March 7, 2020 - GJ: It's About Time (Songs That Mention Specific Times of Day)

  

Rockin' Remnants

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Date:  March 7, 2020

Host:  Gregory James

Feature:  It’s About Time: Songs That Mention Specific Times of Day

Birthday Calendar

March 1

Harry Belafonte  93 years old

Roger Daltry  76 years old

March 2

Lou Reed  (1942-2013)

Karen Carpenter  (1950-1983)

March 3

Junior Parker (1927-1971)

Jennifer Warnes  (73 years old)

Mike Pender (Searchers)   78 years old

March 4

Bobby Womack  (1944-2014)

Paul Mauriat  (1925-2006)

March 5

Murray Head  74 years old

Andy Gibb  (1958-1988)

March 6

David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)  74 years old

Kiki Dee (Pauline Matthews)     73 years old

Sylvia Robinson (Mickey and Sylvia) (1936-2011)

Sam the Sham Samudio  83 years old

March 7

Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band)  74 years old

“Little” Peggy March 72 years old

Arthur Lee (Love) (1945-2006)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia

What seven specific times of day are mentioned in the song “Clock on the Wall” by the Guess Who? 

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)

Playlist

·     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

·     a glossary of terms is below the playlist

 Title        Artist        Release Year        Peak Chart Spot

6-7pm  

OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll

Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix

Six O Clock     Lovin Spoonful  1967  #18

Zal Yanovsky on guitar.

Expressway to Your Heart    Soul Survivors  1967 

#4 H100, #3 R&B

A song written and produced by Gamble and Huff from the LP “When the Whistle Blows, Anything Goes.”

Get Off My Cloud      Rolling Stones   1965    #1

The song, according to Jagger and Richards, was a plea for everybody to stop pestering them after the success of “Satisfaction.”

Gloria    Them    1965  (#97)  Re-released in 1966 (#71)

From the LP “The Angry Young Them.” The record was banned in some markets for the line “She comes to my room.” The Shadows of Knight released a sanitized version in 1966 that reached #10.

Midnight Man      James Gang    1971  #80

Mary Sterpka on backing vocals and lead vocal in the third chorus. This was from “Thirds,” the last James Gang LP o which Joe Walsh played.

*In the Midnight Hour    Wilson Pickett  1965  

#21 Pop, #1 R&B

From the album of the same name. Legend has it that Atlantic Records president Jerry Wexler was responsible for the delayed back beat on the second beat by demonstrating a dance step in the recording studio.

Traffic Jam  James Taylor  1977    DNC

A song about burning fossil fuel on the Pacific Coast Highway, or as JT calls it, the road to ruin.

M.T.A.     Kingston Trio  1959   #15

This 1949 song was originally recorded as a campaign theme for Walter O. Brien, the Progressive Party candidate for mayor of Boston. On the Boston subway (or MTA) at the time, there was not only an entrance fare but an exit fare, which Brien, the mayoral candidate, wanted to eliminate. By the way, Charlie’s marriage may have been in trouble because if Charlie’s wife could hand him a sandwich every day through the window, why couldn’t she hand him the nickel he needed to get off the train? Trouble in paradise?

Tossin’ and Turnin’ Bobby Lewis  1961  #1 H100, #1 R&B

King Curtis plays the solo on a tenor sax mouthpiece. Eric Gale is the guitarist.

Reelin’ and Rockin’  Chuck Berry  1958  

The B-side of “Sweet Little Sixteen.” Produced by the Chess Brothers with Johnnie Johnson rocking the piano, Willie Dixon on bass and Fred Below on drums. The song mentions a great many times of day…or night, actually.

Clock on the Wall      Guess Who  1966   DNC

Written by Randy Bachman and sung by Burton Cummings. The song mentions seven times of day, which was the Rockin’ Remnants question of the night.

*5:00 World  The Vogues    1966  #4

Bill Burkette sang the lead vocal line (complete with yodel) with the rest of the group providing harmonies and the shouted “hey’s” throughout. They must have been really happy to get off work.

Midnight Special       Little Richard (Penniman) 1971   DNC

This track is from his “King of Rock and Roll” LP on Reprise records. It was arranged by Mr. Penniman who also plays piano. The other musicians are unknown because documentation was not kept by Reprise. The Midnight Special was the name of an actual train on the Illinois Central railroad.

Midnight at the Oasis   Maria Muldaur   1973   #6

Amos Garrett on the iconic guitar break.

Cathedral     Crosby, Stills and Nash  1977  DNC

In Graham Nash’s set list of his current tour (including downtown Ithaca’s State Theater)!. The song recounts an experience of religious disillusionment Nash had while tripping in Winchester Cathedral.

7-8pm

*5:15    The Who    1979     # 45  

The track was written in the studio on the day the song was recorded, according to Pete Townshend.

I’m So Free    Lou Reed 1972   DNC

From his “Transformer” LP with David Bowie and Mick Ronson producing and performing on the record. This was the album that turned Reed from a cult figure into a major star.

I Need to Be In Love     The Carpenters   1976  

#25 H100, #1 Easy Listening

Karen Carpenter’s brother Richard has said that this was his sister’s favorite track. David Shostac on flute.

Mystery Train    Junior Parker  1953   DNC

Recorded at Sam Phillips’ Memphis Recording Service. Phillips also recorded Elvis Presley’s cover version of Parker’s composition.

Famous Blue Raincoat     Jennifer Warnes    1986  DNC

The eponymous raincoat in this Leonard Cohen composition was his own. Cohen lived on Manhattan’s Clinton Street and dabbled briefly in Scientology, both referenced in the lyrics.

It’s In Her Kiss   The Searchers   1964

This was the version of the song that was first heard by British listeners. It did not chart as a single in the U.S.

That’s the Way I Feel About ‘Cha  Bobby Womack  1972  

# 27 H100, #2 R&B

Guitar by Jimmy Johnson.

Say It Ain't So Joe   Murray Head    1975   DNC

In 1994 Head wrote, “The song is about heroes and their ‘Clay feet'. It is also a plea from myself to the kind of 'Joe Public' who, in fear of losing face, refuse to relinquish their faith in a fallen idol.”

Wherever You Are  Andy Gibb    1980   DNC

From his final full album “After Dark.”

One Slip       David Gilmour 1987

Recorded on Gilmour’s converted house boat Astoria.

Midnight Flyer  Kiki Dee 1981   DNC

Looking for a Love   J. Geils Band 1972  #39

Peter Wolf was the air name of Peter Blankenfeld who was a fast talking WBCN over night DJ. His other radio name was Woofa Goofa. Check out the video for his disc jockeying! 

8-9pm

Forty Cups of Coffee      Bill Haley   1957   #70

Haley was a fluent Spanish speaker, and he spent 1961 and 1962 in Mexico where Bill Haley y sus Cometas recorded “Twist Espanol,” and were known there as “The Kings of the Twist.”

Norwegian Wood      Beatles   1965  DNC

This track was the first instance of a sitar in a Western recording. Norwegian wood refers to the pine paneling that was all the rage in London at the time. According to Paul McCartney, the lyric “I lit a fire” meant the narrator set fire to the room as an act of revenge. The track you heard was an alternate take found on the Beatles’ Anthology CD.

Still Crazy After All These Years  Paul Simon 1976 

#40 H100, #5 BB Easy Listening

The rhythm section is the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section with Barry Beckett on piano and Michael Brecker on the thrilling sax solo. Check out the video of the 1981 S&G concert in Central Park. Note Art Garfunkel sitting in the background singing along, un-amplified.

Midnight Rider    Allman Brothers Band  1970  DNC

The line “I’ve gone past the point of caring/some old bed I’ll soon be sharing” was written by Kim Payne, one of the band’s roadies. This version did not chart, although Gregg Allman’s solo version did.

Midnight Voyage       Mamas and Papas  1968  DNC

The track was recorded in John and Michelle Phillips’ home studio. The most interesting aspect of the recording is when the group's harmony breaks down at about 1:45 and they discuss among themselves and producer Lou Adler how to get back on track—which they do beautifully.

Midnight Train to Georgia    Gladys Knight and the Pips   1973  #1 H100 and R&B

The track won a 1974 Grammy for best R&B performance by a group. Knight recorded her lead vocals in a single take. She wrote that she hoped the record would comfort the many who journey to Los Angeles to make it big but don't make it. In the video, if Knight had not been such a superlative singer, the Pips would have stolen the show with their ultra-tight choreo.

*Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting Elton John   1973   #12

Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics as a nostalgic look back at the pugilistic Saturday nights at the Aston Arms Pub. Recorded in Jamaica, Davey Johnstone shreds the guitar line. The video is from the 1984 Wembley Stadium concert. If you have seen "Rocket Man," you know what his state of mind was at that time.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer John Lee Hooker  1966  DNC

Recorded in Chicago on the Chess label. The redoubtable Lafayette Leake on keyboard.

High Time We Went      Joe Cocker   1971  #22

Chris Stainton co-wrote the song and played keyboards. The back up band in the video will blow your socks off.

Dirty Water    Standells    1966   #11

Boston Harbor and the Charles River were indeed polluted in 1966. The “frustrated women” are speculated to be coeds at Boston area colleges who had a midnight dormitory curfew. The video looks like a live television performance.

Quarter to Three       Gary U.S. Bonds  1960   #1

“Daddy G” refers to Gene Barge, leader of The Church Street Five. That Norfolk VA group recorded the instrumental “A Night with Daddy G” to which Bonds added lyrics and the vocal track to create “Quarter to Three.” The sax solo is by Barge himself. The go-go dancers really get after it.

Wake Up Little Susie     Everly Brothers   1957  

#1 on Pop, Country and R&B

Banned in Boston! In the video some random guy walks by in the background at 0:25.

Last Train to Clarksville  Monkees   1966   #1

The song was featured in seven episodes of the Monkees’ TV show. The lead guitar line was written and performed by LA session player Louie Shelton, as you can tell from the group's non-synchronous miming to the song.

Love and Happiness Al Green  1977

#104 Pop, #92 R&B

The track was a return to Green’s earlier singing style and it has received critical acclaim in hindsight even though it did not chart well at the time. Green describes the song as “a slow fever…pushing through to delirium." If you think that's hyperbole, click on the video link. He's not called Reverend Al Green for nothing.

After Midnight    J.J. Cale   1972   #42

Jean Jacques Cale first recorded this in 1966. Eric Clapton’s 1970 cover was a huge success, prompting Cale to re-record his version of the song in 1972. The video was shot at Leon Russell's studio.

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

Trivia Answer

What seven specific times of day are mentioned in the song “Clock on the Wall” by the Guess Who? 

12:00 noon, 12:40 p.m. (20 to 1:00 p.m.), 2:45 p.m. (Quarter to 3:00 p.m.), 5:00 p.m., 8:40 p.m. (20 to 9:00 p.m.), 9:40 p.m. (20 to 10:00 p.m.), 12:00 midnight

Congratulations to Jason from Groton, for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of movie passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s movie house for independent, local and international film!

Glossary of Terms:

dnc = did not chart

nr = not released as a single at the time

AC = Billboard’s chart for “Adult Contemporary” records

BB = Billboard Magazine, which publishes the Hot 100 chart (previously known as the Top 100), along with several other charts

H100 = Hot 100 Chart

Bubbling Under = songs that were ranked but fell below the top 100

C&W = Billboard’s chart for “Country & Western” records

R&B = Billboard’s chart for “Rhythm & Blues” records

RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

RS500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranked list of the top 500 singles of all-time

Host on March 14, 2020 Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on “This and That.”

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Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!