RadiJohan Top 10 on 10 February 2024

TWLWArtistTitle
10NewDion ft. Danielle NicoleI Aim to Please
910Rolling StonesMess It Up
84D’Virgilio, Morse & JenningsTiny Little Fires
78Cassidy ParisDanger
67MagnumBlue Tango
59Liam Gallagher & John SquireJust Another Rainbow
45NitrateNeeds A Little Love
33Hugo’s VoyageA Friend Like You
22The Struts I Won’t Run
11Moon Safari Emma, Come On

Watch this week’s Top 10 by clicking the play button below.

The Tragic Loss of Del Shannon

On the 8th of February 1990 American singer and songwriter Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds. On the advice of his doctor, Shannon had begun taking the antidepressant Prozac on January 24. According to his widow, while testifying to the Food and Drug Administration in 1991 :

He was very much in charge of his business, but within days after he started taking Prozac I noticed a personality change in him. He developed severe insomnia, extreme fatigue, chills, racing heart, dry mouth, and upset stomach.” “Suicide was totally out of character for my husband. There was no note and no goodbye.”

Del Shannon scored the 1961 UK and US number 1 single “Runaway,” and many other Top 40 singles, including “The Wanderer.” In 1963 he became the first American to record a cover version of a song by the Beatles. His version of “From Me to You” charted in the US before The Beatles version did. Prior to his suicide he had been working with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne and was rumoured to be replacing Roy Orbison in the Traveling Wilburys.

In 1999 Del Shannon was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

A Polite F/U on RadiJohan.

“Foghat” are an English rock band formed in London in 1971. The band began back in 1971 when “Lonesome Dave Peverett” and Roger Earl decided to leave “Savoy Brown” to start a band of their own. Over the years, Foghat has earned eight Gold Records, one Platinum Record and one Double-Platinum record.

“I Don’t Appreciate You” is the third single from Foghat’s first new studio album in seven years, Sonic Mojo, which has already topped the “Billboard” Blues Albums chart this year. According to the band’s drummer and founding member, Roger Earl:

This song was written about the most obnoxious people in our lives, but in the most polite-ful way! And as our lead singer Scott Holt says when he announces the song onstage, ‘it is the most polite F/U song you will ever hear!’”

“I Don’t Appreciate You” by Foghat is new this week on Radijohan.

RadiJohan Top 10 on 03 February 2024

TWLWArtistTitle
10NewRolling StonesMess It Up
9NewLiam Gallagher & John SquireJust Another Rainbow
8NewCassidy ParisDanger
710MagnumBlue Tango
67Kimberly Perry Fool’s Gold
58NitrateNeeds A Little Love
41D’Virgilio, Morse & JenningsTiny Little Fires
35Hugo’s VoyageA Friend Like You
23The Struts I Won’t Run
12Moon Safari Emma, Come On

Watch this week’s Top 10 by clicking the play button below.

“Billy Joel Returns with Captivating New Single ‘Turn The Lights Back On'”

Billy Joel has unveiled his first new single in 17 years with yesterday’s release of “Turn The Lights Back On.” It’s a classic Billy Joel-style song that incorporates the hallmarks of Billy’s signature sound.

Billy Joel (75) is one of the most influential artists of all time and, arguably, a storyteller without comparison. He has sold over 160 million albums around the world, has garnered many awards during his career, including six Grammy awards (out of 23 nominations) and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Billy Joel’s new single “Turn The Lights Back On” is new this week on RadiJohan.

Silent Tiger Shows Potential with “Twist of Fate”

The band “Silent Tiger” was formed in 2018 by guitarist Jean Funes and drummer Joel Mejia from Honduras, along with American vocalist David Cagle. Their primary goal is to create melodic hard rock music. Influenced by bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Scorpions, Silent Tiger has set high standards.

Their debut album, “Ready For Attack,” was released in 2020, and they recently followed up with “Twist of Fate” in November 2023. While they may not have reached the level of their influences yet, “Twist of Fate” contains all the essential elements for fans of melodic rock music.

Silent Tiger’s single “Another Destination” is new this week on RadiJohan.

Dion Still Aims To Please

If you take an active interest in music, and weren’t born yesterday, 84 year old Dion should not need an introduction. Anticipation has been building for the release of his new album “Girl Friends” which is due out in March.

One of these girl friends in “Danielle Nicole” who used to be part of a band called “Trampled Under Foot” with her brothers, but she went solo in 2015. At RadiJohan we first encountered Danielle in 2018 when we featured the title track from her second album, “Cry No More.” Dion calls her “one of the greatest singers on the planet.”

Dion’s and Danielle’s duet “I Aim To Please” is taken from Dion’s forthcoming album and is new this week on RadiJohan.

RadiJohan Top 10 on 27 January 2024

TWLWArtistTitle
10NewMagnumBlue Tango
94The DryesTake Me Out
8NewNitrateNeeds A Little Love
79Kimberly Perry Fool’s Gold
63Exit Eden ft. Marko Hietala Run
58Hugo’s VoyageA Friend Like You
45Overpass Beautiful
36The Struts I Won’t Run
22Moon Safari Emma, Come On
11D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings Tiny Little Fires

Watch this week’s Top 10 by clicking the play button below.

Melanie Dies Aged 76

Singer-songwriter Melanie, who performed at Woodstock in 1969 and had big hits with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” in the early ’70’s, passed away peacefully Tuesday according to a statement on her Facebook page.

Melanie was one of only three female solo artists to perform at the original Woodstock festival in 1969 alongside Janis Joplin and Joan Baez and was helicoptered into the festival as a virtual unknown before she had any hits on the radio.

In 1970 “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” a gospel-flavored collaboration with the Edwin Hawkins Singers was Melanie’s first pop hit. It reached number 1 in The Netherlands and Canada, and number 6 on the USA Hot 100. Her biggest hit came the following year, when “Brand New Key,” which was taken as a sort of children’s tune by some and full of sexual innuendo by others, reached the top 10 in The Netherlands, Ireland and the UK, and number 1 in The USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Melanie’s other (minor) hits included “What Have They Done To My Song Ma,” “Nickel Song,” “Beautiful People” and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.”

By the mid-1970s Melanie’s popularity had waned, but she maintained a following and kept recording and playing live. She had recently been working on a new album of cover songs.

 

The Emergence of a New Supergroup?

Liam Gallagher (Oasis) and guitarist John Squire (The Stone Roses) have released a joint single called “Just Another Rainbow.” It’s the Manchester musicians’ first collaboration.

Gallagher and Squire have a history that dates back to 1988, when a 16-year-old Gallagher, accompanied by his older brother Noel, saw “The Stone Roses” play at a live music venue in Manchester. It was a “life-changing”experience for Liam which ultimately inspired him to join local band “the Rain,” which ultimately became “Oasis.”

Gallagher and Squire have indicated they are planning more for 2024. “Just Another Rainbow” is new this week on RadiJohan.