March 18, 2023 - GJ - Off the Charts: Familiar records that did not chart.

Rockin’ Remnants

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Date:  March 18, 2023

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Off the Charts

Birthday Calendar

March 12

James Taylor 75 years old

Bill Payne   74 years old

March 13

Mike Stoller   90 years old

Neil Sedaka   84 years old

March 14

Walter Parazaider  (Chicago sax)  78 years old

March 15

DJ Fontana  (Elvis drummer)  b. 1931  d. 2018

Mike Love  82 years old

Sly Stone  80 years old

2023:  Drummer Jim Gordon died this day 

March 16

Jerry Jeff Walker   b. 1942   d. 2020

Nancy Wilson (Heart)  69 years old

Fred Neil   b. 1936  d. 2001

March 17

Paul Kantner   b. 1941  d. 2016

John Sebastian 79 years old

March 18

Wilson Pickett  b. 1941  d. 2006

Bobby Whitlock   (Derek and Dominos keyboards)  75 years old

John Hartman  (Doobie Brothers drummer)  b. 1950  d. 2021

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

Question: In Bruce Springsteen’s “Spirit in the Night,” he names six characters who head out to Greasy Lake. What are their names?

(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)

Maybe I’m Amazed   Paul McCartney 1970  RRHOF  DNC

Although Paul McCartney decided not to release the studio version as a single from his debut solo album in 1970, it was played on radio stations around the world.

*Blue Sky Allman Brothers   1972 DNC

Dicky Betts wrote the song about his girlfriend (and later wife) whose nickname was Bluesky. Gregg Allman encouraged Betts to sing the lead vocal himself. Dedicated to Brooktondale Peggy by Scotty.

Dear Mr. Fantasy Traffic  1967 DNC

The track was reportedly recorded at 1:00 a.m. in November of 1967.

Train Kept a Rollin' Yardbirds  1965  DNC

This track was recorded by Sam Phillips in Memphis during the Yardbirds first U.S. tour. Jeff Beck’s guitar solo was one of the first recorded uses of fuzz tone.

Dr. Feelgood    Aretha Franklin  1967   DNC

The song’s subtitle is “Love Is a Serious Business.”

Little Wing Jimi Hendrix  1968  RRHOF  DNC

The glockenspiel heard on the track was lying around the recording studio, so Hendrix put it to use.

Spirit in the Night Bruce Springsteen   1975  DNC

What a cast of characters at Greasy Lake: Wild Billy, Hazy Davy, Crazy Janey, Killer Joe, G-man and Mission Man. The only players on the track were Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, Vini Lopez and Harold Wheeler.

Keep Yourself Alive   Queen   1973  DNC

This was the debut single from Queen’s debut album, but it did not chart in the U.S. or the U.K.  All of the vocals are by a multi-tracked Freddie Mercury

Sweets for My Sweet Searchers   1963  DNC

#1 in the UK but did not show up on U.S. charts.

Up on the Roof Carole King 1970  DNC

Silence is Golden  4 Seasons  1964 DNC

This was the B-side to Rag Doll. The Tremeloes had a bigger hit with this, but their version did not have the crazy good harp.

Sookie Sookie   Steppenwolf   1968   DNC

Sookie is a rare variant of the name Susan. You may be able to dance the Boomerang, but can you do the Baltimore Jig?

In My Life    Beatles   1966  DNC

John Lennon called this song his first real major piece of work. 

Everyday Buddy Holly   1957   DNC

Even though Holly sings “every” and “day” as separate words, the song’s printed title is one word. The percussion is drummer Jerry Allison slapping his knees.

7:00

Something in the Way She Moves   James Taylor 1968 DNC

This was his audition song to get a recording contract with Apple Records in 1968.

All That You Dream    Little Feat  1975  DNC

Bill Payne wrote the song and played keyboard.

Lonely Night (Angel Face)  Neil Sedaka 1975  DNC 

This track appeared on Sedaka’s LP “The Hungry Years.”

Just You ‘n Me Chicago   1973  #4   

Walter Parazaider played the nice sax solo. Composer James Pankow said he wrote the song after he and his wife had a major argument.

Jailhouse Rock  Elvis Presley   1957      #1 seven weeks H100  #5 RB  #1 CW

Drummer DJ Fontana recorded 460 tracks with Elvis. His drum hit is the first thing you hear on this record.

You Can Make It If You Try  Sly and the Family Stone  1969  DNC

This side was intended to be released as a single, but it was replaced by “Hot Fun in the Summertime.”

Mr. Bojangles Jerry Jeff Walker   1968  #77

Walker graduated from Oneonta High School in 1960 where he excelled at basketball.

The Dolphins Fred Neil   1967    DNC

In 1961, Fred Neil was called The King of the MacDougal and Bleecker Street folksingers. In 1970, Neil was a co-founder of the Dolphin Research Project.

How Can I Refuse? Heart   1983  #44

The entire group collaborated to write this song, off their album “Passionworks.”

DCBA-25 Jefferson Airplane  1967   DNC

Paul Kantner wrote and sang lead on this track. “DCBA” is the chord progression and “25” refers to LSD.

Didn’t Want to Have to Do It    Lovin’ Spoonful  1966  DNC

This was the B-side to “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind.”

I’m a Midnight Mover       Wilson Pickett   1968    #24

Wheels of Fortune   Doobie Brothers 1976   #87

Some have noted that this funk drenched track sounds like Steely Dan—could be because Jeff “Skunk” Baxter smoked the lead guitar and the Memphis Horns chimed in as well.

Tell the Truth     Derek and the Dominos  1970  DNC  

Bobby Whitlock was the primary writer of the song.

8:00

New York State of Mind Billy Joel   1976  DNC

This record was never released as a single, but it became a fan favorite and a staple of his concerts.

Isn’t She Lovely?  Stevie Wonder  1976  DNC

The track was not originally released as a commercial single because Stevie Wonder did not want to shorten it to fit on a 7” 45 rpm record. However, radio airplay turned the song into a jazz and pop standard.

Baba O’Riley   The Who  1971  RRHOF DNC

The song seems to be about a desperate but hopeful exodus from the "teenage wasteland" Pete Townshend says he witnessed at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight concerts.

My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)  Neil Young   1979  RRHOF  DNC

Recorded live at the Boarding House in San Francisco, Young wrote the song as a reaction to the emergence of punk rock and its potential to render him irrelevant. The song evoked controversy over whether, as an artist, it’s better to burn out or to fade away.

A Case of You Joni Mitchell  1971    DNC

Mitchell quotes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar with “I am as constant as the Northern star.”

Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones 1969  DNC

One of the most thrilling opening 25 measures of music in rock, building off Keith Richards’ iconic guitar riff, adding percussion, vocals and, on the 17th bar, Nicky Hopkins’ piano chord.

Born on the Bayou Creedence Clearwater Revival   1969  DNC

Shortly after this track was recorded, the Gibson guitar that John Fogerty used to record the track was stolen from his car.

Feelin’ Groovy Simon and Garfunkel  1966  DNC

This song (Paul Simon calls it an “impression”) about the Queensboro Bridge featured two members of the Dave Brubeck Quartet: Eugene Wright on double bass and Joe Morello on drums.

Crazy Love Van Morrison   1970  DNC

This track was originally the B-side to “Come Running.” Backing singers include Judy Clay, Emily Houston and Jackie Verdell.

Mercedes Benz Janis Joplin  1970    DNC

This song, recorded in one take, was the last song Janis Joplin ever recorded. She died three days later.

Mandolin Wind Rod Stewart   1971  DNC

There is some uncertainty about the identity of the mandolin player, because Rod Stewart claimed he could not remember the player’s name. The consensus of opinion seems to be that Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne played mandolin.

Can’t Find My Way Home Blind Faith    1969   DNC

Desperado Eagles  1973   DNC

This track was never released as a single.  This was, according to Don Henley, the beginning of his songwriting collaboration with Glenn Frey. The track was recorded with musicians from the London Philharmonic. Glenn Frey played the beautiful piano intro.

500 Miles     Peter Paul and Mary  1962   DNC

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

Trivia Answer

Wild Billy, Hazy Davy, Crazy Janey, Killer Joe, G-man and Mission Man.

Congratulations to Dustin and Gina from King Ferry 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

AC = Billboard’s chart for Adult Contemporary records

H100 = Billboard Hot 100

CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Host March 25, 2023: Kim Vaughan 

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!