September 11, 2021 - GJ - Alphabetical #1 Hits

Rockin’ Remnants

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Date: September 11, 2021

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Alphabetical # 1 Hits 

Birthday Calendar

September 5

Al Stewart 76 years old

Freddie Mercury  (b. 1946  d. 1991)

Loudon Wainwright III  75 years old

Buddy Miles  (b. 1947  d. 2008)

John Stewart (Kingston Trio)   (b. 1939  d. 2008)

September 6

Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)  78 years old

September 7

Gloria Gaynor 72 years old

Buddy Holly  (b. 1936  d. 1959)

Chrissie Hynde 70 years old

September 8

Patsy Cline  (b. 1932  d. 1963)

September 9

Inez Foxx 79 years old

Dee Dee Sharp 76 years old

Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly) 76 years old

Otis Redding (b. 1941  d. 1967)

September 10

Jose Feliciano 76 years old

Joe Perry  (Aerosmith) 70 years old

September 11

Leo Kottke    76 years old

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

Question: What was the first surf record to reach #1?

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)

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

6:00-7:00 pm

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

At the Hop Danny and the Juniors  1958  7 weeks

Dick Clark suggested that the lyrics be changed from “Let’s all do the bop” to “Let’s go to the hop.” Before payola became illegal, Dick Clark negotiated receiving half of the song’s earnings in exchange for playing the song on American Bandstand—and also possibly because he had contributed to the song’s lyrics.

*Ain’t No Mountain High Enough   Diana Ross 1970   3 weeks

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson banked on their composition being picked up by Motown. Diana Ross’ version was her first Hot 100 #1 hit. The track also topped the R&B chart. Requested by Scottie for Brooktondale Peggy and The Honey Hive Crew.

All I Have to Do Is Dream Everly Brothers   1958  5 weeks

Recorded live in two takes, the record reappeared on the Hot 100 in 1961.

Best of My Love Emotions    1977 5 weeks

The song was composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind and Fire. It won a Grammy Award in 1977.

Betcha By Golly Wow Stylistics   1972  #3

This song started life as “Keep Growing Strong” recorded by Connie Stevens. The Stylistics re-titled the song and had better chart success with their version.

Big Girls Don’t Cry Four Seasons 1962   5 weeks

The Four Seasons were the first group to score successive #1 hits with two consecutive releases.

Can’t Buy Me Love Beatles 1964 5 weeks

The song was written and recorded in Paris. You can hear George Harrison’s original guitar solo underneath the one he overdubbed at Abbey Road. Although the lead vocals were double tracked, this was the first Beatles single that did not use background harmonies. At the video's 1:27 mark, who are the guys on the balcony behind the Beatles? I am guessing Freddie and the Dreamers.

Don’t Be Cruel Elvis Presley 1956 11 weeks

This was the A-side to Hound Dog. The eleven week run of this double sided hit was in a three way tie for longest stay at #1—a record that was not broken until 1992. His sense of humor at the top of this Ed Sullivan clip is sly, yet charming.

*Dancing the Night Away Leo Sayer 1978

Sayer had an impressive line up of musicians playing on this record: Jackson Browne, Lindsey Buckingham, Davey Johnstone, Russ Kunkel, David Lindley, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Ray Parker Jr., Chuck Rainey, Leland Sklar, and the Porcaro brothers, among others. Requested by Alvin.

Every Breath You Take  Police 1983 8 weeks

The record won the 1984 Grammy for Song of the Year. By 2019 it had become the most played song in radio history, with almost 15 million radio plays. Sting wrote the song at Ian Fleming’s writing desk in Jamaica. As Sting himself has said, it is not a song about love, but a song about obsession and surveillance. Technology has finally caught up with Sting. Paging George Orwell...

Family Affair     Sly and Family Stone 1971 3 weeks

This track was the third #1 hit for Sly, who, except for his sister Rose, did not use the rest of the Family Stone on the track. Billy Preston played keyboards.

Great Pretender The Platters 1956 2 weeks

Like many other composers, Buck Ram claimed to have written the song in a matter of minutes. He wrote it in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, the story goes, so that might have prompted him to finish up quickly. Of course, singing always sounds better in the bathroom…

He Don’t Love You   Tony Orlando & Dawn 1975    3 weeks

The original title of the song, written by Jerry Butler, Calvin Carter and Curtis Mayfield, was “He Will Break Your Heart.” Tony Orlando contacted Mayfield to ask permission to remake the song and re-title it—and Mayfield agreed.

I Get Around   Beach Boys 1964 2 weeks 

The first #1 Beach Boys record!  In 1994 Mike Love sued Brian Wilson for co-writing credit, and Love prevailed.

Kind of a Drag Buckinghams 1967 2 weeks

The track was recorded at Chess Records in Chicago, and engineer Ron Malo was able to speed up the tempo of the recording while keeping it in the original key.

7:00-8:00

Midnight Rocks Al Stewart  1980  #24                                        

Stewart once shared a Dellow Street flat with Paul Simon during the latter’s London era.

Living on My Own   Freddie Mercury   1985   DNC (in the U.S.)    From Mercury’s 1985 solo album, “Mr. Bad Guy.”

School Days Loudon Wainwright III 1970 DNC

Written when he was 24, the song was about Wainwright’s four years at the all boys’ St. Andrew’s school in Delaware, which was also the setting for the film “Dead Poet’s Society.”

Kiss and Run  Buddy Miles 1974  DNC

James Jamerson played bass on the LP for which this track was recorded.

Gold John Stewart 1979 #5

Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham provided support.

Have a Cigar   Pink Floyd   1975  DNC

Roger Waters wrote the song, but did not sing lead.

Never Can Say Goodbye      Gloria Gaynor 1974   #9

This track was the very first #1 hit on the very first Billboard Dance/Disco chart. Funk Brother Bob Babbitt played bass.

Well All Right        Buddy Holly 1958   DNC

Although this Buddy Holly composition was a B-side to “Heartbeat,” the song was covered by lots of folks. Holly plays guitar and drummer Jerry Allison plays the triangle percussion.

Brass in Pocket Pretenders 1980 #14

According to Chrissie Hynde, brass in pocket means having some cash on you and “bottle” means a word that rhymes with “bottle and glass” in Cockney rhyming slang.

She’s Got You   Patsy Cline 1962   #14 H100  #5 CW

This song (featuring Floyd Cramer on piano) led to Cline’s appearance on American Bandstand and subsequently to her own show in Las Vegas.

Confusion Inez and Charlie Foxx 1964 DNC

Basically a musical re-working of “Mockingbird,” but the spoken, or rather, argued, intro is worth the listen.

In A Gadda Da Vida Iron Butterfly     1968  #30

This was the Butterfly’s only top 40 hit, although the LP of the same name reached #4 on the album chart. The 20 minute video below includes the origin story of the song and Ron Bushy's extended drum solo. Bushy's drums fell silent on August 29, 2021 when he died of esophageal cancer. RIP in the garden of eden, Ron.

We Got a Thing Going On   DeeDee Sharp and Ben E. King  1968  #127

Very little is written about this side, which seems astonishing given the great performances that Sharp and King turn in.

Respect Otis Redding 1965   #35

The original version! Although Redding is usually credited as the songwriter, there are many claimants to that title. One cool thing about the video below is that Redding's band gets a lot of screen time.

The Last Thing On My Mind      Jose Feliciano 1968 NR

This Tom Paxton song was one of many great covers on his 1968 LP “Feliciano!”

8:00-9:00

Just My Imagination   Temptations 1971 2 weeks

This track was a return to the lyrical ballads of the early Temptations hits. The accompaniment was provided by the Funk Brothers and members of the Detroit Symphony, who often recorded for Motown records. The Tempts appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show 15 times.

Little Star Elegants 1958 1 week

The Elegants hailed from South Beach, Staten Island. “Little Star” was their only hit since, according to legend, they refused to fork over payola to a prominent New York city radio DJ to play their subsequent records.

Mack the Knife Bobby Darin 1959 9 weeks

Dick Clark advised Darin not to record the song because it came from “Threepenny Opera.” In contrast to the original Kurt Weill score, Darin’s arrangement changed keys five times. Watch how much Ed Sullivan likes Darin at the end of the video.

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam    1969    2 weeks

Before Milli Vanilli there was Steam—a group made up of only three musicians. The guys on the record sleeve and in the video was a road group that lip synched to the vocal.

One of These Nights Eagles 1975 1 week

Don Henley called this record “a nasty track with pretty vocals” and Glenn Frey called it his favorite Eagles record. It's also not a bad disco record. Watch Don Felder's fingers fly on his solo...

Please Mr. Postman Marvelettes 1961 1 week

Marvin Gaye played drums on this track. One of the composers, Freddie Gorman, was an actual Detroit postal carrier.

Quarter to Three Gary U.S. Bonds 1961 2 weeks

“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 a little distracting in the video, but it's great to see Bonds' hair flying.

Running Scared Roy Orbison 1961 1 week

The song (which has no chorus) builds in musical and lyrical intensity until the shattering last note and word: “me.” Check out the rapt attention the Dutch audience is paying to this live performance.

Surf City Jan and Dean 1963 2 weeks 

The first surf song to reach #1! Both Jan and Dean were high school football players. They charted 26 times from 1959-1966. The tongue-in-cheek video actually has a narrative and the music sounds like a demo recording.

Tossin’ and Turnin’ Bobby Lewis 1961 7 weeks

King Curtis played the solo on a tenor sax mouthpiece.

Up Where We Belong Joe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes  1982  3 weeks

The song was written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Will Jennings specifically for the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” The song won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance and the Oscar for Best Original Song. Joe Cocker was skeptical of the song, but was moved by the lyric, “Love lift us up where we belong.” Some radio stations refused to play the song and sent their promotional copies back to Island Records. Ultimately the record sold a million copies.

Venus Frankie Avalon 1959 5 weeks

This was Avalon’s first #1 Hot 100 hit.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow? Shirelles 1961 2 weeks

The Shirelles were credited by some as launching the girl-group genre. The video is live, showcasing how skillfully they harmonized. They have a little bit of fun with each other at the 2:00 mark.

You Keep Me Hanging On Supremes    1966 2 weeks

The guitar figure was meant to invoke a Morse Code style sound effect often used in radio newscasts of the time. It was the Supremes’ eighth #1 single.

*Life is a Rock, But Radio Rolled Me   Reunion   1974  #8

Reunion was an ad hoc group assembled for this record, with Joey Levine singing lead. The record name checks at least 29 song titles and 46 proper names. Several AM radio stations created their own version of the song, substituting their call letters for the word “radio.”

You Send Me Sam Cooke  1957  3 weeks

This was Cooke’s debut single, arranged and conducted by René Hall. This was intended to be the B-side to “Summertime,” but as radio DJs would do, they turned the record over and liked what they heard.

CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

Trivia Answer

Surf City (Jan and Dean)  1963

Congratulations to Mike from (no joke) South Dakota (formerly of Ithaca) for correctly answering the question and winning two movie passes to Cinemapolis.

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 September 18, 2021: Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on “Favorites.”

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