Tuesday, June 30, 2015

June 27, 2015 - JS - Raindrops



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:  6/27/15
Host:  John Simon
Feature:  1964 and Rain Songs





From Facebook:
Late June 1964 on this rainy summer Saturday from 6-9 p.m. It's cheap date night on 93.5 FM and wvbr.com. I'll be qualifying lucky listeners for both GrassRoots AND Falcon Ridge tickets this evening - plus taking your requests. Par-tayyy!

But first....a couple of songs to reflect the relentless rain we've been enduring !

[Note: what was intended to be "a couple of songs" turned into a full hour as the Request Line lit up. June 1964 didn't really begin until the second hour!]
 







Birthday Calendar


June 21 – Ray Davies (Kinks) – age 71
            – Nils Lofgren – age 63
           

June 22 – Peter Asher (Peter & Gordon) – age 71
            – Howard Kaylan (Turtles) – age 68

June 23 – Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) – age73
            – Jeff Beck – age 71
            – Colin Blunstone (Zombies) – age 70

June 24 – Eddie Floyd – age 80
            – Carly Simon – age 70





Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia


April 4, 1964 was a momentous day in music history: The Beatles held down the top 5 slots on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart. Can you name those five records?

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)




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)


Raindrops - Dee Clark (5/61; #2 - a clap of thunder followed by three minutes of NYC mournful Soul to kick off the rain segment!)

Rain - The Beatles (6/66; #23 - the b-side of Paperback Writer features one of Paul's toughest bass lines. Tonight we hear the mono 45 version)

Image result for rain beatles 45Image result for rain beatles 45



Yesterday's Rain - Spanky & Our Gang (12/68; #94 - one of the band's more experimental songs, complete with sound effects and an intricate vocal arrangement)

It's Raining - Irma Thomas (9/62; #134 - an obscure single released on the Minit Records label that got mass exposure in the independent film Down By Law in 1986)

Image result for it's raining irma thomasImage result for irma thomas

As Tears Go By - Rolling Stones (12/65; #6 - "All I hear is the sound of rain falling on the ground...I sit and watch as tears go by.")

* Like Rain - Nils Lofgren (1970 - a jump-start on the birthday calendar. Nils fronted the band Grin and later served with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band)

Let It Rain - Eric Clapton (9/72; #48 - co-written by Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett and featured on Clapton's first solo album)

Image result for let it rain eric claptonImage result for eric clapton solo album

* Cryin' In the Rain - Everly Brothers (1/62; #6 - a plaintive ballad from the pen of young Carole King)

Both Sides Now - Judy Collins (11/68; #8 - from the pen of young Joni Mitchell. We had just played an ad for the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, featuring a snippet of this song. "I've looked at clouds from both sides now...")

Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me - Critters (7/67; #39 - their final Top 40 record on the Kapp Records label. The band had split by the time this one was released.)

Image result for don't let the rain fall down on me the crittersImage result for don't let the rain fall down on me the critters

* Rhapsody In The Rain - Lou Christie (4/66; #16 - the racy lyrics didn't stop this record  -  banned in many markets  -  from reaching the Top 20. The caller declared it "one of the greatest Rain songs of them all" and asked that I dedicate it to "the life-blood of the rain." Done.)

* Bus Stop - Hollies (7/66; #5 - a truly great summertime rain song from one of truly great bands of the British Invasion.)

Image result for bus stop holliesImage result for bus stop hollies

Don't Sleep In The Subway - Petula Clark(6/67; #5 - "Don't sleep in the subway darlin', don't stand in the pouring rain....")




7-8pm



A World Without Love - Peter & Gordon (6/64; #1 - two months after the Beatles held down the top 5 slots on the Hot 100, another Lennon-McCartney tune was at the top of the chart. This record was one of seven #1's for the songwriting duo that year: a record!)

See My Friend - Kinks (10/65; #111 Pop - written by Ray Davies after a visit to India. The unfamiliar harmonies and chord structures didn't resonate with American fans, but the record went to #10 in the UK.)

Shapes Of Things - Yardbirds (3/66; #11 - Eric Clapton had left the band over creative differences  -  he felt they were abandoning their Blues roots for "too-poppy" a sound. Jeff Beck stepped in and introduced fuzz and a psychedelic flavour. Later, Jimmy Page would replace Jeff Beck.)

She's My Girl - Turtles (11/67; #14 - the final of four big hits for The Turtles in 1967, featuring the vocal stylings of Howard Kaylan  -  the "Eddie" of "Flo & Eddie.")

Cuddlebug - Simon Sisters (1964; dnc - released on Kapp Records here in the States and as a single on London Records in the UK. Carly Simon (left, in the photo) would eventually win a Grammy in 1971 for Best New Artist, and go on to have a fabulous career.) 

Image result for cuddlebug simon sistersImage result for cuddlebug simon sisters


Nothing's Changed - Zombies (3/65 - this was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Bunny Lake Is Missing. Never released as a single, but a shining example of birthday boy Colin Blunstone's haunting vocals.)

Time Of The Season - Zombies (2/69; #3 - released as a single on the Date Records label after the band had already split up, making a supporting tour impossible. Sigh.)

Image result for time of the season zombiesImage result for time of the season zombies

I Get Around - Beach Boys (6/64; #2 - headed for a two-week run at the top starting next week. The flip side of this one will close our show tonight. Many say it was the better recording....)

Chapel Of Love - Dixie Cups (6/64; #3 - down from a three-week run at the top)

No Particular Place To Go - Chuck Berry (6/64; #14 - headed to #10, this was one of a string of successful records for this legendary pioneer, released after a stint in prison for violation of The Mann Act.)

* Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' - Gerry & Pacemakers (6/64; #7 - headed to #4. This was perhaps the second-most successful of the bands to arrive from Liverpool)

Love Me With All Your Heart - Ray Charles Singers (6/64; #8 - down from a peak of #3. These Ray Charles Singers were distinctly different from the other Ray Charles and HIS singers!  Notice the tiny third billing for Ray and his Singers...)

Image result for love me with all your heart ray charles singersImage result for ray charles singers

Do I Love You - Ronettes (6/64; #78 - this lush ballad was just beginning to climb to its eventual perch of #34 on the Pop chart.)

Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann - Round Robin (6/64; #68 - Round Robin sounded a lot like Chubby Checker. This record was produced and arranged by Jack Nitzsche at LA's Gold Star Studio.)

Juliet - Four Pennies (6/64; #129 - this disc would only reach #116 here in the US, but it was a #1 hit in the band's native England.)

The Girl's Alright With Me - Temptations 6/64; #105 - this b-side would stall at #101, while its flip side  -  I'll Be In Trouble  -  would reach #33.)

All My Lovin' - Beatles (6/64; #92 - there were five different labels issuing Beatles singles during this crazy time. Capitol US decided to fight fire with fire by releasing a 4-song EP. Not many people bought it, and it only reached #92 on the Billboard chart. Today a mint copy is worth well over $300!)

I Can't Hear You - Betty Everett (6/64; #79 - this record would only reach #66 two weeks later, and deserved to do much better. Gerry Goffin calls it one of the best records he & Carole King ever created.)

Image result for i can't hear you betty everettImage result for betty everett

 * Devil With a Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly - Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels (10/66; #4 - the highest-charting release from this high-octane Detroit band would later be copied faithfully by Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band.)




8-9pm




* Fire & Rain - James Taylor (9/70; #3 - the first charting single in the long career of JT)

* Who'll Stop The Rain - CCR (1/70; #2 - John Fogerty wanted to call this "Who'll Stop The War".  Fantasy Records said "no").

* Laughter In The Rain - Neil Sedaka (10/74; #1, 1 week - A nice comeback for Neil, whose last Hot 100 charting single was in 1966).

* Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - BJ Thomas (12/69; #1, 4 weeks - Oscar winner for Best Song from Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid.

* 45 Corner: Riders On The Storm - Doors (7/71; #14 - The studio engineers at Elektra Records worked some 16-track editing magic back in 1971, transforming the 7:30 album version into the 4:30 single version. Only available on 45 rpm, 7" vinyl.)


Image result for riders on the storm 45Image result for riders on the storm 45

* Rainy Days & Mondays - Carpenters (6/71; #2 - listener Barbara called this one "the saddest rain song I know." Written by Paul Williams.)

* Raining In My Heart - Buddy Holly (3/59; #88 - b-side to It Doesn't Matter Anymore," which was released two weeks after the plane crash that happened on "the day the music died.")

Shenandoah - Goldebriars (6/64; #109 - released on Epic Records by the Holmberg Sisters and a young Curt Boettcher, who would go on to greater heights.)


Image result for shenandoah the goldebriarsImage result for shenandoah the goldebriars

Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys (6/64; #29 - headed to #24, this b-side to "I Get Around" has been lauded as one of the greatest records of all time by both Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it #176 on the RS500.)

Storms - Fleetwood Mac (1979 - from the double album called Tusk, one last rain song for the evening  -  this from the pen of Stevie Nicks.)


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






Trivia Answer


On April 4, 1964 The Beatles had twelve songs on the Hot 100. Five of them were the Top 5 songs in the country  -  a feat that was unprecedented and that remains unequaled.

1) Can't Buy Me Love
2) Twist & Shout
3) She Loves You
4) I Want To Hold Your Hand
5) Please Please Me

Congratulations to Dave from Ithaca, for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of tickets to Cinemapolis! Honorable mention goes to Chip from Ithaca and to Ed from Houston who also knew the answer.








Host Next Week (7/4/15):  Kim Vaughan with a spotlight on Independence Day!