June 11, 2022 - JS - Show Biz Kidz

 

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!)

 

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

 

Date:  6/11/22

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  Show Biz Kidz

 

 

 Rockin' Remnants tonight: Show Biz Kidz (when your dad is famous and you have an "in" with the record label). It's a twist on Father's Day, plus we've got Kitchen Theater tickets, Trivia prizes and your requests, from 6-9pm Eastern Time on WVBR!

 

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia

 

Tonight we pay tribute to two departed artists in the 7:00 hour. One of them will include an audio Trivia Question: Can you name three members of the backing group on this recording of "Bo Diddley?"

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

 

Playlist

 

 

·      yellow song titles are YouTube links

·      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 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'm a Fool - Dino, Desi & Billy (6/65; #17 - Dean Martin, Jr. and Desi Arnaz, Jr. both had the looks, some talent and great connections. Billy Hinsche was a schoolmate who had only two out of the three, but his talent made up for the missing one.)

 

* Everybody Loves a Clown - Gary Lewis & Playboys (9/65; #4 - legend has it that the band was discovered playing a set at Disneyland, but there was clearly more to the story than just that. Being Jerry Lewis' kid certainly played a part in their discovery. A couple of people wanted to hear This Diamond Ring, but I overruled them and went with this one.)

 

Sugar Town - Nancy Sinatra (11/66; #5 - again, she had the looks and some talent, and one of the biggest surnames in Show Business. We did have a request for her #1 duet with her dad, but I went with this one instead. Plus, she'll be back during the Birthday Calendar.)

 

When the Party's Over - Tony & The Tigers (7/65; dnc - Tony and Hunt Sales played guitar and drums, respectively. Their dad was Soupy Sales, and he got them signed to Roulette Records. Their classmate on bass and harmony vocals was none other than Jon Pousette-Dart, who made a name for himself as a band leader in his twenties. And the Sales boys actually did some recording with David Bowie!)

 

Autumn - The Thomas Group (5/66; dnc - Tony Thomas had a sister named Marlo, a father named Danny and producers/arrangers and songwriters P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri in his corner. This one should've been a hit!) 

 

Where Do I Go - Carla Thomas (10/68; #86 Pop, #38 R&B - Rufus Thomas was a comedian, a recording artist, a radio DJ and a stage emcee in Memphis. His little girl Carla could sing like an angel, and he helped land her a deal at Stax Records. She went onto become known as "The Soul  Queen of Memphis." This was her take on the song from the musical Hair.)

 

Runaway - Bonnie Raitt (5/77; #57 - John Raitt was a star of the Broadway stage, and his daughter followed his musical footsteps. She's just released her eighteenth studio album to critical acclaim. She also turned this Del Shannon song into one of her signature tunes!)

 

Seven Year Ache - Rosanne Cash (4/81; #22 Pop, #1 C&W - Johnny Cash was a pioneer of Rockabilly music, but his greatest contribution may have been helping produce singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash. This was her first major-label release to cross over to Pop radio - and one of her eleven #1 Country hits.)

 

45 Corner:  Motorcycle Song - Arlo Guthrie (12/67; dnc - Woody Guthrie wrote hundreds of songs, and young Arlo grew up among them. He differentiated from his father early on, adopting a comedic and irreverent persona that landed him a recording contract. This song was selected as a single from his Alice's Restaurant LP. Tonight we hear the rare mono radio station promo.)

 

* City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie (7/72; #18 - the story goes that young Steve Goodman approached Arlo in a hotel bar and asked if he could share a song. Arlo said "Buy me a beer, and I'll listen until my glass is empty." The rest is history!)

 

How Can I Be Sure - David Cassidy (5/72; #25 Pop, #1 UK for two weeks - Jack Cassidy was a star of the stage and screen. His son David followed in his footsteps and landed a job on television's Partridge Family  -  where his real-life stepmother played his TV mother. He recorded this very tasty version of the Rascals' hit, and it was a smash in England.)

 

Hello Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson (5/61; #9 - Ricky virtually grew up before the eyes of America on television's Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet. More than just a pretty face with Hollywood connections, he went on to have a successful and respected career as a musician - and his own twin sons would carry on the tradition with their band "Nelson.")

 

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

 

June 5 – Tom Evans (Badfinger) – born in 1947

            – Ronnie Dyson – born in 1950

            

June 6 – Levi Stubbs (4 Tops) – born in 1936

            – Gary "US" Bonds – age 83

 

June 7 – Tom Jones – age 82

 

June 8 – Nancy Sinatra – age 82

            – Chuck Negron (3 Dog Night) – age 80

            – Boz Scaggs – age 78

            – Bonnie Tyler – age 69

 

June 9 – Les Paul – born in 1915

            – Jackie Wilson – born in 1934

June 10 – Shirley Alston (Shirelles) – age 81

            – Janet Vogel (Skyliners) – born in 1942

 

 

King of Nothing - Seals & Crofts (5/74; #60 - word began to circulate earlier this week that Jim Seals had just passed at age 80. My buddy JR points out that "...he's the guy with the hat," and my buddy Lou asked me if I'd play one that you don't hear that often. Here's one that he wrote and sang, and that should've been a bigger hit. R.I.P.)

 

Apple of My Eye - Badfinger (9/74; #102 - Badfinger was one of the first acts signed to the new record label, but they never quite achieved the success that they deserved. Disillusioned, they left in 1974 and this was their parting shot at Apple Records. It's a good song, but the label didn't do much to promote it.)

 

(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You - Ronnie Dyson (6/70; #8 - Ronnie had gotten his start in the NYC cast of Hair, and was an amazing talent. This was his first big hit. Subsequent efforts - and perhaps his androgyny -  failed to propel him forward, but this is a stunning record.)

 

When She Was My Girl - Four Tops (8/81; #11 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks - Levi Stubbs was born in Detroit, grew up in Detroit, made his name in Detroit and died in Detroit. Once one of Motown's finest acts, the Four Tops left for ABC/Dunhill after Holland-Dozier-Holland had departed and eventually landed at Casablanca Records. That's where they recorded this gem.)

 

It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones (4/65; #10 Pop, #1 UK - Welsh singer Tom Jones was a consummate performer who had the added advantage of hosting a Saturday night television show. According to a friend in Hollywood, TJ was actually much shorter than he appeared on television. Regardless, he packed a wallop on vinyl. Here's a rare re-mix of his signature song as we celebrate his 82nd birthday.)

 

Rendezvous - Gary "US" Bonds (1982; dnc - Gary had had a string of hits for the tiny LeGrand label in the early Sixties, but his career was surprisingly resurrected when Bruce Springsteen tracked him down and offered to produce some new material with him. This is a Springsteen composition and that's the E Street Band backing Gary up on an album track from his On the Line LP.)

 

It's a Heartache - Bonnie Tyler (3/78; #2 - Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was frequently mistaken for Rod Stewart because of her raspy delivery. She'd have a bigger hit a few years later, but this is a favorite.)

 

Lido Shuffle - Boz Scaggs (3/77; #11 - Boz had gotten his start with the Steve Miller band and went on to record several critically-acclaimed albums as a solo artist, but the floodgates opened with his Silk Degrees album, which yielded four charting singles.)

 

* These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra (2/66; #1 Pop, #1 UK for four weeks - this is the record that put Frank's little girl on the map, and two calls came in asking for it tonight. Hard to believe that she's suddenly 82!)

 

Easy To Be Hard - Three Dog Night (8/69; #4 - the musical Hair yielded a string of hit singles by a disparate range of artists. This one may be truest to the feel of the source material, and is delivered by vocalist Chuck Negron. He's still performing on the Oldies circuit, most recently as part of the Happy Together tour.)

 

I Get The Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson (7/68; #34 Pop, #12 R&B - he was dubbed "Mr. Excitement" due to his remarkable vocal range and his acrobatic stage antics. This was a middling hit for him that has grown in popularity with the Northern Soul dance scene in the UK, where it's a big hit. Check out this fan video created back in 1987!)

 

Vaya Con Dios - Les Paul & Mary Ford (6/53; #1 - Les Paul was a groundbreaking figure in popular music. His signature guitar model is one of the most popular on the market, and he virtually invented the technique of multi-tracking vocals with his partner Mary Ford. Here's a newly-created stereo version of one of their many hits, complements of Hit Parade Records.)

Tonight's the Night - Shirelles (9/60; #39 - the Shirelles hailed from Passaic, NJ and were one of the most successful Girl Groups of the era. The Beatles added at least two of their songs to their repertoire, and they've been covered by artists as disparate as Dave Mason, the 4 Seasons and Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe. Shirley Alston was their leader and she's 81 this week.)

Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners (2/59; #12 Pop, #3 R&B - they hailed from Pittsburgh, PA and boasted the plaintive vocals of Jimmy Beaumont, along with the soaring soprano of Janet Vogel. Smokey Robinson has named them as being a key influence on The Miracles' sound, and all five group members shared the writing credit on this classic Doo Wop treasure.)

Bo Diddley - Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks (5/64; #113 - Arkansas bandleader Ronnie Hawkins passed back on May 29th at 87 years old. Known for his raucous live shows, he was best known as the man who assembled a group of musicians that would later be tapped by Bob Dylan as his back-up band. They'd eventually branch out on their own and simply call themselves "The Band." Here they are on a Roulette Records single.)

 

 

8-9pm

 

 

I'm Easy - Keith Carradine (5/76; #17 - John Carradine's two sons David and Keith followed him into show business. Keith won an Oscar for Best Original Song after penning and performing this one in the film Nashville. These days he has a recurring role as Pres. Conrad Dalton on television's Madam Secretary.)

 

Do You Believe In Magic - Shaun Cassidy (3/78; #31 - not to be outdone by his half-brother David, Shaun signed with Warner Brothers Records and cut some nice records in the Seventies. In this case, both of his parents were show biz luminaries: his real-life mother was Shirley Jones of the Partridge Family.)

 

* Too Late for Goodbyes - Julian Lennon (1/85; #5 - the world was crushed by the shooting death of John Lennon in late 1980, which may partly explain why Julian's records were so warmly embraced: he looked and sounded uncannily like his dad. In his case, this may have been the cause of yet more pain for the poor kid, who'd basically been abandoned and then later pushed aside in his father's affections by younger brother Sean.) 

 

I Couldn't Say No - Carlene Carter and Robert Ellis Orrall (3/83; #32 - when Johnny Cash married June Carter he gained a stepdaughter with a serious independent streak and a boatload of talent. At the time of this recording she was married to bass player Nick Lowe. This was a one-off duet with Robert Ellis Orrall, who went on to become a noted Nashville songwriter.)

 

One By One - Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band (1977; dnc - long after The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet had ended, Rick Nelson continued making music on his own terms. This track from his 1977 LP Intakes was never released as a single, but it could well have been a hit. Sadly, he'd die eight years later in a plane crash on  his way to a New Year's Eve show.)

 

Note: I'd mistakenly mentioned that this was Father's Day Weekend at the top of the show, and got several related requests. Here's a departure from our theme, and now you know why.... 😉

 

* My Dad - Paul Petersen (6/62; #6 - Former Mouseketeer Paul played young Jeff Stone on TV's Donna Reed Show, and got to sing this one to his television dad in a memorable episode. Colpix Records wisely capitalized on the tear-jerking opportunity, and they sold a LOT of records!)

 

* Daddy's Home - Shep & The Limelites (3/61; #2 - in this case "Daddy" may have been a euphemism for "your lover," but many people consider it a tender lullaby from a father to a pining child. This song would later successfully be covered by artists including Cliff Richard and Jermaine Jackson, but it's truly Shep's "baby.")

 

Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast - Wayne Newton (4/72; #4 - one of Wayne Newton's most memorable performances was of "Scarlet Ribbons" on TV's Bonanza. Eight years later he recorded another look at a father/daughter relationship and it became his biggest hit of them all.)

 

Color Him Father - The Winstons (5/69; #7 Pop, #2 R&B for five weeks - an unlikely hit: a corny ode to stepfathers that resonated across genres and won this record a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Record. Even wilder: the flipside is an instrumental featuring a drum lick that's been sampled in hundreds of Hip-Hop records! Hear all about that below!)

 

* Give Peace a Chance - Plastic Ono Band (7/69; #14 - at the top of the show I mentioned a bunch of events happening locally: Cornell Reunion Weekend, a boycott/protest gathering at our local Starbucks, and nationwide gatherings in support of saner gun control laws. A caller subsequently called in to request this record. Peace: an idea whose time has come.)

 

 

 

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

 

Trivia Answer

 

 

Ronnie Hawkins' band included Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and Rick Danko, who would eventually become "The Band."

 

Congratulations to Greg from Ithaca, for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of 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, 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 (6/18/22):  JH with a spotlight on The Monterey Pop Festival

 

 

 

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!