Looking Back: A Handful of Eighties Favorites

With a new mat on my turntable I was once again able to safely play my records. But rather than just randomly selecting albums, listening to one or two tracks, and then returning them to their places on my shelves, I instead decided to record a few of the songs we’ve talked about while, at the same time, listening to some of my favorite music not heard recently. . . .

That’s how I began the introduction to this project back in 2002, when I brought together this group of songs for a coworker who shared my musical tastes. Today, seven years later, with a powerful PC and equipment that allows me to record to my computer, I thought it would be fun to recreate the project on compact disc.

What was once a five-cassette collection, then, is now a six-CD set with a new title. And though I’ve deleted two tracks from the original song list, I’ve added six others that should have been included the first time around. My original liner notes (with some revision) have been incorporated into a CD booklet, along with my “What Happened to This Music?” essay from 2007.

So to all you lucky listeners of Take Me Back to the Eighties, I hope you enjoy the songs and CD booklet as much as I enjoyed recording them and writing the booklet’s text.

I’m not and never have been stuck in the eighties. But I don’t mind being taken back there every once in a while.

Ron Baxendale II; Broomfield, Colorado (2009)

Volume 1

1. Billy Thorpe-Children of the Sun (1979)

I’d almost forgotten about “Children of the Sun” until it started getting airplay again in the late eighties. Capitalizing on the song’s resurgence, Thorpe released Children of the Sun . . . Revisited in 1987. The new album contained five tracks from the original LP, three new tracks, and “East of Eden’s Gate,” a song the album’s liner notes calls a “rock radio chestnut from 1982.” The track here is the full-length version from the original 1979 album.

2. 707-I Could Be Good for You (1980)

If I had to select half a dozen songs (and no more) to best represent 1980, 707’s “I Could Be Good for You” would definitely be one.

3. Tarney-Spencer Band-No Time to Lose (1979)

Alan Tarney (guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Trevor Spencer (drums, percussion) fronted the Tarney-Spencer Band, whose 1978 LP Three’s a Crowd featured help from the Climax Blues Band’s Pete Haycock and Colin Cooper. “No Time to Lose,” from the Run for Your Life record, is an outstanding track that seems to resurface time and again; a short version of the song recharted and reached #74 in October of 1981.

4. Michael Stanley Band-He Can’t Love You (1980)

Another gem that will forever send me back to 1980. MSB had a minor hit in 1983 with “My Town,” from the You Can’t Fight Fashion LP.

5. Sherbs-No Turning Back (1980)

During the winter of 1981–82 I repaired mowing equipment and golf carts at Lake Arbor Golf Course in Arvada, Colorado, where we all listened to KILO 94, a rocking radio station out of Colorado Springs. KILO played hits and album tracks (old and new) that other stations never played and introduced listeners to bands like Chilliwack, Shooting Star, and Survivor — to name only a few. The Sherbs were another band I first heard on KILO, and their 1980 LP The Skill is a great one, especially the tracks “Love You to Death,” “I Have the Skill,” and the stunning “No Turning Back.”

6. Shoes-Tomorrow Night (1979)

7. Shoes-Too Late (1979)

Lennon and McCartney were once asked what the name Beatles meant. “It’s just a name, just like shoe,” replied Lennon. “We could have been called the Shoes for all you know,” added McCartney. Nearly a decade later, brothers Jeff and John Murphy called their band the Shoes, whose music is best described as new wave (Blondie, Cheap Trick) infused with a heavy dose of power pop (Moon Martin, the Knack). The band created a bit of a stir in the late ’70s with Black Vinyl Shoes, an album it recorded and distributed on its own (unheard of at the time); the homemade LP was successful enough to land the Shoes a deal with Elektra. “Tomorrow Night” and “Too Late,” both from the Present Tense LP, remind me of other songs from the period: The Inmates’ “Dirty Water,” the Records’ “Starry Eyes,” and the Rockets’ “Oh Well.”

8. Spider-New Romance (It’s a Mystery) (1980)

9. Shanghai-Talk to Me (1982)

Oddly, “New Romance” seemed to receive more airplay two years after its release than it did it 1980, when it squeaked into the Top 40. Spider included songwriter Holly Knight and drummer Anton Fig, a mainstay of Paul Shaffer’s Late Night with David Letterman band. The group released a second album, Between the Lines, then reformed as Shanghai in 1982, with guitarist/songwriter Beau Hill replacing Knight. Hill later became a noted record producer; his work with bands like Kix, Ratt, Warrant, and Winger helped define the sound of West Coast heavy metal during the eighties. Knight’s “Change” and “Better Be Good to Me,” both from the second Spider record, were hits for John Waite and Tina Turner, respectively; the Hill-penned “Talk to Me,” written for Shanghai’s debut, was covered by Fiona in 1985.

10. Survivor-Chevy Nights (1981)

“Chevy Nights,” from the Premonition LP, was one of the first Survivor songs to get airplay. It’s still a favorite. One story has it that Sylvester Stallone loved Premonition (especially the song “Poor Man’s Son”) and became a Survivor fan, eventually asking the band to write a song for his new Rocky movie; “Eye of the Tiger,” probably the band’s biggest hit, turned out to be that song. Survivor guitarist Jim Peterik was a member of The Ides of March, which had a #2 hit in 1970 with “Vehicle.”

11. Saga-On the Loose (1982)

“On the Loose” is one of my favorite songs from 1982. More than liking the song itself, I like the feeling in rekindles from that period of time. The song was everywhere in ’82; you rarely hear it now, though. I don’t remember a video for “On the Loose” (I’m sure there was one), but the song, for some reason, always makes me think of early MTV, which in turn brings to mind the two songs that follow: “Cocktail Queen” and “Your Daddy Don’t Know.”

12. Taxxi-Cocktail Queen (Don’t She Love to Rock ‘n Roll) (1982)

13. Toronto-Your Daddy Don’t Know (1982)

I’ll forever associate these two songs with one another, because both were heavily played videos on MTV during the summer of ’82, and I found both LPs at about the same time in early 1988. Both must have been video hits, because “Your Daddy Don’t Know” only reached #77 while “Cocktail Queen” didn’t even make Billboard’s Hot 100.

14. Streets-If Love Should Go (1983)

Leaving Kansas after the Audio Visions album, Steve Walsh put together Streets with former bandmate Billy Greer. “If Love Should Go” comes from 1st, Streets’ 1983 debut LP. (Get it? First Street.) The song wasn’t a chart hit, only reaching #87. After a second album, 1985’s Crimes in Mind, Walsh and Greer — along with Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse — were back with Kansas for 1986’s Power, which yielded a couple of hits: “All I Wanted” and “Can’t Cry Anymore.”

15. Patrick Simmons-Knocking at Your Door (1983)

16. Patrick Simmons-So Wrong (1983)

These tracks are from Doobie Brother Pat Simmons’ only solo record. Both songs were on the radio quite a bit, and I seem to remember a video for “So Wrong,” which made it into the Top 30.

17. Slade-Run Runaway (1984)

I was on my way to Colorado Springs and Pueblo, on I-25 near the Air Force Academy, when I heard “Run Runaway” for the first time. (I’m surprised to discover now that the song got as high as #20.) Believe it or not, I had never heard of Slade until the Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply album came out in mid-1984; it was only then that I learned that Quiet Riot’s “Cum on Feel the Noise” was a cover of a classic Slade tune.

18. Dwight Twilley-A Little Bit of Love (1984)

“Girls” proved to be the big hit from Twilley’s Jungle LP, but “A Little Bit of Love” was the reason I bought the album. Legend has it that Tom Petty, a Twilley fan who did vocal work on Jungle, was heavily influenced by Twilley’s forgotten 1975 classic “I’m on Fire.”

19. Dwight Twilley Band-I’m on Fire (1975)

You can hear a bit of the Petty sound in “I’m on Fire” and the influence it may have had on the Heartbreakers, whose first LP came out in 1976. The Dwight Twilley Band was Dwight Twilley, of course, and Phil Seymour, who had a substantial solo hit in 1981 with “Precious to Me.”

Volume 2

1. Joe Lynn Turner-Endlessly (1985)

In 1985 former Rainbow singer Joe Lynn Turner released Rescue You, his first solo record. Interestingly, the LP’s credits contain the following note: “This album is dedicated to the memory of Richard Mason Blakemore,” an obvious jab at guitarist Richie Blackmore, who disbanded the successful Rainbow in order to reform Deep Purple. Turner joined Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force in 1988 and sang on the hit “Heaven Tonight.” Turner again worked with Blackmore in Deep Purple when vocalist Ian Gillan left the group in 1990; but after one album together, Masters & Slaves, both Turner and Blackmore left the band.

2. Stone Fury-Break Down the Walls (1984)

“Break Down the Walls,” from the Burns Like a Star album, was Stone Fury’s only hit. Fury singer Lenny Wolf later fronted Kingdom Come, which had a monster record in early 1988 with the Zeppelin-esque “Get It On.”

3. Split Enz-Message to My Girl (1983)

People remember Split Enz for “I Got You” and “One Step Ahead,” but “Message to My Girl” should have been the band’s biggest success. The track comes from Conflicting Emotions, the last Split Enz album released in America. “Message to My Girl,” like the Who’s “Bargain” and a handful of other songs, is a rock rarity — a powerfully poignant love song. During the eighties, Enz founder Tim Finn enjoyed a successful solo album and wrote music for the film The Coca-Cola Kid, while little brother Neil kept the Enz spirit alive with his band Crowded House. The nineties found Tim and Neil playing together in Crowded House and then, in 2004, collaborating on the excellent Finn Brothers album Everyone Is Here. Sadly, one-time Enz and Crowded House drummer Paul Hester took his own life in 2005.

4. Sanford-Townsend Band-Smoke from a Distant Fire (1976)

If you remember Jigsaw’s “Sky High” and Pilot’s “Magic” from 1975, I’m sure you’ll remember this lost classic from the summer of ‘77.

5. Uriah Heep-That’s the Way That It Is (1982)

I’ve never been a Uriah Heep fan (I actually know very little about the band), but I liked this highly memorable single from late ‘82.

6. UFO-This Time (1985)

One of my favorite songs from 1986, “This Time” comes from the Misdemeanor record (Phil Mogg and Paul Raymond are the only holdovers from UFO’s glory days). An interesting bit of info: Bassist Pete Way, a member of the original UFO line-up, left the band in 1982 to form Fastway with Motorhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke. I’ve always wondered if this is where the band’s name came from: Fast Eddie + Pete Way = Fast-Way, or Fastway. Curiously, though, Way was never an official member of Fastway, and the band’s 1983 debut record makes no reference whatsoever to who played bass on the album’s ten tracks. A possible falling out among friends that was forever given the hush-hush?

7. Vapors-Turning Japanese (1980)

The Vapors’ only hit, “Turning Japanese” always brings to mind “My Mistake” by the King Bees, “Switchin’ To Glide” by the Kings, and “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” by the Korgis, three forgotten gems that, like “Japanese,” were all over the radio during the summer and fall of 1980.

8. Waitresses-I Know What Boys Like (1982)

“I Know What Boys Like” is one of those funny, quirky song from 1982; Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy” and Toni Basil’s “Mickey” are two others that come to mind. The only other Waitresses hits I’m aware of were “Square Pegs,” the theme from the short-lived TV series, and a holiday song called “Christmas Wrapping,” both found on the 1982 EP I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts. Always a heavy smoker, Waitresses singer Patty Donahue died of lung cancer in 1996.

9. Y & T-Anytime at All (1985)

I bought Down for the Count for “Summertime Girls” but didn’t listen to the rest of the LP until late 1986 or early 1987, when it knocked me out with songs like “In the Name of Rock,” “Anything for Money,” and “Anytime at All.” With a new opinion of the band, I went back and listened more closely to my other Y & T albums — Earthshaker, Mean Streak, In Rock We Trust — and only then became an ardent Y & T fan.

10. Zebra-Who’s Behind the Door? (1983)

Stardom, quite inexplicably, eluded Zebra, a great band that deserved to be embraced by rock’s wide-reaching audience. “Who’s Behind the Door?” was all over radio during the fall of 1983, yet it wasn’t even the best song on Zebra’s debut album (take a listen to “Tell Me What You Want” or “When You Get There”). Similarly, “I Don’t Like It,” “Bears,” and the title track from No Tellin’ Lies, the band’s second LP (1984), were custom tailored for eighties rock radio and should have made Zebra a household name. In 2000 or 2001, Zebra bassist/vocalist Randy Jackson passed through Denver with a show that had him singing Led Zeppelin songs during a laser light presentation while backed by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

11. Atlanta Rhythm Section-Homesick (1981)

“Homesick,” from the Quinella LP, is another song that reminds me of my KILO days at the golf course. Listen for the Hendrix reference and “Purple Haze” quote toward the middle of the track. Guitarist J.R. Cobb and Buddy Buie, as members of 60s group Classics IV, wrote the Top 5 hits “Spooky,” “Traces,” and “Stormy”; they later (with Buie as producer) wrote a number of hits for ARS, which always rocked harder than “Imaginary Lover” suggested.

12. April Wine-Oowatanite (1975)

13. April Wine-Tonite Is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love (1975)

When not out buying records, I would often go to a shop like Don’s Discs in Thornton, Colorado, and just look at LPs by my favorite bands. I was always amazed at how many albums April Wine released before “Roller” and “I Like to Rock” broke in America in the late 70s. At random I selected the Stand Back LP from this group of early records and was not disappointed; the album contains several terrific songs, two of which are “Oowatanite” and “Tonite Is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love.” After hearing “Wonderful Time” again now (along with its 1994 update on the Frigate CD), I’m more convinced than ever that the late Myles Goodwyn was one of rock’s greatest songwriters.

14. Art in America-Art in America (1983)

“Art in America” is yet another early-eighties song that caught my ear after hearing it only once or twice. I found the LP in 1989 and have enjoyed the song for years knowing only that the band is the three Flynn siblings — Chris, Shishonee, and Dan. Notable names among the album’s contributors are Dixie Dregs T. Lavitz (keyboards) and Steve Morse (arrangements).

15. Ambrosia-Nice, Nice, Very Nice (1975)

Behind Ambrosia’s sweet, romantic radio hits like “How Much I Feel” and “Biggest Part of Me” lie incredible songs like “Can’t Let a Woman,” “Life Beyond L.A.,” “Somewhere I’ve Never Traveled,” and “Nice, Nice, Very Nice.” The accomplished Ambrosia, in spite of its lightweight reputation, was a highbrow, artsy band of sorts: Guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist David Pack’s mentor (and friend) was none other than the great Leonard Bernstein, and “Nice, Nice” has lyrics written by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Bassist/vocalist Joe Puerta, during Ambrosia’s decade-long hiatus, was part of Bruce Hornsby’s Range.

16. ABC-Poison Arrow (1982)

“Poison Arrow” brings to mind a distinctive sound heard in the work of eighties artists like the Alarm, Psychedelic Furs, Duran Duran, Human League, Talk Talk, and Howard Jones, to name just a few. I didn’t always like British new wave and techno-pop; their sounds too often left me feeling moody and melancholy. I recently gained new respect and appreciation for the genres, however, when I purchased nearly 40 UK singles from 1983 at a flea market — everything from the Jam, Style Council, and Madness to Haircut One Hundred, Heaven 17, and Ultravox — that left me thoroughly impressed. Kagagoogoo’s “Big Apple,” The Other Ones’ “Holiday,” and Level 42’s “The Sun Goes Down (Livin’ It Up)” are simply outstanding records (and I’m filled with regret knowing that I virtually ignored London’s early-eighties rock scene).

17. Aerosmith-Lightning Strikes (1981)

Between Night in the Ruts and Done with Mirrors, Aerosmith released Rock in a Hard Place, the band’s only LP without Joe Perry and Brad Whitford (who does, however, contribute rhythm guitar to “Lighting Strikes”). Though it did garner some airplay, “Lightning Strikes” deserved far more attention than it received.

18. Blue Öyster Cult-E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) (1976)

Although I purchased BOC’s “Burning for You” and “Dancing in the Ruins” singles, I was never really taken with the band. When I first heard “E.T.I.” in 1983, though, while traveling west bound on I-70 near the Purina plant in the heart of industrial Denver, I liked it so much I immediately bought Agents of Fortune in order to get the song.

Volume 3

1. Jon Butcher Axis-Don’t Say Goodnight (1984)

The Jon Butcher Axis was yet another band that seemed to come out of nowhere to give the world a great song then fall off the edge of the earth. The Axis recorded four albums during the eighties (of which Stare at the Sun is far and away the best) before Jon Butcher — for a moment heralded as rock’s next great guitarist — released his solo debut, Pictures from the Front, in 1989. For me, “Don’t Say Goodnight” will always be a special song from a special time.

2. Paul Collins’ Beat-On the Highway (1983)

Not to be confused with The Beat or The English Beat (or even Phil Collins, for that matter), the Paul Collins’ Beat was a classic four-piece rock and roll band that had quite a following; its The Kids Are the Same LP and its “On the Highway” are both cult masterworks. Guitarist Paul Collins released a couple of critically acclaimed solo albums in the 90s and was, for a time, the guiding force behind Wagon Wheel Records. “On the Highway” is, without question, a lost eighties gem.

3. DVC-Teaser (1981)

DVC’s main drawing card was its drummer, John Bolin — Tommy’s brother. “Teaser” is yet another song brought to my attention by KILO 94, which played a lot of Tommy Bolin tunes I had never heard. I like DVC’s version of “Teaser” far better than the original from Bolin’s Teaser LP, and it tops Motley Crüe’s 1989 version, too.

4. Duke Jupiter-I’ll Drink to You (1982)

From the summer of 1982, “I’ll Drink to You” doesn’t sound right to me if not heard next to Tommy Tutone’s “867–5309/Jenny” and Steve Miller’s “Abracadabra.” “I’ll Drink to You” will always make me think of morning drives to work on I-270, just south of the oil refineries, when passing through Commerce City, Colorado. Duke Jupiter had another hit in June of ’84 with “Little Lady” from the White Knuckle Ride LP.

5. Diesel-Sausalito Summernight (1981)

I first heard “Sausalito Summernight” while on my way home from Colorado Springs in 1987; during my search for the song I learned that everyone in the world knew of Diesel but me! I found the single edit of “Sausalito” at Don’s Discs in Thornton, Colorado, but it wasn’t until 1994 that I came across the Watts in a Tank LP; the track here is the long version from the album. In the early ’90s, the defunct Diesel was occasionally confused with guitarist Johnny Diesel, whose band is called Diesel (or, at other times, the Injectors); Johnny’s singles “Tip of My Tongue” and “Man Alive” were often heard on Boulder’s KBCO during the summer of 1993.

6. DFX2-Emotion (1983)

As the years continue to speed by, and I continue to pack all sorts of new and interesting information into my brain, I find that my recollection of the details surrounding certain songs is beginning to fade away, disappearing forever into the vast ether of time. I’m almost certain, though, that “Emotion” was one of those fresh, exciting new songs first seen and heard on MTV during the early years of the network. The track comes from DFX2’s Emotion record, a five-song mini-LP from 1983.

7. Rik Emmett-Hold On (1991)

This performance is from Emmett’s February 11, 1991, appearance on Rockline, Bob Coburn’s syndicated radio show that used to air in Denver on KAZY. Emmett’s acoustic performance of Triumph’s “Hold On” is one of Rockline’s best, and I’ve included a portion of the interview where Emmett talks about the song’s beginnings. Triumph was one of many bands first heard on KILO during my winter days at Lake Arbor Golf Course in 1981–82; Allied Forces was the band’s latest release, and I can still hear “Magic Power” and “Fight the Good Fight,” as well as “Lay It on the Line” and “Hold On” (from 1979’s Just A Game), sounding through the maintenance complex.

8. Roger Glover-The Mask (1984)

Several times between 1983 and 1985 I was asked to work at one of PAR Associates’ branch offices for a day. In each case, the day in question turned out to be that day; fourteen hours later I’d find myself driving home after flying to Salt Lake City or Phoenix, making half a dozen service calls, then flying back to Denver. I was on one of these trips in early 1984, sitting in my rental car killing time before my flight home, when I heard “The Mask.” I was surprised to learn that the song was Roger Glover’s, but not the least bit surprised when it became a minor hit. Glover dabbled in the production side of the music business, working with new bands when not playing bass with Deep Purple or Rainbow. In 1988, Glover and Purple pal Ian Gillan released Accidentally on Purpose, a singular LP that contains “She Took My Breath Away,” “Via Miami,” and the prophetic “Telephone Box” (to which mobile phone junkies everywhere should take a good, hard listen).

9. Gamma-Right the First Time (1982)

Guitarist Ronnie Montrose formed Gamma after the 1976 breakup of Montrose, whose original line-up included drummer Denny Carmassi, bassist Bill Church, and, of course, singer Sammy Hagar. Hagar and Church left the band in 1975, while Carmassi continued with Montrose and Gamma until 1983, when he joined the revamped Heart. (Carmassi and Hagar reunited to write two songs for Heart’s 1990 album Brigade.) The familiar voice on “Right the First Time” belongs to Davey Pattison, a respected vocalist who has worked with countless rock artists, most notably Robin Trower.

10. Jack Green-I Call, No Answer (1980)

I discovered guitarist Jack Green in late 1981 when I saw the video for “One By One,” a song from his Reverse Logic LP. During the ’70s, before going out on his own, Green played with several British bands, including the Pretty Things and T. Rex. “I Call, No Answer,” from Green’s Humanesque record, features a breathtaking solo by Deep Purple/Rainbow guitarist Richie Blackmore.

11. Harlequin-I Did It for Love (1982)

I discovered Canada’s Harlequin when the band opened for John Waite at the Rainbow Music Hall on July 17, 1982. Impressed with the group’s songs, especially its new material, I went out the next day and bought the only Harlequin LPs I could find, Love Crimes and One False Move, the only two I have today. Though neither album yielded hit singles in the States, both are outstanding records, especially One False Move — Harlequin’s crowning achievement and one of my favorite albums from 1982.

12. Sammy Hagar-Plain Jane (1979)

I always liked Hagar’s pre-Van Halen work, especially his 70s material. “Red,” “Trans Am,” “Love or Money,” and “Bad Reputation” are great songs; “Plain Jane,” however, stands head and shoulders above them all and is as close to the perfectly crafted rock ‘n roll song as you’ll ever find.

13. Helix-Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ (1984)

14. Helix-(Make Me Do) Anything You Want (1984)

Helix’s Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge came out in mid-1984 and got lost in the glam/heavy metal deluge, when bands like Loudness, Krokus, Black & Blue, Twisted Sister, and countless others were everywhere all at once. Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge should not be dismissed, though, especially the songs “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’,” “(Make Me Do) Anything You Want,” and “Rock You,” the album’s most familiar track. “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’” is a cover of Crazy Elephant’s 1969 hit.

15. John Hall Band-Crazy (Keep on Falling) (1981)

I don’t know when I first heard “Crazy (Keep on Falling),” but I found the All of the Above LP in 1984 at a used record store in Colorado Springs called Collectors’ Records (a shop that always seemed to have what Don’s Discs didn’t). During the 70s, Hall fronted the band Orleans, which had Top 10 hits in 1975 and 1976 with “Dance with Me” and “Still the One,” respectively, and a #11 hit in 1979 with “Love Takes Time.” A more recent John Hall solo album, 1999’s Love Doesn’t Ask, contains a number of excellent tracks, most notably “Circle” and “Usurper.” In 2006, Hall was elected to congress as a representative from the state of New York.

16. Headpins-Still the One (1985)

After the demise of Chilliwack, guitarist Brian “Too Loud” MacLeod formed the Headpins; the band released three excellent albums in the mid-eighties and then disappeared. “Still the One,” from Head over Heels, was one of several songs that piqued my interest in the guitar to such a degree that I went out and bought a Les Paul copy (from Universal Music in Northglenn, Colorado), a beautiful instrument that always made me think of McCartney’s lyrics from “Rock Show”: “What’s that man movin’ cross the stage? It looks a lot like the one used by Jimmy Page.” My interest in learning how to play waned, though, and I eventually sold the guitar to a friend, who bought it as a birthday present for her dad. Boy on a Dolphin’s Words Inside is dedicated to MacLeod, who died of cancer in 1992.

17. Honeymoon Suite-New Girl Now (1984)

“New Girl Now” comes from Honeymoon Suite’s excellent debut LP; it wasn’t until its second record, however, that the band made a name for itself: 1985’s The Big Prize contained the hits “Bad Attitude,” “Feel It Again,” and “All Along You Knew” (with Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson). Racing after Midnight, a solid record from 1988, contained “Lethal Weapon,” a popular song from the hit movie of the same name. Honeymoon Suite had a unique sound that was very appealing; I’m surprised the band wasn’t more successful.

18. John Lennon-I Saw Her Standing There (live, w/ Elton John Band) (1975)

The rare “I Saw Her Standing There,” the B-side of “Philadelphia Freedom,” features John Lennon singing a Beatles song with Elton John’s band. Listen to Lennon say, “This is one I never sang before. . . .” (“I Saw Her Standing There” was, of course, written and sung by Paul McCartney.) Shortly after buying this record the shelf that held my stereo fell from the wall, breaking this 45 (and John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”). Fortunately, my mom replaced the record; now, 33 years later, I have what I didn’t know I had then — a highly collectable Lennon track.

Volume 4

1. Jigsaw-Sky High (1975)

“Sky High” peaked at #3 in December of 1975 and, like so many songs, brings to mind other music from the time: “Fly, Robin, Fly” by Silver Convention, “Island Girl” by Elton John, “Low Rider” by War, and “Venus and Mars/Rock Show” and “Letting Go” by Paul McCartney & Wings.

2. Jefferson Starship-Rock Music (1979)

3. Jefferson Starship-Girl with the Hungry Eyes (1979)

After 1978’s Earth, which contained the hits “Runaway” and “Count on Me,” Grace Slick, Marty Balin, and John Barbata left Jefferson Starship. Paul Kantner immediately brought in former Journey drummer Aynsley Dunbar and singer Mickey Thomas to record Freedom at Point Zero, the first Airplane/Starship LP without female vocals. “Jane” was the record’s Top 20 hit, but the album’s real gems are “Rock Music” and “Girl with the Hungry Eyes.” (Dunbar’s drum intro to “Rock Music” is a classic.) Freedom, in my opinion, is the Starship’s high watermark; I don’t think the band ever rocked harder or sounded better. And speaking of singer Mickey Thomas. . . .

4. Elvin Bishop-Fooled Around & Fell in Love (1976)

Handling vocals on this #3 hit for guitarist Elvin Bishop is none other than Mickey Thomas, his Starship gig just around the corner.

5. Korgis-Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime (1980)

The Korgis are another band I know very little about. “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” comes from the Dumb Waiters LP and peaked at #18 in December of 1980.

6. The Kind-I’ve Got You (1983)

During my years at PAR Associates (after leaving the golf course), I continued to listen to KILO 94, which was never afraid to play new music. Because I was in my car a lot, driving all over the city with the radio on, I had endless opportunities to hear new music by new and established bands. The Kind’s “I’ve Got You” is one of countless songs discovered while on the road for PAR during the 1980s. It remains a personal favorite from ‘84.

7. Kick Axe-Welcome to the Club (1985)

Like “Art in America,” “Don’t Say Goodnight,” and “I’ve Got You,” “Welcome to the Club” was a song I heard on KILO only a couple of times yet one that caught my ear and made a lasting impression.

8. Kim Mitchell-Go for Soda (1984)

Purchased as a single in June of 1985, “Go for Soda” always brings to mind the morning I saw a white Lamborghini Countach rocketing eastward on I-70 at Tower Road in Aurora, Colorado. Mitchell’s guitar playing on “Soda” is phenomenal, to say the least, and I’ve always regretted not buying the Akimbo Alogo album. Rockland, Mitchell’s 1989 LP, contains two notable tracks: “Rock ‘n Roll Duty” and the amazing “Moodstreet.”

9. Mama’s Boys-Needle in the Groove (1985)

Mama’s Boys were the three McManus brothers, all looking very youthful on their Power & Passion album cover. Eighties metal was full of one-shot bands and one-hit wonders, all coming so fast and furious (and disappearing just as quickly) that few fans really knew anything about them. Mama’s Boys are an example of this “here today, gone tomorrow” phenomenon; their hit song, however, will live on forever with many of us.

10. Frank Marino-Strange Dreams (1982)

“Strange Dreams,” an FM staple in the early eighties, comes from Juggernaut, an LP credited simply to “Frank Marino” (rather than “Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush”). The big, booming intro to “Dreams” does for me what the intro to Deep Purple’s “Knocking at Your Back Door” does for so many others.

11. Nantucket-Heartbreaker (1978)

Interestingly, no one I know has ever heard of North Carolina’s Nantucket, much less this song. Yet throughout 1981 KILO’s DJs played “Heartbreaker” incessantly, as though it were a bona-fide rock classic. I found this album at a store called World Records (in the Tamarac Square shopping mall in Englewood, Colorado), a smaller chain that has long disappeared. Quite a few other record retailers have passed through Colorado as well: Budget, Big Apple, Record Bar, Peaches, Rocky Mountain Tapes & Records, and Sound Warehouse; even the O.G. Wilson, LaBelles, and Woolworth department stores, which all carried records, tapes, and CDs, are a part of the distant past.

12. Pilot-Magic (1975)

“Magic,” which reached #5, brings back memories of building models and playing board games with friend Greg in the cool of my unfinished basement during the long, hot Colorado summer of ’75. The song also makes me think of 9th grade algebra class and a number of other songs from the time: “Love Will Keep Us Together,” “Listen to What the Man Said,” “Old Days,” “I’m Not in Love,” “One of These Nights,” and “Cut the Cake.”

13. Orion the Hunter-So You Ran (1984)

“So You Ran” occasionally appears on one-hit wonder compilations, but Orion the Hunter was more than just a flash in the pan; some interesting rock history runs through the band. After 1978’s Don’t Look Back, Tom Scholz essentially gave everyone in Boston the boot, including guitarist Barry Goudreau. Goudreau’s 1980 solo record featured Boston alumni Brad Delp and Sib Hashian on vocals and drums, respectively, along with singer Fran Cosmo; the album produced the minor hit “Dreams.” In 1984 Goudreau formed Orion with Cosmo, bassist Bruce Smith, and former Heart drummer Michael De Rosier. Resurfacing in 1991, brothers-in-law Goudreau and Delp put together RTZ (Return to Zero) and had hits with “When Your Love Comes Back Around” and “Face the Music.” “So You Ran,” from Orion the Hunter’s lone LP, reached #58 in June of 1984.

14. Point Blank-Nicole (1981)

When Point Blank passed through Denver in 1981 on its American Excess tour, friend Billy and I immediately bought tickets to see the band’s show at Denver’s Rainbow Music Hall; the concert was later cancelled. I don’t remember why the show was called off, but I do recall taking the tickets back to a nearby Select-a-Seat outlet for a refund. (Before TicketMaster and DataTix there was Select-a-Seat, where ticket buyers were shown a map of the concert venue and then selected their own seats. What a concept!)

15. Producers-She Sheila (1982)

The Producers left their mark on pop music with two minor hit singles: “What’s He Got” (1981) and “She Sheila.” “Sheila” is quite the little pop-rocker, and one of my favorite songs from the eighties.

16. Prism-Is He Better Than Me (1983)

17. Prism-I Don’t Want to Want You Anymore (1983)

Prism’s “Is He Better Than Me” and “I Don’t Want to Want You Anymore,” from the band’s Beat Street LP, were popular during the fall of 1983, when I was attending night classes at the local community college and rebuilding my Cuda’s 383. (And through it all I still managed to keep up with my record buying!) In 1988 Prism vocalist Henry Small joined Who bassist John Entwistle in the John Entwistle Band. Small and Entwistle appeared on Rockline in July of ’88 and played several demos; the tracks, to my ear, sounded uninspired and formulaic, which may explain why this version of Entwistle’s band never got a record deal.

18. Poco-Under the Gun (1980)

Poco’s Under the Gun LP doesn’t hold a candle to 1978’s remarkable Legend; the album’s title track, however, is as good as anything the band ever recorded.

19. Player-Baby Come Back (1977)

“Baby Come Back,” a song many thought was done by Ambrosia, occupied Billboard’s top spot for three weeks in January of 1978.

20. Billy Rankin-Baby Come Back (1984)

In early 1984, one-time Nazareth guitarist Billy Rankin released Growin’ Up Too Fast, his first solo record. “Rip It Up” and “Call Me Automatic,” along with “Baby Come Back,” are the album’s stand-out tracks. Rankin’s second LP went nowhere and he quickly faded into rock ‘n roll oblivion.

Volume 5

1. Re-Flex-The Politics of Dancing (1983)

In addition to buying LPs during the 80s, I also bought current hit singles. I recorded my 45s as I acquired them and filled 17 cassettes between 1979 and 1991 (when vinyl singles were no longer manufactured in mass quantities). “The Politics of Dancing” is on Singles 9, which also contains Nik Kershaw’s “Wouldn’t It Be Good,” Wang Chung’s “Dance Hall Days,” Tony Carey’s “The First Day of Summer,” and Andy Fraser’s “Fine, Fine Line.” (I talk a lot about the idyllic late-80s, often forgetting that the first half of the decade was quite special as well.)

2. Rainbow-All Night Long (1979)

3. Rainbow-Since You Been Gone (1979)

The only way to get Rainbow’s “All Night Long” and “Since You Been Gone” was to buy The Best of Rainbow, a ridiculously expensive import album. The double LP covers Rainbow’s material from 1975 to 1981 and includes songs that feature all three of the band’s vocalists: Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Lynn Turner. “Since You Been Gone” was written by the great Russ Ballard.

4. Gerry Rafferty-Home & Dry (1978)

5. Gerry Rafferty-Get It Right Next Time (1979)

Gerry Rafferty was half of Stealers Wheel, which had a Top 10 hit in 1973 with “Stuck in the Middle with You.” It wasn’t until 1978, however, with the City to City album and its “Baker Street” and “Right Down the Line” singles, that Rafferty broke through as a solo artist. “Home & Dry” and “Get It Right Next Time” (from Night Owl) were major hits for Rafferty and stand, I believe, as examples of his best work.

6. Stealers Wheel-Stuck in the Middle with You (1973)

When “Stuck in the Middle” began to climb the charts in ’73, everyone thought Bob Dylan was back with a great new single. Alas, it was only Stealers Wheel (Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan), which would have one more hit in 1974 with “Star.”

7. Paul Rodgers-Cut Loose (1983)

Between the demise of Bad Company and his formation of the Firm (with Jimmy Page, Chris Slade, and Tony Franklin), Paul Rodgers released Cut Loose, a solo project that (a la McCartney’s solo debut) has Rodgers playing all instruments on every track. Save for the LP’s title tune and “Talking Guitar Blues,” the songs on Cut Loose are generally unremarkable.

8. Romeo Void-A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing) (1984)

Fronted by the rotund Debora Iyall, Romeo Void had two big hits: “Never Say Never” and “A Girl in Trouble.” “Girl” is another song on my Singles 9 cassette, between Yes’s “Leave It” (a cappella version) and Chris DeBurgh’s “High on Emotion.”

9. Records-Starry Eyes (1979)

“Starry Eyes,” a forgotten track by a little-known band, has been a favorite of mine for nearly 30 years. The song was the Records’ only chart single.

10. Boz Scaggs-You’ve Got Some Imagination (1980)

The hits from Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees and Two Down Then Left LPs (1976 and 1977, respectively), along with songs by the Eagles and Doobie Brothers, were the popular musical sounds that colored life during portions of my time in high school. Scaggs’ next album, however, 1980’s Middle Man, played a far more important role in my life; the record has affected me so profoundly through the years that it ranks as one of my thirteen favorite albums (no small achievement!). [1] Scaggs, part of Steve Miller’s band in 1968 (he plays on “Living in the USA”), used several studio musicians during the 70s who later formed Toto.

11. Sugarloaf-Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You (1974)

With the success of “Green-Eyed Lady” (#3, 1970), Denver’s Sugarloaf was long-considered Colorado’s most successful musical product (until Big Head Todd & the Monsters and the Fray rose to greater heights two and three decades later, respectively). Sugarloaf keyboardist Jerry Corbetta reworked “Green-Eyed Lady” for a 1978 solo LP, while David Drew’s hard-rocking version of the song received heavy airplay during the summer of ’88. “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You,” which made the Top 10 in 1975, contains a clever “John, Paul, and George” reference coupled with an “I Feel Fine” musical quote. Interestingly, this track was mixed at the now-defunct Applewood Studios in Golden, Colorado, once regarded as one of Denver’s premier recording facilities.

12. Sniff & the Tears-Driver’s Seat (1978)

“Driver’s Seat” always makes me think of M’s “Pop Muzik” and Patrick Hernandez’s “Born to Be Alive” (probably because all three songs were in the Top 20 in September of 1979). Interestingly, all three tracks just mentioned are the only songs that Sniff & the Tears, M, and Patrick Hernandez ever placed in the Hot 100; all are one-hit wonders in the truest sense of the phrase.

13. Sweet-Love Is Like Oxygen (1978)

Hugely popular in England throughout the 70s, glam rockers Sweet had only a handful of big hits in America: “Little Willy,” “Fox on the Run,” “Ballroom Blitz,” and “Love Is Like Oxygen.” I remember my cousin, while on a family-only outing to Elitch Gardens amusement park in Denver, Colorado, telling everyone that she liked a new song called “Lovers Like Oxygen”; when I finally heard the song (and then discovered its correct title) I liked it too, but thought it signaled a new sound and direction for Sweet. The long version of “Oxygen” recorded here is found on Level Headed, which, like the band’s Off the Record LP, has a captivating album cover.

14. Tommy Tutone-867–5309/Jenny (1982)

Tommy Tutone’s “867–5309/Jenny” is another song that recalls that special summer and year of ’82, when my adult life was just beginning.

15. Frözen Ghöst-Should I See (1987)

Frözen Ghöst’s Arnold Lanni and Wolf Hassel were one half of the band Sheriff, whose 1983 song “When I’m with You” recharted and hit #1 six years later in 1989. “Should I See,” the only Frözen Ghöst single to make Billboard’s Hot 100, wasn’t a big chart hit; but radio was still playing the song in 1989, when I first heard it. After the excellent Shake Your Spirit (1991) went largely unnoticed, Frözen Ghöst disbanded. Lanni occasionally surfaces as a producer, working with some of Canada’s most promising young rock bands.

16. Sheriff-When I’m with You (1983)

The other half of Sheriff was vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi, who were both out of the music business when “When I’m with You” began receiving airplay in 1989. Curci, who was working for a courier service at the time, tells this story: “Imagine delivering a package to an office and hearing yourself on the radio. I’d be signing a shipping slip and smiling, and the girl at the front desk would ask what I was laughing about. I’d say, ‘That’s me singing on the radio.’ And she’d say, ‘Sure, buddy, now on your way.’” After “When I’m with You” topped the charts, Curci and DeMarchi joined forces with original Heart members Michael De Rosier, Steve Fossen, and Roger Fisher to form Alias, which had a #2 hit in 1990 with “More Than Words Can Say.”

17. Simple Minds-Don’t You (Forget about Me) (1985)

If I had to pick one song to represent the 1980s I would, without hesitation, choose Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget about Me).” Released in the middle of the decade, from one of the eighties’ finest films (The Breakfast Club), the song seemed to capture and celebrate all that came before it while holding fast to the promise of greater things yet to come. “Don’t You” will forever remind me of the many times my friend Victor and I drove to Vail in the middle of the night for nothing more than a coke and candy bar; I had the song on a cassette when it began climbing the charts and we listened to it over and over the first time we made the trip up the mountain. Not too long ago I heard Nina Blackwood (of MTV fame) say that “Don’t You (Forget about Me)” was originally written for Billy Idol, whose version can be heard on his remastered Greatest Hits.

18. Tommy Shaw-No Such Thing (1987)

Between his work with Styx and Damn Yankees, Shaw’s solo records ranged from the lightweight Girls with Guns to the heavy-rocking Ambition. “No Such Thing,” a late-1987 favorite from the latter LP, always brings to mind a cold and snowy early-morning drive to Windsor, Colorado, to make a service call at the Eastman Kodak plant.

19. Billy Squier-You Should Be High, Love (1980)

It wasn’t until after Squier became a star with Don’t Say No (1981) and Emotions in Motion (1982) that I purchased The Tale of the Tape, his first and arguably best solo record. The album is full of great songs (“The Big Beat” was the radio hit); but the standout track, in my opinion, is the song included here.

Volume 6

1. Al Stewart-Song on the Radio (1978)

“Song on the Radio,” from Stewart’s Time Passages, comes from a Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Original Master Recording. (Remember all the talk about half-speed mastering, low-power cutting-head amplifiers, and virgin vinyl?) Stewart’s lyrics are especially captivating on this track, and his “You’re on my mind like a song on the radio” metaphor often gets stuck in my head just like, well, a song on the radio.

2. Joe Satriani-Surfing with the Alien (1987)

3. Joe Satriani-One Big Rush (1989)

Shortly after Surfing took off in early 1988, I heard Satriani say that the time was ripe for instrumental music, which seems to find popular acceptance every 20 years or so. Looking back now it’s easy to see he was right: Jazz-pop groups like Spyro Gyra, the Yellowjackets, Special EFX, and Fattburger sold more records than ever before; work by instrumentalists Jean-Luc Ponty and Andreas Vollenweider (inventors of the electric violin and harp, respectively) was heard next to work by jazz players like Pat Metheny and Joe Beck; and rock artists such as Steve Via, Eric Johnson, Neal Schon, and Stevie Ray Vaughan included incredible instrumental tracks on their current LPs. (It’s a shame that a lot of the instrumental music from this period is now heard only as bumper music for radio talk shows and news, weather, and sports programs.) In spite of the unimaginative rhythm tracks that back most of his songs, Satriani’s material remains impressive; he’s one heck of a player.

4. Skid Row-Youth Gone Wild (1989)

Led by guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo and singer Sebastian Bach, Skid Row was Jon Bon Jovi’s second big discovery (Cinderella was the first). “I Remember You” and “18 & Life” were the album’s monster hits; but “Youth Gone Wild,” the LP’s first single, was the track that got a lot of people into record stores. (In my case, I was headed there anyway!)

5. Saraya-Love Has Taken Its Toll (1989)

Like late-eighties bands Femme Fatale, Siren, and Transvision Vamp, Saraya was another all-male group with a female singer. Unlike those groups, however, Sandi Saraya’s band had a powerful sound and a punchy, hook-driven hit song: “Love Has Taken Its Toll” (a perfect example of the eighties sound I love so much). A close friend of mine was so taken with the group’s name that she christened her daughter Saraya.

6. Michael Thompson Band-Can’t Miss (1989)

“Can’t Miss” is another song I picked up right away after hearing it only once or twice on the radio. I don’t know much about guitarist/session player Michael Thompson or his band; the How Long album’s list of guest musicians, however, reads like a who’s who of eighties rock: Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons), John Robinson (Frampton’s band), Pat Torpey (Mr. Big), Bobby Kimbal (Toto), John Elefante (Kansas), Michael Lardie (Great White), and legendary vocalists Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, and Myrna Mathews. Thompson returned Lardie’s favor in 1991, contributing the slide guitar solo to Great White’s “Cold Hearted Lovin’.”

7. Pete Townshend-Give Blood (1985)

Even though “Face the Face” and “Give Blood” are fine songs, I never took a liking to Townshend’s White City album; in fact, I haven’t been really excited about anything he’s done since the Scoop LPs (The Iron Man and Psychoderelict, from 1989 and 1993, respectively, were major disappointments). Hearing and enjoying “Give Blood” now, though, may have earned White City another listen.

8. Simon Townshend-I’m the Answer (1983)

One listen to “I’m the Answer” and there’s little doubt that Simon Townshend (Pete’s little brother) had the answer all along. This is a great song, and I’m still surprised that it didn’t propel the younger Townshend to greater heights. “Answer” was purchased in December of ’83 and recalls other Christmastime hits: Nena’s “99 Red Balloons,” the Pointer Sisters’ “Automatic,” and Tracey Ullman’s “They Don’t Know.”

9. TPOH (The Pursuit of Happiness)-I’m an Adult Now (1988)

TPOH’s sound and hit single from early ’89 undoubtedly influenced bands like Cake and the similar-sounding groups that are popular today. (Note: Just as I was about to call “I’m an Adult Now” the band’s only hit single, I opened the July, 2002, edition of Hemispheres magazine during a plane ride to Florida and spotted a list of new music that included a song by TPOH called “Pressing Lips.”)

10. Tora Tora-Walkin’ Shoes (1989)

“Walkin’ Shoes,” from Tora Tora’s Surprise Attack debut LP, is a song I’ll always associate with late nights and early mornings during the summer of ’89 when on the cruising strip in Longmont, Colorado. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, the band enjoyed another hit in 1992 with “Amnesia” before falling out of favor with a public force-fed alternative rock.

11. Tesla-Modern Day Cowboy (1986)

Simply an amazing song. “Modern Day Cowboy,” from the Mechanical Resonance LP, backdropped life during the early part of 1987, when I was attending night classes and spending weekend evenings on the cruising strip. Tesla released several albums after Resonance and even reached the Top Ten in 1991 with “Signs” (a cover of the Five Man Electrical Band hit from 1971); the group never quite matched the success of its debut record, however. If nothing else, Tesla introduced rock fans to Nikola Tesla, best known for his development of systems that produce and use alternating current. Tesla is also credited with inventing the radio, based on patents in his name that predate those of Guglielmo Marconi.

12. Vixen-Edge of a Broken Heart (1988)

Robin Zander, in the Cheap Trick song “I Want You,” sings: “I’ll search the world for a girl exactly you.” Maybe I’m taking my music too seriously, but why would he want a girl exactly like the one who doesn’t want him? Yes, a broken heart hurts. But you can’t be a wimp, either. That’s why I like Vixen’s point of view: “I’ll find someone else who’s nothing like you.” Exactly! When your man or woman has done you wrong, replace him or her with someone new, different, and better. Vixen, four gals who could actually play, released a second album in 1990 and then disappeared from the mainstream, a victim of radio’s move toward the new rock sounds coming out of Seattle. “Edge of a Broken Heart” was written by Richard Marx and the Tubes’ Fee Waybill, an unlikely songwriting duo if ever there was one.

13. Joe Walsh-I Can Play That Rock ‘n Roll (1983)

Joe Walsh will probably be remembered for his work with the James Gang, his stint with the Eagles, and songs like “Rocky Mountain Way,” “Meadow,” and “Life’s Been Good” (which, I’ll admit, is a resume worth remembering). During the eighties, however, Walsh was as busy as ever, contributing songs to film soundtracks (Urban Cowboy, Fast Times at Ridgemont High), enjoying solo hits (“All Night Long,” “Waffle Stomp,” “In My Car”), and working with friends like Joe Vitale, Ringo Starr, and John Entwistle. The overlooked “I Can Play That Rock ‘n Roll” is, unfortunately, a Walsh classic destined for the “wastelands of forgotten media” (as Peter Frampton so aptly puts it).

14. Winger-Madelaine (1988)

One of my most interesting LPs is Thunder on the Mountain. Recorded at Denver’s Rainbow Music Hall in 1979, the album features songs from nine of the area’s best rock bands, one of which is Winger (then known as Colorado). “Madelaine,” like Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy,” reminds me of nights on Main Street in Longmont, Colorado (my 15 minutes of stardom), while any talk of Winger always prompts two questions: First, how did a Colorado boy named Kip get from the Denver club scene to MTV in less than ten years? And, second, how did the Kipper get Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein into his heavy metal band? Both are tales I’d pay money to hear.

15. Russ Ballard-Two Silhouettes (1984)

16. Russ Ballard-Voices (1984)

Guitarist/songwriter Russ Ballard was a member of Argent, which had hits with “Hold Your Head Up” (#5, 1972) and the Ballard-penned “God Gave Rock ‘n Roll to You.” Ballard’s moderate success as a solo performer has been overshadowed by his songwriting prowess; his songs have been covered by countless rock artists, including Rainbow, Santana, Three Dog Night, and America.

17. Broken Homes-Steeltown (1986)

Like so many of the special songs that dot my life, “Steeltown” was discovered during work hours while on the road for PAR Associates. I remember first hearing the song in 1986 while looking for the administration building on the Colorado Mental Health Institute’s campus at Fort Logan. It wasn’t until March of 1988, however, that I found “Steeltown” on a three-song promo single at Recycle Records in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The last piece of music I heard from Broken Homes was “Something’s Gotta Give,” an excellent track included on A Little on the CD Side, a 1991 new-music sampler put out by Musician magazine.

18. LeRoux-Addicted (1982)

Though Louisiana’s LeRoux was most popular in the South, the band’s “Addicted” was heard quite often way out west on KILO 94 in 1982 and 1983. LeRoux’s Last Safe Place was another album I was thrilled to come across when I found it at Collectors’ Records in Colorado Springs; I was then bowled over further when I discovered “It Doesn’t Matter,” the LP’s other standout track.

[1] In no particular order, my thirteen favorite albums of all-time: Led Zeppelin’s II and Physical Graffiti, the Beatles’ White Album, the Who’s Who’s Next, and Badfinger’s No Dice. Starting Over by the Raspberries, Somewhere I’ve Never Traveled by Ambrosia, Broken Heart by the Babys, and Middle Man by Boz Scaggs. Peter Frampton’s Breaking All the Rules, Aldo Nova’s debut, Great White’s Hooked, and FireHouse’s Hold Your Fire. Honorable mention: Little Robbers by the Motels and Reading, Writing & Arithmetic by the Sundays.