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: February 25, 2023
Host: Gregory James
Feature: End of February 1959, ’69 and '79
Birthday Calendar
February 19
Bobby Hart (Boyce & Hart) 84 years old
Smokey Robinson 83 years old
Lou Christie 80 years old
Mark Andes (Spirit bassist) 75 years old
February 20
Randy California (Spirit) b. 1951 d. 1997
Walter Becker b. 1950 d. 2017
J. Geils b. 1946 d. 2017
February 21
Nina Simone b. 1933 d. 2003
February 22
Bobby Hendricks (Drifters, Swallows) b. 1938 d. 2022
Ernie K-Doe b. 1933 d. 2001
February 23
Rusty Young (Poco steel guitar) b. 1946 d. 2021
Johnny Winter b. 1944 d. 2014
February 24
George Thorogood 73 years old
Nicky Hopkins b. 1944 d. 1994
Paul Jones 81 years old (lead singer Manfred Mann)
February 25
George Harrison b. 1943 d. 2001
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
Question: I played a record in the first hour that charted in the US but never in the UK. The leader of the group once said that in the U.K. “the record was a classic, but never a hit.” What was the record and who was the group?
(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
* chart numbers are for the last week in February
6:00-7:00 pm
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)
Lonely Teardrops Jackie Wilson 1959 #9 (on its way to #7)
This Brunswick label record launched Jackie Wilson into the top 10 of the Hot 100 and the very top of the RB chart.
Time of the Season Zombies 1969 #25 (on its way to #3)
Al Kooper suggested the song be released as a single a year after the Zombies had broken up. It never charted in the UK. Rod Argent said that in the UK the record was a classic, but never a hit.
Sultans of Swing Dire Straits 1979 #13 (peaked at #4)
The Sultans of Swing were actually a jazz combo that Mark Knopfler heard in a deserted south London pub.
Venus Frankie Avalon 1959 #28 (up from #99 two weeks earlier)
This topped the Hot 100 for five weeks on the Chancellor label.
This Girl’s in Love with You Dionne Warwick 1969 #11
According to some sources, this Burt Bacharach/Hal David song was originally intended to be sung by a woman, but its first two recordings were by guys. Dionne Warwick’s version was the first recorded by a woman.
Big Shot Billy Joel 1979 #23
Legend has it that the inspirations for the song were Mick and Bianca Jagger.
*Build Me Up Buttercup Foundations 1969 #3 (peak)
Mike d’Abo wrote the song. The Foundations were one of the only British groups who managed to re-create the Motown sound in the UK. Requested by Scottie and dedicated with love to Brooktondale Peggy.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans Fats Domino 1958 DNC
What You Won’t Do for Love Bobby Caldwell 1979 #20
A limited edition of the vinyl single was pressed in the shape of a heart and sold at the steep (for the time) price of $7.98.
Y.M.C.A. Village People 1979 #8
The YMCA dance may have been invented by dancers on American Bandstand. The only letter the Village People make in the video is "Y."
Manhattan Spiritual Reg Owens 1959 #14
Games People Play Joe South 1969 #13
This won the 1970 Grammy for Song of the Year.
*I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor 1979 #3
Requested by Barbara in Danby.
7:00-8:00 (Chart numbers are peak positions)
I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart 1968 #8
Two Faces Have I Lou Christie 1963 #6 H100 #11 RB
Recorded in Pittsburgh, the backing band was the Debonaires. Bruce Springsteen took inspiration from this song for his 1987 song “Two Faces.”
Ooo Baby Baby Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 1965 #4 RB #16 H100
The vocal arrangement, featuring Claudette Robinson, Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers, was by co- composer Pete Moore.
Mr. Skin Spirit 1973 #92
This was originally the B-side to “Nature’s Way,” but was released as an A side in 1973.
Nature’s Way Spirit 1971 #111
This topical (and prophetic) song was written by Randy California (pictured below). In the end, nature will have its way...
Pretzel Logic Steely Dan 1974 #57
One of Walter Becker’s early lead guitar performances after moving over from bass guitar. My favorite lyric: "I stepped up on the platform/ The man gave me the news/ He said you must be joking son/ Where did you get those shoes?" Nightmare at open mic night.
Homework J. Geils 1970 NR
J. Geils played some nice guitar on this smoker.
My Baby Just Cares for Me Nina Simone 1959
This song did not do much when it was first released, but when it was used in a 1987 perfume commercial (directed by Ridley Scott), Nina Simone experienced a career resurgence.
Go On Home Girl Bobby Hendricks 1968 DNC
On the Williams Record Label, this track has it all: wall to wall soul, a spoken interlude followed by Hendricks' spectacular wailing.
A Certain Girl Ernie K-Doe 1961 #71
Written by Allen Toussaint, this was originally a B-side which became a double A-side. There is something to be said for discretion...
Crazy Love Poco 1979 #1 AC #17 H100
Poco’s first top 40 hit, written by Rusty Young. The song came to him while he was paneling a wall in his house.
Madison Blues George Thorogood and the Destroyers 1978 DNC
Thorogood picks up the slide guitar where composer Elmore James left off. He is joined in this concert video by Albert Collins, who breaks a string and just keeps going.
Girl From Mill Valley Nicky Hopkins with the Jeff Beck Group 1969 NR
My Little Red Book Manfred Mann 1965 #124
This was the first recording of the Burt Bacharach song, written for the film “What’s New Pussycat” and sung by Paul Jones.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Beatles 1968
Mick Jagger said of the song, “Only a guitarist could write that.” George and Paul were the only singers on the song, and their vocalizations on the fadeout are fascinating. Paul sustains a falsetto note while George sings “oh” repeatedly. But who sings the “yeahs” at the end?
Petite Fleur Chris Barber 1959 #8
Monty Sunshine played clarinet on this track.
8:00-9:00 (Chart numbers are for late February)
Proud Mary Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969 #5
John Fogerty has said that he wanted his guitar on “Proud Mary” to sound like Steve Cropper’s.
Just One Look Linda Ronstadt 1979 #50
This was the third single from Ronstadt’s LP "Living in the USA," reaching #44 on the Hot 100.
What a Fool Believes Doobie Brothers 1979 #10 (on the way to #1)
The track won Grammys for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1980.
Heaven Knows Donna Summer and Brooklyn Dreams 1979 #6
Joe Esposito sings the second lead vocal on the verses.
Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 1969 #32
As fine a soloist as Marvin Gaye was, his duets had an emotional connection with his singing partners that gave those songs extra impact.
Stagger Lee Lloyd Price 1959 #1
Based on actual 19th century people and events.
Everyday People Sly and the Family Stone 1969 #1 H100 and RB
The expression “Different strokes for different folks” had been in use since the early ‘60’s, but its first attributed use was by Muhammed Ali in 1966 to describe the unpredictability of his boxing style. The video is by Playing for Change.
Dog and Butterfly Heart 1979 #46
If you have ever seen a dog chase a butterfly (or a flying leaf), you know what this song is about.
Sixteen Candles Crests 1959 #4
On the Coed label.
Donna Ritchie Valens 1959 #2 (peak)
Recorded at Gold Star Recorders on December 16, 1958 for the Del-Fi label. Donna (in the white dress, center) and Ritchie met at a garage party (like the one below) in 1957 where he was playing.
Hooked on a Feeling B.J. Thomas 1969 #36
Recorded at American Sound Studio in Memphis for the Scepter label. In the video, Thomas is singing live to the song's recorded music bed.
I Cried a Tear LaVern Baker 1959 #6 (peak)
This was LaVern Baker’s most successful ballad. King Curtis played sax.
My Whole World Ended David Ruffin 1969 #23
This was David Ruffin’s first solo release after he was released from the Temptations.
But You Know I Love You First Edition 1969 #21
Crossroads Cream 1969 #29
This version was recorded in San Diego during Cream’s 1968 farewell tour, not the more familiar version recorded at San Francisco’s Winterland on the same tour.
The Lonely One Duane Eddy 1959 #26
Duane Eddy, Corning’s favorite son, invented the guitar twang, so they say.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
Time of the Season/ Zombies
Congratulations to Dave from Dryden for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of movie passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s home for first run, international, independent and local films.
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
RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records
Host March 4, 2023: Jan Hunsinger
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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