SATURDAY'S SINGLES : DENNIS DEYOUNG AND YOKO ONO

[maggot]

Good morning record enthusiasts and welcome back to Saturday's Singles, a Birthday edition. First up on our calendar of cake is Chicago, Illinois native, keyboardist, singer songwriter, and producer, Dennis DeYoung, best known for his work in the progressives rock, Styx. He was born February 18, 1947 and is celebrating his 76th trip around the sun. Happy Birthday Dennis ! With him in mind, we spotlight his title track to his debut solo album, Desert Moon. The single was released in 1984 on the A&M label and was written and produced by Dennis. It peaked at #10 on the Hot 100, #8 in Ireland, and #7 in Canada. It was originally b/w "Gravity" from the same album, but ours is a 12" white label promotional copy with the album version of "Desert Moon" on the flip side. 

Dennis DeYoung: percussion, piano, arranger, keyboards, lead and background vocals, producer, mixing

Tom Dziallo: acoustic guitar, bass guitar, percussion, arranger, electric guitar, drum programming, mixing

Dennis Johnson: bass guitar

Tom Radtke: drums, percussion

Steve Eisen: conductor, conga, saxophone

Sandy Caulfield: background vocals

Suzanne DeYoung, Tom Dziallo, Dawn Feusi, Pat Hurley: additional backing vocals

Vince Guttman: drum programming

Maurice Lynn Simmons: drum programming

Gary Loizzo: background vocals, engineer, drum programming, mixing

Rob Kingsland: engineer, mixing

Ted Jensen: mastering

Jim Popko: engineer, mixing

Bill Rascati: engineer, mixing

Chuck Beeson: art direction, design

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our second set of candles belongs to Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist, Yoko Ono. Today she turns 90 years old. Happy Birthday Yoko ! To get her party started, we find ourselves spinning "(Just Like) Starting Over", the first single,  from her collaborative album, Double Fantasy, with her Husband, John Lennon. The song, written by John and then produced by him, Yoko, and Jack Douglas was released  October 23, 1980 on the Geffen label. It peaked at #17 on the Adult Contemporary charts, #16 in Finland, #14 in the Netherlands, #8 on the Dutch Top 40 and in Italy, #6 in Belgium, #4 in Germany and South Africa, #3 in Sweden , #2 in New Zealand and Norway, and #1 in Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, the UK, and on the Billboard Hot 100. It's B-side is "Kiss Kiss Kiss", by Yoko, herself. It was released as a single in 2002v and reached #20 on the Dance Club Songs chart. 

John Lennon – vocals, rhythm guitar
Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken – lead guitar
Tony Levin – bass guitar
George Small – keyboards
Andy Newmark – drums
Arthur Jenkins – percussion
Michelle Simpson, Cassandra Wooten, Cheryl Manson Jacks, Eric Troyer – backing vocals

Yoko Ono – vocals, handclaps, direction
Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken – lead guitar
George Small – keyboards
Arthur Jenkins – percussion, handclaps
John Lennon – percussion, guitar
Tony Levin – bass
Andy Newmark – drums

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++