It's nice that Weezer has had a handful of appearances on the Top 100 but they really deserve tons more. Since forming in 1992, this prolific band has only scored two Top 40 hits: "Buddy Holly," which reached #18 in 1995 and "Beverly Hills," which landed at #10 in 2005. Led by songwriting genius Rivers Cuomo, Weezer consistently cranks out delectable melodies buried under the crunch and fuzz of distorted guitars. One the most tragic absences from the charts is "Photograph" from their masterful 2001 "Green Album." The band experienced a mild resurgence in 2018 with their rocking cover of "Africa" by Toto (it peaked at #51), which spawned an album of similar cover tunes (2019's "Teal Album"). And their fantastic new song for the third Bill & Ted film, "Beginning Of The End," is a sign that Weezer might still strike gold again on the charts.
The Weepies are a husband and wife team of singer/songwriters who share and trade vocal duties as they effortlessly drift from acoustic folk to pure pop bliss. They've been churning out their whimsical brand of music together since their debut 2003 record, "Happiness." "When You Go Away" is one of the highlights from 2010's masterful record, "Be My Thrill." Don't let their name fool you...you'll be all smiles after hearing The Weepies.
The Webstirs are an indie power pop band that released their first album in 1998 called "Rocket To The Moon." Unfortunately, this talented band with a knack for melody and harmony hasn't found its way out of power pop circles. "Wesley Station" is a peppy, mood-lifting track from the band's 2008 release, "So Long."
Pop synth bands were a dime a dozen in the 80s, but it is surprising that Wax, which combined the talents of Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman (10cc), failed to attract much attention in the US. 10cc scored an impressive run of hits in the 70s and early 80s while Gold's biggest hit was "Lonely Boy," which went to #7 in 1977. Gold's other hit, "Thank You For Being A Friend," only reached #25, but became widely known after it was used as the theme song for The Golden Girls. Wax nearly cracked the US Top 40 when "Right Between The Eyes" reached #43 in 1986. It came from their debut album, "Magnetic Heaven," which also contains this hidden gem, "Systematic." Wax would release a couple more records, but Gold passed away in 2011 at the age of 59.
Hailing from Texas, Johnny "Guitar" Watson was a versatile singer and musician who first tasted chart success as a member of The Shields. The Shields had a lone chart hit with their version of "You Cheated," which went to #12 in 1958. As a solo artist, Watson struggled to get back up on the charts. He barely broke into the Top 100 in the 60s when his cover of "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" stalled at #96 in 1967. In 1975, "I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger" only got to #99. In 1977, Watson had his biggest hit as a solo artist, just missing the Top 40 when "A Real Mother For Ya" reached #41. "Kathaline" is another excellent track from the same album that should have brought Watson more popularity as an innovative blues funk artist. Watson passed away while performing in 1996 at the age of 61.
Chicago native Jody Watley was on fire in the late 80s. The former dancer on Soul Train and vocalist for Shalamar scored a #2 smash hit in 1987 with her first solo single, "Looking For A New Love." Two additional Top 10 hits would follow from her self-titled debut album: "Don't You Want Me" (#6) and "Some Kind Of Lover" (#10). Her sophomore effort, 1989's "Larger Than Life," kept the hits coming with three more reaching the Top 10, including "Real Love" (#2), "Friends" (#9), and "Everything" (#4). Watley's hot streak then came to an abrupt end, save a minor hit in 1992 when "I'm The One You Need" landed at #19. Her debut record yielded plenty of hits, but it is still surprising that "Learn To Say No," which features another superstar, George Michael, isn't more widely known. It is a great team effort by two of the 80s biggest talents that deserves more attention.
Much like he did while in Pink Floyd, English songwriter Roger Waters released concept albums rather than a collection of unconnected songs. More like an experience than a record. The concept album is a lost art, and it is a challenge to include tracks that are radio-friendly without disrupting the flow of the listening experience. This may be part of the reason why Waters never landed a single on the US charts beyond his tenure with Pink Floyd. Not even "Radio Waves," one of the most accessible and enjoyable tracks in his solo catalogue, could drive him into the Top 100. This should not steer you away from diving deep into his work. Other popular highlights include "5:01 AM (The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking)," "What God Wants, Pt I," and "Deja Vu," a cut from his 2017 screed called "Is This The Life We Really Want?"
