[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Donnie Iris — Ah! Leah!
Album: Out of the Blue
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1190









Released: 1980
Length: 3:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Ah! Leah!

Yeah, it's been a long, long time.
Such a site, you're lookin' better than a body has a right to.
Don't you know we're playin' with the fire?
But we can stop this burnin' desire, Leah!

Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Ah! Leah! Is it ever gonna end?
Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Ah! Leah!

I see your lips and I wonder who's been kissin' them.
I never knew how badly I was missin' them.
We both know we're never going to make it,
But when we touch, we never have to fake it, Leah!

Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Ah! Leah! Is it ever gonna end?
Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Ah! Leah! We ain't learned our lesson yet!

Baby, it's no good. We're just askin' for trouble.
I can touch you, but I don't know how to love you.
It ain't no use! We'er headed for disaster.
Our minds said, "No!" But our hearts were talkin' faster, Leah!

Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Ah! Leah! Leah, Leah, Leah!
Ah! Leah! Here we go again!

Ah! Leah, Leah, Leah!
Ah! Leah! We're never, ever, ever gonna make it yeah!
Ah! Leah!
Ah! Leah! Here we go again!
Comments (187)add comment
Always liked this tune!
 redeyespy wrote:
jvalatka wrote: I'd buy you a drink for uploading this, if you please. This song WAS 7th grade for me. Still rocks. Actually, Iris did a few other fun tunes such as "Love is Like a Rock." Glad this finally made the leap from the LRC!

So many comments say that this song defined 6th or 7th grade for people. If I'd been that age when "Ah! Leah!" got released (October '80), I'd agree. It has a definitely OTT love-angst drama appeal. (You do wonder, whether most parents rolled their eyes and thought "not this schlock again!"). 

And hey, it's got its own Wikipedia entry. Apparently the song is the "unofficial anthem" of Pittsburgh and western PA. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...!
 Jayesea wrote:



I'm on board with this sentiment.  Always great to hear this gem.
Except, as noted in the wiki entry, Donnie was no "1 hit wonder” guy/band! 

 Pierooo wrote:

I'm listenning since so much years this radio, from France. Now i'm joinning the community, i created my account! Thank you so much to exist, you're by far my favorite radio. Long life to RP
Pierre


Welcome to Radio Paradise, Pierooo!  

As of this moment (April 21, 2023, 12:30 Eastern US time) there are 2,032 listeners in France.  Hope you're one of them!
One of the formative songs of my youth that brought me into the church of rock and roll. Has everything that I love! Crunchy guitar, harmony group back vocals, pumping bass, solid rock drumming. 10 all day long.
 Rockit999 wrote:

Best 1 Hit Wonder....Ever.




I'm on board with this sentiment.  Always great to hear this gem.
Best 1 Hit Wonder....Ever.
This is a great song, this is what RP is all about.
This song just never gets old. I have loved this one bit wonder since the early 80s. Brilliant. 
 midigitguy wrote:

And a charming cover on YouTube
The Isolation Jams - Ah! Leah! (Feat. Kay Hanley)




Also a great cover by the Sin City Sinners....
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Overplayed on the radio when it came out! Much better now in FLAC w/ great studio phones, amp & DAC! Thank You RP!




I agree!!
Overplayed on the radio when it came out! Much better now in FLAC w/ great studio phones, amp & DAC! Thank You RP!
I love ringing guitars
Good tune!
Whoah! When this was big, and indeed it was, I was tooling around in my metallic maroon '73 Cutlass Supreme with rally wheels and white leather interior, and there was an awful lot of parking and recreating to be done, with endless Frisbee and righteous weed, and coolers full of poundable beer, and THIS was often on mine and every other car stereo, LOUD.  I love how this takes me back there!
Woot!

Dawny Ires!

As he's known in Pixburgh n'at!
barf
 redeyespy wrote:
jvalatka wrote: I'd buy you a drink for uploading this, if you please. This song WAS 7th grade for me. Still rocks. Actually, Iris did a few other fun tunes such as "Love is Like a Rock." Glad this finally made the leap from the LRC!


8th grade here....lots of good memories.
Summer 1980,,,,,, heading into senior year in HS.  Boston, Cape Cod, and lovely Brockton....... 
  

Great song from a great album!
 AliGator wrote:

Oh yeah! I'm in 7th grade again, listening to WYDD on my clock radio! Wait. I hated 7th grade. But I loved this song.


I hated 7th grade too ("Armageddon, come Armageddon! Come, Armageddon! Come!") but the excessive airplay this song got made me realize pretty early on that it was goddamned clunky. Best left in the past along with junior high.
And a charming cover on YouTube
The Isolation Jams - Ah! Leah! (Feat. Kay Hanley)
Peak FM rock radio. Makes me feel 19 again, for a moment.
 Flying_Donut wrote:
I dated a girl named Leah for a while. Yes. It got old.
 
With apologies to Leahs everywhere, I LOL'd.
 jmkate wrote:
I have never heard this before; you all never disappoint! thanks, RP. 

In my head, this isn't even an oldie. Apparently, I am. 
the velvet touch of...Donnie Iris? (The album cover that appeared with this tune was Los Straightjackets' "the velvet touch..."
I have never heard this before; you all never disappoint! thanks, RP. 
Wow, flashbacks (mixed bag of physical and psych... not always good)
 linden wrote:
Well isn't this a slice of cave-aged cheese.
 
Yeah it's a bit smelly but damned if it don't taste gooood!
 wtango wrote:


Me too! But it was Chicago's 97.9 WLUP (The Loop), and it was 7th grade... Good times!
Maybe it's cheesy and dated, but I likeitalot!
 

It was the LOOP, but it was sophomore year of high school! Lorelei....the LOOP has the biggesthits in town....
I'm listenning since so much years this radio, from France. Now i'm joinning the community, i created my account! Thank you so much to exist, you're by far my favorite radio. Long life to RP
Pierre
I dated a girl named Leah for a while. Yes. It got old.
He is just the coolest dude! I met him after a 9/11 benefit concert and he stopped on his way out of the venue to talk with those of us still hanging out.  So down to earth.
This song has been on my playlist FOR EVER! I never expected to hear it on RP. It's a perfect gem of a rock song, complete with pumping bass line, strong guitar solo, rock and roll screaming, odd ah's and ooo's and primal feelings that anybody could relate to.  Who could ask for anything more in a song? 
What a great story for her and you all.  How does she like the song?


 
SoCal_Eric wrote:
Funny story - 2009, we brought our baby daughter home from the hospital, but hadn't chosen a name yet.  We had 3 names on the list, and one of them was Alea.  A friend of mine called to say congratulations and asked what we named her.  I told him we hadn't decided and told him the 3 names on our list, and he said "Alea - that's from the Donnie Iris song!"  I hadn't heard this song before, looked it up on youtube, and watched the live concert version.  It's hilarious, with Donnie writhing around on the stage.  At that point it was decided - Alea would be her name!
 

 MattRudely wrote:
I don't usually comment negatively on the songs but bleh, what a stone cold album filler. "Playin' with fire / Burnin' desire"? Jeez. What's that, it was a hit of some kind? I'm missing something.
 
It sounds like you're missing out on enjoying a great song!
It's been an age since I've heard this one.  Thanks for the blast from the past, Bill!  
Love the album, for a long time it was on the turntable on high rotation.
But the album I had was "
Back on the Streets
I don't usually comment negatively on the songs but bleh, what a stone cold album filler. "Playin' with fire / Burnin' desire"? Jeez. What's that, it was a hit of some kind? I'm missing something.
Rockin in Paradise
 deepwoodskev wrote:
This takes me back to 6th grade and cranking WLS AM890 in Chicago on my little radio. Excellent!
 

Me too! But it was Chicago's 97.9 WLUP (The Loop), and it was 7th grade... Good times!
Maybe it's cheesy and dated, but I likeitalot!
i was a HS senior in 1980. we liked this then, and i still like it. 
 linden wrote:
Well isn't this a slice of cave-aged cheese.
 

A very sharp remark ;)
Well isn't this a slice of cave-aged cheese.
I always had a soft spot for that one too! Never heard anything else from the LP.
Loved this song when I was a kid. Never thought I'd hear it again.  This is one of the main reasons I listen to RP.  Thank you so much.
Hey Bill, Rush's 'Subdivisions' would segue nicely after this,  where the similar keyboards enter near the end.
 jimmy99s wrote:
This is the colour of beige that I wanted for my living room.
 
OK, that's damn funny.  
1982 - skipping HS and driving to Great Falls, MD to go cliff jumping.  Just me, my 3 best friends, and the stereo jamming this song.
I have always loved this song!  I always assumed it was homage to Princess Leah.  I always dreamed of dropping those cinibuns down!
 texdillo63 wrote:
Who knew he was with the band Wild Cherry? Play that Funky Music White Boy
 
I was just looking that up too!
Who knew he was with the band Wild Cherry? Play that Funky Music White Boy
Donnie who? In 1980?  You mean it's not the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the '90s? 
 SoCal_Eric wrote:
Funny story - 2009, we brought our baby daughter home from the hospital, but hadn't chosen a name yet.  We had 3 names on the list, and one of them was Alea.  A friend of mine called to say congratulations and asked what we named her.  I told him we hadn't decided and told him the 3 names on our list, and he said "Alea - that's from the Donnie Iris song!"  I hadn't heard this song before, looked it up on youtube, and watched the live concert version.  It's hilarious, with Donnie writhing around on the stage.  At that point it was decided - Alea would be her name!
 

Actually I think rather than picking a name from a Donnie Iris song I would have chosen his name and named her Iris (but definitely not Donnie).

And my number 1 cat's name is Iris, so obviously I like the name.
This is the colour of beige that I wanted for my living room.
I find this very unexciting. 
Nothing bad about it, but I wouldn't notice if I never heard it again (or wouldn't recall it if I did) - quite unmemorable for me.
I am a music snob (prog guy, so all the drama and arrogance that comes with that), but this is just a great song.  Good straightforward rock, very well written.
Funny story - 2009, we brought our baby daughter home from the hospital, but hadn't chosen a name yet.  We had 3 names on the list, and one of them was Alea.  A friend of mine called to say congratulations and asked what we named her.  I told him we hadn't decided and told him the 3 names on our list, and he said "Alea - that's from the Donnie Iris song!"  I hadn't heard this song before, looked it up on youtube, and watched the live concert version.  It's hilarious, with Donnie writhing around on the stage.  At that point it was decided - Alea would be her name!
Was never crazy about this song but when it came on RP I giggled and thought, why does this song sound so good on RP? 
Niiiiiiice!!!
 
{#Bananajam}
 nevar23 wrote:
Wow, this song was all over the album oriented rock station I grew up with. Good tune. Thanks for the reminder, RP.
 
And this is the first time I have ever heard it. Probably never made it over the Atlantic. 
Wow, this song was all over the album oriented rock station I grew up with. Good tune. Thanks for the reminder, RP.
{#Bananajam} {#Dancingbanana_2}
  outstanding throwback this.. {#Music}
 randyblew wrote:
I wouldn't want to hear it every day on RP
 
Isn't the set of "things you hear every day on RP" limited to Bill's voice and Rebecca's voice?
Now there's a time stamped guilty pleasure... 
80's rock gem. Light n' a little fluffy, but still a nice rock song. I wouldn't want to hear it every day on RP, but a nice relief here and there. H8r's gonna H8 - whatevs. Thanks Bill for always being a refreshing surprise.

Word from Raleigh.
Oooooh. What special effect did he use to get voice to go "ah" "ee" "oh"?

This sucks. 
 dburges wrote:
treatment_bound wrote:
Absolutely unnecessary...I hated this song 25 years ago, and it certainly hasn't improved since. Let's hope Donnie gets filed away for a long spell at RP.


I second that motion.

 
And a decade later Voila
i wanted to name my daughter Leah but, alas, my wife had other plans.
This threw me back in time...to the back seat of a very decked out Camaro....thank you!
redeyespy wrote:
Just for that, I think I'll upload "Love is Like a Rock," you old grumpypants.
Please do!
kcar wrote:
I used to hear this all the time on FM radio in the Boston area. Now it's definitely relegated to shows like Barry Scott's "Lost 45's" (if that's even still around).
With "Shades of 45" by Gary O.
I used to hear this all the time on FM radio in the Boston area. Now it's definitely relegated to shows like Barry Scott's "Lost 45's" (if that's even still around).
MidLyfe wrote:
Donnie Iris was great. Great shows for the time, too. Saw him in Pittsburgh.
Ya think that's because he's from Pittsburgh?
LaurieinTucson wrote:
This doesn't fit with the style of music I usually hear on RP.
I'm sorry for laughing, but what do you mean by "the style of music {you} usually hear on RP"?
treatment_bound wrote:
Absolutely unnecessary...I hated this song 25 years ago, and it certainly hasn't improved since. Let's hope Donnie gets filed away for a long spell at RP.
Just for that, I think I'll upload "Love is Like a Rock," you old grumpypants.
This doesn't fit with the style of music I usually hear on RP.
Jack_Jefferson wrote:
I agree. And what's with the silly album cover?
Call it a one hit wonder....I liked it back then and got a kick out hearing it again today.
jadedragon wrote:
Who knew Donnie had enough of a catalog to warrant a 'collection'
I agree. And what's with the silly album cover?
guilty pleasure
johnfitty wrote:
rock on. this is song is so cheesy as to be ironically hip.
an entire jar full of 'darn proud' cheeZ
Thanks for playing this, Bill. It might be fromage-like, but it's good to hear every so often.
I had a boyfriend like that once...he was fun...
All I can think of is mullets in a dance club.
Kismet wrote:
Yeah, what's the problem here? Frankly the tune sounds okay, and it reminds me of so many good times....
IMO, that's the purpose of music.
Who knew Donnie had enough of a catalog to warrant a 'collection'
treatment_bound wrote:
Absolutely unnecessary...I hated this song 25 years ago, and it certainly hasn't improved since. Let's hope Donnie gets filed away for a long spell at RP.
I second that motion.
The initial beat makes me think I'm about to hear Spinal Tap...fat bottom...
Totally forgotten about this song. Can't even remember if it was late 70s or early 80s... Too many brain cells have gone under the bridge.
Donnie Iris was great. Great shows for the time, too. Saw him in Pittsburgh.
wow do i miss this one!
Holy crap - what a time travellin' blast from the past!
Best of its vintage (which isn't saying much, but I really like this song.) Nice nerdy album cover too.
really? flashback to 11 years old.
This song is about as cheezy as his red blazer
This would be a great song to come on the radio driving back from some weekend camping trip. Haven't heard it in ages. At least a 7.
keller1 wrote:
I'm with you ... down with muso snobbery.
Yeah, what's the problem here? Frankly the tune sounds okay, and it reminds me of so many good times....
I like this song...
heh - guilty pleasure - but as often as i heard this growing up i never knew that that's what the man looked like - awesome
All I can think to say is: "Is this really necessary?"
grego_lj wrote:
I think the brief forays into mainstream pop-rock are almost always done with good taste on RP. I like this song, as the unsophisticate I am.
I'm with you ... down with muso snobbery.
Absolutely unnecessary...I hated this song 25 years ago, and it certainly hasn't improved since. Let's hope Donnie gets filed away for a long spell at RP. It's so awful I think I'd rather hear someone just as bad who looks like Donnie Iris...do you have any Gary Lewis (with or without the Playboys)?
rock on. this is song is so cheesy as to be ironically hip.
The_Enemy wrote:
Here's where Michael Jackson stole his fashion ideas
PROBABLY.
I think the brief forays into mainstream pop-rock are almost always done with good taste on RP. I like this song, as the unsophisticate I am.
Losman wrote:
amazing restraint on all RP'ers to not comment on that album cover
Here's where Michael Jackson stole his fashion ideas
I was thinking of rating something really low for the first time.
diazo wrote:
Okay, this is funny -- once. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. Please?
I AGREE, MY FRIEND, I AGREE.
luv'd it with a smirk.
Do you smell the fromage in the air ?
Okay, this is funny -- once. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. Please?
The "BEST OF" !? WTF does the rest sound like?
Out....standing!!!
Sounds like Florida's Panhandle on hot summer nights, in my hitchiking days. No people it's cool, very cool.
That's it...I'm switching to my IPod!
Our minds say no but our hearts are talking faster... Oh yes.
Meh. I guess as powerpop goes, it's not bad.
Crankin' it up for this!