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!)
·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)
Garden Party - Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band (1972 - #6: song was inspired by Nelson's reception at a Rock 'n' Roll show at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 1971)
Redneck Friend - Jackson Browne (1973 - #85: from his "For Everyman" LP released October 15, 1973; song debuted at #99 on 9/29 and peaked on the BB Hot100 the week of 10/20 and featured Glenn Frey on backing vocals and 'Rockady Johnny' [Elton John] on piano)
Hypnotized - Fleetwood Mac (1973 - DNC: from the "Mystery to Me" LP released 10/15/73; song was the B-side to the group's cover of For Your Love)
Eyes of the World - Grateful Dead (1973 - DNC: track from the "Wake of the Flood" LP released 10/15/73 and wrapping up three in a row from albums released that date)
Lady-O - The Turtles (1969 - #78: song written by singer-songwriter Judee Sill, who directed the orchestra on the song)
Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann (1964 - #1: we heard the single version of the song that was #1 on this date in 1964)
So Much in Love - The Tymes (1963 - #1: song topped the charts for one week in August of that year)
Baby Come Back - The Equals (1968 - #32: one-hit wonder British-Jamaican group that included Eddie "Electric Avenue" Grant)
Easier Said Than Done - The Essex (1963 - #1: girl group hit that was #1 for two weeks in July of '63)
Gonna Find Me a Bluebird - Marvin Rainwater (1957 - #18: song was a million-seller and peaked at #3 on the C&W charts)
Cry to Me - Solomon Burke (1962 - #44: song that gained fame when used in the movie "Dirty Dancing")
Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles (1967 - #8: song ranks #76/RS500 and was released as a two-sided single with "Penny Lane")
This Little Girl's Gone Rockin' - Ruth Brown (1958 - #24: song was written by Bobby Darin and featured King Curtis on sax)
7:00 - 8:00 Birthday Calendar
Background Song: Raunchy - Bill Justis (1957 - #2)
October 11: Curtis Amy - b. 1929 Daryl Hall - 80 George McCorkle (Marshall Tucker Band) - b. 1946
October 12: Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) - b. 1935 Melvin "Blue" Franklin (The Temptations) - b. 1942
October 13: Paul Simon - 85 Robert Lamm (Chicago) - 82 John Ford Coley - 78
October 14: Bill Justis - b. 1926 Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues) - 82
October 15: Tommy Edwards - b. 1922 Mickey Baker (Mickey & Sylvia) - b. 1925 Barry McGuire - 91 Richard Carpenter - 82
October 17: Barney Kessel (session guitarist) - b. 1923 Jim Seals (Seals & Crofts) - b.1941 Gary Puckett - 84
Touch Me - The Doors (1969 - #3: Curtis Amy provided the smokin' sax solo on this hit)
She's Gone - Hall & Oates (1976 - #7: song peaked at #60 in 1974 but was re-released in '76 and made the Top 10)
Fire on the Mountain - Marshall Tucker Band (1975 - #38: George McCorkle wrote the song that features Charlie Daniels on fiddle)
A Place Nobody Can Find - Sam & Dave (1965 - DNC: early release before the duo hit it big)
Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) - The Temptations (1970 - #3: song is highlighted by Melvin Franklin's bass line "and the band played on")
American Tune - Paul Simon (1974 - #35: song is based on the J.S. Bach composition "O Sacred Heart")
25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago (1970 - #4: Robert Lamm wrote this song about insomnia and writer's block; we heard the single version)
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan and John Ford Coley (1976 - #2: kept out of the top spot by "Play That Funky Music")
Forever Autumn - Justin Hayward (1978 - #47: although he wrote many songs for the Moody Blues, this recording was appropriate to the season)
It's All in the Game - Tommy Edwards (1958 - #1: song was a huge hit in '58, spending 6 weeks at #1)
Dearest - Mickey & Sylvia (1957 - #85: one of their minor hits)
Green Green - The New Christy Minstrels (1963 - #14: Barry McGuire was lead vocalist for the group before going solo)
Goodbye to Love - The Carpenters (1972 - #7: Richard Carpenter wanted the fuzz guitar solo on this track, played by Tony Peluso, which went against the duo's soft rock sound and led to hate mail being sent to them)
8:00 - 9:00
Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys (1966 - #8: Barney Kessel, a member of the Wrecking Crew, played the unique intro on a hybrid guitar-mandolin)
King of Nothing - Seals & Crofts (1974 - #60: Jim Seals wrote this low-charting hit for the duo)
Woman, Woman - Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (1968 - #4: first charting single for the group)
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - The Buckinghams (1967 - #5: song was originally a jazz instrumental for Cannonball Adderly)
Have You Heard - The DuPrees (1963 - #18: song went to #1 for Joni James in 1952)
Time Won't Let Me - The Outsiders (1966 - #5: first and biggest hit for the band out of Cleveland)
Tammy - Debbie Reynolds (1957 - #1: song, from the movie "Tammy and the Bachelor", spent 5 weeks at #1 and was nominated for an Oscar)
Star - Stealer's Wheel (1974 - #29: the Scottish duo Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan made up the group)
Tossin' & Turnin' - Bobby Lewis (1961 - #1: we heard the version of the song with the rarely included intro)
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen (1980 - #5: from the LP "The River", released October 17, 1980; the song featured Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of the Turtles on backing vocals)
*Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John (1974 - #2: from the LP "Caribou", John Denver's Annie's Song kept it out of the #1 spot)
Think - Aretha Franklin (1968 - #7: song that got a boost when used in the "Blues Brothers" movie)
I'd Love to Change the World - Ten Years After (1971 - #40: lead guitarist and singer Alvin Lee wrote the British group's biggest hit)
On the Way Home - Buffalo Springfield (1968 - #82: Neil Young wrote this minor hit but Richie Furay sang it)
CLOSING THEME: Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959 - #1 for two weeks; brothers Santo [steel guitar] and Johnny [rhythm guitar] Farina from Brooklyn)
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: October 10, 2026
Host: Gregory James
Feature: Songs Z to A
Birthday Calendar
October 4
Duke Robillard (Fabulous Thunderbirds Pleasure Kings) 78 years old
October 5
Steve Miller 83 years old
Arlene Smith (Chantels lead vocalist) b. 1941
B.W. Stevenson b. 1949
October 6
Millie Small b. 1946
October 7
John Mellencamp 75 years old
October 8
Robert “Kool” Bell (Kool and the Gang bassist) 76 years old
Fred Cash (Impressions) 86 years old
Butch Rillera (Redbone drummer) 1945
October 9
Jackson Browne 78 years old
John Entwistle b. 1944
Nona Hendryx (LaBelle) 82 years old
John Lennon b. 1940
October 10
David Lee Roth 72 years old
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
In the 6:00 hour I played the version of “California Dreaming” that was first released. Who was the artist?
(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)
She’s Not There Zombies 1964 #2
Composer and keyboard wizard Rod Argent based the opening lyrics on the title of a John Lee Hooker song called “No One Told Me.
For Your Love Yardbirds 1965 #6
Brian Augur played harpsichord and Denny Piercy played bongos.
Behind Blue Eyes The Who 1971 #34
The first song lyric Pete Townshend wrote was “When my fist clenches, crack it open.”
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes Bobby Vee 1962 #3
Backing instrumentation by the Wrecking Crew, with backing vocals by the Johnny Mann Singers.
Take Me Into Your Arms and Love Me Undisputed Truth 1971 NR
Backing track by the Funk Brothers. Norman Whitfield created the group to develop his psychedelic soul genre.
*Love Will Keep Us Together Toni Tennille and Daryl Dragon
Requested by Scottie with love for Peggy. Written by Neil Sedaka who excelled at creating memorable hooks. In the video below, he joins Toni Tennille on vocals.
The Sound of Silence Simon and Garfunkel 1965 #1 for two weeks
This was the song that landed them a record contract with Columbia. The video below is of their 1981 Central Park concert.
You’ve Lost That Lovin' Feeling Righteous Brothers 1964 #1 for two weeks RRHOF
Composer Barry Mann adapted the lyric “I love how your eyes close whenever you kiss me” from his song “I Love How You Love Me” and turned it into “You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips.”
Fresh Air Quicksilver Messenger Service 1970 #49
It was the group’s most successful single.
The Great Pretender Platters 1955 #1 RRHOF
Composer Buck Ram claimed to have written the song in 20 minutes in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.
Love Train O’Jays 1973 RRHOF Grammy HOF
The record entered the Hot 100 on January 27, 1973, the day the Paris Peace Accords were signed ending the war in Vietnam.
I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash 1972 #1 4 weeks
California Dreamin’ Barry McGuire/Mamas and Papas DNC
The song was originally recorded with Barry McGuire as lead singer with the Mamas and Papas singing back up.
Sweet Nothin’s Brenda Lee 1959 #4 H100 #12 RB
Brenda Lee was 14 when she recorded this song.
Stand By Me Ben E. King 1961 #4 H100 #1 RB
The song uses a chord progression known as the “50’s progression” and has also been called the “Stand by Me” progression.
7:00
Too Hot to Handle Duke Robillard and the Pleasure Kings 1985 NR
Robillard played Ithaca's original Haunt nightclub in the late 1970s
The Stake Steve Miller Band 1977 DNC
Norman Buffalo played the harmonica on this track.
Look In My Eyes Chantels 1961 #6 RB #14 H100
My Maria B.W. (Buckwheat) Stevenson 1973 #9
My Boy Lollipop Millie Small 1964 #2
Small recorded the song when she was 16 years old. This track boosted the status and success of Island Records.
I Need a Lover John Mellencamp 1979 #28
At the time of the record’s release, Mellencamp was known as Johnny Cougar.
Too Hot Kool and the Gang 1979 #3 RB #5 H100
The track is a departure from the usual good-time party-anthem music of Kool and the Gang. The lyrical narrative acknowledges that the couple needs some anger management.
I’m So Proud Impressions 1964 #14
This track was part of Curtis Mayfield’s strategy of redefining the Impressions as a supper club act.
I’ve Got to Find the Right Woman Redbone 1974 NR
Here Come Those Tears Again Jackson Browne 1977 #23
Bonnie Raitt sang backing vocals and John Hall of Orleans played the guitar solo. In the video below, Rosemary Butler sings harmony and it looks like David Lindley on guitar.
What Can I Do for You? La Belle 1975 #8 RB #48 H100
This was the follow up to Lady Marmalade.
My Generation The Who 1966 #74
John Entwistle’s bass guitar is prominent throughout the track, and his was one of the first bass guitar solos in rock.
#9 Dream John Lennon 1975 #9
The name “John” heard in the song was whispered by May Pang. Since Lennon and George Harrison were sort of estranged at the time, guitarist Jesse Ed Davis worked to emulate Harrison’s guitar style on the track.
8:00
One Good Man Janis Joplin 1969 DNC
Mike Bloomfield played guitar on this song written by Janis.
Twist and Shout Isley Brothers 1962 #17
The Isleys received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Little Miss Lover Jimi Hendrix 1967 NR
From his second album “Axis Bold as Love.”
Can I Get a Witness Marvin Gaye 1963 #22
Composer Eddie Holland said the song was recorded in one take, with backing vocals by some of the Supremes and Holland-Dozier-Holland themselves. Get ready for the go-go dancers who show up at the 0:55 mark.
Standing in the Shadows of Love Four Tops 1966 #6 H100 #2 RB
The group began their Motown career recording jazz tunes for the label’s “Workshop Jazz Records” imprint. They also sang backup for the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas. The Tops made extensive use of the Andantes to provide high pitched harmonies.
September Earth Wind and Fire 1978 #8 H100 #1 RB
Lyricist Allee Willis once said of the “ba-dee-ya” lyric: “Never let the lyric get in the way of the groove.”
Cherry Cherry Neil Diamond 1966 #6
This was Diamond’s first big hit and you can hear producer Ellie Greenwich singing on the chorus (“she got the way to move me”) which she wrote.
Little Egypt Coasters 1961 #23 H100 #16 RB
The Coasters were the first vocal group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The carnival barker intro was spoken by tenor Carl Gardner.
Little Deuce Coupe 1963 #15
B-Side to Surfer Girl” their highest charting B-Side. Lyrics were written by LA radio DJ Roger Christian who co-wrote several other Beach Boys songs.
House of the Rising Sun Animals 1964 #1 Three weeks
Recorded in one take. Alan Price got sole credit for the arrangement—much to the dismay of the other Animals.
Walk On By Dionne Warwick 1964 #6 RRHOF
This would have been a B-side if it had not been for radio DJ Murray the K. In the video clip below, she performs choreography during the instrumental interlude.
Your Song Elton John 1971 #8
The song started life as the B-side of “Take Me to the Pilot,” but radio DJs preferred “Your Song” which became the A-side.
*Every Time I Think of You The Babys 1979 #13
Close to You Carpenters 1970 #1 Four weeks
This Bacharach-David song was first recorded in 1963 by actor Richard Chamberlain. The Carpenters’ backing musicians were the Wrecking Crew.
You’ve Got a Friend Carole King 1971 DNC RRHOF
The song won the 1972 Grammy for Song of the Year. James Taylor, who had a #1 hit with his version of the song, played guitar on King’s version. In the video below, she gives an incredibly heartfelt rendition.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
The first artist to release “California Dreaming” was Barry McGuire with the Mamas and Papas singing backing vocals and a harmonica solo instead of a flute solo.
Congratulations to Connie from Berkshire 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
RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Grammy HOF = Grammy Hall of Fame
Host October 17, 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!
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!
Date: October 3, 2026
Host: John Simon
Feature: October 1968
Tonight from 6-9 on the radio with special guests in the studio, good tunes, good company and your requests. We'll pick up where JH left off three weeks ago, play some leftovers from my last show and fold in your requests and dedications. Rockin' Remnants on WVBR.
Playlist
·YouTube links follow certain entries
·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
6-7pm
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock
‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi
Hendrix)
Workin’ On a Groovy Thing - Patti
Drew (10/68; #62 Pop, #34 R&B – Brill
Building writers Neil Sedaka & Roger Atkins rarely collaborated, but they
wrote this one and they’d hit paydirt when the 5th Dimension would
tackle it one year later. This is the first of many versions that would be
recorded over the years, and it provided the template for the big hit version.)
Midnight Confessions - Grass Roots
(10/68; #5 – they’d started as a Folk
Rock vehicle for songwriters PF Sloan and Jeff Barri, but wanted to expand
their sound and decided to take a crack at a “Motown-sounding” record by adding
horns, driving drums and a rolling bass line. It proved to be a good move, and
would lead to a long and healthy string of hits well into the Seventies.)
The House That Jack Built -
Aretha Franklin (10/68; #6 Pop, #2 R&B for two weeks – once she landed at Atlantic Records, the floodgates opened for Aretha,
who would eventually come to be known as “The Queen of Soul.” This was her
eighth consecutive Top Ten single for the label, and was paired with her
version of “I Say a Little Prayer.” She was absolutely on fire!)
Over You - Gary Puckett & The
Union Gap (10/68; at #25 this week, headed for two weeks at #7 – this was a departure from the group’s usual
fare, which consisted largely of songs about illicit romance. It’s short and
sweet and is one of those rare Pop hits that features a prominent oboe line.)
Street Fighting Man - Rolling
Stones (10/68; #48 for two weeks – this
record inexplicably stalled at #48 on the Pop charts, but it‘s one of the
band’s most ferocious singles. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks it at #301 in its
list of the 500 greatest singles of all time. Turn it up!)
* You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo
Sayer (10/76; #1 – this one debuted in
October and would work its way all the way to the top in January of 1977,
thanks in part to Leo’s Bee Gees-like falsetto vocal and its driving
quasi-disco beat. If you were tuned in last time, I inadvertently played the
wrong Leo Sayer song. Like the Royal Canadian Mounties, we always eventually
get our….record!)
* Kiss You All Over – Exile (10/78; #1
for four weeks – this request/dedication
goes out to John from Cheryl, tuning in together from Florida. It would hold
down the #1 slot for four weeks in October of that year. Get a room, you two!)
You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore
(12/63; #2 for three weeks – she was a
teenager from Tenafly, New Jersey. Signed to Mercury Records and under the
guidance of producer Quincy Jones, she recorded a string of teenage laments
like “It’s My Party” and “Judy’s Turn to Cry” before this one exploded onto the
airwaves. It clearly resonated with the record-buying public, and is considered
something of an early Women’s Empowerment anthem.)
These Boots Are Made for Walking -
Nancy Sinatra (2/66; #1 – let’s consider
this a one-two punch. Frank Sinatra’s little girl was promoted as a sex symbol
with knee-high white boots and short, tight skirts – but she clearly wasn’t
gonna take mistreatment lying down. This one struck a nerve around the world:
it was also #1 in The UK, in Australia, in South Africa, in Denmark and
Singapore.)
Home of the Brave - Bonnie & The
Treasures (10/65; #77 – two versions of
this Mann-Weill composition were released on August 28, 1965. Jody Miller’s
more-polished release on Capitol Records would work its way all the way up to
#25. This “Wall of Sound” version released on Phil Spector’s Philles Records
label stalled at #77 after just five weeks on the chart before it disappeared. It’s
very hard to find, but well worth the search.)
Yesterday - The Beatles (10/65; #1
for four weeks – this is basically a solo
Paul McCartney record with a string quartet accompaniment, and it was unlike
anything the Beatles had previously released. It would also go on to become one
of the most-covered songs in the history of recorded music. Here it is in the
original mono mix.)
* Anastasia - Pat Boone (1/57; #37 – it turns out that this was the B-side of Pat
Boone’s #1 hit “Don’t Forbid Me,” and I had never heard of it. We dug it out of
the vinyl record library, but I misread the record label – again – and it took
three tries to finally play the correct track. It was worth the labor. Thanks,
Molly, for calling it in.)
Farewell Andromeda - John Denver (9/73;
#89 – I had played the stereo version of
this last time out, but tonight we hear the mono side of the radio station
promo 45. My studio guest said “This sounds really familiar.” It may because it
was also licensed for use as a Folger’s Coffee commercial back in the
Seventies.)
7-8pm
Birthday
Calendar
September 27 – Meat Loaf – born 1947
– Randy Bachman (Guess Who) – age 83
September 28 – Ben E King – born
1938
September 29 – Tommy Boyce – born
1939
– Mark Farner (Grand Funk) – age 78
September 30 – Cissy Houston – born
1933
– Johnny Mathis – age 91
– Marilyn McCoo (5th Dimension) – age 83
October 2 – Don McLean – age 81
– Mike Rutherford (Genesis) – age 76
– Sting – age 75
October 3 – Chubby Checker – age 85
– Lindsey Buckingham – age 77
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad - Meat
Loaf (4/78; #11 – this was the lead
single from one of the biggest-selling albums of the decade. Written by Jim
Steinman and produced by Todd Rundgren, it boasted an all-star studio band
including E Street pianist Roy Bittan, who opens the song. I confess that I had
picked this track to feature a couple of days before the news about “The
Cornell Seven” broke, and I apologize if anyone felt triggered or betrayed.)
Laughing - Guess Who (7/69; #10 – guitarist Randy Bachman was co-writer here,
and the song starts with a quiet guitar lick. He’d eventually leave the band to
form Bachman Turner Overdrive, but he really made his mark as a founding member
of the Guess Who.)
Spanish Harlem - Ben E King (12/60;
#10 Pop, #15 R&B – King
had been the lead singer of the “new” Drifters after the original members were
summarily dismissed, and this was his first outing as a solo artist. He shared
composing credit with Phil Spector, and notable covers would be performed by
both Aretha Franklin and Laura Nyro, among others. This, though, is the
original.)
Misty - Johnny Mathis (10/59; #12 – Johnny had been a track and field stand-out
in his native San Francisco, but he turned down an invitation to the 1956
Olympic tryouts in favor of a music career. We’re all the better for that
decision, and this one is apparently considered his “signature song.”)
Unchained Melody - Sweet
Inspirations (9/68; #73 – Cissy Houston
was the lead singer for the group, which had first made its mark doing session
singing for artists including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke
and even Van Morrison; that’s them on “Brown-Eyed Girl.” Atlantic Records signed
them to a recording contract, and they released a string of singles for the label,
including this haunting version of the theme from the film Unchained.)
One Less Bell to Answer - 5th
Dimension (10/70; #2 for two weeks – the
southern California quintet made their mark singing the songs of NY songwriter
Laura Nyro and LA writer Jimmy Webb, but this one was a Bacharach-David number
that was basically a solo showcase for singer Marilyn McCoo. She absolutely killed it!)
I Wonder What She's Doing - Boyce
& Hart (12/67; #8 – these guys,
meanwhile, were instrumental in making The Monkees big radio stars, writing and
producing much of the group’s early material and singing and playing on their
recordings. They finally landed a contract as a duo with A&M Records, and
this was far and away their biggest hit.)
Gimme Shelter - Grand Funk Railroad
(9/71; #61 – guitarist Mark Farner wrote
and sang much of the band’s material, but they covered this Rolling Stones song
convincingly. Capitol released an edited version as a single, and that’s what
we hear tonight. Scratchy and loud!)
Castles in the Air - Don McLean
(2/71; dnc – before his breakthrough with
“American Pie,” this song was released as a single to little notice. It was
later paired with his big hit “Vincent,” with added synthesizer and strings.
Ten years later it would finally chart in a re-recorded, slower version.
Tonight we hear the stripped down original version on the Media Arts label.)
Follow You, Follow Me – Genesis
(4/78; #23 – Peter Gabriel had left the
band, so bassist Mike Rutherford
also took on guitar duties and drummer Phil Collins took on the role of lead
vocalist. This song from the Then There Were Three LP was co-written by the
three remaining members, which would remain their successful formula for the
next decade.)
Message in a Bottle – Sting (11/82;
dnc – this had been a massive hit for bassist
Sting’s trio The Police four years
prior, spending three weeks at #1 in the UK. Tonight we hear a solo version
recorded for Amnesty International’s Secret Policemen’s Other Ball LP.
You can see his live performance below.)
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (6/75; NR
– afterthe California duo of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had joined
the venerable British Blues band, their first album together reached #1, sold
7,000,000 copies and yielded three Top 20 singles. This song wasn’t included on
either side of any of them, but it’s considered one of their greatest “hits,”
nonetheless. Listen in headphones to hear Buckingham’s multi-layered guitars.
Stunning!)
Back in the USSR - Chubby Checker
(4/69; #82 - after a long run at
Cameo-Parkway Records, the “King of the Twist” signed with Buddah Records and
took a stab at this song from The Beatles’ White Album. It’s a blistering
record with a tight horn section and a great vocal performance, but it mostly
fell on deaf ears.)
8-9pm
* Taxi - Harry Chapin (3/72; #24 – Harry was a storyteller who toured
relentlessly. This was his first charting single, and it was so compelling that
he was prompted to write a follow-up called “Sequel” nine years later. That one
would make it to #23!)
* Make Your Own Kind of Music - Mama
Cass Elliot (10/69; #36 – I rarely do
this, but this is the second time tonight that I’m playing a song that I’d
played on my previous show. This is the first single released using her last
name, and tonight we hear a mono version from a radio station promo LP. If
you’d like to hear her sing it live, find the 9/19 blog post. It’s pretty cool….)
* Sweet Cherry Wine - Tommy James
& Shondells (3/69; #7 – this release
was sandwiched between to group’s two big chart hits “Crimson and Clover” and
“Crystal Blue Persuasion.” The band was starting to release more sophisticated
and topical material, and this was a thinly veiled anti-war song, going out to
Peggy from Scottie.)
Sad Eyes - Robert John (10/79; #1 – he’d gotten his start as a teenaged
recording star under the name “Bobby Pedrick, Jr.” He’d later sign with
Atlantic and change his name to Robert
John, adopting that signature falsetto singing voice. This would be his
only #1 record, and it was peaking on this very date in 1979.)
You're Only Lonely - John David
Souther (10/79; #7 – JDS was part of the
Laurel Canyon music scene and was closely connected to both the Eagles and
Linda Ronstadt, with whom he’d done some recording. He co-wrote Eagles hits
“Best of My Love” and “New Kid in Town,” among others. This was his highest
charting single as a solo artist, and he’s joined by back-up singers Phil
Everly, Jackson Browne, and three Eagles: Frey, Felder and Henley.)
I Can See the Sun in Late December –
Stevie Wonder (9/76; NR – this is one of
four bonus tracks from Stevie’s Grammy-winning multi-platinum Songs In the
Key of Life LP that were finally released just five days ago, to coincide
with record’s 50th anniversary. At the time of the original release,
he needed two 12” albums PLUS a 7” 4-song EP to contain the music he’d created.
This one has languished in the vaults since then, although Roberta Flack had a
chance to record it in 1975. Tonight we hear 26-year old Stevie Wonder’s
version.)
Hey Jude - The Beatles (9/68; #1 for
nine weeks – tonight marks the second of
nine weeks that this record would sit atop the Billboard charts in 1968. It was
the band’s first release on their new Apple Records label, along with Mary
Hopkins’ “Those Were the Days” – and both would prove to be worldwide
sensations. Tonight we hear the original mono 45 version, faded just a little
before its 7:12 ending.)
Rock Me On the Water - Jackson
Browne (8/72; #48 – Curiously,
this single was released five months after Linda Ronstadt’s version. The single
mix we hear tonight is a different take from the LP version, and also runs :30
seconds shorter. Drums, bass and guitar are played by Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar
and Craig Doerge. That’s Jackson’s friend David Crosby on harmony vocals.)
That’s it for me! See you on October
24th for more musical fun.
CLOSING THEME: Sleepwalk –
Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
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 Next Week (10/10/26):
Gregory James with a spotlight on Artists A-Z, Part II
Thanks for tuning in - and for
voting us Ithaca's Best Local Radio Show in the Ithaca Times Readers'
Poll! You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9pm on
WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca, NY) or at wvbr.com/listen.
Thanks,
too, to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support
every week!
![Jackson Browne – Rock Me On The Water – Vinyl (7", 45 RPM, Single), 1972 [r14306398] | Discogs](https://i.discogs.com/xgdtn4arWdKylep2Cf8qKO485gtL9Fnk4Nd-o5KaUiU/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE0MzA2/Mzk4LTE1NzE4ODEy/MDQtNzU1My5qcGVn.jpeg)