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.)
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Date: May 31, 2025
Host: Gregory James
Feature: Smiling
Birthday Calendar
May 26
Stevie Nicks 77 years old
Garry Peterson (Guess Who drummer) 80 years old
Levon Helm b. 1940
Peggy Lee b. 1920
May 27
Cilla Black b. 1943
May 28
Leland Sklar 78 years old
John Fogerty 80 years old
Gladys Knight 81 years old
May 29
Gary Brooker (Procol Harum vocalist) b. 1945
May 31
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin drummer) b. 1948
Lenny Welch b. 1938
Peter Yarrow b. 1938
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
Question: In the 6:00 hour I played a song by a 15 year old singer who was in the running to replace Mary Wells at Motown in 1965. What was the song and who was the singer?
(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)
Make Me Smile Chicago 1970 #9
These musicians had musical backgrounds in classical and jazz, and this track is an example of how they incorporated that into their pop/rock style.
My Smile Is Just a Frown (Tuned Upside Down) Carolyn Crawford 1965 #39 RB
Crawford was 15 years old when she recorded this for Motown. It looked for a minute like Crawford was in line to take the place of Mary Wells who had just left Motown.
Smile a Little Smile for Me Flying Machine 1969 #5
This was their debut single.
*Keep On Smilin' Wet Willie 1974 #10
Going out to Peggy with love from Scottie.
Smile Was (Not Was) 1983 #106
Guest vocal by Doug Fieger of The Knack.
*Jesus Christ Superstar Murray Head et. al. 1971 #14
Requested by Jane who just saw the show at the Rev Theater in Auburn.
(You Caught Me) Smilin' Sly & The Family Stone 1972 #42H100 #21 RB
From their album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On.”
Smile Jerry Butler & Betty Everett 1965 #42 H100
On the Vee Jay label.
Smile Trini López 1960 DNC
Charlie Chaplin was one of the composers of this song.
Smiling Phases Traffic 1967 DNC
Smiling Phases Blood Sweat and Tears 1968
You heard my Frankenstein edit of the two versions.
Wooden Ships Jefferson Airplane 1969 DNC
Paul Kantner co-wrote the song with David Crosby and Stephen Stills. Due to contractual complications, Kanter could not be credited as a songwriter on the Crosby Stills and Nash version. The song is a dialogue, and it’s great to hear Marty, Grace and Paul sharing the lead vocals.
Sara Smile Daryl Hall & John Oates 1976 #4
This was their first top 10 hit. John Oates introduced Daryl Hall to Sara Allen, who were together for 30 years before breaking up in 2001. By comparison, Hall and Oates made it to 50 years before breaking up.
The Shadow Of Your Smile (1973 Version) Marvin Gaye NR
This was from an album of romantic ballads released posthumously. He sang counterpoint in two different vocal registers, and it sounds like two people are singing.
Can't Smile Without You Barry Manilow 1978 #3
In performance, Manilow would often select a woman out of the audience to sing the song with him as a duet.
When You Smile Roberta Flack 1973 NR
7:00
Undun Guess Who 1969 #22
Great work by drummer Garry Peterson on this jazz-inflected track.
Gypsy Fleetwood Mac 1982 #12
Stevie Nicks met Lindsey Buckingham at a high school party at which he was singing “California Dreaming.” She added harmony vocals and they struck up a conversation.
Fever Peggy Lee 1958 #8
Peggy Lee was an uncredited lyricist. The bass player was Joe Mondragon and the drummer was Shelly Manne.
The Weight The Band 1968 #63
The town of Nazareth made its way into the song when Robbie Robertson noticed a stamp saying Nazareth on the inside of his guitar. Nazareth PA is where Martin guitars are made.
*Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo Rick Derringer 1974 #23
This was the album version with the full guitar solo by Derringer. Rick Derringer died at the age of 77 on Monday May 26, 2025. Requested by JR
The Long and Winding Road Cilla Black 1972 DNC
Paul McCartney has said that her cover of “Long and Winding Road” was the definitive version of the song.
*Your Smiling Face James Taylor 1977 #20
Leland Sklar plays an intricate yet unobtrusive bass line on the track. On his YouTube videos he talks about his technique and he tells tales of making music with a who’s who of musical talent. In the video below, Sklar has a close-up at 1:35. Requested by Jenny.
The Old Man Down the Road John Fogerty 1985 #10
Off of his “Centerfield” album. For a guy from the San Francisco Bay area, Fogerty excels at swamp rock.
Help Me Make It Through the Night Gladys Knight 1972 #33 H100 #13 RB
Her cover of this Kris Kristofferson song was nominated for a Grammy.
Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum 1967
Good Times, Bad Times Led Zeppelin 1969 #80
Jimi Hendrix praised John Bonham’s quick triplets on the bass drum.
You Don’t Know Me Lenny Welch 1960 #45
And When I Die Peter, Paul and Mary 1966 DNC
Laura Nyro wrote this song about dying when she was 17. She sold it to Peter Paul and Mary for $5,000 and they were the first to record it. In 1966 $5000 was the equivalent of $49,000 in today’s dollars.
And So It Goes Billy Joel 1990 #37
He has said this song is one of his favorites and he believes it was largely overlooked. You heard the demo version of the song, which was not released until 2005 as part of a box set. He was recently diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus which affects hearing, vision and balance. On May 23, 2025 he announced that he has suspended concerts through 2026 while he recovers. He has no plans to retire.
8:00
Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) Van Morrison 1972 #61
The band had rehearsed the song only once before recording it. Morrison chose to release the first and only basic take with saxophone overdubs recorded later.
When You’re Smiling Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera and the Witnesses 1957 DNC
In the Ed Sullivan below, check out Keely Smith's unsmiling facial expressions.
Smile The Emotions 1978 #102 H100 #6 RB
Maurice While (of Earth, Wind and Fire) composed and produced the song.
No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile Everly Brothers 1962 #117
Gerry Goffin was one the writers of the song.
*Funny Face Kinks 1967 NR
Requested by Michael from Newfield.
The Brightest Smile In Town Ray Charles 1963 # 92
Behind a Painted Smile Isley Brothers 1967 DNC
It did not chart in the U.S., but it reached #5 in the U.K. in 1969.
Smile for Me Olivia Newton John 1976 NR
Make a Smile for Me Bill Withers 1974 NR
From his album "Add Justments."
A Certain Smile Johnny Mathis 1958 #14
Johnny Mathis performed the song as a bar singer in the 1958 film of the same name.
Smiling Faces Sometimes The Undisputed Truth 1971 #3 H100 #2 RB
The song was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. Composer and producer Norman Whitfield gave the song to Undisputed Truth later the same year, and it was their only top 10 single.
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes Asia 1983 #34
Sweet, Sweet Smile Carpenters 1978 #44H100 #8 CW
Karen Carpenter chose to record this song by Juice Newton rather than Richard Carpenter, who usually chose which songs they would record.
Smile Please Stevie Wonder 1974 NR
From his LP “Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” his 17th studio album.
The Green Grass Starts to Grow Dionne Warwick 1971 #43
This track was from her 14th and final album for the Scepter label before she signed with Warner Brothers.
I’ll Never Smile Again Platters 1961 #25 H100 #17 RB
The song was written in 1939 and Tommy Dorsey’s version charted at #1 in 1940. The Platters returned the song to the top 40 in 1961.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
"My Smile is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" by Carolyn Crawford
Congratulations to Brad from Ithaca for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s home for first-run, international, independent and local films.
Glossary of Terms:
DNC = did not chart
NR = not released as a single at the time
H100 = Billboard Hot 100
CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records
RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records
Host June 7, 2025: 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!
