Rockin' Remnants
Rockin' Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9pm! (Or download the WVBR+ app now available for iOS and Android!)
Date: 6/4/16
Host: John Simon
Feature: A good old-fashioned Oldies show
"Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody....but you. Won't you join me? It's cheap date night and the request line is open (607-273-2121)." No real theme tonight, just a bunch of Springtime records and listener requests.
Birthday Calendar
June 1 – Ronnie Wood (Faces, Stones) – age 69
June 2 – Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones) – age 75
June 3 – Curtis Mayfield – born in1942
June 4 – Michelle Phillips (Mamas & Papas) – age 72
– Gordon Waller (Peter & Gordon) – born in 1945
Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia
The Drifters had the biggest hit with Goffin/King's "Up On The Roof." Can you name two other artists who charted with it?
(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)
Playlist
[songs in bold are from the spotlight date of DATE; yellow song titles are YouTube links; songs with * were requests; all chart information comes from the Billboard Top 100 (for chart dates before/during July 1958) or Billboard Hot 100 (for chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted]
6-7pm
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)
Since I Lost My Baby - Temptations (7/65; #17 Pop, #4 R&B - "The sun is shining, there's plenty of light...." A near-perfect slice of Motown magic from the pen of Smokey Robinson, delivered by the incomparable David Ruffin.)
So In Love - Tymes (6/63; #1 - it opens with the sound of waves and birds and finger snaps, and captures the feeling of an entire era in under three minutes.)
I'll Try Something New - Miracles (5/62; #39 - a nice stereo version of a pretty sophisticated early Smokey tune. The Supremes & Temptations would team up and record this one six years later.)
Tighten Up (Pt. 1) - Archie Bell & The Drells (4/68; #1 Pop and R&B - an out-of-the-blue #1 smash for Atlantic Records by the group from Houston, Texas who amously bragged about being able to dance "...as good as we walk!")
Georgie Porgie - Jewel Akens (5/65; #68 - the follow-up to his Top 5 The Birds and The Bees, following the exact same formula - and practically the same melody line - failed to achieve much success.)
* 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) - Simon & Garfunkel (3/67; dnc - tucked on the b-side of At The Zoo. This was simultaneously released by Harpers Bizarre, who took it to the upper reaches of the Hot 100.)
Red Rubber Ball - Cyrkle (5/66; #2 - another Paul Simon creation - along with writing help from The Seekers' Bruce Woodley.)
Build Me Up Buttercup - Foundations (1/69; #3 - a good-time party record on the Uni Records label that was used to great effect in the film Something About Mary.)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra (2/68; #2 - the most successful of the "Spaghetti Western" soundtrack singles of the sixties.)
* Just A Little - Beau Brummels (4/65; #8 - produced by young jack-of-all-trades Sylvester Stewart, who would later be universally known as Sly Stone.)
* More Today Than Yesterday - Spiral Starecase (4/69; #12 - a great horn-driven declaration of love, requested by a listener who wasn't sure of the name, so....he sang it to me over the phone.)
Up On the Bridge - Chiffons (10/68; dnc - a haunting gem released on the Laurie Records label. I think it should've been a hit....)
Up On the Roof - Drifters (11/62; #5 - a great slice of New York City songwriting and production from the pens of Goffin & King. There were at least three other charting versions of this one. Take a guess and then check the very bottom of the page.)
Up The Ladder To The Roof - Supremes (3/70; #10 - Diana had recently left and Jean Terrell had just stepped in. This was one of their last great records before their hit-making days were over.)
* Hot Rod Lincoln - Commander Cody (3/72; #9 - this is, hands-down, the most-frequently-requested song on my radio show. Amazing!)
* Last Song - Edward Bear (12/72; #3 - requested by Woody in Danby, who has a soft spot in his heart for this plaintive little number.)
Heart & Soul - Cleftones (5/61; #18 - clocking in at under two minutes, this was a last gasp for the Doo Wop community, released on New York's Gee Records label.)
Dedicated To The One I Love - Mamas & Papas (2/67; #2 for 3 weeks - featuring a rare lead vocal from Mama Michelle, who has a birthday this very day. Part of its charm can be found in the instrumental break, when pianist Larry Knechtel and drummer Hal Blaine strut their mutual stuff.)
I Go To Pieces - Peter & Gordon (1/65; #9 - a majestic opening 12-string guitar line kicks off this fine Gene Pitney composition.)
Fool For You - Impressions (9/68; #22 - the band released a stunning series of singles near the end of Curtis Mayfield's tenure as chief songwriter and lead singer. This is one of them.)
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll - Rolling Stones (8/74; #16 - Ron Wood joined the band after Mick Taylor's early departure. He co-wrote this tune with Mick Jagger. Happy birthday to him AND drummer Charlie Watts.)
Every Picture Tells a Story - Faces (1971; dnc - before he was a Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood was one of the Faces. He co-wrote this one and played bass and guitar on the recording, which Rod Stewart chose as the title track of his classic album.)
* How Can I Be Sure - Young Rascals (10/67; #4 - listener Betsy wanted to hear something in 3/4 time. She listed about five possibilities. This and the next are two of them.)
* Norwegian Wood - The Beatles (1965; dnc - from the groundbreaking Rubber Soul album, this was shockingly risque at the time: a confession of extramarital sex from the married Beatle! In 3/4 time, no less. And with a sitar!)
* Let's Stay Together - Al Green (12/71; #1 - the sweet soulful stylings of a man who still makes beautiful music!)
Soul Man - Sam & Dave (9/67; #2 Pop, #1 R&B for seven weeks! - Steve Cropper plays the guitar lick and gets a shout-out from Sam himself, who says "Play it, Steve!")
* I Feel Free - Cream (12/67; #116 - the first single released by this seminal "power trio"/supergroup failed to chart, but garnered plenty of play on the FM band.)
* The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan (1964; dnc - not released as a single, but it was a protest anthem for the ages. Rolling Stone ranks it at #59 in its RS500 list.)
Time Won't Let Me - Outsiders (2/66; #5 - Capitol Records had another hit on their hands with this one!)
She's A Lady - John Sebastian (1/69; #84 - this one clocks in at 1:46. I remember listening to WNEW-FM in NYC when it first came out and the DJ played it back-to-back-to-back. He just couldn't get enough of it!)
* Bowling Green - Everly Brothers (5/67; #40 - called in from Kentucky by my buddy JH, who was listening in on his telephone app. The world just got smaller....)
Ooh Child - Stairsteps (5/70; #8 - originally the b-side of their cover of The Beatles' Dear Prudence, this became the band's biggest hit. It also ranked at #392 in the RS500.)
Photograph - Ringo Starr (10/73; #1 - Ringo continues to tour, and has aged most gracefully. He played Syracuse the night before our show, and our friend Ken reports singing along at the top of his lungs to this one.)
Let's Fall In Love - Peaches & Herb (12/66; #21 - the first charting single for this smooth duo on the Date Records label)
* Joanne - Michael Nesmith & First National Band (8/70; #21 - Mike was the most successful of the Monkees, in terms of having a solo career after the show folded. This is one of a string of great records he recorded for the RCA label.)
Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold (3/77; #7 - this multi-instrumentalist played on many of Linda Ronstadt's biggest hits in the Seventies. He got star-billing on this record, and it was well-earned.)
I Just Don't Want To Be Lonely - Ronnie Dyson (8/73; #60 - Ronnie Dyson's career took off after he stole the show in the Tribal Rock Musical Hair. This song was also released by the Main Ingredient, who had the bigger hit. I prefer this version.)
(All I Have To Do Is) Dream - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (8/75; #66 - the title track from this great album featured all of their best ingredients: banjo and acoustic instruments mixed with great electric guitar, killer harmonies and good source material. In this case, the writing of Felice & Boudelaux Bryant.)
Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning) - John Denver (9/73; #89 - a strikingly powerful song that mysteriously stalled on the Billboard charts. Maybe it's because the song's title was confusing. Go figure....)
Rock Your Baby - George McCrae (6/74; #1 Pop and R&B - an accidental hit for the Floridian, whose wife Gwen was supposed to sing the high part but who was late for the recording session. He stepped up and was nearly rewarded with a Grammy Award for his efforts.)
45 Corner: A Street That Rhymes At 6:00 A.M. - Norma Tanega (5/66; #129 - this one-hit wonder released this follow-up to her quirky Walkin' My Cat Named Dog, but this one was a little TOO quirky. It's very hard to find, but we tracked down a copy at the Friends Of The Library Book Sale. Here it is!)
* I Got A Name - Jim Croce (10/73; #10 - when I was searching for the Cream album above, I had to wade through bout ten Jim Croce albums. It was crazy! When I got a request for "a Jim Croce song - any one will do," this is the one I went with.)
* Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett (4/77; #8 - we started the show with some sunny weather music, and we'll end it that way too. Thanks for the request, Chip. See you all in two weeks....)
Trivia Answer
Four artists reached the Hot 100 with Up On The Roof during the Rockin' Remnants era:
The Drifters #5 in 1962
Cryan Shames #85 in 1968
Laura Nyro #92 in 1971
James Taylor #28 in 1979
Congratulations to Doug from Ithaca, for correctly answering the question and winning a $25 lane rental at Atlas Bowl in Trumansburg!
Host Next Week (DATE): HOST with a spotlight on SPOTLIGHT
Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9pm on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca, NY) or at wvbr.com/listen.
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