"Power" by Rainbow

Rainbow was a hard rock band with the constant of British guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. They've had several lead singers, most notably Ronnie James Dio and Joe Lynn Turner, and keyboard extraordinaire Tony Carey.

With Dio at the helm, the band had a darker and less melodic edge. They didn't score a chart hit until a new lead singer came aboard (Graham Bonnet), taking the Russ Ballard song "Since You Been Gone" to #57 in 1979. With the change to Joe Lynn Turner, the band scored their only top 40 hit: "Stone Cold" landed at #40 in 1982. Turner would produce one final charting single for the group when "Street Of Dreams" peaked at #60 in 1983.

"Power" comes from the Turner led album from 1982 called "Straight Between The Eyes."

"Light Of Day" by Jody Raffoul

Jody Raffoul is a Canadian singer and songwriter who has yet to break onto the US charts, but was probably seen my many opening for the likes of Collective Soul, Nickelback, and Bon Jovi.

The inspirational anthem, "Light Of Day," is a highlight from his 2004 album, "Like A Star."

"The Right Moment" by Gerry Rafferty

Many people remember Gerry Rafferty incorrectly as a one-hit wonder, whose classic song "Baker Street" (made more memorable by the ripping sax solo played by Raphael Ravenscroft) spent six weeks at #2 in 1978. But he landed in the top 40 several other times, including "Right Down The Line" (#12), "Days Gone Down (Still Got The Light In Your Eyes)" (#17), and "Get It Right Next Time" (#21).

Rafferty couldn't maintain chart success far into the 80s, his last appearance being in 1980 when "The Royal Mile (Sweet Darlin')" stalled at #54. He passed away from liver failure in 2011 at the age of 63.

"The Right Moment" is a beautiful ballad that appeared on his 1982 effort called "Sleepwalking." Olivia Newton-John would cover this song in 1985.

"Bones" by Radiohead

English band Radiohead burst onto the music scene in 1993 with their impressive debut record, "Pablo Honey." The record was powered by the instant popularity of the single "Creep," which remains the band's best chart performance although it surprisingly only reached #34. Many more great tunes are on the record that didn't chart, like "Stop Whispering" and "Thinking About You."

Far from a sophomore jinx, their 1995 follow-up record, "The Bends," was masterful, and is my personal pick for best record of that year. Filled with an amazing batch of consistently terrific songs, it is astonishing that it didn't yield more than the modest chart success of "Fake Plastic Trees" and "High & Dry," which landed at #65 and #78, respectively. "The Bends" is easily the most melodic and radio-friendly work Radiohead has done in their illustrious career.

After "The Bends," 1997's "OK Computer" marked the beginning of the band's transition into more experimental territory. Foregoing melody and conventional sounds excited some, but honestly, they lost me. Aside from "Karma Police," which went to #69, none of the tracks found a home on the charts. The band would resurface on the charts in 2008, when "Nude" gave them their second biggest hit, reaching #37.

Among the many tracks on "The Bends" that should have seen chart action, here is the marvelous "Bones."

"Sign Of The Times" by Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche is a heavy metal band from Washington state that formed at the beginning of the 80s. They slowly built a loyal following with their unique brand of cerebral lyrics and sophisticated instrumentation. Lead singer Geoff Tate has a distinct and dynamic range that works its way around the innovative riffs of guitarist Chris DeGarmo. Their 1988 concept album, "Operation: Mindcrime" is considered a classic in the genre.

The band had an unlikely hit in 1991 with the gorgeous orchestrated ballad "Silent Lucidity." The song went to #9 and was their only chart appearance, but it helped the album "Empire" become their biggest selling record, surpassing the three million mark. Lots of other songs from this masterpiece of a record got substantial airplay, but none of them charted.

The band was unable to sustain their rising status during the shifting music times of the 90s, and DeGarmo left by the end of the decade (effectively ending Queensrÿche in the eyes of many). Tate would get fired in 2012, and now the band using the Queensrÿche name bears not a single founding member. Tate now records under the banner Operation: Mindcrime.

But before DeGarmo left, the band released a polarizing record called "Hear In The Now Frontier." The record was either loved or hated by fans and critics alike, and I fall more towards the love side. It is their most radio-friendly effort ever and contains a lot of great tunes that contain classic moments embedded in more melodic material. "Sign Of The Times" exemplifies what I'm talking about, and is still relevant today. Notably, the record also contains the groovy "All I Want," the only song in which DeGarmo sings lead vocals.

"Don't Try So Hard" by Queen

The legendary band Queen, fronted by the unforgettable Freddie Mercury, scored a string of hits that included two #1's: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" spent four weeks at the top and "Another One Bites The Dust" spent three weeks there. 

Another one of their classics, "Bohemian Rhapsody," made multiple appearances as new audiences discovered its unique awesomeness. It became the band's first top 10 hit in 1976 when it reached #9, but thanks to being featured in the movie Wayne's World in 1992, it roared back and peaked at #2. It returned once again in 2018-2019 to hit #33 after the movie of the same name was released.

Queen had their biggest successes in the 70s and 80s, but still scored a handful of hits in the 90s thanks to "Bohemian Rhapsody" and a duet with George Michael, "Somebody To Love," that hit #30 in 1993. "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions" also made a dual appearance - originally hitting #4 in 1977 and hitting #52 in 1992. Queen did not re-chart in the 2000s, but as mentioned, returned in the 2010s with "Bohemian Rhapsody." Who's to say whether we've heard the last of Queen on the charts?

There's a lot of mastery in Queen's impressive catalogue, but I am particularly moved by their fourteenth record from 1991, "Innuendo." Mercury was succumbing to AIDS during its writing and recording, but he still delivers a stellar performance. One of the best is "Don't Try So Hard," on which Mercury offers some sage advice in (mostly) falsetto in a gentle ballad that contains bursts of trademark guitar from Brian May. Also don't overlook the video for "These Are The Days Of Our Lives," the final one Mercury completed before his death in late 1991 at age 45. His sincerity at the end when he whispers, "I still love you" will break you. We still love you, too, Freddie.

"Love Is Ready" by Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro is a prolific rocker with a catalog so diverse, sometimes you're not sure you're listening to the same artist. Her biggest hit was the soft rock duet with Chris Norman of the band Smokie: "Stumblin' In" went all the way to #4 in 1979. The track appeared on her 1978 LP (her fifth record) called "If You Knew Suzi...", which yielded another chart hit when the acoustic-driven ditty called "If You Can't Give Me Love" reached #45.

Taking a sharp turn from this pleasant brand of yacht rock, she lunged into edgier rock with her next record, "Suzi...and Other Four Letter Words." It gave her two more singles that nearly broke into the top 40: "I've Never Been In Love" reached #44 and "She's In Love With You" reached #41.

Quatro cranked up the volume and distortion even more with her 1980 effort, appropriately titled "Rock Hard." It produced her final chart hit when "Lipstick" stalled at #51. "Love Is Ready" is another catchy tune from this underrated album. Quatro is a pioneer in women's rock who deserved wider recognition, and she continues to make records to this day. 

"Millionaire" by The Push Stars

The Push Stars were a post-grunge band that formed in the mid-90s and sounded like a caffeinated version of Counting Crows. Led by Chris Tapper, who also pursued a solo career, the band formed in Massachusetts and quickly earned a loyal local following. Unfortunately, it did not expand despite 5 studio albums during their core years together and appearances on several popular soundtracks like There's Something About Mary, Me, Myself & Irene, and Malcolm In The Middle.

"Millionaire" is a fun track any 20-something can relate to. It comes from their 2001 record, "Opening Time."

"Carry On" by Phlying Saucer

Phlying Saucer is an indie power pop and rock band from California that formed in 2010. A talented band like this, which still carries a torch for engaging melodies and harmonies, deserves wider recognition.

"Carry On" is the closing track off their 2011 EP called "Pancakes."

"She's So Young" by The Pursuit of Happiness

Arguably one of the most underrated power pop bands to emerge on the scene in the late 80s was Canada's The Pursuit of Happiness (TPOH). TPOH was led by the lovably snarky and sarcastic singer/songwriter Moe Berg, whose catchy songs were augmented with gorgeous harmonies from sisters Tamara and Natasha Amabile. Early days of the band generated enough buzz to attract Todd Rundgren as producer for their debut album, "Love Junk."

TPOH seemed to get off to a good start with their edgy and funny anthem, "I'm An Adult Now." It received a decent amount of airplay, but did not chart in the US. 

"She's So Young" was a great choice for a follow-up single, but the song surprisingly went nowhere. After the band's sophomore record, 1990's "One Sided Story" (also produced by Rundgren) failed to gain traction, the band fell off the radar. They recorded three more studio records since then, but nothing new since 1996.

"Fallin' Lady" by Punch

Sunny California pop bands were a dime-a-dozen back in the early 70s and Punch was one that fell through the cracks. But this quirky band made some interestingly catchy music, like this single from 1971 that bubbled under the chart. Some of the members went on to form a new band called Sonoma after Punch swung and missed.

"Never Change" by Puddle of Mudd

Kansas City band Puddle of Mudd seemed destined to keep the rock flame alive through the 2000s. With a singer (Wes Scantlin) who sounds heavily influenced by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, this post-grunge outfit first landed on the chart with "Control," which reached #68 in 2001. 

The haunting power ballad, "Blurry," which soared to #5, really put them on the map. One more single from their impressive debut record hit the top 40: "She Hates Me" peaked at #13. It would also mark their last top 40 appearance as their subsequent records failed to generate any big singles.

Another noteworthy tune from their debut is "Never Change." Seemed to have "hit single" potential written all over it, but there were a lot of good songs from this album to be mined.

"Keep The Customer Satisfied" by Gary Puckett

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap rose to prominence with a string of hits in the late 60s, including "Young Girl" and "Lady Willpower," both of which just missed the top spot. Despite a number of other top 10 hits, the band's last quickly came in 1970 when "Let's Give Adam And Eve Another Chance" stalled at #41. Several of their biggest tunes were written by Jerry Fuller.

Puckett immediately turned to a solo career and was back on the charts in no time with "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself," which landed at a lackluster #61 in 1970. The next year would be his last appearance on the chart, when this terrific ditty written by Paul Simon peaked at a disappointing #71. To my ears, it deserved much better than that!

"Fooled Again" by Pseudo Echo

There's always a risk when a band decides to change up its sound. In 1987, Australian synth pop band Pseudo Echo stormed up the US charts with their keytars in hand, landing at #57 with "Living In A Dream" and then hitting #6 with their rendition of "Funky Town." (Lipps, Inc. took this song to #1 for four weeks in 1980).

The band followed-up their big splash in 1989 with "Race," a record that strongly veered more toward the rock end of the spectrum. For me, it worked well and I like this album even more than its predecessor. For others, I guess they wanted more synth pop. "Fooled Again" is the lead off track that should have made this band from Down Under more than a one-hit wonder in the US.

"Trouble With Love" by The Producers

The Producers were a new wave band that gained a lot of regional popularity around their home base in Georgia. They managed to score a single Top 100 appearance in 1981 when "What She Does To Me (The Diana Song)" reached #61. They deserved much more but when their sophomore album failed to produce a hit, they were dropped by their record label.

The band forged ahead and obtained new major label backing by MCA to release their fourth album, "Coelacanth," which was recorded in 1988. Unfortunately, the album was dropped after some reorganization at the label. This terrific record, with a harder rock edge, finally saw the light of day in 2001. "Trouble With Love" is just one of the highlights from this gem that fell through the cracks.

"She Wandered Through The Garden Fence" by Procol Harum

The English band behind one of rock's most perplexing hits, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale," Procol Harum was never ever to match that runaway success. "Pale" reached #5 in 1967 and is now in both the Grammy and R&R Halls of Fame. The group only secured two other charting hits during their tenure: "Homburg" reached #34 in 1967 and "Conquistador" hit #16 in 1972.

"She Wandered Through The Garden Fence" is reminiscent of "Pale," but more upbeat. It comes from their 1967 self-titled album and would have seemed a logical follow-up.

"The One U Wanna C" by Prince

Prince had an extraordinary run on the charts, particularly through the 80s. He was the second most successful chart artist of the decade (second to Michael Jackson) and the top artist of 1984. There are too many classic hits to mention, but his #1's included "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," "Kiss," "Batdance," and "Cream."

There's really no good reason why he suddenly fell out of fashion after his last big hit in 1994, when "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" topped out at #3. Consider, for example, his underrated 2007 album, "Planet Earth." Filled with goodies like "Guitar," "Resolution," and this one, it should have been a big comeback for the versatile artist.

Prince passed away in 2016 at the age of 57 from accidental drug overdose.

"Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)" by Louis Prima

Louis Prima was a bandleader, singer, and trumpet player who be-bopped his way to fame in the 50s with his rambunctious style of New Orleans-inspired jazz and swing. He first scored a couple of chart hits while part of a duo with Keely Smith, most notably "That Old Black Magic," which went to #18 in 1958 and won a Grammy for Pop Vocal Duo.

After going solo, he hit again with "Wonderland By Night," which peaked at #15 in 1960. He passed away in 1978 at the age of 67.

"Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)" is an important reminder that life is too short, so have fun. It also has the distinction of being the last song played on the series finale of the popular medical drama, House M.D.

"Sound Of Home" by Pride of Lions

Pride of Lions is an AOR project initiated in 2003 and comprised of legendary songwriter Jim Peterik (Ides of March, Survivor) and a stunning vocalist, Toby Hitchcock. The two trade vocal duties and harmonize their way through songs written as if the 80s never ended.

Reflecting the remarkably prolific songwriting talents of Peterik, the duo is already 5 studio albums in and each one is a treasure for fans longing for the glory days of melodic rock. "Sound of Home" is taken from their self-titled debut and in a universe where this type of music never fell out of fashion, surely would have found its way onto the charts.

If you enjoy Hitchcock's vocals, he's released a couple of solo records and can be heard on Peterik's latest World Stage record, too.

"(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" by Elvis Presley

The most successful chart artist of all-time, there's not much to say about Elvis Presley that hasn't already been said a million times. We all know his classic hits, many of which have spent multiple weeks occupying the #1 spot through the 50s and 60s. He almost had a #1 in the 70s, too, when "Burning Love" reached #2 in 1972.

There's a lot of other great tunes buried in his extensive catalog of songs, like this one from 1957.

"Golden Blunders" by The Posies

The Posies, led by the duo Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer, seemed poised to take over the charts in the 90s when they stormed onto the music scene with their major label debut album, "Dear 23." The album garnered plenty of critical acclaim and could serve as a textbook for anyone who wants to learn how to write melody and harmony. Alas, none of this helped the band obtain success on the charts.

"Golden Blunders" is taken from this album, which also offers outstanding cuts like "Everyone Moves Away," "You Avoid Parties," and "Suddenly Mary." Their follow-up records deviated from their acoustic-driven sound in favor of more grunge like tones, but adopting that trend still didn't help round up more fans. In-between solo records and other projects, the pair has released 8 records.

"Golden Blunders" was also covered by Ringo Starr on his 1992 album, "Time Takes Time."

"Be Legendary" by Pop Evil

Pop Evil is a modern hard rock band from Michigan that released their first full-length album, "Lipstick On The Mirror," back in 2009. Their latest from 2018 is self-titled and contains a rousing anthem called "Be Legendary." The band has yet to chart, but the charts aren't too kind to rock bands these days.