Rockin’ Remnants
Rockin’ Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 FM or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern. (Or download the WVBR+app now available for iOS and Android.)
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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 Rockin’ Good Way Dinah Washington/Brook Benton 6/20/60 #1RB for 4 weeks
This was the second collaboration between Washington and Benton.
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.”
My Life Billy Joel #4 12/23/78
Peter Cetera sang backing vocals.
Fever McCoys #7 12/25/65 (Peak position)
The “Sloopy” chords actually fit the song, surprisingly.
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.
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.
*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.
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.
Great Pretender Platters #11 H100 12/31/55 1/7/1956 #1 RB for 11 weeks
This was the follow up to “Only You.”
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.
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.
Hooked on a Feeling B.J. Thomas #13 12/28/68
Reggie Young played the ear-catching electric sitar.
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.
7:00
Little Miss Lover Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967 NR
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.
Right by Your Side Eurythmics 1984 #29
I Got a Feeling Four Tops 1966
This was the B-side to “Bernadette.”
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 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.
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.
The Rumor The Band 1970 DNC
The small town where the rumors were spreading was Woodstock.
Runaway Del Shannon 1961 #1 for 4 weeks
Both the song and the singer were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
Yesterday Marianne Faithfull 1965 DNC
Midnight Blue Electric Light Orchestra 1979 DNC
The track has a bit of Bee Gees falsetto influence.
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.
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.
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.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Slip Sliding Away Paul Simon #10 12/24/77
The Oak Ridge Boys were the backing vocalists.
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.
*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?
*Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison 1967 #10
The Sweet Inspirations were the backing singers.
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.
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.”
Midnight Mary Joey Powers #11 12/28/63
Joey Powers taught wrestling at Ohio State before his short teen-idol career.
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.
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
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.
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.
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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