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December 31, 2022 - GJ - Year-End Top 20

Rockin’ Remnants

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Date:    December 31, 2022

Host:      Gregory James

Feature: Year-End Top 20

Birthday Calendar

December 25

Noel Redding  (Jimi Hendrix bassist) b. 1945   d. 2003

Jimmy Buffett 76 years old

Merry Clayton 74 years old

Annie Lennox 68 years old

December 26

Abdul Duke Fakir (Four Tops)   87 years old

December 28

Mary Weiss Shangri-las 74 years old

Alex Chilton Box Tops    b. 1950  d. 2010

December 29

Bobby Comstock b. 1941  d. 2020

Rick Danko b. 1943  d. 1999

Barbara Alston  (Crystals)   b. 1943   d. 2018

Marianne Faithfull 76 years old

December 30

Bo Diddley b. 1928  d. 2008

Del Shannon    b. 1934   d. 1990

Mike Nesmith b. 1942   d. 2021

Davy Jones b. 1945   d. 2012

Jeff Lynne 75 years old

December 31

John Denver b. 1943  d. 1997

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

Question: I played a record that was recorded in both English and German and reached #1 on the Hot 100 twice in non-consecutive weeks whose title in German was "Jonny und Joe." What was the English title of the song and who recorded it?

(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)

A Lover’s Question   Clyde McPhatter #10 12/28/58 (on its way to #6) #1 RB

The song was written by Brook Benton and was McPhatter’s biggest hit.

A Lover's Question - Album by Clyde McPhatter | Spotify

A Rockin’ Good Way Dinah Washington/Brook Benton  6/20/60 #1RB for 4 weeks

This was the second collaboration between Washington and Benton.

Dinah Washington & Brook Benton – A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And  Fall In Love) (1960, Vinyl) - Discogs

Come See About Me Supremes  #2  12/26/64

The record topped the Hot 100 twice and reached #3 on the soul chart. The German version is called “Johnny und Joe.”

Come See About Me - WikipediaThe supremes 1965 hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy

My Life Billy Joel    #4  12/23/78

Peter Cetera sang backing vocals.

My Life: BILLY JOEL: Amazon.com: Books

Fever    McCoys #7  12/25/65  (Peak position)

The “Sloopy” chords actually fit the song, surprisingly.

The McCoys-Fever (featuring Hang On Sloopy): Mccoys, Derringer, Rick:  0079895504320: Amazon.com: Books

Every Beat of my Heart  Gladys Knight and the Pips 6/26/61  #1 RB  for one week

There were two recordings of the song: one on Fury Records as Gladys Knight and the Pips and one on the Vee Jay label as simply The Pips.

Every Beat of My Heart / Room in Your Heart by The Pips (Single; Fury;  1050): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your MusicThe Pips - Every Beat Of My Heart | Releases | Discogs

Tonight’s the Night Rod Stewart #1 12/25/76  (eight weeks at #1)

Stewart’s girlfriend at the time was Britt Ekland, and she can be heard whispering sweet nothings in French toward the end of the record.

Stewart, Rod / With Britt Ekland | Magazine Photo | 1976

*Celebrate Three Dog Night 1970  #15

The group did not record many of their own songs, but they were quite a successful cover band. They were the #1 Hot 100 Artist of 1971.  Requested by Scottie for Brooktondale Peggy.

Three Dog Night – Celebrate (1970, Vinyl) - Discogs

Nights on Broadway Bee Gees #13  12/27/75

The first Bee Gees track to feature falsetto voicing on the lead vocal by Barry Gibb.



A Thousand Stars in the Sky Kathy Young and the Innocents  #4  12/31/60

Young was 15 years old when she recorded the track, and Sandy Nelson played drums.

A Thousand Stars - Single by Kathy Young | Spotify

Great Pretender Platters #11 H100 12/31/55     1/7/1956   #1 RB for 11 weeks  

This was the follow up to “Only You.”

The Great Pretender — the hit that went from kitsch to heartbreak — FT.com

You’re All I Need to Get By Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye  8/31/68 #1 RB for 5 weeks.

This was one of the few Motown records of the 1960’s that did not feature the familiar “Motown Sound.”  This may have been because composers Ashford and Simpson sang backing vocals on the track. 

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell | Tammi terrell, Marvin gaye, Motown

You’re So Vain Carly Simon #4  12/30/72  (went to #1 the next week for 3 weeks)

Klaus Voormann played the opening bass notes.

You're So Vain' is the gift that keeps on giving | Financial Times

Hooked on a Feeling B.J. Thomas   #13 12/28/68

Reggie Young played the ear-catching electric sitar.

Hooked on a Feeling - Wikipedia

Baby I Love You Aretha Franklin    8/26/67  #1 RB for 2 weeks

The track was recorded in New York City, but it sounds like it could have been made in Memphis or Muscle Shoals.

Aretha Franklin – Baby I Love You – PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop  Culture

7:00

Little Miss Lover Jimi Hendrix Experience   1967   NR

Was Noel Redding fired from the Jimi Hendrix Experience? - Quora

Fins     Jimmy Buffett 1979  #35

While you are singing along with the chorus, don’t forget to make the shark fin gestures over your head.



A Song for You Merry Clayton 1971  NR

An outstanding cover of Leon Russell’s masterpiece.

Merry Clayton – Merry Clayton (Vinyl) - Discogs

Right by Your Side      Eurythmics    1984   #29



I Got a Feeling Four Tops 1966  

This was the B-side to “Bernadette.”

45cat - Four Tops - Bernadette / I Got A Feeling - Motown - USA - M 1104Four Tops "I Got A Feeling" - YouTube

Out in the Streets Shangri-Las   1965  #53

Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich penned this song about a boy who tried to become what he thought his girlfriend would want, but could not manage it and returned to the streets.

The Shangri-Las mp3 download » Duck.fm | Female rock stars, Shangri la, 60s  girlThe Shangri-Las – Out In The Streets (1965, Vinyl) - Discogs

The Letter Box Tops 1967  #1 for 4 weeks

The song is in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Before they were known as the Box Tops, the group was called the DeVilles.

The Box Tops – The Letter / Happy Times (1967, Green Letters, Vinyl) -  Discogs

Your Boyfriend’s Back    Bobby Comstock and the Counts     1963  #98

This was an “answer record” to “My Boyfriend’s Back” by the Angels. It’s a classic case of she said, he said.

Your Boyfriend's Back - Bobby Comstock (1963) - YouTube

The Rumor The Band 1970  DNC

The small town where the rumors were spreading was Woodstock.

Henry Diltz - The Band, Woodstock, NY, 1969 For Sale at 1stDibsBig Pink — Camp Cripple Creek

Runaway Del Shannon 1961  #1 for 4 weeks

Both the song and the singer were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.

Del Shannon, performer of “Runaway” in the 1960s, was born 86 years ago  today - Frank Beacham's Journal

Yesterday Marianne Faithfull 1965  DNC

Marianne Faithfull – Yesterday (1965, Vinyl) - Discogs

Midnight Blue  Electric Light Orchestra 1979  DNC

The track has a bit of Bee Gees falsetto influence.

Bread and Butter: Music hath the charm to soothe the frenzied cook -  Portland Press Herald

Road Runner    Bo Diddley 1960  #75 H100   #20 RB

The song appears in “The Wolf of Wall Street” as well as in a Mazda commercial.



Valleri The Monkees 1968  #3

The song was recorded a couple of times using session musicians. The first time it was heard on the radio was when disc jockeys recorded the song from the Monkees TV show and played it over the air.

Valleri | The Monkees Wiki | Fandom

There’s No Other Like My Baby   The Crystals 1961  #20

This was their first hit, recorded at their high school after the prom. They were still wearing their prom dresses.

The Crystals Singer Barbara Ann Alston Dead at 74 – Rolling Stone45cat - The Crystals - There's No Other (Like My Baby) / Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby  - Philles - USA - 100

How Can I Leave You Again     John Denver  1977  #44

Always introspective, John Denver pondered the course his life had taken that had separated him from his loved one.

On This Day: John Denver Records 'Annie's Song' in 1974

*Mr. Bojangles Jerry Jeff Walker    1968  #77

Based on an encounter Walker had with a homeless street entertainer in New Orleans in 1965. A caller asked that the song be dedicated to Robin, Joe and their dog Bo.

Jerry Jeff Walker, 'Mr. Bojangles' Songwriter, Dead at 78 – Rolling Stone

8:00

Come Together Beatles #7   12/27/69

Inspired by Chuck Berry and Timothy Leary. At John Lennon’s request, Paul McCartney played an electric piano interlude that was, in McCartney’s words, “swampy and smokey.” Lennon was the only Beatle in this video, but it is well worth the watch.



*Walk Away Renee  The Left Banke   1966  #5

A baroque rock classic of unrequited love. Requested by Norm.

Record of the Week Revisit: Walk Away Renée by The Left Banke

The Big Hurt     Toni Fisher  #4  12/27/59

This was one of the first popular records to feature the audio effect known as phasing.

Miss Toni Fisher – The Big Hurt (1960, Vinyl) - Discogs

Unchain My Heart   Trini Lopez   1963 NR

A live recording, as several of Lopez’ records were, recorded this time at P.J.’s one of the first discotheques in Los Angeles.

Unchain My Heart - Live at PJ's - 1963 - song and lyrics by Trini Lopez |  Spotify

Drip Drop Dion DiMucci #6   12/28/63  

This was a Lieber/Stoller composition with the Del-Satins backing Dion. Notice that Dion's last name is misspelled on the record sleeve below.

Dion Di Muci – Drip Drop (1963, Vinyl) - Discogs

Slip Sliding Away Paul Simon     #10  12/24/77

The Oak Ridge Boys were the backing vocalists.

Slip Slidin' Away - Wikipedia

Next Plane to London Rose Garden #17 12/30/67  (Peak position)

This was the group’s only top 20 record. Lead vocal was by Diana Di Rose and the airport announcer was early FM radio DJ Don Elliot.

popsike.com - ROSE GARDEN Next Plane To London US psych RARE Sweden 45  garage FADING YELLOW - auction details

*Evil Ways Santana 1970  #9

Requested by Kandace. Carlos was famously tripping during his Woodstock set. He's a professional--do not attempt this at home!



Two Lovers Mary Wells #19  12/29/62

Two constrasting lovers in the same person? Would that be mood swings or bi-polar disorder?

Two Lovers and Other Great Hits - Wikipedia

*Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison   1967   #10

The Sweet Inspirations were the backing singers.

Was Van's famous Brown Eyed Girl from Fermanagh? - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Love Me Tender Elvis Presley #2  12/29/56

Although Presley could not read music, his music publishing deal stipulated that he be given 50% of the songwriting credit for any song he recorded. Presley could, however, hear a song once and create a version that fit his style. 

Love Me Tender … A Review of Elvis Presley's First Movie

Time in a Bottle Jim Croce #1  12/29/73

This was the third posthumous #1 Billboard hit after “Dock of the Bay” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Time in a Bottle: Jim Croce's Greatest Love Songs - Wikipedia

Midnight Mary Joey Powers  #11  12/28/63

Joey Powers taught wrestling at Ohio State before his short teen-idol career.

Joey Powers – Midnight Mary (1963, Vinyl) - DiscogsMidnight Mary by Joey Powers 1963 - YouTube

Brand New Key Melanie #1    12/25/71

The song really is about roller skating. Melanie has said that the song came to her as she ate fast food after breaking a 27 day fast.

Brand New Key (1971) - Lyrics, video, mp3, download, cover, chords, online  download - MediaMass

Tears of a Clown Smokey and the Miracles   #3  12/26/70

When Smokey Robinson heard the instrumental track, he thought it sounded like a calliope. He developed that idea into a clown who hides pain behind a smile. The bassoon (an instrument rarely heard in pop music) was played by Charles Sirard.



Too Much, Too Little, Too Late    Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams  1978   #1 RB and H100 

The Number Ones: Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams' “Too Much, Too Little, Too  Late”

You Send Me   Sam Cooke    # 7 H100 12/30/57    11/25/57  #1 RB for 6 weeks

This song was originally the B-side of Cooke’s debut single, and the first time he put an “e” at the end of his last name.

Cooke, Sam - You Send Me - Amazon.com Music

I Know Barbara George 1/20/62  #1 RB for 4 weeks

Her self-penned smash hit had some great New Orleans players on this track.

Barbara George - Toppermost

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


Trivia Answer

"Come See About Me" the Supremes.

Congratulations to Bob from Interlaken for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s movie house for first-run, international, independent and local films.

Glossary of Terms:

DNC = did not chart

NR = not released as a single at the time

H100 = Billboard Hot 100

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host January 7, 2023: Jan Hunsinger with a focus on songs from albums released in 1973.

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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