I used some of the lyrics on a scammer claiming their name was Aahlyiah... (how they spelled it was like sounding out the lyrics lol) As soon as they said that, this classic was in my head and it was on. LMAO
I am 60 and any time l hear something great that came out before 1985 l am ecstatic! It sure is fun isn't it? If you have never heard Girls by Dwight Twilley, you might dig it too...l was reminded of that because he died a few weeks ago. And depending on how much of a music nerd you are, the lead singer on "The Rapper" by The Jaggerz was a young Donnie Ierace. 😮
Unless you grew up in the 80's you couldn't possibly understand how FANTASTIC it was.... I was born in the perfect year, 1965...... my formative years had the most amazing music... the 70's and 80's.... I never thought I'd be old enough to say this, but the kids these days have no idea how good 'we' had it.... also, no cell phones..... cruising, radio blasting, friends, being OUTDOORS...... I had the best childhood/adolescence ever, thank you God.
It really was magical... back then, you didn't have 24/7 access to your favorite music so you really appreciated it when you heard your favorite song on the radio, or if it was on Don Kirshner's rock concert on Saturday night, etc.... nowadays, kids have full access to anything they want, any time of day, which makes then less appreciative of it all, I think...
I had almost forgotten about how great this song was. The Professor of Rock brought it back to my heart and playlist. If we could only go back to the 80’s. 💜
This song and Betty Davis eyes from Kim Carnes I remember so well from that time of the early 80s. Back when rock and contemporary music were real quality.
I first heard this song by Donnie Iris in July 1981 on an FM Rock station in Reno, Nevada when I was driving home to Chicago. I immediately stopped off at a Record store and bought the cassette. It’s 2024 and I’m still loving this tune! By the way, does anyone remember when we had FM Album Rock Stations and Record Stores selling vinyl records and cassettes?
I named my beautiful girl after this song. She passed away just before her 18th birthday. Everytime i hear this song it takes me back to a happier time 💓 Rest In Peace my sweet baby girl.
Donnie rocks!! Still!! A simple song to describe his insatiable love for her!! AND HE HITS THOSE HIGH NOTES!!!!!! MOST EXCELLENT!! MY band BEAUTY AND THE AUSSIE BEATS covers this song and I hit the high but Donnie does it best!! I love you man and love your rocking way!
I remember the first time I heard this song.. 1980, riding down some wooded, winding road on a Harley Davidson full dresser, blaring this song.. I was 18.. I'm 61 now, and it always takes me back to that warm summer evening..
Got that right. Will groups like the Stones, Who, Journey, Sir Paul McCartney, Van Halen, KISS, Aerosmith, Doobie Brothers and all the others ever have equals? Many are still touring. So many boy bands, other groups have come and gone. Who will remember them 25 years from now?
This is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Even by today's standards, the mastering is exquisite. I am 59 years of age, and I have to agree with Ms. Starks. I wouldn't trade the music and great times I've grown up with for anything in the world.
How many times while driving did listening to this song give you an exhilarating feeling causing you to smoke the tires, get crossed up sideways drift around a corner, or simply just floor it on a straight away? That's the kind of stuff I think about when I listen to it.
Musically, Donnie was obviously gifted. Unfortunately he was anti-telegenic. That, in my view, is the primary reason why his career fizzled before it had a chance to really start. If he had been a Tom Cruise look-alike, he would likely have sold one platinum record after another after another.
Not sure what you mean by anti- telegenic. He's not a bad looking guy, he was well dressed and presentable...he's not 300 pounds. Just curious why you believe that...
I have never heard this song or of Donnie Iris before tonight. I was shopping in Woolies and this incredible hook over the radio stopped me dead in the aisle. I shazamed it and my life changed. How tf have I slept on this track? I'm from that era!! EDIT: the reason this has me so stumped is that not only am I an avid music lover, I collect vinyl and some of my faves to collect are rock and pop compilations from the 80s and 90s. Not a single one of my records (I've been collecting solidly for about 26 years now) has this track or any Donnie Iris track. It's like a glitch in the Matrix. They changed something. They added Donnie Iris to our reality. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did, but this is a crazy head trip.
Same! Just happened to me today. I was born in 86’ but grew up on 80’s rock and I’ve heard this song back when I was a kid so when I heard it again I googled what I thought the lyrics were in order to find this song. Just bought it on iTunes!!!
SAME!! i am listening b watching 👀 this based ass song n video 4 the very FIRST TIME and am absolutely BLOWN AWAY-- and I 2 am from the same era!!!! this will be on repeat from now on FO SHO!!!
+Cindy Wedel That was the good ol' days! Can't find record stores anymore....or CD stores for that matter. Those days were so simple and really good times! :) 80's music kicked ass!
the most amazing thing to me is how experimental he was. he was a member of jaggerz in 1970 "the rapper" was their big hit. he was a member of wild cherry in 1975. their big hit was "play that funky music white boy." then in 1980 he comes up with donnie and the cruisers "ah leah." what a broad range. what a great talent! and he was still touring in 2015 at age 73 and still had the voice and owned the stage. we love you donnie.
I'm going to be 57 in a few weeks and 80's songs will never be bettered, this particular song for some reason has always made me feel that pure adventure is about to happen on the perfect summer day, better than the last. I'm now disabled and would fall off of a foot propelled scooter, but feel the urge to go hop on a BMX bike and do some gnarly tricks ^5
Not the majority. You just forget all the crap back then. There certainly was a ton of great music back then, but, let's get real. There was definitely no higher percentage of great music back then than any other decade. Tons of shit.
Working at the door at Outlaws night club in Vancouver in the early 80's and when this one came on .. no room left on the dance floor .. awesome memories
THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD OF A LOW BUDGET ROCK SONG AS I'VE EVER HEARD ...LOVED IT SINCE THE DAY I HEARD IT ...I'M 57 SO THAT'S SAYING ALOT ...THIS SONG AND RECORDING IS MAGICAL . DONNY IS A GREAT SINGER . AND THE VOCAL OVER DUBS ARE SPECTACULAR ....
This song is special to me. Growing up I remember being upset because my name wasn't common enough to be in any songs, and with my sister being named Sarah, the most popular name at the time, I felt unspecial. My dad showed me this song and I fell in love with it. On top of it being about a girl named Leah, its also a really awesome song. It feels like a badass intro for me lol. To all the Leah's out there, this is our athem😎
I used to give my girl Leah a ride to school every day in my 74' Monte Carlo at the time this song came out. It was truly synchronicity for us. Those were the days. Lots of good memories. I miss every minute of it.
1980's by far had the best bands and songs of any decade. Soooo glad I got to experience it as it happened. Even back then we loved the music coming out. All the super bands were at their peak, Van Halen, Rush, Journey, Styx, Boston, Asia, David Bowie, Dire Straights, heart, Lover boy, Pat Benatar, The policeREM, 38 Special, Tom petty, ZZ Top and on and on and on. Such great memories!
I grew up in the 80's outside Philly and I don't ever remember hearing this song once. 40 years later I wet to Lancaster and sitting in a parking lot listening to 93.5 this came on. This song defines infectious. I wake up in the middle of the night.. ah Leah ...all day..can't believe I never heard it..I've played it at least 7 times today...masterpiece
Ran into looking for another song. Played 5 times in a row wife's pissed woke her up. Can't write or perform songs like this today. God bless the 1 hit wonders. Uh oh now I'm feeling frisky.
MY MOST FAVORITE SONG EVER IN MY LIFE. I'm 59 now and remember when it came out. i could listen to this song on a 4 hour loop every day. Miss it so much, rest in peace 1980's. We will always remember you fondly.
One of my all time favorites, they played this song at the Omni before every concert in Atlanta. I"m 57 years old now, brings back visions of my youth, and this song cranked up. I love it!!!!!
Pittsburgh’s own Donnie Iris.. This Pittsburgh girl grew up on this song, Love is like a Rock and Do You Compute.. Loved it in the early 80’s and still listen to it now in 2020...
I heard this song on a local radio station about 14 years ago. I absolutely loved it and never found out who sang it. I heard it again about 6 years ago at about 75% of the song had already played and still didn't know who sang it. Well, October 5. 2022 I was at a pet store with my son and I thought I heard that Chorus Ah Leah. I ran to be near a speaker and I was excited that it was THAT elusive song. I listened to see what radio station played it, Google their play list and then looked it up by title on TH-cam. It was there that I was introduced to Donnie Iris. I have listened to this song so much since Wednesday. Run Riot by Def Leppard was my all time favorite song ever. On October 5th, 2022 it was relegated to 2nd by Ah! Leah! by Donnie Iris. I just can't stop listening to it. I grew up in the 80's and never heard this song before. I love it!!! Thank you Donnie Iris!!!!
..lol. ..Congrats on The Great Find ! 💎 Remember, you can always Google the main lyric portion of a song to discover it, also. 😉 ..and don't sleep on Donnie's "other" big rocker "Love Is Like a Rock"(1981) ! 👍👍 ... Enjoy the music !! 🤘 🍻
The first time I heard this song, I was driving to work. I had to pull off the road and blast it until it was over. Then the DJ didn't back announce and I was glued to that radio for weeks before they played it again. Ah, the good old days!!
52 here. I just blasted this song on repeat all the way to work just this morning in my dodge charger. One hand of the wheel and the other on the shifter.
Brings back alot of Great Memories. I graduated 🎓 in1980. Saw this on Hair Band on FB, don't think I'd call it a Hair Band. Decades have come and gone in my life span. But, the memories will always be! 💋 "Keep Rocking" What a Classic
Donny Iris was a guest speaker at my high school economics class. It turns out he invested in real estate and is one of Pittsburgh's big developers. And I got bonus points for knowing who The Jaggerz were.
Professor of Rock (more like professor of Adult Contemporary) just ripped off your comment th-cam.com/video/89gjEV3u83w/w-d-xo.html It's not enough that he has to present the song by making up a story of his childhood that clearly never happened, he has also has to steal comments.
@@milkcarton6654 i just watched his video on this song and it's literally what he said. I couldn't believe that he stealed that comment, really poor move.
@@milkcarton6654 I guess I should claim my part of the millions he earns through his 'telling long winded personal anecdotes about old pop songs' empire.
I'm one of those people, but it didn't set me straight. This might just be one of the worst videos ever made. The song itself is a bit derivative and steals from several other artists, although it's not offensive and is, in fact, fun. But nope, not convinced.
Nowadays, there just aren't any great written songs like this anymore. We have a timeless masterpiece here by Donnie Iris, that pretty much soared really high in the rock music charts back in 1980 and possibly 1981. It just shows you how special this great jam really is. I never get tired of listening to this tune. It kicks things up a notch!!!! Miss the '80s!!!!
He's trying to say there were lots of great song sin the early eighties and Drew is full of shit, at least that's how I read it , and t would be true .
I could agree with you but then we'd both be wrong. Sure, there were a load of excellent songs from the early 1980s (notice, I did qualify it with "early '80s") but nevertheless, this indeed is one of the better ones. Of course there were other great ones as well, undoubtedly.
Yes. I contend that 1981 was the last year of the universally good music. After that, the sucky stuff quickly took over. By 1983 music was unrecognizably bad. The worst of that decade passed by 87 or so. Things turned around until the early 2000s. It hasn't been the same since.
Doug in San Diego The general definition of One Hit Wonder in the US is making the Top 40 of the Hot 100 only once. Ah Leah definitely qualifies.... Jessie's Girl, not so much since Mr. Springthorpe had 5 Top 10s on the Hot 100. He had 17 Top 40 hits... Jessie's Girl wasn't even his first, he had a hit in 1971 with Speak to the Sky off his first album. It hit 14. Corey Hart had 7 Top 40 hits the US as well.
Doug in San Diego Yeah, Springfield was originally a musician. His manager wanted to expand into acting. Gotta admit, it worked. I had to look up some of those stats, but I knew RS had at least 4 hits (Jessie's Girl, I've Done Everything for You (a cover of a Sammy Hagar song)- Both off Working Class Dog, Don't Talk to Strangers and Affair of the Heart. All Top 10s). For Corey Hart, I didn't know all those hits but I certainly remember Never Surrender in addition to Sunglasses. Turns out Never Surrender made it higher on the US Charts than Sunglasses. An interesting side note, strictly speaking Jimi Hendrix is a One Hit Wonder. All Along the Watchtower went to 20 in 1968. The Grateful Dead could also be added to your list as their one and only Top 40 hit, Touch of Grey, went to #9 in 1987.
Joseph Dungee Who didn't! Right!!!! Today, I heard it on the radio for the 1st time in years and I was curious as to what the guy looked like who sang it...Wow, not what I was expecting. He looks more like a computer nerd (nothing wrong with that, I kind of lean in the nerdy camp myself!) when I was expecting more long haired rocker...that's what I get for stereotyping. Shame on me :) Anyhow, I replied to your comment because it summed my experience up so well!
Amazing song. Love the vocals. God, I miss the 80s. What a decade in which to come of age. The music, the general attitude, the sex, the parties, the concerts...INCREDIBLE.
When a dude who looks like everyone's dorky cousin at someone's Bar Mitzvah lets loose one of rock's most powerful primal screams ever: WHAAAAAAA LEAAAAAAHHH! WE'RE NEVER GONNA MAAAAKE IT, YEAAAAHHHH!!
Just saw a video of him performing for his 80th birthday!! He looks & still sounds amazing at 80!!! Rock on Donny Iris!! Thanks for the great music & happy birthday!!
Loved this song so much, I named my daughter 'Aleah' in May of '83. She even had the DJ play this song at her wedding 8 years ago. Blew the mind of some of the guests. CLASSIC!
This song is so good that I was really surprised when he didn't have another mega-hit. Love the guitar tone during the solo; one of the best tones I've ever heard.
He had another hit "LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK." It was not as good (but pretty good, fantastic lyrics) but did well on the charts. He had more hits before he became a solo artist. I looked up his net worth. 3.2 million. Some a****** took him to court and tried to sue him and the other writer of this song. The person suing did not win but still Donnie Iris and his writing buddy lost 120, 000 in royalties because they had a lot of lawyer fees. Found that on Quora.
@@liveyouryoga Thanks for posting this. I listened to that other song and it did sound vaguely familiar. I may have heard it on the radio back in the day. I read somewhere that he was involved with Wild Cherry ("Play that Funky Music") at some point as well. Figures the lawyers would be the only ones who came out on top! 🤣
One of the most underrated Rock and Roll songs ever! Her creates incredible tension in this song and then there's that voice! It's an allll-ttime classic! Thank you Donnie Iris!
@Ginger Bread I like the internet too, but only to a point. I simply cannot spend any more than two hours looking things up. Any more time than that and I am simply wasting time I could be doing something useful with, so I agree with you.
This legendary song was recorded and released in 1980 and still rocks in 2024/2025.
Anyone here agree? 🙂
Yes I do.
Was. Class of. 1980
I travel to western PA every winter from the East Coast just to see this guy perform. At age 76 he stills has those magic pipes!
Russell Lapiad Las Vegas definitely agrees
I'd say it passed the test of time and then some
44 years later and I still get goosebumps when I hear Ah Leah ❤😂 never got tired of Donnie Iris,,Rock on Donnie 😅🎉
His song Agnes is really good too
Me either. I have seen him several times and it’s always great!
I used some of the lyrics on a scammer claiming their name was Aahlyiah... (how they spelled it was like sounding out the lyrics lol) As soon as they said that, this classic was in my head and it was on. LMAO
@ well played Sir
Right here in 24
He's Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello and Eugene Levy all rolled together into one incredible package.
LOL😂
😆😂 you win the internet
I wonder if he scored with her with those teeth
Lol, well put.
Don’t forget David Bowie and David Byrne.
Sad to say this is the first time listening to this. I am 81 years old and love it, love it, LOVE IT!
I am 60 and any time l hear something great that came out before 1985 l am ecstatic! It sure is fun isn't it?
If you have never heard Girls by Dwight Twilley, you might dig it too...l was reminded of that because he died a few weeks ago.
And depending on how much of a music nerd you are, the lead singer on "The Rapper" by The Jaggerz was a young Donnie Ierace. 😮
Keep listening friend. Never too old for Donnie.
You rock Martin !
You inspire me Martin…
Love you for that brother❤ Donnie fucking rocked.Pitsburgs most hidden weapon
Unless you grew up in the 80's you couldn't possibly understand how FANTASTIC it was.... I was born in the perfect year, 1965...... my formative years had the most amazing music... the 70's and 80's.... I never thought I'd be old enough to say this, but the kids these days have no idea how good 'we' had it.... also, no cell phones..... cruising, radio blasting, friends, being OUTDOORS...... I had the best childhood/adolescence ever, thank you God.
Nailed it. Throw in my time in so-cal between 84 and 89 and it was magical.
It really was magical... back then, you didn't have 24/7 access to your favorite music so you really appreciated it when you heard your favorite song on the radio, or if it was on Don Kirshner's rock concert on Saturday night, etc.... nowadays, kids have full access to anything they want, any time of day, which makes then less appreciative of it all, I think...
Karen Stark- well said! I was born in 1967 and completely relate. Such fun times and great music!!
Mista Bones- true, but I'm always surprised how many songs from our era ('70s & '80s) were actually covers, as well.
Karen Starks Right On, me to!!!
I had almost forgotten about how great this song was. The Professor of Rock brought it back to my heart and playlist. If we could only go back to the 80’s. 💜
Never heard of it until the Professor played it 😬 great song
That's why I catch every episode. Love that guy
That's where I saw it, never knew what the singer looked like before
@@CAC63 same here😁
Oui
I don't always listen to Donnie Iris, but when I do... so do the neighbors
My neighbors also
🤣👍 i love it lol
Plagiarism at its finest
Haha right!!!!
Stella Artois
This song and Betty Davis eyes from Kim Carnes I remember so well from that time of the early 80s. Back when rock and contemporary music were real quality.
Haha, I had the 45 record single of Betty Davis Eyes and must've driven my mom nuts with how many times I played it 😆
This 60 year old grandpa still thinks this tune rocks! Memories of it blasting through the speakers of my Z-28 in the 80’s.
Like on the Z-28....!
👍✌
Its weird that a kid with a Z in the '80s would be 60 today; it somehow doesn't compute!! lol
@@nowitsabadtime Time flies when you're having fun. What can I say? I was a child when I first heard this song.
Me too...in the trans am....alpine stereo
@@bobbygzzz7116 me too except pioneer super tuner cassette lol
I never get tired of this song. It's got ALL the components of rock masterpiece!
I make no apologies for knowing I could listen to this song every day and never get tired of it
Ikr! This song hit hard..
One of the great original alt rock songs, on a great album!
I just listened to it five times today!
And frankly Scarlett, I'm sure you don't give a damn, anyways ☮️ gf
I just about do.
I first heard this song by Donnie Iris in July 1981 on an FM Rock station in Reno, Nevada when I was driving home to Chicago. I immediately stopped off at a Record store and bought the cassette. It’s 2024 and I’m still loving this tune! By the way, does anyone remember when we had FM Album Rock Stations and Record Stores selling vinyl records and cassettes?
Born 69’ damn right I remember and so does Pepperidge Farm.👍😆
I named my beautiful girl after this song. She passed away just before her 18th birthday. Everytime i hear this song it takes me back to a happier time 💓 Rest In Peace my sweet baby girl.
I am so very sorry. :(
Dude. As a father myself, I can't even begin to conceive the pain you are facing. No parent should ever have to bury their child.
Leah is a beautiful name. I feel so sad for you. God bless you.
So sorry. So sad. If you don’t already know Jesus, ask him to save you and he will!!!
God bless you !!!
In my humble opinion.....one of the greatest rock 'n roll songs ever.
Absolutely love the fact that you have been a rock fan grade A
Donnie rocks!! Still!! A simple song to describe his insatiable love for her!! AND HE HITS THOSE HIGH NOTES!!!!!! MOST EXCELLENT!! MY band BEAUTY AND THE AUSSIE BEATS covers this song and I hit the high but Donnie does it best!! I love you man and love your rocking way!
It's up there, no doubt.
💯 this song gives all the feels deep down
@@Robinson67 👍💯😉
I'll be 53 soon. I must have listened to about 53,000 songs in my life. This one has been in my top ten since 1980.
I remember the first time I heard this song.. 1980, riding down some wooded, winding road on a Harley Davidson full dresser, blaring this song.. I was 18.. I'm 61 now, and it always takes me back to that warm summer evening..
Man, I miss the 80's! They don't write songs like this anymore. This song brings back so many good memories.
The 50s through the 80s were good. After that? Not so much.
Got that right. Will groups like the Stones, Who, Journey, Sir Paul McCartney, Van Halen, KISS, Aerosmith, Doobie Brothers and all the others ever have equals? Many are still touring. So many boy bands, other groups have come and gone. Who will remember them 25 years from now?
I totally agree :)
Like Greg Kihn said, they don't write 'em like that anymore!
The 20s through the 40s are great too!
This is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Even by today's standards, the mastering is exquisite. I am 59 years of age, and I have to agree with Ms. Starks. I wouldn't trade the music and great times I've grown up with for anything in the world.
You ROCK 👊
Many don't understand how well this song was compiled and mastered. You're 100% right
But... the CHAZ? This is a new Golden Age.
The mastering is tremendous....just fires right out of your speakers.
I agree! I still have this album, in cassette!!
My wife's name is Leah, and I've never heard this song, though I grew up in the 80's. Excited to see how she reacts to it.
how did she?
1986. I had 85 iroc z28 ..blasting this song over & over. 😅
That ride must have good friends, good brewski and good babes in it a lot.
Listening to Ah Leah now,, I'm 70 yrs old and I still love Donnie Iris
I listened also but had 84 mustang gt. Good times
How many times while driving did listening to this song give you an exhilarating feeling causing you to smoke the tires, get crossed up sideways drift around a corner, or simply just floor it on a straight away? That's the kind of stuff I think about when I listen to it.
Oh my god! That is such a great visual! Thank you kind sir for that mental image! I will sleep well tonight!
My dad named me after this song, I’m so proud 🤗🥰🥰🥰
He forgot the H.
Judging from my magnifying glass your parents knew what they were doing .
Ah Leah ☮️
Perfect fit..
@@daves4645 🤣🤣🤣 my thoughts exactly
This song SO freaking rocks on every level. Never tire of it.
Agree!
Does know when you left this response but I am with you...I am guessing that maybe you enjoyed Lunatic Fringe by Red Ryder. Rock on friend!!
Don't not does..damn spell check....
I totally agree it JAMS!!
It's almost as good as the she's my cherry pie song by warrant lol
My hearing loss is related to songs like this one, no apologies or regrets.
Mine too...no doubt about it.
Lol that's funny
I have no Regerts either.
Risk reward
This song didn't sound like I remembered it because of my hearing loss. But I still enjoyed "hearing" it again
Let's just all agree that Donnie's screams at the end kick serious ass!
..extreme "FAN" of said screams ! 🤚😱🤘 2:49 3:23
Musically, Donnie was obviously gifted. Unfortunately he was anti-telegenic. That, in my view, is the primary reason why his career fizzled before it had a chance to really start. If he had been a Tom Cruise look-alike, he would likely have sold one platinum record after another after another.
Not sure what you mean by anti- telegenic. He's not a bad looking guy, he was well dressed and presentable...he's not 300 pounds. Just curious why you believe that...
Donnie Freakin Rocks🤘🏻
It's up there with Phil Anselmo from Pantera.
I have never heard this song or of Donnie Iris before tonight. I was shopping in Woolies and this incredible hook over the radio stopped me dead in the aisle. I shazamed it and my life changed. How tf have I slept on this track? I'm from that era!!
EDIT: the reason this has me so stumped is that not only am I an avid music lover, I collect vinyl and some of my faves to collect are rock and pop compilations from the 80s and 90s. Not a single one of my records (I've been collecting solidly for about 26 years now) has this track or any Donnie Iris track.
It's like a glitch in the Matrix. They changed something. They added Donnie Iris to our reality. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did, but this is a crazy head trip.
same but i heard it on the radio and im not from that era LoL. but i got home and was like i need to find this immediately
Same here. I have all sorts of obscure 80's stuff and somehow had never heard this. I love it!
I'd have to wonder that myself.😉 Great riffs that still sound great today!!
Same! Just happened to me today. I was born in 86’ but grew up on 80’s rock and I’ve heard this song back when I was a kid so when I heard it again I googled what I thought the lyrics were in order to find this song. Just bought it on iTunes!!!
SAME!! i am listening b watching 👀 this based ass song n video 4 the very FIRST TIME and am absolutely BLOWN AWAY-- and I 2 am from the same era!!!! this will be on repeat from now on FO SHO!!!
Donnie iris is 75 now....how old do you feel?? Me? As young as the first time I heard this awesome song....
Donnie & I share the same birthday, although he is 17 years older. You're right.... awesome song.
Yeah I feel that way too.
76
@@traciseibert4532 Im 59 feel 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
50 here, just finished setting up my new barncaster Tele and I think I'll play me some Donnie Iris riffs
He's doing ALL of the vocal tracks!!! Dude could SING!
Still can!
I was born in July of 1996 and I never knew what year this song came out. This song definitely crosses the decades effortlessly!
You missed all the great music. But it’s still out there waiting for you to discover it.
My 1st apartment and no T.V., played this song all the time for my parakeet. That bird would sing..."Ah Leah"! Such a nice memory for me.
+Cindy Wedel
That was the good ol' days! Can't find record stores anymore....or CD stores for that matter. Those days were so simple and really good times! :) 80's music kicked ass!
+Andy Peterson I have this on vinyl. :)
Cindy Wedel
That is cool, Cindy! I wish I still had my vinyl records. Rock on sister!
Same here I still love Donnie Iris and Ah Leah 😍😍😍😍
Ive met Donnie in local Pittsburgh several times. Always a warm gent and rocks at 75 like nobody I know. Seriously can out do most 20 yr olds on stage
......seventy-NINE as of February 2022.....
Really nice guy from what I've heard.
Is it me or does he look like a rust belt Buddy Holly lol
the most amazing thing to me is how experimental he was. he was a member of jaggerz in 1970 "the rapper" was their big hit. he was a member of wild cherry in 1975. their big hit was "play that funky music white boy." then in 1980 he comes up with donnie and the cruisers "ah leah." what a broad range. what a great talent! and he was still touring in 2015 at age 73 and still had the voice and owned the stage. we love you donnie.
ALL TRUE ! ... KUDOS !! 👍😀👍
he still performs to this day. He just celebrated his 80th here in pittsburgh
omg i loved‘the rapper’! i think it came out when i was in 6th grade
@@sonus289 Pittsburgh!!!
Oh wow! Really! Cool
The harmonies and background singing is amazing, as well as the crazy guitar. I'm an elder and I still LOVE it!
Definitely. That's what makes this song. 👍
Layering. Beautiful. 10cc’s - I’m Not In Love is the perfect example of how track layering can completely change/make a track.
The early years of MTV will forever be the best years of MTV!
Fun fact: This guy sang all the parts of this song himself. This song is made up of 16 separate tracks laid on top of each other. Amazing!
Curtis Canak awesome info!
Actually it's 60, not 16.
Curtis Canak If you think that's cool, check out 10cc's "I'm Not in Love."
Curtis Canak that’s awesome. Thanks for that.
Curtis Canak DID NOT KNOW THAT...VERY INTERESTING..THANK YOU!!!😁😊😎
I just heard this on Sirius 8 -80's Rock. Fantastic song and I remembered almost every word.
Well, at 78 Donnie's still with us. Good news! And this classic tune continues to rock us perfectly in these uncertain times. Thanks, Donnie!
I'm going to be 57 in a few weeks and 80's songs will never be bettered, this particular song for some reason has always made me feel that pure adventure is about to happen on the perfect summer day, better than the last. I'm now disabled and would fall off of a foot propelled scooter, but feel the urge to go hop on a BMX bike and do some gnarly tricks ^5
Fun fact: The majority of 80’s music holds up really well to this day. Prophecy has it they’re going to become timeless for future generations
Not the majority. You just forget all the crap back then. There certainly was a ton of great music back then, but, let's get real. There was definitely no higher percentage of great music back then than any other decade. Tons of shit.
@@alukuhito you might have a point but the 80’s was the golden age for music no two ways about it
@@ianfortuna9385 No, it wasn't, Ian.
@@alukuhito it was
@@alukuhito you’re dismissed
I love how he reaches deep with his raspy gravelly voice and lets it fly. Not a single artist in the last 25 years can touch this guy .
And those harmony hooks in the verses... Not to mention the chorus which is just stupidly good 80s production earworm stuff. And from 1980 even?!
I thought you were exaggerating, but he shows some range at the end, he should've done some metal singing. no joke.
This guy could scream those high notes! What a voice! Like the gentleman said before me, this song still rocks and holds up today in 2020! Incredible!
Once it was all said and done and the dust settled, this song wound up being one of the ten best songs of the '80s
John Son people can knock the video all they want but the song does kick ass especially turned it full blast
John Son i agree fully Good point
Working at the door at Outlaws night club in Vancouver in the early 80's and when this one came on .. no room left on the dance
floor .. awesome memories
THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD OF A LOW BUDGET ROCK SONG AS I'VE EVER HEARD ...LOVED IT SINCE THE DAY I HEARD IT ...I'M 57 SO THAT'S SAYING ALOT ...THIS SONG AND RECORDING IS MAGICAL . DONNY IS A GREAT SINGER . AND THE VOCAL OVER DUBS ARE SPECTACULAR ....
This song is special to me. Growing up I remember being upset because my name wasn't common enough to be in any songs, and with my sister being named Sarah, the most popular name at the time, I felt unspecial. My dad showed me this song and I fell in love with it. On top of it being about a girl named Leah, its also a really awesome song. It feels like a badass intro for me lol. To all the Leah's out there, this is our athem😎
ROCK ANTHEM for all the Leah's out there! Every Leah I ever met was such a super cool chick. That is no shit.
@@bikeracer6045 ...FACTS !! 🤘 🍻 😉
You go Leah!
You should use it as your slow-mo walk-in song.
@@chrisnicholson3231 That is a fantastic suggestion. 👍👍👍👍
He just turned 80 and put on an amazing show last night!
ahh, the amazing 80's. Music was great, such a variety, I wished I could go back
+Red Clark Way better than any of the totAl shit put out nowdays..
Had the privilege of meeting Mr Iris in person back in the late 80's !
I used to give my girl Leah a ride to school every day in my 74' Monte Carlo at the time this song came out. It was truly synchronicity for us. Those were the days. Lots of good memories. I miss every minute of it.
This tune is extremely unique and is Timeless. I have never heard a song that can stand out quite like this one. It's Excellent !! It's a 10
The heavily layered vocals make this one of the most melodic songs in rock.
I'd completely forgotten this song. Glad it popped up in my feed. Nerd rock FTW.
One of my top 10 songs ever. I was born on this day in 1963. 1st song I wanted to hear on my birthday. The 80's were awesome!
1980's by far had the best bands and songs of any decade. Soooo glad I got to experience it as it happened. Even back then we loved the music coming out. All the super bands were at their peak, Van Halen, Rush, Journey, Styx, Boston, Asia, David Bowie, Dire Straights, heart, Lover boy, Pat Benatar, The policeREM, 38 Special, Tom petty, ZZ Top and on and on and on. Such great memories!
I think the best music was from 1975 to 1985.
I grew up in the 80's outside Philly and I don't ever remember hearing this song once. 40 years later I wet to Lancaster and sitting in a parking lot listening to 93.5 this came on. This song defines infectious. I wake up in the middle of the night.. ah Leah ...all day..can't believe I never heard it..I've played it at least 7 times today...masterpiece
This is one one those songs I have to listen to every few months. It's as perfect a radio/rock song as you're ever going to hear.
BRINGS BACK MEMORIES
Captures the agony of teenage passion better than any other song I’ve ever heard
Ok I’m game let’s go back to the 80’s and really cherish every moment this time.
And take out that little nerd, Bill something
I agree,back in the 80's you heard the whole song without these extremely annoying advertisements,yo!!
Why?
We ain't left yet?
Ran into looking for another song. Played 5 times in a row wife's pissed woke her up. Can't write or perform songs like this today. God bless the 1 hit wonders. Uh oh now I'm feeling frisky.
MY MOST FAVORITE SONG EVER IN MY LIFE. I'm 59 now and remember when it came out. i could listen to this song on a 4 hour loop every day. Miss it so much, rest in peace 1980's. We will always remember you fondly.
..RESPECT !! 🤘 🎸
1980's one time decade one of kind time never to be matched again thank GOD I grew up in that time.
And drove a Big Wheel I might add.
One of my all time favorites, they played this song at the Omni before every concert in Atlanta. I"m 57 years old now, brings back visions of my youth, and this song cranked up. I love it!!!!!
Love it! It's just as good as it was way back!
Pittsburgh’s own Donnie Iris.. This Pittsburgh girl grew up on this song, Love is like a Rock and Do You Compute.. Loved it in the early 80’s and still listen to it now in 2020...
I heard this song on a local radio station about 14 years ago. I absolutely loved it and never found out who sang it. I heard it again about 6 years ago at about 75% of the song had already played and still didn't know who sang it. Well, October 5. 2022 I was at a pet store with my son and I thought I heard that Chorus Ah Leah. I ran to be near a speaker and I was excited that it was THAT elusive song. I listened to see what radio station played it, Google their play list and then looked it up by title on TH-cam. It was there that I was introduced to Donnie Iris. I have listened to this song so much since Wednesday. Run Riot by Def Leppard was my all time favorite song ever. On October 5th, 2022 it was relegated to 2nd by Ah! Leah! by Donnie Iris. I just can't stop listening to it. I grew up in the 80's and never heard this song before. I love it!!! Thank you Donnie Iris!!!!
..lol. ..Congrats on The Great Find ! 💎 Remember, you can always Google the main lyric portion of a song to discover it, also. 😉 ..and don't sleep on Donnie's "other" big rocker "Love Is Like a Rock"(1981) ! 👍👍 ... Enjoy the music !! 🤘 🍻
It was always elusive even when it was released.
@@vikkiflaig4735Must be something to do with geographic area. Here in the Pacific Northwest, this got TONS of air time back in the day!
I always thought this Was a Def Leppard song..
The first time I heard this song, I was driving to work. I had to pull off the road and blast it until it was over. Then the DJ didn't back announce and I was glued to that radio for weeks before they played it again. Ah, the good old days!!
MsCalamityJanie that’s a great story!
Dude I hate when they would do that drove me nuts, but TH-cam got us hooked 😊
52 here. I just blasted this song on repeat all the way to work just this morning in my dodge charger. One hand of the wheel and the other on the shifter.
Brings back alot of Great Memories. I graduated 🎓 in1980. Saw this on Hair Band on FB, don't think I'd call it a Hair Band. Decades have come and gone in my life span. But, the memories will always be! 💋 "Keep Rocking" What a Classic
..1979, here. ✅️ ... # Born At EXACTLY The Right Time ! 🤘 🙏 🍻
This is the first time I've heard this gem of a song in 40 years. Thanx for the memories!!!💁🏾♀️🙌🏾
I get goosebumps listening to this song. It says a lot about how powerful music is that it can actually have a physical effect on you.
Perfectly put. I actually get a weird feeling in my stomach (butterflies??) with certain songs. This is one of them!!
I absolutely agree with you.
Absolutely. I've heard this song a million times since it was originally released, and it still gives me that feeling...
Donny Iris was a guest speaker at my high school economics class. It turns out he invested in real estate and is one of Pittsburgh's big developers. And I got bonus points for knowing who The Jaggerz were.
Donnie Iris is like Eugene Levy doing a David Byrne impression.
Professor of Rock (more like professor of Adult Contemporary) just ripped off your comment
th-cam.com/video/89gjEV3u83w/w-d-xo.html
It's not enough that he has to present the song by making up a story of his childhood that clearly never happened, he has also has to steal comments.
@@milkcarton6654 i just watched his video on this song and it's literally what he said. I couldn't believe that he stealed that comment, really poor move.
@@milkcarton6654 I guess I should claim my part of the millions he earns through his 'telling long winded personal anecdotes about old pop songs' empire.
Theres a bit of ric ocasek in there. Oh and buddy holly in effigy.
That is so funny and so true😅😁😁😁
This is the bomb!! How I long for those days! I would go back to the 70's and 80's any time!!
Love this base line! I really thought this was a current band retro release. How can you not love this song!
I've forgotten all about this song... haven't heard it in decades..
Thank you Professor for reminding me.
Wow this is one powerful song! A lot of people I've met have never even heard of Donnie Iris, but hearing this will set them straight.
I'm one of those people, but it didn't set me straight. This might just be one of the worst videos ever made. The song itself is a bit derivative and steals from several other artists, although it's not offensive and is, in fact, fun. But nope, not convinced.
Man, I have always loved this song. It is timeless, and always rocked in the best hard way.
God, what a beautiful, honest song.
69th like on your comment 😉
Nowadays, there just aren't any great written songs like this anymore. We have a timeless masterpiece here by Donnie Iris, that pretty much soared really high in the rock music charts back in 1980 and possibly 1981. It just shows you how special this great jam really is. I never get tired of listening to this tune. It kicks things up a notch!!!! Miss the '80s!!!!
One of the better songs of the early 80s. Dynamite hook.
yup
what you trying to say Chris r ?
He's trying to say there were lots of great song sin the early eighties and Drew is full of shit, at least that's how I read it , and t would be true .
I could agree with you but then we'd both be wrong.
Sure, there were a load of excellent songs from the early 1980s (notice, I did qualify it with "early '80s") but nevertheless, this indeed is one of the better ones. Of course there were other great ones as well, undoubtedly.
Yes. I contend that 1981 was the last year of the universally good music. After that, the sucky stuff quickly took over. By 1983 music was unrecognizably bad. The worst of that decade passed by 87 or so. Things turned around until the early 2000s. It hasn't been the same since.
THE One-Hit wonder of the 80's Donnie Iris' "Ah Leah"
I played this song TO DEATH back then!!
Joseph Dungee Love is Like a Rock. Also by Donnie Iris so technically not a one hit wonder.
Doug in San Diego The general definition of One Hit Wonder in the US is making the Top 40 of the Hot 100 only once. Ah Leah definitely qualifies.... Jessie's Girl, not so much since Mr. Springthorpe had 5 Top 10s on the Hot 100. He had 17 Top 40 hits... Jessie's Girl wasn't even his first, he had a hit in 1971 with Speak to the Sky off his first album. It hit 14.
Corey Hart had 7 Top 40 hits the US as well.
Doug in San Diego Yeah, Springfield was originally a musician. His manager wanted to expand into acting. Gotta admit, it worked. I had to look up some of those stats, but I knew RS had at least 4 hits (Jessie's Girl, I've Done Everything for You (a cover of a Sammy Hagar song)- Both off Working Class Dog, Don't Talk to Strangers and Affair of the Heart. All Top 10s).
For Corey Hart, I didn't know all those hits but I certainly remember Never Surrender in addition to Sunglasses. Turns out Never Surrender made it higher on the US Charts than Sunglasses.
An interesting side note, strictly speaking Jimi Hendrix is a One Hit Wonder. All Along the Watchtower went to 20 in 1968. The Grateful Dead could also be added to your list as their one and only Top 40 hit, Touch of Grey, went to #9 in 1987.
composerdave68 Massillon Ohio boy Iam From Canton this used to blare on the north coast along with MSB.
Joseph Dungee Who didn't! Right!!!! Today, I heard it on the radio for the 1st time in years and I was curious as to what the guy looked like who sang it...Wow, not what I was expecting. He looks more like a computer nerd (nothing wrong with that, I kind of lean in the nerdy camp myself!) when I was expecting more long haired rocker...that's what I get for stereotyping. Shame on me :) Anyhow, I replied to your comment because it summed my experience up so well!
Amazing song. Love the vocals. God, I miss the 80s. What a decade in which to come of age. The music, the general attitude, the sex, the parties, the concerts...INCREDIBLE.
I haven't heard that song in over 40 years and now I can't stop listening to it over and over again😊
When a dude who looks like everyone's dorky cousin at someone's Bar Mitzvah lets loose one of rock's most powerful primal screams ever: WHAAAAAAA LEAAAAAAHHH! WE'RE NEVER GONNA MAAAAKE IT, YEAAAAHHHH!!
HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!
Just scrolled to this comment as he was delivering the line. OH HELL YEAHHH!
@@rb5519
11✨11
🎼🎶"WHAAAAAAA LEAAAAAAHHH!
🎶🎤🤓🎸🔯🎶
👏👏👏👏👏
I was thinking the same thing 🤣🤣🤣
This song is a timeless classic. It will never get old. I loved it in 1980. I love it today. I will love it forever!
I love this song so much, that I just never want it to end......Ah Leah! ROCKS!!!!
it is a hell of a great song. dawn of a great decade.
Fuuuuuuuckkkkkkk Yhea!!!!!!!!! LOL
playsong
ditto!!!!!
Just saw a video of him performing for his 80th birthday!! He looks & still sounds amazing at 80!!! Rock on Donny Iris!! Thanks for the great music & happy birthday!!
Loved this song so much, I named my daughter 'Aleah' in May of '83. She even had the DJ play this song at her wedding 8 years ago. Blew the mind of some of the guests. CLASSIC!
This song is so good that I was really surprised when he didn't have another mega-hit. Love the guitar tone during the solo; one of the best tones I've ever heard.
He had another hit "LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK." It was not as good (but pretty good, fantastic lyrics) but did well on the charts. He had more hits before he became a solo artist. I looked up his net worth. 3.2 million. Some a****** took him to court and tried to sue him and the other writer of this song. The person suing did not win but still Donnie Iris and his writing buddy lost 120, 000 in royalties because they had a lot of lawyer fees. Found that on Quora.
@@liveyouryoga Thanks for posting this. I listened to that other song and it did sound vaguely familiar. I may have heard it on the radio back in the day. I read somewhere that he was involved with Wild Cherry ("Play that Funky Music") at some point as well. Figures the lawyers would be the only ones who came out on top! 🤣
He is still a star in Pittsburgh!!
His biggest hit was MY GIRL.
@@bobbybishop368 an Iris original, not a cover of the Temptations song
One of the most underrated Rock and Roll songs ever!
Her creates incredible tension in this song and then there's that voice! It's an allll-ttime classic! Thank you Donnie Iris!
This guy is an enigma. Total dork, total bad ass. Awesome song.
Top 5 favorite songs ever. Such a rocking nerd. This song is so good.
I'm so happy to see that here we are, 41 years older and none the wiser, still rockin this masterpiece.
That back and forth ringing of the guitar towards the end - that was so ahead of its time. Just a perfect song.
Haven't heard much music, have you?
Such a great song! What a great time to be a teen! This one is in my top 10 all time favorites!
Donnie Iris played all the instruments and all the vocals on this song on the record [ thats vinyl for todays kids]
Serious music maker.
Huh. I wonder why he chose to be shown playing the rhythm guitar part during the guitar solo. That seemed weird to me.
@@RykM probably New Wave humor
I thought Marty Lee played guitar.
I didn’t know that .awesome song .
Decades later….it STILL rocks! Classic awesome tune! 👍😁🙏
@ Cary Mattei.....YEESSSS!! 💋
Somebody please invent a time machine. Best decade of music ever!
Patricia B I'm working on it.....I'll let you know when it's finished.
Patricia B ill help w the tech, you can drop me in 85
Amen Patricia!!!! The last decade before the world really started to turn for the worst.
@Ginger Bread I like the internet too, but only to a point. I simply cannot spend any more than two hours looking things up. Any more time than that and I am simply wasting time I could be doing something useful with, so I agree with you.
I wanna be like that guy in "Hot Tub Time Machine" --- today's world ain't working for me --- I'm going back to 1984 and I'm gonna stay there !!
Seen him today down Giant Eagle and have been playing his songs the rest of the day. Happy 4th to all.