Classic rock had seen multiple evolutions in the 1980s alone, and some of the biggest hits of the decade made it far before they vanished from radio, almost entirely, as everyone moved on to the next big evolution. When it comes to the following three songs, I can’t help but feel like they deserve way more love in retrospect.
“Ah! Leah!” by Donnie Iris from ‘Back On The Streets’ (1980)
Remember this power pop jam from Donnie Iris? “Ah! Leah!” was a pretty big deal back in 1980, considering it reached the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 20 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Even with those impressive placements, “Ah! Leah!” by Donnie Iris was a much bigger radio go-to than those placements might suggest. And then, as quickly as the song hit the charts, it faded away from the radio. Even on classic rock radio nowadays, I rarely hear this gem. Maybe that’s just because it occupies a very particular era of rock in the early 1980s before everyone moved on to the next big thing. Who knows? It’s still unfair, I’d say.
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“Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider from ‘As Far As Siam’ (1981)
This arena rock classic from 1981 was a pretty hefty hit on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at No. 11. And in the years since it was released, I can’t help but feel like it doesn’t get the same kind of love as similar pop-rock songs from the era, including those with worse chart placements. “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider remains a bit of a deep cut in 80s rock history. Personally, I think it’s one of Tom Cochrane’s best pieces.
“Fantasy” by Aldo Nova from ‘Aldo Nova’ (1982)
How about some hard rock with a little bit of pop-metal flavor? This entry on our list of classic rock tunes from the 1980s that vanished as fast as they hit the charts is a classic example of an MTV staple that shone bright before disappearing. I don’t really get why. “Fantasy” by Aldo Nova was impossible to avoid on the radio for a hot minute, and it peaked at No. 23 on the Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Mainstream Rock chart. And yet, it’s been years since I heard it on classic rock radio. What gives?
(Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
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