January 25, 2025 - GJ - Tell, Say, Talk

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: January 25, 2025

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Tell, Say, Talk

Birthday Calendar

January 19

Phil Everly 1939 

Janis Joplin 1943

Robert Palmer  1949

Shelley Fabares    81 years old 

Shirley Ellis    1929

January 21

Richie Havens 1941

Edwin Starr 1942

Billy Ocean            75 years old

January 22

Steve Perry (Journey)  76  years old

Sam Cooke 1931

January 23

Anita Pointer 1948

January 24

Ray Stevens 86  years old

Neil Diamond 84  years old

Warren Zevon 1947

Aaron Neville           84 years old

January 25

Etta James 1938

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

In the 6:00 hour I played songs whose titles are almost identical by two groups whose name begin with B. What were the songs and who were the groups?

(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

6:00-7:00

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

Tell Her No Zombies  1965  #6

The first lyrics seem to be from the middle of a conversation: “and if she should tell you..” The word “no” is repeated 63 times.

Say You’ll Be Mine  Christopher Cross   1981  #20

Nicolette Larson harmonized with Cross and Jay Graydon played the guitar solo.

Tell Me to My Face Keith  1967  #37

This was the follow up to 98.6 for James Barry Keefer with ear-grabbing and vaguely Eastern musical melodies and accompaniment.

You Should Hear How She Talks About You   Melissa Manchester  1982  #5

The track had Steve Lukather on guitar and Jeff Porcaro on drums. It won a Grammy in 1982 for vocal performance, beating out Linda Ronstadt, Olivia Newton-John, Juice Newton and Laura Branigan.

*Empty Heart Rolling Stones  1964  NR

(Say) You’re My Girl Roy Orbison    1965  #39

*Tell the Truth Derek and the Dominos   1970   DNC

Written by 22 year-old Bobby Whitlock.

Tell Me Why    Beatles    1964     DNC    

Released as the B-side to “If I Fell” on the Parlophone label. The track is unique in that Lennon’s lead vocal is pitched higher than McCartney’s harmonies.

You Tell Me Why   Beau Brummels  1965  #38  

The producer of the track was listed as Sly Stone.

Talking About My Baby   Impressions     1964   #12 RB and H100

Say It Isn’t So Aretha Franklin 1963   #113

This was Columbia Records' attempt to promote the 21 year-old Aretha Franklin as a singer of standards (in this case Irving Berlin). She did, however, manage to get in some soul shouts on the track.

Talk to Me Little Willie John  1958  #5 RB  #20 H100 

This was the original recorded version of the song written by Joe Seneca who was also a successful film and TV actor.

Talk Talk Music Machine    1967  #15  

The track lasts under two minutes and was recorded in three hours at a cost of $150 ($1400 in today’s dollars).

*Too Much Talk    Paul Revere and the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay 1968  #19

Lindsay wrote all the songs and produced the album “Something Happening.” Requested by Scottie and dedicated with love to Peggy.

Talk of the Town Pretenders  1981  DNC    

* Don’t Talk Now     James Taylor  1968   NR

This was the first track on his first album.

7:00-8:00

Problems Everly Brothers  1958  #2

This was the Everlys’ tenth single release and their sixth song written by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant.

Half Moon Janis Joplin  1970 (B-side to “Bobby McGee”)

Composer John Hall has said the guitar riff repeated throughout the song was inspired by Jimi Hendrix. Joplin’s musical director at the time was Todd Rundgren.

Addicted to Love Robert Palmer  1986  #1

Chakha Khan was supposed to join Palmer on vocals, but her record label would not permit her to do so. She is credited for vocal arrangements on the track.

See Ya ‘Round on the Rebound Shelley Fabares  1966 NR

Fabares (backed by The Blossoms) sounds disillusioned by her boyfriend on her final single (written by P.F. Sloan). Maybe Johnny Angel was not so angelic after all.

Soul Time Shirley Ellis  1967  #67 H100  #31 RB

This track broke Ellis out of the novelty song genre and launched her into the universe of Northern Soul.

No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed Richie Havens  1968

Although Havens had recorded albums previously, this was Havens’ first single release.

Love Is My Destination       Edwin Starr   1968

This was the B-side to “25 Miles.”

Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)  Billy Ocean  1984  #1 Hot 100 and RB

Although Ocean was the #1 Hot 100 artist of 1986, this track sounded like a hybrid of Michael Jackson and Hall and Oates.

Open Arms Journey  1982  #2

Steve Perry once told the Boston Globe that many people have confided to him that “Open Arms” was their prom song.

Bring It On Home to Me Sam Cooke  1962  #13 H100  #2 RB

This was the B-side to “Having a Party.” The song was originally offered to Dee Clark who passed on it. 

Yes We Can Can Pointer Sisters   1973  #11 

This was one of the Pointers’ songs recorded as a demo as they were shopping for a record label. It was their first hit single.

Johnny Strikes Up the Band Warren Zevon   1978 DNC

Zevon was backed up by The Immediate Family. Some folks think it’s about Johnny Carson. Legend has it that this was the song that Zevon wanted to release as the first single off of the “Excitable Boy” album, but “Werewolves of London” was released instead.

September Morn    Neil Diamond   1979  #17 H100   #2 AC

Bob Gaudio produced the record.

Something’s Got a Hold on Me     Etta James   1962  #4 RB  #37 H100

The record was produced by Phil and Leonard Chess.

Tell It Like It Is     Aaron Neville   1967  #2 H100  #1 RB

On the Par-Lo label, this record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The record sold well, but because of unwise business decisions, it did not make a profit. In fact, it bankrupted the New Orleans based record company, and Aaron Neville did not get the money he deserved.

Misty    Ray Stevens 1975  #14 H100  #3 CW

According to Stevens, the song was not meant for release, it was simply the band goofing around during a recording break. They decided to mic the band and roll the tape, and the track won a Grammy for Best Musical Arrangement.  

8:00-9:00

We Can Talk About It Now The Band   1968  NR

The last surviving member of The Band, Garth Hudson, passed away on Tuesday January 21, 2025.

Tell Him    Exciters   1963  #4

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller produced the record.

Talk That Talk Jackie Wilson   1959 #3 RB /1960  #34 H100 

I Say a Little Prayer Dionne Warwick  1967  #8 RB  #4 H100

This song was written from the perspective of a woman thinking about her partner serving in Vietnam.

Say You’re Wrong Julian Lennon   1985   #21

Phil Ramone produced the record and Paul McCartney sent Lennon a congratulatory telegram when he heard the album.

Tell Her About It   Billy Joel  1983  #1

*Tell Me Something Good    Rufus   1974   #3 H100 and RB

This Grammy winning song was written by Stevie Wonder and featured one of the earliest of the guitar talk box.

*Summer Nights Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta  1978  #5

“Tell me more” are lyrics in this song from “Grease.”

Say You Love Me Fleetwood Mac     1976   #11

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham apparently came up spontaneously with their harmonies on the song’s chorus. 

Say Say Say Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson  1983  #1

The harmonica solo was by Chris Smith and the record was engineered by former Beatles sound engineer Geoff Emerick.

Everybody’s Talking Harry Nilsson  1968 #113/1969 #6

After the song was used in the film “Midnight Cowboy” the track was re-released, charting higher and winning a Grammy.

Tell Laura I Love Her    Ray Peterson   1960  #7

Decca Records did not originally release the track in England because of its grim subject matter and they destroyed 25,000 copies that had already been pressed.

Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)   Rolling Stones    1964  #24  

This was the Stones’ first top 40 hit in the U.S.

I Can’t Tell You Why Eagles   1980  #8

This was the first Eagles song that featured Timothy B. Schmit on lead vocals. He was also a co-composer of the song and he provided the title.

Talking in Your Sleep Gordon Lightfoot   1971   #64

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

Trivia Answer

Tell Me Why          Beatles

You Tell Me Why   Beau Brummels

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

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  February 1, 2025: John Simon with a spotlight on February Record Releases

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!