September 17, 2022 - GJ - It's What It Is

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Date: September 17, 2022

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: It’s What It Is

Birthday Calendar

September 11

Gerry Conway (drummer for Cat Stevens et. al.)  75 years old

September 12

Judy Clay (b. 1938  d. 2001)

Maria Muldaur 79 years old

Barry White  (b. 1944  d. 2003)

Gerry Beckley (America) 70 years old

Ramsey Lewis died on Monday September 12, 2022

September 13

Peter Cetera  (Chicago)   78 years old

David Clayton-Thomas  81 years old

September 14

Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd) (b. 1949  d. 1977)

Ed King  (Lynyrd Skynyrd)   (b. 1949  d. 2018)

Paul Kossoff  (Free guitarist)   (b. 1950  d. 1976)

September 15

Jimmy Gilmer (and the Fireballs)  82 years old

September 16

BB King (b. 1925  d. 2015)

Kenney Jones  (drummer Faces, Small Faces)  74 years old

Betty Kelly (Martha and the Vandellas)  78 years old

September 17

Bill Black  (Bill Black combo, Elvis bassist)    (b. 1926  d. 1965)

Brook Benton    (b. 1932   d. 1988)

Les Emmerson  (Five Man Electrical Band)  (b. 1944  d. 2021)

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

Question:  Several different “It’s” songs have the same titles. Who were the artists who recorded: a) It’s Alright, b) It’s Gonna Be Alright, c) It’s Too Late?

(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

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

It's Not Unusual Tom Jones  1965  #10

Tom Jones was an unknown at the time the song was passed on to him by Sandie Shaw. It’s hard to imagine anyone else singing it now. The BBC refused to play the song at first, but pirate radio did. 

It's My Life The Animals    1966  #23

This angry anthem of identity came out of the citadel of commercial songwriting, the Brill Building.

It's My Party   Lesley Gore 1963  #1 H100 and R&B

This was the first hit single produced by Quincy Jones who rushed the release of the record to radio music directors when he discovered that Phil Spector intended to release a version of the song with the Crystals.

It's All Right Impressions    1963   #4 H100  #1 R&B

Curtis Mayfield grew up with gospel music and he taught himself how to play guitar.

It's Alright Adam Faith 1965  #31

Real name: Terence Nelhams Wright. He started his musical career with a skiffle group called The Worried Men.

It's Gonna Be Alright Gerry & The Pacemakers   1965  #23

It's Gonna Be Alright Maxine Brown   1965   #56 H100  #26 R&B

Written by Goffin/King with backing vocals by the Sweet Inspirations.

It's Too Late Bobby Goldsboro 1966  #23

Ray Stevens provided harmony vocals.

It's Too Late Chuck Willis 1956  DNC

Covered in 1970 by Derek and the Dominos.

It's Never Too Late Brenda Lee  1961  #101

This was the B-side to “You Can Depend on Me.”

It's Late   Ricky Nelson 1959  #9

The Jordanaires back up Nelson on this track that, at least thematically, resembles the Everly Brothers’ “Wake Up Little Susie.”

It's Going to Take Some Time Carole King  DNC

King was a fan of the Carpenter’s cover version of the song.

*It's My Time Mynah Birds  1966 NR

John Simon suggested this track. It featured Rick James on vocals and Neil Young on guitar and was not released until Motown issued the Singles Box Set in 2006.

*It's Raining Again Supertramp  1982  #11

This was one of the few songs in 1982 that debuted in the top 40 of the Hot 100, but it only peaked at #11. Requested by Scottie for Brooktondale Peggy.

It's Now or Never     Elvis Presley  1960  #1 H100   #7 R&B

Not bad for a melody composed in 1898. Presley first heard the tune while stationed in Germany with the Army.

It's Over   Roy Orbison 1964  #9

Orbison was originally praised for his guitar playing rather than his voice. The first time he wore dark glasses on stage was when he had lost is regular glasses. He found that he preferred dark glasses to help him cope with his shyness.

It's Gonna Take A Miracle Royalettes  1965  #41 H100  #28 R&B

Sweet soul from the Baltimore girl group The Royalettes. 

7:00

Angelsea    Cat Stevens 1972

From Cat Stevens’ platinum LP “Catch Bull at Four” which topped the Billboard 200 album chart in 1972.

Haven’t Got What It Takes Judy Clay 1966

She recorded duets and solos on Stax, Atlantic and this one, written by Van McCoy, for Scepter Records.

I Can’t Stand It Maria Muldaur 1976

A truly smoking track with a false ending.

It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing  Barry White 1978

This is the original recorded version of the song that was a 1989 hit for Simply Red.

You Can Do Magic America 1982  #8

This was America’s comeback hit after 3 years out of the top 40.

Wade in the Water  Ramsey Lewis   1966   #19

Although Lewis continued to record for many years, this was his last top-40 record.  Lewis died on Monday September 12, 2022.

Lowdown Chicago 1971  #35

This was Peter Cetera’s second composition for Chicago, with Danny Seraphine as co-writer on this one.

Alimony   David Clayton-Thomas 1973

I Know a Little Lynyrd Skynyrd  1977   DNC

Steve Gaines (who replaced Ed King as one of the band’s guitarists) wrote the song before he joined Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Little Bit of Love Free   1972   #119

Come to Me   Jimmy Gilmer (and the Fireballs)     1965

Fabulous jangly lead guitar by George Tomsco.

Rollin’ Over Small Faces 1968  

The opening is reminiscent of “Foxy Lady.”

He Doesn’t Love Her  Martha and the Vandellas 1966 

Betty Kelly replaced Annette Beard as a Vandella and was subsequently fired from the group in 1967.

Baby Let’s Play House Elvis, Scottie and Bill  1955

Hotel Happiness Brook Benton 1963  #3 H100  #2 R&B

The uncredited musicians were phenomenal on this track.

Absolutely Right  Five Man Electrical Band 1971  #26

8:00

It's All Over Now Valentinos   1964  #94

The Valentinos were basically the Womack Brothers, and the song was written by Bobby and Shirley Womack.

It's Better To Have It Barbara Lynn 1965  #95 H100  #26 R&B

Barbara Lynn did it all: she wrote and sang her own songs and she played left-handed guitar.

It's All In The Game  Tommy Edwards 1958  #1

Tommy Edwards was the first African American artist to reach the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

It's a Happening World    The Tokens   1967  #69

This was a Cynthia Weill/Barry Mann composition.

It's Only Love  B. J. Thomas 1969  #45

It's True I'm Gonna Miss You  Carolyn Franklin 1969  #119

Carolyn Franklin had the “Franklin sound,” but she was her own person. She wrote and sang back up on some of sister Aretha’s songs. 

It's Hard to Get Along Joe Simon    1969   #87 H100  #26 R&B

Simon charted 51 times between 1964 and 1981.

*Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini   Brian Hyland  1960  #1

Requested by Mike and played without the apostrophe. Trudy Packer was the voice for “Tell the people what she wore,” and “Stick around, we’ll tell you more.” The song was credited by some for an uptick in bikini sales.

It's All Up To You     The Blossoms    1972  DNC

This comes from the only album the Blossoms ever recorded as featured artists under their own name. The group consisted of Darlene Love, Fanita James and Jean King. They sometimes were labeled The Crystals as well as Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. They never had a hit of their own as the Blossoms, but their contributions to countless other records made them successful.

It's Not For Me To Say Johnny Mathis  1957  #5

The song was originally written for a 1957 film called “Lizzie,” and Mathis’ version has subsequently been heard in at least five other films since then.

It's for You Cilla Black   1964  #79

This was a Lennon-McCartney song that they composed for Cilla Black. McCartney had heard Black record “Anyone Who Had a Heart” at Abbey Road and was inspired to write his own song for her.

It's Not The Same Little Anthony & The Imperials  1966  #92

On the Veep label, the group is called Anthony and the Imperials.

It's Unbelievable The Larks 1961  #69

The Larks were early an example of the Philadelphia soul sound.

It’s Too Late Carole King 1971  #1

Lyricist Toni Stern has said that she wrote the song after her break up with James Taylor.  Also, Carole King had divorced Gerry Goffin fairly recently.

Chains of Love B.B. King 1962

A nice cover of Big Joe Turner’s 1951 original.  King was a licensed private pilot.

It's Wonderful to Be in Love    The Ovations   1965  #61

Sam Cooke was an influence on the vocal style of the group.

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

Trivia Answer

Answer: a)Adam Faith, Impressions

b) Maxine Brown, Gerry and the Pacemakers

c) Bobby Goldsboro, Chuck Willis, Carole King

Unfortunately, nobody answered the question correctly, so the Cinemapolis movie passes go back into the vault. Better luck next time!

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 24: Jan Hunsinger whose focus will be "Going Home."

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