Top 20 Unconventional Power Ballads Evading Power Ballad Collections

Top 20 Unconventional Power Ballads Evading Power Ballad Collections

Rediscovering Lost Classics: A Journey Through Power Ballads and More

In the realm of AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) and power ballads, there are numerous gems that have been overlooked over the years, waiting to be rediscovered by music enthusiasts. Here are some of these hidden treasures, spanning from the late '70s to the '90s, that showcase expressive vocals, strong melodic hooks, and emotional depth.

Michael Bolton's album "Everybody's Crazy" (1985), with the standout track "Call My Name", is considered a masterpiece by AOR fans, and "Call My Name" is seen as Bolton's best song. However, there are other lesser-known power ballads that deserve recognition.

One such gem is "New Moon" by Diving For Pearls, from their debut album in 1989. This classy ballad, with its great hooks, strong guitars, expressive vocals, and enthralling song structures, blends well with Def Leppard’s style. Despite the album selling moderately well, the band was dropped, making "New Moon" an overlooked gem.

Another forgotten classic is "The Border" by Mr. Mister, from the less successful follow-up album Go On in 1987. This quasi-spiritual anthem delivering a message of peace and love was largely ignored despite its quality.

Moving into the '90s, we find "Slowly, Slowly" by Magnapop (1994), capturing the beloved '90s alternative sound but not achieving lasting recognition. Similarly, "Sadly Beautiful" by The Replacements (1990) is a criminally underrated, emotionally resonant rock ballad that failed to chart strongly.

While not strictly power ballads, these songs highlight the kind of emotional richness and strong melodies associated with the genre and are considered lost classics from their eras. For instance, Terry Callier’s "Dancing Girl" (1972) is a mesmerizing blend of soul, folk, jazz, orchestral arrangements, and poetic depth, gaining cult status decades later.

Other "lost classics" from the '70s include Genesis’s “Dance on a Volcano” (1976) and Doobie Brothers’ “Echoes of Love” (1977), which also fit the theme of overlooked rich compositions.

In the world of AOR, Jeff Scott Soto is a name that stands out. His first album with The Eyes is one of the best he has made. One of their standout tracks is the reworked ballad version of "Don't Turn Around", where Soto transformed a sweet little pop song into an AOR juggernaut.

Other notable mentions include Dare's emotional tour de force "King Of Spades", written in memory of Phil Lynott, and Steve Perry's power ballad with a difference, "Captured By The Moment", which was not a love song but a eulogy for heroes of a lost age.

Journey's song "Loved By You" (2000) was recorded with Steve Augeri, who sounded like Steve Perry, but Augeri never made another album with Journey due to vocal issues. Night Ranger had the biggest hit of their career with "Sister Christian" in 1984, and they still have the mastery of the power ballad with their modern classic "Time Of Our Lives" from the 2011 album "Somewhere In California".

Valentine's song "Never Said It Was Gonna Be Easy" (1990) is epic and heroically overblown, with lyrics that are pure AOR. The singer, Hugo, sounded and sang like Steve Perry.

The song "Don't Turn Around" was originally recorded by Tina Turner, but the best version is by a little-known rock band named Eyes, led by Jeff Scott Soto.

Spys, a band led by two ex-members of Foreigner, had a poignant and richly atmospheric synth-rock ballad called "Younger Days". Strangeways, formed by Scottish brothers Ian and David Stewart, hit their peak in 1986 with their second album "Native Sons", on which their new American singer Terry Brock elevated their music to a whole new level.

Lastly, Boston's fourth album "Walk On" (1994) featured Fran Cosmo, who gave an astonishing performance, almost as good as Brad Delp. Despite the album not being a commercial success, it contains some hidden gems that are worth revisiting.

In summary, these lesser-known power ballads and related songs span from the late '70s through the '90s and feature expressive vocals, strong melodic hooks, and are often rediscovered and celebrated years after their original release.

1. Despite Michael Bolton's "Everybody's Crazy" (1985) being celebrated, there are other overlooked power ballads like "Dancing Girl" by Terry Callier (1972) and "New Moon" by Diving For Pearls.
2. Genesis's "Dance on a Volcano" (1976) and Doobie Brothers’ “Echoes of Love” (1977) are also underrated compositions in the AOR genre.
3. Jeff Scott Soto, known for his work with The Eyes, transformed "Don't Turn Around" into an AOR juggernaut.
4. Dare's "King Of Spades" and Steve Perry's "Captured By The Moment" are notable power ballads that conveyed emotions beyond love.
5. Journey's "Loved By You" (2000), sung by Steve Augeri sounding like Steve Perry, is another hidden classic, although Augeri didn't make another album with Journey due to vocal issues.
6. Night Ranger's "Time Of Our Lives" from the 2011 album "Somewhere In California" demonstrates their continued mastery of the power ballad.
7. Valentine's "Never Said It Was Gonna Be Easy" (1990) and "Don't Turn Around" by Eyes, led by Jeff Scott Soto, are epic, heroically overblown AOR songs.
8. Spys, led by two ex-members of Foreigner, and Strangeways, with Scottish brothers Ian and David Stewart, are lesser-known bands whose work deserves recognition.
9. Boston's fourth album "Walk On" (1994), featuring Fran Cosmo, contains hidden gems that are worth revisiting.
10. In the realm of modern music entertainment, books on AOR and power ballads can offer a deeper appreciation for these lost classics.
11. Whether it's metal, hard rock, alternative, classic rock, indie, or somewhere in between, these hidden gems showcase the timeless appeal of strong melodies and passionate vocals in the world of music.

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