May 15, 2021 - GJ - Comings and Goings

Rockin’ Remnants

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Date:  May 15, 2021

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Comings and Goings

Birthday Calendar

May 9

Billy Joel      72 years old

Dave Prater (Sam and Dave)  (b. 1937  d. 1988)

Richie Furay 77 years old

May 10

Donovan 75 years old

Dave Mason 75 years old

May 11

Butch Trucks  (b. 1947  d. 2017)

Eric Burdon 80 years old

May 12

Steve Winwood 73 years old

May 13

Stevie Wonder 71 years old

Ritchie Valens      (b. 1941  d. 1959)

Mary Wells (b. 1943  d. 1992)

May 14

Jack Bruce (b. 1943  d. 2014)

Bobby Darin (b. 1936  d. 1973)

David Byrne (Talking Heads) 69 years old

May 15

Trini Lopez (b. 1937  d. 2020)

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

* glossary of terms is below the playlist

6:00

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

Let’s Go   Routers 1962   #19

Written by the Duncan Brothers Lanny and Robert, the rhythm was sampled on several other songs, including the Cars’ “Let’s Go.”  Also, if you have ever been to a stadium sporting event, you have probably heard the “Let’s Go” handclap and chant.

Come Together Beatles 1969  #1

The song’s title was inspired by the short-lived California gubernatorial campaign of Timothy Leary, running against Ronald Reagan. Ringo muffled his drums with dishtowels wrapped around his snare drum and tom-tom.

Go Your Own Way Fleetwood Mac    1977  #10

This was the Mac’s first top-ten hit in the U.S. Lindsey Buckingham met Stevie Nicks in 1965 when he was sixteen years old. They broke up ten years later and Buckingham subsequently wrote this unhappy anniversary song.

Baby Come Back Player 1978  #1

Another break up song based on actual events, this track has turned up on “The Simpsons” and a Swiffer commercial.

Baby Please Don’t Go Them 1965   #102

Van Morrison was 19 years old when he recorded this track which was the A-side to “Gloria” (which peaked at #93).

*Come and Get Your Love   Redbone  1974   #5

The definitive song about self-acceptance, the phrase “come and get your love” is repeated 29 times during the recording.

Go Where You Wanna Go    Fifth Dimension 1967   #16

This was from the group’s 1967 debut LP and was their first charting single.

Along Comes Mary Association    1966  #7

The Association was the first act at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. “…Mary” was the group’s breakthrough hit record.

A Change is Gonna Come Sam Cooke   1965  #31

Reportedly Cooke was inspired to write his first song with political overtones after hearing Bob Dylan’s anti-racist song “Blowing in the Wind” and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Coming On Strong Brenda Lee 1966     #11

After her father’s death in 1953, Brenda Lee at the age of 10 supported her family by her singing.

Come and Get It    Badfinger   1970   #7

Composed and produced by Paul McCartney who insisted that Badfinger (then called The Iveys) perform the song exactly to his specifications.

Come Dancing Kinks 1983   #6   

The song was inspired by Ray Davies sister Rene who suffered a fatal heart attack while she was dancing.  Davies has said that the record company asked him to sing the song in more of an American accent, but he declined to do so.

Going to a Go-Go  Miracles  1966   #11  H100  #2 R&B

Smokey Robinson’s wife Claudette is one of the backing vocalists.

Go Away Little Girl The Happenings 1966   #12

Some good story telling in this song by Carole King and Gerry Goffin that was released on at least three different labels.

Come Go With Me  Dell Vikings 1957   #4 H100  #2 R&B

Legend has it that the song was written in five minutes and recorded in the basement of a Pittsburgh disc jockey. As you can see in the photos above, the group's name sometimes had one "l" and sometimes two.

Go Now!     Moody Blues   1965   #10

The exclamation point in the title distinguishes it from an earlier version of the song.

7:00

Summer Highland Falls Billy Joel    1975 NR

Joel lived in Highland Falls NY when he returned to the East Coast from Los Angeles. He said that he wrote the song for two reasons: his relationship with his then-wife Elizabeth was not working out, and because he recognized that sadness and euphoria each played a role in his creativity.

When Something Is Wrong With My Baby  Sam and Dave  1967   #42

This original version of the song was the first time that Dave sang the solo lead on the first verse

C’Mon    Poco   1971   #69

Richie Furay composed this feel-good invitation to have a good time (which also ties in with tonight’s theme of “Coming and Going”).

Museum Donovan 1967 NR

From his LP “Mellow Yellow” which was produced by Mickie Most and arranged by John Paul Jones—yes, that John Paul Jones.

If You’ve Got Love Dave Mason 1973 NR

George Harrison adds some fine slide guitar work to this track from Mason’s LP “It’s Like You Never Left.”

Mama Told Me Not to Come    Eric Burdon/Animals     1967 NR

From the LP “Eric Is Here,” this was the first recording of Randy Newman’s song.  Another themed song.

Come and Go Blues    Allman Brothers   1973

Butch Trucks plays conga on this B-side to “Jessica” from the “Brothers and Sisters” LP. Yet another themed song.

Hold On Steve Winwood 1977 DNC

From Winwood’s debut solo studio LP.

Golden Lady Stevie Wonder 1973 NR

From his “Innervisions” LP.

Come On Let’s Go  Ritchie Valens 1958  #42

The pride of Pacoima California, Valens learned to play the guitar right-handed, even though he was left-handed. This track qualifies for both “Coming” and “Going.”

The One Who Really Loves You   Mary Wells  1962    

#8 H100  #2 R&B

Written by Smokey Robinson and played by the Funk Brothers. 

Deserted Cities of the Heart Cream 1968 NR

Not only did Jack Bruce sing brilliantly in a plethora of rhythms, he played a smoking bass line at the same time.

Once in a Lifetime  Talking Heads   1981     #103

The original studio version bubbled under for one week and then fell off the charts, but the track did make the RRHOF.

Dream Lover Bobby Darin   1959   #2

The pianist was Neil Sedaka.

Come a Little Bit Closer   Trini Lopez 1969    #121

Some great musical effects that other versions don’t have: the glass dropping, the window shattering. Plus Lopez was actually fluent in Spanish beyond “vamanos.”  And, yes, a fifth birthday calendar song that also fits the “Coming and Going” theme.

Come On Down to My Boat Baby  Every Mother’s Son   1967  #6

The group had its origins in the Greenwich Village folk scene. They consciously sported a clean-cut, preppie image in contrast to the prevailing hippie styles of the late ’60’s. Their version of “Come On Down..” is actually a cover.

8:00

Come On a My House (mega mix)

Julie London

 

Louis Prima 

Ross Bagdasarian 

Rosemary Clooney 1951  #1  (6 weeks)

Kay Starr 1951  Peaked at #17

The song was written in 1939 by cousins Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville of Alvin and the Chipmunks fame) and William Saroyan (the playwright). They composed the song, based on a traditional Armenian melody, while on a road trip through New Mexico. The song originally intended to celebrate the Armenian custom of inviting friends and family over to one’s house for celebrations. It was not until later that the song morphed into another sort of invitation.

Come On Over to My Place      Drifters   1965   #60

Johnny Moore sang lead in an ever-changing line up of Drifter musicians.

Go Jimmy Go Jimmy Clanton  1960  #5 H100  #19 R&B

The photogenic Clanton starred in a few movies including a 1959 movie called “Go Johnny Go” about a young singer (Clanton) discovered by Chuck Berry and Alan Freed, who played themselves.

Come Saturday Morning Sandpipers 1970  #17

The record entered the charts twice and reached #17 on its second try in June 1970. It was featured in the film “The Sterile Cuckoo.”

Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go Hank Ballard 1960  #6

The record’s alternate title is “There’s a Thrill on the Hill,” taken from the song’s first lyric.

Come Monday  Jimmy Buffett 1974  #30

The BBC has traditionally prohibited trademarked brand names in its musical entertainment programming. Consequently, on the U.K. single version of "Come Monday" Buffet had to change the lyric “I’ve got my Hush Puppies on” to “I’ve got my hiking shoes on.” 

When the Morning Comes Hall and Oates    1974   NR

This was the leadoff track for “Abandoned Luncheonette.”

Here You Come Again    Dolly Parton  1978   

#3 H100  #1 CW (5 weeks)

Written by Cynthia Weill and Barry Mann and originally intended for Brenda Lee, this track was Parton’s first major crossover hit.  Parton insisted that a steel guitar be included on the track so that it wouldn’t be perceived as sounding too "pop."

Goin’ Out of My Head   Little Anthony 1964  #6

The Imperials (and the uncredited soprano backup singers) lift the sentiment of the song from a conventional lovelorn metaphor to a musical evocation of someone actually on the brink of losing their sanity.

Goin’ Down Freddie King (1971)  Jeff Beck 1972   NR

A mash up of two versions. Freddie King’s was recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago for Leon Russel’s Shelter label. Duck Dunn played bass. Composer Don Nix was very impressed with Jeff Beck’s version.

No Particular Place to Go   Chuck Berry  1964   #10

The record’s melody replicates his earlier song “School Days.”  This particular couple’s romantic frustrations notwithstanding, always be sure to buckle up.

Come to Me Softly Fleetwoods    1959   #1

The three Fleetwoods wrote the song and made an a cappella home recording of the song, which was subsequently augmented with simple acoustic guitar in the record label studio and released.

Coming Into Los Angeles   Arlo Guthrie  1969   NR

From the LP “Running Down the Road.” The consensus seems to be that the fine guitar work on this track is by Clarence White. 

Take It As It Comes    The Rowans  1975  NR

Blend a little Grateful Dead (with whom The Rowans toured) with the Eagles and you get this very listenable track of California rock.

Come to Me   Marv Johnson    1959  #30 H100  #6R&B

Johnson was 20 years old when he recorded the first single to be released on the Tamla label. James Jamerson was the bassist and Benny Benjamin was the drummer. This was before the Motown house musicians were known as The Funk Brothers.

Let’s Go     The Cars 1979  #14

This was the debut single from their second studio LP “Candy-O.” The single dropped on June 12, 1979 and became the summer song to cruise to. And, coming full circle, the song does pay homage to the Routers’ 1962 song of the same name.

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 May 22, 2021: Jan Hunsinger celebrates his 5th Anniversary as a Rockin’ Remnants host, featuring groups and songs with '5' in the title and songs by groups with five members.

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