"Rocket To Your Heart" by Danger Danger

Danger Danger was a second-tier hairband that almost broke into the top 40 with their song, "Bang Bang". The catchy tune went to #49 in 1990 and helped get the band's self-titled debut album to #88. It is kind of surprising this album wasn't mined for additional hits to increase Danger Danger's profile up to their better-known counterparts like Firehouse or Slaughter. "Don't Walk Away" and "Feels Like Love" are just a couple examples of missed opportunities.

In the 90s, the band underwent numerous line-up changes, including departure of their lead singer Ted Poley. Fast forward to 2009 and Ted Poley reunites with Danger Danger to record their seventh (!) studio album, "Revolve". The band makes a laudable effort to update their sound, and "Rocket To Your Heart" is just one of several stand out tracks on this record. It failed to chart in the US, but did hit the charts in Japan.

"Knock Me Out" by Child's Play

Hard rocking melodic bands with big hair and big choruses were a dime a dozen in the late 80s, but Baltimore's Child's Play stood a cut above the rest and deserved much wider recognition. Fueled by the powerhouse yet soulful vocals of Brian Jack, their major label debut, "Rat Race", failed to poke its head out above the crowd in 1990.

A few years later, the band broke up and drummer/singer John Allen joined the alternative band SR-71. Allen would pair up with Child's Play's guitarist Nicky Kay once more to form modern rock band Charm City Devils in 2007. Sadly, Brian Jack passed away in 2012.

"Knock Me Out" is just one of many examples why I think this record should have done much better. If you like this kind of music, be sure to also check out "When Hell Freezes Over", the title track, and the excellent acoustic ballad, "Wind". 

"Miss Mystery" by Black 'N Blue

Why the glam/hair band Black 'N Blue didn't break as big as their counterparts in the 80s is a real mystery. Their best known song, which failed to chart on the Billboard Top 100, had all the ingredients to be an instant smash in the 80s. "Miss Mystery" is a catchy, mid-tempo track with decent harmonies and even featured an over-the-top video complete with the boys performing on the wing of a jet. What's not to love?

"Miss Mystery" came off the band's second album, "Without Love" (1985), which also failed to chart.

"8 Arms" by Big Bang Babies

A day late and dollar short, Big Bang Babies arrived on the glam and hair band scene with their self-titled debut in 1992. The song "8 Arms" is a triumph - a total homage to Cheap Trick and the perfect love song for octopuses. 

Don't miss their rocking cover of "Winter Wonderland", too!

“True Emotion” by Alias

Composed of members from the bands Heart and Sheriff, Alias was one of those dime-a-dozen hard rock bands capitalizing on glam and hairband trends just before grunge shampooed the scene.

Released in 1990, the self-titled debut record from supergroup Alias reached #114 on the US Billboard 200.

Like most “hard rock” bands at the time, the power ballad was the main attraction and their best shot at chart success. Alias proved no exception and almost hit #1 with their monster hit, “More Than Words Can Say”, which would have been a repeat success for lead singer Freddy Curci – his amazing voice topped the charts when Sheriff re-released “When I’m With You” in 1989.

Alias almost hit the top 10 again with the pleasant mid-tempo number, “Waiting For Love”. The album had a string of other potential hits, but the music landscape was changing rapidly. I always thought “True Emotion” was one of the best tracks on this record – it probably would have hit top 10 if released just a year or two earlier.

Alias released a long-awaited follow-up record called “Never Say Never” in 2009, most of it containing material recorded in 1992.

"You Got What It Takes" by 2 Die 4

It was really easy for a band to fall between the cracks in the uncertain musical landscape of 1992. Hair bands were going gray fast and a few Seattle bands were unleashing a new sound called grunge that was rapidly taking over the airwaves.

2 Die 4 was a band from Oxfordshire that is really hard to describe. Best classified as a hard rock band (they did open for W.A.S.P.), their look was somewhere between Poison and Trixter, but their lyrics contained a bit more depth than your average hair band. Their Prince-like name and odd album cover probably didn't do them any favors either.

The one and only record released by "2 Die 4" in 1992.

Back in 1992, MTV still played music videos, and if you stayed up late you might have heard this infectious gem called "You Got What It Takes".

The song and consequently the album didn't get any traction, but "You Got What It Takes" sticks in my head all day long if I happen to hear it. "Sorry I Broke Your Smile" is another great cut, more of a mid-tempo rocker. Other highlights include the rock anthem "Living For The Moment" (check out the Kiss-inspired gang vocal on the chorus) and the power ballad "How Can You Believe In Love".

2 Die 4 was probably just a day late to the melodic hard rock party of the late 80s.