July 23, 2022 - JH: Cameo-Parkway Records

July 23, 2022

Host: Jan Hunsinger (JH)

Spotlight: Cameo-Parkway Records

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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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 chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted

·     a glossary of terms is below the playlist

6:00 - 7:00

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

Background Music: Rocka-Conga - The Applejacks (1959 - #38: Philadelphia group that recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records)

Cameo Records was started in 1956 by Bernie Lowe, who used his royalties from co-writing Elvis Presley's big hit "Teddy Bear" to fund the company. The label was located in Philadelphia and capitalized on "American Bandstand" being broadcast from that city in the late '50s and early '60s. Parkway Records was formed as a subsidiary in 1958, and the two merged in 1962. The company slogan was "All the Big Ones Are on C-P", as Lowe produced 45s aimed at the teen market to make the C-P label one of the most successful independent records companies of the early '60s. However, three factors led to the label's demise: American Bandstand moved to L.A.; the British Invasion; and founder and producer Lowe tired of the grind of running an independent record company. In 1967 Lowe sold his company to Allan Klein, who renamed it ABKCO Industries.

Butterfly - Charlie Gracie (1957 - #1: C-P's first big hit, the song spent two weeks at #1; Bernie Lowe produced and co-wrote the song, which was also a hit for Andy Williams)

This Can't Be True - Eddie Holman (1966 - #57: Holman would later have a big hit with the song "Hey There, Lonely Girl" on ABC Records)

You're the Greatest - Billy Scott (1958 - #73: one of many Philadelphia-area artists to record with Cameo-Parkway)

Heavy Music, Part I - Bob Seger and the Last Heard (1967 - #103: another artist who began their recording career on C-P)

Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp (1962 - #2: one of many songs that mirrored an early '60s dance craze)

Tossing and Turning - The Ivy League (1965 - #83: C-P's one foray into The British Invasion; song went to #3 in the U.K.)

Silhouettes - The Rays (1957 - #3: great doo-wop song that would later be a hit for Herman's Hermits)

When We Get Married - The Dreamlovers (1961 - #10: group was named after the title of a Bobby Darin hit)

The Twist - Chubby Checker (1960 & '62 - #1: another inspired by a dance craze, the song is the only rock-n-roll number to hit #1 on the BB Hot 100, disappear from the charts, and become #1 again)

45 Corner

Angel of the Morning - Evie Sands (1967 - DNC: Sands' release was lost amid the sale of C-P Records and never properly promoted, the following year a near identical version by Merrilee Rush and the Turnabouts charted at #7)

The Boy With the Beatle Hair - The Swans (1964 - #85: one of a number of novelty records made on the C-P label)

You Can't Sit Down - The Dovells (1963 - #3: the group got their start at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia in 1957; member Len Barry would later undertake a solo career)

*World of Fantasy - The Five Stairsteps (1966 - #49: another act that would go on to bigger things after leaving C-P)

Beg, Borrow, and Steal - The Ohio Express (1967 - #29: the band really existed only in the studio)

Kissin' Time - Bobby Rydell (1959 - #11: born Robert Ridarelli, Rydell was one of Philadelphia's teen idols)

7:00 - 8:00

The Birthday Calendar

Backgound Music: Cast Your Fate to the Wind - Sounds Orchestral (1965 - #10: composed by Vince Guaraldi, we heard the version released on Cameo-Parkway Records)

July 17:

Vince Guaraldi - born 1928

Spencer Davis - born 1939

Gale Garnett - 80

Phoebe Snow - born 1950

Nicolette Larson - born 1952

July 18:

(Jalacy) "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins - born 1929

Dion Dimucci - 83

Martha Reeves - 81

July 19:

Sue Thompson - born 1925

Vikki Carr - 81

Commander Cody (George Frayne) - born 1944

Bernie Leadon (The Eagles) - 75

Brian May - 75

July 20:

Buddy Knox - born 1933

Jo Ann Campbell - 84

Dennis Yost (Classics IV) - born 1943

John Lodge (The Moody Blues) - 77

Carlos Santana - 75

July 21:

Rosalie ("Rosie") Hamlin - born 1945

Cat Stevens (born Steven Demetre Georgiou, now Yusuf Islam - 74

July 22:

Chuck Jackson - 85

Thomas Wayne - born 1940

Bobby Sherman - 79

Estelle Bennett (The Ronettes) - born 1944

Rick Davies (Supertramp) - 78

Don Henley (The Eagles) - 75

July 23:

Madeline Bell - 80

Tony Joe White - born 1943

David Essex - 75

I'm a Man - Spencer Davis Group (1967 - #10: co-written by band member Steve Winwood, the song was also a minor hit for Chicago)

We'll Sing in the Sunshine - Gale Garnett (1964 - #4: Garnett wrote this one-hit wonder, and went on to be an author and an actress)

Gone at Last - Phoebe Snow and Paul Simon (1975 - #23: from the Simon LP Still Crazy After All These Years, on which Snow also provides backing vocals on the song "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover")

Rhumba Girl - Nicolette Larson (1979 - #47: Rolling Stone magazine named Larson Female Vocalist of 1978)

I Put a Spell on You - "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins (1956 - DNC: Hawkins was known for his bizarre antics and props on stage; song ranks #313/RS500)

Where or When - Dion and the Belmonts (1960 - #3: Dimucci had hits both with the Belmonts and as a solo artist)

Heat Wave - Martha and the Vandellas (1963 - #4: song was written by Motown's famous Holland-Dozier-Holland production team)

Norman - Sue Thompson (1962 - #3: although better known as a country artist, Thompson had several hits on the Pop charts)

It Must Be Him - Vikki Carr (1967 - #3: Carr, born Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martinez Cardona, has enjoyed great success in the Latin music world)

Hot Rod Lincoln - Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1972 - #9: song is originally from 1951)

Witchy Woman - The Eagles (1972 - #9: song was co-written by Bernie Leadon and Don Henley - a Birthday Calendar two-fer)

'39 - Queen (DNC - 1976: written and sung by lead guitarist Brian May, the song was the B-side to "You're My Best Friend")

Party Doll - Buddy Knox (1957 - #1: Knox wrote the early verses for the song as a teenager in 1948)

(I'm the Girl From) Wolverton Mountain - Jo Ann Campbell (1962 - #38: answer song to Claude King's hit; song was released on Cameo-Parkway Records)

8:00 - 9:00

Traces - The Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost (1969 - #2: song is notable for its use of an oboe and was the group's biggest hit)

Ride My See Saw - The Moody Blues (1968 - #61: John Lodge wrote the song from the LP In Search of the Lost Chord)

Evil Ways - Santana (1970 - #9: from their first LP, the song was a big hit in the group's set at Woodstock)

Angel Baby - Rosie and the Originals (1961 - #5: song was a one-hit wonder for Rosie, who hailed from Klamath Falls, Oregon)

Sitting - Cat Stevens (1972 - #16: from his LP Catch Bull at Four)

I Wake Up Crying - Chuck Jackson (1961 - #59: song was early effort from that great songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David)

Tragedy - Thomas Wayne (1959 - #5: song would be a Top 10 hit for The Fleetwoods in 1961)

Easy Come, Easy Go - Bobby Sherman (1970 - #9: Sherman was an early '70s teen idol and a co-star of the TV show "Here Come the Brides")

Walking in the Rain - The Ronettes (1964 - #23: song was written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil, and ranks #266/RS500)

The Logical Song - Supertramp (1979 - #6: the group's biggest hit, it was the first single released from their Breakfast in America LP)

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Madeline Bell (1968 - #26: Bell was best known for her backing vocals, but she did have this one-hit wonder)

Polk Salad Annie - Tony Joe White (1969 - #8: also a one-hit wonder)

Rock On - David Essex (1974 - #5: Essex's only hit in the U.S., he had 19 Top 40 singles in the U.K.)

Back to our Spotlight on Cameo-Parkway Records:

Rowdy - Clint Eastwood (DNC - 1963: an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Eastwood's character Rowdy Yates on TV's "Rawhide"; Clint also sang in the movie "Paint Your Wagon")

So Much in Love - The Tymes (1963 - #1: the group began in Philadelphia as The Latineers; they changed their name in 1960)

96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians (1966 - #1: Question Mark was Rudy Martinez, who wrote the song, which ranks #210/RS500; the song is also considered one of the first garage band hits)

Wild Thing - Senator Bobby (1967 - #20: 'Senator Bobby' was really comedian Bill Menkin; song was produced by Chip Taylor, who wrote the original "Wild Thing"; the real Senator Bobby Kennedy was said to have liked the parody)

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959 - #1 for two weeks; brothers Santo [steel guitar] and Johnny [rhythm guitar] Farina from Brooklyn)

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 July 30, 2022: John Simon (JS) with a show of Golden Oldies.

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