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: March 9, 2024
Host: Gregory James
Feature: What’s Yer Name, Dude: Songs with Men's Names in the Title
Birthday Calendar
March 3
Mike Pender (Searchers vocalist) 83 years old
March 5
Murray Head 78 years old
March 6
Kiki Dee (Pauline Matthews) 77 years old
Hugh Grundy (Zombies drummer) 79 years old
Mary Wilson (Supremes) b. 1944 d. 2021
Sam (the Sham) Samudio 87 years old
Sylvia Robinson (Mickey and Sylvia) b. 1936 d. 2011
March 7
Ernie Isley (guitarist) 72 years old
Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum keyboardist) 78 years old
Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band vocalist) 78 years old
Arthur Lee (Love) b. 1945 d. 2006
Chris White (Zombies bassist) 81 years old
Little Peggy March 76 years old
March 8
Carole Bayer Sager 78 years old
Randy Meisner b. 1946 d. 2023
Mickey Dolenz 79 years old
March 9
Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere/Raiders) 82 years old
Lloyd Price b. 1934 d. 2021
Rock n’ Roll Trivia Question:
In the first hour I played two songs that had the phrase “don’t mess” in the titles. What were the songs and who were the artists?
(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)
*Jimmy Mack Martha and the Vandellas 1967 #10 H100 #1 RB
The Motown Quality Control team did not initially release “Jimmy Mack,” apparently because it sounded too much like the Supremes. Requested by JS.
Happy Jack The Who 1967 #24
One of Keith Moon’s best performances and, according to Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney’s favorite song by the Who.
You Can Call Me Al Paul Simon 1987 #23
The saxophone sounds were both synthesized and actual. The uncredited backing vocals were by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
*Mighty Quinn Manfred Mann 1968 #10
Singer Mike D’Abo has said that he had to make up some of the song’s lyrics because he could not understand all of Bob Dylan’s original lyrics. Requested by Scottie for Mecklenburg Peggy.
Don’t Mess with Bill Marvelettes 1966 #3 RB #7 H100
Some of the backing vocals were by Motown’s house singers the Andantes. This mix clarifies what Funk Brother Robert White was doing on guitar. The tenor sax solo was by Norris Patterson.
*My Girl Temptations 1965 #1
Requested by Richard and dedicated to Phyllis.
You Don't Mess Around With Jim Jim Croce 1972 #8
This was Croce’s debut single.
Mack the Knife Bobby Darin 1959 #1
Darin’s version of “Mack the Knife” was the song’s seventh pop music cover, following Lawrence Welk, Louis Armstrong, Billy Vaughn and Les Paul, among others.
I'm Henry the Eighth Herman's Hermits 1965 #1
This one-verse classic music hall song knocked “Satisfaction” out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100. It was not released in the U.K.
*Still the One Orleans 1976 #5
For Bill and Gayle in Trumansburg.
Hey Joe Jimi Hendrix 1967 DNC
The backing singers were the Breakaways: Jean Hawker, Margot Newman and Vicki Brown, recruited by producer Chas Chandler.
*Vincent Don McLean 1971 #12
Don McLean’s original lyrics written on a paper bag were auctioned in 2020 for $1.5 million. Requested by the listener consortium of Kathy, Jenny, Perry and the Deacon from Horseheads, Corning and Ithaca.
Brilliant Disguise Bruce Springsteen 1987 #5
Requested by a listener looking forward to seeing Bruce in concert.
Charlie Brown Coasters 1959 #2
According to Lieber and Stoller, the song was not based on the Charles Schultz cartoon character of the same name.
Chuck E.’s in Love Rickie Lee Jones 1979 #4
“P.L.P.” in the lyrics is old school slang for “public leaning place” as when two people lean against each other.
Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues Danny O’Keefe 1972 #9
This song has been covered by Elvis Presley, Leon Russell, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chris Hillman, Willie Nelson and Rita Wilson, among others.
7:00
Someday We’re Gonna Love Again Searchers 1964 #34
Stay with Me Kiki Dee 1978
Kiki Dee was the first woman from the U.K. to sign with Tamla Records.
Time of the Season Zombies 1969 #3
The single was released after the band split up. You heard an alternate take.
The Tears Supremes 1961 NR
A track on which Mary Wilson sang lead from the album “Meet the Supremes.” The Supremes were a teen-aged quartet at the time: Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, Barbara Martin and Diana Ross.
Love Is Strange Mickey and Sylvia 1957 #11 H100 #1 RB
Bo Diddley wrote the song under the name of his then wife, Ethel Smith.
Wooly Bully Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs 1965 #2 H100 #31 RB
The record was on the charts for 18 weeks, the longest run for any song in 1965.
Summer Breeze Part 2 Isley Brothers 1974 #60 H100 #10 RB
Ernie Isley played the fuzz guitar solo.
Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum 1967 #5
In 2006, after nearly 40 years, keyboardist Matthew Fisher finally won joint authorship and co-ownership rights to “Whiter Shade of Pale” for his introductory organ passage.
Alone Again, Or Love 1970 #99
The guitar work was by Johnny Echols. The lead vocal was originally by composer Bryan MacLean, but Arthur Lee’s voice was later added.
You’re the Only One J. Geils Band 1977 #83
This uncharacteristic pop-inflected track is from “Monkey Island” the only album on which the band is credited simply with the name “Geils.”
You’re Moving Out Today Carole Bayer Sager 1977 #69
This song was co-written by composer and singer Carole Bayer Sager as well as by Bette Midler, whose version also charted in 1977 at #42.
Try and Love Again Eagles 1976 NR
Randy Meisner sang lead on the last song he wrote for the Eagles.
Steppin’ Stone Monkees 1967 #20
This was the first Monkees B-side to chart. Composers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart also played on the track.
Steppin’ Stone Paul Revere and the Raiders 1966 NR
You heard a mash up of the Monkees’ and The Raiders’ versions (both using the same arrangement) with lead vocals by Mickey Dolenz and Mark Lindsay, respectively.
Stagger Lee Lloyd Price 1959 #1
Backing vocals were by the Ray Charles singers—not to be confused with the Raelettes.
Eli’s Coming Laura Nyro 1968 NR
Laura Nyro began working on this song when she was a student at Wade Junior High School in the Bronx.
8:00
*Mr. Blue Sky Electric Light Orchestra 1978 #35
Requested by Gina via John Simon.
Captain Jack Billy Joel 1974 DNC
Some people heard the song as a glorification of drug use but, much like Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher,” it discourages drug use.
Jumpin' Jack Flash Rolling Stones 1968 #3
Jack, so the story goes, was the name of the heavy-booted gardener at Keith Richards’ country house.
Hit the Road Jack Ray Charles 1961 #1 H100
#1 RB
The track won a Grammy for best Rhythm and Blues recording and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Louie Louie The Kingsmen 1963 #2
This song was recorded in a low-tech jingle studio with one microphone in a single take.
Ode to Billie Joe Bobbie Gentry 1967 #1 H100 #17 CW #8 RB
This song was originally a B-side, and Bobbie Gentry wanted it to be sung by Lou Rawls.
Abraham, Martin and John Dion 1968 #4
The record was released two months after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Me and Bobby McGee Janis Joplin 1971 #1
This was her only #1 single, and composer Kris Kristofferson was unaware Janis had recorded it until after her death.
Daylight Saving Time Sandy Edmonds 1968 NR
Who doesn’t want more time to spend with their baby?
Romeo and Juliet Dire Straits 1980 DNC
The song references “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “There’s a Place for Us” (West Side Story).
Angelo Brotherhood of Man 1977
This topped the charts in the U.K. Many people assumed the track was by ABBA due to its similarity to their style.
Levon Elton John 1972 #24
Elton John’s first son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish was born on December 25.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
Don’t Mess with Bill Marvelettes
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim Jim Croce
Congratulations to Dave from Dryden 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
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
Host March 16, 2024: Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on “One Hit Wonders 1965-1975”
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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