August 8, 2026 - GJ - Mid-Charters Early August 1956, 1966, 1976

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 8, 2026

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Early August Charters: 1956, 1966, 1976

Birthday Calendar

August 2

Jim Capaldi 1944

Garth Hudson  1937   

Andrew Gold 1951

August 3

Johnny Graham  (EWF guitarist)  75 years old

Syreeta Wright  1946

Beverly Lee (Shirelles) 85 years old

August 4

Paul Layton  (New Seekers bassist and vocalist)   79 years old

Frankie Ford 1939

Timi Yuro 1940

Larry Knechtel 1940

August 5

Rick Huxley  (Dave Clark Five bassist)  1942

Samantha Sang 75 years old 

August 7

B.J. Thomas     1942

August 8

Joe Tex (Joseph Arrington, Jr.)       1935

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

In the 6:00 hour I played a song that had two distinct versions charting on the Hot 100 on August 7, 1976.  What was the song?    

(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)

Along Comes Mary   Association   #32 down from #29 in its 10th chart week.  8/6/66

This was the Associations’ first hit and, according to composer Tandyn Almer, Mary was indeed a reference to cannabis. In the video below, Larry Ramos is introduced as Japanese, but he was actually Filipino.

Devil Woman  Cliff Richard   #42 up from #47 in its 6th chart week. 8/7/76

Cliff Richard made it to #6 in the U.S. and #9 in the U.K. with this record, which was heard 41 years after its initial release in the film “I, Tonya.”

Friday’s Child   Nancy Sinatra   #36 Holding steady in its 5th chart week.  8/6/66

This Lee Hazlewood song was arranged by Billy Strange who also played the guitar solo.

I’m in Love Again   Fats Domino  #20 down from #16 in its 16th chart week. 8/8/56

This was the fifth #1 single by Fats on the R&B charts where it stayed for seven weeks. It also reached #3 on the pop chart.

Lady Jane  Rolling Stones  #39 up from #51 in its 3rd chart week. 8/6/66

Mick Jaggger’s inspiration for the song apparently came from D.H. Lawrence’s book Lady Chatterly’s Lover. Although Mick overacts in the video below, it's historically interesting to see this line up of the band with Charlie Watts playing the vibes.

Ode to Billy Joe  Bobbie Gentry   

This song was originally recorded in 1967, but it showed up twice on the August 7, 1976 chart: at #69 on the Warner label, and at #57 on the Capitol label. Why? The film of the same name was released in 1976, and Bobbie Gentry re-recorded the song for the film. We heard the film version.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice    Beach Boys  #62 up from #84 in its 2nd chart week.  8/6/66

Brian Wilson used 16 studio musicians to create the wall of sound on the track. It ultimately reached #8 on the Hot 100.

*Silly Love Songs   Wings  1976  

#63 down from #53 in its 18th week on the chart.  8/7/76

The track was McCartney’s 27th number one composition in the U.S. He leaned into the opinion of critics, including John Lennon, that all his songs were just silly love songs. Requested by Scottie for Peggy.

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You    Elvis Presley  #5 holding steady in its 13th chart week. 8/8/56

The song peaked at #1 on the country chart and #3 on the pop chart. The song was recorded 17 times during an unproductive recording session. The released version was a combination of takes 14 and 17, an unusual editing method in 1956. 

Still the One    Orleans   #51 up from #69 in its 2nd chart week. 8/7/76

From their album “Waking and Dreaming.” A perennial anniversary favorite.

Be-Bop a Lula Gene Vincent    #8 holding steady in its 9th chart week. 8/8/56

The record peaked at #7 on the pop chart, #8 on the R&B chart and #5 on the country chart.

The Boys Are Back In Town   Thin Lizzy   #44 down from #27 in its13th chart week. 8/7/76

The song peaked at #12 on the Hot 100. The song first broke out in the U.S. on a Louisville radio station

Make Me Belong to You   Barbara Lewis   #46 up from #56 in its 3rd chart week.  8/6/66

She’s Gone   Hall and Oates  #53 up from #63 in its 3rd chart week. 8/7/76 It peaked at #7

This was a re-issued version on Atlantic Records after Hall and Oates had moved to RCA records and had a hit with “Sara Smile.”

7:00

Love Hurts   Jim Capaldi    1975  #97

The song was written by Boudleaux Bryant and first recorded by the Everly Brothers in 1960. Roy Orbison followed up with a cover in 1961.

The Shape I’m In    The Band   1971  #121

Robbie Robertson has not disputed the theory that the song was about lead singer Richard Manuel.  Garth Hudson really shines at several points on the keyboards.  

   

Never Let Her Slip Away    Andrew Gold   1978  #67

Gold wrote the song about his girlfriend at the time, Laraine Newman. Harmony vocals by JD Souther, Timothy Schmit and an uncredited Freddie Mercury, sax solo by Ernie Watts.

Love’s Holiday  Earth Wind and Fire  1977  DNC

Johnny Graham played lead guitar with the group for about 10 years. He has a nice stretch toward the end of this track.

If You Really Love Me   Stevie Wonder  1971   #8

Syreeta Wright co-wrote the song with her then husband Stevie Wonder. She also sang back up on the track.

Tonight’s the Night   Shirelles  1960  #39 H100  #14 RB

Beverly Lee acquired the trademarked name of the Shirelles and she is still touring with the group’s latest configuration.

Never Ending Song of Love  New Seekers   1972  DNC

Some great harmonies on this cover of the Delaney Bramlett song.

Sea Cruise  Frankie Ford  1959  #14/ Huey Smith 1958 NR

The instrumental backing track was recorded by composer Huey Piano Smith in 1958, and Ford’s voice was dubbed in for his 1959 release. Huey Smith’s version was not released until 1971. The other voice on Smith’s version is Gerri Hall. You heard a mix of the two versions.

Hurt    Timi Yuro   1960   #4

She was one of the first female blue-eyed soul singers, with a vocal style similar to Dinah Washington. When Burt Bacharach offered his song “What the World Needs Now” to her, she passed on it.

Bridge Over Troubled Water  Simon and Garfunkel  1970  #1

Larry Knechtel won a Grammy for his arrangement and piano playing on “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Bits and Pieces   Dave Clark Five     1964   #4

A stomping bit of proto-punk. You can draw a straight line from this song to “London Calling” by The Clash.

Emotion  1978   #3

Written and produced by Barry Gibb who sang backing vocals. The song was reputedly going to be part of the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack but was not used.

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head   B.J. Thomas  1969  #1 on the Hot 100 for four weeks and on the Adult Contemporary Chart for seven weeks..

It won an Oscar. Legend has it that both Ray Stevens and Bob Dylan declined to record the song. In the video below, Thomas managed to sing (or lip sync) the song while water was actually falling on his head on the Ed Sullivan Show. And check out the dance ensemble!

I Want to Do Everything for You  Joe Tex   1965  #1 RB  #23  H100

This was his second number 1 song on the R&B chart After “Hold What You’ve Got.”

8:00

Dirty Water   Standells   #31 Holding steady in its 16th chart week.  8/6/66

Tony Valentino played the instantly recognizable opening riff. The song broke out on an Orlando radio station in January 1966.

Sunshine Superman   Donovan  #61 up from #90 in its 2nd chart week.  8/6/66

The musicians included Jimmy Page actively using the volume knob on his lead guitar and John Paul Jones on electric bass.

Born to Be With You    Chordettes   #12  down from #11 in its 9th chart week.  8/8/56  It had peaked at #5.

The whistling was by Don Robertson who wrote the song.

Warm and Tender Love   Percy Sledge  #35  up from #48 in its 3rd chart week.  8/6/66 It peaked at #5 on the R&B chart and # 17 on the Hot 100.

Lowdown   Boz Scaggs   #36 up from #46 in its 6th chart week.  8/7/76 It peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 and at #5 on the R&B and Disco charts.

This was an album track from “Silk Degrees” until a DJ in Cleveland began playing it. It was then issued as a single to R&B and Top 40 radio stations.

Bus Stop   Hoillies  #58 up from #73 in its 3rd chart week.  8/6/66  It peaked at #5 on the Hot 100

Composer Graham Gouldman has credited his father Hyme, who was a playwright, with writing the opening lyrics of the song.

Shower the People   James Taylor and Carly Simon   #39 up from #43 in its 6th chart week. 8/7/76 It peaked at #22. The video is from a 1998 concert at the Beacon Theater with Arnold McCuller picking up the counterpoint verse at 3:18. Goosebumps all around..

I Need to Be in Love     Carpenters    #43 down from #25 (its peak) in its 9th chart week. 8/7/76

Richard Carpenter has said that this was his sister Karen’s favorite Carpenters song.

Summer   War   #30 up from #40 in its 5th week on the chart.  8/7/76 It peaked at #7.

Part of the melody was borrowed from a Burger King jingle of the time. Does the song bring back memories of riding around listening to your eight track?

Flying Saucer   Dickie Goodman and Bill Buchanan   #4  up from #9 in its 2nd chart week.  8/8/56 It peaked at #3.

This was the first in a string of “break-in” mash-up records by Goodman and Buchanan. This early version of sampling included snippets from 11 popular songs of the day.

Take the Money and Run    Steve Miller  #49 down from #32 in its 14th chart week. 8/7/76 It peaked at #11.

Just to be clear, Rockin’ Remnants does not condone aggravated armed robbery.

Fever    Little Willie John  #24 in its 1st chart week.  8/8/56 It peaked at #1 on the R&B chart and #24 on the pop chart.

Apparently, Little Willie John did not like the song when he first heard it.

Alfie   Cher  #57 up from #62 in its 2nd chart week.  8/6/66 It peaked at #32.

Cher was 20 when she recorded her version of the song, which fit her voice very well.

You Don’t Know Me    Jerry Vale   #22 up from #23 in its 3rd chart week.  8/8/56  It peaked at #14

Street Singin’  Lady Flash   #52 up from #62 in its 4th chart week. 8/7/76 It peaked at #27

They were the backing singers for Barry Manilow, who wrote and arranged the song for Lady Flash.

My Heart’s Symphony   Gary Lewis and the Playboys  #57 up from #75 in its 2nd chart week.  8/6/66 It peaked at #13.

Leon Russell was involved in the production and arrangement of the track.

Soft Summer Breeze   Eddie Heywood   #21 up from #24 in its 5th chart week. 8/8/56 It peaked at #11.

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

Trivia Answer

“Ode to Billie Joe”

Congratulations to Elise 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

CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host August 15, 2026: Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on “Rarities.”

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!

Aug 1, 2026 - KV - theme-free

 

  

 

Rockin' Remnants



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:  August 1, 2026

Host:  Kim Vaughan

Feature:  theme-free 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday Calendar

 

 

Jul 26   – Bobby Hebb – born in 1938

            – Darlene Love (Blossoms, Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans, some songs credited to the Crystals) – age 85

            – Dobie Gray – born in 1940

            – Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones) – age 83

 

Jul 27   – Bobbie Gentry – age 82 or 84

 

Jul 28   – Jonathan Edwards – age 80

 

Jul 29   – Jim Stewart (co-founder of Stax Records) – born in 1930

  

Jul 30   – Paul Anka – age 85

            – Jimmy Cliff – born in 1944

 

Jul 31   – Lobo – age 83

            – Gary Lewis – age 80 or 81

 

Aug 1   – Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) – born in 1942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia

 

 

What group/artist had a Top Ten hit with this song in the 1950s? (The Dave Edmunds 1973 version of Born To Be With You begins to play.)

 

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)

 

 

 

 

 

Playlist

 

 

·       yellow song titles are YouTube links

·       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)

 

Catch A Falling Star – Perry Como (1958, #1) 

 

La Dee Dah – Billy & Lillie (1958, #9)

 

Click Clack – Dicky Doo & The Don'ts (1958, #28)

 

Come Back When You Grow Up – Bobby Vee (1967, #3)

 

Without You – Johnny Tillotson (1961, #7)

 

Working In The Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey (1966, #8)

 

  

 

Crazy Eyes For You – Bobby Hamilton (1958, #40)

 

I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door – Eddie Hodges (1961, #12)

 

 * I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) – The Moody Blues (1973, #12)

 

 * Kicks – Paul Revere & The Raiders (1966, #4)

 

 * El Paso – Marty Robbins (1959, spent two weeks at #1 in early 1960)

 

 * Lady Eleanor – Lindisfarne (1972, #82)

 

 

 

(Sittin' Here) Lovin' You – The Lovin' Spoonful (from their 1966 album Hums Of The Lovin' Spoonful)

 

The Wind – Cat Stevens (from his 1971 album Teaser & The Firecat)

 

Tower Of Strength – Gene McDaniels (1961, #5) 

 

It's Only Make Believe – Conway Twitty (1958, #1 for two weeks)

 

I Only Want To Be With You – Dusty Springfield (1964, #12, her first hit as a solo artist)   

 

 

 

 

 

7-8pm

 

 

 

Sunny – Bobby Hebb (1966, spent two weeks at #2.  He reportedly wrote this as he recovered from grieving the loss of his brother.)

 

(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry – Darlene Love (1963, #39, her first hit as a solo artist)

 

Drift Away – Dobie Gray (1973, #5)

 

 

 

Waiting On A Friend – The Rolling Stones (1981, reached #13 in early 1982)

 

Ode To Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry (1967, #1 for four weeks)

 

Sunshine – Jonathan Edwards (1971, peaked at #4 in early 1972, his only Hot 100 hit)

 

Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes) – Carla Thomas (1961, #10, one of the first hit records engineered by Jim Stewart.  It was recorded by Satellite records, the original name of Stax Records, but was reissued and distributed by Atlantic.)

 

 * B-A-B-Y – Carla Thomas (1966, #14, one of many other hits for Stax)

 

  

 

The Story Of My Love – Paul Anka (1961, #16)

 

Sitting In Limbo – Jimmy Cliff (1973, from the soundtrack of the Jimmy Cliff film, The Harder They Come)

 

I'd Love You To Want Me – Lobo (1972, #2 for two weeks)

 

 

 

She's Just My Style – Gary Lewis And The Playboys (1965, reached #3 in early 1966)

 

Uncle John's Band – The Grateful Dead (1970, #69)          

 

 

 

8-9pm

 

 

 

 

 * Hooked On A Feeling – B.J. Thomas (1968, peaked at #5 in early 1969) 

 

 * Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967, #5)

 

Baby's Birthday – The Guess Who (1965, did not chart)

 

Birthday Morning – The Association (1968, the b-side of Time For Livin')

 

  

 

I Want A Boy For My Birthday – The Cookies (1963, the b-side of Will Power)

 

(They Long To Be) Close To You – The Carpenters (1970, #1 for four weeks)

 

 

 

 * 16 Candles – The Crests (1958, spent two weeks at #2 in early 1959)

 

 * Atlantis – Donovan (1969, #7)

 

Born To Be With You – Dave Edmunds (1973, did not chart in the US, UK #5)

 

Down By The River – Albert Hammond (1972, #91)

 

Yellow River – Christie (1970, #23)

 

Give A Little Bit – Supertramp (1977, #15, in case you want to give a little bit to support Hospicare for their Women Swimmin' fundraiser.  The event is the morning of Sat Aug 8 and you can hear The Yardvarks -- including John Simon! -- play at Myers Park to welcome the swimmers as they cross the lake.)

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trivia Answer

 

 

The Chordettes reached #5 with the song Born To Be With You in 1956.  The 1973 version by Dave Edmunds did not chart in the US but was #5 in the UK.

 

Congratulations to Miles from Ithaca, for correctly answering the question and winning a pass for two to Cinemapolis!

 

 

 

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 Next Week (8-8-26):  Gregory James with a spotlight on the middle of the charts from early Aug 1956, 1966, and 1976

 

 

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

July 25, 2026 - JS & JR - 1-2-3!

 

Rockin' Remnants




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:  7/25/26

Host:  John Simon & John Rudan

Feature:  Easy As 1-2-3!

 

 

  

Tonight on Rockin' Remnants: it's not live, it's Memorex! 

 

Because I'm playing an out-of-town event and no one on the team could cover for me, I've submitted two hours of my pre-recorded self (from 6-8pm) before JR takes over at 8 with an hour of his own. There will be no giveaways this evening, but you'll find plenty of great tunes, a cool theme and a terrific birthday calendar. I hope that you tune in - and I'll be back in a few weeks, scout's honor!

 

 

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)

 

 

Hold What You’ve Got – Joe Tex (2/65; #5 Pop, #2 R&B – this was the Texas native’s first nationally-charting single, and it kicks off this week’s feature: Songs That Count To 3. He would go on to chart 32 additional R&B hits by the end of 1978, including a string of novelty records – but he could certainly sing a sweet love song.)

 

 

 

1-2-3 – Len Barry (2/65; #2 Pop, #11 R&B – the Philly-born singer got his start with The Dovells, and this was his debut single as a solo artist. It was also his biggest hit, and New York’s WABC turned part of it into a station promo. Which part? The part that says “A-B-C,” of course!)

  

Mr. Lee – The Bobbettes (9/57; #6 Pop, #1 R&B for four weeks – the five Bobbettes met at P.S. 109 in Spanish Harlem and were signed to a recording contract when they were all between 11-13 years old. This was their first and biggest hit and was also the first record by a Black group to reach both the Top Ten on the Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart, and it was written about a teacher they didn’t particularly like. Atlantic Records had them sweeten the words, and the rest is history.)

 

All Together Now – The Beatles (1/66; NR – The Beatles’ foray into film began with the black-and-white A Hard Day’s Night, followed by the campy Help! Their third cinematic project was the cartoon movie Yellow Submarine, which included this little bit of fluff. It wasn’t high art, but it fits tonight’s theme….)

  

ABC – Jackson 5 (4/70; #1 Pop and R&B – Motown’s brand new superstars burst upon the scene with four consecutive #1 records. This was the second, spending two weeks at the top of the Pop chart and four weeks at #1 R&B. As with all of them, young Michael handles the lead vocalist duties, and it exploded out of the radio!)

 

It’s As Easy As 1-2-3 – Jan & Dean (6/65; dnc – Jan Berry and his steady girlfriend Jill Gibson co-wrote this song and the two of them were the primary voices on the recording, which was tucked onto the flip side of “You Really Know How to Hurt a Guy.” They’d split soon after this, and she would later claim fleeting fame as Michelle Phillips’ short-term replacement in The Mamas & Papas, but that’s a whole other story for another time.)

  

Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins (3/56; #2 Pop and R&B for four weeks – Carl Perkins recorded for Sun Records in Memphis and was a major influence on George Harrison, who recorded several of his songs with The Beatles. This particular number became strongly identified with Carl’s former label mate Elvis Presley, but tonight we hear the original.)

 

Hippy Hippy Shake – The Swingin’ Bluejeans (3/64; #24 Pop, #2 UK – this record rolled in on the wave called The British Invasion, which was unleashed by a different Liverpool quartet. Just as The Beatles had cut their teeth covering American groups, these guys made a career of recording Little Richard, Girl Group songs and – in this case – Chan Romero’s dance hit. It was the biggest record of their career, and opens with “One-two-three-for goodness’ sake!”)

  

Land of 1,000 Dances – Wilson Pickett (8/66; #6 Pop, #1 R&B – “One-two-three * one-two-three!” That’s how soul shouter Wilson Pickett counts this one in, and then goes on to list a number of recent or contemporary dance crazes. It’s one of four charting versions of Chris Kenner’s song, and the one that made the biggest impact.)

 

 

 

Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs (4/65; #2 for two weeks, #31 R&B – they were a Dallas-based quintet and this was their biggest hit. The count-in was a happy accident in the studio: songwriter/lead singer Sam says he playfully counted in “in Tex-Mex” as “uno-dos-one-two-tres-quatro,” and they kept it on the recording.)

  

I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles (2/64; #14 – this one was released as the B-side of the group’s breakout hit “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which spent seven weeks at #1. The flip side – on its own – reached #14, and Rolling Stone ranks it at #140 in the RS500. Several adult eyebrows were apparently raised when Paul counted it in as “one-two-three-FUH!”)

 

500 Miles – Peter, Paul & Mary (1/63; dnc – this lilting Folk song was paired with a low-charting single called “Settle Down,” but has become one of the group’s most memorable contributions. Their next two singles – one written here in Ithaca, the other written by that unwashed phenomenon Bob Dylan – would both reach #2. All three songs can be found on their Greatest Hits compilations.)

  

One – Three Dog Night (5/69; #5 – well, it’s time to feature the prime number by itself for a moment. This was the group’s first of eighteen consecutive Top 20 hits, and was written by none other than Harry Nilsson. Nice way to open the floodgates!)

  

White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane (7/67; #8 – the song’s writer and singer Grace Slick counts out three different pills, but just one at a time. This is also the first of two big hits from the summer of 1967 that have a counting section, and both were recorded in California.)

 

 

Let’s Live for Today – Grass Roots (6/67; #8 – PF Sloan and Steve Barri produced this one, after taking an Italian hit song and commissioning English lyrics. The group included bassist/singer Rob Grill and future cast member of “The Office” Creed Bratton, and that’s guitarist Warren Entner singing the “1-2-3-4” part.)

  

Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag – Country Joe McDonald (8/69; NR – Country Joe wasn’t scheduled to appear as a solo act that Saturday at Woodstock, but Santana wasn’t quite ready to go on, so he stepped up to the mic and led the crowd in his raucous “Fish Cheer.” He then proceeded to sing this anti-war rag and invited the audience to sing along. Those of us who remember the film might remember the bouncing ball highlighting the sing-along lyrics.)

 

  

Ball of Confusion – The Temptations (6/70; #3 Pop, #2 R&B for five weeks – David Ruffin was no longer with the group, and their producers were going for a pointedly  more topical sound. This one starts with a shouted “1-2-1-2-3-4” before the bass kicks in, and what follows is a scathing condemnation of the state of American Pop culture in 1970.)

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

 

July 19 – Bernie Leadon (Eagles) – age 78

 

 

July 20 – Dennis Yost (Classics IV) – born 1943

            – Kim Carnes – age 80

            – Carlos Santana – age 79

 

 

July 21 – Cat Stevens – age 77

  

 

July 22 – Chuck Jackson – born in 1937

            – George Clinton (Parliaments) – age 85

     – Richard Davies (Supertramp) – born 1944

     – Don Henley (Eagles) – age 78

  

July 23 – Dino Danelli (Rascals) – born 1944

 

 

July 24 – Verdine White (EWF) – age 75

            – Steve Goodman – born 1948

         

 

July 25 – Benny Benjamin (Funk Bros.) – 1925

  

Every Day With You Girl – Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost (5/69; #19 – the Jacksonville group scored a string of big radio hits in the late Sixties after relocating to Atlanta. Dennis Yost had started as the group’s drummer and lead singer, but was later moved to the front row – and was given top billing after the success of “Spooky.” Eventually, the rest of the band would leave to form The Atlanta Rhythm Section.)

  

More Love – Kim Carnes (6/80; #10 – she was an LA singer and songwriter who would later do some session singing, but her first major hit was this successful cover of Smokey Robinson’s 1967 love song to his grieving wife. A year later she’d walk away with Grammys for Record and Song of the Year for her treatment of “Bette Davis Eyes.”)

 

 

Jingo – Santana (10/69; #56 – released just two months after their blistering set at Woodstock, this was the first track pulled as a single. It wasn’t until “Evil Ways,” though, that they’d have a real hit. And the Rolling Stone record reviewer actually panned it with this snarky comment: “The record company slipped on this one and did not include a libretto. Here it is : Go-Ba-Ba Go-Ba-Ba Go-Ba-Ba Lumpa Thumpa, Boom Boom, Bang Bang Thump Thump!")

 

  

Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles (1/73; #22 – multi-instrumentalist Bernie Leadon had been with the Flying Burrito Brothers before co-founding this band, and his tasty guitar licks are all over this song. It was their third charting single and he’d leave after three more years, replaced by Joe Walsh. You’ll hear more from Joe in the following hour.)

  

If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out – Cat Stevens (12/71; NR – in addition to churning out back-to-back hit albums Tea for The Tillerman, Teaser & The Firecat and Catch Bull at Four – all between 1970-1972 – Cat Stevens scored the film HAROLD & MAUDE. This song was the catchiest of them all, but it wouldn’t be widely released until 1984 when it was included on his second greatest hits compilation.)

 

 

Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) – Chuck Jackson (5/62; #23 Pop, #2 R&B for three weeks – born in North Carolina and raised in Pittsburgh, he was one of the earliest interpreters of Burt Bacharach’s music. This was his signature song, and the one for which he is best remembered.)

 

 

(I Wanna) Testify – The Parliaments (7/67; #20 Pop, #3 R&B – they were from Jersey City and their leader was George Clinton, who would later help this Doo Wop group morph into a thing that he called The P-Funk Collective. Stax singer Johnnie Taylor would later have an even bigger hit with this song, but this is the prototype.)

 

 

A Girl Like You – The Rascals (7/67; #10 – the group charted five Top Twenty singles in 1967, and each was different from the last. This was the follow-up to their smash “Groovin’” and both were inspired by keyboardist Felix Cavaliere’s girlfriend. The smokin’ bass line was played by Atlantic Records’ session man Chuck Rainey.)

 

 

Spotlight on Session Drummer Benny Benjamin:

 

He was the primary drummer for Motown’s vaunted “Funk Brothers,” and his signature sound – along with the bass playing of James Jamerson – was one of the distinctive elements of “The Sound of Young America.” Here are three examples of his handiwork, but there are dozens more.

 

 

Dancing In The Street – Martha & The Vandellas (8/64; #2 for two weeks – this was their biggest hit and Rolling Stone ranks it at #40 in its RS500 list of the greatest singles of the era. It’s a rollicking call to celebrate summer across the USA – and around the world, even. That’s Benny Benjamin leading the charge.)

 

Uptight (Everything Is Alright) – Stevie Wonder (1/66; #3 Pop, #1 R&B for five weeks – he was originally marketed as Motown’s “12-year old genius,” but his voice had started to change and the hit records had stopped and the label was getting ready to end the relationship - until writer Sylvia Moy asked for one more chance. This is the record that corrected his course, and he went on to become one of the most consequential musicians of the era.)

 

 

I Heard it Through The Grapevine – Gladys Knight & The Pips (11/67; #2 Pop, #1 R&B for six weeks – this song, meanwhile, became one of Motown’s most successful ones. Gladys and The Pips’ version was a monster hit, thanks in part to Benny Benjamin’s drumming. A year later Marvin Gaye would have even a bigger hit with it. Benny Benjamin played on that version, as well.)

 

 

The Dutchman – Steve Goodman (1972; dnc – although he was best known as a songwriter, Steve didn’t write this one. It was written by fellow Chicago native Michael Peter Smith, and it opened Steve’s 1972 Somebody Else’s Troubles LP. Buddah Records released it as a single, but it never charted.)

 

That’s the Way of the World – Earth, Wind & Fire (7/75; #12 Pop, #5 R&B – this was the title track of the group’s best-selling LP and was co-written by bassist/singer Verdine White. He’s the last living member of the original group, and is still playing and touring.)

 

 

It’s Raining Again – Supertramp (10/82; #11 – keyboardist Richard Davies was given co-writing credit on this upbeat number, but it was really written by singer Roger Hodgson and ends with a kid’s chorus singing the old “it’s raining, it’s pouring” nursery rhyme.)

 

 Pssst....I'll see you next on August 22nd!  

 

 

8-9pm

  

John Rudan takes over with his signature mix of tunes from the Sixties and Seventies and early Eighties!

 

 

The Unicorn – The Irish Rovers (1967 – A request going out to my favorite Unicorn, plus a big hit from the renamed Rovers from 1980.)

 

 

Wasn’t That a Party – The Rovers (1980)

 

 

Polk Salad Annie – Tony Joe White (1970)

 

 

 

Flowers on the Wall – Statler Brothers (1966 – Re-popularized in 1994 in a gruesome scene from the movie Pulp Fiction.)

 

 

Hey Jude – The Beatles (1968 – The #1 Hot 100 single of the year.)

 

 

A World of Our Own – The Seekers (1965)

 

 

Everything Is Beautiful – Ray Stevens (1970; #1 on the Hot 100 for 2 weeks.)

 

 

Shambala – Three Dog Night (1973)

 

 

Lonesome LA Cowboy – New Riders of the Purple Sage (1973 – NRPS did not have any hit singles, but some great country-rock FM radio album cuts.)

 

 

Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen (1971 – originally done by Charlie Ryan in 1955.)

 

 

Amos Moses – Jerry Reed (1971)

 

 

Drivin’ My Life Away – Eddie Rabbit (1980)

 

 

Life of Illusion – Joe Walsh (1981)

 

 

 

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

 

 

 

 

 

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 Next Week (DATE):  Kim Vaughan with a spotlight TBD

 

 

 

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