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!)
Date: 12-27-2014
Host: JR
Feature: 1977
This week it’s the chart sounds of late 1977
and the “Fever” was starting to spread, on the
screen, in the clubs and on the
radio. This
may have been the last time
I really paid
attention to the AM radio, as soon I started
working more at
WVBR, and began delving
into the “progressive” rock acts of the late 60’s
and
early 70’s (but also keeping an ear out on
the Hot 100). We’ll check out the
Birthday
Calendar at 7:00 and in the 45 Corner the
single version of “Come Sail
Away” by Styx,
and the 45 version of “What’s Your Name” by
Lynyryd Skynyrd,
only available on 7” vinyl.
We’ll also
play some Remnants trivia, with a
chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Angry
Mom Records on the Commons, just in time
for the New Year!
6pm
How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees – BB Hot 100 #1,
3 weeks
3 weeks
The first single released off the Saturday Night Fever
soundtrack. The Brothers Gibb would soon dominate the
charts like no other artist since The Beatles in 1964
charts like no other artist since The Beatles in 1964
.
It’s So Easy – Linda Ronstadt – BB Hot 100 #5
While the Bee Gees were just gearing up for
their chart run,
Linda was hot as a pistol in the
late 70’s and had these two
cover versions (Roy Orbison and
Buddy Holly) both in the Top 10 this week.
(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again – L.T.D.
–BB Hot
100 #4
The only Hot 100 Top 10 single for this North
Carolina soul
band led by Jeffrey Osborne; the initials of the group stand
for “Love, Togetherness and Devotion”.
Baby Come Back – Player – BB Hot 100 #6
RSO Records was as hot as Saturday Night Fever, and this
would peak at Hot 100 #1 on 1/14/1978 for 3 weeks.
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – Crystal Gayle – BB
Hot 100 #7
Crossing over from the Country Chart, this
peaked at Hot
100 #2 for 3 weeks.
Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist (1971-1974),
his first single
on the Hot 100 was a remake of a song originally done on
the
LP Bare Trees, and features Christine
McVie on
background vocals.
Slip Slidin’ Away – Paul Simon – BB Hot 100 #10
Paul had not been on the Hot 100 for almost 2
years, and
this single, recorded for his Greatest
Hits LP, peaked at #5.
Isn’t It Time – The Babys – BB Hot 100 #13
The highest charting single (they did it
twice) for this British
group led by John Waite, peaked this week on the Hot
100.
45 Corner
Come Sail Away (45 version) – Styx – BB Hot 100 #14
The first 45
released off the monster LP The Grand
Illusion
this version trims almost 3 minutes off the album track,
clocking
in at 3:10. This has been available on
Various
Artists compilation CD’s but not on any Styx LP or CD.
Swingtown – Steve Miller Band – BB Hot 100 #17
Steve started his career in the 60’s playing
the blues.
By the 70’s he had honed his
pop chops, topping both the
LP and singles charts. This release from Book Of Dreams
peaked this week on the Hot 100. Check out this Mustang
commercial from 1979
with Swingtown as the theme music!
We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions – Queen – BB
Hot 100 #18
The first part of this song did not chart but
received
extensive airplay, both on the radio and in sports venues.
Both songs were segued together on the LP News Of The
World.
7pm
Birthday Calendar
December 21st
– Carla Thomas, 72
Carl Wilson
(Beach Boys), 1946
Frank Zappa, 1940
December 22nd
– Maurice Gibb, 1949
Robin Gibb, 1949
December 23rd
– Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna), 75
Tim Hardin, 1941
December 24th
– Lee Dorsey, 1924
December 25th
– Jimmy Buffet, 68
December 26th
– Phil Spector, 75
December 27th
– Mick Jones (Foreigner), 69
“Knock On Wood” – Otis
& Carla, 1967
The Stax Records artists
were truly a soul family! This song was
originally recorded by Eddie Floyd (Hot 100 #28) and then a year later as a
duet (Hot 100 #30). Both versions
feature Booker T. & The MG’s and the Memphis Horns.
“God Only Knows” – The
Beach Boys, 1966
Brian Wilson chose
younger brother Carl for his first lead vocal on this single from Pet Sounds because he wanted it to have an “ethereal”
sound. I’d say he delivered. Carl died
in 1998 at the age of 51.
This rare charting
single release from Zappa (only 3 landed on the Hot 100) peaked at #45.
Trivia Question
Q:
What were Frank Zappa’s other 2 BB Hot 100 charting singles?
A: "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" from 1974 (Hot 100 #86) and “Valley Girl” with daughter Moon Unit, Hot 100 #32 in 1982, Zappa’s
only foray into the Top 40.
Congratulations to Bill from Ithaca, who knew the answer and won the $10 certificate to Angry Mom Records on The Commons.
“If I Were A Carpenter”
– Bobby Darin, 1966
“Simple Song Of Freedom”
– Tim Hardin, 1969
Bobby gave Tim Hardin
his first taste of success in 1966 with his cover of “Carpenter”. Tim returned the favor by charting “Simple
Song” written by Darin (Hot 100 #50, his only charting single). Hardin died of a heroin overdose in 1980, age
39.
“Keep On Truckin’” – Hot
Tuna, 1972
The first single
released by this duo did not chart on the Hot 100, but received extensive
airplay on the “progressive” FM stations of the day, including WVBR.
“Holy Cow” – Lee Dorsey,
1966
Lee had a few hits in
the early 60’s, then after a short retirement from the music business, he
hooked up with Allen Toussaint and had a brief chart revival in 1966; this
peaked at Hot 100 #23.
“Havana Daydreamin’” –
Jimmy Buffet, 1976
Jimmy has released 27
studio albums since 1970, and only one has topped the Billboard Album Chart: License To Chill in 2004.
“Sleigh Ride” – The
Ronettes, 1963
It is a true tragedy
that one of the most famous and talented figures in the history of popular
music is spending his 75th birthday in Stockton California State
Prison. He is eligible for parole in
2027.
Click here to learn more
about his life.
More Chart Hits from 12/27/1977
Serpentine Fire – Earth, Wind & Fire – BB Hot 100 #24
One of the true soul great bands of the
70’s and 80’s, this
single release peaked at Hot 100 #13, and received airplay
on both radio bands.
Baby, What A Big Surprise – Chicago – BB Hot 100 #25
According to Billboard, Chicago was the #5
best-selling
artist of the 1970’s. This release peaked at Hot 100 #4.
Point Of Know Return – Kansas – BB Hot 100 #34
Predominantly a progressive album group in
the early 70’s,
this band from Topeka realized its hit record potential later
in the decade and into the 80’s, charting 7 singles on the
Hot 100.
Desiree – Neil Diamond – BB Hot 100 #35
Neil cranked out hit after hit for 3
decades, and still tours to
this day.
This release from late 1977 peaked at Hot 100 #16.
45 Corner
What’s Your Name (45 version) – Lynyrd Skynyrd – BB Hot 100 #52
punchier piano and horns mix, perfect for AM radio!
Tragically, the band lost 3 members in a
plane crash on
October 20th, 1977, including lead singer Ronnie Van
Zant.
Tribute to Joe Cocker, who passed away on 12/22 at the
age of 70
Live version from Woodstock, this was Cocker's introduction
to the hipsters here in the U.S. One of the musical
highlights of the festival.
"Feeling Alright", 1969
Joe's first Top 40 single on the Hot 100, peaked at #33.
"Fun Time", 1978
BB Hot 100 #43.
8pm Seventies Happy Hour
More Chart Hits from 12/27/1977
Peg – Steely Dan – BB Hot 100 #44
The first single release from the Aja LP, features Michael
McDonald on
background vocals.
She’s Not There – Santana – BB Hot 100 #54
A sizzling cover of the Zombies tune from
1965 peaked at
Hot 100 #27.
Long, Long Way From Home – Foreigner – BB Hot 100
#59
The third single released from their debut
LP peaked at Hot
100 #20; penned by and lead guitar by birthday boy Mick
Jones.
We Just Disagree – Dave Mason – BB Hot 100 #61
Ex-Traffic guitarist/vocalist released a
handful of solo
singles between 1970 and 1980, and this was the highest
charting, peaking at Hot 100 #12.
Thunder Island – Jay Ferguson – BB Hot 100 #78
The only Top Ten (Hot 100 #9) single for this ex-Spirit and
ex-Jo Jo Gunne member, features Joe Walsh on the slide
guitar.
Chart Debuts on this date
Name Of The Game – ABBA – BB Hot 100 #82
Sweden’s #1 export was running on full
steam in 1977, and
this single would peak at Hot 100 #12 in early 1978.
Boats Against The Current – Eric Carmen – BB Hot 100
#90
This single release from the former
Raspberry only
struggled up to Hot 100 #88 and dropped out of sight after
3 weeks.
3 weeks.
Eric muddled through the next 10 years and again had a
hit single with “Hungry Eyes” from Dirty Dancing in 1988.
Donna
was the “Queen of Disco” in the 70’s, but on this she
was the “Queen of
Electronic Disco”! I love the synth
keyboards and drums on this; sounded great on the AM
radio
Sometimes When We Touch – Dan Hill – BB Hot 100 #40
Native Canadian Dan Hill was huge in his own country, but
was only able to land 2 Top 40 hits here in the States. This
was a #1 single in Canada, while it peaked at Hot 100 #3.
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 at wvbr.com/listen.
