January 2, 2021 - JS - Early 1961

 

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!)

 

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Date:  1/2/21

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  Early 1961

 

 

A quick heads-up: JS will be going "live" this Saturday night, starting with a spotlight on the first weekend of 1961. Brace yourself, but that was SIXTY years ago! You can call in requests that night, or you can get a head-start here. Happy New Year, everybody. Have a safe and happy celebration!

 

 

 

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist – and to find a glossary of terms)

 

 

 

 

Playlist

 

 

·      look for YouTube links after selected entries

 ·      songs with * were requests 

 · songs in bold print are from the chart date

·      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

 

 

6-7pm 

 OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)

 

I Count the Tears - Drifters (#17 Pop, #6 R&B - this would be Ben E. King's final single as lead vocalist with the group, and his first solo record was released on this very date back in 1961. We'll hear that one later in the show.)

 

* Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles (at #2 this week, headed to a two-week run at #1 starting next week - this record has the distinction of being the first #1 record by an all-Black Girl Group. Rolling Stone ranks it at #126 in the RS500, and it's one of the most recognizable Goffin-King songs of them all.)

 

Last Date - Floyd Cramer (down to #3 this week - this record spent four weeks at #2, and was one of four versions on the chart this very week. Lawrence Welk had a competing instrumental version, while Joni James and Skeeter Davis had vocal versions. Skeeter's actually used Floyd Cramer's version as its musical accompaniment!)

 

He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler (down to #13 from a peak of #7 - this one also spent seven weeks at the top of the R&B chart. That's Curtis Mayfield providing the duet vocal on the choruses. Like Ben E. King, Jerry Butler was just leaving his established vocal group to start a solo career. In this case, it was The Impressions.)

 

* Moon River - Jerry Butler (10/61; #11 - this song was from the film Breakfast at Tiffany's, and was recorded by a number of acts, including the composer Henry Mancini. Again, Curtis Mayfield was the producer, and it's him playing that tasty recurring guitar lick.)

Angel On My Shoulder - Shelby Flint (at #77, headed to #22 - Shelby Flint was a high school kid from San Diego who wrote this pretty little number when she was 17. By the time she was 20, she'd been signed to Valiant Records and this was storming up the chart.)

Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King (debuting this week at #86 - the lead singer for the Drifters decided to branch out on his own, and this was his first solo release. This one would peak at #10 on the Pop chart, and would later be recorded by a number of artists, including Aretha Franklin and Laura Nyro.)

I'll Save the Last Dance - Damita Jo (down to #41 from a peak of #22 - Ben E. King and his Drifters had taken Save The Last Dance For Me to #1 and it was still on the chart when their latest single had started its ascent. Meanwhile, this answer record nearly reached the Top Twenty. It was released on Mercury Records, which had no relation to The Drifters' Atlantic Records label.)

If We Make It Through December - Merle Haggard (1/74; #28 Pop, #1 C&W for four weeks - this was Merle Haggard's most successful crossover record. It was his only Top Forty single on the Pop Chart, but he'd score thirty-eight #1s on the C&W charts over a forty year career.)

* It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley (8/60; #1 for five weeks - based on the melody for O Sole Mio, this one also spent nine weeks at #1 in the UK. Going out to Sue in South Carolina.)

* Tossin' & Turnin' - Bobby Lewis (7/61; #1 for seven weeks! - this goes out at the suggestion of former WVBR DJ DZ Stone. It was the biggest hit of 1961. Sadly, we lost Bobby Lewis back in April of this year at the ripe old age of 95.)

* I Fall To Pieces - Patsy Cline (5/61; #12 Pop, #1 C&W - this one is ranked at #241 in the RS500, and it goes out to Barbara in Danby. A little sublime slice of  smooth "countrypolitan" balladry, featuring Floyd Cramer on the piano.)

* Telstar - Tornadoes (12/62; #1 for three weeks - John-from-Freeville called this one in. He used to work with a scientist from Bell Labs named Walter Brown, who was one of the main brains behind the Telstar project, and this is the anniversary of his passing. How cool is that???)

Walk Right Back - Everly Brothers (bubbling under - and heading to #7 on the Pop chart, #1 in the UK, going out to my kid brother Doug who's tuned in from Escondido tonight.)

 

I Love Music (Pt. 1) - O'Jays (1/76; #5 Pop, #1 R&B - an old friend was tuned in from New England. When he heard my brother's name, he called in and asked me to play something for his old friend. I picked this one! "To Dougie from Chuck.")

 

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

 

December 27 – Mike Pinder (Moody Blues) – age 79

 

December 28 – Alex Chilton (Box Tops) – born in 1950

 

December 29 – Bobby Comstock – born in 1941

            – Barbara Alston (Crystals) – born in 1943

            – Ray Thomas (Moody Blues) – age 79                                      

            – Marianne Faithfull – age 74

            – Yvonne Elliman – age 70

 

December 30 – Skeeter Davis – born in 1931

            – Del Shannon – born in 1939

            – Mike Nesmith (Monkees) – age 78

 
            – Davy Jones (Monkees) – born in 1945

            – Jeff Lynne (ELO) – age 73

 

December 31 – John Denver – born in 1941

 

January 2 – Earl Grant – born in 1931

            – Roger Miller – born in 1936

           

 

Uptown - Crystals (3/62; #13 - Barbara Alston sang lead on the girls' first two singles, but eventually stepped back in deference to La La Brooks. This was her last shining moment at center stage.)

 

Your Big Brown Eyes - Bobby Comstock & The Counts (1/61; dnc - these youngsters from Ithaca, NY made the big time back in the day. This record never made it nationally, but it's a local favorite. Bobby C would've been 80 years old this week, but we lost him back in the early Spring.)

 

As Tears Go By - Marianne Faithfull (11/64; #22 - Andrew Loog Oldham, Mick Jagger & Keith Richard met her at a party and offered her their new song. She made the most of it.)

 

Neon Rainbow - Box Tops (11/67; #24 - this was the second single from the young group from Memphis. Their first was The Letter, which came out of nowhere to top the charts. Alex Chilton was lead vocalist on both records.)

 

I Don't Know How to Love Him - Yvonne Elliman (4/71; #28 - she was born in Honolulu and would record a string of hits in the Seventies. This was the first of them, and she'd sing it again in the move Jesus Christ Superstar. Helen Reddy had simultaneously released her own version, and the two competed for record sales.)

 

Watching & Waiting - Moody Blues (11/69; dnc - Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder both turned 79 this week. They had been founding members of the group, and both were instrumental to this recording: Pinder literally, as the keyboardist, and Thomas as co-writer. It was selected to be the hit single from their latest album, but it never caught on. That said, three people contacted me directly to ask more about it.)

 

What Am I Gonna Do With You - Skeeter Davis (11/64; #123 Pop, #38 C&W - Lesley Gore recorded this as an album track and Skeeter Davis had some success with it on the Country charts. It's a gorgeous record that deserved to be hear more widely.)

 

Girl - Davy Jones (11/71; dnc - this was released on the Bell Records label and was prominently featured in a Brady Bunch episode, but the public never responded. Subsequently, it became a much sought-after collector's item. Tonight we honor Davy Jones who would've turned 76 this week.)

 

Joanne - Michael Nesmith and the First National Band (8/70; #21 - after The Monkees disbanded, Mike had the most successful career as a musician - and this was his highest-charting single. Tonight you hear the original 45.)

 

Can't Get It Out of My Head - Electric Light Orchestra (12/74; #9 - Jeff Lynne was the mastermind and chief songwriter for the group. He'd later surface as a member of The Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.)

 

Engine, Engine #9 - Roger Miller (5/65; #7 - today would've been his 85th birthday, but Roger died from lung cancer at age 56. He was a songwriter, a composer, a prolific whistler and a gifted humorist, best known for King Of The Road. Tonight we hear the poignant side of the man.)

 

Runaway - Del Shannon (3/61; #1 - Charles Westover changed his name to Del Shannon, and this was his first national hit. It made it to the top of the chart and was ranked as the #5 record of the year. Not too shabby!)

 

(At) The End (Of The Rainbow) - Earl Grant (9/58; #7 - Earl Grant was best known as a gifted keyboardist, but he was also a really smooth vocalist who left behind this stunning gem. Today would've been his 90th birthday.)

* Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver (3/74; #1 - this lilting album track had been tucked onto a B-side a year earlier, and that should've been it....but it somehow started to catch on and was re-released as an A-side. The single version was edited down to 3:10. Tonight we hear the 5 minute LP version.)

 

 

8-9pm

 

*  New Orleans - Gary "US" Bonds (just off the chart - down from a peak position of #6. This was his first nationally-charting single, and soon he'd hit the top of the charts with Quarter To Three. He's still out there doing shows, and did a couple of them right here in Tompkins County just two years ago)

 

*  Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers (7/65; #4 - this was tossed off as a B-side, but DJs flipped for it and it became Bobby Hatfield's signature song. Going out to my old friend Sandy from Albuquerque!)

 

*  Signed, Sealed & Delivered - Stevie Wonder (6/70; #3 Pop, #1 R&B for six weeks - this became The Obamas' theme song during the 2008 campaign, and Stevie sang it live at one of the Inaugural events. Turn it up!)

 

When She Was My Girl - Four Tops (8/81; #11 Pop, #1 R&B - After Motown, they signed with ABC-Dunhill. After that, they were pretty much done...until they signed with Casablanca and started up again with renewed vigor!)

 

Goin' Out Of My Head - Little Anthony & The Imperials (11/64; #6 - "Little Anthony" Gourdine was a kid from The Bronx who cut some terrific records with The Imperials. Tonight we hear the hard-to-find original mono single mix, sounding just the way it did back in the day. By the way...he was friends with the aforementioned Sandy from Albuquerque!)

 

*  You Are My Only One - Ricky Nelson (1/61; headed to #25 - listener Tom Preston suggested a double-shot from our chart date: two songs that had decidedly different takes on the theme of monogamy. They're both ballads and they sound great back-to-back.)

 

 

*  Jimmy's Girl - Johnny Tillotson (1/61; headed to #25 - see directly above!)

 

Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go - Hank Ballard & Midnighters (down to #52 this week - this one had reached #6 on the Pop chart and spent three weeks at #1 on the R&B chart. Another one that should be cranked to 10!)

 

* Mr. Blue Sky - ELO (6/78; #35 - listener Gina felt that I could've picked a better tune to play for Jeff Lynne's birthday, and this was her pick. Given the gloomy weather forecast for the week, she just may have been onto something. Happy Birthday, Mr. Lynne.)

 

Day After Day - Badfinger (1/72; #4 - George Harrison sat in the producer's chair for this session, and also added some slide guitar to the recording. Leon Russell played the piano part.)

 

Shop Around - Miracles (at #32 this week - headed to #2 on the Pop chart, this one would also spend EIGHT weeks at #1 on the R&B chart, prompting Berry Gordy to reward Smokey Robinson with a vice president's title at Motown Records. Ironically, the original recording was pulled and replaced by this more-energetic version, even though it had already started to be distributed. Hear that version below!)

 

There's a Moon Out Tonight - Capris (debuting at #88 - this one would eventually reach #3 on the Chart, and would become something of a Doo Wop standard. The Italian-American quintet hailed from Ozone Park in Queens and this was their only major hit.)

 

The Age For Love - Jimmy Charles (this one was at #86 a week earlier, dropped off the chart for this week, and would re-surface the following week, eventually crawling up to #47. His big hit was "A Million To One," but this is a really nice record that deserved a better fate.)

 

1921 - The Who (11/69; dnc - "Got a feeling '21 is gonna be a good year...." This comes from the rock opera Tommy and wasn't released as a single, but it's a nice way to end the first show of '21. See you in a few weeks, everybody. Stay safe.)

 

 

 

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & 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, which publishes the Hot 100 chart (previously known as the Top 100), along with several other charts

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 Next Week (1/9/21):  Gregory James with a spotlight on #1 Records In Early January, 1955-1985

 

 

 

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.

 

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