"Aw Shucks (It Was Nothing)" by Rupert Holmes

The name Rupert Holmes is forever linked to the infamous story of infidelity told in his #1 smash from 1980, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)." Most people forget he had another top ten hit with his hymn, "Him," which hit #6 that same year.

Rupert Holmes began his career in the early 70s and a jingle writer and songwriter, and debuted his first album, "Widescreen," in 1974. It spawned zero hits, but got the attention of Barbara Streisand, who recorded some of the tunes for her smash movie, A Star is Born. It allowed him to keep making albums that eventually led to his breakthrough record, "Partners In Crime," which delivered his two top ten singles.

Holmes is best known for his story-driven adult contemporary songs, but his catalogue is quite quirky and diverse. He did a homage to The Beatles with "I Don't Want To Hold Your Hand," tributes to his father's classical musician career ("Second Saxophone"), songs that showed his sense of humor ("Everything Gets Better When You're Drunk"), and a lullaby to his daughter called "Touch and Go." He even has some rockers like "Aw Shucks (It Was Nothing)," from his 1976 record called "Singles."

There's a lot more to this guy than Pina Coladas.

"Hey Willy" by The Hollies

The pop rock band, The Hollies, formed by Graham Nash and Allan Clarke, had a string of hits through the late 60s and early 70s. Their big breakthrough came with the classic "Bus Stop," which stopped at #5 in 1966, quickly followed with another "stop" song: "Stop Stop Stop," which hit #7. The band scored several more top 10 hits, but never landed at #1. The closest they got was "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)," which hit #2 for 2 weeks in 1972.

The magic of the Hollies had run its course by 1975, when "Another Night" topped out at #71. The band would reunite to score one more chart hit in 1983 with a cover of the Eddie Holland-written song "Stop In The Name Of Love," which they took to #29.

"Hey Willy" is a jamming tune that reminds me of Bread when they were rocking out. Released in 1971, it failed to break into the top 100.

"Candy To Me" by Eddie Holland

Hailing from Detroit, Motown artist Eddie Holland first scored a hit with "Jamie" in 1962 - that tune went to #30 and would remain his best chart performance. He wrote plenty of other songs for other Motown artists, but should have had more hits on his own. "Candy To Me" is surely one of them, but it stalled at #58 in 1964.

"Boys On The Radio" by Hole

Actress and rock star Courtney Love scored three chart appearances with her band, Hole, in the 90s. Love's life has been peppered with tragedies, including the deaths of her husband Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) and Hole's bassist, Kristen Pfaff, both in 1994 when Hole's breakthrough album arrived. 

"Doll Parts" hit #58 that year, but the band's follow-up record in 1998 was even more radio-friendly, earning "Celebrity Skin" and "Malibu" spots at #56 and #81, respectively. Both of those singles were co-written with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins.

Hole's 1998 record had plenty of other good tunes, including "Boys On The Radio." It's another acoustic-based rocker like "Malibu," and could have had charting potential.

"Boys In The Street" by Greg Holden

Once in a while you hear a song that just grabs you by the heartstrings and pulls so tight that you are forced to stop everything, sit down, and listen. That kind of moment doesn’t happen often, but when it does you remember it. This is what happened to me when I first heard Greg Holden’s song, “Boys In The Street”. The video, which uses mannequins to portray the story in the song, is equally moving.

Holden is a British singer/songwriter who moved to New York and made his biggest mark yet co-writing the monster hit, “Home”, sung by Phillip Phillips on American Idol in 2012. Holden also wrote “The Lost Boy”, a song inspired by the Dave Eggers’s novel, “What Is The What”, which also appeared on the hit show, “Sons of Anarchy”.

“Chase The Sun” is packed with terrific songs, including the lead off single from earlier this year called, “Hold On Tight”. Also noteworthy is the soaring “A Wonderful World” the Bob Dylan styled tune, “I Won’t Forget”.

"Thoughts & Prayers" by Will Hoge

Will Hoge is a singer/songwriter from Tennessee who is a modern day folk rock artist drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. The prolific and ever busy Hoge has been cranking out albums since his debut, "Carousel," in 2001. His major label debut arrived next with "Blackbird On A Lonely Wire" in 2003. It failed to chart, but Hoge has released 7 more records, finally cracking the Top 200 in 2013 with "Never Give In" (seems an appropriate title to match this feat).

In a logical music world, Hoge would be a household name. His songs are packed with raw emotion and an inspiring urgency, and his lyrical gifts make them worthy of repeated spins. Guitarist Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) is a member of Hoge's band.

This new song encapsulates everything I love about the clever songwriting skills in Hoge. In full Bob Dylan mode, "Thoughts & Prayers," expresses what millions of Americans are trying to say in these baffling times.

"Only Love" by Susanna Hoffs

One of the most beloved voices behind the hit-making 80s phenomenon known as The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs seemed poised to have a successful solo career when the band broke up. But the 90s were not particularly kind to sunny pop.

Susanna released her first solo record in 1991 and scored a minor hit with the first single, "My Side of The Bed," which hit #30. She would see one other chart entry in 1996 when "All I Want" went to #77.

"Only Love" was also released from her debut solo effort, but it surprisingly did not light up the charts with its bright and catchy chorus. Never too late to discover this underrated gem.

And for those who don't know, Hoffs later teamed up with Matthew Sweet to make a series of cover albums called "Under The Covers."

"Keep The Blue Skies" by Cliff Hillis

From the 2012 album, "Dream Good," "Keep The Blue Skies" is one of the best songs of that year. Cliff Hillis is the indie singer/songwriter behind this great little tune of optimism, and he has much more where that came from. Before his solo career, Hillis was a member of the underground power pop favorites, Starbelly. He then played with John Faye in the John Faye Power Trip before starting his solo career in 2001 with the album "Be Seeing You."  

"Every Boys Fantasy" by Dan Hill

When most people hear the name Dan Hill they, well they probably don't remember anything unless they're from his native land of Canada. He had plenty of hits there, but limited success in the US.

Most people will recall his two biggest hits, the ballads "Sometimes When We Touch," which hit #3 in 1977 and "Can't We Try," which hit #6 in 1987. The latter came from his self-titled 1987 record (his debut 1975 record was also self-titled) and was a duet with Vonda Shepard. Her stunning vocal no doubt played a major role in getting Hill back on the charts after a ten year absence, but they didn't even spell her name right on the album (Sheppard). Nevertheless, Shepard made out just fine and soon went on to be a regular on the show Ally McBeal.

But Hill did more than just ballads. A pretty groovy cut from his 1987 album that actually jams a bit is "Every Boys Fantasy." If you're looking for a laugh that encapsulates everything that was wrong about the 80s, check out "Pleasure Centre."

"Tug Of War" by Highway 9

This little-known band from New Jersey carries a torch for Bruce Springsteen but sounds more like The Eagles. They used to go by the name Samhill and Mr. Reality, the latter having made one of my favorite records of all-time. Stay tuned until we get to the M's for more on that album.

Highway 9 released "What In Samhill?" in 2002, and it sounds like a proper follow-up, albeit somewhat inferior, to their work done as Mr. Reality. But tracks like "Tug Of War" below and "Between Your Eyes And Mine" and "Say You're Mine" are pure acoustic rock bliss. The band's trademark harmonies are terrific and I wish we would have heard much more from them.

"Have A Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt

You've got to be kidding me! John Hiatt has never had a single song chart on the hot 100? Criminal! This legendary, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter has been writing hits for years, but they only land on the charts when other artists cover them. One of the most prolific artists of our time, he currently has 22 studio albums under his belt.

Hiatt's first taste of success goes back to 1974, when his song "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" was made into a #16 hit for Three Dog Night. Some of his other famous tunes include Jeff Healey's "Angel Eyes," which peaked at #5 in 1989 and Bonnie Raitt's version of "Thing Called Love."

Hiatt's 1987 album (his eighth) was his first to chart and yielded several of his classics, including the gorgeous "Have A Little Faith In Me." The song has been covered by many, from Bon Jovi to Jewel to Joe Cocker. It's never cracked the top 100.

"Into Your Life" by Nick Heyward

Nick Heyward was a member of the one-hit wonder band from the 80s called Haircut One Hundred. That band scored a #37 hit in 1982 with "Love Plus One."

Fast forward a little more than ten years later and Nick Heyward appeared to be gaining some traction as a solo artist. His 1994 song "Kite" acquired some decent airplay but not enough to chart. The song came from his excellent album, "From Monday to Sunday," which is filled with power pop gems. "Into Your Life" is one of the highlights for me.

"Air I'm Breathing" by Todd Herfindal

Todd Herfindal is an indie singer/songwriter you may know from a band called The Meadows. He's released a few standout solo records as well, this track coming from his 2008 effort called "Collective." I liken his sound to Tom Petty or The Jayhawks. He definitely deserves mainstream success - give a listen to one of my favorite tracks by this promising artist, "Air I'm Breathing."

"Sunshine Girl" by Herman's Hermits

Formed in Manchester in 1963, Herman's Hermits had a stellar career as part of the British Invasion that decade. Right place, right time, but also the right songs. A long string of hits has made this band the 165th most successful of all-time, and the 26th most successful artist of the 60s. In addition to 9 other top 10 hits, they scored two #1 songs: "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am," both in 1965.

While Herman's Hermits quickly rose to fame, they also quickly faded away. By the end of the decade, they struggled to stay on the charts, a streak that ended in 1968 when "Sleepy Joe" topped out at #61.

"Sunshine Girl" was released and 1968 but failed to chart. It's a terrific pop song but I guess the world had had enough of Herman's Hermits by then. Vocalist Peter Noone would move on with a solo career, but he didn't score any charting singles.

"You Can't Make Love" by Don Henley

Drummer and vocalist for the Eagles, Don Henley has also enjoyed a successful solo career. His first charting single as a "lone eagle" wasn't completely solo, as it was a duet with the great Stevie Nicks. "Leather and Lace" went all the way to #6 in 1981. Henley would have another massive duet with Patty Smyth in 1992 when "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" spent 6 weeks at #2 - the biggest hit of his solo career.

After scoring with "Leather and Lace," Henley put out his first proper single from his debut solo record, "I Can't Stand Still." The peppy "Johnny Can't Read" stalled at #42, but Henley's next single, "Dirty Laundry," made out much better, spending 3 weeks at #3 in 1982. When the title track stalled at #48, we heard nothing more from this album make its way onto the chart.

Henley's second record was more successful, yielding four top 40 hits including one of his most well-known classics, "The Boys of Summer," which peaked at #5. Henley's third album continued a hot streak, producing the landmark song co-written with Bruce Hornsby, "The End of the Innocence" (#8). Four more charting singles would follow from the album of the same name.

After taking time out for most of the 90s to enjoy a hugely successful reunion with the Eagles, Henley's last appearance as a solo artist came in 2000, when "Taking You Home" reached #58.

"You Can't Make Love" is yet another terrific cut from his sophomore effort, "Building The Perfect Beast." Arguably his best record, this one also contains the underrated song "Not Enough Love In The World," which surprisingly only reached #34.

"The Wind Cries Mary" by Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is a legend, but you might not know that just by looking at his chart performance. His only top 40 hit was the raging cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower," which topped out at #20 in 1968. Some of his best known tunes like "Purple Haze" and "Foxey Lady" only reached #65 and #67, respectively.

One of my favorites, his beautifully melancholy ballad, "The Wind Cries Mary," didn't even chart. The song was written after he and his girlfriend at the time got into a huge fight...over lumpy mashed potatoes. Sadly, Hendrix's career was cut short when he died of asphyxiation in 1970 at the age of 27. He remains one of the most influential guitarists of all-time.

"Itchy Twitchy Feeling" by Bobby Hendricks

If you didn't know better, you might mistake this tune for one done by The Coasters. Couldn't blame you, as The Coasters do the backing vocals on this biggest hit for R&B singer Bobby Hendricks. Prior to "Itchy Twitchy Feeling," which went to #25 in 1958, Hendricks sang lead for a group called The Swallows and also spent some time with the Drifters. Hendricks sand on their song, "Drip Drop."

Hendricks had one more charting single, "Psycho," in 1960. The tune went to #73 and featured the New York DJ Dr. Jive as the man speaking as the psychiatrist.

"Love, Love, Love" by Bobby Hebb

Nashville native Bobby Hebb got his first taste of fame in the Grand Ole Opry at the of 12. He shifted from country to pop with a hint of R&B and landed a huge hit in 1966 with "Sunny," which stayed at #2 for 2 weeks. He scored another minor hit with the follow-up single, "A Satisfied Mind," which peaked at #39. At the end of 1966, "Love Me" became his last charting hit, stalling at #84.

The wonderfully peppy tune, "Love, Love, Love," never charted, which seems surreal to me. Why wasn't this terrific song from the "Sunny" album released?

"Nobody Home" by Heart

Hailing from Seattle, the Wilson sisters Ann and Nancy brought their band Heart into the limelight in 1976 with "Crazy On You," which went to #35. "Magic Man" proved to be an even bigger follow-up hit, reaching #9 and becoming one of many top ten hits for the band, a region of the chart they would not see again until 1980 with their cover of "Tell It Like It Is" (#8).

The band's self-titled record in 1985 marked a new era for Heart. With a big and bold sound that incorporated many keyboards typical of the 80s, the band achieved great success with more radio-friendly singles. Kicking off their remarkable run was "What About Love?" peaking at #10. The album would produce 4 more charting singles, including the band's first #1 hit, "These Dreams." The band would hit #1 again in 1987 with "Alone."

Their 1985 record remains a favorite among fans because the songs that weren't released were also of high caliber. "Nobody Home" is an example, a cautionary tale about dissing people who care about you.

Times started to get tough for Heart in the early 90s as other types of bands from Seattle dismantled the melodic rock scene. The band hasn't seen the chart since 1993, when "Will You be There (In The Morning)" struggled to reach #39.

"Just One More Time" by Headpins

The Headpins were a Canadian hard rock band that started as a side project for a couple members of the yacht rock band Chilliwack. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Darby Mills, the Headpins were pioneering and proved that ladies could rock with the best of them.

In the US, the Headpins only scored a single charting hit. Despite being one of the band's most radio-friendly songs, "Just One More Time" only rose to #70 in 1983. Someone should remake this tune and see if it can't chart "just one more time!"

"You Can't Do Any Better Than That" by The Hawks

The Hawks were a power pop band from Iowa that were poised to be superstars in the early 80s, yet somehow that didn't happen. After the band gained some traction in 1981 with their one and only charting single (the brilliant and breezy "Right Away," which went to #63), they just dropped off the radar.

The band released two outstanding albums in the early 80s but a collection of unreleased material was unearthed and brought back to life in 2007 as a third record called "Perfect World Radio." Unlike most compilations of leftovers, "Perfect World Radio" sounds like a proper masterpiece of an album. Highlights include a cover of the Hollies's song "I'm Alive," "Cold Gray Part of the World," and this catchy little ABBA-like tune called "You Can't Do Any Better Than That."

"Universal Heart-Beat" by Juliana Hatfield

I've often thought of 90s darling Juliana Hatfield as the female Paul Westerberg, which is strangely predictive of her recent 2016 collaboration album with him under the moniker The I Don't Cares.

But back in the 90s this singer/songwriter from Maine played with The Lemonheads and in her own outfit, The Juliana Hatfield Three. She went solo in 1994, scoring two minor hits with "Spin The Bottle" (#97), which was featured in the movie Reality Bites, and "Universal Heart-Beat" (#84). I've never quite figured out why songs like these didn't fare better. Perhaps her sugary voice was too sweet for grungy guitars?

"Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger

Not all bands coming out of Seattle in the 90s played grunge. Indie rockers Harvey Danger formed in 1993 and achieved some modest, unlikely success in 1998 with their catchy as hell anthem, "Flagpole Sitta." The band was started by a couple student journalists at the University of Washington who spotted the name "Harvey Danger" on a wall of graffiti in the office where they worked.

The song is their only one to have flown up the chart, topping out at #38. The band's follow up record, "King James Version" fell through the cracks as their record company got reshuffled and didn't see the light of day until late 2000. Most people had moved on by then and the band fell into obscurity.

"Hidin' From Love" by Lisa Hartman

Most people remember Lisa Hartman from her days as an actress on the show Knots Landing and perhaps from a long string of B-movies. But she also had a singing career that produced five albums between 1976 and 1987. Hartman played two different singers on Knots Landing, but she was not acting when it came to her vocal chops. Songs on her records span rock, pop, ballads, and a bit of country.

Her final record in 1987, "'Til My Heart Stops," is among her most popular, thanks to the excellent song "The Dress." However, her 1982 album, "Letterock" is perhaps her strongest and most consistent effort. Her version of the Bryan Adams song "Hidin' From Love" kicks this record off, and makes you wonder why Hartman wasn't competing with Pat Benatar on the battlefield for chart positions.

In 1991, she married country superstar Clint Black and pretty much stopped making records. 

"Hear My Song" by Dan Hartman

Dan Hartman is often characterized as a one-hit wonder because of his top 10 smash, "I Can Dream About You," which reached #6 in 1984. The song was included on the soundtrack to the film Streets of Fire, and also used as the title for Hartman's 1984 record. Hartman had a couple other songs from this effort break into the charts: "We Are The Young" landed at #25 and the bouncy "Second Nature" hit #39. 1985's "Second Nature" would be his last charting single.

You'd think that after such a successful album, a follow-up would yield at least one more hit. Interestingly, his follow-up record was never released. It was completed in 1986 and entitled "White Boy," but the record company did not feel the songs suited Hartman's image. So it went unheard. Hartman wrote songs for others until he died of a brain tumor in 1994 at 43 years of age.

Few realize that Hartman's success in the 80s was actually a career revival. He first hit the chart in 1978 when "Instant Replay" went to #29. He had some lesser charting singles in the interim such as "This Is It" (#91), "Heaven In Your Arms" (#86), and "It Hurts To Be In Love" (#72).

Before that, Hartman was a member of The Edgar Winter Group. He usually played bass, but co-wrote and sang their smash hit, "Free Ride," which hit #14 in 1973. 

"Hear My Song" is a stubbornly happy pop tune from his 1976 album called "Images."

"A Little Love" by Corey Hart

A massive superstar in his native Canada, I am surprised that most Americans think of Corey Hart as a one-hit wonder. Hart is the voice behind one of the most iconic songs of the 80s, "Sunglasses At Night," which hit #7 in 1984. People seem to forget that Hart had a bigger hit with this don't-give-up anthem, "Never Surrender," which went to #3 in 1985.

Hart also scored a number of lesser hits like "It Ain't Enough" (#17), "Boy In The Box" (#26), "I Am By Your Side" (#18), and his cover of the Elvis Presley hit, "Can't Help Falling In Love" (#24).

Staying true to his own songwriting craft, Hart arguably missed out on some huge opportunities, including an audition to play Marty McFly in Back To The Future (which ultimately went to Michael J. Fox - another Canadian!) and recording the song "Danger Zone" (which ultimately went to Kenny Loggins - not a Canadian!) for the movie Top Gun.

Hart closed out the 80s with one of his most rocking albums called "Bang!" It featured Kenny Aronoff on drums and yielded the minor hit, "A Little Love," which managed to get to #37 in 1990. It proved to be his last chart appearance in the US, largely because Hart decided to take a break from music and focus on other things, including his family. He has sporadically released some adult contemporary efforts since then.

"Get Your Shit Together" by Beth Hart

California native Beth Hart sure has a set of pipes. She's been belting out blues and rock since the age of 15, and by 1993 she won top female vocalist for the singing talent show called Star Search. This led to her first album in 1996, which featured the bluesy favorite, "Am I The One."

Hart scored her one and only chart appearance with her 1999 sophomore record with the seemingly autobiographical title, "Screaming For Your Supper." The beautiful ballad "L.A. Song" went to #90 that year. "Get Your Shit Together" is another standout track from that album and exemplifies the raw talent Hart has behind the mic.

"Devil's Radio" by George Harrison

George Harrison, the "quiet Beatle," made a rather big noise as a solo performer after the band broke up. Right out of the gate, Harrison scored his first #1 hit with "My Sweet Lord," which spent 4 weeks on top of the chart in 1970. Harrison would top the charts twice more: in 1973 with "Give Me Love" and in 1987 with his cover of "Got My Mind Set On You," originally done by James Ray.

The album that spawned his "comeback" hit in 1987 was "Cloud 9." Produced by Jeff Lynne (ELO), it was a prelude to the sound of their 1988 supergroup, The Traveling Wilburys. "Cloud 9" gave Harrison one last top 40 hit with a nostalgic look back on his time in the Beatles with "When We Was Fab" (#23). "Cloud 9" boasts many other great cuts, like "Devil's Radio," which really sounds like the mold in which Traveling Wilburys was cast.

Sadly, the music world lost this music legend in 2001 when Harrison succumbed to cancer at the age of 58.

"For All The Wrong Reasons" by Jimmy Harnen

Jimmy Harnen released his one and only album in 1989 entitled, "Can't Fight The Midnight." The story of this record goes back to 1986 with a pop rock outfit from Pennsylvania called Synch. Harnen was their drummer, but decided to sing vocals on one of their ballads, a song called "Where Are You Now?" It became the band's only charting single, hitting #77 in 1986.

The song resurfaced in 1989 thanks to heavy repeated airplay by a number of DJs and it shot all the way to #10. Its success scored Harnen a record deal, but as we all know, it flopped. The record, which features Randy Jackson (Journey, American Idol) on bass, Steve Lukather (Toto) on guitar, and a guest spot from Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), remains an underground favorite in AOR circles.

Harnen had more in him than just high school prom themes, and quite a few of these tracks rock a bit. Such is the way with "For All The Wrong Reasons," a song I predict could have been a hit for Twisted Sister.

"Outside Your Window" by Harem Scarem

I hereby nominate Harem Scarem to be the most underrated hard rock band of all-time. Hailing from Canada, Harem Scarem was formed in 1987, off to a promising start during the peak of the melodic rock era with their first two albums. They were charting in Canada thanks to minor hits like "Slowly Slipping Away" and the power ballad "Honesty." Their second album, "Mood Swings," should have been all over U.S. radio, but it fell prey to the advent of grunge. Songs like "Saviors Never Cry" and "Sentimental Boulevard" would have performed well if released a few years earlier. The record remains a fan favorite among the band's extensive catalogue of 14 albums and was even re-recorded by the band in 2013.

As the case for many rock bands, the 90s were a confusing decade for Harem Scarem. Struggling to find their sound, a few albums early in the decade were mixed. By the end of the decade they even changed their name to Rubber and issued two records under that moniker. 

The band returned to their original name and melodic rock sound with 2002's "Weight of the World," an amazing tour de force. "Outside Your Window" is just one of the highlights from this record that showcase the band's perfect mix of melody and grit, driven by the always stunning powerhouse vocals of Harry Hess and meaty riffs played by Pete Lesperance. The band has been releasing consistently great stuff ever since.

"I'm Wrong About Everything" by John Wesley Harding

Ah, my theme song! John Wesley Harding is an English singer/songwriter who gave a nod to Bob Dylan by changing his legal name (Wesley Stace) to Dylan's 1967 album. Inspired by Dylan's songwriting and sounding a bit like Elvis Costello, John Wesley Harding has released 17 albums since he began his career in 1988 with a live recording, "It Happened One Night."

Harding made a pretty big splash in the US in the 90s with critically acclaimed albums and plenty of airplay on MTV, mostly their alternative music show, 120 Minutes. In 1989, he gathered some fans with his acoustic rendition of Madonna's hit, "Like A Prayer," which primed the pump for his classic album (and still his best, in my opinion), "Here Comes The Groom."

"I'm Wrong About Everything" is a wonderfully melancholic tune that appears on his 2000 record, "The Confessions of St. Ace," but became more widely known due to its inclusion on the soundtrack to the John Cusack film High Fidelity. 

When he's not busy writing songs, Harding is writing novels (under his birth name).

"Don't You Ever Leave Me" by Hanoi Rocks

The Finnish hard rock band Hanoi Rocks never achieved mainstream success in the US, but were hugely influential in igniting the glam and hairband craze developing in the 80s. Led by the charismatic Michael Monroe, the band released a flurry of albums in the early 80s that have became cult favorites among fans of the genre.

Among their more melodic cuts, "Don't You Ever Leave Me" seemed to have the most potential to make it on radio. The band also did a rousing cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's hit, "Up Around The Bend" that remains a favorite.

"What A Girl Can't Do" by The Hangmen

The Hangmen were a little known garage rock band from Washington DC. They had a regional hit with "What A Girl Can't Do" in 1966, an energetic tune with attitude that sticks with you. The raspy vocals of lead singer Dave Ottley could have made these guys a household name. The ball was fumbled trying to make them a national act and Ottley quit later in the year.

"Love Revolution" by Hand Of Fate

In 1990, a little known band called Hand Of Fate released their one and only (self-titled) album. The band was led by Rick Boston, who previously played guitar on Belinda Carlisle's 1988 hit album, "Heaven And Earth." A cross between INXS and U2, it is astonishing the band was not well-received at the time.

"Love Revolution" is one of the most radio-friendly tracks on the CD, but don't overlook "Good Life" and the acoustic ballad, "Heaven In Disguise." Boston went on to form Low Pop Suicide and has been involved in many other musical projects since Hand Of Fate failed to achieve commercial success.

"Daisy Mae" by Joe Frank & Reynolds Hamilton

Ah, the sunny pop of the early 70s. The harmonious trio Joe Frank & Reynolds Hamilton first hit the charts in 1971 with "Don't Pull Your Love," which went to #4. The group managed to top the charts in 1975 with "Fallin' In Love." They pretty much fell off the radar after that, probably because DJs were tired of saying their mouthful of a name.

"Daisy Mae" was a minor hit that came in-between the group's two classics. It almost cracked the top 40, stalling at #41 in 1971. Nevertheless, it is a great tune from a lost era and underrated vocal group.

"Love Me Again" by John Hall Band

After the demise of the 70s group Orleans, lead singer John Hall took a stab at a solo career. His biggest chart success was his debut single, "Crazy (Keep On Falling)," which hit #42 in 1981. He only hit the charts once more in 1983 with the toe-tapping tune "Love Me Again."

After his musical career faded out, Hall developed a hankering for politics and was elected to the US House of Representatives (representing New York) in 2006.

"You Must Be Good For Something" by Hall & Oates

It took a long time to listen to the extensive discography of Daryl Hall and John Oates, who first teamed up in 1967 at Temple University in Philadelphia. The dynamic duo went on to become the most successful music duo in the rock era, surpassing the Everly Brothers. The two were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, were the 4th biggest act in the 80s, and the 46th most successful in modern chart history.

After making a big splash in the mid-70s, with hits like "Sara Smile" (#4), "She's Gone" (#7), and "Rich Girl" (their first #1), it seemed the blue eyed soul of Hall & Oates was universally loved. However, the rise of disco kept Hall & Oates out of the top 10 for years, despite their cranking out nearly an album a year.

Things changed in a big way in 1980 when the boys covered "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and it went to #12. They followed this up with one of the greatest chart runs of all time, racking up 5 additional #1 hits. They scored a dozen top 10 hits from 1981 to 1984. Finishing the decade on a high note with "So Close," which landed at #11 in 1990, the duo haven't graced the top 40 since.

"You Must Be Good For Something" is one of the terrific songs that fell through the cracks during their lean years in the late 70s. The tune comes from their 1977 effort, "Beauty On A Back Street."

"Let It Out" by Daryl Hall

Few people realize that Daryl Hall has released five solo records outside of his longtime partnership with John Oates. Born Daryl Hohl in Philadelphia, Hall has scored only one top 10 hit outside of Hall & Oates. "Dreamland" went to #5 in 1986, still hot off the heels of the duo's staggering success. The subsequent singles, "Foolish Pride" and "Someone Like You," reached #33 and #57, respectively.

All of these charting hits came from his second solo effort, "Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine," which got to #29 on the Top 200. He saw a final chart appearance in 1993 when "I'm In A Philly Mood" hit #82.

"Let It Out" is another upbeat offering from his most successful solo work, "Three Hearts."

"American Boys" by Halestorm

Halestorm is a hard rock band from York, Pennsylvania, formed by the brother and sister team of Lzzy (vocals) and Arejay Hale (drums). For me, it is the powerhouse vocals of Lzzy Hale that make the band worth mentioning. Lzzy delivers some of the greatest female rock vocals I've heard in recent years. I just wish the band could write better than average songs. They've yet to score a charting hit, but the band came close with "Here's To Us" in 2012.

Whether you are one or want to get with one, "American Boys" is an anthem for all boys and girls. Huge meaty riffs, a catchy chorus, a homage to all things 'Merica, and striking, take-notice vocals...who could ask for more? 

"Back Into You" by Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar's career starts way back in 1973 when he became the lead singer for Montrose. He went solo in 1976 and released several albums before and after his time in Van Halen. Along the way, he also recorded as part of a supergroup called Hagar, Schon (Journey), Aaronson (Stories), and Shrieve (Santana) in 1984.

In 1987, as his tenure with Van Halen started to take off into the stratosphere, Hagar released "I Never Said Goodbye," his ninth solo effort. The album's name derives from an MTV contest. It yielded hits like "Give To Live" (#23) and "Eagles Fly" (#82). "Back Into You" is another terrific AOR track that I thought would have performed well. His then buddy Eddie Van Halen even played bass and sang backing vocals on the record.

Some extra trivia - what was Hagar's best chart performance as a solo artist? That was in 1982, when "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" hit #13. Perhaps his better known classic, "I Can't Drive 55," went to #26 in 1984.

"Careful" by Guster

Guster is an alternative rock and pop band hailing from Boston that formed in 1991. The band began as a more-or-less acoustic outfit and continues to keep a dynamic assortment of instruments in their songs, whether that is banjo or bongos. The common thread in all of their material is the keen attention paid to the craft of songwriting.

The band broke into the mainstream with their 1999 record, "Lost and Gone Forever," which yielded the minor hit, "Fa Fa." My favorite record by the band, however, came next in 2003: "Keep It Together." Arguably one of their most consistent and melodic efforts, "Keep It Together" never disappoints. "Careful" is just one of numerous highlights, with others being "Amsterdam," "Diane," "Homecoming King," and the title track.

"I Do What I Do" by Galactic Cowboys

The Texas band Galactic Cowboys probably confuse a lot of people. The verses of their songs are aggressive speed metal but their choruses are some of the catchiest bubble gum pop you'll ever hear. You think you're listening to an Anthrax song but then the chorus will remind you of the Beatles. A bit like the formula King's X uses, but with even stronger juxtaposition of these vastly different musical styles.

Their 1993 record, "Space In Your Face," contains a number of strong tracks I keep going back to. If you like "I Do What I Do," be sure to check out "You Make Me Smile," "Blind," and "No Problems," too.

"Civil War" by Guns N' Roses

The original lineup of Guns N' Roses released one of the best hard rock records of all time, 1987's "Appetite for Destruction," which yielded three top 10 hits including the #1 smash "Sweet Child O' Mine."

Everyone was eager to hear more, so the band rushed out 1988's "G N' R Lies," perhaps a bit prematurely. A mix of live cuts and new songs, it performed very well off the heels of "Appetite" and the terrific acoustic ballad, "Patience," which went to #4. Fans would have to be patient for the next Guns N' Roses release, a double-album called "Use Your Illusion," which arrived in 1991.

The band grew by leaps and bounds but divided fans who wanted "Appetite II." The bevy of songs (29 tracks) on the "Use Your Illusion" records was a mix of angst-driven rock, power ballads, cover tunes, and some overly long experimental tracks. Nonetheless, the band scored some big ballad hits including "Don't Cry" (#10) and "November Rain" (#3). Their rock tracks fared less well.

It's so easy (you see what I did there?) for a lot of good songs to get lost in the woods of a double-album. "Civil War" is one of them. An epic ballad at nearly 8 minutes, it is a fan favorite and among the better lyrics Rose has ever written, a modest redemption from the dreadful lyrics of "One In A Million" from "Lies."

"Civil War" has the added distinction of being the last song original drummer Steven Adler played on. The clip at the beginning is from the movie Cool Hand Luke, and the song Axel is whistling is "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."

"Lost & Found" by GUN

GUN is a hard rock band that formed in Glasgow, Scotland in the late 80s and had some minor hits off their major label debut album, "Taking On The World." Songs like "Better Days" and "Inside Out" should have done better, but were lost in the mix of all the competition from the hair bands.

The 90s started well for the band thanks to their brilliant hard rock cover of Cameo's funk hit "Word Up," which charted in several countries but not the US. But things got weird on their fourth album, which was called "0141 632 6326." Back during its release, that was a phone number fans could dial for news about the band. Many were probably calling to complain since this record was a major detour from their rock and roll style. Filled with drum loops and experimental sounds, no doubt influenced by producer Andrew Farriss of INXS, the record threw me for a loop. The band split up shortly thereafter in 1997.

In 2012, after some line-up changes that included a new lead singer, GUN released a fifth album that returned to rock, but with considerably more melody attached to it. They've been releasing outstanding records ever since that sadly have stayed under the radar. "Lost & Found" exemplifies the new sound of GUN for modern times. The band just released another terrific new album this year, "Favourite Pleasures." Check out the title track of that one if you enjoyed their reworking of "Word Up!"

"Eighty-eight" by James Guffee

Formerly with cult powerpop band, The Tories, James Guffee released his one and only solo record in 2005, entitled "So Much For Secrets." It is a shame more of the world does not know his musical talents. Just as melodious as his work in The Tories, Guffee's solo effort is filled with memorable tunes that stick with you long after the record is played. His evolution as a songwriter grew by leaps and bounds and I would love to visit a parallel universe where he released more material.

You don't hear too many thoughtful tributes to grandparents, but "Eighty-eight" is a terrific one. Other highlights include "The Hardest Part" and "One More Time."

"It's My Pride" by The Guess Who

The Guess Who was formed in the 60s in Canada and underwent an interesting course of evolution from garage rock to pop to jazz rock. The band achieved great success by the end of 60s and into the 70s with classic hits like "These Eyes" (#6), "Laughing" (#10), "No Time" (#5), and "American Woman" (#1 for 3 weeks).

The band made stars out of some of the individual members, including Randy Bachman, who went on to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and Burton Cummings who had a moderately successful solo career as we discussed earlier.

"It's My Pride" takes us back to 1966, when the band was still fresh from the garage and burning with an intensity that might surprise those who know the Guess Who only from their hits.

"Always Saturday" by Guadalcanal Diary

When people think of 80s jangle pop bands from Georgia, R.E.M. usually comes to mind, but in a perfect world Guadalcanal Diary would too. This lesser known college rock band was a cult favorite and gained a following thanks to the MTV program 120 Minutes.

In 1989, their fourth album, "Flip-flop," was finally getting the band some decent traction. "Always Saturday" was a bright and sunny pop song that should have put the band on the map, but it failed to chart. These rather wholesome looking boys just didn't have enough hairspray and sexual innuendo in their lyrics for the late 80s.

Tensions were running high and the band members decided to break up before their friendships deteriorated to a point of no return, making "Flip-flop" their final album. It would be interesting to visit a parallel universe that saw the band stay together; I'd be willing to bet their fifth album would have been the commercial breakthrough they'd been waiting for.

"Springtime Mama" by Henry Gross

Henry Gross, once a member of the doo-wop tribute band Sha Na Na, went solo in the 70s and is best remembered for his top ten hit, "Shannon," which went to #6 in 1976. "Shannon" was a eulogy, written about the passing of Carl Wilson's (Beach Boys) dog. The Beach Boys connection is palpable in the musical style and falsetto frequently used by Gross to nice effect.

"Springtime Mama" was his follow-up single and became his second (and final) top 40 single. More bouncy and upbeat, and not about a dog (to the best of my knowledge), "Springtime Mama" should have done better and made Gross a mainstay at radio beyond 1976.

"Super Geek" by The Greenberry Woods

The Greenberry Woods is a little-known powerpop group formed at the University of Maryland back in the 90s. They released two essential powerpop albums, "Rapple Dapple" in 1994 and "Big Money Item" in 1995.

Maybe they had too many catchy melodies and harmonies for the mid-90s as the world was still punch drunk on grunge, but Greenberry Woods failed to get much traction at the time. They are well-respected in powerpop circles, though, and it is never too late to discover them. "Super Geek," which comes from the second record, is a good primer.

Two twin brothers in the band, Matt and Brandt Huseman, went on to play in another renowned powerpop outfit we will get to later called Splitsville. 

"Redundant" by Green Day

The California punk rock band Green Day is full of surprises. They burst onto the scene with their slacker ode to pleasuring oneself in 1994 when "Long View" reached #36. It came from the band's third album, "Dookie," which produced four additional charting singles, the most successful being "When I Come Around" (#6).

Some would say their follow-up record was a sophomore jinx, but technically it was their fourth record. Nevertheless, it did not match the success of "Dookie" and the band looked like it was falling off the radar to up-and-coming punk acts like Blink-182.

In 1997 they released "Nimrod," whose first single, "Hitchin' A Ride," hit a mediocre #59. Then Green Day mounted what I will call their first comeback. An atypical acoustic track was buried in the attitude and noise constituting "Nimrod" called "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)." The song soared to #11 and made the world take notice of this unexpected side to the band and the blossoming songwriting talent of Billie Joe Armstrong.

Unfortunately, the band seemed destined to fall off the radar again when the excellent record "Warning" failed to produce a hit in 2000. But the band took a four year break and mounted their second comeback, which was even bigger than the first. "American Idiot" was a masterpiece, the work of a band that grew by leaps and bounds since the 90s. It produced big hits like "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" (#2 for 5 weeks and Grammy for Record of the Year), "Holiday" (#19), and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" (#6).

Green Day continues to be one of the most prolific and consistent bands on the planet and a third comeback would not surprise me.

One of my favorite cuts goes back to "Nimrod." "Redundant" is an amazing song released after their monster hit "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)." How "Redundant" failed to strike a chord continues to puzzle me to this day.

"Hold On To Something" by Great Buildings

Before they formed the successful band, The Rembrandts, songwriting partners Danny Wilde (formerly of The Quick) and Phil Solem were in a post-punk powerpop band called Great Buildings. Their one and only record arrived in 1981, entitled "Apart From The Crowd."

The record was critically acclaimed but commercially ignored. If you are a fan of anything Danny Wilde (who will be featured numerous times on this blog before we are through the alphabet) has done, you will love hearing his energetic early work. You can hear the hit-making potential of Wilde and Solem all over this fun record, and wonder why the hell radio just drove a wrecking ball into these Great Buildings. 

"Break Me Down" by The Great Affairs

The Great Affairs are an indie folk rock band that released one of my favorite "Sunday mornings on the porch" type of record in 2013. The record is filled with melodious Americana with a touch of pop. Always a satisfying listen.

"Break Me Down" builds quietly to a sing-a-long chorus that will stick with you for days. Don't say I didn't warn you.

"Land Of Opportunity" by A Great Big World

A Great Big World is a piano rock duo from Manhattan, New York that hit the top 10 in 2013 with their ballad, "Say Something." With a little help from the mighty Christina Aguilera, the song reached #4 and won a Grammy.

But the band is not all about ballads, as they do plenty of upbeat tunes as well. "Land Of Opportunity" showcases that other side of this talented duo, which draws inspiration from ELO and Ben Folds.

"Very Best Years" by The Grays

A little known "super group" of powerpop icons, The Grays had extraordinary potential. Their one and only record, "Ro-Sham-Bo" from 1994 remains one of my favorites from the decade. The Grays consisted of Jason Falkner, Jon Brion, Buddy Judge, and Dan McCarroll.

Filled with a crunchy rockers, melancholy ballads, and playful powerpop tunes, the record is like Chex-Mix. Everything is different, but somehow it all tastes right together. "Very Best Years" is in the crunchy rocker category and still amazes me that it failed to catapult the band to stardom.

Falkner and Brion went on to reasonably successful solo careers, the latter scoring several popular films. 

"Anyway The Wind Blows" by The Grass Roots

The Grass Roots were a hot commodity in the late 60s and early 70s. One of their more recognizable songs, "Where Were You When I Needed You," only hit #28 in 1966, but "Let's Live For Today" put the band on the map when it peaked at #8 in 1967. They hit the top 10 again in the 60s with "Midnight Confessions," which became their best chart performance at #5.

Sustaining their hot streak into the new decade, the 70s brought them three more notable hits with "Temptation Eyes" (#15), "Sooner Or Later" (#9), and "Two Divided By Love" (#16). The band's final charting song was 1975's "Mamacita," which struggled to #71.

"Anyway The Wind Blows" was a single from 1972 that had all the key ingredients of former hits by The Grass Roots: a sing-a-long melody, big brassy chorus, and sweet harmonies. Great song, but I guess the formula was wearing thin by this point. Another favorite of mine that fared better but isn't as well-known is "I'd Wait A Million Years," which got to #15 in 1969.

"Good To See You" by The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath (the band) started way back in 1983 as an acoustic-rock outfit from Canada. By 1987 they broke through (in Canada, that is) with the release of "Treehouse," a record produced by Canadian rock legend Tom Cochrane. The band gained a little traction in the US on shows like MTV's 120 Minutes, but never had charting singles. In my book, they could have been another R.E.M. or Crowded House, but never got that lucky break. By 1992 they split up.

The band resurfaced in 2000 and their latest release came in 2013 with "High Road." The lead-off track, "Good To See You," sounds as bright and fresh as their early work. If you dig it, you'd be doing yourself a favor mining the band's back catalogue for more.

"Leave It All Behind" by Amy Grant

Amy Grant has had a successful career since her beginnings as a Christian artist in the late 70s. As she inched towards using more commercial lyrics, she started to amass some big chart hits, beginning with the underrated "Find A Way," which deserved better than the #29 position it hit in 1985.

Her first #1 came in the form of a duet with Chicago's Peter Cetera, "The Next Time I Fall." She failed to capitalize on that success with her 1988 effort, "Lead Me On," whose title track stalled at #96. But Grant came back in a big way with 1991's "Heart In Motion" record, the most successful of her career. This record is home to four top ten hits including the #1 smash "Baby Baby."

Her follow-up record, "House Of Love," didn't come close to the success of the former, but her duet with Vince Gill (the title track, which went to #37) might have helped net Grant her second husband. The two got married six years later.

Grant steered into true adult contemporary by 1997's "Behind The Eyes" LP. The album yielded her last charting hit, "Takes A Little Time," which went to #21. "Leave It All Behind" is another breezy, feel good tune from this fine album worth your time.

"Back Home" by Andy Grammer

Andy Grammer is a pop singer/songwriter who rose to fame with his top ten smash, "Honey, I'm Good." The tune hit #9 in 2015 and remains his only top 40 appearance in the US so far. I'm sure there is more to come.

"Back Home" is another infectious single from his sophomore record, "Magazines Or Novels," which managed to climb to #19. "Back Home" charted in several other countries, but not the US. Nevertheless, it is a great tune.

"Angel With A Dirty Face" by Lou Gramm

Born Lou Grammatico in Rochester, New York, Lou Gramm was the powerhouse vocalist behind Foreigner. He racked up plenty of top 40 smash hits through the 70s and 80s with the band, but also tried his hand at a solo career and as the vocalist for lesser known groups called Shadow King in the early 90s and Black Sheep in the early 70s.

Gramm always wanted Foreigner to rock more, which often put him at odds with his co-founding bandmate Mick Jones. Gramm got to flex those muscles a bit more on his two solo records from the 80s, but also stayed true to melody and kept more than enough power ballads in the mix.

Gramm's first solo outing arrived in 1987 with a big hit out of the gate in "Midnight Blue," which went to #5. Surprisingly, the only other charting single from this effort was the scorching rocker "Ready Or Not," which only got to #54. Gramm reunited with Foreigner to put out their successful 1987 record "Inside Information," then jumped back into solo mode.

He completed his second solo record in 1989, "Long Hard Look," which kicked off with another top 10 hit, "Just Between You And Me" (#6). Confirming his love of the word "blue," the second single, "True Blue Love," stalled at #40 and became his last chart appearance. The excellent "Angel With A Dirty Face" rocks a bit more and fooled me into thinking he'd hit the top 10 again.

"Lay Down Your Arms" by The Graces

The Graces was an all-girl trio that released a single record in 1989 called "Perfect View." They had all the makings of a supergroup with Charlotte Caffey from the Go-Gos, Meredith Brooks, and Gia Ciambotti.

Their lead single made a modest dent on the charts. "Lay Down Your Arms" climbed to #56 in the summer of 1989, but I was surprised it didn't do better. The trio had a terrific chemistry in harmony, its just a shame the songs were not as strong as they needed to be.

Meredith Brooks would not complain, though. She went solo and, although she became a one-hit wonder, took her song "Bitch" to #2 in 1997. Ciambotti became a backing vocalist for Bruce Springsteen and released her own solo record in 2007.

"Starlight" by Gotthard

Swiss hard rock band Gotthard has been cranking out #1 albums in their home country for years but has yet to break onto the US charts (fat chance of something sensible like that happening). Nevertheless, their catalogue of a dozen albums is worth mining for both the rockers and the ballads. They've also done a fair share of cover tunes over the years.

In 2010, the band lost their lead singer Steve Lee in a tragic motorcycle accident. They rebounded with the addition of Nic Maeder the following year. "Starlight" is an infectious rocker built for arena, but works just as well cranked up while cruising along the shore. The song starts their excellent 2012 record, "Firebirth," the first to feature Maeder on vocals.

"Leavin' Tonight" by Barry Goudreau

Barry Goudreau is best known for having a difficult last name to spell. He also played guitar on the first two smash albums by a little band called Boston. Later on, he was a member of the AOR bands Orion the Hunter and RTZ.

In 1980 Goudreau released his first solo record, which pretty much sealed his fate with Boston. However, several guys from Boston pitched in, making his self-titled record sound very much like a Boston LP.

The album settled at #88 on the Billboard Top 200 and the lead single, "Dreams," just missed cracking into the Top 100. As a whole, the effort doesn't come close to the majesty of Boston, but there are several noteworthy cuts in the mix. Brad Delp, the trademark vocalist of Boston most of the time, sang on many of these tracks. 

"Leavin' Tonight" is one of the songs sung by Fran Cosmo, who would take the lead vocal position for Boston's 1994 "Walk On" album. It is a simple song, but I love the handclaps and catchy melody.

"Brink Of Disaster" by Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore was discovered by famous producer Quincy Jones while singing in a New York hotel. Not long after, she was a successful singer and actress. Her first four singles all cracked the top ten, starting with her biggest smash, "It's My Party," which spent two weeks at #1 in 1963.

Gore was no stranger to the charts throughout the 60s but her fame began to wane by the close of the decade. Still, "Brink of Disaster" is a strong tune that had the potential to be a comeback single that might have carried her through the 70s, but it stalled at #82 in 1967, becoming her last Top 100 song.

Gore died of lung cancer in 2015. Her brother Michael was a successful songwriter and also scored a charting single, the theme from the hit movie Terms of Endearment (it went to #84 in 1984).

"Number One Camera" by Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon rose to fame as a member of the 90s alternative rock band Veruca Salt, but at the start of the new millennium she went solo and released "Tonight And The Rest Of My Life." The title track got some decent airplay, but nothing on the record cracked the Top 100. 

The record is a much mellower version of Gordon than what most fans might have expected, filled with mostly ballads and a pleasant cover of "The End Of The World," first made famous by Skeeter Davis. The downshift to the adult contemporary sound showcases Gordon's vocal skills, most notably on "Horses In The City."

There are two tracks reminiscent of the harder-edged rock Gordon played in Veruca Salt: "Badway" and "Number One Camera." An ode to the old Polaroids kids of the 70s and 80s loved, "Number One Camera" is also a throwback to catchy pop rock.

"Touch The Clouds (Taste The Ground)" by Good Old War

If you cross The Lumineers with the Everly Brothers, you would get something that comes close to the genius heard in the Philly indie folk band, Good Old War. Formed in 2008 from the remnants of a band called Days Away, Good Old War plays their well-crafted tunes with real instruments and heavenly harmony.

Good Old War hasn't had a charting single yet, but I hope for the best. There are plenty more terrific songs from where "Touch The Clouds (Taste The Ground)" comes from!

"The Chronicles of Life and Death" by Good Charlotte

The late 90s and 2000s were saturated with pop rock bands with a twist of punk like Good Charlotte. These boys from Waldorf, Maryland were one of the more successful in that crowded genre with hits like "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous" (#20 in 2002), "The Anthem" (#43 in 2003), "The River" (#39 in 2007), and "I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)" (#25 in 2007).

They are still making records, but haven't seen the charts since 2007. "The Chronicles of Life and Death" is the title track from their third record. Super crunchy and catchy, it is surprising that this song didn't become one of their biggest chart success stories.

"Girl Right Next To Me" by Goo Goo Dolls

If you only know the Goo Goo Dolls for their material since their monster hit "Iris," you'd guess their earlier records were done by a completely different band. The Buffalo-based band started out as a garage and punk outfit in 1986 with the raspy vocals of bassist Robby Takac singing lead on most of the songs. The more radio-friendly voice usually associated with the Goo Goo Dolls is guitarist John Rzeznik, but you didn't hear much of his singing until the third record, "Hold Me Up."

Early records by the Goo Goo Dolls also featured numerous amped-up cover tunes and a couple guest vocalist spots for Buffalo area lounge singer Lance Diamond, who happened to live in the same apartment building as Takac.

By their fourth record, 1993's "Superstar Car Wash," Takac and Rzeznik were sharing vocal duties about 50/50 and the songs became more focused. They still had a punchy hard rock sound, but the hooks in these tunes were amazing. "We Are The Normal" featured lyrics written by their idol, Paul Westerberg (The Replacements), and started getting the band some decent airplay.

The breakthrough record would come next, "A Boy Named Goo," in 1995 thanks to a DJ that started spinning a very atypical Goo's track called "Name." Featuring Rzeznik on vocals, this acoustic-driven rock tune would lay the foundation for the Goo Goo Dolls that was to prevail through the 90s. "Name" went to #5 and the next single, "Naked," got to #47. Then the band recorded "Iris" for the film City of Angels - it remains the longest running #1 song ever on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart (an astonishing 18 weeks).

The Goo Goo Dolls crank out generic pop rock now, catering to the trendy sounds of the day. They still make records and draw huge crowds, but haven't seen the top 40 since 2005 when "Better Days" hit #36.

"Girl Right Next To Me" goes back to my favorite Goo's record, a masterpiece of 90s rock, "Superstar Car Wash."

"Man On A Mountain" by Ian Gomm

Hailing from London, Ian Gomm had a single charting hit in the US that arrived at end of the 70s when "Hold On" reached #18. He continued to produce a ton of great stuff through the 80s, and it is amazing that none of it hit the charts in the US.

Gomm's style is very similar to Tom Petty. "Man On A Mountain" is just a small taste of his consistently good catalogue. Go back and discover it now - better late than never!

"Better Times" by The Goldbergs

Indie band, The Goldbergs (no connection to the popular TV show), released one the finest powerpop albums of 2008 appropriately called "Under The Radar." The record is filled with Beatles-inspired pop that is just pure magic to hear. Harmonies and memorable melodies abound.

"Better Times" is a sweet pick-me-up tune that should put a smile on your face, just like most of the other tracks on this wonderful little record.

"Birth, School, Work, Death" by The Godfathers

I really wished we lived in a world where The Godfathers made it big. This English punk and alternative rock band fused a lot of genres together in their songs, but really shone when they belted out straight up rock with a gritty attitude. 

The band developed a solid cult following after their 1986 debut album, "Hit By Hit," but came close to breaking through to the mainstream with their more accessible sophomore record, "Birth, School, Work, Death," in 1988. The title track pretty much sums up the angst in this searing anthem that I can play all day. Surprisingly, the song did not chart, but it got enough attention to propel their album to #91 on the Billboard Top 200.

The band couldn't build on this success when they released the mixed "More Songs About Love & Hate," which made their fine 1991 record, "Unreal World" receive far less attention than it should. "Unreal World" boasts a more focused sound for the band and contains some of their finest work.

"Suffer In Silence" by Glass Tiger

Glass Tiger roared onto the music charts in 1986 with their monster hit, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)." The song bolted to #2 and was followed up by another hit ballad, "Someday," which reached #7. A third single was mined from the album, the excellent "I Will Be There," which got to #34. Fellow Canadian rocker Bryan Adams lent his chops on a few of the tracks from the successful debut LP, "The Thin Red Line."

The band's 1988 follow-up, "Diamond Sun," did not match the success of "Thin Red Line," but did spawn one charting single, "I'm Still Searching," which reached #31. The band released a third album in 1990 called "Simple Mission" that was more guitar-driven and rock oriented. Great record, but it failed to perform in the US.

"Suffer In Silence" is a contemplative ballad that comes from the sophomore record "Diamond Sun." I have a weakness for melancholy down-on-my-luck songs, and this one is terrific.

"She's On" by Glass Moon

Glass Moon is a little known pop rock group that made a minor splash in 1982 with their lone chart appearance, a cover of "On A Carousel" originally done by The Hollies. Their version got to #50, but the album from which it came, "Growing In The Dark," is filled with catchy synth and guitar anthems worth checking out if you enjoy 80s AOR.

"She's On" is one of many highlights from this underrated record. Seemingly just another generic song about some hot chick, it detours into a verse that describes the object of his affection reading a bedtime fairytale to her baby girl. That's when "she's on." Sweet.

"Cruise" by David Gilmour

Guitar God David Gilmour of Pink Floyd released his second solo album in 1984 entitled, "About Face." The album gave Gilmour his one and only charting song, "Blue Light." You can hear Gilmour's trademark guitar in this tune, but the horns sound like they were borrowed from the Phil Collins song, "Sussudio." 

Pete Townshend (The Who) lended his songwriting chops to two tracks on this record, "Love On The Air" and the feisty "All Lovers Are Deranged."

"Cruise" is one of the best acoustic-driven ballads in Gilmour's extensive catalogue and still sounds great after all these years.