Monday, October 28, 2019

"Wrong" by School Of Fish

School of Fish made a small splash in the alternative rock scene of the early 90s, propelled by the catchy single "3 Strange Days" from their self-titled 1991 debut. The band could not leverage their growing popularity, as their sophomore 1993 record, "Human Cannonball," landed more like a bellyflop. The band broke up shortly thereafter.

Their debut remains one of my favorite records from the era - everything about "Wrong" feels right, but it couldn't help get the band on the charts.


Friday, October 25, 2019

"Love's Got A Line On You" by Scandal

Scandal was a rock band fronted by vocal powerhouse Patty Smyth that formed in the early 80s. They released an EP in 1982 that produced two chart hits: "Goodbye To You" and "Love's Got A Line On You," which went to #65 and #59, respectively. Not a bad start at all, but both deserved much better in my opinion.

The band's first and only full-length studio record would follow in 1984 and gave the band their breakout hit, "The Warrior," which soared to #7 and can be heard on 80s radio everywhere. Two additional lesser-known singles followed, "Hands Tied" and "Beat Of A Heart," both of which stalled at #41.

By this time, tensions within the band and with their label led to their abrupt demise, paving the way for a solo career for Patty Smyth.


Thursday, October 24, 2019

"Dinah Flo" by Boz Scaggs

Boz (William) Scaggs scored a string of notable hits through the 70s. He got his start on the charts in 1971 when "We Were Always Sweethearts" landed at #61.

Never one to follow trends or get locked into one particular genre, Scaggs enjoyed the freedom of being a musical shape-shifter. Nonetheless, his most successful tunes were radio-friendly cuts like "Lowdown" (#3), "Lido Shuffle" (#11), "Breakdown Dead Ahead" (#15), "JoJo" (#17), and "Miss Sun" (#14). "Look What You've Done To Me" was another big hit that arrived in 1980 - it featured some of The Eagles on backing vocals and was featured in the hit movie Urban Cowboy.

Scaggs took a break from the charts in the 80s, but had a minor comeback when "Heart Of Mine" reached #35 in 1988. It would remain his final chart appearance.

Scaggs also achieved success writing songs for others, most notably his tune "We're All Alone." His version appears on his landmark 1976 album, "Silk Degrees," but Rita Coolidge took it to #7 in 1977.

"Dinah Flo" takes us back to 1972. Only his third chart appearance, the song stalled at #86 and deserved much better recognition.


Wednesday, October 23, 2019

"Don't Look Away" by Leo Sayer

Leo Sayer is an eclectic singer and songwriter from England who scored an impressive array of hits in the US in the late 70s and early 80s. He topped the chart twice in 1977 with back-to-back #1 hits "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" and "When I Need You." He nearly scored another #1 in 1980 when "More Than I Can Say" sat at #2 for five weeks.

Sayer's chart run ended abruptly in 1981 after "Living In A Fantasy" reached #23. It is puzzling why such a talented and diverse songwriter disappeared from the radio airwaves.

"Don't Look Away" is an underrated gem from his self-titled 1978 record. A straight-up rocker like this one is a bit of a rarity in his catalogue...shame he didn't do more like it.


Tuesday, October 22, 2019

"Nowadays" by Richie Sambora

Richie Sambora has released three solo records outside his tenure with Bon Jovi, but only managed to secure a single chart appearance. That happened when "Ballad Of Youth," from his debut record, reached #63 in 1991.

To his credit, Sambora's solo work often aims to distinguish himself from the towering shadow of Bon Jovi. His latest effort, "Aftermath Of The Lowdown," arrived in 2012, just before he left Bon Jovi. The record sounds very contemporary with a nice mix of ballads and rockers, and it features Roger Manning (Jellyfish) on keyboards. I'm puzzled why "Nowadays" was not chosen as a single - it is one of the best cuts he has ever done.


Monday, October 21, 2019

"I Wanna Be Famous" by Samantha 7

CC DeVille is the flamboyant guitarist from the glam rock band, Poison, but he completed a one-off side project with other musicians back in the late 90s called Samantha 7. Their work together culminated in the release of their only record, a self-titled LP released in 2000.

In Samantha 7, DeVille takes the mic with a raspy voice that scratches through the pop hooks. The band's music is more punk than hairband, more Green Day than Poison. The songs are short and sweet and, honestly, the record is a blast to listen to from beginning to end. Standouts include "Framed," "Cover Girl," "Seane Girl," and this one, the single, "I Wanna Be Famous." With proper promotion back in the day, I could see Samantha 7 being stars in their own right.


Friday, October 18, 2019

"Finders Keepers" by Salt Water Taffy

Holy Austin Powers! Salt Walter Taffy was a bubblegum pop band from Long Island, New York, that almost had a hit with this one in 1968, but it bubblegummed under the charts. Sorry, it is a guilty pleasure.


Thursday, October 17, 2019

"Twister" by Saliva

Memphis hard rock and sometimes rap band Saliva formed in 1996 and was making waves by 2001 when their track "Your Disease" started to make inroads at radio. Their first chart appearance came in 2003 when "Always" hit #51. 

They'd see chart action just one more time when the stellar ballad written by Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue, Sixx A.M.), "Rest In Pieces," peaked at #93 - it deserved so much better! Despite a bevy of fist-pumping anthems about rock and roll, stardom, Southern girls, and being a badass, the band has yet to get back on the charts. Lead singer Josey Scott left by 2012, but the band carried on with Bobby Amaru as his replacement.

Within the extensive catalog by the band, there are plenty of moments when they steer into more radio-friendly and melodic territory. Such is the case with "Twister," an infectious song from their 2007 record, "Blood Stained Love Story."


Wednesday, October 16, 2019

"Dead Man Shoes" by Saints Of The Underground

Saints of the Underground were a hard rock supergroup that formed in 2006. Former players from Ratt, Alice Cooper, and House of Lords teamed up with ex-Warrant songwriter and vocalist Jani Lane to release a single record in 2008 called "Love The Sin, Hate The Sinner." 

It was a solid album that failed to generate any chart hits, and remains unjustifiably obscure even among most fans of the genre. The unexpected passing of Jani Lane in 2011 had the band calling it quits.

I wish we could have heard more from these guys as their chemistry evolved. "Dead Man Shoes" is one of the standout tracks that demonstrated the promise of the band.


Tuesday, October 15, 2019

"Stay The Night" by Sailor

Sailor was a British pop rock band from the 70s that never found success in the US, although they came close to breaking onto the Top 100 in 1980 with "Runaway." 

"Stay The Night" is another peppy and fun track from this harmonious band that seemed to have potential to find a US audience, but they were left out at sea.


Monday, October 14, 2019

"On And On" by Saigon Kick

Saigon Kick is an eclectic band from Florida whose music was all over the map. Most of the early work was dominated by hard rock, sometimes metal, but then you'd hear some pop, lofty power ballads, soul, lounge, or a mix of everything. On one of my favorite tracks from their 1991 self-titled debut, "My Life," a choir of kazoos is the featured solo!

While the track "What You Say" received a good deal of airplay, the band did not hit the charts until their sophomore record and the release of an atypical acoustic ballad called "Love Is On The Way." The song soared to #12, but the excellent follow-up track, "All I Want" bubbled under the chart, making the band a one-hit wonder.

The third LP, "Water," was a complicated affair with bickering over the musical direction that ultimately saw the departure of the lead singer. The music was even more all over the place than usual, which may have alienated their growing fanbase. Nonetheless, the record has some awesome moments, including this funky jam called "On And On."


Friday, October 11, 2019

"Won't Give It Up" by Sue Saad and the Next

Sue Saad and the Next were an early 80s new wave and rock band from California that never broke onto the chart, but came close with "Won't Give It Up" and "Looker" from 1980 and 1981, respectively. Puzzling why the infectious "Won't Give It Up" failed to break this promising band and smoking vocalist.


Thursday, October 10, 2019

"I'd Rather Go To Jail" by Mitch Ryder

Mitch Ryder and his band, The Detroit Wheels, tore up the late 60s with their garage rock and soul combination. Big ones included the Top 10 hits "Jenny Take A Ride!" (#10), "Devil With A Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly" (#4), and "Sock It To Me-Baby!" (#6).

Their fiery sound was never more evident than on "I'd Rather Go To Jail." This song from 1967 did not chart, but finds the band on top form. Their last chart appearance of the 60s was "(You've Got) Personality And Chantilly Lace," which stalled at #88 in 1968. But under the moniker Detroit, Ryder scored a minor comeback hit in 1983 when "When You Were Mine" (written by Prince) reached #87. 


Wednesday, October 9, 2019

"Not Today" by Rust

Rust is a little known post-grunge rock band who released a record called "Bar Chord Ritual" in 1996. Strangely, this San Diego band never found the success that many of their contemporaries found at the time. One factor might be the odd shifting between smooth and gritty vocals. "Not Today" is among the more accessible tracks that should have been all over 90s radio.


Tuesday, October 8, 2019

"Half The World" by Rush

Rush is a rather polarizing band - people seem to love them or shrug them off. This trio formed in Toronto, Canada, and just oozes talent in terms of musicianship and lyrics, but they don't write the types of memorable hooks that spell commercial success. Despite their legendary status, they've only managed a single Top 40 hit in the US since their lineup solidified in the mid-70s. That song was "New World Man," which went to #21 in 1982.

One of my favorites from the band was "Half The World," which comes from their 1996 record, "Test For Echo." Also don't overlook "Between Sun And Moon" from 1993.


Monday, October 7, 2019

"Time Heals" by Todd Rundgren

Since the dawn of the 1970s, singer and songwriter Todd Rundgren has been a major force in the music biz. Aside from his own extensive catalogue, he's produced many classic albums by famous artists from Badfinger to Meat Loaf to XTC.

In addition to his solo work, Rundgren has been at the helm of the bands Runt, Nazz, and Utopia. His biggest hit came in 1973 when "Hello It's Me" peaked at #5, a remake of a song originally done by Nazz that only hit #66 in 1970.

"Time Heals" is an excellent tune from his 1981 album, "Healing." This song, which sounds a lot like a Hall & Oates tune, failed to chart. But Rundgren had one more song crack the Top 100 in 1983: "Bang The Drum All Day" reached #63.


Friday, October 4, 2019

"I Love Playin' With Fire" by The Runaways

The Runaways were a breakthrough hard rock band led by Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Micki Steele, and Sandy West. This boatload of talent didn't stay together long as most members soon went onto successful solo careers or stints with other famous bands (Steele joined The Bangles). 

Despite their now legendary status, The Runaways never cracked the Top 100. Their most widely known song is the brilliant anthem, "Cherry Bomb." "I Love Playin' With Fire" is another should've been hit in the same vein.


Thursday, October 3, 2019

"He Who Picks The Rose" by Jimmy Ruffin

Jimmy Ruffin had something in common with his brother David Ruffin: both scored two Top 10 hits. Jimmy's were "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" (#7 in 1966) and "Hold On To My Love" (#10 in 1980). The latter was his final chart appearance. In-between, Ruffin had another notable hit when "I've Passed This Way Before" landed at #17.

"He Who Picks The Rose" never saw any chart action, but had the makings of another soul classic. Jimmy Ruffin passed away in 2014 at age 78.


Wednesday, October 2, 2019

"It Takes All Kinds Of People To Make A World" by David Ruffin

David Ruffin, brother of Jimmy Ruffin, was one of the lead singers of The Temptations in the 60s until striking out on a solo career at the end of the decade. He wasted no time getting back on the chart with "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)," which soared to #9 in 1969. Ruffin would visit the Top 10 once more in 1976 when "Walk Away From Love" matched his previous entry at #9.

Other than that, Ruffin had a lackluster chart career. He enjoyed a bit of a comeback in 1985 when he participated in the "A Nite At The Apollo Live!" medley led by Hall & Oates, which went to #20.

"It Takes All Kinds Of People To Make A World" is a forgotten gem from his 1975 album, "Who I Am." Sadly, Ruffin passed away in 1991 at the age of 50 from a drug overdose.


Tuesday, October 1, 2019

"Into The Lavender" by Rubyhorse

Taking their name from a song by The Wonder Stuff, the Irish band Rubyhorse never quite found an audience in the US despite relocating to the Boston area in 1997, and then Los Angeles after inking a deal. 

Their major label album, "Rise," from 2002 earned the band some press and spots on TV, but this didn't translate into any charting singles. They also somehow got George Harrison to play slide guitar on the song "Punchdrunk."

"Into The Lavender" is the standout track from "Rise," and showed great promise for this underrated band.