I have been making a list of fairly easy to get pre-80 mellee DPS items that are either obtained through new Quest Rewards or Boss Drops. Note the level required is the first number. Some of the lower leveled items are better in dps then their higher level counterparts.
Key:
(Level Required To Get-Who/Where Drops-Drop%) Item Name:Link Head:
*(74-DrakThor Dungeon-Boss Drop: The Prophet Tharon'ja-29%) Helmet of Living Flesh:
Helmet of Living Flesh - Item - World of Warcraft (there is a leather equivalent too)
*(76-ZulDrak-Boss Drop: Darmuk 41%) Ryft's Deathgaze:
Ryft's Deathgaze - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Halls of Lightning-Boss Drop-17%) Hood of the Furtive Assassin:
Hood of the Furtive Assassin - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Utgarde Pinnacle) Headguard of Retaliation:
Headguard of Retaliation - Item - World of Warcraft Neck:
*(lvl68? Quest) Drakebone Necklace:
Drakebone Necklace - Item - World of Warcraft
*(68-Quest-Borean Tundra) Chain of the Tolling Bell:
Chain of the Tolling Bell - Item - World of Warcraft
*(74-Quest-ZulDrak) Choker of the Betrayer:
Choker of the Betrayer - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Stratholme Past-Boss Drop: Chrono-Lord Epoch-24%) Necklace of the Chrono-Lord:
Necklace of the Chrono-Lord - Item - World of Warcraft Shoulders:
*(76-Quest-Halls of Stone) Spaulders of Lost Secrets:
Spaulders of Lost Secrets - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-UtgardePinnacle Dungeon-Boss Drop: Mage-Lord Urom-25%) Ceremonial Pyre Mantle:
Ceremonial Pyre Mantle - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-The Oculos-Boss Drop 14%) Spaulders of Skillful Maneuvers:
Spaulders of Skillful Maneuvers - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Halls Of Lightning) Charred Leather Shoulderguards:
Charred Leather Shoulderguards - Item - World of Warcraft Back:
*(70-Quest-The Nexus) Shroud of Fluid Strikes:
Shroud of Fluid Strikes - Item - World of Warcraft
*(77-Halls of Stone-Boss Drop: Maiden of Grief-40%) Embrace of Sorrow:
Embrace of Sorrow - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-The Oculos-Boss Drop:Varos Cloudstrider -22%) Centrifuge Core Cloak:
Centrifuge Core Cloak - Item - World of Warcraft Chest:
*(70-Utgard Keep-Boss Drop: Dalronn the Controller-41%) Skarvald's Dragonskin Habergeon:
Skarvald's Dragonskin Habergeon - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Utgarde Pinnacle-Boss Drop: Skadi the Ruthless-33%) Drake Rider's Tunic:
Drake Rider's Tunic - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Halls of Lightning) Lightningbringer's Hauberk:
Lightningbringer's Hauberk - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Utgarde Pinnacle) Gilded Ringmail Hauberk:
Gilded Ringmail Hauberk - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Utgarde Pinnacle) Exotic Leather Tunic:
Exotic Leather Tunic - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Halls of Lightning) Hardened Tongue Tunic:
Hardened Tongue Tunic - Item - World of Warcraft Wrist:
*(68-Quest-Dungeon-Utgarde Keep) Vendetta Bindings:
Vendetta Bindings - Item - World of Warcraft
*(73-Quest-Dungeon-DrakTharon) Shackles of Dark Whispers:
Shackles of Dark Whispers - Item - World of Warcraft
*(75?-Quest-Dungeon-The Oculos) Bindings of Raelorasz:
Bindings of Raelorasz - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Halls of Lightning-Boss Drop: Ionar-15%) Tornado Cuffs:
Tornado Cuffs - Item - World of Warcraft Gloves:
*(72-Quest-Dungeon-Azjol Nerub) Wraps of Quelled Bane:
Wraps of Quelled Bane - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Utgarde Pinnacle-Boss Drop: Svala Sorrowgrave-28%) Tear-Linked Gauntlets:
Tear-Linked Gauntlets - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-The Oculos-Boss Drop: Mage-Lord Urom-29%) Sidestepping Handguards:
Sidestepping Handguards - Item - World of Warcraft
*(79-Quest-Dungeon-Stratholme Past) Handwraps of Preserved History:
Handwraps of Preserved History - Item - World of Warcraft Waist:
*(76-Dragonblight-Elite Drop: Sarathstra-1%) Girdle of Unerring Flight:
Girdle of Unerring Flight - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Stratholme Past-Boss Drop: Salramm the Fleshcrafter-13%) Waistband of the Thuzadin:
Waistband of the Thuzadin - Item - World of Warcraft Legs:
*(78-Halls of Lightning-Boss Drop: Loken-17%) Leather-Braced Chain Leggings:
Leather-Braced Chain Leggings - Item - World of Warcraft Feet:
*(lvl68? Quest-The Nexus) Layered Scale Boots:
Layered Scale Boots - Item - World of Warcraft
*(69-Borean Tundra-Mob Drop: Magmoth Crusher-1%) Horrorblood Treads:
Horrorblood Treads - Item - World of Warcraft
*(69-Quest-Borean Tundra) Reinforced Caribou-Hide Boots:
Reinforced Caribou-Hide Boots - Item - World of Warcraft
*(71-The Nexus-Boss Drop: Anomalus-34%) Cleated Ice Boots:
Cleated Ice Boots - Item - World of Warcraft
*(72-Azjol Nerub-Boss Drop: Hadronox-27%) Treads of Aspiring Heights:
Treads of Aspiring Heights - Item - World of Warcraft
*(72-Quest-Dungeon-Azjol Nerub) Husk Shard Sabatons:
Husk Shard Sabatons - Item - World of Warcraft (with a leather equivalent)
Ring:
*(68-Quest-Dungeon-Utgarde Keep) Executioner's Band:
Executioner's Band - Item - World of Warcraft
*(73-Quest-Dungeon-Drak'Tharon Keep) Kurzel's Rage:
Kurzel's Rage - Item - World of Warcraft
*(77-Halls of Stone-Elite Drop: Raging Construct-16%) Palladium Ring:
Palladium Ring - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Quest-Dungeon-The Oculos) Band of Motivation:
Band of Motivation - Item - World of Warcraft
*(78-Halls of Lightning-Boss Drop: General Bjarngrim-20%) Bjarngrim Family Signet:
Bjarngrim Family Signet - Item - World of Warcraft Trinket:
*(68-Quest-Borean Tundra) Talisman of the Tundra:
Talisman of the Tundra - Item - World of Warcraft Main Hand:
*(70-Utgarde Keep-Boss Drop: Dalronn the Controller-18%) Arm Blade of Augelmir:
Arm Blade of Augelmir - Item - World of Warcraft
*(74-Drak'Tharon Keep-Boss Drop: Novos the Summoner-34%) Summoner's Stone Gavel:
Summoner's Stone Gavel - Item - World of Warcraft
*(77-Dungeon-Zul'Drak-Elite Drop: Scion of Quetz'lun-2%) Dragonjaw Mauler:
Dragonjaw Mauler - Item - World of Warcraft Off Hand:
*(71-The Nexus-Boss Drop: Ormorok the Tree-Shaper-41%) Drakonid Arm Blade:
Drakonid Arm Blade - Item - World of Warcraft 
