More 80's Power Ballads

In a previous hub, I put together a list of my favorite power ballads from metal bands of the eighties. As I was in the process of putting it all together, I came to realize just how many great ballads from that time period did not make the list. What I intend to do with this hub is give honorable mentions to those songs that did not make the original hub.

This list is not in any particular order. I hope that you enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as I enjoyed putting it all together. With that said, let's begin.

This duet, released in 1988, featured metal's dark Prince joining Lita Ford. The collaboration was arranged by Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne, who was managing Lita Ford at the time. The song is found on Lita's third solo album, titled "Lita".

Although REO's music is often a little light for my taste, "Can't Fight This Feeling" was definitely one of the better power ballads of the eighties. Appearing on the 1984 album Wheels Are Turning, it was released as a single in the (US) in January 1985 and reached the top of the U.S. Hot 100 charts that March.

I have always thought Poison was too much into the glam scene and their music reflected that. Still, it is difficult to deny this song's place in the eighties. The third single off Poison's 1988 album Open Up and Say...Ahh, "Every Rose has its Thorn" was their only number 1 hit in the U.S. and is worthy of its place on my list.

"Open Arms", from Journey's 1981 Escape album is certainly worthy of a mention in any list of power ballads. Although it seems more like a seventies throwback than eighties hair metal, Journey seems to have mastered the art of the power ballad. Steve Perry's powerful voice backed by a good song and what you end up with is a hit.

Whitesnake scored a big hit with "Is This Love", from their self-titled 1987 album. The song found its way onto the playlists of more than a few Senior Promos and enjoyed strong rotation on radio stations around the world.

Released in 1989, "Love Song" just barely managed to sneak into the tail end of the decade. Still, the song lives up to its title and quickly found its way up the charts. "Love Song" is fro The Great Radio Controversy.

Another song just barely making it into the eighties decade, "Patience" still managed to make its mark on the eighties scene. Released in 1989, "Patience" seemed to resonate well with its real lyrics. The song had feeling, yet managed to keep the rough edge that Guns-N-Roses were knownfor.

Alright, so they were not the most iconic of bands, but Warrant did have a few big hits and none were bigger than heaven. Found on their 1989 album "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich", Heaven went all the way to number 2 on the Billboard charts. Certainly worthy of an honorable mention onthis list.

Cinderella was one of those late eighties glam metal bands that made a big splash. "Don't Know What You Got" was the biggest hit of their career and rightfully deserves mention on this list.