Vanilla Fudge was a psychedelic jam band largely known as a one-hit wonder thanks to their version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On," which peaked at #6 in 1968. The year before, it stalled at #67. "You Keep Me Hangin' On" has gotten a lot of chart mileage. Originally taken to the top spot by The Supremes in 1966, the song also cracked the Top 100 when covered by Wilson Pickett in 1969 and Jackie DeShannon in 1970 (as a medley). But it would be Kim Wilde who delivered it back to #1 in 1987. Some members of Vanilla Fudge were also in the backing bands of artists like Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. The only other Top 40 entry the band scored was "Take Me For A Little While," which underperformed at #38 in 1968. The band's final chart appearance would come the next year when "Shotgun" reached #68.
The self-titled Van Zant record is like hidden treasure for 80s melodic rock fans. Released in 1985, the album saw little airplay and generated no chart hits on the Top 100. The project grew out of Johnny Van Zant's southern rock band, but this record is pure AOR. Johnny would team up with his brother Donnie to record again under this moniker, but focused on country music instead. If the voice sounds familiar to you, that's because Johnny Van Zant also sings for 38 Special. Johnny and Donnie are the younger brothers of Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd). "Midnight Sensation" is the track that kicks things off, and it is a nostalgic ride back to the 80s.
Formed by brothers Eddie and Alex, Van Halen began their run on the charts in 1978 when their version of "You Really Got Me" peaked at #36. The band would score big with several other cover songs in 1982, including "(Oh) Pretty Woman" (#12) and "Dancing In The Street" (#38). By their 6th album with the charismatic frontman David Lee Roth, the band leapt to the top of the charts with 1984's "Jump." The single stayed their for 5 weeks and was followed by two more Top 40 hits that both peaked at #13: "I'll Wait" and "Panama." Whether the group would be able to sustain their run on the charts after Roth was replaced with Sammy Hagar (formerly of Montrose) in 1985 was a big question at the time. But they proved the doubters wrong as the band continued to score big hits with Hagar at the mic. "Why Can't This Be Love" flew to #3 in 1986, followed by "Dreams" and "Love Walks In," which both went to #22. Additional hits with Hagar followed until they parted ways in 1996 (his last chart appearance with the band came in 1995 when "Not Enough" stalled at #97). Van Halen could not strike gold a third time by replacing their lead singer once again, this time with Extreme's vocalist, Gary Cherone. Nothing from the single album done with Cherone in 1998 charted. But Van Halen wasn't done quite yet. A surprise reunion with Roth took place and one more album has been released to date, entitled "A Different Kind Of Truth." The lead single, "Tattoo," reached #67 in 2012. "Blood And Fire" is another cut from that album that deserved greater attention.
Known for his sultry ballads and soft pop, Luther Vandross left behind a string of hits through the decades until his passing in 2005 at the age of 54. He began his chart career in 1981 when "Never Too Much" peaked at #33 and finished it with the beautiful "Dance With My Father," (co-written with Richard Marx) which reached #38 and won Grammys for Song of the Year and R&B Male Vocal in 2003. Vandross was no stranger to the Top 10 in the 90s, scoring hits like "Here And Now" (#6, another Grammy winner), "Power of Love/Love Power" (#4, another Grammy winner), "Don't Want To Be A Fool" (#9), "The Best Things In Life Are Free" (#10), and "Endless Love" (a duet with Mariah Carey that soared to #2). "I'll Let You Slide" shows the dance side of Vandross, in all of its 80s glory. It comes from his 1983 album, "Busy Body," which produced the Top 40 hit with Dionne Warwick, "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" (#27).
In the spirit of Memphis power pop, exemplified by artists like Big Star, Van Duren released one of the finest albums in the genre. His record from 1978, "Are You Serious?" is a cult classic and should have brought this talented singer and songwriter widespread recognition. The entire album is worth a spin, but I'm highlighting "Chemical Fire" here to give you a taste.
Led by Frankie Valli and his signature falsetto, the Four Seasons dominated the 60s with an impressive run of hits that included many #1 classics like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Rag Doll." The group would achieve another final #1 in 1976 with "December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)," which re-charted to #14 as a dance re-mix in 1994. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are ranked as the 6th most successful artist in the 60s and #35 overall. Frankie Valli also had a successful solo career that he started in 1965, obtaining more huge hits like "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (#2), "My Eyes Adored You" (#1), "Swearin' To God" (#6), and his big comeback hit "Grease" (#1 for two weeks) from the movie of the same name. Frankie and the boys tried twice to strike gold with their version of Joe Cook's "Peanuts," which Cook took to #22 in 1957 with his outfit, Little Joe & The Thrillers. The Four Seasons versions bubbled under in 1963 and again in 1964, but is included on several of their "hits" compilations.
The Valentinos were a vocal R&B group composed of the Womack brothers who had a brush with fame in the early 60s. "Lookin' For A Love" only went to #72 in 1962, but deserved so much better. The group could not top that minor hit, barely cracking the Top 100 with follow-up singles "I'll Make It Alright" (#97) and "It's All Over Now" (#94). Bobby Womack would move on to a solo career that revived "Lookin' For A Love" in 1974, this time taking it to #10.
Ritchie Valens, whose life and career was portrayed in the 1987 movie La Bamba, seemed destined to be a superstar after he achieved out of the box hits in 1958 with "Come On, Let's Go" (#42), "Donna" (#2), and "La Bamba" (#22). Valens was on that tragic flight in 1959 that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. He was only 17 years old. "Ooh! My Head" is another great tune performed by Valens that speaks to his love of rock and roll.
Todd Rundgren has too much talent for a single project, so in addition to his acclaimed solo work, he has led bands like Runt, Nazz, and Utopia. Utopia formed in 1973 as a prog rock outift, after Rundgren achieved his biggest hit as a solo artist when "Hello, It's Me" peaked at #5 that same year. Utopia soon shifted to power pop and rock, releasing acclaimed albums until 1985, but they did not enjoy the chart success they deserved. During their time together, Utopia landed only one minor Top 40 hit with "Set Me Free," which reached #27 in 1980. They followed this up with "The Very Last Time," which stalled at #76. The band's final chart appearance arrived 3 years later when "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" reached #82. Despite the attention radio denied them, their songs caught the ears of others like England Dan & John Ford Coley, who took "Love Is The Answer" to #10 in 1979. "Crybaby" is from the band's 1983 album "Oblivion," and features some of their trademark harmonies.
The Used are an alternative rock band from Utah that formed in 2001. They teamed up with My Chemical Romance in 2005 to score a chart hit with their cover of David Bowie's "Under Pressure," which peaked at #41. It remains their only Top 100 appearance, but the band has released eight studio albums to date that have sold very well. "The Taste Of Ink" is from the band's 2002 self-titled debut record and remains one of my favorites.
Unruly Child is a hard rock band that released a self-titled debut record in 1992, just after the hairband craze started to fizzle and give way to grunge. Led by powerhouse vocalist Marcie Free (formerly of King Kobra and Signal), Unruly Child's debut might have landed the band several charting signals if it had come out a few years earlier. While largely inactive for the next two decades, the band reunited and released a modern AOR effort in 2010 called "Worlds Collide," and continue to make records to this day. "Very First Time" is one of the highlights from this record, which has become a new favorite in the genre.
Uriah Heep is an English hard rock and heavy metal band that has cranked out 24 albums in their 50+ years together. They've undergone many lineup changes over the years, but still managed to maintain a telltale sound. The band's name comes from a character in the famed novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Uriah Heep scored only a single Top 40 hit in the US when "Easy Livin'" reached #39 in 1972. I'm surprised that a song like "Dreamer," which kicked off their follow-up album, "Sweet Freedom," failed to bring the band greater attention in the US.
The Uniques were a pop and rock group from Louisiana led by brothers Joe and Bobby Stampley. They managed to score two minor chart hits in the mid-60s with "Not Too Long Ago" and "All These Things," which reached #66 and #97, respectively. After the group split up, Joe Stampley made a move to country rock and became very successful. As a solo country artist, he took "All These Things" to the top of the country charts. He also had a single Top 100 hit with "Soul Song" in 1973, which reached #37. In addition to smooth and sunny pop, The Uniques could rock out and sound more like a garage band. "You Ain't Tuff" is one of the strongest in their collection.
Urgent was a melodic rock band that formed in New York City and scored a single chart appearance when "Running Back" reached #79 in 1985. It came from their debut album, "Cast The First Stone," which kind of sank like a stone. Consequently, their 1987 sophomore record, "Thinking Out Loud," was DOA and the band broke up. Some of the members, including Yul Vazquez, joined another underrated rock band in 1989 called Diving For Pearls. Others may know Vazquez from his acting career, which included a recurring spot on Seinfeld and roles in several feature films. Here is the underrated title track to Urgent's debut record. Listening back on this, it is hard to imagine why it wasn't bigger in 1985.
The Unforgiven were a little-known rock band from California that exuded a cheesy cowboy theme and gang vocals. Their one and only album dropped in 1986 and was self-titled. The record didn't produce any charting singles, but some of the highlights deserved more attention, such as "All Is Quiet On The Western Front," "The Loner," and "I Hear The Call." One of the band's guitarists, Johnny Hickman, went on to co-found the alternative rock band Cracker.
Matthew Shafer is a singer and songwriter from Michigan who goes by the name of Uncle Kracker. He got his start working the turntables as the DJ for follow Michigan superstar Kid Star. Uncle Kracker began a solo career at the dawn of the new millennium, with a little help from Kid Rock along the way. Uncle Kracker became a sensation right out of the box with his smooth grooves, and expanded his audience as he migrated more into country rock. "Follow Me" was his first (and biggest) chart hit, reaching #5 in 2001. In 2003, Uncle Kracker returned to the Top 10 once more with his version of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away," which sailed to #9. Gray's original version went to #5 in 1973, and he was a guest vocalist on Uncle Kracker's version. Uncle Kracker scored a couple more minor until his last chart appearance in 2010 when "Smile" reached #31. "Hey Hey Hey" is a fun, country rocker found on the feel-good record of 2009, "Happy Hour."
Synth pop bands were a dime a dozen in the 80s, which likely explains why Ultravox wasn't as popular in the US as their native England. Led by Scottish vocalist Midge Ure, who would return to the US chart in 1989 as a solo artist, Ultravox scored a single chart entry in 1983 when "Reap The Wild Wind" reached #71. "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" seemed like a worthy follow-up, but it failed to break into the Top 100, making Ultravox a one-hit wonder in the US.
Tracey Ullman did a little bit of everything, from singing and acting to comedy. Her popularity on the US charts was not as big as her native England, but she still scored a Top 10 hit in 1984 with "They Don't Know." Ullman followed this with "Break-A-Way," which stalled at #70 and ended her US chart career. It's unclear why a bright 80s pop song like "Sunglasses" failed to generate interest on the US chart. With throwbacks to the beach party sounds of the 50 and 60s, this is a fun sing-a-long for anytime of the year.
UFO was one of the pioneering British hard rock bands that enjoyed peak success in the 70s, although they never gained much traction in the US. The band came close to cracking the US chart in 1977 when "Too Hot To Handle" bubbled under. Shortly thereafter, the band endured multiple personnel changes, including the departure of guitarist Michael Schenker (formerly of the Scorpions and later of MSG) in 1978 and bassist Pete Way in 1982, who then formed Fastway and then Waysted. Nonetheless, UFO continued to release some notable material among their impressive catalogue spanning 22 studio albums. I count 1982's "Let It Rain" among them.
Formed in Dublin in the late 70s, U2 slowly emerged to become one of rock's biggest acts of all-time. The band is ranked as the 38th most successful chart artist of the 90s and #97 of all-time. The band quietly built a following through the 80s, but didn't crack the Top 10 until their landmark 1987 album, "The Joshua Tree," delivered three Top 40 hits, including two #1 smashes: "With Or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Most of their early well-known favorites like "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Two Hearts Beat As One," "Bad," and "The Unforgettable Fire" never charted in the US. The band took a surprise detour from their classic sound and became more experimental through the 90s, maintaining a chart presence with hits like "Mysterious Ways" (#9), "One" (#10), and "Discotheque" (#10), but also suffering damaging flops like "Numb" (#61) and "Lemon" (#71). As the 2000s rolled around, the band largely returned to their roots, landing additional Top 40 hits with "Beautiful Day" (#21) and "Vertigo" (#31). Since then, the band has struggled to score on the charts despite releasing some of the finest material in their extensive catalogue. "Red Flag Day" is a perfect example of a modern U2 song that deserves to be a hit. It comes from their last album, 2017's "Songs of Experience."
The Tymes were a stunning Philly doo-wop group that rose to fame in the early 60s with the delightful malt shop hits "So Much In Love" and "Wonderful, Wonderful!" which went to #1 and #7, respectively. As musical tastes changed over the years, the group successfully transitioned to a funky soul sound that put them back into the Top 40 in 1974 (after a near 6 year absence from the chart). "You Little Trustmaker" soared to #12, but it also marked their last Top 40 appearance. "Someway, Somehow I'm Keeping You" comes from the same album that delivered "Trustmaker." Equally energetic and fun, this tune did not chart, but proves The Tymes deserved a longer second wind.
Bonnie Tyler is the raspy-throated songstress from Wales who rose to fame in the late 70s and early 80s. She first scored on the US charts in 1978 when "It's A Heartache" soared to #3. She didn't see chart success again until she started to team up with epic songwriter Jim Steinman, known for his over-the-top songs that last 3-4 minutes longer than they should. But she struck gold with his "Total Eclipse Of The Heart," which spent four weeks at #1. Tyler couldn't ride this wave to sustain her chart career in the US, with her final foray into the Top 40 being "Holding Out For A Hero" (another Steinman tune) from the Footloose soundtrack. That song made it to #34 in 1984. While Steinman helped with her follow-up LP in 1986, "Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire," the lead single, "If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man)," stalled at #77 and became her final chart appearance in the US. If you can look past the kiddy choir introduction, "Going Through The Motions" is a fun pop song typical of the times. It comes from her smash 1983 record, "Faster Than The Speed Of Night."
