November 7, 2026 - JH: Dancing Songs

November 7, 2026

Host: Jan Hunsinger (JH)

Spotlight: Dancing Songs. Songs about dancing or inspired by dance crazes. Many appeared on the Cameo-Parkway record label, located in Philadelphia.

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: The Hustle - Van McCoy (1975 - #1)

Do You Wanna Dance - The Mamas and the Papas (1968 - #76: their cover of the hit written by Bobby Freeman)

I'm Happy Just to Dance With You - The Beatles (1964 - #95: B-side to "I'll Cry Instead" that charted on its own; both songs from the A Hard Day's Night soundtrack)

The Madison Time - Ray Bryant Combo (1960 - #30: jazzy tune inspired by a dance that originated in Columbus, Ohio in 1957; used in the movie Hairspray)

The Bristol Stomp - The Dovells (1961 - #2: recorded when Len Barry was with the group; "Runaround Sue" by Dion held the top spot)

Dance With Me - Orleans (1975 - #6: song was written by band member John Hall and his then-wife Johanna)

Do the Freddie - Freddie and the Dreamers (1965 - #18: Freddie Garrity led the group from Manchester, England and would perform the dance onstage as he sang the song)

Come and Dance With Me - Billy Abbott and the Jewels (1963 - DNC: song was released as the B-side to the minor hit "Serenade", which charted at #55)

The Twist - Chubby Checker (1960 - #1: only song to hit #1 twice, which happened when the tune that ranks #451/RS500 was re-released in 1962)

Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) - Leo Sayer (1975 - #9: Sayer co-wrote the song that became an international hit)

At the Hop - Danny and the Juniors (1957 - #1: song was a huge hit for the group, topping the BB Hot100 for seven weeks)

The Loco-Motion - Little Eva (1962 - #1: Eva was 'discovered' by Carole King and Gerry Goffin when she babysat for them and they wrote the song that ranks #350/RS500)

Foot Stomping - Part 1 - The Flares (1961 - #25: one-hit wonder that was used in Hairspray)

Dancing Queen - ABBA (1977 - #1: topped the BB Hot100 in April of '77 and ranks #171/RS500)

*Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp (1962 - #2: song was inspired by the "Mashed Potato" dance craze; "Soldier Boy" by the Shirelles kept it from #1)

Simon Says - 1910 Fruitgum Company (1968 - #4: first charting single and biggest hit for the bubblegum group)

Wah-Watusi - The Orlons (1962 - #2: in this case the song came before the dance; "Roses Are Red My Love" by Bobby Vinton was #1)

*Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me) - Reunion (1974 - #8: song relied on lead singer Joey Levine's ability to sing the lyrics very fast)

7:00 - 8:00 - The Birthday Calendar

Background song: Java - Al Hirt (1964 - #4: song won Hirt a Grammy; he was also a halftime performer at Super Bowl IV)

November 1:
Barry Sadler - b. 1940
Dan Peek (America) - b. 1950

November 2:
Earl "Speedo" Carroll (The Cadillacs) - b. 1937
Jay Black [David Blatt] (Jay and the Americans) - b. 1938
J.D. Souther (The Eagles) - b. 1945
Maxine Nightingale - 74

November 3:
Lulu [Marie Lawrie] - 78

November 4:
Harry Elston (Friends of Distinction) - b. 1938

November 5:
Art Garfunkel - 85
Gram Parsons [Ingram Cecil Conner III] - b. 1946
Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) - 79

November 6:
Doug Sahm (Sir Douglas Quintet) - b. 1941
Glenn Frey (The Eagles) - b. 1948

November 7:
Al Hirt - b. 1922
Johnny Rivers [John Ramistella] - 84
Joni Mitchell [Roberta Joan Anderson] - 83

The Ballad of the Green Berets - Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler (1966 - #1: Sadler was a veteran who spent some time in Vietnam; song was used as the theme song to the movie The Green Berets starring John Wayne)

Today's the Day - America (1976 - #23: Dan Peek wrote and sang lead vocals for the last top 40 hit for the trio)

Speedoo - The Cadillacs (1956 - #17: biggest hit for the doo-wop group out of Harlem)

Come a Little Bit Closer - Jay and the Americans (1964 - #3: the group had its greatest success with Jay Black as lead singer, he replaced Jay Traynor in 1962)

Right Back to Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale (1976 - #2: biggest hit for the British singer and a song that has been used in several films)

Best of Both Worlds - Lulu (1968 - #32: song made its chart debut on 12/16/67)

Grazing in the Grass - The Friends of Distinction (1969 - #3: Harry Elston was lead singer for the group and wrote the lyrics to this hit that began as an instrumental by Hugh Masekela)

A Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon & Garfunkel (1966 - #13: a song for the season that made its chart debut on Art Garfunkel's 25th birthday)

Hickory Wind - The Byrds (1968 - NR: from their seminal LP Sweetheart of the Rodeo, the song has been called Gram Parsons' "signature song" and it was the second song performed by the Byrds when they were the first rock group to perform at the Grand 'Ol Opry)

Listen People - Herman's Hermits (1966 - #3: Peter Noone was only 16 years old when the group was formed and he continues to tour to this day)

She's About a Mover - The Sir Douglas Quintet (1965 - #13: Doug Sahm wrote and sang lead on the Texas group's first charting single)

New Kid in Town - The Eagles (1977 - #1: a birthday calendar two-fer - J.D. Souther began the writing of the song that was sung by Glenn Frey)

Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin') - Johnny Rivers (1977 - #10: birthday tribute that fits tonight's theme)

You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio - Joni Mitchell (1973 - #25: Graham Nash played harmonica on this hit)

*Dance, Dance, Dance - The Steve Miller Band (1977 - DNC: country inflected tune that was the B-side to "Serenade", both songs were taken from the Fly Like an Eagle LP)

Dance to the Music - Sly and the Family Stone (1968 - #8: first charting single for the group that also ranks #223/RS500)

Blame It on the Bossa Nova - Eydie Gorme (1963 - #7: one of 17 charting singles for Gorme in the rock era)

Crocodile Rock - Elton John (1973 - #1: from the Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player LP, it topped the charts for 3 weeks in February of '73)

Mickey's Monkey - The Miracles (1963 - #8: another effort from the Motown team of Holland-Dozier-Holland; "The Monkey" was a national dance craze in the early '60s)

Let the Little Girl Dance - Billy Bland (1960 - #7: a one-hit wonder, Bland was the youngest of 19 children)

You Should Be Dancing - The Bee Gees (1976 - #1: song that launched the trio into disco and would be included in the movie Saturday Night Fever)

Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee and the Star liters (1962 - #1: song took over the top spot from Chubby Checker's "The Twist" and held it for 3 weeks)

Do the Bird - Dee Dee Sharp (1963 - #10: "The Bird" was another dance craze of the early '60s; Sharp was another Cameo-Parkway recording artist)

Limbo Rock - Chubby Checker (1962 - #2: ditto above)

Willie and the Hand Jive - Johnny Otis Show (1958 - #9: dance that was made to do sitting down)

Land of 1,000 Dances - Cannibal and the Headhunters (1965 - #30: L.A. group that took their name from lead singer Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia)

Dancin' in the Streets - The Grateful Dead (1977 - DNC: the band had begun playing the song live in 1966; they recorded it in the studio for the Terrapin Station LP)

Do You Love Me - The Contours (1962 - #3: song would rechart at #11 in 1988 after it was used in the movie Dirty Dancing)

The Climb - The Coaster (1962 - DNC: another effort from the pens of Lieber and Stoller)

Keep on Dancing - The Gentrys (1965 - #4: garage rock band out of Memphis, Tennessee)

Save the Last Dance for Me - The Drifters (1960 - #1: Ben E. King was lead singer for the song that was #1 on this date in '66 and ranks #182/RS500)

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 the best of the '50s, '60s, and '70s!

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. 

October 24 - JS - Mid-October On The Charts

 

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: 10/24/26

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  Mid-October Oldies

 

 

My Day (as planned): Gather and split some firewood. Go Vote. Go be on the radio (from 6-9 tonight). So far, all going according to schedule.

Rockin' Remnants tonight: mostly music from Octobers of the past (starting with five from the Motown family of labels). Stop by on your way to your evening's activities! 93.5 FM or streaming.

 

 

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)

 

I Hear a Symphony – Supremes (10/65; at #101 this week, headed to #1 for two weeks – five of their previous six singles had reached #1, and this one was well on its way. Check out this progression: #101 this week > #39 > #12 > #4 > #1. Talk about a juggernaut!)

 

 

Heaven Must Have Sent You – The Elgins (10/66; headed to #50 Pop and #9 R&B – as with all of those Supremes hits referenced above, this one was written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. V.I.P. was one of several label imprints under the Motown umbrella, and this was the most successful of all of its singles.)

 

 

Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (10/67; headed to #5 Pop and five weeks at #2 R&B – this one appeared on Motown’s Tamla Records label and was the duo’s second – and highest-charting – Pop hit. The only thing keeping it out of the #1 slot on the R&B chart was Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man.”)

 

 

*  Destination: Anywhere – Marvelettes (10/68; peaking this week at #63 Pop, #28 R&B – they had been Motown’s top female act, scoring the label’s first #1 hit six years prior, but the Supremes had dethroned them, and this would prove to be their final single on the R&B chart. A great cover would later be recorded by The Commitments.)

 

 

I’ll Be There – Jackson 5 (10/70; #1 for five weeks – this was the group’s fourth single, and each of them reached the top of both the Pop and R&B charts. Apparently, Motown management was reluctant to release a ballad after three wildly successful upbeat tunes, but it proved to be a good call: it spent 5 weeks at #1 on the Pop chart, 6 weeks at #1 R&B, and it became the label’s most successful single until the early Eighties. Meanwhile, young Michael was not quite 12 when he recorded this lead vocal.)

 

 

Everyone’s Gone to the Moon – Jonathan King (10/65; #17 – he would eventually become a producer/arranger and music industry bigwig, but this was his first and most successful recording as a performer.)

 

 

Everybody Loves a Clown – Gary Lewis & Playboys (10/65; #4 – this was their fourth of seven consecutive Top Ten hits on the Liberty Records label, all created by the team of producer Snuff Garrett and keyboardist/writer Leon Russell. One of the best-kept secrets in the music industry is that Gary’s voice was blended with that of session singer Ron Hicklin, and that most of their recordings were the work of LA’s famed Wrecking Crew.)

 

 

You Were On My Mind – We Five (9/65; #3 – the Bay area quintet was formed by multi-instrumentalist/singer Michael Stewart, whose more famous brother John was a member of the Kingston Trio. Michael was the one who arranged this version of the Ian & Sylvia song, and that arrangement propelled the record to the top of the Cashbox chart – and to #3 on Billboard.)

 

 

You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – The Silkie (10/65; headed to #10 – The Beatles were churning out several albums per year, and many great songs were never released as singles unless somebody else covered them. Brian Epstein had signed the Silkie to a recording contract, and John Lennon produced this single with Paul McCartney adding guitar and George playing a tambourine.)

 

 

Easy to Be Hard – Three Dog Night (8/69; #4 – this is one of half a dozen songs from the Broadway musical Hair that became radio hits, and this one was still on the chart on this date in 1969 – although it was now at #21 and falling. Singer Chuck Negron’s soulful vocal was an important contributing ingredient to this one’s success.)

  

I’m Gonna Make You Mine – Lou Christie (10/69; #10 – this record was peaking on this date in 1969, and was Lou’s final Top Twenty hit. Background vocals were provided by Linda Scott and Ellie Greenwich, who’ll be in our birthday calendar this evening. A caller pointed out that the bass player reaches a frenetic pitch, as though he’s being paid for each note that he plays. Listen for that when you get a chance – it’s pretty cool.)

 

 

*  Power to the People – The Plastic Ono Band (4/71; #11 – here’s a request from frequent caller Scottie, and it dovetails nicely with this first day of early voting in New York State. Klaus Voorman plays bass, Jim Gordon plays drums, and a slew of singers including Madeline Bell and Doris Troy join in on the choruses. Get out there and make your voice be heard!)

  

Revolution – The Beatles (9/68; #12 – the band’s first release on the Apple Records label included “Hey Jude” on the green side and “Revolution” on the white side. Talk about Paul/John polarity! “Hey Jude” would occupy the #1 slot for nine weeks. “Revolution’s” run was shorter, but it certainly packs a wallop! We had it cranked in the studio….)

  

 

*  Goodbye Girl – David Gates (12/77; #15 – this one goes out from our friend Dale, who’s been helping his wife Gail prepare for the end of her journey. He’s an old radio guy who takes great comfort in music, and asked for this one in her honor. Here’s hoping that each of us can find a love like this in our lifetimes.)

 

 7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

NOTE: tonight’s birthday calendar includes seven musicians who have been inducted into the Songwriting Hall of Fame. They are marked with this symbol: +++

 

 

 

October 18 – Chuck Berry – born in 1926 +++

            – Cynthia Weil – born in 1940 +++

            – Laura Nyro – born in 1947 +++

 

 

October 19 – Dave Guard (Kingston Trio) – 1934

            – Bruce Arnold (Orpheus) – 1946

 

October 20 – Jay Siegel (Tokens) – age 87

            – Tom Petty – born in 1950 +++

 

 

October 21 – Manfred Mann – age 86

            – Jimmie Beaumont (Skyliners) – 1940

            – Steve Cropper (M.G.s) – born 1941 +++

            – Elvin Bishop – age 84

 

 

 

October 22 – Bobby Fuller (BF Four) – born 1942

            – Eddie Brigati (Rascals) – age 81 +++

 

 

October 23 – Ellie Greenwich – born in 1940 +++

            – Barbara Ann Hawkins (Dixie Cups) – age 83

 

 

October 24 – Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) – age 90

            – Bettye Swann – age 82

 

 

 

 

It Wasn’t Me – Chuck Berry (10/65; dnc – this week would’ve been Chuck Berry’s 100^th birthday, and there are a slew of his songs that could’ve been chosen to honor his contributions. I went with this one: based on the “Johnny B. Goode” riff and chord structure, it’s Chuck doing some of his best wordplay – and we’re hearing it on a Chess Records 45 from back in the day.)

 

Hungry – Paul Revere & The Raiders (6/66; #6 – Cynthia Weil and her husband/writing partner Barry Mann wrote a slew of hit songs, including two of the best from Paul Revere and the Raiders. Here’s the second of those, and we’ll hear more of their handiwork before the show is over. Stay tuned!)

 

  

Spanish Harlem – Laura Nyro (9/71; NR – for several years in the late Sixties, this Bronx native was one of the hottest songwriters in popular music. Tonight, though, we’ll hear her interpreting the work of fellow New Yorker Ben E King. This track was taken from her collaboration LP with LaBelle called Gonna Take a Miracle. It’s a classic!)

  

Everglades – Kingston Trio (10/60; #60 – multi-instrumentalist Dave Guard was a founding member of this group that helped launch the Folk Music craze of the late Fifties/early Sixties. Signed to Capitol Records, they opened the door for countless acts including the Chad Mitchell Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, the We Five and more. Dave Guard sings and plays the 12-string guitar riff that opens and drives the song – a riff that he borrowed from The Everly Brothers.)

  

 

Can’t Find the Time – Orpheus (8/69; #80 – they were part of the burgeoning Boston music scene, and the mainstay of the band was singer/guitarist/songwriter Bruce Arnold. They were signed to M-G-M and this was first released in March of 1968, but it flopped. They tried again a year and a half later and it got enough airplay to chart – but it never became the hit that it deserved to be.)

 

 

 

This I Swear – Skyliners (7/59; #26 Pop, #20 R&B – Jimmie Beaumont was the lead singer of this Pittsburgh vocal group, and they were all still in high school when they recorded their first single. They shared writing credit equally on their first three singles, and their records were more successful on Black radio than on Pop radio – largely due to Jimmie’s soulful delivery.)

 

 

 

If You Gotta Go, Go Now – Manfred Mann (10/65; #100 Cashbox; #1 UK for three weeks – Manfred Mann was name of the the keyboardist and bandleader, who oversaw a revolving cast of players. They were more popular in the UK than they were here, and this Bob Dylan number is a good example: it spent three weeks at #1 over there and didn’t make any noise on Billboard’s chart. It barely scraped onto the Cashbox chart over here, but it’s a cool tune.)

  

Fishin’ – Elvin Bishop (10/74; dnc – Capricorn Records was home to a bunch of Southern Rock bands like The Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie and more – but Elvin Bishop was something of a quirky anomaly. This novelty number was representative of his early years, and here he enlists the support of fellow southerner Charlie Daniels on fiddle.)

 

 

 

Breakdown – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (11/77; #40 – Tom Petty arrived on the scene amid the “New Wave” craze, but would soon shed that label and come to be categorized as more of a “Heartland” rocker. The band’s first two singles failed to chart, but this one reached #40 upon its re-release. Nobody knew then that they were hearing the voice of someone who would come to be one of America’s biggest musical artists.)

 

She Lets Her Hair Down – Tokens (12/69; #61 – a bunch of high school kids from Brooklyn kept at it, riding the lead singing voice of Jay Siegel. They’d eventually become record producers, label owners and jingle writers as well as a successful vocal quartet. This song got its start as a jingle for Breck shampoo, and is a brilliantly-produced Pop single that should’ve been a much bigger hit.)

 

 

 

Let Her Dance – The Bobby Fuller Four (8/65; #133 – Texan Bobby Fuller and his brother Randy relocated to LA, where they signed with Mustang Records and recorded a handful of singles. This was the first, and it failed to chart – but it’s now recognized as a lost classic track. Bobby would die at the age of 23 under mysterious circumstances, although there’s growing speculation that he was murdered.)

 

  

It’s Wonderful – The Young Rascals (12/67; #20 – this was the group’s fifth Top 20 single of the calendar year, and they were all written by the team of Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. Eddie takes the lead vocal duties on this one, and it ends in a sort of psychedelic free-for-all with kazoos and weird percussion and sped-up tape effects. It’s also the final single that would bill them as “Young” Rascals. They were getting ready to be more serious.)

  

Gee the Moon Is Shining Bright – Dixie Cups (7/65; #102 – Barbara Ann Hawkins is the final remaining member of the trio that consisted of two sisters and their cousin. Born and raised in New Orleans, they signed with Red Bird Records and released a string of tasty singles, mostly written by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. This was their final Red Birds release and it’s basically lost to time – until tonight.)

 

 

 

Then He Kissed Me/Be My Baby – Rachel Sweet (2/81; dnc – Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry shared writing credit with Phil Spector on a number of songs, including these two. Rachel Sweet was all of 19 when this record was released, and it’s a terrific medley given the “Wall of Sound” treatment that Phil Spector had created. Should’ve been a hit!)

  

 

8-9pm

   

*  Soul Man – Sam & Dave (9/67; #2 Pop for three weeks, #1 R&B for seven weeks – this record hit #1 on the R&B chart on 10/14/67 and stayed there for 7 weeks! The studio players were Booker T & The MGs, who included guitarist Steve Cropper, along with The Memphis Horns. Cropper even gets name-checked in the middle of the song when Sam shouts “Play it, Steve!” The guy who called the request in says that it was written during the tumultuous summer of 1967 when fires were raging in inner city neighborhoods from Newark to LA.)

 

 

Green Onions – Booker T & The M.G.s (8/62; #3 Pop, #1 R&B for four weeks – here’s a Steve Cropper double-shot as we wind down the birthday calendar. This was the group’s first big hit, and bassist Duck Dunn wasn’t in the line-up yet – but Booker T’s organ and Steve Cropper’s guitar licks are the stars of the show.)

 

 

*  People Get Ready – Impressions (2/65; #14 Pop, #3 R&B – the Chicago trio’s Gospel roots were never far below the surface of their records. Curtis Mayfield gets the writing credit on this one, and it’s been covered a number of times. This version, though, is timeless.)

 

 

*  Sincerely – The Moonglows (12/54; #20 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks – this one was co-written by Harvey Fuqua and Alan Freed, although I doubt that Freed had much to do with it. It debuted on the R&B chart in late 1954, but didn’t get picked up by mainstream radio until three months later. As was the case before the radio waves became integrated, white acts like Pat Boone and The McGuire Sisters had great success covering this one. Years later Ithaca’s own Bernie Milton would record a nice version, too.)  

 

 

*  Spanish Moon – Little Feat (3/78; NR – this version was taken from the live album Waiting for Columbus, and goes out to Tom & Elise & Barbara & Larry, grooving to the show under a nearly-full moon in the hills of Danby. It’s suddenly in the hot rotation here on Remnants: JH played it as a request two weeks ago!)

 

 

45 Corner:  Wild Night – Martha Reeves (8/74; #74 R&B – she had been one of Motown’s headliners for years, but declined to follow the label when it relocated to LA. She would later sign with MCA Records, and release this blistering cover of Van Morrison’s song. It would apparently later appear in the film Thelma & Louise, but tonight we hear it from a well-loved 45 that looks just like the one below.)

 

 

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross (10/70; down to #7 after three weeks at #1 – after fronting The Supremes on 32 singles – including a dozen #1’s – Diana was ready for a solo career. Her first release reached the Top Ten, and this – her second – topped both the Pop and R&B charts. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell had the first hit with it, but this lush and elaborate production changed the entire nature of the song. Tonight we hear the 45 edit.)

 

 

Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Rolling Stones (6/68; #3 for three weeks, #1 UK for three weeks – we pick up the Birthday Calendar for two more entries, starting with this one. Bass player Bill Wyman claims to have written the riff, although Jagger and Richard took all of the credit. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks it at #125 in their RS500, and it was one of the big hits of that hot summer.)

 

 

 

Today I Started Loving You Again – Bettye Swann (12/72; #46 Pop, #26 R&B – also with a birthday today, Shreveport native Bettye Swann released this cover of a Merle Haggard song on Atlantic Records and made a dent on both the R&B and Pop charts with it.)

 

 

Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton (10/77; #3 for three weeks Pop, #1 C&W for five weeks – one more extension of our B’day Calendar: Cynthia Mann co-wrote this one, and it became Dolly Parton’s biggest crossover success. Apparently worried that she’d be accused of being “a sell-out” by her Country music fans, she insisted that a pedal steel guitar be added to the mix. It was, and her Country fans bought lots of copies!)

 

 

Poor Side of Town – Johnny Rivers (10/66; at #21 this week, headed to #1 – he made his career out of recording New Orleans-flavored covers of other people’s hits, but this was one that he wrote by himself, and it turned out to be his only #1 record. It was recorded in LA with members of The Wrecking Crew laying down the music. The background vocals were by Darlene Love & The Blossoms.)

 

 

Looking for an Echo – Kenny Vance (9/75; dnc – Kenny was a founding member of Jay & The Americans, and he recorded this nostalgic “love letter” to his favorite genre of music: Doo Wop. He enlisted most of his Americans bandmates, although Jay wasn’t in on it, along with Eddie Brigati from The Rascals, Eddie’s brother David, and Pete Anders from The Tradewinds. It’s a gorgeous record that went absolutely nowhere – but it’s getting a spin tonight!)

 

 

 

 

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 (10/31/24):  Claudia Montague with a spotlight on Hallowe’en!

 

 

 

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!