Rockin’ Remnants
Rockin’ Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 FM or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern. (Or download the WVBR+app now available for iOS and Android.)
Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!
Date: December 26, 2020
Host: Gregory James
Feature: Questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?
Birthday Calendar
December 20
Alan Parsons 72 years old
Kim Weston 81 years old
December 21
Carla Thomas 78 years old
Betty Wright (b. 1953, d. 5/10/20)
Carl Wilson (b. 1946, d. 2/6/98)
December 22
Maurice Gibb (b. 1949, d. 1/12/03)
Robin Gibb (b. 1949, d. 5/20/12
December 23
Jorma Kaukonen 80 years old
December 24
Lee Dorsey (b. 1919, d. 12/1/86)
December 25
Jimmy Buffett 74 years old
Merry Clayton 72 years old
O’Kelly Isley, Jr. (b. 1937, d. 3/31/86)
Chris Kenner (b. 1929, d. 1/25/76)
December 26
Abdul “Duke” Fakir (4 Tops tenor) 85 years old
Phil Spector 81 years old
Playlist
* 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 subsequent dates) unless otherwise noted
* a glossary of terms is below the playlist
6:00-7:00
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (#29 1969, produced by Jimi Hendrix)
Who Put the Bomp? Barry Mann #7 1961
Barry Mann was a songwriter writing about songwriters in this song. He is backed up by The Halos.
What’s New Pussycat? Tom Jones #3 1965
Written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the film of the same name.
When Will I Be Loved? Everly Brothers #8 1960
This was their last single released on the Cadence label.
*Where Did Our Love Go? Supremes #1 1964
This record is preserved in the National Recording Registry. Requested by J.T.
*Why Do Fools Fall in Love? Frankie Lymon #6 1956
Over twenty cover versions of this song exist. Requested by Michael.
How Can I Be Sure? Young Rascals #4 1967
Felix Cavaliere plays the cool opening piano riff from which the rest of the song builds.
What Does It Take to Win Your Love? Jr. Walker & the All Stars #4 1969 This track was originally rejected for single release by the Motown Quality Control Department.
Who Loves You? Four Seasons #3 1975
Joe Long plays the great bass line on this track.
Where Is The Love? Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway #5 1972 The instrumentation on this track featured some of the best session players of the 1970’s.
*Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? Derek and the Dominoes #120 1973 One reason it’s got to be so sad is because Clapton was in love with his good friend George Harrison’s wife Pattie. Requested by Michael.
How Do You Do It? Gerry/Pacemakers #9 1964
This was the debut single from Gerry and the Pacemakers and was recorded after the Beatles recorded a version, which was not released until 1995.
What Have They Done To The Rain? Searchers #29 1965
The song was written by Malvina Reynolds as a protest against atmospheric nuclear weapon testing.
Who’ll Stop the Rain? Creedence Clearwater Revival B-side 1970 This was the B-side to “Travelin’ Band” which reached #2 in 1970. The record is widely regarded as an anti-Vietnam war anthem. John Fogerty says he wrote it after having appeared at the rainy Woodstock Festival in 1969.
Blowin in the Wind Bob Dylan DNC 1963
The track was released as a single but did not chart. The song did, however, make the Grammy and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Suggested by J. S.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Peter Paul and Mary DNC 1962 The first three verses were written by Pete Seeger in 1955 with additional verses added in 1960 by Joe Hickerson
Who Do You Love? Ronnie Hawkins #117 1963
Hawkins does a great job with his cover of a Bo Diddley classic.
What’s It Gonna Be? Dusty Springfield #49 1967
Carole King, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson sing back up.
Why, Why Won’t You Believe Me? Shep & the Limelites #125 1964 This track by the doo-wop group from Queens was recorded on the Hull record label.
7:00-8:00
Games People Play Alan Parsons Project #16 1980
What Good Am I Without You? Kim Weston (w/ Marvin Gaye) #61 1964 My best guess is that Joe Hunter plays piano on this track.
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby Carla Thomas/Otis Redding #107 1969
Where Is The Love? Betty Wright #96 1975
God Only Knows Beach Boys #39 1966
*How Deep is Your Love? Bee Gees #1 1977
Requested by Gary.
Embryonic Journey Jefferson Airplane (Jorma Kaukonen) NR 1967 This track played under the final shot of the empty apartment on the series finale of “Friends” in 2004.
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley Lee Dorsey NR 1970
This was the original recording of Allen Toussaint’s song.
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes Jimmy Buffett #37 1977 Despite his slacker image, Buffett is one of the wealthiest musicians alive due to his royalties and his restaurants. There was a short-lived Broadway musical called, you guessed it, Escape to Margaritaville.
Gimme Shelter Merry Clayton #73 1970
Clayton became famous for her backing vocals on the Rolling Stones’ original version. This version has her stepping out front and singing the full song.
Why When Love Is Gone? Isley Brothers NR 1967
From their second and final LP for Tamla records.
Something You Got Chris Kenner DNC 1961
Kenner’s was the original recorded version of the song.
Standing in the Shadows of Love Four Tops #2 1967
Abdul “Duke” Fakir, who is the sole surviving member of the Four Tops, sang back-up tenor on this track along with some very fine vocalizing by the Andantes.
The Radio Song The Parade #127 1968
The group was a sunshine pop group that released six singles.
*W.O.L.D. Harry Chapin #36 1974
The song was inspired by an actual event. He overheard a telephone conversation between a Boston D.J. (who had given Chapin’s song “Taxi” so much airplay that it became a national hit) and his ex-wife. Requested by Scottie.
How Do You Do? Mouth and MacNeal #8 1972
This track spent 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and if you hear the song even once, it stays in your head for 19 weeks.
8:00-9:00
What Do You Want with Me? Chad and Jeremy #51 1965
Chad Stewart played a double-necked guitar and sang the higher harmonies. He performed until 2016 when he retired. He passed away on Sunday December 20.
Because You Are My Friend Leslie West NR 1969
A lovely acoustic track by the late Leslie West who died Wednesday December 23. This track pre-dates the formation of the group Mountain, which was named after this album, not the other way around.
What’s the Use of Breaking Up? Jerry Butler #20 1969
Great musical and vocal arrangements on this underrated Philadelphia soul classic.
When Will I See You Again? Three Degrees #2 1974
The trio sang this song at Prince Charles’ 30th birthday party in 1977. Did you know that every sentence in this song is a question?
How About That? Dee Clark #33 1960
This track, his fourth straight Top 40 hit, was released between “Hey Little Girl” and his biggest hit “Raindrops.”
Why? The Cues #77 1957
This quartet recorded countless back up vocals for several record labels under a variety of names such as The Gliders, The Rhythmakers and The Four Students.
Why Am I Treated So Bad? Sweet Inspirations #57 1967
The quartet was one of the most prolific back up singing groups of their day. This track, written by Pops Staples, was from their first LP as lead singers.
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? Jimmy Ruffin #7 1966 The song originally featured a spoken introduction by Ruffin, which was removed from the final mix, hence the unusually long instrumental intro on the released version.
What Now My Love? Sonny and Cher #14 1966
How Many Teardrops? Lou Christie #46 1963
Christie recorded this track on the Roulette label just before he was inducted into the U.S. Army.
Where’s the Melody? Brenda Lee #105 1967
Lee had 47 Billboard chart hits during her career. This was probably her most danceable tune.
Where Were You On Our Wedding Day? Lloyd Price #23 1959
Where’s the Playground Susie? Glen Campbell #26 1969
This Jimmy Webb composition was the second single released from Campbell’s LP “Galveston.”
Where Do the Children Play? Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam DNC 1971 Yusuf Cat Stevens painted the cover art on his “Tea for the Tillerman” LP.
Where Were You When I Was Falling in Love? Lobo #23 1979
Who Am I? Petula Clark #21 1966
This track is a little more contemplative and introspective than her big hit “Downtown.”
Why Should I Cry? The Gentrys #61 1970
What’s the Matter With You Baby? Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells #17 1964 Motown paired the up and coming Gaye with its established superstar Mary Wells for one LP called “Together.” After Wells left Motown, Gaye was paired with Kim Weston for one LP and finally with Tammi Terrell.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
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, publisher of the Hot 100 and other charts
H100 = Billboard Hot 100
Bubbling Under = songs that were ranked but fell below the top 100
CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records
R&B = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records
RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
RS 500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranking of the top 500 singles of all time.
Host January 2, 2021: John Simon with a spotlight on New Year/Old Year
Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin’ Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca NY) or streaming on WVBR.com.
Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!