If you like this kind of thing, you really need to listen to the podcast Reply All, episode 158 “The Case of the Missing Hit."
In a nutshell a guy in California recalled a song he loved in the 1990s, basically some lyrics and the melody, but was unable to locate any record of the song online or anywhere else. What he did in an attempt to identify the song and the musician behind it is truly next level.
It really was one of the best podcast episodes I’ve ever heard.
https://soundcloud.com/replyall/158-the-case-of-the-missing-...
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/158-the-case-of-the-mi...