Another lesser-known but solid record is Boomtown (1986) from David + David, who were David Baerwald and David Rickets. The record is full of well-crafted classic rock ala Springsteen, examining hard times, isolation and urban decay. The record reached 39 on the Billboard charts. Both Davids later contributed to Cheryl Crow's Tuesday Night Music Club (1993), with Baerwald one of the primary guitarists.
Splinter were a power pop duo who's debut, The Place I Love (1974) was the first release from George Harrison's dark Horse Records. Harrison produced, played guitar, and brought in an all-star supporting cast to make a lovely Badfinger-like beauty. They went on to record at least four more records, and two of them are available for streaming in addition to this knockout.
April Smith and the Great Picture Show released Songs For A Sinking Ship in 2010. Highlights include Colors, Terrible Things, and Can't Say No, but the whole record is big fun. Several songs were used on TV shows. Colors was used in a memorable commercial for Valspar paint. Smith has a big brassy voice, the band is talented, and they put on a great show, which I was fortunate enough to see. Sort of old-timey, vaudevillian window dressing on some quality pop songs.
Christian Cuff's Chalkboard (2010) is just one of the best folk/rock singer-songwriter records you haven't heard. His first record was a simple guitar and voice affair, but they went all out for the follow-up (both are available streaming). Keyboards, bass, guitar, drums, harmonica, woodwinds, trumpet, baritone horn, and string quartet are all used generously to broaden the palette and make this record special. The arrangements are top notch. Not to be missed.
Any one of these will make you happy to find a lost gem. Five very different records, you're almost bound to love at least one of them.
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