The Best of Donnie Iris: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection

Donnie Iris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B00005O553
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #85 in Music > Rock > Power Pop

Editorial Reviews

Donnie Iris, The Very Best of Donnie Iris

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars almost everything you need, October 10, 2001

By 

Steve Marshall "Steve" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best of Donnie Iris: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection (Audio CD)

Dominic Ierace was a barkeeper's son from Pennsylvania. In 1970, he became Donnie Iris--the guitarist and frontman for The Jaggerz, hitting the top of the charts with "The Rapper." It wasn't until a decade later that he found his next success with the smash single, "Ah! Leah!" It was at the height of `new wave,' and this song was all over the radio. Iris' attention-getting overdubbed vocals were the focal point, but above all, this was a great power-pop tune. The album's rocking title track, "Back on the Streets" (unfortunately missing from this collection) received airplay at the time as well, but it never attained the same degree of success. The following year, Iris released King Cool, which featured the hits "Sweet Merilee" and "Love is Like a Rock." After that, there were two more albums, but both quickly took up residence in the cutout bins.

The Best of Donnie Iris collects all the singles from the four albums, along with a few album tracks and a live version of "The Rapper." It's not perfect, but aside from the omission of "Back on the Streets," it's the only Donnie Iris CD you need.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice New Wave Rock From Donnie Iris!, May 24, 2002

By 

highway_star (Hallandale, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Donnie Iris: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection (Audio CD)

I really liked Donnie Iris's album "Back On The Streets" which included the hit "Ah Leah" which in my opinion was his best song. The other songs on this 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Donnie Iris are really good with a few standouts. Other than the above hit "Ah Leah" you've got "Love Is Like A Rock"," That's The Way Love Ought To Be", "Do You Compute" and an excellent "live" version of "The Rapper", originally an early seventies hit for The Jaggerz. Iris had a knack for writing some pretty catchy songs, many of which are kind of corny but still good none-the-less. If you like groups like The Rubinoos, The Plimsouls, The Knack or The Romantics then you'll certainly enjoy this collection. Recommended!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cooler as Iris, October 4, 2004

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Best of Donnie Iris: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection (Audio CD)

Donnie Iris is an underrated songwriter who managed to concoct about a dozen letter perfect pop songs in a short career. Although he still records and tours, this single disc condensation of his four MCA albums provides a dozen pure pop thrills. The 1980 breakthrough single, "Ah! Leah!," soars with multiple harmonies and a big guitar hook and an instantly catchy chorus ("here we go again"). His first album was a bit starchy, as Iris and partner Marc Avsec were trying too hard as a two man band. But the addition of a full band for touring led to the new moniker, Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, and a great album, "King Cool."

Targeting hip new wavers and classic rock, songs like "Love is Like a Rock" and "That's the Way Love Oughta Be" became radio staples. "My Girl," Iris' biggest hit, was a creamy vocal confection that sounded uncannily like Huey Lewis and The News. This success made them toughen up their sound for "The High and The Mighty" and the initial blast of "Tough World." Despite that single's urgency and catchy nature, Iris failed to crack the top 40. Not like the Cruisers were anything less than a great band, "This Time it Must Be Love" should have been a smash.

Confused, the band cut one more MCA disc, 1983's "Fortune 410." The first single leaned in a new-wave keyboard direction, but "Do You Compute" was ahead of the Internet by a decade. On the other hand, "She's So European" is a moment worthy of Cheap Trick. (Think "She's Tight.") That was Iris' last big gasp at the charts, but he did record a couple more albums and one more great single ("Injured In The Game Of Love" for Sony). The bonus track here is a live version of "The Rapper," Iris' first hit with 70's one hit wonders The Jaggerz. (It was a b-side to one of the singles.) If you have a soft spot for simple eighties pop ala Huey Lewis or Marshall Crenshaw, or just miss the classic drum roll that leads into "Ah Leah!," this is a solid collection at a budget price.