Thursday, June 5, 2025

May 31, 2025 - GJ - Smiling

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.

Make Me Smile" (Chicago) - Classic Song ...

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.

Caroline Crawford Page

Smile a Little Smile for Me Flying Machine   1969  #5

This was their debut single.

Album by The Flying Machine ...

*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.

Was (Not Was) – Smile – Vinyl (7", 45 ...

*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.”

ISRAELITES:Sly & The Family Stone ...

Smile Jerry Butler & Betty Everett   1965  #42 H100 

On the Vee Jay label.

Betty Everett & Jerry Butler - Smile ...

Smile Trini López  1960  DNC

Charlie Chaplin was one of the composers of this song.

Heart: If You Just Smile | The Cozy Apron

Smiling Phases Traffic    1967   DNC  

Smiling Phases     Blood Sweat and Tears   1968    

You heard my Frankenstein edit of the two versions.


Hole in My Shoe / Smiling Phases by ...

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.

5 essential Jefferson Airplane songs ...

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. 


Sara's song has always made me smile ...

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.

The Shadow of Your Smile - song and ...

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.

Barry Manilow – Can't Smile Without You ...

When You Smile    Roberta Flack   1973   NR

 Roberta Flack – Jesse / When You Smile ...

7:00

Undun Guess Who  1969  #22

Great work by drummer Garry Peterson on this jazz-inflected track.

Laughing / Undun – Vinyl (7", 45 RPM ...

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.

Gypsy: How Fleetwood Mac Found ...

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.

Classic Rock Song ...

*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.

British singer Cilla Black was ...

*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.

Gladys Knight And The Pips – Help Me ...

Whiter Shade of Pale    Procol Harum  1967

Gary Brooker, Singer for Procol Harum ...Amazon.com: A Whiter Shade of Pale ...

Good Times, Bad Times   Led Zeppelin  1969  #80

Jimi Hendrix praised John Bonham’s quick triplets on the bass drum.

Led Zeppelin Good Times Bad Times ...

You Don’t Know Me Lenny Welch   1960   #45

Lenny Welch - Wikipedia1960 HITS ARCHIVE: You Don't Know Me ...

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.

Van Morrison – Jackie Wilson Said (I'm ...

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.

Smile (The Emotions song) - Wikipedia

No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile    Everly Brothers  1962   #117

Gerry Goffin was one the writers of the song.

The Everly Brothers – Don't Ask Me To ...

*Funny Face Kinks  1967  NR

Requested by Michael from Newfield.

The Brightest Smile In Town   Ray Charles  1963 # 92

The Brightest Smile in Town Single AP ...

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.

Behind a Painted Smile: Collection ...

Smile for Me  Olivia Newton John  1976   NR

Three lessons Olivia Newton-John taught ...

Make a Smile for Me   Bill Withers   1974  NR

From his album "Add Justments."

Bill Withers – Make A Smile For Me ...

A Certain Smile Johnny Mathis  1958  #14

Johnny Mathis performed the song as a bar singer in the 1958 film of the same name.

A Certain Smile (song) - Wikipedia

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 Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces ...

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes   Asia  1983  #34

Asia: "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes ...

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.

Carpenters - Sweet, Sweet Smile - A&M ...

Smile Please    Stevie Wonder  1974  NR

From his LP “Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” his 17th studio album.

Stevie Wonder - Smile Please - YouTube

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.

The Green Grass Starts to Grow Lyrics ...

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.

The Platters – I'll Never Smile Again ...

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!