Fallen Angel” by Alphaville

Hailing from Germany, the synth pop band Alphaville struggled to find chart success in the US despite their notable achievements in Europe. Even “Forever Young”, the song that comes to mind when most people think of Alphaville, only reached #65 on the US Billboard chart.

“Forever Young” was the first and most successful album from Alphaville. Released in 1984, it went to #1 in three European countries, yet only reached #180 in the US.

The sound of 80s synth pop is unmistakable, instantly dating the song to that era. Wildly popular at the time, especially in dance clubs, it is a bygone genre. Many people still love it for nostalgic reasons, but buried under all those keyboards were some mighty good songs.

I submit that “Fallen Angel” by Alphaville as one of them. It gets off to a fairly unremarkable start, but then launches into one of the most beautifully addictive choruses of the decade.

Another hidden gem on this release is the peppy song, “Lies”.

“Fever” by Aerosmith

The mighty Aerosmith needs no introduction, but there is a deep track on their massively successful album, “Get A Grip” that deserves highlighting.

“Get A Grip” became Aerosmith’s first #1 album in 1993. Despite the grunge takeover, this traditional rock record spawned four top 40 singles and went platinum 7 times.

Aerosmith was one of the few classic rock bands that sustained a string of hits during the 90s after grunge put most glam/hair band/hard rock bands to bed. The four singles released from “Get A Grip” that hit the Billboard Top 100 were all power ballads and doctored by hit-makers who knew how to make something radio-friendly.

The strategy worked well, but as a consequence there are some great rockers on “Get A Grip” that went overlooked. One of the best is “Fever”, a rousing rocker in the finest Aerosmith tradition that needed no tweaking by so-called “song doctors”.

In a rather unexpected move, country superstar Garth Brooks later covered this Aerosmith tune as “The Fever”, with altered lyrics. In an even more unexpected move, Steven Tyler will be releasing a country album this year.

Despite the album’s success, and the many others in Aerosmith’s impressive catalogue, the band never hit #1 on the singles chart until 1998 with “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”, written by Diane Warren for the Bruce Willis movie “Armageddon”.  Incidentally, Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv co-starred in this movie.