K-Chuck Radio: Smooth Lost Ballads of the 80’s

What’s a good term for these tracks?  “Yacht Rock”?  “Smooth Ballads”?  “Easy Listening”?

Here’s what I call them.  “Completely forgotten.”  Yep, it’s another edition of K-Chuck Radio, featuring the hits that were either regional smashes, international winners, or just had the miserable luck to hit the charts at the wrong time.  And let’s start our list with …

SNEAKER
More Than Just the Two of Us

This California light-rock band’s biggest hit, as heard above, just barely creased the bottom of the Top 40.  Kind of a shame, it’s a really beautiful ballad.

RTZ
Until Your Love Comes Back Around

You know what makes this song so great?  Lead singer Brad Delp.  Yes, as in “More Than A Feeling” Boston lead singer Brad Delp.  RTZ was a side project that featured Delp and several past and present Boston-associated musicians, and it also was a Top 40 hit.

RICK PINETTE AND OAK
King of the Hill

I don’t know very much about Rick Pinette and Oak, only that this was their only big hit.  A classic smooth ballad “yacht rock” classic.

SHERIFF
When I’m With You

Talk about bad timing.  This group’s song “When I’m With You” stalled in the mid-level of the Hot 100 … the group broke up … and a few years later, some DJ’s found the record, started playing it, and it went to #1.  But for some reason, the band never got back together to celebrate their success… oh well…

BREATHE
How Can I Fall?

This British band’s biggest hit, it reached the Top 10 in the U.S. – but if you ever hear it on an oldies radio station, it’s a miracle.  In other words … don’t hold your breath.

1927
If I Could

For a short time, this Australian rock band looked poised to achieve superstardom.  This song, for example, was a Top 10 hit around the world – but in America, it only reached #100 on the pop charts and disappeared without a trace.  Shame.

FRED KNOBLOCK AND SUSAN ANTON
Killin’ Time

Fred Knoblock had one prior hit, the weeper “What About Me.”  Susan Anton was better known as a grade-C TV star.  And somehow they put together this Top 10 ballad which was essentially better than both of them.

JIM PHOTOGLO
Fool In Love With You

You can’t feel bad for Jim Photoglo – he did have a couple of minor pop hits, like this track, for instance … but he later made himself a major career as a country music songwriter, with his tracks recorded by some of Nashville’s most popular artists.

FELIX CAVALIERE
Only A Lonely Heart Sees

Trust me, Felix Cavaliere was no one-hit wonder … before he ever recorded this track, he had several monster hits in the 1960’s as a member of the Rascals.  So there’s that.

CHRIS CHRISTIAN
I Want You, I Need You

If you listen very carefully to the backup singer on this minor Top 40 hit, you might recognize it … because it’s Cheryl Ladd.  Yes, the “Charlies Angels” Cheryl Ladd.

So if you need to mellow out and enjoy some classic soft rock easy listening mellow tracks that haven’t gotten the love they deserve … you can find them here today on K-Chuck Radio!