February 7, 2026 - JH: Frat Rock!

 February 7, 2026

Host: Jan Hunsinger (JH)

Spotlight: Frat Rock! (raw, party-style '60s rock and roll characterized by simple, catchy tunes and a stomping beat)

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!)

Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

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 chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted

·     a glossary of terms is below the playlist

6:00 - 7:00

OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969 - #29: produced by Jimi Hendrix)

Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1965 - #2: the band would often perform wearing turbans; "Help Me Rhonda" by the Beach Boys held down the top spot)

Little Bit O' Soul - The Music Explosion (1967 - #2: one-hit wonder out of Mansfield, Ohio; the Association's "Windy" kept it from #1)

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen (1963 - #2: song ranks #55/RS500 but The Singing Nun was #1 with her song "Dominique")

Farmer John - The Premiers (1964 - #19: another one-hit wonder)

Double Shot (of My Baby's Love) - The Swingin' Medallions (1966 - #17: group came out of Greenwood, S.C., yet another one-hit wonder)

You Really Got Me - The Kinks (1964 - #7: the band's first charting single and one that ranks #82/RS500)

Nobody But Me - The Human Beinz (1968 - #8: originally written and recorded by the Isley Brothers)

Mony Mony - Tommy James and the Shondells (1968 - #3: song was inspired by a Mutual of New York sign)

Little Latin Lupe Lu - The Righteous Brothers (1963 - #49: the duo's first charting single, it was written by Bill Medley)

Devil With the Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (1966 - #4: song ranks #428/RS500)

*Gimme Some Lovin' - The Spencer Davis Group (1967 - #7: lead singer was Stevie Winwood; song ranks #244/RS500)

Cool Jerk - The Capitols (1966 - #7: yet another one-hit wonder)

Hungry - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1966 - #6: written by that great songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil)

What King of Fool Do You Think I Am - Bill Deal and the Rhondels (1969 - #23: song was a #9 hit for The Tams in 1964)

Keep on Dancing - The Gentrys (1965 - #4: first charting single for the group out of Memphis, TN)

Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) - Ernie Maresca (1962 - #6: Maresca was better known as a songwriter; he wrote "Lovers Who Wander", "Runaround Sue", and "The Wanderer" for Dion)

Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys (1966 - #2: Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean shared lead vocals with Brian Wilson; "We Can Work It Out" by the Beatles was #1)

If You Want to Be Happy - Jimmy Soul (1963 - #1: song spent two weeks at #1 in May of that year)

Wipe Out - The Surfaris (1963 - #2: instrumental classic that was kept out of the #1 spot by Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips, Part 2")

7:00 - 8:50 The Birthday Calendar

Background song: Soul Serenade by King Curtis (1964 - #51)

February 1:
Bob Shane (The Kingston Trio) - b. 1934
(Isaac) Don Everly - b. 1937
Ray Sawyer (Dr. Hook) - b. 1937

February 2:
Stan Getz - b. 1927
Graham Nash - 84
Peter MacBeth (The Foundations) - 83
Edna Wright (The Honey Cone) - b. 1945
Peter Lucia (Tommy James & the Shondells) - b. 1947

February 3:
Angelo D'Aleo (The Belmonts) - 86
Chuck Tharp (The Fireballs) - b. 1941
Dennis Edwards (The Temptations) - b. 1943
Johnny Cymbal [Blair] - b. 1945
Dave Davies (The Kinks) - 79
Melanie Safka - b. 1947

February 4:
John Steel (The Animals) - 85
Florence LaRue (The Fifth Dimension) - 84
Mary Ann & Marge Ganser (The Shangri-Las) - b. 1948
James Dunn (The Stylistics) - 76

February 5:
Claude King - b. 1923
Barrett Strong - b. 1941
Cory Wells (Three Dog Night) - b. 1942
Larry Tamblyn (The Standells) - b. 1943
J.R. Cobb (The Classics IV) - b. 1944
Al Kooper [Kuperschmidt] - 82

February 6:
Fabian [Fabiano Anthony Forte] - 83
Georgeanna Tillman (The Marvelettes) - b. 1943

February 7:
King Curtis [Curtis Ousley] - b. 1934
Alan Lancaster (Status Quo) - b. 1949

Passing: Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) born June 8, 1942, died Feb. 2, 2026 (83). One of three lead singers for the group.

Lamonte McLemore (The Fifth Dimension) born September 17, 1935, died February 3, 2026 (90). 

Raspberries, Strawberries - The Kingston Trio (1959 - #70: Bob Shane sang baritone for the trio that helped to spark the folk music movement)

Walk Right Back - The Everly Brothers (1961 - #7: song was written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets)

Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (1972 - #5: Ray Sawyer was called "Dr. Hook" because of his eye patch; song was written by Shel Silverstein)

The Girl From Ipanema - Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto (1964 - #5: song was a world-wide hit and won the Grammy for Record of the Year)

Immigration Man - Graham Nash with David Crosby (1972 - #36: Nash was inspired to write the song by a real life issue with a customs official)

Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations (1969 - #3: Peter MacBeth was the bass player for the English group)

One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Pt. 1 - Honey Cone (1972 - #15: Edna Wright was lead singer of the trio and the sister to Darlene Love)

Crimson & Clover - Tommy James & the Shondells (1969 - #1: drummer Peter Lucia co-wrote the song with James; song was #1 on this date 57 years ago)

Tell Me Why - The Belmonts (1961 - #18: usually seen backing Dion, this one the group released solo)

Bottle of Wine - The Fireballs (1968 - #9: another group known for backing up a vocalist, in this case Jimmy Gilmer, this one came 5 years after "Sugar Shack")

Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) - The Temptations (1970 - #3: Dennis Edwards replaced David Ruffin in 1968 as the group's lead singer)

Cinnamon - Derek (1969 - #11: another name under which Johnny Cymbal performed)

Victoria - The Kinks (1970 - #62: song is both a nostalgic and a satirical look at the late 1800's Victorian Age)

Ring the Living Bell - Melanie (1972 - #31: one of three Top 40 singles for Melanie on the charts at the same time)

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals (1965 - #15: John Steel was drummer for the group; song ranks #315/RS500)

Save the Country - The Fifth Dimension (1970 - #27: song was written by Laura Nyro in response to Robert F. Kennedy's assassination)

Remember (Walking in the Sand) - The Shangri-las (1964 - #5: first charting single for the quartet; song ranks #395/RS500)

I'm Stone in Love With You - The Stylistics (1972 - #10: song peaked at #4 on the R&B charts for the Philadelphia soul group)

Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong (1960 - #23: song ranks #288/RS500)

Easy to Be Hard - Three Dog Night (1969 - #4: from the Broadway musical "Hair")

Dirty Water - The Standells (1966 - #11: Larry Tamblyn was the lead singer and played keyboards for the group; he is also the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn)

Traces - The Classics IV (1969 - #2: J.R. Cobb co-wrote the group's biggest hits; Tommy Roe's "Dizzy" held the #1 spot)

I Can't Quit Her - Blood, Sweat, & Tears (1968 - DNC: Al Kooper wrote the song from the band's first LP, then he left the group over musical differences)

Tiger - Fabian (1959 - #3: Fabian was one of the teen idols of the late '50s - early '60s)

Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes (1962 - #17: Marvin Gaye co-wrote and played drums on the track)

Pictures of Matchstick Men - The Status Quo (1968 - #12: group is an American one-hit wonder but has over 60 charting singles in the UK)

It's Now Winter's Day - Tommy Roe (1967 - #23: a nod to our recent frigid temperatures, with its line about the "mercury dropping down to minus 4 below")

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959 - #1 for two weeks; brothers Santo [steel guitar] and Johnny [rhythm guitar] Farina from Brooklyn)

Glossary of Terms:

dnc = did not chart

nr = not released as a single at the time

AC = Billboard’s chart for “Adult Contemporary” records

BB = Billboard Magazine, which publishes the Hot 100 chart (previously known as the Top 100), along with several other charts

Bubbling Under = songs that were ranked but fell below the top 100

C&W = Billboard’s chart for “Country & Western” records

R&B = Billboard’s chart for “Rhythm & Blues” records

RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

RS500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranked list of the top 500 singles of all-time

Host February 14: John Simon (JS) with a Valentine's Special!

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 streaming here. 

Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

January 31, 2026 - JR - JR's Seventies Birthday Bash

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.)

Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

Date: January 31, 2026

Host:  John Rudan

Feature: JR’s Seventies Birthday Bash

This is a few days before my birthday, but every year on the closest Remnants to the 4th, I pull out all the stops and play some of my 1970’s faves!  The first two hours are pop and soul hits and the last hour we get… Progressive…  Many thanks to my producers Gregory James and John Simon, very fine Remnants hosts in their own right!  ; )

Playlist

6pm – Rock & Soul Hits

Just My Imagination – Temptations – 1971 – The swan song of lead singer Eddie Kendricks.

Ooh Child – Valerie Carter – 1977 – Cover version of the 5 Stairsteps original, 1970.

Yellow River – Christie – 1970

Go Back – Crabby Appleton – 1970

Take A Letter Maria – R.B. Greaves – 1970 – The last #2 song of the 1960’s!

Groovy Situation – Gene Chandler – 1971

Day By Day – Godspell – 1973 – Lead vocal by Robin Lamont, not credited at first, but then later was credited.

Back When My Hair Was Short – Gunhill Road – 1973 – Big local hit here on WTKO-AM; peaked on the Hot 100 at #40.

Let Me Serenade You – Three Dog Night – My favorite 70’s band!  I had all their 45’s.

Northern Lights – Renaissance – 1977 – More Progressive Radio airplay for this British band. 

Montego Bay – Bobby Bloom – 1970 – Bobby wrote co-wrote many hit singles, but this is his only hit.

Magnet And Steel – Walter Egan - 1976 – Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks on background vocals.

Hypnotized – Fleetwood Mac – 1973 – The late Bob Welch wrote and sang the lead vocal.

Fire – Ohio Players – 1974 – Reached #1 on the Hot 100 and the Billboard Soul Singles chart.

I’m On Fire – Dwight Twilley Band – 1975 – Twilley didn’t have another hit until 1984 with “Girls” and both songs peaked at #16

Theme From Shaft – Isaac Hayes – Isaac was the first Black artist to win an Oscar for Best Original Song for Shaft.  Can ya dig it?

7pm – More Rock & Soul

Mama’s Pearl – Jackson Five – 1971 - #2 for 2 weeks behind One Bad Apple by The Osmonds.

Dazz – Brick – 1976 – Dazz = Disco Jazz

Can’t Get It Out Of My Head – ELO – 1974 – Their first Top 10 single in the U.S., peaking at #9.

Frank And Jesse James (alt. mix) – 1976 - Warren Zevon – My favorite artist of the 1970’s was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year!

Are You Ready – Pacific Gas & Electric – 1970 – L.A. band, music called “Psychedelic Soul.”

Guide My Energy – Robert Johnson – 1978 – This Robert Johnson was auditioned by the Rolling Stones to replace Mick Taylor.  He didn’t get the gig, Ronnie Wood did.

Everyone’s Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine – Stealers Wheel – 1973 – The last charting single for this British duo, although Gerry Rafferty had a significant solo career.

That’s The Way Of The World – Earth, Wind & Fire – 1975 – This was an album, a single, and a movie starring Harvey Keitel that nobody saw!

Never Been Any Reason – Head East – 1975 – Still a Classic Rock Radio staple after 50 years and their only charting single.

I’m Doing Fine Now – New York City – 1973 – Written, produced and recorded in… Philadelphia by the legendary Thom Bell.

The First Cut Is The Deepest – Keith Hampshire – 1973 – Written by Cat Stevens and six cover versions have charted on the Hot 100!   Wikipedia

Hey Hey What Can I Say – Led Zeppelin – 1970 – Flip-side of Immigrant Song 45 first released on CD in 1990.

Sea Of Love – The Honeydrippers – 1985 -  Robert Plant with Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and a cast of thousands on a studio project headed by president of Atlantic Records Ahmet Ertegun.

8pm – Progressive

Percy’s Song – Fairport Convention – 1969 – Written by Bob Dylan.

White Bird – It’s A Beautiful Day – 1969

Evil Woman – Spooky Tooth – 1969 – British band with New Jerseyan Gary Wright on co-lead vocals.

Compared To What – Les McCann & Eddie Harris – 1969 – Used in a Coke commercial in 2003 Coca-Cola "Real Compared to What"

School – Supertramp – 1974 – From their third LP, Crime of the Century, and a favorite false ending!

Fat Man In The Bathtub – Little Feat – 1978 – Live LP Waiting For Columbus.

Jackstraw – Grateful Dead – 1972 – From their third, and most acclaimed, live album Europe 72.

Birdland – Weather Report – 1977 – “Fusion” jazz, written as a tribute to the NYC jazz club.

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

Host February 7: Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on Frat Rock.

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!

January 24, 2026 - GJ - Better Late Than Never

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.)

Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

Date: January 24, 2026

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Better Late Than Never—Unplayed Songs from Previous Playlists

Birthday Calendar

January 18

David Ruffin b. 1941

January 19

Phil Everly b. 1939 

Janis Joplin b. 1943

Robert Palmer   b. 1949

January 21

Richie Havens 1941

Edwin Starr 1942

Billy Ocean 76 years old

January 22

Steve Perry 77 years old

Sam Cooke 1931

January 23

Anita Pointer b. 1948

Millie Jackson  83 years old

January 24

Neil Diamond 85 years old

Aaron Neville 85 years old

Warren Zevon b. 1947

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

The title of the B-Side to Brenda Lee’s “Jambalaya” was a telephone number. What was it?

(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)

You're No Good Betty Everett   1964  #51 H100/RB

The footstomps were created by the Dells who also recorded on the Vee-Jay label.

I Wish I Knew      The Ballads  1969 DNC

The song was also called “Butterfly.”

Hold On! I'm Comin' Erma Franklin  1969  NR

From her aptly named album “Soul Sister” which consisted of several covers.

*It Keeps You Running   Doobie Brothers  1977  #37

The Boys Are Back In Town Thin Lizzy  1976  #12

The band was toiling in obscurity until this track went into heavy radio airplay in Louisville and album sales picked up

What Are You Going to Do With It Betty Wright  1981  #42 RB

Written by Stevie Wonder.

Walking On A Thin Line    Huey Lewis and the News 1984  #18

This was the fifth and final single off the album “Sports.”

That's All           Etta James  1955

Farmer John Don & Dewey  1959  DNC

Don and Dewey wrote the song and released it on Specialty Records. The horns really kick the song into overdrive.

Bigelow 6-200 Brenda Lee  1956  DNC

This was the B-Side to Jambalaya. She used a staccato vocal delivery to good effect.

Bare Trees  Fleetwood Mac   1972  NR

Danny Kirwan wrote and sang lead on the song.

*Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher   Rita Coolidge  1977  #2

This track spent 27 weeks on the Hot 100 reaching #2. Requested by Scottie and going out to Peggy with love.

Madman Across the Water    Elton John   1971  NR

When people told lyricist Bernie Taupin they thought the song was about Richard Nixon, Taupin said, “that is genius—I never could have thought of that.”

7:00

Walk Away from Love    David Ruffin  1976 #9 H100  #1 RB

When Will I Be Loved?   Everly Brothers  1960  #8

Phil Everly wrote the song.

Trust Me  Janis Joplin  1970  NR

Bobby Womack wrote the song and played guitar.

Man Smart, Women Smarter   Robert Palmer  1977  #63

Great cover of a Harry Belafonte tune written in 1936 by Norman Span. The incomparable Bill Payne played piano.

High Flying Bird Richie Havens  1967  NR

This is one of the songs Havens performed at the opening set of Woodstock.

War     Edwin Starr   1970   #3 RB  #1 H100

The song was originally recorded by the Temptations but the group and the Motown label were leery of any controversy surrounding the Temptations, and did not want to release the track as a single. Composer Norman Whitfield recruited Edwin Starr to re-record the lead vocal.

Love Really Hurts Without You   Billy Ocean  1976  #22

Ocean taught himself to play piano and he has said that one day his left hand just started playing the song’s melody.

Foolish Heart   Steve Perry   1985   #18 H100  #2 AC

This was the fourth and final single released from his album “Street Talk.”

A Change is Gonna Come    Sam Cooke   1965  #31 H100  # 9 RB

Cooke is reputed to have said that he wanted to write a song that would make his father proud. The record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fire      Pointer Sisters   1979  #14 RB  #2 H100

Anita Pointer originally thought the song might be too low for her to sing.

This Is It   Millie Jackson  1980  DNC/NR

Great cover of Kenny Loggins’ song from her album “For Men Only.” 

Hello Again   Neil Diamond  1981  #6 H100  #3AC

Diamond wrote the song for the film “The Jazz Singer” in which he made his acting debut.

One Fine Day   Aaron Neville  1987  NR

Backs Turned Looking Down the Path   Warren Zevon  1976   NR

The Gentlemen Boys accompanied Zevon and they consisted of Jackson Browne (who sang harmony on this track), Jorge Calderón, Kenny Edwards, JD Souther and Waddy Wachtel. Lindsay Buckingham played lead guitar.

8:00

Friendship Train Gladys Knight & The Pips  1969  #17 H100  #2 RB

The Pips are astonishing in the video below. And Gladys Knight is in a class by herself.

Gimme Shelter   Rolling Stones   1969  NR/DNC

Sometimes a song remains stuck in the era in which it was recorded. Not this one. Even when the storm is threatening, and the mad bull has lost its way, love is still just a kiss away.

I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) Barbara George  1962  #3 H100   #1 RB

Barbara George, who began writing songs at the age of 16, wrote this song and recorded it in New Orleans with top musicians from that city.

Do You Want to Dance?    Bobby Freeman   1958  #5 H100   #2 RB

That’s the title on the record label, but it’s often referred to as “Do You Wanna Dance.” Freeman was 17 years old when his composition charted.

Hazy Shade of Winter    Simon and Garfunkel   1968  #13

The song was released in 1966 as a non-album single and was later included on the “Bookends” album. 

Help Me Joni Mitchell   1974  #7

The backing band on Mitchell’s biggest hit single was Tom Scott’s L.A. Express.

Mountain Of Love    Johnny Rivers  1964  #9

The backing musicians were The Wrecking Crew, who previously called themselves “The First Call Gang.”

I Can't Hold On Karla Bonoff   1978  #76

She wrote many hits made famous by other people, notably Linda Ronstadt. The respect in which she was held by fellow musicians is evident in the musicians who accompanied her: Andrew Gold, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel and Kenny Edwards to name a few.

Standing In The Shadows Of Love    Four Tops  1967  #2 RB   #6 H100

Getting ready for the heartaches to come…sort of the anticipatory dread of being dumped. The Andantes were at their finest singing backup on this track.

Tush ZZ Top  1975  #20

Dusty Hill sang the lead vocal on the record and in concert. For a while after his death in 2021, the group played this song in concert synchronized with a recording of Hill’s last live vocal performance of the song. This video from 1980 shows what great showmen ZZ Top were.

Dizzy, Miss Lizzy Larry Williams  1958  #69

The record label has a comma after the word “dizzy.” Both Larry Williams and Little Richard recorded for Specialty Records, and Williams had to work hard to distinguish his vocal style from Little Richard’s.

Peggy Sue Buddy Holly   1957  #3

The titular Peggy Sue was the girlfriend and later wife of Jerry Allison, whose paradiddle drumming drives the song.

Along Came Jones     The Coasters  1959  #9

The title of the song may have come from a Gary Cooper movie of the same name.

What's Easy For Two Is So Hard For One   Mary Wells 1963  #8 RB    1964  #29 H100   

The song was written and produced by Smokey Robinson and was covered by several other Motown groups.

Everytime (sic) You Go Away Paul Young   1985  #1

Composer Daryl Hall has called this record one of his favorite Hall and Oates covers.

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

Trivia Answer

The B-Side to Brenda Lee’s “Jambalaya” was “Bigelow 6-200.”

Congratulations to Tom from Danby 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 31, 2026: John Rudan with his pre-recorded 2026 Birthday Bash Show.

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!