May 21, 2016 - JH - Spotlight on May 21, 1974

May 21, 2016 - JH - Spotlight on May 21, 1974

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:  May 21, 2016
Host:  Jan Hunsinger
Feature:  Spotlight on May 21, 1974 Billboard Hot 100

 Birthday Calendar

May 15 - Lenny Welch - 1938

May 17 - Pervis Jackson - 1938 (The Spinners)

May 18 - Big Joe Turner - 1911 
             - Perry Como (born Pierino Ronald Como) - 1912
             - Albert Hammond - 1942

 May 19 - Mickey Newberry - 1940
              - Pete Townsend - 1945

May 20 - Joe Cocker - 1944
             - Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) - 1946
             - Susan Cowsill - 1960 

May 21 - Tony Sheridan - 1940
             - Ronald Isley (Isley Brothers) - 1941
             - Hilton Valentine (guitarist for "The Animals") - 1943
             - Leo Sayer - 1948


Playlist


[songs in bold are from the spotlight date of 5-7-70; 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)

Top 3 songs on this date, May 21, 1974:

The Entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch (#3 - interpretation of the Scott Joplin song, from the movie "The Sting"; sold over 2 million copies and won Hamlisch an Oscar)



Dancing Machine - Jackson 5 (#2 - nominated for a Grammy in 1975 and introduced the dance step known as 'The Robot')

The Streak - Ray Stevens (#1 - novelty song that spent 3 weeks at #1; from the LP "Boogity Boogity")



 
  Hill Where the Lord Hides - Chuck Mangione (#76/1971 - from the album "Friends and Love" recorded in concert at the Eastman School of Music with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra on May 9, 1970)

 

When I Die - Motherlode (#18/1969 - one-hit wonder for this Canadian band) 

Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver (#46/1974 - former #1 from Spotlight date)

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and His Comet (#44/1974 - this re-release was on the charts again on our Spotlight date; used in the movie "American Grafitti" as well as the intro for "Happy Days" TV show)



Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks (#38/1974 - another former #1 working its way down the charts on our Spotlight date)

Gee - The Crows (#14/1954 - first doo-wop record to sell over a million copies.  A classic!)

Green Tambourine - The Lemon Pipers (#1/1967 - great one-hit wonder with a big psychedelic sound)




45 corner - Jennifer Tomkins - The Street People (#35/1970 - featuring future Pina Colada Song singer Rupert Holmes)



Let's Get Married - Al Green (#36/1974 - sweet soul song from Spotlight date)

Daybreak - Nilsson (#42/1974 -another song from our Spotlight date)


7-8pm - A great week for birthdays!

Since I Fell for You - Lenny Welch (#4/1963 -  oh-oh, Wikipedia shows Lenny's birthday as May 31!  Need a ruling on this, but still a great song and Lenny's biggest hit)

I'm Coming Home - The Spinners (#84/1974 - a birthday song that was also on our Spotlight date)

Flip, Flop, and Fly - Big Joe Turner (#2 R&B/1955 - one of the great pioneers of rock 'n' roll!)

Kewpie Doll - Perry Como (#6/1958 - "Mr. C" had a recording career that stretched almost 50 years)



































I'm A Train - Albert Hammond (#47/1974 - another birthday song on our Spotlight date)

An American Trilogy - Mickey Newbury (#26/1972 - a one-hit wonder that is a medley of three songs from the 1800s: "Dixie"; "All My Trials"; and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".  Popularized by Elvis Presley in concert and his single of the song reached #66.  Technical difficulties prevented the song from being played in its entirety.) 

The Kids Are Alright - The Who (#106/1966 - in honor of Pete Townsend turning 70 on May 19th)

You Better Sit Down Kids - Cher (#9/1967 - written by Cher's then-husband, Sonny Bono)


Feeling Alright - Joe Cocker (#69/1968 - when re-released in 1972 would reach #33)

Hair - The Cowsills (#1/1969 - Susan Cowsill gets the iconic line "and spaghetti'ed" which she still performs in concert)


My Bonnie - Tony Sheridan with the Beatles [The Beat Brothers]  (#31/1961 in Germany - Pete Best on drums; the song that was requested in Brian Epstein's record shop and led him to becoming the manager of the Beatles) 


This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) - Isley Brothers (#12/1966 - on Tamla records, a subsidiary of Motown, and written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, this song was originally meant for the Supremes; Ronald Isley on lead vocals) 


House of the Rising Sun - The Animals (#1/1964 - the distinctive guitar compliments of Hilton Valentine) 

Thunder in My Heart - Leo Sayer (#38/1977 - LP title track) 

8-9 pm - a bunch from the Spotlight date - chart #s are for May 21, 1974

My Girl Bill - Jim Stafford (#22/1974 - on its way up to #12 eventually)

Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (#23/1974 - would reach #1 June 15 and stay there for 2 weeks) 

Another Park, Another Sunday - Doobie Brothers (#51/1974 - from the LP "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits", would reach #32)
 
Silver Threads and Golden Needles - Linda Ronstadt (#70/1974 - Linda's cover of 1962 hit by the Springfields) 


Living in the USA - Steve Miller Band (#87/1974 - had been up to #49, not quite Top 40) 


I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song - Jim Croce (#27/1974 - down from a peak of #9)

Time Will Tell - Tower of Power (#76/1974 - peaked at #69 with Lenny Williams taking the lead vocals)

Yes I Will - The Association (#120/1970 - great pop sound from the LP The Association - shoulda been a hit!)


More from our Spotlight Date:

Help Me - Joni Mitchell (#14/1974 - from her classic LP "Court and Spark", peaked at #7)

Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot (#20/1974 - on its way up to #1 for the June 29 chart) 
 
The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night (#5/1974 - one of 21 top 40 hits for the trio) 

Hello, Hello - Sopwith Camel (#26/1967 - first hit title out of San Francisco in that magic year of 1967) 
 
If I Could Reach You - The 5th Dimension (#10/1972 - Marilyn McCoo had emerged as the main voice for the group by this time) 

Haven't Got Time for the Pain - Carly Simon (#56/1974 - one last Spotlight Date song, on its way up to #14)

Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson (#62/1957 - Mr. Excitement himself)) 
 
CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)







Host Next Week (May 28): John Simon.  JS will be featuring songs from Memorial Day 1965.






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 streaming here.