For 46 plus years AOR mystery man DANE DONOHUE was a bit of a ‘one and done‘ artist with just his glorious West Coast / FM Rock styled self-titled as his previous only recorded full-length LP. A major label – Columbia – release, with big production, brimming with all the greatest superstars and session players from the L.A. Scene.
While over the years the LP became a classic from the West Coast AOR genre, Dane Donohue didn’t released a follow up LP until now.
Yeah, 2024 Dane returned with a stupendous new record, and it’s a nice opportunity to recap on that 1978’s initial DANE DONOHUE first album, in its Japanese pressing, remastered, from the celebrated AOR CITY 1000 series.
“Dane Donohue” features the who’s who from that magical era; on guitar Steve Lukather, Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton, Jaï Winding on keyboards, Stevie Nicks, JD Souther, Don Henley, Tom Kelly, Bill Champlin, providing harmony vocals, and more. An elegant, sophisticated recording with very good melodic songs.
Why “Dane Donohue” was not a big seller back in 1978? This self-titled debut LP was released by Columbia the same week as TOTO’s debut album. Yuks! A hard competition to beat…
For reasons that are still open to discussion, the record did not find a larger audience at the time, and wasn’t properly promoted.
Picture yourself in 1978, behind the thin plastic steering wheel of your brand-new Chevy Nova, stuck in traffic on the 10 freeway. There’s smog obscuring the L.A. skyline and the smell of exhaust in the air. Over the crackle of the radio, the newsreader says something about Iran, a bright-voiced chorus promises that Coke adds life! and a DJ reassures you that you are, indeed, listening to KHJ.
Then the music starts — a few minor piano chords over soft, driving drums. It’s a mellow groove. An electric keyboard joins in, then a guitar, followed by a sweet, double-tracked tenor voice telling an enigmatic tale. Is it TOTO? Steely Dan? It sounds kind of like everything else on the radio, but also a voice you’ve ever heard before; Dane Donohue.
A breezy, sun-drenched spirit is all over Dane Donohue debut, with lush harmonies, soulful melodies, and crisp arrangements, the core elements of the classy West Coast AOR sound.
Highly Recommended
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01 – Casablanca
02 – Dance with the Stranger
03 – What Am I Supposed to Do
04 – Woman
05 – Where Will You Go
06 – Freedom
07 – Can’t Be Seen
08 – Whatever Happened
09 – Tracey
10 – Congratulations
Dane Donohue : Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Guitar : Steve Lukather, Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton
Drums : Andy Smith, David Kemper, Ed Greene
Bass : Jeff D’Angelo, Bob Glaub, Scott Edwards
Keyboards : Jaï Winding, David Getreau
Keyboards, Vibes & Percussion : Victor Feldman
Saxophone : Ernie Watts
Percussion : Steve Forman
Background vocals : Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, J.D. Souther, Timothy B. Schmit, Tom Kelly, Bill Champlin