Matthew Fisher

In the Greek Radio charts

August 2000: Lefteris Lalos writes to BtP

Hi I'm Terry

I'm living in Athens, Attica, Hellas for the past 5 years after leaving my hometown Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Hellas. For many people in the US & in the UK it may come as a surprise to find out that Matthew Fisher, former member of Procol Harum is indeed a very big star, not only in the area of Thessaloniki (meaning cities like Veroia, Serres, Katerini and others), but also in our capital Athens where his song Why'd I have to fall in love with you is receiving respectable air - play the last couple of years.

I first heard Matthew singing back in 1984 when his song Can't you feel my love was #1 in Radio 1's in Thessaloniki, and I remember our local star - Jockey George Alexiou being obsessed with Matthew but also with unknown (by that time) singers like Bertie Higgins (Casablanca, Key Largo, Tokyo Joe), Adrian Gurvitz (Classic), Paul Davis (I go crazy) and many others.

I can say , without a doubt, that the Matthew Fisher song Why'd I have to fall in love with you is the #1 Radio favourite of all times in the region of Macedonia, Hellas.

While searching my archives from back in the 80s I found some interesting charts by local Radio stations of the Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Hellas area including Matthew Fisher songs. These charts have got nothing to do with sales. They are simple "People's choice" charts and reflect mostly the air - play of the songs being referred to. (Matthew's LPs were never released in Hellas).

Radio 1 - Thessaloniki (Top 20 - Sunday 3 Feb 1985) / DJ George Alexiou
1.Heaven - BRYAN ADAMS
2.Smile - CHRIS REA
3.If you're not here - MENUDO
16 (new entry).Can't you feel my love - MATTHEW FISHER

Radio 1 - Thessaloniki (Top 20 - Sunday 2 Feb 1986) - DJ George Alexiou
1.Say you Say me - LIONEL RICHIE
2.Oh mon amour - CHRISTOPHE
3.Tokyo Joe - BERTIE HIGGINS
4.Can't stop loving you now - MATTHEW FISHER (previously on # 1)
14.Why'd I have to fall in love with you - M. FISHER (previously on # 1)

Music Channel of Thessaloniki 97.3 FM(Top 20 - 24 Mar 1987) - DJ Nikos Katanakis
1.Living on a prayer - BON JOVI
2.Why'd I have to fall in love with you - MATTHEW FISHER
3.The right thing - SIMPLY RED

16 Hours Thessaloniki 96 FM (Top 50 - 9 May 1987) - DJ Antonis Kanakis
1.Mary's prayer - DANNY WILSON
2.City lights - WILLIAM PITT
3.Keep me hanging on - COLOURBOX
12.Why'd I have to fall in love with you - MATTHEW FISHER

Pop Club Serres 97 FM (The 1987 Top 40) DJ Alexis Litharis
1.Wonderful life - BLACK
2.Why'd I have to fall in love with you - MATTHEW FISHER
24.Only a game - MATTHEW FISHER

Pop Club Serres 97 FM (Top 40 - 17 Apr 1988) - DJ Alexis Litharis
1.Honey I'm lost - DOOLEYS
2.When you hold me - AXIS
3.Route 66 - DEPECHE MODE
34.Give it a try - MATTHEW FISHER

Music Channel of Thessaloniki 97.3 FM (People's choice - All times Top 50 - April 1988)
DJ George Michalopoulos
1.Can't fight this feeling - REO SPEEDWAGON
2.Do you really want to hurt me - CULTURE CLUB
3.Rock'n'roll dreams come through - JIM STEINMAN
39.Why'd I have to fall in love with you - MATTHEW FISHER

I don't have all the charts needed to help you any further (I mean highest chart positions or weeks in the charts) but those available indicate the effect Matthew had on all of us young Macedonians who spent a lot of time listening to our local radio stations during the 80s with his smooth & gentle easy listening music.

You see whether we like it or not, Matthew is a part of our DNA as well as some other singers not given the proper publicity or hype by their record companies.

Last time I've heard of George Alexiou he was having his own Radio Show on Thessaloniki's Star FM 97.1 (look up Radio Stations in Thessaloniki). Maybe someone over there might help you find out about his whereabouts..
Star FM address: Aristotelous 3, 54624 Thessaloniki / e - mail: info@starfm.gr

Telephone: 220 - 300 (Thessaloniki's zip code 031) / 238 - 949, 238 - 959.