Monday, October 31, 2016

"Haze" by Dishwalla

Dishwalla is one of many one-hit post-grunge wonders from the 90s, rising to fame with "Counting Blue Cars". That song drove to #15 in 1996 and helped move their debut album, "Pet Your Friends", to #89. They released another cool song called "Charlie Brown's Parents" but it didn't see any chart success on the Top 100.

"Pet Your Friends" is filled with great tunes that should have made this band at least as successful as others of the era. J.R. Richards has an amazing voice and the band uses dynamic textures throughout the music to keep things interesting. "Haze" should have been a huge hit, as well as the gorgeous ballad, "Give".

The band released a follow-up record in 1998 called "And You Think You Know What Life's About", but it stalled at #164 without a charting single. Their third album, the sublime "Opaline", fared even worse at #192. It lacks a commercial feel, but the album is amazing.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

"Through Different Eyes" by Rosemary Butler

Sounding just like Pat Benatar, the terrific Rosemary Butler was robbed as a solo artist. She got her start in high school in an all-girl band called the Ladybirds on bass and vocals. They ended up opening for the Rolling Stones, but Butler left to join a hard rock outfit named Birtha.

Butler became an accomplished back up vocalist and sang on many well-known records. She's recorded with the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and Bonnie Raitt. She released a solo album in 1983 called "Rose", but it failed to chart. "Through Different Eyes" is just one of many great cuts from this underrated record (which also features Linda Ronstadt returning the favor as a guest vocalist).

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

"Sweetheart" by Died Pretty

Died Pretty is a little-known Australian band that should have gained a bigger worldwide audience with their track "Sweetheart". This moody and memorable ballad was released in 1991 from their fourth album, "Doughboy Hollow".

Monday, October 24, 2016

"Samantha" by Diesel

Netherlands rock band Diesel only had one minor hit in the US with "Sausalito Summernight", which sat at #25 in 1981. It is one of the catchiest tunes of that year, with an infectious guitar riff that never escapes your head after hearing it. The success of that song helped propel their record, "Watts In A Tank" to #68 that same year. After this, the band inexplicably dropped off the radar in the US.

"Samantha" is another poppy tune with great harmonies that beg you to sing along. It came from their 1988 effort, which never saw the light of day in the US.


Friday, October 21, 2016

"Prozak (Be Like Me)" by Dexter Freebish

Dexter Freebish is not named after anyone in the band, but this group of guys from Austin, Texas know how to write a good pop rock song. In case you were curious, they are named after an amusement park ride in Houston called "Dexter Freebish's Electric Roller Ride".

The band has scored two wins in the John Lennon Songwriting contest, first with "Leaving Town" and then with this song here. "Prozak (Be Like Me)" comes from their 2004 album, "Tripped Into Divine". Despite winning the prestigious awards, the band's songs have inexplicably not landed on the Top 100. Talk about needing some Prozak...

Thursday, October 20, 2016

"I'm Alive" by Neil Diamond

One of the finest singer/songwriters of the 70s and 80s, Neil Diamond is ranked #29 of the greatest artists of all-time in the Joel Whitburn Top Pop Singles book. He actually made his first top 40 appearance in 1966 with "Cherry, Cherry", which soared to #6.

Through his stellar career, Diamond hit the #1 spot three times: in 1970 with "Cracklin' Rosie", 1972 with "Song Sung Blue", and 1978 with "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". Despite the changing musical tide, he stayed strong in the 80s, with one of his biggest songs - "Heartlight" - inspired by the smash hit movie E.T. in 1982- it went to #5 on the Top 100.

The wonderfully upbeat and optimistic tune "I'm Alive" would prove to be Diamond's last appearance in the top 40, dying at #35 in 1983. I think it deserved much better.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

"Boomchild" by Dennis DeYoung

After leaving the legendary band Styx, Dennis DeYoung struck out for a promising solo career. He hit it big out of the gate with "Desert Moon" in 1984, but it would prove to be his only top 40 hit as a solo artist (it went to #10). The follow-up single, "Don't Wait For Heroes" fumbled at #83.

For his second solo outing, he released the song "Call Me" (not a Blondie cover), but it hung up at #54. His career on the singles chart ended in 1986 with "This Is The Time", which couldn't rise past #93 even after being featured in Karate Kid Part II.

"Boomchild" is a great AOR track from his third album of the same name. Remarkably, this album didn't even hit the Top 200 - it should have been a comeback for DeYoung, who proved with this record that he still had excellent songwriting chops. Check out "Harry's Hands" and "Beneath The Moon" too.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

"Fight" by Lee DeWyze

Lee DeWyze had a smattering of charting cover tunes from his days on the ninth season of American Idol, the biggest one being "Beautiful Day", which hit #24 in 2010. He would go on to win the competition that year, but hasn't had chart success in the post-Idol world. 

His first album after the show, "Live It Up", didn't produce a hit. It was filled with generic pop and wasn't true to the vision DeWyze had as a artist. He got free of the label's demands and reinvented himself, but still can't seem to make a significant dent on the charts.

It shouldn't be this way. DeWyze has a soulful voice and plays real music from the heart. His 2013 album, "Frames", is fantastic folk rock. It has a Lumineers vibe and sounds very contemporary, but only reached #116 on the Billboard Top 200. "Fight" is the lead off track from that record.

If you are a fan of Walking Dead, you may know DeWyze better as the artist who sang a song featured on the show, "Blackbird Song".


Monday, October 17, 2016

"Who Says" by Device

Today, most people think of a heavy metal band when they hear the name "Device", but the original name belongs to an 80s synth-pop band. They had a single record released in 1986 that went to #73 called "22B3".

Device met with some modest chart success, first with "Hanging On A Heart Attack" (#35) and then "Who Says" (#79). The lead singer, Paul Engemann, then left the band to sing for another classic 80s dance band, Animotion. Keyboardist and bassist Holly Knight is a prolific songwriter and also used to be in the band called Spider.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

"Almost Saturday Night" by Karla DeVito

Karla DeVito (no relation to Danny) rose to fame as a backup singer on Meatloaf's classic "Bat Out Of Hell" tour. Her solo career never took off, though, despite her bright yet meaty vocals. Her debut album, "Is This A Cool World Or What" almost spawned a top 100 hit with her cover of the Grass Roots's "Midnight Confession". Another well done cover on this record is her version of "Just One Smile", originally by Blood, Sweat & Tears. Her cover of John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night" is my favorite, though. 

DeVito released another noncharting record in 1986 called "Wake 'Em Up In Tokyo" and also had a song called "We Are Not Alone" featured on the soundtrack to The Breakfast Club

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

"Somebody" by Depeche Mode

English band Depeche Mode is one of the most successful synthpop bands ever. After amassing an underground fan base in the early 80s with (now) classics like "I Just Can't Get Enough" and "Everything Counts", they stormed onto the American charts with their powerful anthem "People Are People", which reached #13 in 1985 and remains one of their best known hits.

Depeche Mode struggled to keep a presence in the US top 40 throughout the rest of the 80s, but came back in a big way in 1990 with the release of their album "Violator", which hit #7 and remains their biggest selling record. Driven by clever pop hits like "Personal Jesus" (#28), "Enjoy The Silence" (#8), and "Policy Of Truth" (#15), the band enjoyed a huge resurgence.

While still remaining popular even today, the band never captured that kind of chart success again. Their next album, 1993's "Songs Of Faith And Devotion", would be their one and only #1 record, but it only spawned one top 40 hit, the leadoff single "I Feel You" (#37). 1997 would be their last top 40 appearance to date, with "It's No Good" landing at #38.

Chart performance aside, the band's rich catalogue is filled with other goodies that should have been more widely known. "Somebody" is arguably the band's greatest ballad - touching and simple, it is amazing that this song didn't grab more attention when released in 1985. Quite unique, the song is recorded over background noise - a crowded restaurant or amusement park - providing an interesting texture for the ears. The transcendent beauty of the piano melody stands out even more as it soars above the more ordinary everyday noise.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

"Not Where It's At" by Del Amitri

Del Amitri had a pretty good run in the 90s, but it should've been bigger. The Glasgow band kicked off their chart history with 1990's "Kiss This Thing Goodbye", which hit #35. While the rest of the world went grunge, they maintained their cerebral songwriting and taste for a tuneful melody. "Always The Last To Know" reached #30 in 1992.

Their biggest hit arrived in 1995 with the crazy catchy "Roll To Me" - it hit #10 and should have been the launchpad for a sustained career. But it ended up being their last appearance on the top 100.

In 1997, they released their last charting album, "Some Other Sucker's Parade". It failed to spawn any charting singles, but still managed to climb to #160. To this day, I am puzzled why it didn't do better. Infectious songs like "Not Where It's At" fit nicely with the post-grunge return to pop rock.

Lead singer and songwriter Justin Currie has released a number of solo efforts since the band broke up.

Monday, October 10, 2016

"Next To Me (Wait A Minute Sister)" by Gavin DeGraw

I'm finding it a little hard to believe that New York singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw has been gracing the charts now since 2004. His biggest hit to date remains his first, the infectious "I Don't Want To Be", which soared to #10.

His self-titled sophomore effort continued his streak, scoring DeGraw another charting single with "In Love With A Girl", which went to #24. I'm not sure why this album wasn't mined for additional hits - it is full of them. "Next To Me (Wait A Minute Sister)" has a very catchy chorus and interesting chords - I thought this one would give him another top 10 hit, but what do I know?


Friday, October 7, 2016

"Miles In Front Of Me" by Dead Daisies

Who says nobody makes good rock and roll these days? The Dead Daisies is a unique outfit composed of a lot of rotating members from bands like INXS, Guns N' Roses, The Cult, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and more. John Corabi, one-time Motley Crue vocalist, currently sings for Dead Daisies. 

The band also has the distinction of being the first western rockers to play Cuba since relations were reestablished by President Obama in 2015.

This terrific track comes from their debut record from 2013.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

"Count On Me" by Default

Canadian post-grunge band Default had a minor hit in 2002 with "Wasting My Time", which hit #13. That lone hit was enough to secure the band a platinum album with their debut, "The Fallout", which hit #51.

They had a sophomore jinx with the second album, "Elocation", which stalled at #105. They retooled their sound to be more like Nickelback for the third album, 2005's "One Thing Remains". The album only went to #90 and failed to get the band back on the singles chart, but the wonderful "Count On Me" should have done that.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

"Heaven Is" by Def Leppard

English pop rockers Def Leppard were launched into the stratosphere with the mega-successful "Hysteria", their fourth album and first #1 (1987). The album's singles got off to a lackluster start, with "Women" landing at #80 and "Animal" hitting #19. Then came the title track. The ballad gave the band their first top 10 hit, landing at #10. Riding the momentum, they next scored with the classic "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (#2) and finally their first and only #1, "Love Bites". Remarkably, they had two more charting singles from "Hysteria":  "Armageddon It" hit #3 and "Rocket" hit #12.

Expectations were high for a follow-up record, but it was a long wait until 1992 and the music scene had changed in a big way. The first single, "Let's Get Rocked" tried to emulate the style of "Pour Some Sugar On Me", and reached an admirable #15. The album, "Adrenalize", would spawn several more charting singles and hit #1, but ultimately played second fiddle to "Hysteria". 

A terrific pop rocker that got lost in the mix from "Adrenalize" was "Heaven Is". Not sure why this song did not reach the upper echelons of the chart.

Def Leppard's last appearance on the singles chart was in 1995 with "When Love & Hate Collide", which hit #58. They've been releasing some terrific material over the years but it only seems to resonate with old fans.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

"Nothing Succeeds Like Success" by Bill Deal & The Rhondels

From the beaches of Virginia, singer Bill Deal formed the Rhondels to round out a brassy rock and pop sound. The band had some modest hits as the 60s transitioned into the 70s, beginning with "May I" at the start of 1969. Their rendition of Maurice Williams' "May I" just broke into the top 40, landing at #39. The band's biggest hit would be "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am", which climbed to #23 later in 1969.

"Nothing Succeeds Like Success" only reached #62 in 1970, but remains one of my favorites from this underrated band. A catchy little ditty!

Monday, October 3, 2016

"High On Emotion" by Chris de Burgh

In the US, Chris de Burgh is largely known for his biggest hit, the gentle balled "The Lady In Red". The song swooned all the way to #3 in 1987 and gave him his highest charting album too ("Into The Light" reached #25). Despite being his biggest single yet, "The Lady In Red" was de Burgh's last appearance on the chart.

There is no question de Burgh is a talented balladeer, but he put out plenty of upbeat guitar and synth rockers too. His biggest was "Don't Pay The Ferryman", which went to #34 in 1983. It came from his debut charting record, "The Getaway", which ran up to #43.

In-between those two records was the underrated "Man On The Line". This album only reached #69, but it contains one of the best songs in de Burgh's catalogue, "High On Emotion". It only went to #44 in 1984, and in my opinion, deserved much better.