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Date: April 25, 2015
Host: JR
Feature: 1971
This week it’s the chart sounds of spring 1971. It was the
heyday of Top 40 AM radio and this was a classic date, with
the sounds of Three
Dog Night, Bread, The Carpenters,
Elton John, Neil Diamond and lesser lights
like Ocean,
Seatrain, Susan Raye and Sammi Smith: need I
say
more??? We’ll check in with the Birthday Calendar at
7:00 and in the 45 Corner,
Derek & The Dominos and The
Chi-Lites with 7” vinyl versions not available
on LP or CD or
MP3, both Rockin’ Remnants exclusives! And the cherry on
the top: a pair of tix to
see John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett at the
State Theatre…
6pm
– 7pm
Joy
To The World – Three Dog Night – BB Hot 100 #1, 6
weeks
The #1 Billboard Hot 100 single of 1971 was off the pen
of
Hoyt Axton!
Put Your Hand In The Hand – Ocean – BB Hot 100 #3
The one big Hot 100 hit for this combo was written by
Gene
McLellan, noted Canadian singer/songwriter (“Snowbird”,
“The Call”).
I
Am… I Said – Neil Diamond – BB Hot 100 #6
Neil’s appeal in the 70’s was universal; parents bought
his
LP’s and kids bought his 45’s (on the famous UNI Records
label); this
peaked at Hot 100 #4.
Temptations – BB Hot 100 #7
Tumbling down from the top of the chart, this was the
swan
song for Eddie Kendricks, and one of his most ethereal
vocal performances.
If –
Bread – BB Hot 100 #8
Tied with “He” by The Righteous Brothers as the shortest
45
title to hit the Hot 100, but the only one to make the Top 10,
peaking at
#4.
She’s
A Lady – Tom Jones – BB Hot 100 #9
A nice, upbeat comeback single in the early 70’s for TJ,
written by Paul Anka.
For
All We Know – The Carpenters – BB Hot 100 #13
From the movie Lovers
And Other Strangers, this won a
Grammy for Best Song of 1971.
We
Can Work It Out – Stevie Wonder – BB Hot 100 #14
Truly one of the best Beatles cover versions, this
soulful
rendition peaked at Hot 100 #13.
Power To The People – John Lennon Plastic Ono Band –
Hot 100 #15
John was on the chart this week both as singer and a
songwriter (#14). A Phil Spector production, who was also
busy this week with
John’s former band mate…
What
Is Life – George Harrison – Hot 100 #33
This single off the landmark triple LP All Things Must Pass
peaked at Hot 100
#10.
45 Corner
Layla
– Derek & The Dominos – BB Hot 100 #55
The version we’re checking
out in the Corner is the original
45 release, edited down to 2:43, and on its
initial release
only managed to limp up to #51.
When it was re-released
in 1972, full-length version 7:10, it peaked at
Hot 100 #10.
The single edit excludes one guitar lick from the intro,
is sped up a bit and excludes the ending piano/guitar coda.
is sped up a bit and excludes the ending piano/guitar coda.
You probably are not likely to hear this version
anywhere except here on Remnants!
Help
Me Make It Through The Night – Sammi Smith –
BB Hot 100 #18
Off the pen of Kris Kristofferson, this was Sammi’s only
Hot
100 hit, peaking at # 8. Great
orchestration and vocals!
Wild
World – Cat Stevens – BB Hot 100 #19
The first charting single for the former Steven Georgiou,
he
became one of the major players in the “singer/songwriter”
era of the 70’s.
7pm
– 8pm
Birthday Calendar
April 19th – Alan Price
(Animals), 73
Mark Volman
(Turtles, Flo & Eddie), 71
Dickie Goodman, 1934
April 20th – Johnny Tillotson, 76
April 22nd – Glen Campbell,
79
Peter Frampton, 64
April 23rd – Barbra
Streisand, 73
Roy Orbison, 1936
April 24th – Doug Clifford (CCR),
70
April 25th – Stu Cook (CCR), 70
Mike Brown (Left Banke,
Stories), 1947
"Born On The Bayou", "It Came Out Of The Sky", 1970
Two reasons why these two member of CCR where one of the best rhythm sections in the Rock’n’Roll era; Stu Cook on bass, Doug Clifford on drums. Awesome riffs!
Two reasons why these two member of CCR where one of the best rhythm sections in the Rock’n’Roll era; Stu Cook on bass, Doug Clifford on drums. Awesome riffs!
“She May Call You Up Tonight” – The Left
Banke, 1967
The late Mike Brown wrote some of the
most gorgeous tunes of the “Baroque Pop” era (1967-1968); click here to find out more about this little slice of popular music history. Unfortunately this
single only managed to Bubble Under at #120. Brown is on the far left; lead singer Steve Martin second from right.
“It’s Over” – Roy Orbison, 1964
One of the great voices in popular
music history (“operatic” says Whitburn), Roy made a comeback in late 80’s
(aided by a TV special and production from ELO’s Jeff Lynne), but it was cut
short by The Big O’s untimely death in 1988, age 52.
“Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)” – Glen Campbell, 1971
The original (by Roy Orbison) peaked at Hot 100 #4 in 1962; this cover peaked at Hot 100 #31.
“Guilty” – Barbra Streisand &
Barry Gibb, 1980
Wanna a hit single in the early
80’s? Just team up with the Bee Gees and
voila! A guaranteed smash! This was co-written by Robin, Maurice and
Barry Gibb, and co-vocal credit to Barry; peaked at Hot 100 #3.
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)” (45
version) – Peter Frampton, 1977
The “face” of the 70’s, Frampton’s Motown cover version peaked at Hot 100 #18.
“Talk Back Trembling Lips” – Johnny
Tillotson, 1963
Johnny had a nice run of chart hits in
the early to mid 60’s on Cadence and MGM Records. This song was written by John D. Loudermilk,
a man with a great songwriting catalog (he also had a song on our chart date in
1971). I see in the future a tribute to
the man also known as Johnny Dee…
“Batman And His Grandmother” – Dickie
Goodman, 1966
Dickie was the king of the novelty
“break in” records, where a question would be answered by a line from a current
popular song, sometimes to hilarious results!
He was also aware of current social events (“Watergrate”, “Energy
Crisis”, and “Mr. Jaws” in the 70’s), and this one reflected the popularity of
the Batman TV series in 1966. Click here to read the
bio of a truly unique artist.
“Outside Chance” – The Turtles, 1965
Co-written by Warren Zevon (under the
pseudonym “Lyme”), this dnc on the Hot 100; Mark Volman is the one with the big
hair and glasses and later became “Flo” with Howard Kaylan as “Eddie” in the
70’s.
“I Put A Spell On You” – Alan Price
Set, 1966
The only Hot 100 charting single for
the former Animals keyboard player, this peaked at #80.
"Cast Your Fate To The Wind" - Vince Guaraldi Trio, 1963
"Cast Your Fate To The Wind" - Shelby Flint, 1966
The original instrumental version peaked at Hot 100 #22 for
pianist Guaraldi.
The vocal version (with lyrics by Carel Werber), peaked at
Hot 100 #61 for Ms. Flint.
8pm
– 9pm Back to our chart date of 4/25/1971 + Happy
Hour 70’s & 80’s
Proud Mary – Ike & Tina Turner– BB Hot 100 #23
The original by CCR, was on the chart just 2 years
previous,
and charted 2 spots higher on the Hot 100 than this cover
version,
which peaked at #4. Check out the moves
of Tina
and The Ikettes at the end of the video! C'mon, and do the
Swim!
Swim!
Oye
Como Va – Santana – BB Hot 100 #32
Carlos and his band got much AM and FM airplay in the
early 70’s, punctuated by his soulful guitar lines. This single
off the LP Abraxas, peaked at Hot 100 #13.
Friends
– Elton John – BB Hot 100 #34
Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin were really busy guys in
the
early 70’s, cranking out 5 albums in just 1 year, including
the soundtrack
to this British movie. The title track
peaked
this week on the Hot 100.
"Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" - Three Dog Night, 1974
Congratulations to Dave calling in from Dryden! He was the 9th caller on the listener line when he heard this song the first big break for young John Hiatt (just 21). John is performing with Lyle Lovett at the State Theatre on May 1st. Dave wins a pair of tickets from your Home of Winning!
13 Questions
– Seatrain – BB Hot 100 #66
Sir George Martin is probably best known for producing
The
Beatles, and later on America. But in between he produced
an LP for this
Marin County hippie band, an unlikely
combination if there ever was one. While receiving much
progressive FM airplay, Seatrain
was only hobbled this
single to Hot 100 #49, their only charting 45.
Freedom
(45 version) – Jimi Hendrix – BB Hot 100 #67
Posthumously released by Reprise Records, this searing 45
peaked at Hot 100 #45, and this version is only available on
7” vinyl.
L.A.
International Airport – Susan Raye – BB Hot 100 #81
Country singer discovered by Buck Owens, this was her
only Hot 100 hit, peaking at #54.
Indian
Reservation – The Raiders – BB Hot 100 #83
This 45 (later titled “Indian Reservation [The Lament Of
The
Cherokee Reservation Indian]),
slowly climbed the Hot 100
to the peak at #1 on 7/24/1971, over 14
weeks, which was
an eternity back in the early 70’s! Another hit off the pen of
John D.
Loudermilk.
Here Comes The Sun - Richie Havens - BB Hot 100 #39
Another Beatles cover on the chart on this date peaked at
Hot 100 #16. This was never released as a single by The
Beatles.
45
Corner
(For
God’ Sake) Give More Power To The People – Chi-
Lites – BB Hot 100 #65
In April, 1971, the Hot 100
was exhorting us to give “Power
To The People” (see #15). This 45, released on Brunswick
Records,
features not only the message, but the multiple
vocal styling of late
60’s/early 70’s Temptations. The single
version features crowd noise overdubs from “the people” not
found on any LP, CD
or MP3. A Rockin’ Remnants
exclusive!
Rodney was married to Rosanne Cash from 1979 to 1992.
Check out the Big 80's hair in the video clip!
Check out the Big 80's hair in the video clip!
"Sea Of Love" - The Honeydrippers, 1983
This studio "supergroup" featured Robert Plant, Jimmy Page,
Jeff Beck, Nile Rogers and was produced by Atlantic Records
founder Ahmet Ertegun; peaked at Hot 100 #3. Great video!
"My Oh My" - Slade, 1984
This British "glam rock" band, made a nice comeback in the
80's with "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My", which peaked at
Hot 100 #37.
Host Next Week (5/2/15): John Simon
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.
Hot 100 #37.
Host Next Week (5/2/15): John Simon
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.