It's 1979. I'm a high school senior who has become a full-fledged, skinny-tie 
New Waver in terms of musical taste. Syracuae's 95X, which was far from being 
the most ambitious rock station in American radio with regard to playlist 
eclecticism, starts playing a turbocharged power pop number called "Can't 
Imagine" by some guy named David Werner. I run out and buy his newly-released 
eponymous album. It turns out to be an amazing disc, running a surprising gamut 
of styles but packed with energy, hooks, and tough guitars on just about every 
song.


Ah, yes.  I remember writing an (unsold) spec review of that album for Creem, commenting that "Can't Imagine" sounded so much like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers that Werner should break his own hand and file for bankruptcy.

(I meant that as a compliment.)

Another fave from that album was "Too Late To Try," which woulda been worthy of The Raspberries.