Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" by John O'Banion

He's from Kokomo, Indiana, and he was in a local band called Hog Honda & the Chain Guards at age 13.  He hosted his own radio show on WIOU and his own local television show by age 20.

O'Banion was the lead singer in Doc Severinsen's band, Today's Children.  Johnny Carson, in fact, was a big fan.  O'Banion made five appearances on The Tonight Show, as well as appearing on The Merv Griffin Show and The Mike Douglas Show.  He also appeared on American Bandstand and Solid Gold, and he won a contest on Star Search.

O'Banion released this single in 1981, and, although it was a huge hit in many places, it stalled at #24.  John won the Tokyo Music Festival Award in 1982 with "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love", and his popularity in Japan surged when two of his songs were featured in the movie Legend of the Eight Samurai.

Unfortunately, because some stations did not play this song, we never heard from John O'Banion again.  Not everyone has a huge bankroll that enables them to keep recording songs if their first one doesn't make it.  And Elektra Records, his record label, didn't believe in him enough to promote him properly.  In 2007, just days before his 60th birthday, O'Banion died of blunt force trauma as the result of a car accident several years before.  He had been battling the effects of the trauma to the head folling the accident.

John, we know you had a great song that deserved to be a Top 10, even if some radio stations didn't.


Written by John O'Banion

Heard a promise in the wind,
Then I saw you walking in...
Tell me baby where you been so long?
Waited all my life to feel this strong!

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
And every day I love you so much more.
Feeling like I never felt so sure,
Love You Like I Never Loved Before!

Lonely days and lonely nights,
(needing you)
Finally gone and out of sight.
(Thanks to you)
I'll do everything within my power
To make your life get sweeter hour by hour.

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
And every day I love you so much more.
Feeling like I never felt so sure,
Love You Like I Never Loved Before.

I'll do everything within my power
To make your life get sweeter hour by hour.

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
And every day I love you so much more.
Feeling like I never felt so sure,
Love You Like I Never Loved Before.

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
(No I Never)
No I Never
(Never Loved Before)
I Love You Like I Never Loved Before

(repeat)