Jamel can you look at Old and Wise by Alan Parsons Project? One of the most beautiful songs ever written and sung by Colin Blunstone of the Zombies ruclips.net/video/kW8zmVt0VGM/видео.html
I was stationed at Parris Island when this song came out. One of my best memories was when our entire squad bay rocked out to this altogether singing it in unison! Donnie will ALWAYS be The King of Cool.
Donnie is in his 70s now and STILL sings this good. He did all of the tracks on this except the drums. His voice, several times over, recorded in analog. He did all the guitars, the bass and all of the vocals... incredible.
Yes he can!!!!!! The dude has always had it and always will!!!!!!!!! Sells houses and jams!! Can't beat that!!!! The song "The Rapper" is a good tune by him also!!!!!! Giddeeup!!!!
I saw him live, where I played in the house band. I went to high school with the engineer of that song, Rex Burke. This was recorded in New Brighton at Jerees Studio.
Love this song. In high school, I had a friend with a little sister named Leah. Of course, being a mature teenager, I used to sing this to her repeatedly until she started punching me.
I'm a drummer. Few years ago, Donnie came to our show in Pittsburgh. Him and I sat at a table, drinking a beer and shooting the breeze. He is a great dude.
Dude!! Donnie is from my city (Pittsburgh, PA)! Great guy! I’m currently working on a mini-doc about Donnie, this song, & it’s impact here. He recorded this song in nearby New Brighton at a little studio called Jereez. My dad was recording a gospel album there at that same time. I have very vivid memories of the studio & the recording console. Studio owner Jerry Reed was incredibly kind.
Back in the 90's some friends and I were planning to see him at I.C. Light Amphitheatre but then we got really stoned and ended up seeing Weird Al at Station Square instead.
He just turned 80, sang just as well at an 80th birthday concert earlier this year. He looks maybe 60, moves like he’s 45 at most, got on his knees and back up again on stage. I’m almost 30 years younger and can’t- two knee replacements. He seems like a sweetheart in interviews. He’s an impressive vocalist but also a walking fountain of youth.
@@jimmycranier3668 I can see why you might get that. Maybe (Buddy Holly) x (Eugene Levy)? But for an '80s-era Buddy Holly don't forget about Marshall Crenshaw... who, along with Curtis Armstrong, went to my high school. In fact, Marshall played Buddy Holly in 1987's "La Bamba".
I always imagined that Leah was the kind of gal who is all fun. But in reality, she was all trouble. The kind of trouble that a guy just didn't want to avoid.
Donnie Iris (born Dominic Ierace, February 28, 1943)[1][2][3] is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit, "The Rapper", with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." He also achieved fame as a solo artist in the early 1980s with the #29 hit "Ah! Leah!" and the #37 hit "Love Is Like a Rock."
Went to the Rock and from Erie, PA. DI was a favorite in Northwestern PA. Always played and heard his music on the beaches of Presque Isle! Brings back great memories!
Contrary to belief actually Don and Iris had more than one hit he also had *Love Is Like A Rock.* This is a hometown favorite yes brother Jamal were talking about Pittsburgh PA. Even he grew up in Ellwood City. Donnie was also a guitar in the band *Wild Cherry* yes the same band that bought you the hit song *Play That Funky Music.* He also another top 40 hit *Do you Compute* along with another hometown hero of *B. E. Taylor* the song *Vitamin L* were big songs in the 80s. I never thought I could push a like button that fast lol. But I guess you can say we had a couple of icons ( in my opinion) from Pittsburgh. Love Peace and Happiness Y'all!!
I have met Donnie a few times. I used to sit next to his first cousin at work in Ellwood City PA. which is his hometown. Great Guy and well loved legend in Western PA and Eastern Ohio!
If you look on the comments for the video there's one from a girl named Ayliah named after this song because her father thought that was the name of the song
I also named my daughter Leah because of this song, but it wasn't until 1989. I would have this song queued up to play every day when I picked her up from school so her friends could hear it when she got in the car. She's 32 now and I still have this song queued up if I ever pick her up to go anywhere.
Native Pittsburgher here, Donnie Iris is a treasure here in the Burgh!! Seen him many times over the years, so many good songs; he's criminally underrated, great band!! Other great songs, Agnes, King Cool, Sweet Merilee, Love is like a rock, That's the way love ought to be, Color me blue, Do you compute...and so many more.
This guy , Donnie Iris, is still rocking today. He loves the music. Very underrated. Fantastic song. I’ve always thought it was about two people who just had a magnetic pull to each other, and they truly love each other, however whatever the circumstances the relationship just doesn’t work. But the feeling just won’t go away. Thanks for doing this great song. His song Agnes is pretty good too. Although I think Ah Leah was by far his best.
I'm from Pittsburgh and Donnie hails from a little ways north of the city, I and all Pittsburghers will always regard him as our #1 Rock and Roll treasure. ❤️❤️❤️
@@bobwowk8440 Unfortunately many never heard of this band. Hell, when someone like Joe Walsh collaborates and plays guitar or Clarence Clemens plays the sax on one of your songs, you have a good band and people in the industry know it. I actually prefer Michael Stanley's version of "Rosewood Bitters" better than Joe Walsh's copy of that song....even though both are great.
Columbus represent - Holy smokes! I can't remember the last time I thought about the Michael Stanley Band! OK - Off to find him now. And McGuffey Lane?
Do you know what.made that deep bass synth sound at the end that hovers below everything? I want to say moog but I have no idea. Coincidentally this song has been coming on my Sammy Hagar radio on Spotify and I have to listen to this at least twice cuz I love that bass synth at the end lol
One of my favorite '80s tunes. Great singing (especially at the end, as you noted), pumping bass, and that guitar solo has such incredible, dirty tone. Love it!
One of the things I liked about Donnie Iris is he looks like the guy next door but can rock like nobody's business! The whole "Back On The Streets" album, his first solo album, is great! "I Can't Hear You" and "Shock Treatment" are also a kick to listen to. His later hit "Love Is Like A Rock" is a cranker, and a deeper later track "Do You Compute" is also excellent. He was in the Jaggerz in the early 70s, and with them he had the hit "The Rapper".
Jamal, I went to High School with Donny, Lincoln High School, Ellwood City PA. He started out in western PA with a band call the Jaggerz. The hit song they had then was called “The Wrapper”. Hi was also in the band Wild Cherry... Play that funky thing. Check out Wild Cherry if you haven’t heard it yet✌🏼.
Love this song!! And donnie iris!! Saw a video from this past summer where a 78 year old Donnie iris rocked it live at a outdoor fair i believe!!! Sounded amazing. He really sounds so great 40 years later!!! Hats off to this very underrated singer, still rocking at age 78!!!!
Please react to "Never Say Never" by Romeo Void. The story behind both the song and the lead singer is really amazing and even wholesome. She was a very unconventional lead singer for the time, and the band was promoted by Ric Ocasek of Cars fame.
one of my favorites of the era, i think its head and shoulders above most others from the 80s. the melody is sophisticated and hook laden. i love the big finale.
That hypnotic two-note section, like a 1000-yard stare in the middle of a rumble, then the high Deep Purple/Ian Gillan-esque scream vocals just send it skyward, over the top.
YES, you did this song!!! 😊 This is one of the greatest Rock songs ever recorded. I love how you were fixin' to pause it for a while and then held-back. 😊 Fun facts: Donnie Iris was already 37 years old when he wrote/recorded his debut album in 1980, on which this song appeared. He celebrated his 78th birthday this past February. Although thought of as a 1-hit wonder, Donnie Iris actually had a few hits to his credit, with "Ah! Leah!" hitting #29 on the Billboard charts, and "Love Is Like A Rock" from his 1981 sophomore album going #37. I'm not a big fan of the latter song, but you might like it. One other song I love by him is "Injured In The Game Of Love" which was a minor hit in 1983 as was the decent, New Wave-y "Do You Compute?" Donnie was a huge, pleasant surprise to all of us back in the day. He was this short, skinny, nerdy-looking guy with black curly hair and looked like an accountant, not a Rock star, but he could play every instrument - he literally recorded his entire debut album by himself - and could scream like Joe Elliott of Def Leppard. Truly talented and unique.
Donnie Iris - talented and entertaining guy. I love this whole album.(Back in the Streets) and the one that followed (King Cool) which contained the hit "Love is Like a Rock" along with numerous other great songs. Iris fronted a band in the 1970s called the Jaggerz which had a cool hit "The Rapper." You should check them out.
This guy is worshiped in Pittsburgh. It was such a privilege to see someone who appreciates music hear a classic like this for the first time. What a great way to spend 8 minutes. A great song about that. Special connection. You have with a person even though you both know. It's never going to work out, here's chemistry, there's energy, but there's always some disaster right around the corner And ultimately, you both know it's a toxic situation in spite of that attraction. You really captured it.
@@roxannemoser .... Actually, make it three hits. And neither "Ah! Leah!" or "Love Is Like a Rock" is his biggest. His biggest hit is "My Girl", and that's a totally different song from The Temptations 1965 classic. Donnie's three top-40 hits are .... 1) "My Girl" (#25 in 1982) 2) "Ah! Leah!" (#29 in 1981) 3) "Love Is Like a Rock" ..... (#37 in 1982).
No, Tracy, Donnie Iris was not a one hit wonder ..... He had three top-40 hits, and "Ah! Leah!" isn't even his biggest hit. His three top-40 hits are ..... 1) "My Girl" (#25 in 1982) 2) "Ah! Leah!" (#29 in 1981) 3) "Love Is Like a Rock" ..... (#37 in 1982).
I remember as a 19 year old when this song came out thinking ""oh my goodness this song rocks !! A no-name artist comes out with a song like this that I believe people will be listening to 50 years from now..And other new artist from 1981 were ,Aldo Nova -"Fantasy" , Red Ryder --Lunatic Fringe ... and one other comes to mind... Loverboy..""Turn me loose" ..All these must be reacted to.!!! Thanks Jamal for reacting to Donnie Iris.Never do I get tired of that song..
Such a great jam. I worked with a girl named Leah that HATED this song after the fiftieth person to sing this at her. She's the only person I know that did.
Beg to differ with y'all. It certainly wouldn't be considered pop TODAY, it would be called rock, but at the TIME, it most certainly WAS pop, as it infiltrated and lived on the top 40 chart for quite some time. Huge airplay = POP.
@@magicbrownie1357 if airplay = pop, then then all songs change genres as soon as the hit the charts. Charting based on record sales does not define genre, imo.
What's amazing is Donnie Iris will be 79 yrs old in a few days (on the 22nd) and he can Still Belt out those screams at the end of this song. 'Ah Leah' was released in 1980. Long Live the 80's!
I saw him many times in concert and his concerts were awesome complete with laser light show he has a number of great songs and I hope you listen to more of his music. Thankyou.
I always imagined this was about a star-crossed couple (from his perspective of course), hopelessly attracted to each other but doomed for whatever reason...
I'm a long time Donnie Iris fan. Love this song, Love is Like a Rock, and the criminally underrated Sweet Merrilee. King Cool is another great song from the album of the same name.
One of my favorite songs.....great vocals.!! He's like 79 yo and still does shows and hits the high notes..!! Btw...he played all the instruments and vocal parts.
He was born in my hometown of New Castle, PA, although he grew up in Ellwood City. My husband works at a local grocery store and one day Donnie's sister came in and bought a birthday cake for him and my hubby wrote Happy Birthday on it. So we grew up listening to him.
Donnie is 79 years old and still playing out. Believe it...he can still hit the high screams in this song. He started out in Wild Cherry (Play that funky music Whte Boy) and he was also with the Jaggerz (The Rapper). Ive seen him a couple of times live. He puts on a good show. Rock On Donnie!
One of my favorite songs ever! (yeah I’m a kid of the 70s and 80s LOL) For what it’s worth, I think it’s a real relationship. Don’t know if you’ve ever done “Into the Night” by Benny Mardones?
@@roxannemoser lol yeah. I remember the first time I heard it, thinking "wow, this is a beautiful song." The, later when hearing it, I started paying attention to lyrics and was like "Uh, wait a second, what's going on here?" Then I saw the video...
‘JUST BE A GOOD HUMAN’ Shirts and More, Enter Promo Code ‘Jamel’ jamel-aka-jamal-youtube-store.creator-spring.com
That nerd could RAWK lol.
Im okd a child if the 60s born in 59. Never really got into the 80s scene but damn these tunes always get stuck in my head. Lol. Damn MTV.
THANNKS.
Another sleeper is The Breakup Song by the Greg Khin Band from around the same time... ruclips.net/video/VLFfSDEA26o/видео.html
Fun song! Makes me get up and dance. Thank you for the good vibes.
Jamel can you look at Old and Wise by Alan Parsons Project? One of the most beautiful songs ever written and sung by Colin Blunstone of the Zombies
ruclips.net/video/kW8zmVt0VGM/видео.html
I loooove this song! Tell me I'm not the only one.
I do too!! I can listen to it over and over.
Anyone that grew up in the 80s that says they don’t love it is lying! And this suit is EVERYTHING!!! lol
GREAT song!
Right there with you
2nd fav. One hit wonder. I like never been any reason by Head East.
I was stationed at Parris Island when this song came out. One of my best memories was when our entire squad bay rocked out to this altogether singing it in unison! Donnie will ALWAYS be The King of Cool.
An early 80s classic! I never get tired of this song, It just ROCKS!!!!
He’s still rockin it too
Donnie is in his 70s now and STILL sings this good.
He did all of the tracks on this except the drums. His voice, several times over, recorded in analog. He did all the guitars, the bass and all of the vocals... incredible.
Wow! I never knew that. Love it just as much as ever with an even greater respect for the man behind these hits now. THANK YOU!
Yes he can!!!!!! The dude has always had it and always will!!!!!!!!! Sells houses and jams!! Can't beat that!!!! The song "The Rapper" is a good tune by him also!!!!!! Giddeeup!!!!
I saw him live, where I played in the house band. I went to high school with the engineer of that song, Rex Burke. This was recorded in New Brighton at Jerees Studio.
We need to put him in the same room with Tom Scholz.
:-)
He just turned 80! When I saw that, I had to go look up the music video, then look for reactions!
Love is like a Rock also charted for Donnie Iris, it’s a great song 👍
Yes, definitely that one too. And Do You Compute!
PLEASE DO LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK!!!!!
That was the first 45 I ever bought as a kid
Love is Like a Rock is awesome, as is Sweet Merilee!
Love is Like a Rock was an MTV staple for a few weeks. Great live video.
Love this song. In high school, I had a friend with a little sister named Leah. Of course, being a mature teenager, I used to sing this to her repeatedly until she started punching me.
LOLOLOL! [I would have done the same thing...bravo!]
Classic
Now you’re married with 3 kids
Did you ever end up hittin that?
Lmao!!!
THIS SOUNDS SOOOOO 70s Witch is a very good thing
I'm a drummer. Few years ago, Donnie came to our show in Pittsburgh. Him and I sat at a table, drinking a beer and shooting the breeze. He is a great dude.
Dude!! Donnie is from my city (Pittsburgh, PA)! Great guy! I’m currently working on a mini-doc about Donnie, this song, & it’s impact here. He recorded this song in nearby New Brighton at a little studio called Jereez. My dad was recording a gospel album there at that same time. I have very vivid memories of the studio & the recording console. Studio owner Jerry Reed was incredibly kind.
Johnstown representing!
@Lisa Anderson Grey Eyed Dragon Paulson and Krenn!
To this day you can catch him hanging out at Kelly's in Bridgewater, Beaver County.
@Lisa Anderson Grey Eyed Dragon pants n at. 🤘 I go way back to when love is like a rock first came out.
Was he a different Jerry Reed than the country singer?
Pittsburgh's own Donnie Iris. I've seen him in concert over the years. Love is Like a Rock is another one of his hits.
still remember all those WDVE skits about Donnie and Pants N'nat.
Back in the 90's some friends and I were planning to see him at I.C. Light Amphitheatre but then we got really stoned and ended up seeing Weird Al at Station Square instead.
Ive seen him live a few times as well as run into him often in Chippewa Wal-Mart.
@@crswro1690 YES!
Awesome show.
Donnie Iris was the lead singer of The Jaggerz, who had a huge hit in1970 with "The Rapper." That's a great one-hit-wonder to check out!
You forgot "Call My Baby Candy. 🙂
Oh man! I have loved that song for years and would likely never have known that was Donnie! THANK YOU!
lol I have been bugging for this song for weeks now
So true....another great song!
And might I also add...."The Rapper" is one if the best COWBELL classics of all time! Yeah!
Daaaaamn talk about the golden age of Mtv. Holy hell I’m old!!
I'm just glad we were around when all this great music was playing on our car radio's! I feel very lucky!
The good old days when mtv actually played music...
Me too! Shit!
He just turned 80, sang just as well at an 80th birthday concert earlier this year. He looks maybe 60, moves like he’s 45 at most, got on his knees and back up again on stage. I’m almost 30 years younger and can’t- two knee replacements. He seems like a sweetheart in interviews. He’s an impressive vocalist but also a walking fountain of youth.
My daughter AhLeah was named because of this song. We lost my daughter almost 5 years ago. This song brings back good memories for me. Thank you.
awesome!!!!
So sorry for your loss🙏
my heart goes out to you -
Sincerest condolences on the loss of your daughter! 😪
reading your post was like being punched in the throat. saying "i'm sorry" feels inadequate.
Uncle Donnie out here looking like Bill Nye the Science Guy and then the guitar solo hits and you realize he means business.
A Banger is a banger and "Ahh Leah" clicks all of the boxes.
Honestly, I think this is the most underrated song from the entire decade of the 80s. Glad you enjoyed it!
100% !!!
🤣 He's a cross between Bill Nye and Eugene Levy 🤓
He has more of a 1980's Buddy Holly look.
You say that like it's a bad thing! lol :D
Or Buddy Holly and Weird Al Yankovic
@@jimmycranier3668 I can see why you might get that. Maybe (Buddy Holly) x (Eugene Levy)? But for an '80s-era Buddy Holly don't forget about Marshall Crenshaw... who, along with Curtis Armstrong, went to my high school. In fact, Marshall played Buddy Holly in 1987's "La Bamba".
😂🤣😂
Love is like a rock is another good one from him .
Yes!!! This is such a great song!!
I love both of these songs by Donnie Iris. 💗
So is The Rapper from when he was in the group The Jaggerz
Love that song .....brings back fond memories at skating rink on Friday nights 💗
Yes, great groovy little tune, and fun to sing to! Hope he does that one soon!
One of my favorites from the 80's & all-time.
I always imagined that Leah was the kind of gal who is all fun. But in reality, she was all trouble. The kind of trouble that a guy just didn't want to avoid.
I knew a couple of those.
Funny, when I read this comment everything turned black and white, and Mike Hammer was reading the lines.
Well, I wish you were in my high school way back then--thank you
Iris has another song called "Agnes" that I think you may dig!
Bwahaha!!!!
as someone from Pittsburgh i can only hear his name being spoken in the thickest yinzer accent 😂
Pantz n’ nat!
Dawnie Aris 😀😀
DAWNE AHRIS.
Donnie Iris (born Dominic Ierace, February 28, 1943)[1][2][3] is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit, "The Rapper", with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." He also achieved fame as a solo artist in the early 1980s with the #29 hit "Ah! Leah!" and the #37 hit "Love Is Like a Rock."
Love this song, didn't know his involvement with the group's. Music still holds up years later, such talent.
I always wanted Weird Al to do a parody of this about Princess Leia.
That would have been excellent!
He already has the look down.
@@johncampbell756 I dont understand, Did Weird Al cover this?
@@traceyc2576 No. But he has the hair (just longer) and I bet he had the outfit. I thought of AL the second I saw this guy..
@@johncampbell756 my last name is Campbell, I wonder if we are related? ;)
Donnie went to my High School (Pittsburgh PA area) and still lives in the area. He's in his 70s and still performs. Yes he can still hit those notes!
Heck yeah, always loved this track, a rust belt fav, shout out Cleveland and the Burgh!
Shout out!!!
Donnie was in a group calles The Jaggerz back in the 70's. They had a hit called the "Rapper"
Saw him at Slippery Rock University and Tully’s in Sharon Pa back in the day.
Went to the Rock and from Erie, PA. DI was a favorite in Northwestern PA. Always played and heard his music on the beaches of Presque Isle! Brings back great memories!
Always loved this song. Donnie is still performing at 78 or at least he was pre virus. I want his health regimen....
Now at 80 and STILL performing! LEGEND!
I'm from Pittsburgh where he is from. I've been seein him for 40 years.
Same here!
He was actually pretty good at the time. Like updated Buddy Holly coolness.
This song was on the radio all of the time in the early 80's.
Contrary to belief actually Don and Iris had more than one hit he also had *Love Is Like A Rock.* This is a hometown favorite yes brother Jamal were talking about Pittsburgh PA. Even he grew up in Ellwood City. Donnie was also a guitar in the band *Wild Cherry* yes the same band that bought you the hit song *Play That Funky Music.* He also another top 40 hit *Do you Compute* along with another hometown hero of *B. E. Taylor* the song *Vitamin L* were big songs in the 80s. I never thought I could push a like button that fast lol. But I guess you can say we had a couple of icons ( in my opinion) from Pittsburgh. Love Peace and Happiness Y'all!!
His "Love is like a Rock" is his best song.
Love Is Like A Rock is his best!
Love that song. Transports me right back to the Russian Lady nightclub in downtown Hartford. Fun times.....
THat's what love ought to be
"I was joking" was a good one too
Huge legend here in Pittsburgh. "Love is Like a Rock" is another big hit of his.
"You 'bout to get all this!!"
-Jamel 🤣🤣 i💗it
Donnie Iris was in the band Wild Cherry in 1978-79, but that was after they had the hit single "Play That Funky Music"
"Agnes" is my favorite Donnie Iris song. Pittsburgh legend.
That song is one of my favorites!
I LOVE Agnes!
I always wondered why it didn't get airplay. 😕
I have met Donnie a few times. I used to sit next to his first cousin at work in Ellwood City PA. which is his hometown. Great Guy and well loved legend in Western PA and Eastern Ohio!
So happy you chose this. i love this song
In 1981 I named my daughter Leah because of this song, lol! It was more I really loved the way he sang the name more so than for the lyrics....
If you look on the comments for the video there's one from a girl named Ayliah named after this song because her father thought that was the name of the song
I also named my daughter Leah because of this song, but it wasn't until 1989. I would have this song queued up to play every day when I picked her up from school so her friends could hear it when she got in the car. She's 32 now and I still have this song queued up if I ever pick her up to go anywhere.
I saw him live for free in lil ole Parkersburg WV a few years back lol great show
Native Pittsburgher here, Donnie Iris is a treasure here in the Burgh!! Seen him many times over the years, so many good songs; he's criminally underrated, great band!! Other great songs, Agnes, King Cool, Sweet Merilee, Love is like a rock, That's the way love ought to be, Color me blue, Do you compute...and so many more.
One of my favorite songs ever!
Me, too!
Same!
Mine too
This guy , Donnie Iris, is still rocking today. He loves the music. Very underrated. Fantastic song. I’ve always thought it was about two people who just had a magnetic pull to each other, and they truly love each other, however whatever the circumstances the relationship just doesn’t work. But the feeling just won’t go away. Thanks for doing this great song. His song Agnes is pretty good too. Although I think Ah Leah was by far his best.
Donnie Iris was a part of Wild Cherry (PLay That Funky Music), but he joined after that had already been a hit.
Wait, what??? I knew he was part of the Jaggerz but no idea he was part of Wild Cherry. Thx man.
Whaaaaaat!!!!
I'm from Pittsburgh and Donnie hails from a little ways north of the city, I and all Pittsburghers will always regard him as our #1 Rock and Roll treasure. ❤️❤️❤️
I seen his brother Lonnie the other day down at pants n nat!
Growing up in Northeast Ohio, we got to enjoy Michael Stanley Band and Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.
Those were the days.....Richfield Coliseum
@@jalkabre5904 my first concert was Rush at Richfield
I keep telling every RUclipsr reaction’er person to listen to Michael Stanley.
@@bobwowk8440 Unfortunately many never heard of this band. Hell, when someone like Joe Walsh collaborates and plays guitar or Clarence Clemens plays the sax on one of your songs, you have a good band and people in the industry know it. I actually prefer Michael Stanley's version of "Rosewood Bitters" better than Joe Walsh's copy of that song....even though both are great.
Columbus represent - Holy smokes! I can't remember the last time I thought about the Michael Stanley Band! OK - Off to find him now. And McGuffey Lane?
Played all his own instruments, really cool!
Do you know what.made that deep bass synth sound at the end that hovers below everything? I want to say moog but I have no idea. Coincidentally this song has been coming on my Sammy Hagar radio on Spotify and I have to listen to this at least twice cuz I love that bass synth at the end lol
One of my favorite '80s tunes. Great singing (especially at the end, as you noted), pumping bass, and that guitar solo has such incredible, dirty tone. Love it!
One of the things I liked about Donnie Iris is he looks like the guy next door but can rock like nobody's business! The whole "Back On The Streets" album, his first solo album, is great! "I Can't Hear You" and "Shock Treatment" are also a kick to listen to. His later hit "Love Is Like A Rock" is a cranker, and a deeper later track "Do You Compute" is also excellent. He was in the Jaggerz in the early 70s, and with them he had the hit "The Rapper".
Jamal, I went to High School with Donny, Lincoln High School, Ellwood City PA. He started out in western PA with a band call the Jaggerz. The hit song they had then was called “The Wrapper”. Hi was also in the band Wild Cherry... Play that funky thing. Check out Wild Cherry if you haven’t heard it yet✌🏼.
My mom went to Lincoln, too. She's Class of 1966. I've seen Donnie's photo in her yearbook.
chords are catchy...lyrics and his voice.......banger!
Check out a later vid of him doing this song. He still screams ahh Leah!! Just like back then.
This song is always playing in our house. One if hubby’s favorite still!!On his playlist!
Jamel should react to The Tubes “She’s a Beauty”
And White Punks On Dope!!!
@@watsonroadster3707 😂😂😂 That one was a real trip!
Scott Olson How about "What Do You Want From Life"?
@@MisterMikeTexas "Well, you can't have that but..."
Talk to ya later.
Love this song!! And donnie iris!! Saw a video from this past summer where a 78 year old Donnie iris rocked it live at a outdoor fair i believe!!! Sounded amazing. He really sounds so great 40 years later!!! Hats off to this very underrated singer, still rocking at age 78!!!!
Please react to "Never Say Never" by Romeo Void. The story behind both the song and the lead singer is really amazing and even wholesome. She was a very unconventional lead singer for the time, and the band was promoted by Ric Ocasek of Cars fame.
Great call!!! Love Deborah-awesome video!
💯 nailed it 👍
Always loved that song . Was used in a movie Reckless
She was sultry.
one of my favorites of the era, i think its head and shoulders above most others from the 80s. the melody is sophisticated and hook laden. i love the big finale.
That hypnotic two-note section, like a 1000-yard stare in the middle of a rumble, then the high Deep Purple/Ian Gillan-esque scream vocals just send it skyward, over the top.
YES, you did this song!!! 😊 This is one of the greatest Rock songs ever recorded. I love how you were fixin' to pause it for a while and then held-back. 😊 Fun facts: Donnie Iris was already 37 years old when he wrote/recorded his debut album in 1980, on which this song appeared. He celebrated his 78th birthday this past February. Although thought of as a 1-hit wonder, Donnie Iris actually had a few hits to his credit, with "Ah! Leah!" hitting #29 on the Billboard charts, and "Love Is Like A Rock" from his 1981 sophomore album going #37. I'm not a big fan of the latter song, but you might like it. One other song I love by him is "Injured In The Game Of Love" which was a minor hit in 1983 as was the decent, New Wave-y "Do You Compute?"
Donnie was a huge, pleasant surprise to all of us back in the day. He was this short, skinny, nerdy-looking guy with black curly hair and looked like an accountant, not a Rock star, but he could play every instrument - he literally recorded his entire debut album by himself - and could scream like Joe Elliott of Def Leppard. Truly talented and unique.
One of my favs! Saw him a few yrs back. He was in his late 70s. Best scream in rock! He still has it!
Donnie Iris - talented and entertaining guy. I love this whole album.(Back in the Streets) and the one that followed (King Cool) which contained the hit "Love is Like a Rock" along with numerous other great songs. Iris fronted a band in the 1970s called the Jaggerz which had a cool hit "The Rapper." You should check them out.
This guy is worshiped in Pittsburgh. It was such a privilege to see someone who appreciates music hear a classic like this for the first time.
What a great way to spend 8 minutes.
A great song about that. Special connection. You have with a person even though you both know. It's never going to work out, here's chemistry, there's energy, but there's always some disaster right around the corner And ultimately, you both know it's a toxic situation in spite of that attraction.
You really captured it.
Interesting piece of information; Donny Iris was with Wild Cherry right after their release of "Play That Funky Music".
One of fave songs from 1981 charted here in Australia top 30
I literally named my daughter after this song 😊 she is now 25 and has 2 kids of her own and she is gorgeous .
That dude is awesome, and at 78 he's still touring.
Thank you Jamel, another OHW!! Love this song!!
THW. 2 hit wonder. Check out Love Is Like A Rock.
@@roxannemoser thank you!
@@roxannemoser ....
Actually, make it three hits.
And neither "Ah! Leah!" or
"Love Is Like a Rock" is his biggest.
His biggest hit is "My Girl",
and that's a totally different song
from The Temptations 1965 classic.
Donnie's three top-40 hits are ....
1) "My Girl" (#25 in 1982)
2) "Ah! Leah!" (#29 in 1981)
3) "Love Is Like a Rock"
..... (#37 in 1982).
No, Tracy, Donnie Iris was not a
one hit wonder ..... He had three
top-40 hits, and "Ah! Leah!" isn't
even his biggest hit.
His three top-40 hits are .....
1) "My Girl" (#25 in 1982)
2) "Ah! Leah!" (#29 in 1981)
3) "Love Is Like a Rock"
..... (#37 in 1982).
This was such a great song. I remember when this was a super hot song. Brings back some great memories from the early 80s.
One of the greatest one hit wonders of all time... this song kills to this day!!!
He has three hits. Just sayin. And this wasn't the biggest. :)
The pride of Pittsburgh! Yeah I know he's not technically from Pittsburgh but Pittsburgh claims him! 😅
Do You Compute, Injured in the Game of Love, Like A Rock..... great songs one and all. This guy is a legend in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
Donny Iris is in his 70's. He still performs, and can still hit all those notes live.
Duuuuude great pick!!! I’m watchin this one!!
He just performed this song live at his 80th birthday party, he still sounded incredible, it's on RUclips check it out.
I remember as a 19 year old when this song came out thinking ""oh my goodness this song rocks !! A no-name artist comes out with a song like this that I believe people will be listening to 50 years from now..And other new artist from 1981 were ,Aldo Nova -"Fantasy" , Red Ryder --Lunatic Fringe ... and one other comes to mind... Loverboy..""Turn me loose" ..All these must be reacted to.!!! Thanks Jamal for reacting to Donnie Iris.Never do I get tired of that song..
Unbelievable song!! I was 10 years old when it came out. I remember hearing it on the radio all the time!
Such a great jam. I worked with a girl named Leah that HATED this song after the fiftieth person to sing this at her. She's the only person I know that did.
That's ALWAYS the case with first name songs. I worked with a girl named "Jamie" that HATED a certain Van Halen song.
Me too, I know a Rhonda who hates "Help me Rhonda" and a Roxanne who hates "that" song!
Pittsburgh is so proud of Donnie!! Great man for so many local charities and musicians. Legend.✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌
Not a huge 80's pop fan, but this one stands out above so many others.
I know this came out in '80, but I just don't think it's '80's pop. I will always think late 70's with Donnie Iris.
Mainly because it wasn't POP, this song was a banger!
It wasn’t really pop, but yeah. Idek what it would be. It’s kinda light pop rock but not really
Beg to differ with y'all. It certainly wouldn't be considered pop TODAY, it would be called rock, but at the TIME, it most certainly WAS pop, as it infiltrated and lived on the top 40 chart for quite some time. Huge airplay = POP.
@@magicbrownie1357 if airplay = pop, then then all songs change genres as soon as the hit the charts. Charting based on record sales does not define genre, imo.
What's amazing is Donnie Iris will be 79 yrs old in a few days (on the 22nd) and he can Still Belt out those screams at the end of this song.
'Ah Leah' was released in 1980. Long Live the 80's!
Always liked the Geezer Butler style bass guitar riffs in this song.
I saw him many times in concert and his concerts were awesome complete with laser light show he has a number of great songs and I hope you listen to more of his music. Thankyou.
Now check out Love Is Like A Rock by Donnie Iris. Cool jams today! Donnie's got some range on him.
Early 80s!!!! This song is a banger!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
This song is Donnie Iris's biggest hit song ever!!! It peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the early spring of 1981.
It should've been a top 10 hit.
I loved the song from the moment I first heard it in the early 1980s. But this is the first time I've ever seen the music video....
I love this song so much! I was 11 when this came out. My Mom bought the record and we wore it out! Great reaction as usual, Jamel!
I always imagined this was about a star-crossed couple (from his perspective of course), hopelessly attracted to each other but doomed for whatever reason...
Yes. great song. Loved it as a kid. Love it still. All the voices you hear are his. Incredible.
He has another really nice song I used to love when it was played on the radio called “Do You Compute?”
He’s still performing around Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He’s 78 and absolutely fantastic!!!
I'm a long time Donnie Iris fan. Love this song, Love is Like a Rock, and the criminally underrated Sweet Merrilee. King Cool is another great song from the album of the same name.
One of my favorite songs.....great vocals.!! He's like 79 yo and still does shows and hits the high notes..!! Btw...he played all the instruments and vocal parts.
I admittedly come to the reactions that I already know but, it is nice to discover with you as well. That's the Spirit of it
He was born in my hometown of New Castle, PA, although he grew up in Ellwood City. My husband works at a local grocery store and one day Donnie's sister came in and bought a birthday cake for him and my hubby wrote Happy Birthday on it. So we grew up listening to him.
finally, you got to brother donnie! for maximum 80s cheese (but a great power pop song) check out his vid "do you compute?"
Donnie is 79 years old and still playing out. Believe it...he can still hit the high screams in this song. He started out in Wild Cherry (Play that funky music Whte Boy) and he was also with the Jaggerz (The Rapper). Ive seen him a couple of times live. He puts on a good show. Rock On Donnie!
One of my favorite songs ever! (yeah I’m a kid of the 70s and 80s LOL) For what it’s worth, I think it’s a real relationship. Don’t know if you’ve ever done “Into the Night” by Benny Mardones?
Can you imagine if that song was released today?
@@roxannemoser NOPE!! And yet it hit the Top 20 twice and had 2 separate chart runs, for 20 and 17 weeks, respectively.
@@roxannemoser lol yeah. I remember the first time I heard it, thinking "wow, this is a beautiful song." The, later when hearing it, I started paying attention to lyrics and was like "Uh, wait a second, what's going on here?"
Then I saw the video...
Two other good rockin' Benny songs are "Too Young" and "She's So French."
@@roxannemoser when I was 16 I was dating a 24 year old. So it went WOOSH!! right over my head. ❤️
I remember hearing Donnie Iris perform this song on Solid Gold, back in the early '80s. Really liked it; still miss those days.🌞😊
This reminds me of " Trouble"by Lindsey Buckingham. Another great song.
Been 20 yrs since I heard this song. Never knew the name or the artist. Thanks!