Lake Trout, From Baltimore.

They played constantly in Norfolk and Va Beach. I remember, only because I was desperately inebriated, harassing them (politely... it was good fun...) at their show at Phil's Grill once. Man, those guys were fucking awesome. I believe some of them showed up at our show in Baltimore at the Ottobar. Cool guys, great band, so, so shameful they didn't get big.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-y-6Eu3aNY[/youtube]

K

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K591BqoqhmI[/youtube]

Jasper Wrath my childhood heros.

Brett

Wow, I didn't know about Lake Trout - but they sound really good here! Thanks for posting!

Another band that fits the header is the Good Rats. Different musical style but I love their records and have always thought it was a shame that Warner ended their contract in 1975 (was it?).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTOnuiezOaM[/youtube]

I don't know if they necessarily qualify as not making it ... but Jellyfish were two albums into their career and could have quite possibly been a stadium filler if internal squabbles hadn't killed them. Very nicely crafted straight up pop songs and every member of the band sang which meant the lush harmonies on their records came across live. We caught them as an opening act back in the 80s when we went to see World Party and were hooked.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JojV8kNfWK8[/youtube]

Removed the "S" in HTTPS to make the vid work.

Canadian band Wednesday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wednesday_(band)

I found their album for sale for no money at all back in the late 70´s/early 80´s and bought it mostly because of the album cover. Had never heard of them before. GREAT album! Have never heard of them after I bought the album either. Not a word. I am the only one I know that has heard them.

Another band that should have made it big(ger) is british band Babe Ruth. Some people over here and in North America has actually heard about them so they are not totally unknown. But they deserved more.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HSpeWlJGuw[/youtube]

Jenny Haan was a EXCELLENT singer!!

Another Canadian band - Rheostatics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheostatics

Although, I'm inclined to think that they really didn't want to "make it"

Lake Trout was a great band. Only saw them once, at Trax in C'Ville. Amazing drummer...

Babe Ruth? I remember them from my dance club days Those were some fun times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV8Wv_LsN6E

A lotta great music came out of those dance clubs but it seems like most people only remember the crap. Oh well.

+1 to Jellyfish Glenn. There was some infighting in the band that ultimately broke up the band. Many people feel the same way we do.

Oh, how I wish they could get back together again - it's was like Beach Boys, Queen and XTC all go together for tea...

Here is a link to Roger's site. He's done LOTS of projects since then and is one of my most favorite and prolific LA area musicians. We were graced with a couple of appearances at Inclined shows with him. Definitely a good person.
http://www.rogerjosephmanningjr.com/projects/jellyfish/bio.html

Another good review of Spilt Milk.
http://pulmyears.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/note-to-shelf-spilt-milk-by-jellyfish/

This is also a fantastically fun album to listen to with your kids. Thanks for posting Glenn, I am going to dig this one up now.