"Love You Like I Never Loved Before" by John O'Banion

Song#:  0552
Date:  03/28/1981
Debut:  72
Peak:  24
Weeks:  13
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Even before his debut solo album, O'Banion had some interesting career moments already. The Kokomo, Indiana, native had his own radio show and then local TV show. He later auditioned and won the lead singer roll in Doc Severinsen's band Today's Children. That connection got him appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. After departing from the group, O'Banion continued with music and also his other work as an actor. He finally got his own record deal with Elektra and released his self-titled debut album in 1981. When this first single was released, it was actually the top debut of the week coming in over classic 80s songs like "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Jessie's Girl." However, it stalled short of the Top 20 and was O'Banion's only chart entry. He issued another album that went nowhere, but he gained a sizable following in Japan. Unfortunately, he suffered traumatic injuries when he was hit by a car and spent years dealing with the fallout. He died in 2007.

ReduxReview:  It reminds me of something Huey Lewis & the News would do. O'Banion sounds really great on the track and it is a fun shuffle. I'm not sure why it didn't do a little better on the chart. Seems like a solid Top 20 entry at least. I'm not ga-ga about it, but it is a nice listen.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) O'Banion sang the winning entry in the Tokyo Music Festival in 1982. The song "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" was then recorded by Crystal Gayle and became a #2 country hit in 1984.  2) I can't quite confirm this, but I've seen where O'Banion was on the premier of "Star Search" in 1983 and won the first male vocalist match-up on that episode. However, I'm seeing more evidence that he competed on an episode in the second season in 1984 in the acting category, but it appears he lost in that match-up. It seems to make sense that he was on the show as the musical director of the series, Joey Carbone, wrote or co-wrote many of the songs O'Banion recorded (including this single and the Tokyo prize winning song).

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