Dec 10, 2011 - JS

Rockin' Remnants

Date:  December 10, 2011

Host:  John Simon

Birthday Calendar

Dec 8 -- Greg Allman -- Played keyboard and sang with the Allman Brothers.  He was born in Nashville TN, and he and his brother spent a lot of time in northern FL and Macon GA.

Dec 8, 1943 -- Jim Morrison -- Iconic member of the Doors.  He was born in Melbourne FL and died in Paris at 28 years old.

Dec 8 -- Jerry Butler, the "Iceman" -- He's 72 years old now, and still singing.  You might have seen him on PBS, hosting the oldies stuff they do there.  He was born in Sunflower Mississippi, and his baritone voice came out of a gospel tradition.  He sang with the Impressions for a while, then went off and forged a solo career, and his buddy Curtis Mayfield did a lot of production work for him.  Butler later moved to Philadelphia and became part of the Philly sound with Gamble and Huff.     

Trivia Contest

Clue 1

This singer, guitarist, and record company executive got his start playing covers of old rock-n-roll records in a Los Angeles nightclub.

Clue 2

Although his biggest hit was one he wrote himself, he famously recorded the first version of Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", he also released the first single of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain", and he scored big hits with remakes of two Chuck Berry records.

Clue 3 wasn't needed this week, as someone called with the correct answer after Clue 2.  Here is some additional info:

The club was the Whisky A Go Go.  His biggest hit was "Poor Side of Town".  One of the Chuck Berry records he covered was "Memphis".

SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION (below the playlist)

Playlist

(Note:  An asterisk before the song title indicates that the song was a request.)

Hey Girl -- Freddie Scott

Walk on By -- Dionne Warwick -- 1965 -- This song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.  Isaac Hayes had a 12-minute version of it.

Ooh Baby Baby -- The Miracles -- 1965

Until Then -- The Pentagons -- 1961 -- This song was released as a 45 on Jamie Records.  It didn't chart; it was a regional hit in the Chicago area.

Halfway -- Eddie Hodges -- 1963 -- #118 

Holidays are Coming/Snoopy's Christmas -- 1967 -- Royal Guardsmen -- This song debuted on this date (Dec 10) in 1967, and was the third song in their Snoopy trilogy.

Sleigh Ride -- Ventures -- They had a whole album of surf tunes and holiday songs.  You can hear "Walk Don't Run" leading into "Sleigh Ride" at the beginning of this song.

Walk with a Winner -- Gene McDaniels -- This was released as a 45 on Liberty Records and never charted.  Jack Nitzsche is listed in the production credits.  Gene McDaniels had a career that encompassed pop, big band, ballads, and jazz, and he composed a bunch of classic tunes.  He passed away this past year. 

Just My Style -- Gary Lewis and the Playboys -- 1965

The Look of Love -- Lesley Gore -- 1965 -- Released as a 45, then quickly pulled back and re-released with some jingling bells to make it more holiday-ish.  It rode the holiday wave right into the Top 20.

It's Cold Outside -- The Choir -- This band was from Cleveland.

Don't Take it So Hard -- Paul Revere and the Raiders

*Blue Moon -- Marcels

He's So Fine -- Chiffons -- This was a #1 hit for the Chiffons on Laurie Records.

*Everybody -- Tommy Roe

Hooked on a Feeling -- BJ Thomas -- This is the mono 45 version, which contains an extra overdub of the hi-hat.

*God Only Knows -- Beach Boys

*Can I Get a Witness -- Marvin Gaye

Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby -- Marvin Gaye -- 1969

For Your Precious Love -- Impressions (Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, and Fred Cash) -- Mayfield sings harmony on this virtual duet.

Make it Easy on Yourself -- Jerry Butler -- 1962 -- Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, later covered by the Walker Brothers as well.

Only the Strong Survive -- Jerry Butler --  This was a big hit for Butler, with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at the controls.

The "In" Crowd -- Dobie Gray -- Dobie Gray was a singer/songwriter who only had a few hits on the radio but had a huge impact on music.  He passed away in Nashville on Tuesday (Dec 6, 2011) at age 71 due to complications from cancer.  This was his first hit, in 1965, and it was later covered by many other artists.

No Room to Cry -- Dobie Gray -- This was Gray's final recording on Charger Records in 1966, and it didn't chart.

Drift Away -- Dobie Gray -- From 1973, this recording was a huge hit for Gray.

*This Door Swings Both Ways -- Herman's Hermits

As You Used to Do -- Ian and the Zodiacs -- This British band had a great local following in their hometown of Liverpool, but they got overshadowed by the success of the Beatles.  The most successful song for them in the U.S. was their version of Wade in the Water, which was a regional hit in the southwest.

Both Sides Now -- Judy Collins -- This 45 version from Elektra Records is in mono.  The version on the Wildflowers album is slightly different.

The Look of Love -- Aloha Burke -- Aloha Burke was the only sister in the sibling band The Five Stairsteps, and this is the lone 45 she released under her own name on Cobblestone Records.  Her brothers provide lyrical and instrumental support on this recording.

Stumble and Fall -- Darlene Love -- Phil Spector produced this 45, and then it was immediately retracted.  It can only be found on some Phil Spector anthologies.

Little Drummer Boy -- Harry Simeone Chorale

*Sleigh Ride -- Ronettes

*Different Drum -- Stone Ponies

Do What You Want to Do -- Five Flights Up

You Can't Change That -- Raydio -- This was one of the first songs released by Ray Parker Jr. and the band Raydio in 1979.

*Shining Star -- Manhattans -- This was a big hit in the early 80s, on Columbia Records.

*Shining Star -- Earth, Wind, and Fire -- This is from the album "That's the Way of the World" on Columbia Records.

If We Make It Through December -- Merle Haggard

Vincent -- Don McLean

Tunesmith -- Johnny Rivers

*Candles in the Rain -- Melanie -- Melanie is backed up on this song by the Edwin Hawkins singers.  She wrote this song after seeing all the lights flashing on the hillside at Woodstock.

Picture Me Gone -- Evie Sands -- This incredible lost single from 'Hard-Luck Evie Sands' features a double false ending.

*First Time Ever I Saw Your Face -- Roberta Flack -- This was used in the movie Play Misty for Me.

Stuck in the Middle with You -- Steeler's Wheel -- This was featured in the movie Pulp Fiction.

Half the Way -- Crystal Gayle

Part of the Plan -- Dan Fogelberg -- Fogelberg gets some help on this song from David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Joe Walsh.

Stoned Soul Picnic -- Laura Nyro -- This song was from her album "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession".  Laura Nyro used to live in Ithaca and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Her father and brother still live in town, as do many fans.  She was a songwriter and singer, and at one point in 1969 she had four songs in the Top 20 that she had written, including songs performed by The 5th Dimension, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Three Dog Night.

ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

JOHNNY RIVERS  -- John Ramistella was his real name, and he started his own record company called Soul City Records.  Among his many claims to fame:  he discovered (and re-named) the group The 5th Dimension.  

Thanks for listening, and please tune in again!