I had the Wild Cherry album (you know, _the_ album) when I was a kid in the '70s, and later _Ah Leah_ was all over the radio and I always loved that song (though for whatever reason I never heard any of his other stuff back then). But I never knew Donnie was in Wild Cherry. Very cool, thanks for the info.
Just saw Donnie at the Bluestone in Columbus, Ohio on 4/6/24. Still rocking at 81 years of age. Excellent show. Lots of energy although he had to sit about every other song. His pipes are still amazing. He hit all those tough notes on "Ah Leah", "Sweet Merilee" and "That's the way love oughta be". I also saw him back in the day in the early 80's. Enjoyable today as he was 40+ years ago.
I recently found a RU-vid clip of Donnie celebrating his 80th birthday, performing a concert in front of his home town crowd of Pittsburgh. He was totally killing it!!
He's always been considered one of those underrated or under the radar type of guys who never seemed to blow up as much as he should have. He has quite a few well written songs with catchy melodies and impressive vocals. Try his early 80's semi-hit "Do You Compute" for more great stuff.
I saw Donnie in Cleveland in the early 1980's. I didn't want to go to the concert (I'm more of a Zeppelin kinda guy). My friend made me go with him. Truly, it was a blast! The band was great, high powered and polished. Donnie was engaging, funny and a great performer. I'm so glad I went...never judge a book by it's cover!
I love this song and until recently i never knew who did it. I was amazed by his appearance also lol But no denying he had a great song. He hit those high notes !! Thankx for your reaction 🤟🎵🎸
Hello Harri! Thanks so much for taking a chance on Donnie! He has a brilliance that escaped many other artists of the era. "King Cool" is a great album! I think you will enjoy it! Peace, friend and thanks for your terrific channel!
@@michaelasay8587 Hey friend. Agreed, not popular as far as airplay, but his songs are truly memorable. So many responses mentioned, " Love is Like a Rock", " Sweet Marilee", "My Girl" and " The Rapper" from the early days. Give him a listen. I think you'll like the breadth of his catalogue.
Heard this on radio 20 minutes ago. Used lyrics to find it. Never knew who this guy/band was but always liked it. Has a great vocal hook and power chords. Rock the house, Donnie...
"Love Is Like A Rock" is my favorite Donnie Iris Song plus "My Girl" is Definitely a Rocker but the previous mentioned song is even Heavier then "My Girl". Great Reaction my friend.
Donnie had a big hit in the late 60s with his group The Jaggerz: “The Rapper.” I really preferred the swagger of that one over his later solo work. Someone should request that one. I’m sure most of the besties would remember “The Rapper.” Thanks, Harri.
Yes 'The Rapper' by Jagger Z that was my favorite song for the whole year it came out. Thanks John Chu for pointing this out and yes I agree Harri should check out the very good song called 'The Rapper' JaggerZ
I had no idea that he was in that band! That was the first 45 that I ever won from a radio station! I had to call in and be like the fifth caller or something and I got that Jagger's the rapper as a prize. Wild! I had no idea. Peace!
Harri, this came out in the early 80s when I just started college. The rock bands in the clubs covered this song and we really had a blast dancing to it. Then we went out and bought the album and wore it out. I believe that, unfortunately, Donny might be a one-hit wonder! Thanks for bringing back some fun memories with a great reaction, Harri! ❤ 6:20
I watched ur Pat Travers episode too. I honestly get into it seeing you hearing a great song for the first time. I group late 70s and 80s and I truly believe it was some of the greatest rock in history. Another great great Donnie Iris is Love is like a Rock. And cool Benn book
He has a lot of songs & STILL records new music! Donny was in 2 bands before going solo, 1 being Wild Cherry who had the #1 hit "Play That Funky Music" before he joined. He was touring last year (2023) with REO Speedwagon when he had to cancel because he wss diagnosed with cancer. But he is touring again this year in his 70's!!!! He is extremely popular in W. Pennsylvania where he's from & this song is commonly played at Pennsylvsnia major league sports games & races.
Great tune. I saw him in concert in Norfolk Virginia, in '82 as the opening act for Hall and Oates when I was a kid. Great show. My Dad still today talks about how foul-mouthed he was onstage haha
This song is the song I picked my daughter's name out of I said if I ever have a daughter her name is going to be Leah and when I came to Arizona from Massachusetts I met my second husband we have a daughter Leah I've loved the song since I Young
How can he be a one hit wonder. I have been a huge fan of Donnie since this song came out. Actually "My Girl" from 1982 is his highest charted song at #25 which charted higher than Ah Leah which peaked at #29. "Love Me Like A Rock" went to #37. Three songs that hit the top 40 and therefore not a One Hit Wonder at all.
Really like your reactions to Boston, my favorite group. Donnie Iris has some great tunes such as High and the mighty, Do You Compute, Love is Like a Rock, Tough World and alot more.
He’s got a couple other good ones but this is always been one of my hidden favorite songs. You don’t hear it very often but it’s the epitome of a rock song and you’re right Donnie iris does not look like the guy that would be jamming this but he made a lifetime favorite for sure with this one.
Yeah this is a good one alright. Nice reaction too. You may want to listen to "Merilee" by him. Another banger! 👍👍👍👍👍Oh, he was also with a band called The Jaggerz in the 60's who did a song called "The Rapper."
Donnie Iris had a hit in the 70's called The Rapper. Sorta regae. I don't think Ah Leah was actually a pop hit but it was on the rock charts. Do you Compute? was a semi- hit in the early 80's but didn't go very high on the charts. That's when I first became aware of Donnie Iris and bought Fortune 410 on cassette.
Love the "Besties"👍. Crazy trying to explain to people that it's Ah Leah not Aliyah. Same as Kyrie is an angel down this road that I must travel not carrying an angel... and angel is the centerfold not angel in the centerfold and don't bring me down GROSS not don't bring me down Bruce that everybody seems to like to sing and so on and so forth👍
Excellent tune right yes I got a big kick out of your reaction I named my daughter Leah cuz of that song I just left a comment I believe he made quite a few songs not as popular as that but Love is like a rock is one of them
I love it,❤But please get back to the 60s! Tommy James and the Shondells Sweet Cherry Wine crimson and Clover over and over and Crystal blue persuasion.
Donnie Iris (Ierace originally) plays all of the instruments in this song. He also was the lead singer in Wild Cherry, best known for Play That Funky Music (White Boy). He also had a big hit with "The Rapper" when he was with the Jaggerz. As a soloist here, he had a few really great songs and, for a time, was extremely popular.
Rob Parissi wrote, sang lead and played lead guitar on Play That Funky Music (1976). Donnie didn't join the band till 1978. Donnie played guitar on “Keep Playing Funky Music White Boy” on the Only the Wild Survive album(1979).
The dude looks almost exactly like Buddy Holly. I was wondering if that was one of his kids or something lol. Awesome song. I don't know how I missed that one.
this is one of these songs by a rich guy whos son says what do i do to become famous and his dad says im rich ,,hold my champagne ,you never have to work ,,, ever again
Donnie turned 80 a little while back and still rockin'. He's fighting cancer now, prayers if you can for one of the best known / unknowns, Pittsburgh proud via Elwood City and Carnegie.
i am from Pittsburgh Pa. Donnie is a hometown hero! he has plenty of awesome music. you absolutely need to hear more. he's still bringing it today,too. & he can still wail!
I grew up 2 blocks from Donnie's childhood home. His mother was our Den Mother in Cub Scouts. I hung out with his brother and worked on Donnie's Jaguar XK-E.
Always loved this song, never tired of it. It came out during a time when the music scene was full of what was called "faceless artists", many we didn't know what they looked like and it didn't much matter. Then MTV came along, and you know the rest. edit: Not a one hit wonder, try Love is Like a Rock
Love is Like a Rock isn't even near the top of the songs he had IMHO. Agnes. Do you compute. Sweet Merilee. This Time it must be love. Thats the way love ought to be. So many great songs.
Donnie's "My Girl" will absolutely knock you out. (Seriously...it's an amazing display of layered background harmony vocals and intense amounts of melody. It even has a killer sax solo!)
Harri, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for reviewing this song! Donnie Iris is such an underrated talent! He was a regional superstar here in the 70s and 80 out of Pennsylvania! The next song you should hit it’s called “AGNES”, it is a banger!! Here is the link from the same album as Ah Leah. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-L5ii-msopis.html
He lives like 2 miles from me. I used to give him a ride home after he’d drop his Cadillac off at the dealership that I worked at. He’s a super nice guy.
I always learn something from your group, Harri. I never took an interest in Donnie Iris back in my time (he's now 80 and I'm early 70s). Whether that was intentional, or I just didn't have the time to hear every artist of the era, I don't know. I definitely heard this song before and while it didn't grab me then, it sounds a lot better to me now. Constantly changing and developing music tastes, I guess. Anyway, he's from Western PA (as am I) so I probably should have known more about him. I didn't know he was part of The Jaggerz and Wild Cherry. As I said, your followers always teach me something new.
Great one hit wonder. That being said he's like in his 70's now and still tours when he's not bartering in Cleveland . Look's like Buddy Holly on this album cover.
Some may say he was a one hit wonder .. but I think they may not heard "Love is Like a Rock" or "Injured in the Game of Love" or "Do you Compute" Not to mention hits he had in bands before going solo!
