80's Rock Songs That Deserved Better: Journey, Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, Twisted Sister

"STONE IN LOVE"     JOURNEY

"Those crazy nights I do remember in my youth, those were the best times".  When you think of Journey, the Escape album and their three massive hits, Don't Stop Believin', Open Arms, and Who's Crying Now, are probably the first songs that come to your mind.   Escape (actually titled E5C4P3) sold close to 10 million copies, heck, they even made an Atari video game based on the album.    The fourth single was "Still They Ride", a song that didn't fare as well.   For me, I would have released "Stone In Love", one of my favorite tracks on the album.  Never released as a single although mainstream rock radio stations would often play it, Neil Schon's guitar solo and Steve Perry really shined here.

"YOU'RE SO VAIN"    FASTER PUSSYCAT

One of the more creative but fitting cover songs of the 80's, Carly Simon's #1 classic from the 1972 gets roughed up by Faster Pussycat.  You can just feel the grime of the Sunset Strip  and the sleaze of the Whiskey A Go Go with this glammed up cover.   Faster Pussycat are best known for their power ballad "House Of Pain" and their sexual romp, "Bathroom Wall".   "You're So Vain" was released on a tribute to Elektra Records compilation disc called Rubaiyat (The Cure covers the Doors on it too) and the band followed up by re-releasing the song on an EP.  "You're So Vain" never became a hit, another lost opportunity for an underrated 80's glam band.  Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp took a stab at the Carly Simon tune, you may also want to check it out on my site.

"CRYSTAL EYES"       L.A. GUNS

Oh what could have been!   Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Slash got their start with L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose, when disagreements over the band's direction and in-fighting among the guys took over, a breakup was inevitable.   Most of the guys formed Guns N Roses, perhaps the greatest glam band of all-time, while Tracii Guns reformed L.A. Guns, a group that always seemed like a little brother on the scene.   "Never Enough" and "The Ballad of Jayne" hit big before Tracii changed up the band's lineup again.   In 1991, Seattle grunge bands were taking over and 80's hair bands lost their appeal.   During this time, a new version of the L.A. Guns released Hollywood Vampire, a great album released at the wrong time.  Crystal Eyes was chosen as the second single, it crashed and burned, yet remains one of the best unknown power ballads of all-time. 

"THE PRICE"      TWISTED SISTER

Back when I first started my website, I added my choice as the greatest 80's rock song to never make the charts.  Dee Snider and the boys lost the makeup, discarded any gimmicks, and showed the world that they had substance.   Check out my earlier post.

Johnny Depp In "Dark Shadows" May 11, 2012: Marilyn Manson, John Mayer, Jake Owen

"YOU'RE SO VAIN"   MARILYN MANSON featuring Johnny Depp

Carly Simon's biggest hit gets a gothic makeover by Orlando's Marilyn Manson.   The song is going to be featured in Johnny Depp's new movie, Dark Shadows.    The movie is an spoof adaptation of the 70's vampire soap opera TV show but any film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp should be entertaining.    Speaking of Mr Depp, he reportedly plays drums on Manson's cover.

"SHADOW DAYS"    JOHN MAYER

John Mayer's back with a reflective, relaxing, country-tinged new record.  The lyrics analyze the choices we make in life.  It's an uplifting song with a great message and John's tempered guitar playing really adds a nice touch.


Did you know that you could be wrong
And swear you're right
Some people been known to do it
All their lives
But you find yourself alone
Just like you found yourself before
Like I found myself in pieces
On the hotel floor
Hard times have helped me see


I'm a good man, with a good heart
Had a tough time, got a rough start
But I finally learned to let it go
Now I'm right here, and I'm right now
And I'm open, knowing somehow
That my shadow days are over

"SETTIN' THE WORLD ON FIRE"      JAKE OWEN

Jake's been setting the country music world on fire with his big smash hits, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" and "Alone With You".   This uptempo track feels like Springsteen gone country with "Born To Run" inspired lyrics:  "It was do or die, we had to get out of this town", "The future was an open road, gone with a cloud of smoke", and "we were too hot for one town to hold".