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: December 30, 2023
Host: Gregory James
Feature: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Birthday Calendar
December 24
Lee Dorsey b. 1924 d. 1986
December 25
Merry Clayton 75 years old
Jimmy Buffett b. 1946 d. 9/1/23
Chris Kenner b. 1929 d. 1976
December 26
Abdul Duke Fakir 88 years old
December 27
Mike Pinder (Moody Blues) 82 years old
Karla Bonoff 71 years old
December 28
Alex Chilton b. 1950 d. 2010
Mary Weiss (Shangri-Las) 75 years old
December 29
Marianne Faithfull 77 years old
Barbara Alston (Crystals) b. 1943 d. 2018
Bobby Comstock b. 1941 d. 2020
December 30
Jeff Lynne 76 years old
Davy Jones (Monkees) b. 1945 d. 2012
Mike Nesmith (Monkees) b. 1942 d. 2021
Del Shannon b. 1934 d. 1990
Bo Diddley b. 1928 d. 2008
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
In the 6:00 hour I played the first record by an all-female African American singing group to reach #1. What was the record and who was the group?
(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)
Let’s Live for Today Grass Roots 1967 #8
The song was originally written with Italian lyrics and was called “Piangi con me” which literally means “cry with me.” Michael Julien wrote English lyrics to replace the original Italian ones.
Shapes of Things Yardbirds 1966 #11
The track was the first record composed by the Yardbirds to become a chart hit, and Jeff Beck called the record “the pinnacle of the Yardbirds.”
Yesterday’s Gone Chad and Jeremy 1964 #21
This record was the first song written by Chad Stuart and was their only UK hit.
Today I Met the Boy I’m Gonna Marry Darlene Love 1963 #39
After a successful career as a backing vocalist, this was Darlene Love’s first single as a solo artist.
Tomorrow Joe Walsh 1978
*Celebrate Three Dog Night 1970 #15
Horns by Chicago Transit Authority. Going out to Peggy with love from Scottie.
Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday Stevie Wonder 1969 #7
Wonder had recorded the song in 1967 and Motown released it to keep Wonder on the radio while his voice was evolving and Motown was not releasing any new material from him.
Things We Said Today Beatles 1964 DNC
This was the B-side to “Hard Day’s Night.” Paul McCartney has said the song is about “future nostalgia.” The video below captures a fine live performance--watch how they blast into the bridge ("Me, I'm just a lucky guy.."). Also check out the footage at 1:37. Beatlemania at its finest.
Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow Shirelles 1961 #1
Carole King was 18 when she wrote this song. The record was the first one by an African-American female group to reach #1 on the Hot 100—before the Supremes, the Marvelettes or Martha and the Vandellas.
*More Today Than Yesterday Spiral Starecase 1969 #12
This record is so well crafted (and suitable for all themes and occasions) that it has been in heavy rotation lately on Rockin’ Remnants. Requested by Terry.
Yesterday and You Bobby Vee 1963 #55
The song was written by Ross Bagdasarian (David Seville) of Alvin and the Chipmunks fame.
*In My Life Judy Collins 1967
Requested by Barbara and dedicated to Larry.
Yesterday’s Songs Neil Diamond 1982 #11 H100 #1 AC
Tomorrow Strawberry Alarm Clock 1968 #23
Off of their second LP “Wake Up It’s Tomorrow” on the Uni label. The video is live and a little blurry, but it gives an idea of how impressive these guys were.
Today New Christy Minstrels 1964 #17 H100 #4 AC
Among the members of NCM were Barry McGuire and Gene Clark.
Yesterday Beatles 1965 #1
Because the song was a departure from earlier Beatles songs, and because McCartney was the only Beatle to play on the track, the Beatles declined to allow the song to be released as a single in the U.K. until 1976. In the U.S, Capitol Records took matters into their own hands and released “Yesterday” as a single in 1965. The video below is an excellent live version from 1965. Starting at the 1:00 mark, do you think Paul was sweating or crying?
Here Today Beach Boys 1967 DNC
Dig the bass played up the octave as the principal instrument, and the brass section featuring trombones on this track from “Pet Sounds!”
7:00
Do Re Mi Lee Dorsey 1970
A Song for You Merry Clayton 1971
The video below was recorded in 2009 and Clayton continued to bring it 38 years later.
Life Is Just a Tire Swing Jimmy Buffett 1974
From his album “A1A.”
I Like It Like That Chris Kenner 1961 #2 H100 #2 RB
A Simple Game Four Tops 1972 #90
Written by Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues. The video is a lip sync shot on a soundstage, but it shows the group in their prime.
How Is It We Are Here? Moody Blues 1970 NR
Another Mike Pinder composition.
Baby Don’t Go Karla Bonoff 1979 NR
Bonoff wrote the song with Kenny Edwards who sang harmony along with Andrew Gold.
Cry Like a Baby Box Tops 1968 #2
Reggie Young played the electric sitar. Alex Chilton was 17 when he recorded the track.
I Can Never Go Home Anymore Shangri-Las 1965 #6
Mary Weiss has said that she was on such bad terms with her own mother that when she sang lead on this record, she was crying in the studio.
Come and Stay With Me Marianne Faithfull 1965 #26
Written specifically for Marianne Faithfull by Jackie DeShannon.
Uptown Crystals 1962 #13
Although Barbara Alston started out as the lead singer of The Crystals, she suffered stage fright and was glad to assume the role of backing vocalist on their later records.
Let’s Stomp Bobby Comstock and the Counts 1963 #57
Written by three guys who subsequently became The Strangeloves.
Shine a Little Love Electric Light Orchestra 1979 #8
Jeff Lynne went full disco on this song, which also featured a 40 piece string section.
Pleasant Valley Sunday Monkees 1967 #3
Mike Nesmith played the iconic guitar intro and sang harmony on this Goffin-King song, as did Davy Jones.
Runaway Del Shannon 1961 #1
Al Caiola played guitar.
Who Do You Love? Bo Diddley 1956 DNC
Bo Diddley’s drummer Clifton James came up with “cobra snake for a necktie.” The guitar was not played by Diddley, but by Jody Williams.
*Going Out of My Head Little Anthony and the Imperials 1964 #6
8:00
Tomorrow is Another Day Doris Troy 1963 #118
Tomorrow’s Dream Al Green 1971
This was the B-side to “Let’s Stay Together.”
Yesterday’s Rain Spanky and Our Gang 1968 #94
Today Jefferson Airplane 1967 NR
Marty Balin wrote the song to impress Tony Bennett who was recording in the studio next door—they never met, but it is interesting to imagine what Bennett might have done with the song.
Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring Traffic 1968 DNC
Written by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, who played all the instruments.
New Day Yesterday Jethro Tull 1969 DNC
Recording engineer Andy Johns swung a microphone on its cable in wide circles around the studio to make Martin Barre’s guitar sound like it was moving between stereo channels.
I’ll Cry Tomorrow Honeycombs 1964
Only Yesterday Carpenters 1975 #4 H100 #1 AC
In retrospect, this lyric sung by Karen is haunting:
“In my own time, nobody knew/The pain I was goin’ through…”
Tomorrow is Today Billy Joel 1972
This is a blistering live version of a song that first appeared on 1971’s “Cold Spring Harbor.”
Today’s The Day America 1976 #23
According to composer Dan Peek, when he played the song for Rod Stewart, Rod said something like “That gives me an idea.” Peek has subsequently said his song was the inspiration for “Tonight’s the Night”
I Don’t Live Today Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967 DNC
That Girl Belongs to Yesterday Gene Pitney 1964 #49
The young Mick Jagger and Keith Richard were fans of Gene Pitney, and they wrote this song for him.
It Happened Today Skyliners 1959 #59
Seems Like Only Yesterday Four Seasons 1964 NR
Hey Tomorrow Jim Croce 1972
Ingrid Croce has said that she and her husband Jim wrote the song together in their Bronx apartment. She said it was an homage to their enduring relationship.
I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today Judy Collins 1966
Composer Randy Newman has said he considers the song to be “too maudlin.” To my ear, he is channeling T.S. Eliot, at least in the first verse. Judy Collins’ version from her album “In My Life,” was the B-side to “Hard Lovin’ Loser.”
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" Shirelles 1960
Congratulations to first-time winner Carolyn from Newfield 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
RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records
Host January 6, 2024: Jan Hunsinger
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!
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