A few suggestions. My musical tastes are all over the place. Some may have heard of the bands, but some of the songs are not as well known.
Azteca - Whatcha Gonna Do. California Latin rock. Founders of the band are Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo. Sheila E's uncle and father respectively. Formed after Pete left Santana. Discovered this when I was in college radio 1979-82.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1G5vNCddgE
Pasadenas - Tribute (Right On). Originally a group of British dancers. They were turned into a musical group. Great video. Wish I could dance that well. Real solid bass intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQLN-X13oTQ
Patti Austin - Another Nail in My Heart. The r&b/jazz singer covers Squeeze for producer Creed Taylor. I would play this on college radio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPQIe65Wm_U
Live - Pain Lies on the Riverside. I think this is their best song. There is a good live video. I like the studio version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6_TGfDKpCM
Piper - Can't Wait. Billy Squier's first band. I saw them play at a radio station promotional show - 95¢. The Babys were the opening act. Roger Taylor of Queen was sitting a few rows in front of me. Queen was using the theatre to rehearse for their News of the World tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLAKyE3rNCA
Caroline's Spine - Hippie Boy. I first heard them in South Carolina while I was driving from Mass. to Atlanta for a convention. Needed the car for all of the free stuff we got. I heard their song "Sullivan" about the Sullivan Brothers in WWII. You can look it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub4g1KskHK8
Also try Wallflower by them. They catch the feeling of loneliness in the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ed62STOsmA
Robert Ellis Orrall/Carlene Carter - I Couldn't Say No. I knew him when he was a new wave singer in Boston. His drummer was a friend of one my radio station buddies. He moved to Nashville and is a very successful country songwriter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8v0d12O2wc
Gary Shane and the Detour - Johnny's Coaltrain. Boston band from the 1980's. Gary played in quite a few bands. I believe the train station is the old Salem train station. They moved it up the tracks a few hundred yards. The subway is the Red Line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuOXjEOFBM
Neal Coty - Tainted. I saw him perform at a college fest in Boston. I went to those even in my 30's to see the musicians and get the free music samplers. I like songs where guys don't take shit from the women unlike those pussies in Hoobastank who say it was all their fault in their big hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ynEJho2fdk
Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster. One of the early Irish punk bands. Jake Burns, the lead singer, now lives in Chicago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26VMUqbMPd0
Public Image Limited - Public Image. Great social commentary. Johnny Rotten gets together with some very talented musicians for his post Sex Pistols band. This was on their first album 'First Issue'. Written by John while still with the Sex Pistols. The bass player is Jah Wobble (John Wardle) and the guitar is Keith Levene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOCIP54PIQ