Thursday, August 10, 2023

August 5. 2023 - GJ - Sliding into August: Slide guitars and quirky August holidays.

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:  August 5, 2023

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Sliding into August

Birthday Calendar

July 30

Jimmy Cliff  79 years old

Paul Anka  82 years old

Ed Byrnes (Kookie)  b. 1933 d. 2020

July 31

Gary Lewis   78 years old

Lobo  80 years old

Bob Welch   b.1945  d. 2012

August 1

Tim Bachman  (BTO)  b. 1951   d. 2023

Jerry Garcia   b. 1942  d, 1995

August 2

Jim Capaldi  b. 1944  d. 2005

Garth Hudson (The Band)  86 years old

Doris Kenner Jackson  (Shirelles)  b. 1941  d. 2000

August 3

Beverly Lee  (Shirelles)  82 years old 

Syreeta Wright  b. 1946  d. 2004

August 4

Larry Knechtel (Wrecking Crew)  b. 1940  d. 2009

Frankie Ford  b. 1939  d. 2015

August 5

Rick Derringer  76 years old

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

Question: Elias McDonald may have created his stage name by modifying the name of an instrument that has been called the inspiration for the slide guitar. What was that instrument called?

(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)

Running on Empty Jackson Browne  1978  #11

Recorded at a Maryland concert on August 27, 1977 with the incomparable David Lindley on lap steel guitar. The video is from 1979 and the camera spends too little time on Lindley.



The Joker Steve Miller Band   1974  #1

Miller sampled from a 1954 song called “Lovey Dovey” as well as from earlier songs of his own.

*Forever     Pete Drake 1964  #25

Pete Drake combined his pedal steel guitar with a talk box to create the impression that the guitar was actually talking. This technology was later used by Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Jeff Beck and others. I believe Floyd Cramer played piano. Requested by Scottie for Brooktondale Peggy.

Everybody Loves a Clown Gary Lewis and the Playboys  1965  #4

The record’s arranger and session leader was Leon Russell, who also co-wrote the song. We are going to hear from Gary Lewis in the birthday calendar. August 5, by the way, was National Clown Day.

Gary Lewis & The Playboys – Everybody Loves A Clown (1965, Vinyl) - Discogs

Cathy's Clown Everly Brothers  1960  #1

Based on actual events.


Tears of a Clown Smokey Robinson and the Miracles   1967  #1 H100 and RB

The song was on the 1967 Miracles LP “Make It Happen” but it was not released as a single until 1970.


Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers   ZZ Top  1973

August 4 was International Beer Day, and this is how we celebrated it at Rockin’ Remnants…


Watermelon Man Mongo Santamaria   1963  #10

August 4 was National Watermelon Day

MONGO SANTAMARIA WATERMELON MAN - YouTube

Doctor My Eyes Jackson Five   1972   DNC

August is National Eye Exam Month!

The Jackson 5 - Doctor My Eyes | Releases | Discogs

*Rock and Roll Doctor   Little Feat   1974  DNC 

From the “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” LP.  Suggested by JR.


No Expectations Rolling Stones   DNC  1968

Brian Jones played the slide guitar.


My Sweet Lord George Harrison    1979  #1

The first recording of George Harrison using slide guitar.

My Sweet Lord — the song that earned George Harrison a lawsuit — FT.com

Sultans of Swing Dire Straits   1979  #4

Mark Knopfler has said that the song did not really come alive until he switched from a National Steel guitar to an electric Stratocaster. This 10 minute video is worth every second.



7:00

Sitting in Limbo   Jimmy Cliff   1971   DNC

From the soundtrack of the film “The Harder They Come.”

Jimmy Cliff – Sitting In Limbo / The Bigger They Come The Harder They Fall  (1971, Vinyl) - Discogs

Lonely Boy Paul Anka   1959  #1 (four weeks)

Anka sang this song in the film “Girls Town.”

The Number Ones: Paul Anka's “Lonely Boy”Girls Town (1959) - IMDb

Lend Me Your Comb   Ed Byrnes and Connie Stevens   1959  #4

Ed Byrnes played the car valet Kookie Kookson III on the TV show 77 Sunset Strip, and his stock character gesture was combing his hair.

Groovy History - Edd “Kookie” Byrnes and Connie Stevens, 1959. They teamed  up for the song “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)” which reached #4 on  the Billboard Hot 100. 🎵 | Facebook

Count Me In    Gary Lewis and the Playboys    1965  #2 

The track was produced by Snuff Garrett and arranged by Leon Russell (who also played piano).

Gary Lewis And The Playboys – Count Me In (Vinyl) - Discogs

Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend   Lobo  1973  #8

Lobo – Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend (1972, Vinyl) - Discogs

Hypnotized     Fleetwood Mac  1973      DNC

The guitar solo was by Bob Weston. This was one of several Bob Welch songs dealing with the supernatural. And UFOs are back in the headlines...

Stream Fleetwood Mac - Hypnotized (Zambon Edit) by Zambon | Listen online  for free on SoundCloud

Taking Care of Business Bachman Turner Overdrive   1974  #12

The song’s original title was “White Collar Worker.”


Truckin’       Grateful Dead  1971  #64

The record is a Library of Congress “national treasure.”


That’s Love   Jim Capaldi   1983  #28

That's Love (Jim Capaldi song) - Wikipedia

Chest Fever   The Band   1968   DNC

This wall of sound by The Band (especially Garth Hudson) is literally a heart-stopper.


Dedicated to the One I Love Shirelles  1961   #3

The Shirelles – Dedicated to the One I Love Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

With You I’m Born Again   Syreeta Wright and Billy Preston   1980  #4

One of the greatest romantic duets ever. Billy Preston plays some fine piano in this video.


Rockin’ Pneumonia and Boogie Woogie Blues   Johnny Rivers    1973  #6

Larry Knechtel of the Wrecking Crew played blistering piano, and Johnny Rivers never sounded better. The first of two tunes on tonight's playlist that were written by Huey "Piano" Smith who died in February 2023.


Acclaimed Session Musician Larry Knechtel Dies at 69

Sea Cruise    Frankie Ford   1959  #14

A catchy New Orleans shuffle, complete with corny SFX. If you look closely at the record label below, you will see that the composition and orchestration were by Huey "Piano" Smith.

Sea Cruise / Roberta by Frankie Ford (Single, Rock & Roll): Reviews,  Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music

8:00

Showbiz Kids     Steely Dan   1973  #61

Rick Derringer provided the greasy slide guitar on the recording and Jeff Baxter plays on the video below. The lyrics prevented the song from being played on FCC-governed radio. You heard a version with the naughty bit edited out.


Statesboro Blues Allman Brothers  1971   DNC

Legend has it that Duane Allman used the neck of a cold medication bottle as his slide.

Statesboro Blues - song and lyrics by Allman Brothers Band | Spotify

One Good Man Janis Joplin   1969  DNC

From her Kozmic Blues LP after she left Big Brother. Mike Bloomfield played guitar.

In Memory of Blues Guitarist Mike Bloomfield - SpindittyJanis Joplin and the Houseguest by Michael Robinson

Sunny Girlfriend  Monkees  1967    DNC

Mike Nesmith wrote and sang lead on the song with Micky Dolenz on harmony vocals.  August 1 was National Girlfriend Day, in case you missed it…

Sunny Girlfriend | The Monkees Wiki | Fandom

*Blue Moon Marcels   1961    #1 H100 and RB

Requested by John because August has two full (or blue, or super) moons this year.

Blue Moon (Remastered) - Album by The Marcels | Spotify

Lazy Day Spanky and Our Gang   1967  #14

August 10 was literally National Lazy Day.


Stuck In The Middle With You Stealer’s Wheel  1973   #6

The anthem of anyone who can't get the window or aisle seat.

Stuck in the Middle with You - Wikipedia

Thing Called Love Bonnie Raitt   1989  DNC

Any aspiring slide guitar player would do well to go to school on Bonnie Raitt’s inspired slide solo on this track.


9 to 5    Dolly Parton  1981  #1

August 4 was Single Working Woman’s Day

Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 / Sing For The Common Man - RCA Victor - PB 2133: CDs  & Vinyl - Amazon.com

Palisades Park Freddy Cannon  1962  #3

August 16 is National Roller Coaster Day.

Vintage Summer Picture. Pallisade's Park, NJ. Google Image Result for  http://shadowsandhighlight… | Palisades amusement park, Palisades park,  Amusement park rides

I Want To Hold Your Hand Beatles   1964  #1

August 9 is National Hand Holding Day. The Beatles' performance on Ed Sullivan had slightly slower pace, but the harmonies on the bridge are much clearer.


Stack-A-Records    Tom Tall & The Tom Kats  1958  DNC

August 12 is Vinyl Record Day.

Stack-a-Records (Remastered) - Single by Tom Tall on Apple Music

You Turn Me On I'm A Radio      Joni Mitchell   1973  #25

August 20 is National Radio Day.

Joni Mitchell - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio (Live 1972) - YouTube

Like A Rock Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band  1986  #12

Rick Vito played slide guitar.

Bob Seger's 'Like a Rock' Commercial and American Sports – Rolling StoneRick Vito - Deacci Custom Pickups - Rock, Pop, Blues

These Days Jackson Browne/David Lindley   1973  NR

The best ever duet of slide guitar and the human voice as an instrument.

David Lindley: Jackson Browne's Right Hand Man | Murphy's Law

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

Trivia Answer

The Diddley Bow.

Congratulations to George from East Genoa for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of 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

H100 = Billboard Hot 100

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host August 12, 2023: Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on “Just” songs (continued).

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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