Donnie Iris, 1943-2026

 

What are the odds that I would have a few Donnie Iris stories?

Back in 1980, the Sheepshead Bay gang was fully immersed in all things Rush and Sabbath, so I was taken by surprise when my friend Mike, a guitarist in one of the bands I'd been jamming around with said, "I want to cover this new Donnie Iris song, 'Ah Leah'." I had no idea what he was talking about or where he had heard it, but when I tracked it down, I knew exactly why Mike wanted to play it on guitar.

By his second record, Iris became an MTV star with "Love Is Like A Rock," a fun song, but there were better on the "King Cool" record. I loved that record and played it to death and then finally got tickets to see Donnie Iris & The Cruisers at The Ritz. I thought this then and I still think it now, it was one of the best shows I had ever seen. Iris was a showman, and he showed off his four octave vocal range a number of times during that 90 minute set. As a bonus, I caught the drummer's sticks.

Now, it's 1989, Iris released a few more records, each less impressive than the one before, and he basically fell off the radar, except in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Labor Day Weekend, three buddies and I decided to take a road trip. We bought tickets to the Stones' opening night of the "Steel Wheels tour at Veterans Stadium in Philly and tickets for Frank Sinatra at the MGM Grand in Atlantic City. But in between those two shows, we spent the day and night on South Street. 

We decided to walk into a bar for some drinks. We opened the door to a room just slightly bigger than a freight elevator. It was wall to wall people, and as luck would have it, on the small stage, kicking some rock and roll butt, was Donnie Iris & The Cruisers. I went bananas! My friends thought I was insane, and maybe I was for getting that excited. They had never heard of Donnie Iris, or "Ah Leah" or "Love Is Like A Rock." Finally, I saw a bit of life in my friend Rob's eyes when I said "He also wrote 'The Rapper.'" "The Jaggerz?" I love that song!" "The Rapper" was how I convinced the guys to hang around for the music. And Iris, did indeed, play "The Rapper."

Donnie Iris also did a short stint with Wild Cherry, famous for "Play That Funky Music."

Iris was 83 and passed after dealing with bladder cancer. It's only a shock to me because I just saw a clip of Iris at a college football game in Pittsburgh just last week and he seemed to have the same energy he did back in 1981.

Give his first two records "Back On The Streets" and "King Cool" some time. There is greatness on both.

 

 

 

Still One Of The Best Songwriters In The World?

Let me start by saying I really can't stand Joe Caramanica and I have been an ardent non-supporter of the Smashing Pumpkins since day one, though I have come to truly respect Billy Corgan after watching a number of his interviews on The Maginifcent Others. 

All that said, there is a lot to talk about in the brief clip.

"Its the decline of the gatekeeper class and I am laughing as their bodies float down the river because they did it to themselves." 

 

 

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Songs Of The Week, 2026: 10/17-10/23

 

Hard Times- Boz Scaggs
Viva La Money- Allen Toussaint
White Sugar- Peter Frampton
I Get So Excited - The Equals
Five Foot One- Iggy Pop
When You Walk Through Me- Ultravox
My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms- Tuff Darts

Your Songs Of The Week!

I'll say this, I hadn't heard the Tuff Darts album in ages, but thanks to a nudge from hpunch, I took it for a drive. I knew every word to "My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms." I surprised myself. I either played that track to death back in the day, or maybe included it on a favorite mixed tape. But it was great to hear it again. Also, it's no secret how much I adore the John Foxx Ultravox records, but I never loved "Systems Of Romance" as much as the first two...until recently. A great, great album.

Grab the mix HERE 

BW's Saturday #91

 

New Stones Or Solo Jagger?

 

I think I like it either way.

Malaisey Bones

Please forgive the inactivity. I was hit with a few unpleasant distractions that left me uninspired, to say the least. Such is life.

Things should be back to normal, or whatever normal is for this place, very soon.

Thanks for your patience. 

Tremblin'

This was originally posted in October of 2017. It received only three comments. I decided it deserved another chance.

I picked up a record this weekend, a Spanish compilation on the Pancho label called "Tremblin'." I hadn't heard a note from it but I knew it was a keeper from the title and the cover. And it was on a label called Pancho! The description of its contents was written on the back cover:

"Seductive and intense female vocals. Some are gritty, some torchy, some hurting. All are passionate. The result: a suggestive, atmospheric long player to be enjoyed with intimate company that will make you tremble."

Holy Smokes!

As it turns out, about half of these tunes are "Fever" with different lyrics. But there are a few gems here, like the track on top, "Johnny, With The Gentle Hands" by Wini Brown. Can't beat that title! I don't know Wini Brown, but further research turned up a record made with Duke Ellington Orchestra alumnus Cootie Williams.

Another killer is the one right above, "Strange Man" by Hannah Dean. Further research found out that she was a stage actress, and made a few movies in the 70's. She recorded a few more singles for Columbia, and this one, "You You You," a b-side, killed me more than "Strange Man."  I am currently Hannah Dean's biggest fan.






Below is the title track, "Tremblin" from Byrdie Green, a jazz and R&B singer who made some records for Prestige with Johnny "Hammond" Smith. This single is pretty damn great.

Finally, the reason I ended up with this great collection, Miss Berna-Dean.  One of my favorite records, is a song I first heard on an EMI 2 CD set collecting the great sides and productions of New Orleans Dave Bartholomew, "I Walk In My Sleep." I finally snagged a nice 45 last weekend, and was hoping to find more by Berna-Dean. She has a track on "Tremblin'," but it's nothing to...uh...tremble over.  But, here is what started it all.

Hope ya dig'em.