September 5, 2026 - JH: Billboard Hot 100 for week ending 9/7/68

September 5, 2026

Host: Jan Hunsinger (JH)

Spotlight: The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending 9/7/68.

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)

Background song: Soul Limbo - Booker T. and the MGs (#20 on our chart date)

Hello, I Love You - The Doors (#5 on our chart date down from #1 on the 8/3/68 BB Hot100)

Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley (#4 on our chart date, song would go to #1 on 9/21 and stay there for two weeks; song was written by Tom T. Hall and would win Riley a Grammy for Best Country Performance, Female)

Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano (#3 that week, as high as this cover of The Doors would go)

Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf (#2: another song that was peaking)

People Got to be Free - The Rascals (#1 for the third of 5 weeks)

I Get the Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson (#34: song was peaking for the Detroit performer known as "Mr. Excitement")

Journey to the Center of Your Mind - Amboy Dukes (#19: psychedelic rocker featuring Ted Nugent; down from its peak at #16)

The Weight - Jackie DeShannon (#65 on our chart date, the song would peak at #55; coincidentally, the original version by The Band was at #76 on our chart date)

*The Eyes of a New York Woman - B.J. Thomas (#32: song would peak at #28)

I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin (#23: song would peak at #10 for the "Queen of Soul"; song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and had been a #4 hit for Dionne Warwick in 1967)

Shape of Things to Come - Max Frost and the Troopers (song was making its chart debut at #90 and would peak at #22)

Piece of My Heart - Big Brother and the Holding Company (#59 on our chart date, on its way to a peak of #12; song went to #62 for Erma Franklin in 1967; Janis Joplin would go solo in 1969)

Six Man Band - The Association (#48 on our chart date, the song would go only one spot higher)

Stoned Soul Picnic - The 5th Dimension (#24; song was down from its #3 peak; written by Laura Nyro)

7:00 - 8:00 The Birthday Calendar

August 30:
John Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas) - b. 1935
John McNally (The Searchers) - 85

August 31:
Jerry Allison (The Crickets) - b. 1939
Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac) - b. 1945
Van Morrison - 81

September 1:
Archie Bell - 82
Barry Gibb - 80

September 2:
Rick Lewis (The Silhouettes) - b. 1933
Jimmy Clanton - 88
Sam Gooden (The Impressions) - b. 1939

September 3:
Al Jardine (The Beach Boys) - 84

September 4:
Sonny Charles - 86
Merald "Bubba" Knight - 84

September 5:
John Stewart - b. 1939
Al Stewart - 81
Freddy Mercury (Queen) - b. 1946

For the Love of Ivy - The Mamas and The Papas (1968 - song was "Bubbling Under" at #104 on our chart date and would peak at #81)

When You Walk in the Room - The Searchers (1964 - #35: song was written by Jackie DeShannon and features a 12-string Rickenbacker guitar played by John McNally; group took their name from the movie of the same name starring John Wayne)

That'll Be the Day - Buddy Holly and the Crickets (1959 - #1: Jerry Allison co-wrote the song, which ranks #39/RS500, with Holly after seeing John Wayne say the line in the movie "The Searchers")

Sentimental Lady - Fleetwood Mac (1972 - DNC: original version from the "Bare Trees" LP written by Bob Welch for his wife; it would be a #8 hit for him when he re-recorded it as a solo artist in 1977)

Call Me Up in Dreamland - Van Morrison (1971 - #95: released from Morrison's "His Band and Street Choir" LP)

I Can't Stop Dancing - Archie Bell and the Drells (1968 - #9: follow-up to "Tighten Up", song peaked on our chart date)

I've Gotta Get a Message to You - The Bee-Gees (1968 - #8: song was #30 on our chart date; Barry Gibb co-wrote the song and sang lead vocals on the second verse)

Get a Job - The Silhouettes (1958 - #1: Rick Lewis sang tenor for the doo-wop group out of Philadelphia)

Venus in Blue Jeans - Jimmy Clanton (1962 - #7: song was written by Neil Sedaka)

Gypsy Woman - The Impressions (1961 - #20: Sam Gooden sang bass for the group that featured Curtis Mayfield)

Help Me, Rhonda - The Beach Boys (1965 - #1: one of the group's few songs that featured Al Jardine on lead vocals)

Black Pearl - Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, Ltd. (1969 - #13: song was produced by Phil Spector)

I Wish It Would Rain - Gladys Knight and the Pips (1968 - #41: their cover of The Temptations hit, the song was #49 on our chart date)

Armstrong - John Stewart (1969 - #74: his tribute to man's first steps on the moon)

Flying Sorcery - Al Stewart (1977 - DNC: song was released as the "B"-side to "On the Border")

8:00 - 9:00

Killer Queen - Queen (1975 - #12: the first charting single for the band)

Fool on the Hill - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (#17 on our chart date on its way up to a peak of #6; Beatles cover)

Lady Madonna - Fats Domino (another Beatles cover, and Domino's last charting single, the song was making its chart debut on 9/7/68 at #100 and would go no higher)

Turn Around Look at Me - The Vogues (#14 on our chart date, down from its peak at #7; their song "My Special Angel" made its chart debut the same week)

Sunshine of Your Love - Cream (#11 on our chart date, down from a peak at #5; we heard the LP version of the song which ranks #65/RS500)

Can't You Find Another Way (Of Doing It) - Sam & Dave (song was at #55, down from its peak at #54)

Pictures of Matchstick Men - The Status Quo (song had peaked at #12 and was down to #31 on our chart date)

Mr. Businessman - Ray Stevens (song was peaking at #28 on our chart date, up from #33 the previous week)

1,2,3, Red Light - The 1910 Fruitgum Company (the bubblegum hit was at #7 on its way up to a peak of #5)

45 Corner

Fire - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (song was making its chart debut at #89, on its way up to #2 for one of the original shock rockers; "Hey Jude" kept it from #1)

Naturally Stoned - The Avant-Garde (#89 on our chart date and would peak at #40; group featured future game show host Chuck Woolery, who wrote the song)

Hush - Deep Purple (#13 on our chart date, the song, written by Joe South, would peak at #4)

Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend) - Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (down from its peak at #27, the song was at #39 on our chart date)

In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly (we heard the single version of the heavy metal classic, which was #67 on our chart date on its way up to #30)

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: Gregory James (GJ) with a spotlight on artists from every letter of the alphabet (A to Z)!

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. 

August 29, 2026 - GJ - Animals in the Title

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: August 29, 2026

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Animals in the Titles

Birthday Calendar

August 23

Rick Springfield 77 years old

Rudy Lewis (Drifters lead singer) 1936

Keith Moon 1946

Jimi Jamison (Survivor vocalist)  1951

Jimy Sohns  (Shadows of Knight vocalist)  1946

August 24

Jimmy Fox   (James Gang drummer)  80 years old

Malcolm “Molly” Duncan  (Average White Band saxophonist)  1945

John Cipollina   (Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist)  1943

David Freiberg  (Quicksilver Messenger Service vocalist)  88 years old

Michael Derosier  (Heart drummer)   75 years old

August 25

Elvis Costello 72 years old

Walter Williams  (O’Jays)  84 years old

August 26

Valerie Simpson            80 years old

August 27

Tim Bogert   (Vanilla Fudge bassist )   1944

Daryl Dragon  (Captain and Tennille) 1942

August 28

Joe Osborn (Wrecking Crew bassist) 1937

Danny Seraphine (Chicago drummer)  78 years old

Honey Lantree  (Honeycombs drummer)  1943 

Joseph Shabalala   (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)  1941

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

In the 6:00 hour I played five songs with birds in the title. Name three of them. 

 (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)

The Lion Sleeps Tonight Tokens 1961  #1 H100--1962 #7 R&B

In Zulu, song’s original title was “Mbube” which means “lion.” Composer Solomon Linda worked at Gallo Records and moonlighted as a performer with the Evening Birds. When the group went into the recording studio, Solomon Linda improvised the melody that eventually became “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.”

Hound Dog Big Mama Thornton  1953   #1 (seven weeks) R&B

Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller were 19 years old when Johnny Otis asked them to write a 12 bar blues song that would revive Willie Mae Thornton’s career. They came up with Hound Dog in 15 minutes. Thornton added several vocal flourishes, some spoken dialogue and a syncopated delivery. 

Dixie Chicken   Little Feat  1978  DNC

Not really a song about an actual chicken or an actual lamb. Backing vocals by two great Bonnies—Bramlett and Raitt.

I Will Always Love You     Dolly Parton  1974   #1 CW

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026. This song was her parting gift to mentor and professional partner Porter Wagoner. One of the great break up songs of all time because it focuses on gratitude not resentment.   

Blackbird Paul McCartney   1968  NR

The bird song heard at the end is an actual blackbird. 

Bluebird Buffalo Springfield 1967  #58

The banjo solo at the end was played by Charlie Chin whom Stephen Stills knew from his folk music days in Greenwich Village.

White Bird It’s a Beautiful Day 1969 #118

Patti Santos sang the duet with David LaFlamme who also overdubbed all the violin parts.  

Mockingbird Inez and Charlie Foxx     1963   #7 H100   #2 R&B

The track sold over a million copies on the Symbol label.

*White Rabbit    Jefferson Airplane  1967   #8

Composer Grace Slick, who based the song on the Alice stories of Lewis Carroll, has said that the line “Feed your head” was as much about reading as it was about psychedelics. Requested by a listener grateful that the WVBR stream had been restored.

*Wondering Where the Lions Are   Bruce Cockburn 1979  #21

This song was inspired by a dream, according to the lyrics. Requested by Scottie with love for Peggy as well as for you and yours.  

Dead Skunk  Loudon Wainwright III 1973 #16

The song was based on actual events. Wainwright has said, “Someone had already killed [the skunk], but I ran over it.”

The Bird is the Word Rivingtons 1963 #52 H100  #27 R&B

This was the follow up to “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and had a similar chord progression. The melody was copied by the Trashmen in 1964 as “Surfin’ Bird.

*A Horse with No Name  America  1971  #1

America recorded the track in London.

*Monkey Man   Rolling Stones   1969

This Stones deep track has one of the coolest intros in their repertoire. Bill Wyman played vibraphone, Nicky Hopkins played piano and Keith Richards played the superb slide guitar.  NR

7:00

Some Kind of Wonderful   Drifters  1961  #6 RB  #32 H100

Ben E. King had left the group by this point, and Rudy Lewis (on the right in the photo below) sang lead on this Goffin King composition.

Won’t Get Fooled Again The Who   1971    #15

This was the last song Keith Moon played live.

Eye of the Tiger    Survivor  1982   #1

The song was written for “Rocky III” and no fewer than three politicians tried to use the song without authorization for their campaigns. They were either issued cease and desist orders or required to pay a licensing fee.

Gloria   Shadows of Knight  1966  #10 

This Chicago quintet recorded a pretty faithful cover of Them’s original, with some AM radio-friendly lyric changes.

Woman    James Gang    1970  DNC

Jimmy Fox (middle in photo below) was the founder and namesake of the James Gang trio, and one of the composers of this song.

Pick Up the Pieces   Average White Band   1974  #1

Malcolm “Molly” Duncan (below right) played the sax solo on this superb Scottish funk side.

Barracuda Heart  1977  #11

A song about an unscrupulous music business executive that Nancy Wilson called “a sophisticated song of rage.” Also, a song with an animal as a metaphor in the title.

Oliver’s Army  Elvis Costello and the Attractions  1979  DNC

A highly charged political song cloaked in music reminiscent of ABBA and the Ronettes.

Use Ta Be My Girl    O’Jays   1978  #1 RB  #4 H 100

Walter Williams (below left) sang lead on the track and he still has many admirers.

The Only Living Boy in New York   Simon and Garfunkel  1970  NR

The “Tom” mentioned in the song is Art Garfunkel who was half of Simon and Garfunkel’s original stage name of Tom and Jerry. Simon wrote and recorded this track while Garfunkel was shooting Catch-22 in Mexico. This track is considered one of Joe Osborn’s most evocative performances on bass.

Make Me Smile   Chicago  1970  #9

This was Chicago’s breakthrough hit that re-kindled interest in tracks that had been previously released but sold poorly.  Danny Seraphine was the group's drummer.

That’s the Way   Honeycombs  1964

Honey Lantree was one of the first female rock drummers of note. She also sang harmony on this track.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door    Dolly Parton and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (with Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar)  1997

Sweet Transvestite   Tim Curry  1975   NR

Tim Curry died on August 25th. Curry’s work in Rocky Horror did much to bring cross-dressing and gender fluidity into general public awareness.

8:00

*Werewolves of London   Warren Zevon  1978  #21

In 1975, Jackson Browne performed this song in concert before Warren Zevon recorded the song for his Excitable Boy album in 1978.

Grey Seal    Elton John   B-side  1973

Lyricist Bernie Taupin has stated that even though he wrote the song, he has never understood what it means.

Year of the Cat    Al Stewart  1976   #8

The song took some inspiration from the film “Casablanca.” The song was written and recorded during the Vietnamese Year of the Cat.

*Islands in the Stream   Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers   1982  #1 H 100   #1 CW    #1 AC

Written by the Bee Gees. Requested by JR.

Foxy (Foxey) Lady   Jimi Hendrix  1968  #67

This was Jimi’s third single in the U.S. and used the spelling of “Foxey” on the label.  Hendrix used a dominant seventh sharp ninth chord, which came to be known as the “Hendrix chord.” Musician and author John Perry wrote that the Hendrix chord is “the whole of the blues scale condensed into a single chord.” The titular foxy lady was reputed to be Lithofayne "Faye" Pridgon seen below with Hendrix.

Little Red Rooster     Sam Cooke   1963   #11 H100, #7 R&B

Sam Cooke adapted this Willie Dixon blues shouter to a smooth R&B track. You can hear Cooke calling out to a young Billy Preston who created with his keyboard the impression of a rooster crowing and dogs barking.

Bird Dog Everly Brothers   1958  #2 H100, #2 R&B  #1 CW

After rejecting the idea of using a ventriloquist doing the voice of TV puppet Farfel the Dog, Don Everly voiced the spoken lyrics.

Too Many Fish in the Sea Marvelettes    1965   #25 H100  #15 R&B

This was one of the first hit singles written by Norman Whitfield.

See You Later Alligator   Bill Haley  1956  #6

The high pitched spoken opening of the record was voiced by lead guitarist Franny Beecher.

Wildfire  Michael Martin Murphey  1975   #3

Based on a Native American legend, Murphey has said that the song came to him in a dream, about a ghost horse that his grandfather had told him about. 

Cat in the Window (Bird in the Sky)   Petula Clark  1967  #26

Rockin’ Robin Bobby Day 1958  #2 H100, #1 R&B

Day was the original Bob in the duo Bob and Earl.

Fox on the Run   Manfred Mann  1969  #97

Mustang Sally  Wilson Pickett  1966  #23

This version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Walking the Dog Rufus Thomas   1963   #10 H100

Thomas was a master of many trades: singer, songwriter, dancer, dj and mentor to many younger artists associated with Stax Records, such as his daughter Carla Thomas and Otis Redding. 

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

Trivia Answer

The five songs with “bird” in the title were:

Mockingbird, Bluebird, White Bird, The Bird is the Word, Little Red Rooster

Congratulations to Greg from Ithaca 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

Host September 5, 2026: 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!