3/23/24 - JS - 1965, 1972, 1975

 

Rockin' Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9pm! (Or download the WVBR+ app now available for iOS and Android!)

 

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Date:  3/23/24

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  March ’65, ’72 and ‘76

 

 

 

 I'm back on Rockin' Remnants after a 7-week hiatus. So much for my long-imagined Springtime celebration show! Instead, great tunes from this time of year in '65, '72 and '76 - plus a fun birthday calendar, Cinemapolis trivia and your requests. Good company, fun tunes and the price is right! 6-9pm on the East coast, streaming worldwide!

  

 

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia

 

 

Question 1 - I played the #1 record on this date from 1965: a trio from Detroit. Can you name the three members?

 

Question 2 - I also played a song called "The Last Time" by a British Invasion act. Can you name those five guys?

 

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist – and to find a glossary of terms)

 

Playlist

 

 

·      YouTube links follow certain entries

·      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 chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted

·      a glossary of terms is below the playlist

 

 

6-7pm 

 

OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)

 

Ask the Lonely – Four Tops (3/65; #24 Pop, #9 R&B – Levi Stubbs could emote like nobody’s business, and he does most of the heavy lifting on this haunting ballad. The female voices in the background are attributed to The Andantes, who appeared – uncredited – on many Motown classics.)

 

Ooo Baby Baby – The Miracles (debuting on this date in 1965 at #83, headed to #16 Pop and #4 R&B – it would be another couple of years before Smokey was given top billing in the band, but he was the co-writer and arranger and producer here and his soaring vocals are the icing on the cake.)

 

 

Stop! In the Name of Love – The Supremes (the #1 record on this date in 1965 – this was their fourth #1 record within a six month span, and their next single would also top the charts! They may have been the biggest superstars in America during this run – and the choreography for this record may be among the most imitated in the history of modern music.)

 

 

 

I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party – The Beatles (3/65; down to #44 from a peak of #39 – this was the B-side of Eight Days a Week, and this hits just kept on coming for these guys. Tonight we hear the Capitol Records 45 mix, just the way it sounded on your radio back in the day.)

 

The Last Time – Rolling Stones (debuting this week at #79, headed to #9 Pop and #1 UK for four weeks – these guys were being promoted as “the bad boys” of the British Invasion, in contrast to the clean-cut Fab Four. It was all a matter of PR, of course, but there’s an ominous quality to this record that helped to feed the myth.)

 

 

* The Boy from New York City – The Ad-Libs (2/65; #8 – they were a quintet that hailed from Newark and were basically a one-hit wonder, because their only other charting single only made it to #100. Going out to David in Vancouver.)

 

* A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke (12/64; #31 Pop, #9 R&B – this posthumous B-side has become a universal anthem of change and social justice movements. Released less than a month after Sam Cooke’s shocking murder, it gave a hint of where he was headed musically. As an aside, Rolling Stone ranks it as #12 in their list of the Top 500 greatest singles of all time.)

 

 

People Get Ready – The Impressions (peaking at #14 on this date in 1965 – but it would also reach #3 R&B and become an oft-recorded classic. This one is ranked at #24 in the RS500.)

 

* Heart of Gold – Neil Young (#/72; #1 – this was Neil Young’s only #1 record, but kids with guitars played it constantly and it goes out tonight to Jan-from-New Jersey. Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor provide the guest vocals.)

 

 

Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin (3/72; #5 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks – this is the edited 45 mix, which cuts out the long LP intro and an extra minute at the end. She was continuing to stretch and grow as a musician, but she could still write a great love song.)

 

Precious and Few – Climax (3/72; down to #12 after two weeks at #3 – this record could’ve fit right into last week’s “One Hit Wonders” show: they’d have one more low-charting single, but this was their crowning glory. Cool factoid: lead singer Sonny Geraci had also been lead singer for The Outsiders several years earlier.)

 

 

Rock Me On the Water – Linda Ronstadt (3/72; peaking at #85 this week – Linda Ronstadt was about to become a superstar. The backing musicians on this record were, too: Glen Frey, Don Henley and Randy Meisner were getting ready to form the Eagles. And songwriter Jackson Browne was also on the verge of stardom. At this stage, though, they were fairly obscure.)

 

 

Let Your Love Flow – Bellamy Brothers (3/76; at #6 this week, headed to #3 – they were a Country act, but this proved to be a huge crossover hit for them.)

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

 

March 17 – John Sebastian – age 80

 

March 18  – Wilson Pickett – born 1941

            – Bobby Whitlock (Derek & Dominoes) – age 75

 

 

March 19 – Clarence “Frogman” Henry – age 87

            – Ruth Pointer (Pointer Sisters) – age 78

            – Paul Atkinson (Zombies) – born in 1946

 

 

March 20 – Jerry Reed – born in 1937

            – Carl Palmer (ELP) – age 74

 

 

March 21 – Solomon Burke – born in 1936

            – David Lindley – born in 1944

            – Chip  Taylor – age 83

            – Russell Thompkins (Stylistics) – age 73

           

 

March 22 – Jeremy Clyde (Chad & Jeremy) – age 83

            – Keith Relf (Yardbirds) – born 1943

 

 

March 23 – Ric Ocasek (Cars) – born 1944

            – Chaka Khan (Rufus) – age 71

 

 

You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice – Lovin’ Spoonful (11/65; #10 – John Sebastian had been a session harmonica player since his teens, but he had this idea of pulling together a “good-time music” group. This was their second charting single for Kama Sutra Records, and tonight we hear the superior mono mix.)

 

 

How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side) – Pointer Sisters (7/75; #20 Pop, #1 R&B for two weeks – before they became perennial hitmakers on the Planet label, this sister act from Oakland recorded for Blue Thumb Records. This is classic example of their raucous side.)

 

 

Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You – Wilson Pickett (1/71; #17 Pop, #2 R&B – he was one of Atlantic Records’ most popular artists, and much of his material was recorded in Muscle Shoals. As he moved into the Seventies he was drawn to Philadelphia, where he worked under the guidance of Gamble and Huff. Here’s the promo 45 version of one the hits that came from that partnership.)

 

 

(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do – Clarence “Frogman” Henry (3/61; #4 – he was best known for his novelty records featuring his “frogman” voice, but this swinging ballad reveals a soulful and heartfelt vocalist.)

 

 

Nothing’s Changed – The Zombies (5/65; NR – this album track was recorded in March of 1965 and used in the film Bunny Lake Is Missing. Most of the band’s songs were organ-driven, but tonight we feature guitarist Paul Atkinson with a birthday on March 19^th.)

 

 

Guitar Man – Jerry Reed (5/67; #53 C&W – Jerry Reed was a proficient guitar picker with a string of minor Country hits when Elvis Presley discovered this record. He was so taken with it that he hired Jerry to play on his own version of this song. Unfortunately, the two didn’t mix well and the two of them parted ways. BTW - watch THESE two play the song in question!)

 

 

 

Lucky Man – Emerson Lake & Palmer (3/71; #48 – the label had so much faith in this song that they released it as a single twice, but it got more play as an FM Radio track than it did as an AM hit. That said, Keith Emerson’s soaring synthesizer work influenced a bunch of other keyboardists. That’s Carl Palmer on drums.)

 

 

A Thorn Tree in the Garden – Derek & The Dominoes (2/71; NR – this was the closing track of the Layla album, written and performed by Bobby Whitlock. It’s a hidden gem that was tucked away, but tonight it shines.)

 

 

Running on Empty – Jackson Browne (2/78; #11 – multi-instrumentalist David Lindley was in high demand as a session player, but is best known as Jackson Browne’s sideman. His wailing licks help to propel this live track to greater heights. We sadly lost him two years ago.)

 

 

Shape of Things – The Yardbirds (3/66; #11 Pop, #3 UK – best known as the group that boasted a string of guitar slingers including Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, it also featured lead vocalist Keith Relf. Graham Gouldman wrote this song and the band delivered the goods.)

 

 

Got to Get You Off of My Mind – Solomon Burke (3/65; #22 Pop, #1 R&B for three weeks – here’s a record from our original chart date that shows the smooth side of Solomon Burke, the singer. It would become one of his signature songs.)

 

 

Angel of the Morning – Merilee Rush & The Turnabouts (5/68; #7 – Chip Taylor had written a number of great songs, but this one endures as one of his most popular. An early version was recorded by Evie Sands and released by Cameo-Parkway just as they were falling apart. Somehow a copy wended its way to Washington state, and it fell into this bar band’s lap.)

 

 

Willow Weep for Me – Chad & Jeremy (11/64; #15 – these two were at the forefront of The British Invasion, and needed to follow their recent hit “A Summer Song.” Taking a page from The Beatles, who’d recorded a song from The Music Man, they tried their hand at this old Jazz standard. It seemed to work!)

 

Emotion in Motion – Ric Ocasek (9/86; #15 – he was a founding member of The Cars who decided to branch out on his own. This was his only real “hit” as a solo artist, and its retro sound fits pretty nicely into our show tonight.)

 

Once You Get Started – Rufus (2/75; #10 Pop, #4 R&B – based in Chicago, Rufus emerged from the shadows of The American Breed – but their secret weapon was singer Chaka Khan. Soon she would have top billing, and would eventually branch out on her own.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

8-9pm

 

Betcha By Golly Wow – The Stylistics (3/72; at #18 this week, headed to #3 Pop and #2 R&B – they were one of Philly’s smoothest vocal groups, led by Russell Thompkins and guided by the writing/production team of Thom Bell and Linda Creed. Corny lyrics aside…this is magical.)

 

 

A Horse with No Name – America (3/72; in its first of three weeks at #1 – these guys came out of nowhere with a smooth acoustic sound that fit right in with the new singer/songwriter phenomenon. This would be their first of nearly a dozen Top Forty hits. What a debut record!)

 

 

Suavecito – Malo (3/72; at #49 this week, headed to #18 – Malo was one of two major Latin Rock bands from the Bay Area with a Santana brother in the line-up. Guitarist Jorge was less accomplished than his brother Carlos, but this sweet jam continues to spread warmth whenever it plays.)

 

 

No One to Depend On – Santana (3/72; peaking on this date at #36 – this is the 45 edit of a longer album track, and it cuts right to the chase. In this case, Santana lost the chart race to Malo – but not in the grand scheme.)

 

 

* Love is the Answer – Utopia (10/77; dnc – this anthem from the album Oops! Wrong Planet! was released as a single but failed to chart until a faithful cover by England Dan & John Ford Coley was released two years later. This was a request dedicated to Mecklenburg Peggy and to the rest of us from listener Scottie.)

 

 

45 Corner:  Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac (3/76; at #56 this week, headed to #11 – the band released three singles from their first album with this new lineup, and all of them reached the Top 20. Tonight we hear the original 45, which is a different take from the one on all of the CDs out there.)

 

 

Fanny (Be Tender with My Love) – Bee Gees (3/76; peaking on this date at #12 for two weeks – the band of brothers was beginning to experiment with falsetto vocals and orchestral accompaniment, and their next record would reach #1. A year later, they would conquer the world!)

 

 

* Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat – Herman’s Hermits (3/65; peaking this week at #2 – the British group would have the misfortune of getting stuck behind the Supremes, and would spend two weeks at #2 before falling back down the chart. Requested by our buddy “The Master of Disaster,” who did NOT want to hear some of the group’s overplayed hits.)

 

 

Yeh Yeh – Georgie Fame (3/65; peaking on this date at #21 – I learned later in life that the British version of this song had a very tasty sax break in it, which extended the song by about 25 seconds. That’s the version we hear tonight, and THAT version spent two weeks at #1 in the UK.)

 

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Lullaby – BJ Thomas (3/72; at #16 this week – this record would only make it to #15 on the Pop chart before falling by the wayside. It’s a stunning recording, featuring special guests Duane Eddy on guitar, The Blossoms on background vocals, a Beach Boys-like choir created by The Diamonds’ Dave Somerville and a bittersweet storyline. It should’ve been a bigger hit.)

 

 

* Spring Fever – Orleans (1/77; dnc – Spring officially began three days ago, but Central NY woke to a fresh blanket of snow and temps in the teens. That prompted listener Gina to call with this special request, because “I’ve got a serious case of it!”)

 

 

 

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

 

 

 

 

Trivia Answer

 

 

ANSWER #1: Diana Ross, Mary Wells, Florence Ballard = The Supremes

 

ANSWER #2: Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Keith Richards = The Rolling Stones

 

Congratulations to Pat from the West Hill and Jeannie from Dryden, for correctly answering the questions and winning tickets to the movies!

 

 

 

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, which publishes the Hot 100 chart (previously known as the Top 100), along with several other charts

Bubbling Under = songs that were ranked but fell below the top 100

C&W = Billboard’s chart for “Country & Western” records

R&B = Billboard’s chart for “Rhythm & Blues” records

RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

RS500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranked list of the top 500 singles of all-time

 

 

 

 

Host Next Week (3/30/24):  A relay team of KV, GJ and JS with a spotlight on Springtime

 

 

 

Thanks for tuning in - and for voting us Ithaca's Best Local Radio Show in the most recent Ithaca Times Readers' Poll! You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9pm on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca, NY) or at wvbr.com/listen.

 

Thanks, too, to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!