Feb 22, 2014 - JS - 1969

  



Rockin' Remnants








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:  Feb 22, 2014

Host:  John Simon

Features:  2-22-69
















Birthday Calendar





Feb 16 – Salvatore “Sonny” Bono – born in 1935



Feb 17 – Tommy Edwards – born in 1922

            – Gene Pitney – born in 1940



Feb 18 – Irma Thomas – age 73

  

Feb 19 – Smokey Robinson (Miracles) – age 74

            – Bobby Rogers (Miracles) – age 74

            – Lou Christie (b. Lugee Sacco) – age 71



Feb 20 – Buffy Sainte-Marie – age 72

            – Randy California (Spirit) – born in 1951



Feb 21 – Nina Simone – born in 1933



         

                      

Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia





An unofficial trivia question this week:

Name each of the songs from “Hair” that made it to the pop charts…



(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)

           

Playlist





[songs in bold are from the spotlight date of 2-22-69; yellow song titles are YouTube links; 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 chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted]







6-7pm





OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)




Worst That Could Happen – Brooklyn Bridge [at #6 this week, down from a peak of two weeks at #3]

 

Time of the Season – The Zombies [at #37, headed to #3. The band had already disbanded by the time this album track was released as a single on Date Records]

 

Crimson & Clover – Tommy James And The Shondells [down to #2 after spending two weeks at #1]

 

* Everyday People – Sly & Family Stone [in its second week of a four-week run in the top slot on the Pop and R&B charts]

I Don’t Know Why I Love You – Stevie Wonder [at #68 this week, headed to a peak of #39 Pop and #16 R&B. DJs would eventually begin playing the b-side (“My Cherie Amour”), which would make it to #4 on both charts and become a Pop standard. The Rolling Stones would chart in the 70s with a cover of “I Don’t Know Why.”]

 

Someday Soon – Judy Collins [in its first of two weeks at #57, this record would only reach #55 on the Pop chart. This song was written by Ian Tyson and featured record producer Stephen Stills on bass guitar]

* Fever – Little Caesar & The Romans [9/61; the non-charting b-side of the bubbling under single (#101) “Memories of Those Oldies But Goodies”]

Don’t Worry – Marty Robbins [1/61; #3 Pop, #1 C&W (for ten weeks!), this record is “…known for the fuzz-tone guitar solo by Grady Martin,” according to Joel Whitburn at Record Research Publishing]

Let the Little Girl Dance – Billy Bland [2/60; #7]

This Girl’s in Love with You – Dionne Warwick [at #21, headed to #7 on the Pop chart]

Witchi Tai To – Everything Is Everything [peaking at #69]

We Can Be Together – Jefferson Airplane [the b-side of their low-charting “Volunteers” single from later in 1969, this song infamously contains the FCC-frowned-upon “MF” word. Tonight we are pleased to play a radio station promo 45 that has been “cleaned up” to the point that Grace Slick seems to simply say “Up against the wall momm!”]

 

* Cry To Me – Solomon Burke [1/62; #44]

California Dreamin’ – Bobby Womack [just off the chart after a peak of #43] 

7-8pm

The Beat Goes On – Sonny & Cher [1/67; #6. Much of this song’s success is owed to “Wrecking Crew” bass player Carol Kaye, who came up with the signature bass line.]

Please Mr. Sun – Tommy Edwards [2/59; #11]

 

Take a Look – Irma Thomas [11/65; #118 Pop]

Baby, Baby Don’t Cry – Smokey Robinson & Miracles [#8 Pop, #3 R&B]

Ain’t Got No – I Got Life – Nina Simone [#94 Pop; #2 UK (!). This low-charting single brings to SIX the number of charting songs from the Off-Broadway Tribal Rock Musical “Hair.” Can you name all six? Scroll down to the bottom to compare answers]

 

I Got a Line on You – Spirit [peaking this week at #25, this was the band’s only charting 45]

 

Something’s Got a Hold of My Heart – Gene Pitney [10/67; only reached #130 Pop, but a #5 hit in the UK]

Johnny One Time – Brenda Lee [at #78 this week, headed to a peak of #41]

 

Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell [#35, headed to a peak of #30 Pop and #11 R&B; by the time this record was charting, news of Tammi’s terminal illness was spreading. There is some speculation that her vocal parts were really recorded by songwriter Valerie Simpson.]

It’ll Never Be Over for Me – Timi Yuro [one of the final non-charting singles by this dynamic and diminutive vocalist, released on Liberty Records in February of 1969]

 

I Take a Lot of Pride in Who I Am – Merle Haggard [made it to #3 on the C&W charts in early 1969]

Hang ‘Em High – Booker T & The MGs [down to #12 after peaking at #9 Pop] 

8-9pm

Dizzy – Tommy Roe [at #25 this week, headed to a four-week run at the top of the charts from March 15 to April 12, 1969]

 

Strawberry Shortcake – Jay & The Techniques [1/68; #39 hit for this interracial R&B-Rock group from Allentown, PA]

Build Me Up Buttercup – Foundations [the first of three weeks at #3 for this interracial R&B-Pop group from London]

Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival [the b-side of the #3 hit “Down on the Corner” would reach #14 in late 1969]

* I’m Gonna Make You Mine – Lou Christie [headed to #10 in the Fall of 1969]

Beyond the Blue Horizon – Lou Christie [2/74; #80. His final charting solo single was released on the Three Brothers Records label]

 

* Reflections – The Supremes [8/67; #2. The first release giving singer Diana Ross top billing in the group]

* Everyday People – Sly & The Family Stone [#1. Back in the day, the #1 record would often be played once an hour. We rarely do that here, but the caller requested quite politely….]

It’s a Groovy World! – Unifics [#97 Pop, #27 R&B in the Spring of 1969, this record seemed to be the unofficial sequel to “Everyday People”]

 


 * I’m Eighteen – Alice Cooper [a request AND dedication to 18-year old listener Vinny on his big birthday]

Morning Train (9-5) – Sheena Easton [2/81; #1 for two weeks, this one was originally called “9-5,” but it was changed to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton’s big crossover hit by that name]

Helpless – Buffy Sainte-Marie [a non-charting single from 1971, produced by her husband Jack Nitzsche and composed by fellow Canadian Neil Young]

Urge for Going – Tom Rush [11/66; #118. This is the original 45, which is different from all CD/LP versions]

 

* Tighten Up – Archie Bell & The Drells [a big #1 crossover hit from 1968]

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)









Trivia Answer

Answer to our unofficial trivia question (name each of the songs from “Hair” that made it to the pop charts).

I Ain’t Got No – I Got Life – Nina Simone [1/69; #94]

Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine/Flesh Failures – 5th Dimension [3/69; #1 (6 weeks)]

Hair – Cowsills [3/69; #2]

Good Morning Starshine – Oliver [5/69; #3. Also #87 for Strawberry Alarm Clock]

Where Do I Go/Be-In/Hare Krishna – Happenings [7/69; #66]*

Easy to Be Hard – Three Dog Night [8/69; #4]

* Where Do I Go was also a #86 Pop hit for Carla Thomas in late 10/68 (#38 R&B)

Host Next Week (March 1):  John Rudan with a spotlight on early March 1971











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.