There was positive feedback from the Casey Kasem Facebook page on the first batch of 15 songs to not go higher than number 30 from his classic show of 1980s countdowns. Stopping the list at 15 was an editorial decision so that we could get to part two today and provide you with another hearty round to soothe the soul. Both articles stand on their own, however. You can like some and dislike others.
There are plenty more for us to dive into. It's all about the research. We're looking for those deep cuts. We've heard all the radio-friendly hits, and now the drive is to find those album tracks that have so much more to offer us rock aficionados. Let's admit it: in some cases, a really good deep cut that we haven't heard before can make our day.
It's so interesting now to look back at the history of these songs because some of them are that good. It hardly makes sense that they didn't climb higher than number 30 on the charts. Or, maybe, it makes us wonder how darn good all those songs were ahead of them on the countdown.
For rock music, the 1980s is the decade that keeps on giving
But overall, we get why it happened for them with their respective chart histories, and we accept it. It doesn't matter. We have these songs now, and let's give them their due again. On Casey's Top 40, these non-major hits came and went in a blur, sometimes only lasting one week on the countdown before dropping off back to obscurity from the mainstream.
And these songs are high-quality, ethereal rock jams. They are sneaky, subtle in their effect. We're the lucky ones. We notice the musicianship and songwriting more than others. These songs are a tribute to our good senses for great music. Our theme here is underrated.
Remember cassette tapes? This is our newest hodgepodge, a montage mixtape to give to your loved ones.
Steve Perry - "Strung Out"
The best way to get this list started is with one of the premier lead singers of all time doing his thing solo. This is a high-fidelity rocker of a song with a Journeyesque groove for sure. It landed just fair inside the American Top 40 at number 40 in 1984. The song is definitely catchy, enough so, that Dick Clark played it for the young people to dance to that year on American Bandstand.
Jefferson Starship - "Winds Of Change"
Co-lead singers, Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick, show off their vocal ranges in sync with timely guitars, a 1960s sounding chorus, and a psychedelic kind of melody. This was like the 1960s Jefferson Airplane fast-forwarded to 1983, where it was launched as high as number 38 on the charts. Two years later in 1985, the co-leads would form Starship and have two number one hits with "Sara" and "We Built This City."
Rick Springfield - "I Get Excited"
It's okay to get excited about Rick Springfield. He may have been an eye candy pop idol, but that wasn't his fault. He is a rocker. This hidden gem popped in, topping off at number 32 in 1982. It's from his album, Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet, which also produced the number two hit, "Don't Talk To Strangers."
Duran Duran - "Skin Trade"
The Nile Rodgers Chic influence is in full effect on this soulful Duran Duran song. The jazziness of the beat comes into focus with a pop twist and flow. Simon Le Bon's voice is unmistakable and fun. From the album, Notorious, it landed at its peak at number 39 in 1987.
Billy Idol - "Don't Need A Gun"
After being nominated for the Hall of Fame, it makes sense to find some Billy Idol gems. In 1987, this one landed at its high at number 37. There are some keyboard riffs engineering the madness until the guitars take over late, and then the complementary shifts between them go back and forth and on their own. Some onomatopoeia lyrics accompany Billy's timely screams to make a very different type of pop/rock song.
Kool And The Gang - "Let's Go Dancing"
With this one, the motif is reggae. It's an excuse for getting out on the dance floor, something Kool And The Gang know a lot about. These guys are part of the newest inductees of the Hall of Famers. A smooth hit like this landing at number 30 in 1982 seems ahead of its time. There's joy and a lot of instruments sounding strong, yet subtle in their mixing.
Stevie Nicks - "Nightbird"
From her second album, The Wild Heart, this song was an afterthought compared to the big hit, "Stand Back." There is a seriousness in the voices and lyrics combined with a foreboding guitar and low-key drumline, but Stevie doesn't let us get depressed. Her harmonies pick us up, and it's at that point when we realize this is a great song. The song rose to number 33 in 1983.
Don Henley - "Not Enough Love In The World"
This constitutes as a ballad that we don't mind hearing one more time. With a lovely lift off from the beginning, Henley's delivery makes this an Eaglesesque kind of mover and easy shaker. It hasn't worn us down and out yet, like so many other ballads end up doing. It's probably because it only reached number 34 in 1985.
Joe Walsh - "A Life Of Illusion"
With some quality jazz support, sounding a little on the side of Latin and Reggae, Joe Walsh masterfully crafts his guitars and designs storyteller lyrics for a wonderful play. The melody is so good, it opens one of the most famous cultural comedies in American history, 2005's 40-Year-Old Virgin. From a Top 40 perspective, in 1981, it made its best mark at number 34.
Glenn Frey - "I Found Somebody"
This is Glenn Frey's first Top 40 hit from his album No Fun Aloud. In 1982, it reached as high as number 32. A tender, exciting saxophone intro begets Frey's Eaglesesque harmonies and songwriting sensibilities to show us the excitement of his brewing solo career.
Van Halen - "Black And Blue"
This song is a Van Halen under-the-radar classic. Sammy Hagar produces a classic vocal to accompany Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing. And Eddie goes all out on guitar picking and licking. In 1988, just a couple months shy of Casey's last 80s broadcast, it made its way to number 34.
Stray Cats - "I Won't Stand In Your Way"
They were more popular in England for a long time. But American rock fans came around and were won over by the Stray Cats. The band never strayed from the 1950s roots of rock and roll. Their songs were throwbacks and kept in vogue through the mid-80s. This mellow number petered out at 35 in 1983.
Billy Joel - "The Night Is Still Young"
Billy Joel has plenty of deep cuts. This one was part of a Greatest Hits compilation. He added two original songs for the compilation. Incredibly, both hit the Billboard top 40 charts. With delicate, measured, rising, and varied Joel octaves, the song pushed as far as number 34 in 1985.
The Motels - "Remember The Nights"
The Motels had a total of four Top 40 hits. Lead singer Martha Davis shows her distinctive vocal flair right away, and the band plays a cohesive, tough, and tight display to match the intensity of the lyrics. A saxophone smooths things over. The song climbed to number 36 in 1983.
Robert Plant - "In The Mood"
Robert Plant, from Led Zeppelin, branched off from his famous band to have a successful solo career. He had four American Top 40 hits. Two of them topped out in the 30s. "Little By Little," and then this one, which peaked at number 39 in 1983. Credit to Plant, as he certainly created a mood on this song.