February 2

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

Graham Nash, born February 2, 1942.

Sad Eyes - GRAHAM NASH (LP Innocent Eyes, 1986)

backing vocals by James Taylor

Graham Nash scored a Radio hit with this 1986 song in Thessaloniki's radio (mostly in pirate station "Radio 1").

Apart from his major hit in Hellas, "Prison Song" (1973)...

...he was already known from his years with "The Hollies" & "Graham, Stills, Nash & Young"

Bus Stop - THE HOLLIES (LP Bus Stop, 1966)

Marrakesh Express - CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (LP Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969)

Ohio - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (LP 4 Way Street, 1971)

Chicago - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (LP 4 Way Street, 1971)

allthough a Graham Nash song, it was included on this live album

Radio 1, Thessaloniki (Top 40 - November 8, 1986)

01. (I Just) Died In Your Arms - CUTTING CREW (LP Broadcast, 1986)

02. The Lady In Red - CHRIS DE BURGH (LP Into The Light, 1986)

03. Sad Eyes - GRAHAM NASH (LP Innocent Eyes, 1986)

04. The Final Countdown - EUROPE (LP The Final Countdown, 1986)

05. Kisses In The Moonlight - GEORGE BENSON (LP While The City Sleeps, 1986)

06. A Matter Of Trust - BILLY JOEL (LP The Bridge, 1986)

07. American Storm - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND (LP Like A Rock, 1986)

08. I Wanna Wake Up With You - BORIS GARDINER (LP Everything To Me, 1986)

09. Camouflage - STAN RIDGWAY (LP The Big Heat, 1986)

10. Lessons In Love - LEVEL 42 (LP Running In The Family, 1986)

11. New York Eyes - NICOLE McCLOUD with TIMMY THOMAS (single 1986 / LP What About Me? 1985)

12. Spirit In The Sky - DOCTOR & THE MEDICS (LP Laughing At The Pieces, 1986)

13. Don't Leave Me This Way - COMMUNARDS with SARAH JANE MORRIS (LP Communards, 1986)

14. How Can You Say That It's Over - TEMPTATIONS (LP Truly For You, 1984)

15. Glory Of Love - PETER CETERA (LP Solitude/Solitaire, 1986 / OST The Karate Kid Part II, 1986)

16. Holding Back The Years - SIMPLY RED (LP Picture Book, 1985)

17. Killing Me Softly - ROBERTA FLACK (LP Killing Me Softly, 1973)

18. Where Did Your Heart Go? - WHAM! (LP Music From The Edge Of Heaven, 1986)

19. Secret Lovers - ATLANTIC STARR (LP As The Band Turns, 1985)

20. Stop Me From Starting This Feeling - LOU RAWLS (LP Love All Your Blues Away, 1986)

21. You Give Love A Bad Name - BON JOVI (LP Slippery When Wet, 1986)

22. Watch Your Step - ANITA BAKER (LP Rapture, 1986)

23. Two People - TINA TURNER (LP Break Every Rule, 1986)

24. I Miss You - KLYMAXX (LP Meeting In The Ladies Room, 1984)

25. Greatest Love Of All - WHITNEY HOUSTON (LP Whitney Houston, 1985)

26. Going Back To My Roots - RITCHIE HAVENS (LP Connections, 1980)

27. La Isla Bonita - MADONNA (LP True Blue, 1986)

28. Take My Breath Away - BERLIN (LP Count Three & Pray, 1986 / OST Top Gun, 1986)

29. Can't Stand It Any Longer - TOTO (LP Fahrenheit, 1986)

30. I'll Be Over You - TOTO (LP Fahrenheit, 1986)

31. The Other Side Of Life - THE MOODY BLUES (LP The Other Side Of Life, 1986)

32. In The Army Now - STATUS QUO (LP In The Army Now, 1986)

33. Typical Male - TINA TURNER (LP Break Every Rule, 1986)

34. On My Own - PATTI LaBELLE & MICHAEL McDONALD (LP Winner In You, 1986)

35. Midnight Lady - CHRIS NORMAN (LP Some Hearts Are  Diamonds, 1986 / OST Tatort: Der Tausch, 1986)

36. Heartbeat - DON JOHNSON (LP Heartbeat, 1986)

37. Hunting High & Low - A HA (LP Hunting High & Low, 1985)

38. Pleasure & Pain - STEVE JONES (OST Sid & Nancy, 1986 / LP Mercy, 1987)

39. Friends & Lovers - GLORIA LORING & CARL ANDERSON (LP Gloria Loring, 1986)

40. True Colors - CYNDI LAUPER (LP True Colors, 1986)

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)