"On A Whim" by Flying Machines

Somehow the 2009 self-titled release by Flying Machines failed to soar. This fantastic little record is filled with cuts blending new and old school pop rock. "On A Whim," for example, sounds like Fall Out Boy mixed in with E.L.O. 

If you like this cut, be sure to also check out "Stay" and "Talk About It." It is a shame this creative outfit wasn't discovered and given the attention they deserved. Track down this New York band's debut (their only record, as far as I know) - totally worth it.

"Got You (Where I Want You)" by The Flys

90s rockers from L.A., The Flys, should have landed on the charts with their minor hit, "Got You (Where I Want You)" from 1998. Despite an appearance in the James Marsden film Disturbing Behavior, the song still failed to create enough buzz to gain traction on the charts. The tune is one of the best to emerge from the post-grunge era, keeping just the right amount of grit in an otherwise catchy pop song.

"Big Bird" by Eddie Floyd

Eddie Floyd is a hugely underrated talent from the 60s who mixed soul and rock like few others. He's best known for "Knock On Wood," which hit #28 in 1966 and "Bring It On Home To Me," which hit #17 in 1968. 

Floyd got his start in The Falcons, best known for 1959's "You're So Fine" (#17). His backing band (called Ohio Untouchables) later became The Ohio Players.

Rumored to have been written while waiting for his flight to attend the funeral of Otis Redding, "Big Bird" should have soared to the top of the charts. Punk rockers The Jam would do a cover of this song about a decade later. If you haven't heard this rousing rock and soul tune, it is about time. 

"Who's That Girl (She's Got It)" by A Flock of Seagulls

In the US, the English new wave band A Flock of Seagulls is pretty much known for their one big hit, "I Ran (So Far Away)," which sprinted to #9 in 1982. But it has become such a classic from the era, the song is virtually synonymous with the 80s, a legacy the founding brothers of the band (Mike and Ali Score) probably did not anticipate.

A Flock of Seagulls did hit the top 40 twice more, with "Space Age Love Song" topping out at #30 and "Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)" reaching #26 in 1983.

A guilty pleasure that embodies everything questionable about the 80s - yet is still somehow irresistible - is "Who's That Girl (She's Got It)." This frantic dance track did not chart, but is a fan favorite and further displays the band's love for parenthetic titles, a habit that Bryan Adams later adopted.

"Postcards From Paradise" by Flesh for Lulu

If you were lucky enough to hear "Postcards From Paradise" on MTV in the late 80s, you might have thought you were listening to The Psychedelic Furs. But no, the band is Flesh for Lulu. With their mix of rock, punk, and pop, Flesh for Lulu should have struck gold, but instead they fell through the cracks.

In addition to the wonderful "Postcards," which has been covered by the likes of Paul Westerberg and the Goo Goo Dolls, be sure to check out "I Go Crazy." Fans of the 80s film Some Kind Of Wonderful may recognize it.

"Say You Will" by Fleetwood Mac

The origins of the legendary Fleetwood Mac go all the way to back to 1969. The name is derived from founding members Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. Christine, John's wife, joined in 1970. But the most significant change for the band that helped catapult them into the limelight was the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in 1974.

With these five members in place, the band would reach incredible heights, starting with their 1975 self-titled record. It marked a bold change for the band's sound, transforming British Blues into harmonious rock and pop. The band's 1977 masterpiece, "Rumours," remains one of the best-selling albums of all-time and produced their only #1 hit, "Dreams." The record yielded 3 additional top ten hits including "Go Your Own Way" (#10), "Don't Stop" (#3), "You Make Loving Fun" (#9).

The band remained strong all the way until 1990, with additional hits like "Sara" (#7), "Hold Me" (#4), "Big Love" (#5), and "Little Lies" (#4). But with the departure of the irreplaceable Buckingham in 1987, the band struggled to maintain success.

A surprise comeback record was released in 2003 called "Say You Will." Overall it marked the 17th studio record for the band. It is a mixed affair, but the title track provides a reminder of what makes Fleetwood Mac so amazing and should have put the band back on the charts. And can you hear Sheryl Crow on backing vocals?

The record did give the band one last appearance on the top 100. The track "Peacekeeper" waved a white flag at #80. 

"Shake Some Action" by The Flamin' Groovies

Cult favorites from the 70s, The Flamin' Groovies only had a single appearance on a US music chart. The time came when the band remodeled their sound, dropping the bluesy riffs for a more straightforward rock and power-pop sound.

The band's fourth studio album, "Shake Some Action," was produced by Dave Edmunds and reached #142 in 1976. The title track is a favorite among fans and should have achieved wider success, but perhaps was a bit ahead of its time. 

Interesting tidbit: "Shake Some Action" comes from dialogue in the 1965 movie, None But The Brave. Yeah, I never heard of it either. But I've heard the song and it grooves.

"See The Light" by The Flame

South African rock band The Flame had a minor hit in the US with "See The Light" in 1970. The Beatles-inspired track only got to #95 and deserved to do much better. Some of the band members went on to play with the Beach Boys through 1975.

"I Live" by The Fixx

The Fixx began as a guitar-based new wave band in the early 80s and ended as a straight-up rock outfit through the 90s. The England band actually released a comeback album in 2012 called "Beautiful Friction."

The Fixx crept into the charts with modest hits like "Stand Or Fall" (#76 in 1982) and "Saved By Zero" (#20 in 1983), but their big breakthrough was "One Thing Leads To Another" (#4). Additional top 40 hits for the band in the 80s followed with "The Sign Of Fire" (#32), "Are We Ourselves?" (#15), and "Secret Separation" (#19).

The Fixx had some additional cuts that should have done better, like the rocking "Driven Out" and "How Much Is Enough," which went to #55 and #35, respectively. "A Letter To Both Sides" is an obscure track from the hit movie Fletch that should have charted, too. In more music movie trivia news, band members Cy Curnin and Jamie West-Oram played on the soundtrack to the 80s cult classic, Better Off Dead.

One of my favorite deep cuts that I thought would be a terrific single was "I Live", from their debut record, "Shuttered Room."

"Tiger On A Treadmill" by Josh Fix

Josh Fix is a brilliant singer/songwriter who brings artists like ELO and Queen to mind when you hear his sound. His 2008 release, "Free At Last," should have impressed more than critics and made him a household name. The record is stacked with outstanding guitar and piano-based melodies. In addition to this cut, check out "Don't Call Me In The Morning" and "Whiskey and Speed" too.

"Follow You Down" by Five Star Iris

Five Star Iris is a rock band based out of Atlanta, Georgia, not far from fellow Georgians, Collective Soul. Their connection extends beyond just coming from the same state, as lead singer and songwriter for Collective Soul (Ed Roland) co-wrote some of the songs on the debut album by Five Star Iris. The bands also toured together.

The 2006 self-titled effort from Five Star Iris is a fairly solid affair, with more than a few radio-friendly tracks that should have seen the light of day. For example, check out "Follow You Down."