"My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" by Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa denies classification and his music is either loved or hated. Zappa was an eclectic artist who didn't have a lot of chart success, and that is probably how this nonconformist preferred it.

Zappa appeared on the Top 100 three times during his musical career, which got its start in the 60s. In 1974, "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" made an unlikely appearance on the chart, peaking at #86. He topped this in 1979 when "Dancin' Fool" went to #45. But his best performance came in 1982 when "Valley Girl" reached #32. 

The classic "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" goes back to his earlier days (1970). Zappa passed away in 1993 at the age of 52 due to prostate cancer.

"A Lil' Ain't Enough" by David Lee Roth

The charismatic ham, David Lee Roth, joined a band called Mammoth in the early 70s and helped them become one of the most influential rock groups of the modern era (after they changed their name to Van Halen in 1974). We'll save that story for another day, but suffice it to say that tensions arose and Diamond Dave struck out on his own to pursue a solo career by 1985.

Roth recruited some ace players including guitarist Steve Vai (Frank Zappa's band) and bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), and proved he'd have no trouble scoring hits without the Van Halen brothers...at least for a little while. He had two reach the Top 10, his cover of "California Girls" (originally done by The Beach Boys) reached #3 in 1985 and his original song, "Just Like Paradise," hit #6 in 1988. Other memorable solo hits included his rendition of "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (#12) and "Yankee Rose" (#16).

Roth's final chart appearance to date came in 1988 when "Stand Up" stalled at #64. His follow-up 1991 effort, "A Little Ain't Enough," was classic Roth, but not what ears hungered for anymore. His schtick had grown tiresome, but his career had a revival in reunions with the Van Halen brothers.

If released in the 80s, I'm sure songs from "A Little Ain't Enough" would have performed magnificently, especially the title track, "A Lil' Ain't Enough."

"Looking For A U.F.O." by Adrian Belew

I'm willing to bet many of you never heard of Adrian Belew, but I bet you've heard him perform in some capacity. Discovered by Frank Zappa, Belew was an accomplished singer and guitarist as a sideman for the likes of Talking Heads, David Bowie, and Paul Simon. He was also a member of the prog rock band King Crimson.

Belew's only chart appearance as a solo act was for the song, "Oh Daddy", which made it to #58 in 1989. In 1990, he released his 5th album, "Young Lions", which is filled with a mix of melodic and experimental rock. There is a duet with David Bowie ("Pretty Pink Rose"), a cover of the Traveling Wilburys song, "Not Alone Anymore", and even a broadcast from an evangelist called Prophet Omega.

Among the more accessible cuts is this snappy little number, "Looking For A U.F.O." Not just a great commentary on world affairs, the song also features a pretty obvious nod to the Talking Heads.