October 15, 2022 - JS - Songs With a Stand-Alone Intro

 

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!)

 

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Date:  10/15/22

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  Songs With a Musical Preface

 

 

 

Last time we featured songs that opened with their chorus. Tonight it's neither the chorus nor the verse, but it's a special introductory section that won't repeat again. We'll also bring you a loaded Birthday Calendar in the second hour, we'll have a trivia contest, and we'll fold in your requests  -  and we thank you again for voting us Ithaca's Best Local Radio Show in the Ithaca Times Readers' Poll!

 

 

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia

 

Some acts used this device more than others, so we'll we'll hear from several groups more than once tonight. If and when you hear a group for the third time, that's your signal to call the listener line!

 

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

 

 

Playlist

 

·      YouTube links follow certain entries

·      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)

 

Let's Hang On - 4 Seasons (10/65; #3 - Bob Crewe had a hand in almost all of their hits, either as a writer or producer or both. This one starts with a slow intro before the fuzz guitar and jumpin' dance beat kick in. Frankie and the Jersey boys hit this one outa the park!)

 

I Got Rhythm - The Happenings (4/67; #3 for three weeks - this is a different set of Jersey boys, and they turned to George Gershwin for this old chestnut. With production assistance from The Tokens, Bob Miranda and the boys would score their biggest hit.)

 

My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels (8/63; #1 for three weeks - this came during the heyday of the Girl Group era. It was short and it packed a wallop, and the sassy intro draws you right into a perfect anthem of revenge and restored honor.)

 

Since I Fell for You - Lenny Welch (10/63; #4 - this is another re-working of an old Jazz standard, this one dating back to 1945. Smooth crooner Lenny Welch made it his signature song, and the languid intro sets up the tortured narrative.)

 

San Franciscan Nights - Eric Burdon and the Animals (8/67; #9 - Eric Burdon had left the original Animals but kept their name, and was totally captivated by the San Francisan scene when he attended the Monterey Pop Festival in June of 1967. This was the "love letter" that he penned for his new city.)

 

If I Fell - The Beatles (8/64; #53 - the band had six charting hits from their debut film A Hard Day's Night. This was tucked on the B-side of And I Love Her, and the sophisticated intro baffled many a young guitar player who'd only learned the three or four requisite chords needed for a typical Pop song. Tonight we hear the US-only Capitol Records stereo version.)

 

My Baby Must Be a Magician - Marvelettes (12/67; #17 - writer/producer Smokey Robinson tapped his guitar player Marv Tarplin and the Temptations' Melvin Franklin to spice up this quasi novelty record, and it worked to great effect.)

 

Only the Strong Survive - Jerry Butler (3/69; #4 Pop, #1 R&B - after parting ways with lifelong friend and collaborator Curtis Mayfield, Jerry headed to Philadelphia and into the hands of production team of Gamble and Huff. They modernized his sound and revitalized his career. As a side note: Bruce Springsteen has just recorded his own version of this classic for his newest album of Soul covers entitled...well, you know. Can't wait!)

 

Mr. Blue - The Fleetwoods (11/59; #1 - this was the second chart-topper for the young trio from Washington State, proving them to be more than just three flashes in the pan.)

 

Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home) - Impalas (3/59; #2 - they were a group of youngsters from Brooklyn and their lead singer was the only non-white member. His "uh-oh" at the beginning was a mistake, but they left it in and it made all the difference!)

 

* Leader of the Pack - Shangri-Las (11/64; #1 - producer Shadow Morton knew how to set up a dramatic tear-jerker. This one comes with sound effects and a slow narrative intro to set up the storyline. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end well for our protagonists....)

 

Dawn (Go Away) - 4 Seasons (2/64; #3 for three weeks - Bob Crewe didn't have a hand in writing this one, and the star of the show might have been studio drummer Buddy Saltzman. This one managed to stand up to the onslaught known as "the British Invasion": in early April, The Beatles famously held down the top 5 positions in the Hot 100! Check out #11 on the chart below.)

 

* Do You Love Me - The Contours (8/62; #3 for three weeks, #1 R&B - going out to Brooktondale Peggy from Scottie, this one has it all: a slow and corny intro, a terrific false ending, and a killer dance beat. A sure-fire Frat party fave right here from the Motown Records family!)

 

See You in September - The Happenings (7/66; #3 for two weeks - this had been a moderate hit for a group called The Tempos, but the Paterson, NJ group made it their own, and created a summertime anthem in the process.)

 

Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around The World) - Little Milton (2/69; #73 Pop, #13 R&B - sounding like a throwback to an earlier time, this gritty Soul stomper has a driving beat, some terrific horns, and is built on a very funny premise.)

 

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

October 9 – Jackson Browne – age 74

            – John Lennon – born in 1940

            – John Entwhistle (The Who)– born in 1944

 

October 10 – Ivory Joe Hunter – born in 1914

          

October 11 – Darryl Hall (Hall & Oates) – age 73

 

October 12 – Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) – age 87

            – Melvin Franklin (Temptations) – born 1942

 

October 13 – Paul Simon – age 81

            – Robert Lamm (Chicago) – age 78

            – Marie Osmond – age 63

 

October 14 – Sir Cliff Richard – age 82

            – Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) – age 77

 

October 15 – Tommy Edwards – born in 1922

            – Marv Johnson – born in 1938

            – Richard Carpenter – age 76

 

 

* Incense & Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock (11/67; #1 - we kick off the Birthday Calendar with a dedication going out to listener Jane from her daughter. This group appeared out of nowhere and went straight to the top of the charts on the fledgling Uni Records label. Happy Birthday, Jane D!)

 

Rock Me On The Water - Jackson Browne (8/72; #48 - Jackson Browne exploded onto the scene in Laurel Canyon as a brilliant young songwriter, and was quickly signed to David Geffen's new record label. This was his second charting single, and this version is only available on the original 45.)

 

I'm a Loser - The Beatles (2/65; #68 - much of John's writing revealed a lot about his inner workings, and his plaintive vocal here speaks volumes. How did it chart so weakly? It was part of the awkward format called an EP, and record buyers didn't really buy it.)

 

The Real Me - The Who (2/74; #92 - this track was taken from the band's album Quadrophenia, and featured one of the most amazing bass lines of the era. John Entwhistle was a stoic anchor on the stage, and his playing was a steadying force for the frenetic drummer and guitar player.)

 

Empty Arms - Ivory Joe Hunter (4/57; #43 Pop, #2 R&B - Ivory Joe was his real name, and he'd been playing professionally for over twenty years when this record came out. He was a key member of the Atlantic Records family, and he'd later reinvent himself as a Country singer.)

 

* Paradise - John Prine (1971; dnc - a caller from Newfield pointed out that the late John Prine had had a birthday on October 10th, as well. This was a last-minute add-on, and was taken from his eponymous debut album. Luckily, the Nonesuch library had a slew of John Prine recordings to draw from. I didn't have to travel far to find this one.)

 

I Can't Go for That - Hall & Oates (11/81; #1 Pop and R&B - they were the hottest vocal duo of the Eighties, and this one topped both the Pop and R&B charts. Featuring an infectious hook and Darryl Hall's stirring lead vocal, I chose this one.)

 

Psychedelic Shack - Temptations (1/70; #7 Pop, #2 for three weeks - Motown's production team had decided to modernize the group's sound with wah-wah fuzz guitar and contemporary themes and words - but it took five strong voices to pull it off. Bass man Melvin Franklin gets to shine with several vocal lines in this one.)

 

 

Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave (1/68; dnc - this was tucked on the B-side of I Thank You, which reached #9 on the Pop chart. This is a case where record buyers got twice their money's worth: both sides of this single were excellent! Sam Moore is still performing, and is apparently a guest on Bruce Springsteen's upcoming album of Soul covers.)

 

Kathy's Song - Simon & Garfunkel (2/66; dnc - this gem from the Sounds of Silence LP technically could be attributed to "Simon, No Garfunkel," because it's just Paul and his guitar, singing alone on a song that he wrote.)

 

45 Corner :  Beginnings - Chicago (6/71; #7 - Robert Lamm was a founding member of the group who played keyboards and wrote many of their early big hits. Tonight we hear the rare radio station promo 45; while all CD versions run either 7:54 or 6:26, this radio version was a stripped-down 2:45 long.)

 

Paper Roses - Marie Osmond (9/73; #5 Pop, #1 C&W for two weeks - she was the only sister among nine siblings, and almost didn't take the show business path, but her mother persuaded her and her first record - a cover of Anita Bryant's hit - made her the youngest singer to ever top the Country charts. It's fourteen-year old Marie!)

 

The Story In Your Eyes - Moody Blues (8/71; #23 - Justin Hayward is still playing with the band. He wrote and sang this one and plays a blistering guitar solo in the YouTube video below. It's worth a few minutes of your time...)

 

Dreamin' - Cliff Richard (9/80; #10 - he was as big in the UK as his American contemporary Elvis was over here, and he kept recording well into the Eighties. On this track he updated his sound and scored a Top Ten hit on both sides of "the Pond." Leo Sayer was a co-writer.)

 

8-9pm

 

 

Please Mr. Sun - Tommy Edwards (2/59; #11 - he had a honey-smooth vocal delivery and a lush big-band sound, and  he scored a string of Pop hits for the M-G-M label in the Fifties and early Sixties. This one often appears in poor stereo with background vocals in one channel and him lost in the mix. Tonight we hear a remastered version that does this song justice.)

 

(You've Got To) Move Two Mountains - Marv Johnson (9/60; #20 Pop, #12 R&B - Marv Johnson grew up in Detroit and was friends with Berry Gordy, who made him one of Motown's first signees. Before then, he had a couple of pretty big hits for United Artists. This is one of them.)

 

Top of the World - Carpenters (12/73; #1 for two weeks - Richard composed, arranged, played the electric piano and sang all of the male background vocal parts on this one. His sister Karen was indeed the star of the show, but he was their creative force. That's Buddy Emmons on pedal steel, along with  Joe Osborn and Hal Blaine on bass and drums, respectively.)

 

Joey Baby - Anita & Th' So-and-So's (10/62; #91 - word has just come in that Anita Kerr passed on October 10th at age 95. Many people dismissed her as an irrelevant relic, but The Anita Kerr Singers - along with The Jordanaires - were the hardest working groups of session singers in Nashville, appearing on records by Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Skeeter Davis, Elvis and more. She was also the choral director for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. This was a one-off single featuring her multiply-layered voice tracks. She was a giant!)

 

Too Many Fish In The Sea - Marvelettes (11/64; #25 - back to our original theme: records that start with a unique one-time passage to set the stage for the song that follows. Gladys Horton opens with some advice for the young ladies out there!)

 

Hair - The Cowsills (3/69; #2 for two weeks - this is a case where the meandering introductory passage runs for nearly a full minute. What follows is their biggest record of all - taken from the Off-Broadway Tribal Rock Musical of the same name, of course.)

 

Bye Bye Baby (Baby, Goodbye) - 4 Seasons (1/65; #12 - yet another occasion where Bob Crewe and company opt for a stand-alone intro. The difference here is that it's a spoken intro. The Bay City Rollers would take their own version of this song to #1 in the UK ten years later.)

   

 

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor (3/79; #1 for three weeks, four weeks in the UK - this anthem of liberation and independence starts with a passage describing dejection and despair - and then kicks into a bold and triumphant direction. It clearly resonated with women all over the world. Many men, too.)

 

Bad Time - Grand Funk (4/75; #4 - similar to the record above, the singer starts out sounding discouraged and defeated by his circumstances, but he quickly changes his tune. This was their final big hit.)

 

* Patches - Clarence Carter (7/70; #4 - going out to listener George, this one also starts with a spoken intro - and Clarence's earnest delivery drivers the story home!)

 

(Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (12/80; #1 for five weeks - John had been gunned down in front of his NYC apartment building on December 8th, suddenly propelling this single to the #1 spot for five weeks. The album would subsequently win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1981, but John would never know.)

 

American Pie - Don McLean (1/72; #1 for four weeks - this stunning work clocked in at 8:34, and the first full minute is devoted to a bit of backstory. What follows is one of the most ubiquitous records of the year back in 1972, and it gets a lot of airplay every year in early February.)

 

 

 

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

 

Trivia Answer

We played multiple songs by The Happenings, The Marvelettes, The Beatles and The 4 Seasons tonight, but only the 4 Seasons got three.

 

Congratulations to Dave from Ithaca AND Robin from East Hill (calling from Cambridge, MA), for correctly answering the question and winning Cinemapolis tickets!

 

 

 

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 (10/22/22):  Gregory James with a spotlight on song titles that begin with "Let" or "Let's."

 

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!