May 9th, 2015 - JS - 1966

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:  5/9/12
Host:  John Simon
Feature:  May 1966

 

Birthday Calendar


May 3 – James Brown – born in 1933
            – Frankie Valli (4 Seasons) – age 78
            – Mary Hopkin – age 65

May 4 – Nikolas Ashford (Ashford & Simpson) – born in 1941

May 6 – Bob Seger – age 70
 
May 7 – Jimmy Ruffin – born in 1940
           

May 8 – Tony Tenille – age 75
            – Rick Nelson – born in 1940



May 9 – Tommy Roe – age 73
            – Richie Furay (Poco) – age 71
            – Billy Joel – age 66





Tonight in radioland:  a little Mother's Day magic, some Springtime tunes and a whole lot of miscellany  -  starting with some classics from the Golden Age of Pop Radio: it's the spring of 1966!





Playlist


[songs in bold are from the spotlight date of DATE; 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)

Sunny - Bobby Hebb (6/66; #2 Pop, #3 R&B - requested by listener George, this one was recorded after the death of the singer's brother, and the mournful delivery of the sunny theme resonated with the record-buying public.)

Younger Girl - The Critters (bubbling under, headed to #42 - from the pen of John Sebastian, this was one of two competing versions released on the same day in 1966. The Hondells fared better west of the Mississippi, but the Critters won the chart race, #42 vs. #52)



Sweet Talkin' Guy - Chiffons (#61, headed to #10 - their final Top Ten hit on the Laurie Records  label. The Girl Group craze was coming to an end....)

Better Use Your Head - Little Anthony & Imperials (debuting at #86, headed to #54 - an under-appreciated gem from the Brooklyn quintet. This one is currently a favorite on England's "Northern Soul" dance scene.)


Opus 17 (Don't Worry About Me) - 4 Seasons (#13 - from the pen of producer Bob Crewe, from the heyday of the Jersey Boys' recording career.)

Sidewalk Surfin' - Jan & Dean (10/64; #25 - today was the third annual Ithaca Skate Jam, taking place right outside our studios on the Buffalo Street hill. This is a dedication to the fearless skateboard warriors who participated.  To quote the background vocals: "Bust yer buns, now, bust yer buns!")

* Thirteen - Big Star (4/72 - from the hopefully-named LP #1 Record, this wasn't released as a single  -  but it's a beautiful little ballad, going out to a listener in NYC)

* Light My Fire - Doors (6/67; #1 for three weeks - the debut single from this LA quartet became one of the signature songs of that summer. Rolling Stone ranks it at #35 in its RS500 list. This is the mono 45 edit, unavailable on compact disc or LP.)



* I Wish It Would Rain - Temptations (1/68; #4 Pop, #1 R&B for three weeks - requested in honor of International Migratory Bird Day, this one starts with the sweet sound of chirping birds. Thank you, Betsy.)

Sitting In The Park - Billy Stewart (6/65; #24 Pop, #4 R&B - one of the great Springtime songs, sung by Washington DC's own "Fat Boy." He'd die in a car accident several years later.)

Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um - Major Lance (1/64; #5 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks - the title is what the man sitting on the park bench apparently sings in this song.)

*A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation) - Marty Robbins (4/57; #2 Pop, #1 C&W for five weeks - requested by listener Carolyn in Connecticut.)



 Two Of a Kind - Sue Thompson (3/62; #42 - an uncharacteristically lush ballad from a singer better known for her comic novelty records.)



* Mama Didn't Lie - Jan Bradley (1/63; #14 - this one made her a proverbial "one-hit wonder," and opened the door to our Mother's Day feature.)

You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes (8/66; #1 - the first of four consecutive #1s for Motown's supreme female vocal group, this one would later be successfully covered by Eighties superstar Phil Collins. See his version here!)

* Mama Tried - Merle Haggard And The Strangers (7/68; #1 C&W for four weeks - common subject matter for the Country & Western crowd: mothers and prison.)

7-8pm

Teen Age Idol - Rick Nelson (8/62; #5 - a poignant ode to the  loneliness that often accompanies fame. He'd recently changed his name from "Ricky" to "Rick.")

Let's Hang On! - 4 Seasons (10/65; #3 - this extended stereo edit was created by Jon Hilton at Hiltronex Sound Studios here in Ithaca. A Rockin' Remnants exclusive!)

Mainstreet - Bob Seger (4/74; #24 - featuring the studio playing of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section!)



I'll Find You - Valerie & Nick (4/64; #117 - one of their first recordings was for the small Glover Records label. They'd later go on to write most of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's duet hits, and then to a successful recording career of their own.)

Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (2/69; #30 Pop, #11 R&B - recorded near the end of their career, due to Tammi's terminal illness. Speculation is that she was too sick to record at this point, and that Valerie Simpson dubbed in at least part of the female vocal parts here.)



It's a Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown (4/66; #8 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks - ranked at #123 in the RS500. JB would soon turn to a much funkier rhythm-centered style, making this one of his last sweeping ballads.)

Only the Strong Survive - Jerry Butler (3/69; #4 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks - one of a string of great Philly-Soul hits for the Mercury label, and a great testament to the value of mothers' advice.)

Mama Said - The Shirelles (4/61; #4)

* Nashville Cats - Lovin' Spoonful (12/66; #8 - their eighth consecutive  -  and final  -  Top Ten hit, requested because the song mentions the mothers of those acclaimed Nashville studio players. Check it out!)

Harper Valley PTA - Jeannie C. Riley (8/68; #1 Pop and C&W - an unlikely crossover hit about a spunky mama who socked it to a bunch of uptight hypocrites on the Pee Tee Ayyy.)



Caroline, No - Brian Wilson (#36, down from a peak of #32 - the lone single attributed to the Beach Boys' chief songwriter and creative force. Ranked at #211 in the RS500.)

3,000 Miles - Brian Hyland (just off the chart after a two-week ride at #99 - one of a string of excellent topical singles from the former teen singer.)

45 Corner: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams (4/30/66; #109 Pop, #43 C&W - new Nashville vocals and orchestration were added to his 1949 hit thirteen years after his death. BJ Thomas' version of this song was sitting at #8 on the Pop chart this very week.)



East, West - Herman's Hermits (12/66; #27 - from the pen of Graham Gouldman. This comes from the brand-new Bear Family 50th Anniversary stereo compilation .)


Hushabye - Mystics (5/59; #20 - a Doo Wop classic from the Queens quartet.)

 

8-9pm




Rock 'n' Roll Lullaby - BJ Thomas (3/72; #15 - one of the final singles released by Scepter Records, just as the label was beginning to fold. This one features the twangy guitar of Duane Eddy, background vocals by the Blossoms, and a simulated "Beach Boys" choir featuring the multi-tracked vocals of Ron Hicklin.)

* You & Me Against The World - Helen Reddy (6/74; #9 - a Mother's Day request from the listener line. This record features spoken vocals by Helen Reddy's daughter Tracy.)

Stand By Me - David & Jimmy Ruffin (10/70; #61 Pop, #24 R&B - a stirring version of the Ben E. King tune, performed by the Brothers Ruffin.)



Pearl - Tommy Roe (6/70; #50 - Tommy's "bubblegum" days were behind him at this point and he was recording some excellent Pop tunes. Here's one of them.)

Temma Harbour - Mary Hopkin (2/70; #39 - one of her final Top 40 hits on the Apple Records label.)



* Without You - Nilsson (2/72; #1 for four weeks - written by Pete Ham and originally released by Badfinger as an album track.)

* Hot Rod Lincoln - Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (3/72; #9 - a frequently-request favorite from a listener who knows our phone number!)

45 Corner: I'll Always Love My Mama, Pt. 1 - Intruders (6/73; #36 Pop, #6 R&B - on the original Gamble Records 45. All CD versions but one feature the 7+ minute LP version. Not us, and not tonight!)

What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye (2/71; #2 Pop, #1 R&B for five weeks - the title track of Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking Motown LP. Rolling Stone ranks this one at #4 in its RS500 list. A Mother's Day classic.)

A Good Feelin' to Know - Poco (7/72; #102 - title track from their 1972 album, written and sung by Richie Furay. Tonight we play the rare extended version with a cold ending  -  a Rockin' Remnants exclusive!)

Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille (6/75; #1 for four weeks - the debut single for this husband and wife duo became the Record of the Year for 1975. Happy birthday, Ms. Tennille.)



* Pieces Of April - Three Dog Night (11/72; #19 - requested by a listener who says this record helped save his life twenty years ago. Glad you're still with us, Sam.)

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


 We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel



 






Host Next Week (5/16/15):  Kim Vaughan with a spotlight on Bird Songs (Volume 2)





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.