Why this group didn't hit it big in the 80's with this LP, "Phonongenic", I'll never know. The track "Man Overboard" should've been a huge hit, but basically no one ever heard it. Their record company failed to promote them properly, and they fell through the cracks. Band member Jimmy Lee Sloas went on to become a sought after studio bassist/producers, and worked with many artists in the country/rock/ and Christian industries, even forming his own band and releasing a CD. (Dogs Of Peace) The tracks featured are: 01- Man Overboard 02- Piece Of Glass 03- The Curtain's Gonna Fall 04- Head In The Sand Lead singer: http://www.robertwhitejohnson.com Guitarist: http://www.moregendel.com

Disregarded as "one hit wonders", Men Without Hats actually had some great new wave material up their sleeves as evidenced in this podcast. These songs were taken from a "live" performance during the band's peak. The songs are: 01- Heaven 02- I Got The Message 03- Editions Of You 04- Safety Dance

Wang Chung's first album was recorded under the name "Huang Chung". They changed the spelling on subsequent albums. Their first album is hard to find on cd, but it's worth it if you can grab it. Some nice forgotten gems from the 80's. The songs included are: 01- China 02- Chinese Girls 03- Hold Back The Tears 04- Dancing

A truly FORGOTTEN powerpop/rock gem from the 80's. I can't even find what this guy's up to now. It's such a common name, searching the net is fruitless! If you have any idea what he's up to now, send me an e-mail. This is a transfer from vinyl, not available on CD. The songs on this podcast are: 01- Two Hearts On The Loose 02- Underdog 03- If I Was A Fool

Before they were the Cars, they were called Cap''n Swing. I've unearthed a few demos they recorded under that name. I'm just guessing at the titles! You can hear the beginnings of that signature Cars sound in these recordings. 01- Strawberry Moonlight 02- Come Back Down 03- Goes On Sleeping 04- Twilight Superman http://www.thenewcars.com

Part two of my special "The Story Of A Young Heart Podcast". Enjoy! The songs on Part 2 are: 1- Remember David 2- Over My Head 3- Heart Of Steel 4- The End 5- Suicide Day

An excellent yet overlooked album from the 80's. The entire album is presented here divided into two podcasts for your listening pleasure. Good luck findingt this on cd. It's VERY rare! The songs on Part 1 are: 1- The Story Of A Young Heart 2- Never Again (The Dancer) 3- The More You Live, The More You Love 4- European ( I Wish I Was)

First solo album from Frank's son Dweezil Zappa. He was only 16 at the time. It's a little rough, he got more polished as time went by, but for being just 16....well...just give it a listen.. The songs included are: 1- Let's Talk About It (with his sister Moon) 2- Having A Bad Day 3- You Can't Ruin Me (with Moon) 4- The Pirate Song (instrumental) http://www.dweezilzappa.com

Peter Wolf left the J Geils Band after their live LP "Showtime". The boys of J Geils forged on with Seth Justman and Stephen Bladd sharing lead vocal duties on this LP "You're Getting Even While I'm Getting Odd". The new vocalists brought a slightly more quirky and "fun" feel to the band. Justman wrote the majority of the J Geils songs anyway, so it was natural for him to step in on vocals. Drummer Bladd brought a more smooth vocal, while Justman was definitely on the "new wave" side. The songs on this album are great. If Wolf had stayed, this would've been another hit. As it is, it's a rare gem. Rumour has it that this was released on CD in Japan only, and only as few as 500 were ever produced. So if you ever run accross it on disc, grab it! I don't have it on disc, so these songs were transferred from clean vinyl. The songs included are: 1- Concealed Weapons 2- Heavy Petting 3- You're Getting Even While I'm Getting Odd 4- I Will Carry You Home http://www.jgeils.com (if you notice under the "recordings" tab on the official website, this particular LP is NOT listed! It's treated as though it doesn't exist! Could be because Peter Wolf appears to be running the site!)

Joe Lynch has released a new cd called "Taking My Time". It's included here on the Forgotten 80's Podcast page because it's heavily influenced by the 80's music scene. "Taking My Time", the cd's title track, sounds almost exactly like an early 80's Cars tune. "Cover Me" has a hint of journey like keyboards, with some Cars style keyboards thrown in as well. There's also a cover of the 80's Korgis classic "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" that stays true to the original while adding a few different keyboards to the mix. There is also a nod to the band A Flock Of Seagulls in the song "All Falls Down". "Let It Go" has a guitar pattern similar to something from Billy Squier (with an extended guitar solo) and "Under The Gun" has an Ichouse feel to it. There's even a nod to pink floyd with the moody song "Welcome To The Show". Check it out, you'll like it! Songs inclueded are: 01- Cover Me 02- Taking My Time 03- Let It Go 04- Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime To purchase and listen:: http://www.purevolume.com/joelynch

This podcast features The Romantics, as they were, and as they are now. Two songs from the past, and two songs from their latest effort. The songs included are: 01- What I Like About You 02- Talking In Your Sleep 03- Devil In Me 04- Get Out Of My Mind The two newest songs are from the CD "6149" http://www.romanticsdetroit.com

An overlooked, but great album from the early 80's. The songwriting is excellent, and the overall feel is much like 60's good time rock and soul music. This album contained a minor hit, "I Need You". The songs included are: 01- Lesson In Love 02- Always Better With You 03- I Need You 04- From Now On My 'shouldabeenaBIGGERhit' pick:- "I Need You" http://www.carrack-uk.com

Much like their name, The Vapors quickly vanished from the music world after only two albums in the early 80's. Their lead singer David Fenton did record a solo album, but it's so rare I've only seen pictures of it and can't find it anywhere. Their debut album was a great new wave/punk/pop album. Featuring the quirky hit "Turning Japanese", it was chock full of upbeat rhythms and catchy hooks. I have NO idea if they are still together, or what any of them are doing today. I tried to research this, but came up empty. Here are the tracks featured: 01- Turning Japanese 02- Sixy Second Intervals 03- Prosoners 04- Trains No link available

It's not widely known, but The Cars was NOT the first group that Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr had. The first group they formed was named Milkwood. It was 1973 and they released on LP, "How's The Weather". Good luck finding it. It's NOT on cd, and most likely never will be. It's reported that Ric Ocasek absolutely HATES this album and will do whatever he can to keep it from being re-released. The album was a reflection of the music at the time. Very acoustic, kind of like Bread or Crosby Stills and Nash. Some very good songwriting still however. So direct from vinyl, here are two songs from the extremely rare LP "How's The Weather", by Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, then known as Milkwood. The tracks are: 01- With You With Me (Ric Ocasek Lead Vocal) 02- Lincoln Park (Benjamin Orr Lead Vocal)

Some more various gems from the wonderful 80's!! The decade of prosperity, NOT greed! Some good songs on this one. Paul McCartney's "Coming Up". Although this studio version was intended as the A side of the single, radio stations played the B side which was the live version. I like the studio version better. "Breaking Away" by Balance was a great song. It's a shame the group didn't do anyting else. "Take It Easy" by Andy Taylor was a great song as well, featured in the movie "American Anthem". Sammy Hagar's "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" is a good song with an interesting story: Rick Springfield covered Sammy's "I've Done Everything For You" and had a hit with it. Sammy had some disparaging words for Rick's version. Then Sammy promptly hires Rick's producer to do his next album and comes out with this Rick Springfield sound-a-like song and has a hit!! And "Voices Carry" by Aimee Mann's group 'Til Tuesday is an 80's cult classic. It barely made the top 40 but it's a great song. The songs featured: 01- Coming Up (studio version)- Paul McCartney 02- Breaking Away- Balance 03- Take It Easy- Andy Taylor 04- Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy- Sammy Hagar 05- Voices Carry- 'Til Tuesday

Some more rarely heard gems from the 80's..... The songs featured are: 01- Fantasy- Aldo Nova 02- When The Rain Comes Down- Andy Taylor 03- Holiday- Nazareth 04- I Don't Mind At All- Bourgeois Tagg

Another Pot Luck edition of Forgotten 80's. A couple of rare gems in this one; one you may not have even heard of. The songs featured are: 01- Lunatic Fringe- Red Rider 02- On The Loose- Saga 03- Square Rooms- Al Corley 04- What You Need- Joe English Band (Joe English was drummer for Paul McCartney's band Wings)

While you many not know Robert Fleischman, his voice in undeniable. Robert was the original lead singer of Journey. (yes, there WAS someone before Steve Perry!) If you listen closely, I believe you'll hear a voice that, in my opinion, Steve Perry on some level tried to emulate. Having said that though, I believe Robert has a much stronger voice and wider range than Perry. These songs are from Robert's solo album "Perfect Stranger". The songs featured are: 01- All For You 02- Southern Lights 03- Ace In The Hole 04- One More Time My 'shouldabeenahit' pick- "Southern Lights" (I just love that one for some reason!) http://www.robertfleischman.com

The second and final official release from the States, "Picture Me With You". How this was NOT a hit I don't know! Their sound was tailor made for the 80's. I got to see the band at Western Carolina University in NC back in '83, and they were just as good live as they were on the records. They were all really nice fellows as well. The States on this release were: Jimmy McDonnell- lead vocals Dominic Butch Germano- bass Morgan Hampton- drums/percussion Barry Scott- lead guitar/vocals Robert Schindler- keyboards Steve Chandler- special effect guitars/vocals The songs featured are: 01- Picture Me With You 02- Let's Roll 03- Get It 04- Just A Dream 05- Love On The Line

One of my favorite bands of the 80's. As far as I know they only had two albums released, although I've heard rumor of a third independent release, which I'm sure, if it exists, I'LL never be able to find it! I have no contact info for the band as they are no longer together. I have no info on current projects either. If I find out anything I'll post it. This podcast features the States first release. The States on their debut release were: Jimmy McDonnell- lead vocals; Dominic Germano- bass guitar; Stephen Chandler- electric/acoustic guitars/vocals; Barry Scott- lead guitars/vocals; Robert Schindler- keyboards; Jimmy Wilkins- drums: The songs included are: 01- My Latest Girl 02- Cry If You Want 03- Lies 04- Fire