Dec 8, 2012 - JS - holidays, Lennon, etc.

Rockin' Remnants

December 8, 2012

Host: John Simon (with studio assistance from Kim Vaughan and Dan Cole)

Theme(s): Free-for-all Oldies Show, Holiday Music; Birthday Calendar; The anniversary of John Lennon's death; Listener requests (*)

Birthday Calendar

Dec 5 - Little Richard - age 80
Dec 5 - Jim Messina (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins & Messina) - age 65
Dec 5 - Andy Kim - age 60
Dec 6 - Dave Brubeck - 1920 (passed away two days ago)
Dec 6 - Jonathan King - age 68
Dec 8 - Jerry Butler - age 73
Dec 8 - Gregg Allman - age 65Dec 8 - Jim Morrison (Doors) - 1943 

Rock and Roll Trivia

1) This singer/songwriter/guitarist and his brother formed a band in high school that went on to sell millions of records for a small California label.

2) In 1969 they played the Woodstock Music Festival and also took three singles to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two years later his brother left the band, beginning a long-standing feud

3) His songs have been covered by acts including Solomon Burke, Tina Turner, The Checkmates and Bruce Springsteen (who personally inducted him into the R 'n' R Hall of Fame).

(answer below the playlist)

Playlist

6-7 p.m.

This I Swear - The Skyliners [cited by Smokey Robinson as an influence on him as both a writer and a singer]
 
I'll Try Something New - The Miracles [later recorded and released as a charting single by Supremes & Temptations]
 
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Supremes & Temptations [written by Gamble & Huff; debuted on this date in '69, went all the way to #2 on the Pop chart]
 
Kay - John Wesley Ryles [for our cab driver friends. Only reached #83 in late '68  -  but made it to #9 on C&W chart]
 
Expressway to Your Heart - Soul Survivors [Blue-eyed Soul record produced by Gamble & Huff on the Crimson label; #4 in November '67]
 
Incense & Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock [their first charting single made it all the way to #1 on 11/25/67]

The Bells of St. Mary's - Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans [from Phil Spector's Christmas Album, 1963]
 
*Little Bright Star - Diana Ross & The Supremes [an LP track from their 1967 Christmas album]

It's Only Love - The Beatles [John Lennon was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980; Howard Cosell first broke the news nationally during ABC's Monday Night Football television broadcast]
 
*Across the Universe - The Beatles [originally recorded for a benefit album in 1969, later included on Let It Be. This version first surfaced on Past Masters, Vol. 2 CD]

Please Come Home for Christmas - Charles Brown [the original from 1961; Eagles would have a hit with it in 1978, but this is the real deal]
 
*Remember When - The Platters
 
Honey Chile - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas [#11 in 12/67 on Gordy Records, backed by The Funk Bros.]
 
Since You Showed Me How to Be Happy - Jackie Wilson [#32 in 11/67, backed by members of The Funk Bros.]
 
Cast Your Fate to The Wind - Vince Guaraldi Trio

7-8 p.m [Birthday Calendar and more]

Make it Easy on Yourself - Jerry Butler [a Bacharach/David tune later covered by The Walker Bros.]
 
Revival - The Allman Brothers Band [their debut charting single, reached #92 in January '71]
 
You're Lost Little Girl - The Doors [from Strange Days LP, 1968]

*Send Me Some Lovin' - Little Richard [the charting b-side of Lucille, from 1957]
 
Lucille - Little Richard [spent 2 weeks at #1 on the R&B charts]

Take Five - Dave Brubeck Quartet [#25 in the Fall of '61; the Jazz pianist died this week, two days before his 92nd birthday]
 
On Broadway - The Drifters [with young Phil Spector playing the guitar solo]
 
Baby (You're My Everything) - Hedgehoppers Anonymous (feat. Jonathan King; rel. as a single in the UK]

* Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix Experience
 
Bittersweet - The Robbs [non-charting single on Mercury Records from 9/66 for this Wisconsin band]
 
Susan - Buckinghams [#11 in 12/67; stock copies featured a 60-sec. psychedelic "freak-out" edited out for radio play]
 
I'll Make Every Day Like Christmas - Joe Tex [rel. in 12/67 on Atlantic Records; dnc]
 
*Gloria - Them [requested in honor of the caller's departed mother, whose birthday is this coming week]
 
The End - Earl Grant [#7 in Fall of '58; this Jazz keyboardist mostly released instrumental singles. Not this time!]

8-9 p.m. [Seventies Happy Hour]

These Days - Gregg Allman [from his 1971 solo release Laid Back; song written by Jackson Browne]
 
*Santa Claus is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band [rec. 12/12/78 at CW Post College]
 
Thinking of You - Loggins & Messina [45 version, which is a different performance from all LP/CD versions]

*I Wonder - Rodriguez [ca. 1971, from the Searching for Sugarman soundtrack; feat. Motown Records' Bob Babbitt on bass]
 
*Without You - Nilsson [spent 4 weeks at #1 in early '72; written by Badfinger's Pete Ham]
 
*Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim [his lone #1 record] 

 I Want to Hold Your Hand - Lakeside [soul-ballad version of Lennon-McCartney tune; #102 on the Pop charts in early '82, but #5 R&B]
 
For Love - Pousette-Dart Band [the lone charting single (#83) for this New England-based soft rock group]
 
Sweet City Woman - Stampeders

*River - Joni Mitchell [from her album Blue. A perennial FM radio holiday favorite, with a dedication "from Dave to Vikki"]
 
When Will I See You Again - Three Degrees [original 45, presented to JS by his buddy PB, whose birthday was 12/8/53 and who died way too young]
 
Missing You - John Waite [former lead singer of the Babys; reached #1 in Sept. 1984]

Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny [our closing theme every week]

Trivia answer

John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)


Next week: JR

Thanks for tuning in!  You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday from 6-9pm on WVBR-FM, Ithaca, 93.5 on the dial or at wvbr.com/listen.