January 30

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Marty Balin (January 30, 1942 – September 27, 2018)

Marty was the co-lead vocalist of Jefferson Airplane & lead vocalist of Jefferson Starship. He also wrote songs & played guitar in both bands.

He recorded 1 of the 100 most popular songs in Hellenic Radio ever (Hearts, 1981). The song was a major hit in the US and his biggest solo hit by far (US # 8, CA # 11, NZ # 5)

In late 1987 / early 1988, he scored a major radio hit in Thessaloniki (see: Mousikos Diavlos Thessalonikis):

You Left Your Mark On Me - MARTY BALIN (LP Balin, 1981)

His most notable songs with Jefferson Airplane:

Somebody To Love (LP Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)

White Rabbit (LP Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)

His Most notable songs with Jefferson Starship:

Miracles (LP Red Octopus, 1975)

Runaway (LP Earth, 1978)

"You Left Your Mark On Me" in the Top 40 of Thessaloniki's Top Pirate Radio, Mousikos Diavlos (January 10, 1988)

January 28

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Jim Capaldi (August 2, 1944 – January 28, 2005)

Game of Love - JIM CAPALDI (LP The Contender, 1978)

"Game Of Love" is considered an all time classic song in Thessaloniki. Jim Capaldi also received respectable air-play for the following songs:

Tonight You're Mine - JIM CAPALDI (LP Fierce Heart, 1983)

That's Love - JIM CAPALDI (LP Fierce Heart, 1983)

Love Used To Be A Friend Of Mine - JIM CAPALDI (LP Some Come Running, 1988)

January 26

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

1) Marti Caine (January 26, 1945 – November 4, 1995)

You - MARTI CAINE (LP Behind The Smile, 1978)

2) Lucinda Williams, born on January 26, 1953

I Just Wanted To See You So Bad - LUCINDA WILLIAMS (LP Lucinda Williams, 1988)

January 24

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Jonathan Brian Kermode, born January 24, 1957. 

He remained one of Thessaloniki's Radio biggest mysteries for decades.

The mystery was solved when Thessaloniki's Radio Jockey, Nick Katanakis interviewed him on January 21, 2022.

He had two major hits in the 80s, in Thessaloniki's pirate radio under two pseudonyms:

1) Cry - JAMES STEEN (b-side on single Lie, 1982)

Cover version of the classic Churchill Kohlman song, whose most known version is the 1951 cover by Johnny Ray.

2) I Don't Want To Lose Your Love - RICKY ANDERSON (single, 1983)

Further pseudonyms, aliases or collaborations of Jon:

Half Brother (I Look In Your Eyes, 1978 / Hideaway, 1979) 

Anthony Hopkins (Distant Star, 1986)

Written & produced by Jon

John Christian (Ebony Eyes, 1987)

another alias of Jon

He now resides in Sweden. He stills makes music & makes a living as a musician.

He will probably never realize that his songs are a part of the best years of our lives. God bless you, Jon!

PS Here a Top 40 Chart from Thessaloniki's Music Channel (Μουσικός Δίαυλος Θεσσαλονίκης - January 10, 1988), The Top Hellenic Pirate Radio, including the James Steen song "Cry" οn its Top 10

Pop Club Serres 97 FM, Top 40 (12.03.1988 - 19.3.1988)

01. My Arms Keep Missing You - RICK ASTLEY (LP Whenever You Need Somebody, 1987)

02. Tonight (Dancing With The Desperate) - NORMA LEWIS (single, 1985)

03. Honey I'm Lost - THE DOOLEYS (single, 1979)

04. Memory - BARRY MANILOW (LP I Wanna Do It With You, 1982)

05. Sound Of My Heart - SLEEPING LIONS (single, 1983)

06. Cry - JAMES STEEN (b-side on single "Lie", 1982)

07. Your Dream - ADRIAN GURVITZ (LP Classic, 1982)

08. The Promise - WHEN IN ROME (single, 1987 / LP When In Rome, 1988)

09. Runaround Sue - LEIF GARRETT (single, 1976 / LP Leif Garrett, 1977)

10. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight - ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COLEY (LP Nights Are Forever, 1976)

11. All Day & All Of The Night - THE STRANGLERS (LP All Live & All Of The Night, 1987)

12. Love - JIMMY JIMMY (LP Here In The Light, 1986)

13. Have It Your Own Way - BLACK (b-side on single "I'm Not Afraid", 1987)

14. Stay - BARRY MANILOW (LP I Wanna Do It With You, 1982)

15. Lie - JAMES STEEN (single, 1982)

16. If Love Is Not The Reason - RENEE & RENATO (b-side on "Save Your Love", 1982)

17. When The Fingers Point - THE CHRISTIANS (LP The Christians, 1987)

18. Wild World - MAXI PRIEST (LP Maxi, 1987)

19. Me & The Farmer - THE HOUSEMARTINS (LP The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death, 1987)

20. Atlanta Lady - MARTY BALIN  (LP Balin, 1981)

21. Love Is Not The Answer - THE STYLISTICS (LP Some Things Never Change, 1984)

22. Freedom For The World - PAUL ANKA (LP Freedom For The World, 1987)

23. Bow Down - THE HOUSEMARTINS (LP The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death, 1987)

24. Dreaming - ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK (single, 1988)

25. Night Of Love - JIMMY RUFFIN (LP Sunrise, 1980)

26. Shame - EURYTHMICS (LP Savage, 1987)

27. Takin' A Chance Of Love - SHARON REDD (LP Redd Hott, 1982)

28. Touched By The Hand Of God - NEW ORDER (Arthur Baker single mix, 1987 / OST Salvation! 1987)

29. Morning Of My Life - SALLY OLDFIELD (LP Celebration, 1980)

30. Let The Night Take The Blame - LORRAINE McKANE (single, 1984 / OST Parole De Flic, 1985)

31. Tokyo Joe - BERTIE HIGGINS (LP Pirates & Poets, 1983)

32. This Is Love - GEORGE HARRISON (LP Cloud Nine, 1987)

33. Johnny Doesn't Love Here Anymore - CHARLENE (LP I've Never Been To Me, 1982)

34. (I Just Can't) Forgive & Forget - BLUE ZOO (LP 2 By 2, 1983)

35. Only Crying - KEITH MARSHALL (single, 1981)

36. Hold On - IAN GOMM (LP Summer Holiday, 1978)

37. She's Like The Wind - PATRICK SWAYZE feat WENDY FRASER (OST Dirty Dancing, 1987)

38. Love Lives On - JOE COCKER (OST Harry & The Hendersons, 1987)

39. Can't You Feel My Love - MATTHEW FISHER (LP Matthew Fisher, 1980)

40. Always On My Mind - PET SHOP BOYS (single, 1987 / LP Introspective, 1988)

January 21

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

1) Richie Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013)

His cover version of the 1977 Lamont Dozier song, was one of biggest dancefloor hits in Thessaloniki during the first half of the 80s (even bigger than Odysseys 1981 version) and even nowadays considered an alll time classsic radio hit in my hometown.

Going Back To My Roots - RICHIE HAVENS (LP Connections, 1980)

2) Billy Ocean, born on January 21, 1950.

Billy recorded some major wordwide hits (his first hit "Love Really Hurts Without You" not included)...

"Caribbean Queen" (1984)

"LoverBoy" (1984)

"Suddenly" (1984)

"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (1985)

"There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (1985)

"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" (1988)

...but he also had a very successful radio hit in Thessaloniki's pirate radio in the first half of the 80s:

Everlasting Love - BILLY OCEAN [LP Nights (Feel Like Getting Down), 1981] 

3) Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002)

Peggy's career includes some very popular tunes in Hellas but also worldwide:

"Why Don't You Do Right?" (1942)

"Fever" (1958, her cover of Little Willie John's song was her biggest hit)

"You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" (1967)

Apart form the above mentioned songs, she scored a major radio hit in Thessaloniki's pirate radio in 1987, with her 1979 rendition of the 1975 Tom Snow song "You" 

You - PEGGY LEE (LP Close Enough For Love, 1979)

The song was also recorded by Marcia Hines (1977), Rita Coolidge (1978) & Andy Williams (1978)

Tom Snow was behind many successful songs (Thunder In My Heart, You Might Need Somebody, He's So Shy, You Should Hear How She Talks About You, If Ever You're In My Arms Again, Let's Hear It For The Boy, Somebody's Eyes, I Will Be There, After All, Don't Know Much)

January 20

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Nightmare - McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP (LP MSG, 1992)

Singer on this Thessaloniki's Radio Classic is Robin McAuley, born on January 20, 1953.

He also provided the lead vocals on the cover of the Led Zeppelin classic

Stairway To Heaven - FAR CORPORATION (LP Division One - The Album, 1985)

January 19

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Dewey Bunnell, born on January 19, 1952, is a member (vocalist & guitarist) of the band America.

America are famous in Hellas (& all over the world), mainly for major 70s hits such as "A Horse With No Name" (1971), "I Need You" (1972) & "Ventura Highway" (1972)...

...and minor 70s hits such as "Don't Cross The River" (1972), "Muskrat Love" (1973), "Tin Man" (1974), "Lonely People" (1974) & "Sister Golden Hair" (1975).

In the 80s, America released an album that became one of the 10 most popular Albums of the 80s in Thessaloniki's Radio (the whole list in the first comment).

"View From The Ground" (1982)

Apart from the Russ Ballard penned hit "You Can Do Magic" (US # 8), the LP produced several other popular songs & hits in Thessaloniki's Radio. The biggest of them, the magnificent power ballad "Inspector Mills"

"Right Before Your Eyes" (cover version of the 1977 Ian Thomas song)

"Sometimes Lovers"

In 1983, America released the LP Your Move, that produced 3 more (minor) hits in Thessaloniki's Radio.

"The Border"

"She's A Runaway"

"Your Move"

January 8

 

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Shirley Bassey was born on January 8, 1937

She is a world star. No doubt about that.

But her Radio hits in Hellas & worldwide aren't so many as someone would imagine.

Apart from her 2 out of 3 very successful James Bond Themes 

1) Goldfinger (1964)

2) Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

(Moonraker Theme did not enjoy any particular success)...

...she had (apart from her numerous 50' & 60s UK hits) only a few of major or minor hits worldwide:

I (Who Have Nothing) (1963, cover of Joe Sentieri's "Uno Dei Tanti" from 1961)

UK # 6

Big Spender (1967, cover of the Peggy Lee's 1965 song)

UK # 21

Something (1970, cover of the 1969 Beatles song)

UK # 4, NL # 10, BE # 11, AU # 19, DE # 40

This Is My Life (La Vita) (1979, cover of the Elio Gandolfi 1968 song)

NL # 5, BE # 5

Thought I'd Ring You (1983, duet with Alain Delon)

NL # 13, BE # 13

The Rhythm Divine (1987, Yello feat. Shirley Bassey)

UK # 54, BE # 17, NL # 24, AU # 19, CH # 21, DE # 47

'Disco' La Passione (1996, Chris Rea feat. Shirley Bassey)

NL # 21, BE # 36

Get The Party Started (2007, cover of P!nk's 2001 hit)

UK # 47

In Hellas though, she had a couple more hits, especially in Thessaloniki's Radio Stations:

1) Yesterday When I Was Young (LP Something, 1970)

cover of Hier Encore by Charles Aznavour (1964)

2a) If You Don't Understand (single A side, 1984)

The A side is cover of "Rabbia Libertà Fantasia" (Ornella Vanoni, 1983)

2b) To All The Men I've Loved Before (single B side, 1984)

The B side is cover of "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" (Albert Hammond, 1974) allthough it is based on the cover of Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (1984)

3) Remember - SHIRLEY BASSEY feat. AL CORLEY (1984)

cover of Parole, Parole by Mina & Alberto Lupo (1972) but based on the cover of the Dalida & Alain Delon version of 1973.

4) The Girl From Tiger Bay - DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY (LP The Performance, 2009)

January 7

 

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Freddy Gigele was born on January 7, 1961

Back in 1982, he was the lead singer of the Austrian Hard Rock band, No Bros.

They had a major hit in their homeland (# 11), with their single "Be My Friend" (LP Ready For The Action, 1982)

The song became a radio hit in Thessaloniki's pirate station "Radio 1", in the mid 80s.

Radio 1, Thessaloniki (Oldies Top 20, October '86)

01. Be My Friend - NO BROS (LP Ready For The Action, 1982)

02. She Makes Me Feel - MATTHEW FISHER (LP Matthew Fisher, 1980)

03. Why'd I Have To Fall In Love With You - MATTHEW FISHER (LP Matthew Fisher, 1980)

04. New York Hold Her Tight - DOWNES & PRICE (LP Downes & Price, 1986)

05. Let's Make Love - GUYS 'N' DOLLS (LP Together, 1977)

06. Can't Get By Without You - THE REAL THING (LP Real Thing, 1976)

07. I'll Give You Everything - TOPPER HEADON feat. JIMMY HELMS (LP Waking Up, 1986)

08. For You - TRIUMVIRAT (LP A La Carte, 1978)

09. Never Looking Back - BERTIE HIGGINS (LP Pirates & Poets, 1983)

10. You're Going Out Of My Mind - T.G. SHEPPARD (LP TG, 1985)

11. Smile - CHRIS REA (b-side on "Love's Strange Ways", 1983)

12. Can't You Feel My Love - MATTHEW FISHER (LP Matthew Fisher, 1980)

13. Classic - ADRIAN GURVITZ (LP Classic, 1982)

14. How Do You Mend A Broken Heart - GUYS 'N DOLLS (single, 1979)

15. If You're Not Here (By My Side) - MENUDO (LP Reaching Out, 1984)

16. You To Me Are Everything - THE REAL THING (LP Real Thing, 1976)

17. I Can't Say Goodbye To You -HELEN REDDY (LP Play Me Out, 1981)

18. Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through - JIM STEINMAN feat. RORY DODD (LP Bad For Good, 1981)

19. Phantom Of The Opera - ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER feat. SARAH BRIGHTMAN & STEVE HARLEY (OC The Phantom Of The Opera, 1986)

20. Tokyo Joe - BERTIE HIGGINS (LP Pirates & Poets, 1983)

January 6

 

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Lou Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006)

He had a massive worldwide hit, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (LP All Things In Time, 1976)

Two of his other hits, are well known in Hellas & receive regular airplay through the years:

"See You When I Git There" (LP Unmistakably Lou, 1977) hit in the Benelux &

"Lady Love" (LP When You Hear Lou You've Heard It All, 1978) US # 24

In Thessaloniki there are two more songs, that received huge airplay during the 80s and are also considered classics in my hometown:

All Time Lover (LP Close Company, 1984)

Stop Me From Starting This Feeling (LP Love All Your Blues Away, 1986)

January 5

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

Phil Thornalley (born January 5, 1960)

Bass player, singer, songwriter, sound engineer & producer

Sound engineer / remixer on:

LP All Mod Cons (The Jam, 1978)

LP Mystery (Hot Chocolate, 1982)

LP Set (Thompson Twins, 1982)

LP Pornography (The Cure, 1982) + producer

LP The Real Macaw (Graham Parker, 1983)

LP Seven & The Ragged Tiger (Duran Duran, 1983)

LP Quick Step & Side Kick (Thompson Twins, 1983)

LP Into The Gap (Thompson Twins, 1984)

also XTC, The Danse Society 

and Never Never Comes (Classix Nouveaux, 1983)

Bass Player & producer on "The LoveCats" by The Cure (1983)

Producer on "When Love Breaks Down" by Prefab Sprout (LP Steve McQueen, 1985)

but also for Seona Dancing ("Bitter Heart", 1983), Orange Juice ("What Presence?!" 1984), Robbie Nevil ("C'est La Vie", 1986), Wax ("Right Between The Eyes", 1986), Bryan Adams ("On A Day Like Today", 1998) and also Strawberry Switchblade

Singer & bass player on Johnny Hates Jazz second LP (Tall Stories, 1991), with two major radio hits in Thessaloniki: "Let Me Change Your Mind Tonight" & "The Last To Know" (released January 6, 1992).

Songwriter of "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia (1997)

The song was originally recorded by: 

Lis Sørensen (Brændt, 1993)

Covers:

Ednaswap (Torn, 1995)

Trine Rein (Torn, 1996)

Άσπα (Νιώσε Το Φιλί, 2003)