#2: We All Need Love by Troiano

City: Smithers, BC
Radio Station: CFBV
Peak Month: July 1979
Peak Position in Smithers ~ #11
Peak Position in Vancouver ~ Playlist
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “We All Need Love”
Lyrics: “We All Need Love”

Domenic Troiano was born in Modugno, in southeastern Italy, in 1946. His family emigrated to Toronto when he was three-years-old. His first professional music work was with Robbie Lane & The Disciples in the early ’60s. That band got a break with they became Ronnie Hawkins backing band. In 1965, Troiano joined a local Toronto band called the Five Rogues, which later found success as Mandala. The Dells backed Mandala on their recording of “Opportunity” which reached #3 on CHUM in Toronto in early 1967. When Mandala dissolved in 1969, Troiano formed a jazz-influenced rock outfit called Bush. In 1970, he appeared on a solo album, Axe, by Guess Who bandmate Randy Bachman. He subsequently joined The James Gang in 1972, and co-wrote their minor hits “Looking for My Lady” and “Had Enough”. The same year he released his debut self-titled solo album, followed by Tricky in 1973. In 1974, Troiano wrote “Just As Bad As You”, a hit in Canada for Shawne Jackson (his then wife).

Next, he joined the Guess Who from 1974 to 1975, including the minor hit “Dancin’ Fool”. Troiano co-wrote that single, along with minor the Guess Who singles “Rosanne” and “When the Band Was Singing ‘Shakin’ All Over'”.

In 1976, Domenic Troiano went solo. The following year he released Burnin’ at the Stake. He kept on releasing new material with The Joke’s on Me in 1978, and Fret Fever in 1979. From Fret Fever, Troiano released his biggest hit “We All Need Love”.

In the song “We All Need Love” Domenic Troiano contends that love is the strongest force in life, so you better not waste your time or take love for granted. An anecdote tells of a musician on the road who was “always away” from his girlfriend. It made him “alone and mad.” Much as he enjoyed playing music on the road with his band, he realized there was something even more important.

“We All Need Love” reached #11 in Smithers (BC), #16 in Quebec City, and Ottawa, and #17 in Winnipeg (MB). A band called Ebony had a minor hit with “We All Need Love” in 1982. Later, in 1992 “We All Need Love” was covered by Double You. Their cover topped the pop chart in Belgium, and climbed to #5 in Italy and Spain, #6 in West Germany, #7 in Switzerland, #8 in Austria, #10 in France, and #12 in the Netherlands.

In 1980, Domenic Troiano was nominated for Producer of the Year at the Juno Awards. In the early 80s, Troiano headed up a new band called Black Market. Despite excitement about the musical project, record sales disappointed. Troiano also was a backing singer on albums with Moe Kauffman, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Long John Baldry, Martha Reeves, and David Clayton-Thomas. He later headed up Black Market Studios and Black Market Records.

In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2019, his song “Opportunity” (for his band Mandala) was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Canadianbands.com notes “He also did dozens of film and television scores for such shows as Juvenile Justice, Counterstrike, Night Heat and Top Cops. It was during this time he earned three Gemini Award nominations for his work on Hot Shots, Diamonds and Secret Service from ’88 to ’93.”

Domenic Troiano died at the age of 59 in 2005 from prostate cancer. Canadianbands.com reports “Following his death, his family set up The Domenic Troiano Guitar Scholarship, where two $1,500 scholarships are presented annually to Canadian guitarists – one male, one female who are pursuing post-secondary guitar education.”

August 19, 2026
Ray McGinnis

References:
“Domenic Troiano,” Canadianbands.com.
Jeremy Frey, “Domenic Troiano,” Domenictroiano.com, September 2005.

CFBV 1230-AM Smithers (BC) Top Ten | July 11, 1979