Rockin’ Remnants
Rockin’ Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 FM or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern. (Or download the WVBR+app now available for iOS and Android.)
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Date: August 26, 2023
Host: Gregory James
Feature: Chart Makers and Heart Breakers
Birthday Calendar
August 20
Robert Plant 75 years old
Isaac Hayes (b. 1942 d. 2008)
Sky Saxon (The Seeds) b. 1937 d. 2009
Sneaky Pete Kleinow b. 1934 d. 2007
August 21
Clydie King (sesson backing vocalist) b. 1943 d. 2019
Jackie DeShannon 82 years old
James Burton 84 years old
Kenny Rogers b. 1938 d. 2020
August 22
Ron Dante (Archies) 78 years old
August 23
Keith Moon b. 1946 d. 1978
August 24
John Cipollina b. 1943 d. 1989
David Freiberg 85 years old
Mason Williams 85 years old
August 25
Elvis Costello 69 years old
August 26
Valerie Simpson 78 years old
Bob Cowsill 74 years old
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
Question:
Recording engineer Roy Halee created a booming drum effect with lots of echo on two major records, one of which was played earlier tonight. What were those two records?
(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)
Playlist
* 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 subsequent dates) unless otherwise noted
* glossary of terms is below the playlist
6:00
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)
All Day And All Of The Night Kinks 1965 #7
One of the all-time great opening power chord riffs—more complex than the opening of “You Really Got Me.”
One Fine Day Chiffons 1963 #5
After Carole King and Gerry Goffin tried unsuccessfully to make the song work, they passed the song to The Tokens to produce. The Tokens had produced the Chiffons’ earlier hit “He’s So Fine.”
*Overnight Sensation Raspberries 1974 #18
Requested by Scottie and dedicated to Brooktondale Peggy. If you close your eyes, it almost sounds like the Beach Boys. Oh wait, you don’t have to close your eyes, this is radio.
Chain Of Fools Jimmy Smith 1968 #100
I Go to Pieces Del Shannon 1965 DNC
Shannon wrote the song but did not record it until after Peter and Gordon released their version. So you heard his cover of their cover of his original song!
You’ve Lost That Lovin' Feelin’ Righteous Brothers 1965 #1
This wall of sound classic has been played on the radio so often that it has been named a Song of the (20th) Century. The line “you’ve lost that loving feeling” was originally a place-holder lyric.
Hang On Sloopy McCoys 1965 #1
The song’s original title was “My Girl Sloopy.” The McCoys often played Dayton, so the song became the official rock song of Ohio.
Summer In The City Lovin' Spoonful 1966 #1
To create the percussion for the record’s opening, engineer Roy Halee placed a microphone in an empty garbage can which drummer Sal Yanovsky hit with a drumstick. Roy Halee repeated this effect on “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel.
Heat Wave Martha and the Vandellas 1963 #4 H100 #1RB
Lamont Dozier has said that he wrote the song during an actual five-day heat wave in Detroit.
Laugh, Laugh Beau Brummels 1965 #15
Lead singer Sal Valentino once claimed the band did not even know how to spell “Beau Brummels.” The harmonica was played by Declan Mulligan. The track was produced by a young Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone.
Always Something There To Remind Me Dionne Warwick 1968 #65
Warwick recorded a demo version of the song in 1963, but the record was not released until 1968.
*Rockin’ Robin Michael Jackson 1972 #2
Are You Lonesome Tonight? Elvis Presley 1960 #1
Execs at Presley’s RCA label delayed the release of the track because they believed that the song did not reflect Presley’s public persona.
It's My Party Lesley Gore 1963 #1
Quincy Jones produced this track and got it to radio stations before the rumored Crystals’ version, which was never released.
Can't You See That She's Mine Dave Clark 5 1964 #4
This track was the DC5’s fourth gold record.
Then He Kissed Me Crystals 1963 #6
Or rather, the Crystal, singular. Dolores Brooks was the only Crystal to perform on the song. She was 15 years old when she recorded her lead vocal.
7:00
Over the Hills and Far Away Led Zeppelin 1973 #51
Let’s Begin Clydie King and Bob Dylan 1981 NR
This was a Jimmy Webb song rendered in a tuneful rendition by longtime vocal collaborators Clydie King and Bob Dylan.
Walk On By Isaac Hayes 1969 #30
Isaac Hayes played Hammond organ and sang the vocals live while conducting the Bar-Kays at the same time.
Pushing Too Hard The Seeds 1967 H100 #36 RRHOF
Sky Saxon wrote and sang the song which was originally released in 1965, re-released in 1966 and charted at #36 in 1967. This two chord rocker featured Daryl Hooper on piano and Jan Savage on guitar.
Break My Mind Flying Burrito Brothers 1973 NR
I Don’t Need You Anymore Jackie DeShannon 1980 #85
This was a Burt Bacharach and Paul Anka song from the movie “Together?”
Hello Mary Lou Ricky Nelson 1961 #9
This was a double A-side hit with “Travelin’ Man,” and featured an iconic guitar solo by James Burton.
Through the Years Kenny Rogers 1982 #13 H100 #5CW #1 AC
The song was a personal favorite of Kenny Rogers.
Sugar, Sugar Archies 1969 #1 (four weeks)
This record replaced “Honky Tonk Women” at #1 on the Hot 100. Ron Dante and Andy Kim were the lead male vocalists of the Archies.
Bell Boy The Who 1973 NR
Keith Moon sings and speaks the lyrics of the titular bell boy in this track from Quadrophenia.
Pride of Man Quicksilver Messenger Service 1967 NR
Classical Gas Mason Williams 1968 #2
The Wrecking Crew provided some of the backing instrumentation.
Radio, Radio Elvis Costello 1978
In 2003 Elvis Costello said that “radio is absolutely the enemy of music.”
Silver Threads and Golden Needles Cowsills 1969 #74
Cool harmonies, complex rhythms and they played their own instruments: it was groovier than one might have expected.
8:00
Born To Be Wild Steppenwolf 1968 #2
Written by Mars Bonfire who was born in Oshawa Ontario. If that song does not get your motor running, nothing will.
Leader Of The Pack Shangri-Las 1964 #1
It might also be known as the ballad of Betty and Jimmy…
Tell Laura I Love Her Ray Peterson 1960 #7
In the song’s original lyrics, Tommy died in a rodeo accident rather than a stock car race.
Be My Baby Ronettes 1963 #2
The Ronettes’ first name was Ronnie and the Relatives, since the other two singers were Ronnie’s sister Estelle and her cousin Nedra Talley
Don't Worry Baby Beach Boys 1964 #24
Brian Wilson was inspired to write the song after hearing the Ronettes song “Be My Baby.” He offered the song to the Ronettes, but Phil Spector turned it down.
*Trying to Live My Life Without You Bob Seger/Silver Bullet Band 1981 #5
Requested by Terry. Nice cover of a 1973 Otis Clay song.
Out Of Sight James Brown 1964 #24
The punchy vocals, horns and percussion were the blueprint for all the funk that followed.
Bye Bye Love Everly Brothers 1957 #2 H100 #1 CW
Mrs. Robinson Simon and Garfunkel 1968 #1
Under the heading of current events…
*Blue Moon Beatles 1968
An outtake from the White Album recording session.
I Left My Heart In San Francisco Tony Bennett 1962 #19
Tony Bennett first sang the song publicly at the Venetian Room in the Hotel Fairmont in San Francisco. He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he took our hearts along with his.
Go Now! Moody Blues 1965 #10
Denny Laine sang the lead vocal and played guitar and Mike Pinder played the piano.
I Know a Place Petula Clark 1965 #3
The phrase “cellar full of noise” was a reference to Liverpool’s subterranean Cavern Club where the Beatles paid their dues. During the mid-‘60s Petula Clark’s records were more popular in the U.S. than in her home country.
Sherry Four Seasons 1962 #1 H100 and RB
Bob Gaudio’s original title was Jackie Baby—as in Kennedy Onassis.
Lonely Teardrops Jackie Wilson 1959 #7 H100 #1 RB
It can be difficult to fall asleep on a wet pillow…
Don't Bring Me Down Animals 1966 #12
The Animals had mixed feelings about recording Brill Building songs, but they were among the Animals’ most successful records.
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying Gerry and the Pacemakers 1964 #4
George Martin produced the track.
I Got A Name Jim Croce 1973 #10
Even though the song is strongly associated with Jim Croce, he did not write it. His wife Ingrid has said that Croce was nervous to record a song while not playing his guitar, but he channeled that energy into his singing. The guitar was played by Croce’s long time collaborator Maury Muehleisen, who died in the same plane crash that killed Jim Croce.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
"Summer in the City" Lovin’ Spoonful
"The Boxer" Simon and Garfunkel
Congratulations to Dave from Dryden for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s home for first-run, international, independent and local films.
Glossary of Terms:
DNC = did not chart
NR = not released as a single at the time
AC = Billboard’s chart for Adult Contemporary records
H100 = Billboard Hot 100
CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records
RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records
RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Host September 2, 2023: John Rudan with a spotlight on “Work to Do—Songs for Labor Day.”
Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin’ Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca NY) or streaming on WVBR.com.
Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!
