Aldo Nova

Aldo Nova didn't rack up many hits -- just two, in fact, both housed on his eponymous debut album from 1982. Neither "Fantasy" nor "Foolin' Yourself" cracked the Top Ten -- the latter peaked at 23, the former didn't make it into the Top 40 -- but they, along with the rest of the record, provided a blueprint for the hard rock of the '80s. Nova melded the powerful thrust of arena rock with sharp pop hooks, thickening his music with layers of guitars while also embracing the futuristic textures of synths. This blend could be heard on "Fantasy," which hinted at the hair metal that...