Wednesday, April 17, 2024

4/13/24 - GJ - This Week in Rock History

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:  April 13, 2024

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: This Week in Rock History

Birthday Calendar

April 7

Janis Ian 73 years old

John Oates 76 years old

Patricia Bennett  (Chiffons)  77 years old

Mongo Santamaria  b. 1922

April 8

Mel Schacher  (Grand Funk Railroad bassist)  73 years old

Leon Huff   82 years old

April 9

Gene Parsons  80 years old

April 10

Brian Setzer (Stray Cats)  65 years old

April 12

David Cassidy  b. 1950  d. 2017

John Kay   80 years old

April 13

Al Green  78 years old

Lowell George  b. 1945  d. 1979

Jack Casady  (Jefferson Airplane)   80 years old

Lester Chambers  84 years old

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

What was Brian Jones’ stage name when he first met Mick Jagger and Keith Richards at the Ealing Jazz Club in West London in 1962? 

(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

* Rod Crouch’s blog “Inside the Rock Era” was the source for some of the information below.

6:00-7:00

OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)

That’ll Be the Day Buddy Holly and the Crickets 1957  #1

April 7 1958:  Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show," a concert at Memorial Hall in Canton, Ohio featured Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Chantels.

ALAN FREED CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY IN ...

Paperback Writer   Beatles   1966  #1

April 13 1966:  Without any prior rehearsal, the Beatles began recording "Paperback Writer," developing the song over 6 1/2 hours.

The Beatles recording Paperback Writer ...

Maybe    The Chantels   1958   #15  H100

Maybe (The Chantels song) - Wikipedia

King Bee Rolling Stones  1964  NR

April 7 1962:  Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met Brian Jones for the first time at the Ealing Jazz Club in West London.  At the time, Jones was called Elmo Lewis. Jones played lead guitar on “King Bee.” off their first LP in 1964.

The Ealing Club: the unlikely ...

Twistin' The Night Away    Sam Cooke  1962  #1 RB  #9 H100

April 7 1962:  Sam Cooke remained atop the R&B chart for a third week with "Twistin' The Night Away." The sax solo was by Jewell Grant

Jewell Grant Discography | DiscogsSam Cooke – Twistin' The Night Away ...

*Johnny Angel    Shelley Fabares   1962  #1

April 7 1962:  Shelley Fabares moved to #1 with "Johnny Angel."  Darlene Love and the Blossoms were the backing singers. Requested by Barbara and dedicated to John Simon.

Johnny Angel (song) - Wikipedia

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head  B.J. Thomas  1970  #1

April 7, 1970:  "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (from the movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid ) won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head ...

*Yakety Yak Coasters  1958  #1 RB  #1 H100

Sax solo by King Curtis, Mike Stoller on piano.

Yakety Yak - song and lyrics by The ...

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia  Vicki Lawrence   1973  #1

April 7, 1973  Vicki Lawrence topped the Hot 100 Singles chart with "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia". A Southern gothic pop song with a plot twist at the end.

the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Wikipedia

Love Takes Time  Orleans   1979  #11 Peak

April 7, 1979:  Orleans had one of the hottest new songs on the radio with "Love Takes Time"

VINYL 7 " ORLEANS LOVE TAKES TIME / ISN ...Orleans - Love Takes Time - YouTube

All Shook Up  Elvis Presley  1957   #1

April 8 1957:  Elvis occupied the #1 spot with "All Shook Up".

All Shook Up - Wikipedia

Kansas City   Wilbert Harrison   1959   #1

April 8 1959:  Wilbert Harrison released the single "Kansas City.” Just before the guitar solo by Jimmy Spruill, Harrison says a word that many people have interpreted as “mustang,” but I hear it as “muskrat.”

Spotlight: Wilbert Harrison ...

Where Did Our Love Go?  Supremes   1964  #1

April 8 1964:  The Supremes recorded "Where Did Our Love Go" for Motown. The record would become their first #1 hit. The sax solo was by Mike Terry.

EML's Favorite Songs – “Where Did Our ...

I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)  Aretha Franklin  1967  #1 RB  #9 H100

April 8 1967:  Aretha Franklin had the #1 R&B song for the third week with "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)." Cissy Houston and Aretha’s sisters Erma and Carolyn sang back up.

Erma Franklin Isn't Just Aretha's Older ...

That Would Be Something   Paul McCartney  1970  NR

April 9 1970:  Paul McCartney quit the Beatles.  The news was announced the following day. This was the first complete song McCartney recorded for his first solo album.

 McCartney III ...

(You're My) Soul And Inspiration Righteous Brothers  1966  #1

April 9 1966: The Righteous Brothers began a three-week stay at #1 with "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration." You heard the “long” version of this track produced by Jack Nitzsche and Bill Medley

The Number Ones: The Righteous Brothers ...

Let's Dance   David Bowie   1983    #1

April 9 1983:  David Bowie reached #1 on the U.K. Singles chart with "Let's Dance." The track featured guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan at the end, although David Bowie mimed the solo in the video.

David Bowie - Let's Dance [ECD ...

7:00-8:00

Watermelon Man Mongo Santamaria  1963  #10 H100  #8 RB

This record is considered by some to be the beginning of the music genre known as Latin boogaloo.

MONGO SANTAMARIA - WATERMELON MAN - YouTubeMongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man / Fat ...

He's So Fine    Chiffons   1963   #1 (four weeks) H100

He's So Fine by The Chiffons ...45cat - The Chiffons - He's So Fine ...

How Does It Feel to Be Back?   Hall and Oates   1980  #30

John Oates wrote and sang lead on this track.

Daryl Hall & John Oates – How Does It ...

From Me to You Janis Ian  1975  NR

Truly an overlooked gem, with a chord progression that sounds a little like Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home.”

From Me To You — Janis Ian | Last.fm

Footstompin' Music   Grand Funk Railroad   1972  #27

Before joining GFR, Mel Schacher (below left) was the bassist for Question Mark and the Mysterians.

On this date in 1971, GRAND FUNK ...

Use Ta Be My Girl    O’Jays  1978  #4H100  #1 RB

IMHO, one of the best compositions Gamble and Huff ever wrote.

The Sound of Philadelphia, in the Words ...

Deportee  Byrds  1969  NR

From the Byrds’ “Easy Rider” album, this is a Woody Guthrie song based on actual events.

Woody Guthrie Song ...Woody Guthrie - Wikipedia

Rev It Up and Go   Stray Cats 1981

Brian Setzer wrote, sang and played lead guitar.

Live At The Roxy 1981 | Stray Cats

Magic Carpet Ride Steppenwolf  1968 #3

Apparently, the song is a testimonial to a new stereo system (the “sound machine” of the first verse) that John Kay had recently purchased.

Magic Carpet Ride ...

Am I Losing You?    Partridge Family  1972  #59

The instrumentation was by the Wrecking Crew.

Partridge Family (Single, Pop): Reviews ...

Crown of Creation Jefferson Airplane  1968  #64

The lyrics were taken from a science fiction novel.

Crown of Creation' review – top ...

Trouble  Little Feat   1972  NR

Not released as a single, but an acoustic hidden gem on Little Feat’s “Sailin’ Shoes” album.

Little Feat - Wikipedia

L-O-V-E (Love)    Al Green   April 12 1975  #1 RB  #13 H100

45cat - Al Green - L-O-V-E (Love) / I ...

All Strung Out Over You    Chambers Brothers  1966

The group recorded this song after Columbia Records rejected “Time Has Come Today.” After “All Strung Out” became a regional hit, they went back into the studio to re-record “Time Has Come Today.”

Chambers Brothers (Single; CBS; 3390 ...

*What is Life? George Harrison   1971  #10

Harrison was accompanied by Eric Clapton and most of the Delaney and Bonnie band (which morphed into Derek and the Dominos).  Requested by Scottie for Mecklenburg Peggy.

George Harrison had a black eye ...

8:00-9:00

I'm Walkin’  Ricky Nelson  1957  #4

April 10 1957:  For the first time on the television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Ricky Nelson sang "I'm Walking." Released in the same month as composer Fats Domino’s version, both versions reached #4. Joe Maphis played the guitar—Nelson had yet to team up with guitarist James Burton. In the video below, his youth, inexperience and nerves are on full display.



Splish Splash Bobby Darrin  1958  #3

April 10 1958:  Bobby Darin recorded this at Atlantic Studios in New York City. 

Bobby Darin - Bobby Darin // Splish ...

It's Not Unusual   Tom Jones   1965   #10

April 10 1965:   Tom Jones debuted on the U.S chart with his first career single.



I Heard It Through the Grapevine   Marvin Gaye  1968  #1   

April 10 1967:  Marvin Gaye finished recording "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" after five sessions that began on February 3. There were two Funk Brothers playing drums, and it was Richard “Pistol” Allen who played the distinctive tom-tom hits.

Bring in Da Funk Brothers

Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)  Temptations  1971  #1

April 10 1971:  The Temptations finished a second week at #1 with their biggest hit.  After several years of recording psychedelic soul songs, this was a return to their classic sound.

The Temptations - Just My Imagination ...

Baker Street    Gerry Rafferty  1978  #2

April 10 1978:  Gerry Rafferty released the single "Baker Street." Session musician Raphael Ravenscroft played the iconic solo on his alto sax which, he has said, was slightly out of tune.

Iconic Sax Riff in Pop Music, Dies ...

Do You Believe In Love?  Huey Lewis and the News  1982  #7

April 10, 1982: The first hit from Huey Lewis & the News broke into the top 10. A 2024 Broadway musical, The Heart of Rock and Roll, is inspired by Huey Lewis’ music.

Huey Lewis and the News Musical The ...

Please, Please, Please    James Brown and the Famous Flames  1956  #5

April 11 1956:  James Brown made his debut on the R&B charts with "Please, Please, Please." Even if you have seen the video below, it is worth revisiting. The footwork of the Famous Flames is very sharp and reminiscent of the Temptations--except the Flames pre-dated the Temptations by five years!



Raindrops Dee Clark   1961   #2

April 12 1961:  Dee Clark released the single "Raindrops" on Vee-Jay Records.

Rain Drops - song and lyrics by Dee ...

Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In   5th Dimension   1969  #1

April 12 1969:  The 5th Dimension moved into the #1 position with the song that would spend six weeks topping the chart.

The Fifth Dimension: The Age of ...

Jet Airliner   Steve Miller Band  1977   #8

April 11, 1977:  The Steve Miller Band released the single "Jet Airliner." You heard an alternate (and funkier) version from his “Welcome to the Vault” album.

The Steve Miller Band – Jet Airliner ...

Come Softly To Me   Fleetwoods  1959  #1

April 13 1959:  The Fleetwoods had the #1 song with "Come Softly To Me." You heard a stereo version starting with the left channel.

Come Softly to Me - Album by The ...

Walk On By   Dionne Warwick     1964  #6

April 13 1964:  Dionne Warwick released the single "Walk On By." The video below reveals Warwick's vocal prowess and phrasing in a live intimate setting.



Total Eclipse of the Heart    Bonnie Tyler   1983   #1

This song jumped back onto the charts this week in 2024 because so many people streamed it for the recent total eclipse.  Rory Dodd provided the second vocal.

billboard charts on X: "Bonnie Tyler's ...

We Are The World    USA for Africa    1985   #1

April 13 1985:  USA for Africa rose to #1 with "We Are The World"--and it would stay there for four weeks. Don’t miss the documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop” about its overnight marathon recording session.

We Are the World': A Minute-by-Minute ...

CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

Trivia Answer

When Brian Jones first met Keith Richards and Mick Jagger in 1962, he called himself Elmo Lewis.

Congratulations to Mike from Ithaca’s West Hill 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

H100 = Billboard Hot 100

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host April 20, 2024: John Simon with a spotlight on Earth 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!


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