After the recently released new Honeymoon Suite strong album, it was requested here the band’s lead singer and songwriter JOHNNIE DEE solo album titled “Songs In Dee“.
There were trouble with the release of “Songs In Dee” at the very end of 2003: Johnnie didn’t supervised the final product and the CD’s were put on sale. All copies were retired soon and then made officially available the next year 2004, but poorly distributed by a small Canadian label.
Unfortunately led that “Songs In Dee” passed unnoticed for the major AOR / Melodic Rock audience, not to mention the CD turned almost impossible to find. We had to wait until 2014 for this reissue, but the albums still remains unheard by many fans of the genre.
And you need to listen “Songs In Dee”: it’s a wonderful record.
While of course these superbly crafted songs have similarities with Honeymoon Suite, we find a distinct personality, Johnnie’s personal touch. He put on the cover his real last name – JOHNNIE DeGIULI.
Together with Dee into the studio there were his Honeymoon Suite band mates Ray Coburn on keyboards and Derry Grehan on guitars (the other responsible musicians of the ‘classic Honeymoon’ style) so the fine musical melodies are granted here.
Also other legendary Canadian icons like Rik Emett (Triumph) and Kim Mitchell (Gowan, Max Webster, solo) went into the recording sessions to provide a couple of guitar solos enriching the album’s quality.
As said, on “Songs In Dee” we find many tracks that easily could have been taken from the early works from Honeyoon Suite, although sonically Johnnie goes here for a guitar-rich Melodic Rock, blending electric with acoustics, Hammond B3 organs and earthy drums.
Songs like “Seriously”, “Buch 15” or “Everybody Falls” display that mid-Eighties AOR nerve through charming melodies and Dee’s special way to phrasing. Catchy numbers as “Holiday”, “Out Here” and “How” are more Melodic Rock oriented, the latter with an unmistakable Honeymoon Suite feel, while softer moments can be heard on the Richie Sambora-like “Setting Sun”, the midtempo “The Light” and the extremely melodic closer “Life” (love the chorus), one of the highlights of this very good and complete album.
With the success as front man for Honeymoon Suite, John DeGiuli decided to step outside the “Johnnie Dee” persona. Although Honeymoon Suite was active at the time of this solo album, Johnnie felt the need to express himself outside the Honeymoon Suite box.
John’s signature voice, undeniable vocal range and great songwriting, form the basis of the musical style that is this talented musician.
“Songs In Dee” sound & style is Honeymoon Suite with out a doubt – it’s in Dee’s ADN – however, especially lyrically, the songs are more personal than anything from HMS, a true reflection of his ability to explore his craft.
For many people, “Songs In Dee” is better than anything Honeymoon Suite released after the ’80s – it’s a very, very good album indeed.
HIGHLY Recommended
You’ve seen it first at anywhere
01 – Seriously
02 – Holiday
03 – The Light
04 – Everybody Falls
05 – Out Here
06 – How
07 – Setting Sun
08 – Buck 15
09 – Train
10 – Life
Johnnie Dee Degiuli – Lead & Background Vocals
Derry Grehan – Guitar
Ray Coburn – Keyboards, Hammond B3
Rob Laidlaw – Bass, Guitar, Background Vocals
Randy Cooke – Drums, Percussion
Timothy Welsh – E-Bow, Guitar
Peter Nunn – Strings
Tara Slone – Background Vocals
Rik Emett (Triumph) – Guitar solo
Kim Mitchell (Gowan, Max Webster, solo) – Guitar solo
JOHNNIE DeGIULI (Johnnie Dee of Honeymoon Suite) – Songs In Dee (2014 reissue), MP3+FLAC
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