It is virtually impossible to pick the greatest song from Led Zeppelin's uncharted classics, largely because so many of their well-known songs surprisingly never charted, including "Communication Breakdown," "Ramble On," Dazed and Confused," and even their epic ballad, "Stairway To Heaven." These legendary pioneers of hard rock did score some top 20 hits with "Whole Lotta Love" (#4), "Immigrant Song" (#16), "Black Dog" (#15), and "D'yer Mak'er" (#20). While many associate Led Zeppelin with the gritty and blazing guitar of Jimmy Page and the banshee rock vocals of Robert Plant, some seem to forget how diverse the music of Led Zeppelin was. They effortlessly jumped between hard rock, psychedelic rock, the blues, symphonic rock, and acoustic rock. They should have had more chart hits, but their influence on rock and roll still lives on today. "All My Love" showcases yet another dimension of the band, a rare and tender moment. The heartfelt song is about the death of Plant's son and rips me up every time I hear it. It is also one of the first to feature synthesizers, played by bassist John Paul Jones. Led Zeppelin faced another tragedy when drummer John Bonham died in 1980, at which point they decided to disband.
Avril Lavigne got an early start to her musical career, bursting onto the US charts in 2002 with "Complicated," which reached #2 for two weeks. More top 10 hits from her debut album soon followed, including "Sk8er Boi" (#10) and "I'm With You" (#4), which really highlights her amazing pipes. Her songwriting chops also helped make Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" a smash hit. Lavigne continues to crank out hits, mixing up rock and pop with a bit of dance and punk. In 2004, she returned to the top 10 with "My Happy Ending" (#9), and in 2007 she scored a #1 hit with "Girlfriend." Lavigne's success has made her the third most successful female Canadian artist ever (behind Celine Dion and Shania Twain). In the US, she ranked as the 46th most successful artist in the 2000s. "Anything But Ordinary" takes us back to her near-perfect debut record, "Let Go." To my ears, it remains one of the catchiest and uplifting songs in her catalogue.
Cyndi Lauper was a Queen of the 80s music charts, beginning with her huge breakout hit, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" in 1983. The song is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but it is not her biggest chart hit as it peaked at #2. Lauper racked up two #1 singles during the 80s with the ballads "Time After Time" from 1984 and "True Colors" from 1986. The massive success of her 1984 album, "She's So Unusual," earned Lauper the Grammy for Best New Artist of that Year. After a string of additional hits, the momentum was wearing out by the end of the decade. Lauper did land a final top ten hit in 1989 when "I Drove All Night" peaked at #6, but that song remains her final top 40 appearance. Nevertheless, her chart achievements in the 80s makes her the 33rd most successful artist of the decade. "I Drove All Night" comes from Lauper's third album, "A Night To Remember," an underrated effort in her catalogue. Shedding most of the dated 80s sound, Lauper had more rock on this record, but it didn't translate into sustaining hits. "Insecurious" is one of those tracks that I thought deserved better. Lauper maintains an active recording career, dabbling in holiday music, the blues, and even country.
Nicolette Larson was a talented session vocalist for a wide range of artists, from Neil Young to Linda Ronstadt to Van Halen. She also recorded several records as a solo artist, but aside from "Lotta Love," which soared to #8 in 1978, major chart success mysteriously eluded her. "Ooo-eee" is a simple but catchy love song from her 1980 album called "Radioland." Strangely, not even help from her friend Linda Ronstadt (who sings backing vocals) could help get this tune onto the chart. Her last chart appearance was in 1982 when her cover of "I Only Want To Be With You" reached #53. Sadly, Larson passed away in 1997 at the age of 45 from cerebral edema.
There are some artists you hear that you can't believe you've never heard of - Jeff Larson falls into that group. Jeff Larson has independently released several albums since the 2000's, impressing listeners with his 70s acoustic rock sound. If you hear hints of the band America in his music, that's because he often works with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell from America. If you enjoy the Eagles or Dan Fogelberg, you need to check out the breezy, melodic sounds of the great Jeff Larson.
In 1998, lead singer Glen Phillips left the folk rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket to pursue a solo career (the band would later reunite in 2010). Guitarist/vocalist Todd Nicolas and bassist Dean Dinning continued to write and play music together with some new recruits under the moniker Lapdog. Lapdog released the first of their two records, "Near Tonight," in 2001. Continuing largely in the Toad tradition, the songs are melodic and filled with rich harmonies, so it is odd the group didn't win over many hearts. "See You Again" is the lush lead-off track, and it makes a good first impression. The tune was co-written with the members of Athenaeum. It's a shame no one threw Lapdog a bone.
Intelligent singer/songwriters don't burn up the charts like they should; such is the case for Ray LaMontagne. LaMontagne arrived on the scene with his debut album, "Trouble," in 2004. Thanks to plenty of airplay for the title track, LaMontagne quickly gained critical and commercial success. Nearly every track on this wonderful record is featured in a movie or TV show, including the amazing "How Come." "How Come" is a biting stab at the senseless violence in society that makes it hard to "tell the free world from a living hell." Despite the accolades, nothing from "Trouble" charted. LaMontagne would appear on the charts just once in 2008 when his song, "You Are The Best Thing" peaked at #90.
Wait, what? Isn't Alexi Lalas the famous soccer player from the 90s? The one who had the wild red hair and pointy beard? Why yes, yes it is. But he's also a big music fan. He was in a band called The Gypsies in the 90s, who opened for Hootie & The Blowfish, before kicking off his own career as a solo rock artist. "Goodnight Moon" comes from his 1998 effort aptly entitled, "Ginger." This catchy tune is pretty representative of the other stuff Lalas writes, including his more recent releases. He hasn't scored any chart success to date, but if you like pop rock, you are going to like his music.
The La's (a slang term for lads) were an indie rock band from Liverpool, England who are best known for their crossover hit, "There She Goes," which peaked at #49 in 1991. One of the most infectious little tunes ever made, it has been covered by a number of other bands. Sixpence None The Richer took their version to #32 in 1999. The song comes from their self-titled 1990 record, which remains the band's only studio release. The La's were critically acclaimed for their songwriting gifts and retro sound, but none of the other songs gained traction in the US. The reasons are baffling, since tunes like "I Can't Sleep" and "I.O.U." are brilliant. Shortly after achieving their chart success, the broke went on hiatus and has not released any new studio recordings. Bassist and backing vocalist John Powers went on to form another band heavily influenced by the British bands of the 60s, called Cast.
L.A. Guns has a confusing origins story that began in 1983 with guitarist Tracii Guns. In the shifting membership, his band merged with Hollywood Rose, which would evolve into Guns N' Roses. But Guns had a falling out with Axl Rose and bailed (he was replaced with Slash). L.A. Guns didn't achieve any mainstream success until a new singer, Philip Lewis, took to the mic. With Lewis on board, the group finally scored a charting single with "The Ballad Of Jayne." "The Ballad of Jayne," which hit #33 in 1990, was an acoustic-driven power ballad -- the kind of tune that many a hairband turned to in order to score a hit and expand their audience. This great song gave the band a modest hit, but it still failed to attract more fans to their gritty rock and roll. Which is a shame, because Lewis and Guns were a solid songwriting team. Songs like "Never Enough," "Kiss My Love Goodbye," and "It's Over Now" (which peaked at #62 in 1992, the band's only other chart appearance) were better than most of what the competition played.
Lenny Kravitz was like a breath of fresh air when he arrived on the scene at the end of the 80s. Fusing rock, soul, pop, and R&B, this New York native is a versatile talent. No matter which playlist I cue up, odds are there are several tunes by Lenny Kravitz no matter what the mood or theme. While his debut album only yielded a minor hit with "Let Love Rule," which stalled at #89, his follow-up record was the commercial breakthrough that secured him a legacy that is still going strong today. In 1991, Kravitz's sweet falsetto carried "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" to #2, his biggest hit to date. Surprisingly, one of his best known songs from the early days, 1993's "Are You Gonna Go My Way," did not chart. Some of his other big successes included "Again," which hit #4 in 2000, "Fly Away," which hit #12 in 1998, and "Dig In," which hit #31 in 2001. Remarkably, all three of these songs earned the Grammy for Rock Male Vocal that year. From his 2014 record, "Strut," "I'm A Believer" (not a cover!) shows off his penchant for melody and harmony. Like many other songs by Kravitz, this one deserved chart success.
Irish modern rockers Kopek formed in 2002 and released their debut record, "White Collar Lies," nearly a decade later. It is one of the most impressive debut rock albums I've heard in a long time. Kopek made a great first impression with critics, but sadly, this did not translate into sales or chart success in the US. The title track is one of my favorite songs of 2011. A scorching anthem about power and greed, "White Collar Lies" sticks with you. Too bad it won't get into the ears that need to hear it. The music and lyrics are perfect, and pretty representative of the rest of the stuff this underrated band delivers. Vocalist Daniel Jordan has one of the best rock voices of the modern era. Another stellar track, "Love Is Dead," managed to get featured in the horror flick, Saw 3D.
Kool & The Gang is best known for their #1 anthem from 1980, "Celebration," still played at sporting events and parties everywhere. The song was their only chart topper, but the band enjoyed so many other hits in the 80s that they are ranked the 11th most successful group of that decade (and 83rd of all-time). Kool & The Gang first hit the charts way back in 1969 when their song, "Kool & The Gang" hit #59. Their funky and brassy sound scored bigger successes in 1973 with "Jungle Boogie" (#4) and "Hollywood Swinging" (#6). But who would've thought a disco-embracing band with songs like "Slick Superchick" and "Spirit Of The Boogie" could reinvent their sound to become one of the hottest acts after disco died? Kool & The Gang scored nine top 10 hits in the 80s, with two of them reaching #2 ("Joanna" and "Cherish"). They also belted out some rockers like "Misled" (#10) and the wonderful "Tonight" (#13). The band's chart run ended in 1987 when "Special Way" stalled at #72. "Take It To The Top" comes from their knockout 1980 record, "Celebrate!" An inspiring rocker with a Doobie Brothers-like riff that got lost in their avalanche of hits.
How do you top a debut single that stays at #1 for six weeks? Well, if you're The Knack, you don't. Led by the feisty Doug Fieger, this Los Angeles band rocked everybody's world in 1979 with their classic, "My Sharona." The song re-entered the charts 15 years later in 1994; "My Sharona" went to #91 after being featured in the hit film Reality Bites. Still, the band could not capitalize on the renewed interest. In 1998, they released a terrific pop rock album called "Zoom," but it failed to mark a comeback for the band. With great tunes like "Love Is All There Is," it is hard to figure out why. In the band's short-lived heyday in the early 80s, they managed to score two additional top 40 hits: "Good Girls Don't" went to #11 and "Baby Talks Dirty" to #38. The band called it quits at the end of 1981, but reunited several times to make new records (starting with 1990's excellent "Serious Fun," which also failed to give the band a well-deserved comeback). The Knack should be known for more than just "My Sharona," but sadly that won't happen on the charts. Fieger passed away from cancer in 2010.
Kix is a hard rock band from Maryland led by screaming Steve Whiteman. While hugely popular on the east coast, the band never got its due on the charts. Maybe because they share a name with a bland breakfast cereal. Kix is best known for their power ballad about suicide, "Don't Close Your Eyes," which made an impressive showing at #11 in 1989. This is an unusual song for the band, which normally just writes songs about sex and partying. Kix formed early in the 80s and worked hard to build a strong following. Songs like "Cool Kids," "For Shame," and "Midnight Dynamite" received considerable airplay but nothing caught on like "Don't Close Your Eyes." Their big hit came from the fourth record, "Blow My Fuse." I'm not sure why other strong cuts from this record, like "Cold Blood," didn't help sustain the band's success. Their follow-up record, "Hot Wire," arrived as grunge took over the scene, and was pretty much DOA. After a long hiatus, Kix released a solid comeback (throwback?) record in 2014 called "Rock Your Face Off."
KISS was founded by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss in the early 70s and took the world by storm with their music and make-up. Their music often played second fiddle to their outrageous outfits and theatrics, but the band has enjoyed a string of hits through multiple decades. KISS sings of sex, drugs, and rock n roll. Their breakthrough hit arrived in 1975 when their now classic tune, "Rock And Roll Every Nite," went to #12. Their biggest hit came the next year, when the atypical balled "Beth" sung by Peter Criss reached #7. They scored another unexpected hit with "I Was Made For Lovin' You" in 1979. Capitalizing on the disco trend, this one went all the way to #11. The band continued to crank out albums through the 80s, but lost their chart mojo until 1990 when Michael Bolton helped them with the song "Forever." Propelled by the power-ballad craze at the time, "Forever" put KISS back in the limelight with another top ten hit, this one reaching #8. Their follow-up single, "Rise To It," went back to cock rock and stalled at #81, marking their last chart appearance. Kind of a sequel to "Rock And Roll All Night," "God Gave Rock N Roll To You II" is a memorable anthem that salutes one of the greatest genres of music.
The Kinks have enjoyed top ten success across three decades, from their start in the 60s up through the 80s. Formed in London by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, the band made their first impression with classics like "You Really Got Me" (#7), "All Day And All Of The Night" (#7), and "Tired Of Waiting For You" (#6). To kick off the 70s, The Kinks came back with "Lola," which peaked at #9. They didn't have much more chart success in the 70s, but had a huge comeback hit in 1983 when "Come Dancing" soared to #6. Their final chart appearance was "Do It Again," which just missed the top 40 in 1985 (#41). The band's success and influence was recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The band's extensive catalogue is worth diving into, as there is a ton of great stuff that didn't perform as well as it deserved. "Victoria," which stalled at #62 in 1970, is one of the best examples.
The Kings were a Canadian rock band that should have performed better in the US. Their one and only chart appearance came in 1980 when their terrific double-A side single, which contained "This Beat Goes On" and "Switchin' To Glide," hit #43. No other singles from the album "The Kings Are Here" found chart success, despite the band scoring slots touring with the likes of Bob Seger and Eric Clapton. "Right To The Top" is a tune that should have been the hit that earned The Kings their rightful place on the throne.
Hard rock band Kingdom Come made their first (and only) chart appearance in 1988 when "Get It On" reached an appropriate #69. The band quickly drew comparisons to Led Zeppelin, largely due to the similarity between Lenny Wolf's vocals and those of Robert Plant. "Get It Out" also features a guitar riff that comes right out of the Jimmy Page playbook. While the band had a very classic rock sound, the songs just weren't memorable enough to score bigger hits, even at the height of the hairband craze. But digging through the long jams, you'll find some radio-friendly cuts like "You're Not The Only...I Know," which comes from their 1991 record, "Hands Of Time."
King's X were poised to hit it big as the 80s came to a close, but their diverse musical styles created a lot of confusion among marketing types. They were hard rock, funk, pop, and progressive rock all rolled into one. A lot of their work has religious overtones. One of the singers sounds like Jimi Hendrix while the other sounds like John Lennon. One track will be a plodding piece with crushing guitars and the next track will be a sunny song featuring glorious harmonies. Hard rock was thriving in the late 80s, and King's X leveraged their heavy sound to gain airplay with great tunes like "Goldilox" and "Over My Head," a rocking tribute to a grandmother's lullaby. The band took a sharp turn into pop rock with the Beatles influenced "It's Love" in 1990, which is probably their best known tune. But then they took another turn, away from the radio-friendly stuff with 1992's grungy "Black Flag," and it cost them dearly. Regardless of never having a single on the Top 100, the band has made a dozen studio records and the members have been heavily in engaged in solo efforts and side projects like the one we've recently noted, Jughead. There's a little something for everyone in the band's catalogue, you just have to find the songs that cater to the musical style you like best. I dig the variety, but I think the band shines the most when they showcase their impressive harmonies and knack for melody, like in "Mississippi Moon," which comes from their 1996 album, "Ear Candy."
With a string of soft rock hits in the 70s, Carole King was the piano girl. She topped the charts for 5 weeks in 1971 with "It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move" from her landmark album, "Tapestry." She sustained her success through the better part of the decade with "Sweet Seasons" (#9), "Jazzman" (#2), and "Nightingale" (#9). The 80s started off promising for King, with "One Fine Day" reaching #12, but "One To One" stalled at #45 in 1982, marking her final chart appearance. Like many artists, King's music evolved to change with the times. But adapting to the 80s styles made her sound almost unrecognizable to fans of her piano-based music from the 70s. But digging through her 80s material, you'll find some true gems like "Sweet Life" from her 1989 album "City Streets."
