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What's that Smell?

S

SirRoxalot

There have been a lot of artists in the "Close, but no cigar" category. They've been big regional successes, and have flirted with the national charts, but never quite made the leap.

I thought that a thread that paid tribute to some of those hard-working artists might be fun, so I'll nominate artist #1 - Donnie Iris. Here's an example:

Ah, Leah - Donnie Iris

Yeah, it's cheesy '80s, he obviously doesn't have a dental plan, and the only way he gets near a woman that good looking is if she's paid, but worse things have made it farther up the charts...
 
Great Song, Rox. More a deep cut 80's song, def not pop. What about "Gone, Gone, Gone" by Chilliwack, or Hot Rod Hearts, by Robbie Dupree? Great stuff that never gets it due
 
Back in the TM "Stereo Rock" days 102 used to play a lot of those kinds of songs - examples:

Freddie Cannon & The Belmonts - "Let's Put The Fun Back In Rock and Roll"
Balance - "Breaking Away"
John O'Banion - "Loved You Like I've Never Loved Before"
 
SirRoxalot said:
There have been a lot of artists in the "Close, but no cigar" category. They've been big regional successes, and have flirted with the national charts, but never quite made the leap.

I thought that a thread that paid tribute to some of those hard-working artists might be fun, so I'll nominate artist #1 - Donnie Iris. Here's an example:

Ah, Leah - Donnie Iris

Yeah, it's cheesy '80s, he obviously doesn't have a dental plan, and the only way he gets near a woman that good looking is if she's paid, but worse things have made it farther up the charts...
Click to expand...

As a native Pittsburgher, I HAD to respond.

Donnie Iris (notice the video credits him as "Donny" - on "Universal" not MCA - so it had to be from a recent source) is a local hero in these parts...so "Ah Leah" has been on just about every station in this market at one time or another. He and some local buddies were "The Jaggerz" (of "The Rapper" fame) ten years before "Leah".

When he's not reprising either of the above roles he apparently owns a mortgage company in nearby Beaver County. Co-worker got a mortgage from him several years ago.

superset - Much like "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through" by Jim Steinman; "Kids In America" by Kim Wilde or Balance's "Breaking Away", once you got away from the top markets, these songs were all over Top 40 playlists and in some markets lived to a ripe old age.
 
Two songs that I think fit this category are 'The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide' by The Kings and 'I'll Drink To You' by Duke Jupiter.
 
qman said:
Two songs that I think fit this category are 'The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide' by The Kings and 'I'll Drink To You' by Duke Jupiter.
Click to expand...

Great choices, especially for those on the North Coast of Lake Ontario. You can add "Go For Soda", "Patio Lanterns", and anything else by Kim Mitchell to the list.
 
"The Thought Of Loving You" - Johnny Caswell & Crystal Mansion

Philly - Jersey Shore - NYC - downstate NY.
 
qman said:
Two songs that I think fit this category are 'The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide' by The Kings and 'I'll Drink To You' by Duke Jupiter.
Click to expand...

Don't forget Duke Jupiter's "Little Lady". I still have that promo 12 inch.

"Go For Soda" and "The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide" were two songs that gave Upstate NY Radio a unique flavor back in the day.
 
SirRoxalot said:
There have been a lot of artists in the "Close, but no cigar" category. They've been big regional successes, and have flirted with the national charts, but never quite made the leap.

I thought that a thread that paid tribute to some of those hard-working artists might be fun, so I'll nominate artist #1 - Donnie Iris. Here's an example:

Ah, Leah - Donnie Iris

Yeah, it's cheesy '80s, he obviously doesn't have a dental plan, and the only way he gets near a woman that good looking is if she's paid, but worse things have made it farther up the charts...
Click to expand...

I'll see your "Leah" and raise you one "Love Is Like A Rock".

Other songs I recall with that certain "flavor":

Robert Hazard-Escalator Of Life (though he did just fine for himself after "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" ,which he penned, went nuclear for Cyndi Lauper).

Teenage Head-Let's Shake
Here's a band that should have been much bigger stateside, but mismanagement via MCA records (trying to move them in a more pop/wave direction) killed any US momentum the band had.

Aldo Nova-Fantasy. Couldn't escape this tune on WNY radio...then he was gone.
 
Leaning a little more on the pop side (but I believe Pat Benatar's husband Neil Geraldo played on the track): Rick Springfield - "Love Is Alright Tonite"
 
Debaser said:
Since this IS the Buffalo-Rochester board, how about The Road and Weekend?
Click to expand...

"She said she'd stay...from day to day,
she said a love means more this way,
taking our new mornings as they come,
happy to share in the rising sun,
Together...Together...

"...day to day, giving and taking our love, without promises,
and if I had my way, I'd offer her something more, a love that's more secure"

It's been 38 years so I've probably messed up some of the lyrics...but the gist is spot on. Weekend's "Together" could ONLY have worked in 1972.

Remembering it today...my mind and monitor are turning into Cheez Whiz. Good pick DB.
 
Wasn't The Road signed to Buddah? I think I remember their remake of "She's Not There" on a Buddah compilation...

Now for a realllly big slice of cheese...Glenn Medieros (?): "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"
(On Amherst Records!)
 
Glenn Medieros (?): "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"
Click to expand...

Now there's a one-hit wonder!! :eek:
Had to be regionalized!! That went through the wash cycle just once, IIRC, but never made it to the dryer! Have to wonder how THAT one came up here!! (nope, not checking threads to research any previous mention!!)
 
heydaybegone said:
Glenn Medieros (?): "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"
Click to expand...

Now there's a one-hit wonder!! :eek:
Had to be regionalized!! That went through the wash cycle just once, IIRC, but never made it to the dryer! Have to wonder how THAT one came up here!! (nope, not checking threads to research any previous mention!!)
Click to expand...

I honestly don't remember how big it was...it was a good sized Top 40/AC hit but as I recall it broke out of Buffalo.
 
How about this one?

JJ Jackson - But It's Alright

Started out in NYC, doing some writing and arranging around the Brill Building. "But It's Alright" hit the charts twice - in '66 and '69, but only got to #22. Seems to me it was a bigger hit in this area - and deserved to be! Great sound, great hook.
 
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