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.)
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Date: December 4, 2021
Host: Gregory James
Feature: The Brill Building
Birthday Calendar
November 28
Berry Gordy Jr. 92 years old
Bruce Channel 81 years old
Randy Newman 78 years old
November 29
John Mayall 88 years old
Denny Doherty (b. 1940 d. 2007)
Felix Cavaliere 79 years old
Joel Whitburn 82 years old
November 30
Frank Ifield 84 years old
Rob Grill (Grass Roots singer/bassist) (b. 1943 d. 2011)
Luther Ingram (b. 1937 d. 2007)
Dick Clark (b. 1929 d. 2012)
December 1
Lou Rawls (b. 1933 d. 2006)
John Densmore 77 years old
Bette Midler 76 years old
December 4
Freddy Cannon 85 years old
Dennis Wilson (b. 1944 d. 1983)
Southside Johnny 73 years old
Bob Mosley (Moby Grape) 79 years old
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
Question: What three spousal teams were famous Brill Building songwriters?
(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
6-7 pm
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)
Who Put the Bomp Barry Mann 1961 #7
Barry Mann and Jerry Goffin wrote it, so I guess Barry Mann wanted to shake his own hand. All in all, Barry Mann had a hand in writing 635 songs, according to his website.
Up on the Roof Laura Nyro 1970 #92
Carole King and Jerry Goffin wrote it. There are plenty of versions, but the phrasing and emotion that Nyro brings to the song are unparalleled. This record was Nyro’s only charting single.
Stoned Soul Picnic 5th Dimension 1968 #3
Laura Nyro had even greater success as a composer, her songs having been covered by legions of recording artists.
Candy Man Roy Orbison 1961 #25
Written by Beverly Ross and Fred Neil who met at the Café Wha? in Greenwich Village in 1960. This was Fred Neil’s first hit song.
Everybody’s Talking Fred Neil 1966 DNC
Nilsson did a fabulous job with the song, but it is really nice to hear the composer sing this iconic song.
Time Is On My Side Irma Thomas 1964 DNC
Jerry Ragovoy was the composer, and you can hear how much the Stones lifted from the Irma Thomas version.
*Rock Me Gently Andy Kim #1 1974
Canadian Andy Kim was one of several Brill Building composers who recorded his own songs. Requested by Scottie for Brooktondale Peggy.
Hey Schoolgirl Tom and Jerry 1957 #49
Paul Simon (as Jerry Landis) wrote this tune, with echoes of the Everly Brothers in his head.
Dead Man’s Curve Jan and Dean 1964 #8
Artie Kornfeld was one of four composers of this song that foreshadowed an actual (non-fatal) car accident. In 1966, Jan Berry crashed his Stingray into a parked truck near, but not actually on, Dead Man’s Curve.
*You Make Me Feel Like Dancing Leo Sayer 1976 #1
Requested by Alvin, this record won the 1978 Grammy for Best R&B Song. Guitarist Ray Parker Jr. claimed that he was an uncredited songwriter.
Uptown Crystals 1962 #13
Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann wrote 82 Brill Building Songs, Carole King and Jerry Goffin wrote 72.
When I Need You Leo Sayer 1977 #1
An extra dose of Leo…Once again, Sayer’s songwriting originality could be called into question by comparing his melody to Leonard Cohen’s “Famous Blue Raincoat” and Elton John’s “Little Jeannie.” According to one musicologist, the melody can be traced back to Schubert, thus rendering it in the public domain.
Baby I Love You Ronettes 1963 #24
Written by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Lead singer Ronnie Bennett was accompanied by Leon Russell on piano and backing vocals were provided, not by the Ronettes (who were on tour in a Dick Clark Caravan), but by Cher, Sonny Bono and the Blossoms.
The Kind Of Boy You Can’t Forget Raindrops 1963 #17
Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich not only composed 40 songs together, they also sang some of their compositions. All of the many voices heard on the recording belong to Greenwich and Barry.
Sweets for my Sweet Drifters 1961 #16
Written by the songwriting team of Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus. The backing singers were the A-team of Cissy Houston, Doris Troy, Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick. Mort Shuman played piano on this track.
Stand By Me Ben E King 1961 #4
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (using the collective pseudonym Elmo Glick), along with Ben E. King, penned this uplifting ode to friendship, love and loyalty. Mike Stoller credits Ben E. King with 50 percent of the song’s creation.
7-8 pm
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy Brenda Holloway 1967 #39
Berry Gordy was a co-composer on this song. He and Holloway disagreed about the record’s musical arrangement, but Gordy prevailed. The record was her last single for the Tamla label.
Hey Baby Bruce Channel 1962 #1
Delbert McClinton’s harmonica segment inspired Lennon's playing on the Beatles' first single "Love Me Do", and the harmonica break on Frank Ifield's "I Remember You."
It’s Lonely At The Top Randy Newman 1972
Newman wrote the song for Frank Sinatra who, when Newman played and sang it for him, said, “Next.”
Don’t Hang Me Up John Mayall 1973 NR
From Mayall’s 1973 Polydor LP “Ten Years Are Gone.”
I Saw Her Again Mamas and Papas 1966 #5
Co-written by John Phillips and Denny Doherty, who was having an affair with Michelle Phillips at the time. Awkward, but a good song created specifically as single in the style of the Beatles.
It’s a Beautiful Morning Rascals 1968 #3 H100 #36 R&B
This was their first record using the name “Rascals.” Lots of praise for the bass player and backing singers, whoever they are.
Lovesick Blues Frank Ifield 1963 #44
Ifield’s cover of this Hank Williams song was a perfect fit because both singers made extensive and skillful use of yodeling.
Things I Should Have Said Grass Roots 1967 #23
The song was a P.F. Sloan and Jeff Barry creation.
I’ll Be Your Shelter Luther Ingram 1972 #40
Love Is a Hurting Thing Lou Rawls 1966 #13 H100 #1 R&B
Lyrics by Ben Raleigh of the Brill Building
Love Her Madly Doors 1971 #11
Legend has it that the song was based on the trouble Robby Krieger was having with his girlfriend Lynn whom he subsequently married.
Buckets of Rain Bette Midler and Bob Dylan 1978 NR
Midler was born in Honolulu and rose to prominence in the 1970’s as a songstress during her gigs at the Continental Baths in New York. From her 1976 LP “Songs for the New Depression,” Dave Webster played slide guitar and arranger Moogy Klingman played piano and harmonica.
Forever Beach Boys 1970 DNC
From their LP “Sunflower,” this track was written and sung by Dennis Wilson and arranged by Brian (who praised the song). You could hear that the mix is a little rough, with a stray vocal harmony that one of the Beach Boys thought better of.
Murder in My Heart for the Judge Moby Grape 1968 DNC
A little known fact, but a true one, revealed here for the first time: Moby Grape bassist Bob Mosley and I went to the same high school!
Action Freddy Cannon 1965 #13
This song was written by Tommy Boyce of the Brill Building and was the theme for the TV show “Where the Action Is.”
The Fever Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes 1976
Composer Bruce Springsteen did not originally intend to release the song. Springsteen gave the song to Southside Johnny and said that he liked what Johnny did with the song “a lot.” Springsteen’s 1973 version was officially released in 1998. The quality of the video below is not the best, but the performance will give you chills and, yes, the fever.
8-9 pm
Needles and Pins Searchers 1964 #13
Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche composed this using an opening chord progression that has been used in countless rock and folk songs. Check out the fierce hair on these guys in the video.
A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You Monkees 1967 #2
Neil Diamond gave this song to the Monkees, but his handprint is clearly on the song.
Twist and Shout Top Notes 1961 DNC
Bert Berns wrote this, and the song did not enter the consciousness of most music fans until the Isley Brothers reworked it in 1962, taking it to #17. The Beatles’ version made it to #2 in 1964. Clearly everybody saw the song’s potential. King Curtis played the blazing sax solo.
The Look of Love Dusty Springfield 1967 #22
And we can’t forget the team of Hal David and Burt Bacharach. The song was originally intended to be an instrumental, but when it was incorporated into the soundtrack of the film “Casino Royale,” Hal David added words.
*It’s My Life Animals 1966 #23
Composed by Brill Building songwriters Roger Atkins and Carl D’Errico. Lyricist Atkins said he wrote: “Sure I’ll do wrong, hurt you some time,” but Eric Burdon sang “Show me I’m wrong, hurt me some time.”
Remember (Walking In The Sand) Shangri-Las 1964 #5
Shadow Morton was challenged by Jeff Barry to prove that he could actually write a song instead of just hanging around the Brill Building paying too much attention to Ellie Greenwich. The legend is that Morton drove out to a Long Island beach and started writing the song in his car and finished it in the shower.
Handy Man Jimmy Jones 1960 #2
Otis Blackwell co-wrote and produced the record and provided the whistling. Check out Jones' dance moves at 0:56 and 1:08.
Run To Him Bobby Vee 1961 #2
Jack Keller and Gerry Goffin wrote the song, Keller being the more established songwriter at that point. Music publisher Don Kirshner, who co-founded Aldon Music which was a major component of the Brill Building sound, originally wanted the song for the Everly Brothers. Is the song about selfless love, or a passive aggressive guilt trip?
16 Candles Crests 1958 #2
Luther Dixon started his songwriting career composing doo-wop, but he branched out to compose for Elvis, the Beatles, Jerry Lee, BB King, Dusty Springfield, the Shirelles, Perry Como, and Bobby Darin.
Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen Neil Sedaka 1961 #6
Howard Greenfield wrote the lyrics to Sedaka’s melody, which sounds to some ears to resemble “Take Good Care of My Baby.” Sedaka and Carole King were high school friends, and King’s writing style influenced Sedaka.
Won’t Be Long Aretha Franklin 1961 #76 H100 #7 R&B
John Leslie McFarland composed this piece for the 18 year-old Aretha Franklin on her first Columbia LP.
You’re The Devil In Disguise Elvis Presley 1963 #3
Bill Giant, Bernie Baum & Florence Kaye were the songwriters. Ray Walker sang the bass vocal line, intended to sound like the undisguised devil.
Hello Mary Lou Ricky Nelson 1961 #9
Gene Pitney’s composition bore a resemblance to an earlier song “Merry, Merry Lou” and a settlement was reached to give credit and royalties to the composer of the earlier song.
It’s Gonna Work Out Fine Ike And Tina Turner 1961 #14 H100 #2 R&B
Rose Marie McCoy co-wrote the song. If the track sounds like Mickey and Sylvia, that’s because Sylvia played guitar and Mickey spoke the dialogue.
See You in September Happenings 1966 #3
Sherman Edwards and Sid Wayne sat down to lunch at a midtown restaurant and in short order came up with the concept of the song. By 4:30 the same day they started making the rounds of the Brill Building, pitching the song to publishers and by 8:00 p.m. they had a deal with Jack Gold for $500 to split between them for the Tempos to record the song. The Happenings liked the song and knew they could make a better version of it with Herb Bernstein’s arrangement.
California Nights Lesley Gore 1967 #16
Marvin Hamlisch did most of his composing for films, but early on he did write this catchy pop tune. Check out this scene from TV's "Batman" (with Julie Newmar as Cat Woman) in which Gore sings "California Nights."
Out Here on My Own Irene Cara 1980 #19
Lesley Gore was a lyricist as well as a singer, and this was a very successful composition, co-written with her brother Michael. Below is the clip from "Fame" in which Cara sings the song.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
Carole King/Jerry Goffin, Cynthia Weill/Barry Mann, Ellie Greenwich/Jeff Barry
Congratulations to Jack from Etna for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of movie passes to Cinemapolis in downtown Ithaca.
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 December 11, 2021: Jan Hunsinger
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!
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