My Radio Boo broadcast (Wednesday 2 December 2015)

A tribute to Yorgos ''George'' Alexiou (Γιώργος Αλεξίου) and his songs

11 years ago,  Yorgos Alexiou, Thessaloniki's legendary Radio Jockey passed away. He was responsible for the success of dozends of songs well known nowadays in Hellas, that were only domestic hits

Listen to the broadcast:



22:00 - 23:00


01. Spanish Heart - GERARD JOLING (LP Sea Of Love, 1986)
NL # 22
Gerard's song ''Ticket To The Tropics'' (NL # 1, BE # 3 in 1985) is one of the most successful songs in Hellenic radio ever.

02. Sorcerer - MARILYN MARTIN (OST Streets Of Fire, 1984)
Apart from Dan Hartman's hit ''I Can Dream About You'' the OST also includes hit songs ''Never Be You'' (Maria McKee), ''Tonight Is What It Means...'' & ''Nowhere Fast'' (Fire Inc.)

03. Seventeen - ADRIAN GURVITZ (LP Il Assassino, 1980).

04. Givin' Herself Away - GAIL DAVIES (LP Givin' Herself Away, 1982)
Cover version of  ''Givin' Herself Away'' by McGuinn, Clarkk & Hillman (LP City, 1980)

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

06. Together We're Strong - MIREILLE MATHIEU & PATRICK DUFFY (single, 1983)
NL # 2, BE # 4, DE # 34

07. How Many Ways - MURRAY HEAD (LP Between Us, 1979)

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

09. Boy Who Cried Wolf - THE STYLE COUNCIL (single, 1985 / LP Our Favourite Shop, 1985)
NZ # 21, AU # 38

10. Love - JIMMY JIMMY (LP Here In The Light, 1986)
The album also included successful radio hits ''Silence'' & ''I Met Her In Paris''


23:00 - 00:00


11. Stay Awake - RONNIE LAWS (LP Solid Ground, 1981)

12. New York Hold Her Tight & Reprise - CLIFF DOWNES & JIMMY PRICE (LP Downes & Price, 1986)
Cover version of "New York Hold Her Tight" by Dickey Lee (LP Again, 1980)

See also''New York, Hold Her Tight'' by Van Stephenson (LP China Girl, 1981)

13. You & I - MADLEEN ΚΑΝΕ (LP Cheri, 1979)

14. Just For You - ALAN PRICE (LP Alan Price, 1977)
UK # 43

15. All The Love In The World - THE KORGIS (LP Sticky George, 1981)

16. Ever, Never Lovin' You - ED BRUCE (LP I Write It Down, 1982)
US Country chart # 4, Canadian country chart # 4

17. There's No Way - ALABAMA (LP 40 Hour Week, 1985)
US country chart # 1, CA country chart # 2

18. What Will I Write - EDDIE RABBITT (LP Horizon, 1980)

19. Wish We Were Heroes - MELISSA MANCHESTER & DAVID GATES (LP Hey Ricky, 1982)

20. Path With The Heart - SALLY OLDFIELD (LP Strange Day In Berlin, 1983)

21. Νόμιζα - ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ ΤΣΟΥΚΑΛΑΣ (LP Στους Καιρούς Τους Πονηρούς, 1992)




01. The 10 most popular & successful songs... discovered by Yorgos 
...and turned into hits either by Yorgos himself or by radio stations and jockeys influenced by him
(songs in alphabetical order)


01.  Bad News - MOON MARTIN (LP Street Fever, 1980)

02.  Casablanca - BERTIE HIGGINS (LP Just Another Day In Paradise, 1982)

03.  Darling - STORIES (LP About Us, 1973)
Became primarily a hit due to heavy air-play by pirate radio station ''Antenna Thessaloniki's Radio''

04.  400 Dragons -  ADRIAN JOHN LOVERIDGE (LP Square One, 1981)
Cover version of  ''400 Dragons'' by The Thieves (single, 1979)

05.  Love Me More - TONY PACINO (b-side on ''Scusami'', 1983)

06.  Off - KATHY BARNES (LP Body Talkin', 1978)
Cover version of ''Off'' by Hodges, James & Smith (LP What's On Your Mind, 1977)

07.  Oh Mon Amour - CHRISTOPHE (single, 1972 / LP Christophe, 1973)

08.  Please Don't Leave Me - PRETTY MAIDS (LP Sin Decade, 1991)
Cover version of ''Please Don't Leave Me'' by John Sykes feat. Phil Lynnot on vocals & bass (single, 1982)

09.  Rock Sugar - ROB GRILL (LP Uprooted, 1979)

10.  Why'd I Have To Fall In Love With You - MATTHEW FISHER (LP Matthew Fisher, 1979)




02. Other well known songs... discovered by Yorgos
...well known in Hellas, that is..


Captured - SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE JUKES (LP In The Heat, 1984)

Cellophane City - STEVE FORBERT (LP Little Stevie Orbit, 1980)

Do I Love You - PAUL ANKA (LP Paul Anka, 1971)

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

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

Go Rosa - SANDY ROGERS (OST Fool For Love, 1985)
Became a hit due to heavy air-play by pirate radio station ''Panorama 86''

I Can't Hear You No More - RUSS BALLARD (LP Russ Ballard, 1984)

Papa - PAUL ANKA (b-side on ''You're having My Baby'', 1974)

Seeing You Again - DAN FOGELBERG (LP Exiles, 1987)

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

Sun In My Eyes - SALLY OLDFIELD (LP Easy, 1979)




03. The Mousikos Diavlos Thessaloniki's hit songs (1987-1988)
(promo singles provided by George that became hits due to M.D.'s radio air-play)


Cry - JAMES STEEN (single, 1982)

I Didn't Mean To Make You Cry - DEAN FRIEDMAN (single, 1985)

Sleep With Me - ERIC CARMEN (LP Tonight You're Mine, 1980)
The song opped the ''Mousikos Diavlos Thessaloniki's'' Top 40 chart on January 17, 1988.

Sting Of The Gin - CHRIS SIMPSON (single, 1982)

Takin' A Chance On Love - SHARON REDD (LP Redd Hot, 1982)

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

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

When You Hold Me - AXIS (single, 1980)

Why Won't You Stay (Come In Come Out Of The Rain) - MELVIN JAMES (LP The Passenger, 1987)




04. Here are some songs, discovered and turned into hits by Yorgos
(per category & in alphabetical order):


A) Soul oriented songs turned into hits by Yorgos:


All At Once - WHITNEY HOUSTON (LP Whitney Houston, 1985)

All Behind Us Now - PATTI AUSTIN (LP Patti Austin, 1984)

All Time Lover - LOU RAWLS (LP Close Company, 1984)

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

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

I Can't Live Without You - NORWOOD (LP I Can't Let You Go, 1987)

I'm In Love With You - ATLANTIC STARR (LP We're Movin' Up, 1989)

If Ever A Love There Was - THE FOUR TOPS feat. ARETHA & KENNY G (LP Indestructible, 1988)

Knife - ROCKWELL (LP Somebody's Watching Me, 1984)

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

Love Me Or Leave Me - NINA SIMONE (LP Little Girl Blue, 1959)

Stay Awake - RONNIE LAWS (LP Solid Ground, 1981)

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

When You Talk To Me - PEABO BRYSON (LP Take No Prisoners, 1985)




B) Country oriented songs turned into hits by Yorgos:


But Love Me - JANIE FRICKE (single, 1979 / LP From The Heart, 1980)
US country chart # 26

Oh Jenny - BILLY MONTANA & THE LONG SHOTS (single, 1988)

On A Night Like This - THE BOYS BAND (LP The Boys Band, 1982)

Save Me - HELEN REDDY (LP Play Me Out, 1981)
Cover version of ''Save Me'' by Clodaugh Rodgers (single,1976)

Stay Loose - GORDON LIGHTFOOT (LP East Of Midnight, 1986)

Tell Me What You Dream - RESTLESS HEART (single, 1993 / LP Big Iron Horses, 1992)
Cover version of ''Tell What You Dream'' by Timothy B. Schmit (LP Playin' It Cool, 1984)

You're Going Out Of My Mind - T.G: SHEPPARD (LP T.G. 1985)
US country chart # 10, CA country chart # 8




C) Dance songs turned into hits by Yorgos:


Darlin' (I Think About You) - DELEGATION (LP Eau De Vie, 1979)

First Be A Woman - LEONORE O'MALLEY (LP First Be A Woman, 1979)
Lead vocals by Catherine Russell

Going Back To My Roots - RICHIE HAVENS (single, 1980 / LP Connections, 1979)
Cover version of ''Going Back To My Roots (Part 1)'' by Lamont Dozier (single, 1977)

I'm Gonna Love You Forever - JIMMY RUFFIN & JACKSON MOORE (single, 1984)

If You Don't Understand - SHIRLEY BASSEY (single, 1984)

Cover version of  "Rabbia Libertà Fantasia" by Ornella Vanoni (b side single, 1983)

Lay Awake At Night - JAMES J.T. TAYLOR (LP Master Of The Game, 1989)

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

Νever Never - STEVE KEKANA (LP Raising My Family, 1981)

Passion For Paris (An American In Paris) - FRANKIE VALLI (single, 1979 / LP Heaven Above Me, 1980)

Unexpected Lovers - LIME (LP Unexpected Lovers, 1985)




D) British pop songs turned into hits by Yorgos:


Bonny - PREFAB SPROUT (LP Steve McQueen, 1985)

Eyes Of The World - ZU ZU SHARKS (single, 1984)

Never Never Comes - CLASSIX NOUVEAUX (LP Secret, 1983)

Palm Of My Hand - THE PALE FOUNTAINS (single, 1983)

South Of Love / State Of Art - FRIENDS AGAIN (LP Trapped & Unwrapped, 1984)

Take It Round Again - THE CRY (LP Quick Quick Slow, 1984)

This House Is A House Of Trouble - SALLY TIMMS & THE DRIFTING COWGIRLS feat. MARC ALMOND (single, 1987)




E) Movie songs & TV Theme songs turned into hits by Yorgos:


Deliver - MARTIN BRILLEY (OST Body Rock, 1984)

I Like The Rhythm - CARRIE LUCAS (OST Lambada, 1990)

If I Turn You Away - VIKKI MOSS (OST St. Elmo's Fire, 1985)

It Was Love - FRANK DUVAL & KALINA MALOYER (OST Derrick. Staffel 9, Folge 6: Toter Goldfisch, 1985)

Love Theme from "The Competition" (People Alone) - LALO SHIFRIN feat. RANDY CRAWFORD (OST The Competition, 1981) 

Shooting For The Moon - AMY HOLLAND (OST Teen Wolf, 1985)

You Take My Heart Away - BILL CONTI feat. DeETTA LITTLE & NELSON PIGFORD (OST Rocky, 1976)




F) Rock oriented songs turned into hits by Yorgos


Bobby Jean - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (LP Born In The USA, 1984)

Endless - TOTO (LP Is,olation 1984)

I Got Loaded - LOS LOBOS (LP How Will The Wolf Survive?, 1984)
Cover version of ''I Got Loaded'' by Little Bob & The Lollipops (1965)

If You Go Away - OSCAR BENTON (LP If You Go Away, 1984)
Cover version of ''Ne Me Quitte Pas'' by Jacques Brel (1959)

In Dreams - PETE BARDENS feat. NEIL LOCKWOOD (LP Seen One Earth, 1987)

Night Train - ANDY TAYLOR (LP Thunder, 1987)

Runnin' - MASON RUFFNER (LP Gyspy Blood, 1987)

Seven Days - JOE COCKER (LP Sheffield Steel, 1982)
Cover version of ''Seven Days'' by Ron Wood (LP Gimme Some Neck, 1979)

Stranger - STEPHEN STILLS (LP Right By You, 1984)

Valentine - JOHN HUNTER (LP Famous At Night, 1984)

We'll Make The Same Mistake - GOLDIE (single, 1979)

Where Have You Been All My Love - FOTOMAKER (LP Fotomaker, 1978)

US # 81, CA # 87

Without Love - SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES (LP This Time It's For Real, 1977)

You Know What To Do - CARLY SIMON (LP Hello Big Man, 1983)




G) Rock ballads turned into hits by Yorgos


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

AT # 11

Every Time I See Your Picture - LUBA (single, 1982 / LP Secrets & Sins, 1984)

CA # 23

Hard To Say It's Over - SHEENA EASTON (LP A Private Heaven, 1984)

Final Love Song - P.S. & THE FOOTNOTES (single, 1983)

I Believe In You - PANARAMA (single, 1982)

Inspector Mills - AMERICA (LP View From The Ground, 1982)

The One You Love - GLENN FREY (LP No Fun Aloud, 1982)

US # 15, CA # 12

Why Don't We Spend The Night - JOE FAGIN (single, 1980 / LP Why Don't We Spend The Night / Cry For No One, 1983)

Original version by Ronnie Milsap (1980). Also covered by Frankie Miller (1980)




H) Pop oriented songs turned into hits by Yorgos


Honey I'm Lost - THE DOOLEYS (single, 1979)
UK # 24

Just For Tonight - GILBERT MONTAGNE (single, 1984)

DE # 42

Main Attraction - SUZI QUATRO (LP Main Attraction, 1982)

One Kiss Away - THE DOOLEYS (LP The Chosen Few, 1979)

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




I) Pop ballads turned into hits by Yorgos


How Do You Mend A Broken Heart - GUYS 'N' DOLLS (single, 1979)
NL # 12, BE # 16

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

Lovers - FRANK DANA (LP Lovers, 1982)

Lovers In The Wind - ROGER HODGSON (LP In The Eye Of The Storm, 1984)
Topped Radio 1's Top 20 on February 2, 1985

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

You're My Everything - SANTA ESMERALDA starring LEROY GOMEZ (LP Don't Let Me Be Understood, 1977)




J) Cosmopolitan / Easy Listening pop ballads turned into hits by Yorgos


Children Of Sanchez - CHUCK MANGIONE feat. DON POTTER (OST Children Of Sanchez, 1978)

Hello Detroit - SAMMY DAVIS Jr (single, 1984)

How Do I Stop Loving You - RENE FROGER (LP You're My Everything, 1989)

If I Never Sing Another Song - DONNA LYNTON (LP Donna Lynton, 1986)

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

Yesterday My Life (Un Oiseau Sur New York) - PAUL ANKA (1971)

Yesterday When I Was Young (Hier Encore) - SHIRLEY BASSEY (1970)




K) Instrumentals turned into hits by Yorgos


Alone In Paris - ALPHONSE MOUZON (LP Early Spring, 1988 / LES OMBRES (single, 1990)

Old San Juan - SPYRO GYRA (LP Incognito, 1982)

Summer Of '42 - MICHEL LEGRAND (OST The Summer Of '42, 1971)





05) Radio 1 charts (based on air-play & listeners choices)


a) The 20 most popular songs in Radio 1 for the Summer of 1984


01. Sun In My Eyes - SALLY OLDFIELD (LP Easy, 1979)

02. To France - MIKE OLDFIELD (LP Discovery, 1984)

03. The More You Live, The More You Love - A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS (LP The Story Of A Young Heart, 1984)

04. Casablanca - BERTIE HIGGINS (LP Just Another Day In Paradise, 1982)

05. When Doves Cry - PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION (LP Purple Rain, 1984)

06. The Last Time - RUSS BALLARD (LP Russ Ballard, 1984)

07. Black Butterfly - DENIECE WILLIAMS (LP Let's Hear It For The Boy, 1984)

08. Only When You Leave - SPANDAU BALLET (LP Parade, 1984)

09. Hello - LIONEL RICHIE (LP Can't Slow Down, 1983)

10. All Of You - JULIO IGLESIA & DIANA ROSS (LP 1100 Bel Air Place, 1984)

11. Knife - ROCKWELL (LP Somebody's Watching Me, 1984)

12. You're In My Heart - DAVID ESSEX (single, 1983)

13. Smalltown Boy - BRONSKI BEAT (LP The Age Of Consent, 1984)

14. High On Emotion - CHRIS De BURGH (LP Man On The Line, 1984)

15. Runaway - BON JOVI (LP Bon Jovi, 1984)

16. Time After Time - CYNDI LAUPER (LP She's So Unusual, 1983)

17. Cover Me - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (LP Born In The USA, 1984)

18. Summer Of '42 - MICHEL LEGRAND (OST The Summer Of '42, 1971)

19. To All The Girls  I've Loved Before - JULIO IGLESIAS & WILLIE NELSON (single, 1984)

20. Your Love Is King - SADE (LP Diamod Life, 1984)




b)  Radio 1 - Top 20 - Sunday 26-5-1985


01.  Silence - JIMMY JIMMY (single, 1985 / LP Here In The Light, 1986)

02.  We Are The World - USA FOR AFRICA (single, 1985)

03.  If IShould Love Again - BARRY MANILOW (LP If I Should Love Again, 1981)

04.  Why'd I Have To Fall In Love With You - MATTHEW FISHER (LP Matthew Fisher, 1979)

05.  When The Rain Begins To Fall - JERMAINE JACKSON & PIA ZADORA (single, 1984)

06.  Say It Again - SANTANA (LP Beyond Appearances, 1985)

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

08.  The Neighbors - JONATHAN RICHMAN & THE MODERN LOVERS (LP Jonathan Sings! 1983)

09.  Can't Fight This Feeling - REO SPEEDWAGON (LP Wheels Are Turnin', 1984)

10.  Woman - PHILIP BAILEY (LP Chinese Wall, 1984)

11.  Don't You (Forget About Me) - SIMPLE MINDS (OST The Breakfast Club, 1985)

12.  Love Me Like I Do - COSTAS CHARITODIPLOMENOS (LP Do It! 1984)

13.  You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) - DEAD OR ALIVE (single, 1984)

14.  Dance Me To The End of Love - LEONARD COHEN (LP Various Positions, 1984)

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

16.  Every Time I See Your Picture - LUBA (single, 1982 / LP Secrets & Sins, 1984)

17.  Sunglasses At Night - COREY HART (LP First Offense, 1983)

18.  Live Is Life - OPUS (single, 1984)

19.  Shout - TEARS FOR FEARS (single, 1984 / LP Songs From The Big Chair, 1985)

20.  Move Closer - PHYLLIS NELSON (single, 1984 / OST Parole De Flic, 1985)