Rockin'
Remnants
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Date: 2/1/25
Host: John Simon
Feature: Songs Debuting in February
It may be winter outside, but it doesn't have to be that way on your radio. We'll open with some snowy tunes and then we'll fill the airwaves with a bunch of songs that debuted in Februaries past. British Invasion, Motown, garage bands, love songs....something for everybody, plus a chance to win some cool loot. 6-9pm on Rockin' Remnants - WVBR. Everybody rides for free!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia
Poet Shel Silverstein wrote Dr. Hook’s #5 hit “Sylvia’s Mother.” Can you name two other Top 40 hits that came from the pen of Shel Silverstein?
(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)
It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It’s Spring) – Felice Taylor (2/67; #42 – this Motown sound-alike was actually recorded down in Muscle Shoals and released on the tiny Mustang Records label, and happened to be written by a young Barry White! We open tonight’s show with some snowy songs.)
New York’s a Lonely Town – Trade Winds (2/6/65 > #32 – songwriters Pete Anders and Vini Poncia recorded under several monikers when they weren’t writing for Phil Spector groups, and this was one of their aliases. Released on the Red Bird label, it’s a perennial wintertime favorite back east.)
I Wish You Could Be Here – Cyrkle (2/4/67 > #70 – this was the second single released by the band that was co-written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley, and it didn’t do nearly as well as “Red Rubber Ball” had. That said, it matches this wintry upstate night just perfectly.)
Ask the Lonely – Four Tops (2/6/65 > #24 Pop, #9 R&B – I actually hit the wrong button, and this one played instead of the next one – but it was the first Motown release of the year, and 1965 would be very good to Motown acts. This is Levi Stubbs at his plaintive best, with vocal support from the other three Tops and The Andantes.)
Our Winter Love – Bill Pursell (2/2/63 > #9 Pop, #20 R&B – Nashville was home to two fine session pianists: this guy and Floyd Cramer. This was Bill Pursell’s only charting single under his name, and it features a fuzz bass mixed with dreamy vocal accompaniment. Perfect fireside music on a cold night!)
Since I Don’t Have You – Skyliners (2/16/59 > #12 Pop, #3 R&B – they were five kids from Pennsylvania led by singer Jimmy Beaumont, and they all shared writing credit on this single. It actually did better on Soul stations, and is a staple on any Oldies show that’s worth its salt.)
People Get Ready – Impressions (2/20/65 > #14 Pop, #3 R&B – Rolling Stone Magazine has ranked this as #24 in its list of the greatest songs ever. Curtis Mayfield wrote it and played the guitar solo in it, and Dr. Martin Luther King called it “the unofficial anthem” of the Civil Rights Movement.)
Love Is All Around – The Troggs (2/24/68 > #7 – this was a far cry from the earlier records released by the group whose name was a shortened version of “troglodytes.” It spawned two big international covers in the Nineties, and was also a recurring plot device in the film Love Actually. It was a breath of fresh air in early 1968, too.)
* Crying Time – Ray Charles (1/66; #6 Pop, #5 R&B – like Beyonce, Ray Charles grew up listening to Country music and had a real affinity for Buck Owens songs. This one was called in by listener Bill. The CD sputtered in the player, but it sounded good while it was playing….)
Dawn (Go Away) – 4 Seasons (2/1/64 > #3 for three weeks – this was released in the thick of the British Invasion onslaught, and would fight its way to near the top of the charts when The Beatles alone would have a dozen records in the Top 100! Check out those drums!)
* Good Lovin’ – Young Rascals (3/66, #1 – this request came in from John-in-Freeville who wanted to hear something by “the greatest band to come out of New Jersey.” It was a cover of a low-charting Olympics record and it raced to the top of the charts in early April.)
Suspicion – Terry Stafford (2/22/64 > #3 for two weeks – this is another American artist who managed to fight his way through a swarm of British acts to reach great heights. Elvis had originally recorded this as an album track. When RCA didn’t release it as a single, Terry Stafford gave it his best “Elvis” impression and struck gold.)
Time Won’t Let Me – Outsiders (2/19/66 > #5 – this Cleveland bar band was signed to Capitol Records and this was their debut single. Way to come out of the starting gate! Lead singer Sonny Geraci would later have a Top 5 hit with a different band, when Climax released “Precious and Few” in the early Seventies.)
* Without You – Nilsson (2/72; #1 for four weeks – this had been a forgotten track from a Badfinger album when Nilsson discovered it and released his dramatic version. It became one of the biggest records of the year, and goes out to Barbara in the hills of Danby.)
Just My Imagination (Runnin’ Away With Me) – Temptations (2/6/71 > #1 – after releasing a series of topical and semi-psychedelic ravers, the Temptations returned to their roots with this gentle ballad featuring tenor Eddie Kendricks. It would spend two weeks atop the Pop chart and three weeks atop the R&B chart, and it became his signature tune.)
7-8pm
Birthday Calendar
January 26 – Huey “Piano” Smith – born 1934
– Deon Jackson – born in 1946
January 27 – Bobby “Blue” Bland – born 1930
– Thom Bell – born 1943
– Nedra Talley (Ronettes) – age 79
January 29 – James Jamerson – born 1936
– Ronnie Scott (sax player) – born in 1927
January 30 – Marty Balin (Jeff. Air.) – born 1942
– Phil Collins – age 74
January 31 – Terry Kath (Chicago) – born 1946
February 1 – Bob Shane (Kingston Trio) – 1934
– Ray Sawyer (Doctor Hook) – 1937
– Don Everly – 1937
– Rick James – born 1952
Rockin’ Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu – Huey “Piano” Smith & The Clowns (7/57; #52 Pop, #5 R&B – he was a New Orleans band leader and composer who also did lots of session work. This song might be his most enduring legacy, spawning many covers over the years. Johnny Rivers’ was the most successful, but this was the original.)
Ooh Baby – Deon Jackson (12/67; #65 Pop, #28 R&B – he hailed from Ann Arbor, Michigan and had just a couple of hits, but this one swings and has an irresistible hook and a vocal delivery that resembles that of the mighty Smokey Robinson.)
If You Could Read My Mind – Bobby “Blue” Bland (1/66; dnc – Bobby Bland was Blues royalty, blending Gospel, Blues and R&B sounds to rack up 63 R&B charting singles along the way. This was the B-side of a low-charting single, and is a nice example of the smoother side of his sound.)
Do I Love You? – Ronettes (6/64; #34 – Nedra Talley was the cousin of sisters Veronica and Estelle Bennett, and the three girls started singing together at high school dances and parties in Washington Heights. They eventually came to the attention of Phil Spector, who signed them to his record label and turned them into superstars.)
(L-R) Estelle, Ronnie, Nedra
I’ll Be Around – Spinners (9/72; #3 for two weeks, #1 R&B for five weeks – after floundering at Motown for five years or so, the Spinners moved to Atlantic Records and were assigned to Philadelphia producer Thom Bell. This was designated as the B-side of their debut single, but Deejays started to play it, and it opened the floodgates for the group, who became one of the most successful acts of the Seventies.)
Mini Spotlight on James Jamerson:
At one point, he was the highest-paid musician in the Motown family, because label owner Berry Gordy knew that it was his bass that was the motor that kept The Funk Brothers machine moving. He played with one finger on his right hand and they called it "the claw." He is reported to have played on nearly every hit between 1963-1968, including 23 #1 Pop hits and 56 #1 R&b hits. Here are three examples of his prowess:
Don’t Mess With Bill – Marvelettes (1/66; #7 Pop, #3 R&B – this one opens with bass, drums and vibes and they just don’t quit. Writer/producer Smokey Robinson let the Funk Brothers loose and this was the result: another Motown classic!)
Just a Little Misunderstanding – Contours (6/66; #85 Pop, #18 R&B – they’re best known for “Do You Love Me.” This low-charter from the summer of ’66 isn’t as recognizable, but it’s a terrific example of what one man with a bass guitar and one finger can do!)
Mama’s Pearl – Jackson 5 (1/71; #2 for two weeks – this was the group’s fifth single and was the first to not reach #1, but its B-side continues to be cited as one of Jamerson’s best bass lines in fan forums and Bass discussion groups online. You can hear that performance here:)
I’m a Man – Chicago (10/71; #49 – this was the B-side of “Questions 67 & 68,” but it managed to get airplay on its own. Edited down from an 8+ minute album track to 3:27 and it still included a lengthy drum solo – along with some stunning guitar pyrotechnics. Jimi Hendrix once declared Terry Kath his favorite guitar player, and Terry also sings the first verse here.)
Follow You, Follow Me – Genesis (4/78; #23 – this was the band’s second charting single here in The States, although they’d been recording since 1968. Lead singer Peter Gabriel departed for a solo career in 1975 and drummer Phil Collins was designated as the new “voice” of the group. He did okay.)
Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (4/72; #15 – five of the group’s first singles were composed by poet Shel Silverstein, and this was the first of them. Ray “Dr. Hook” Sawyer would sing lead on the first few of them before Dennis Locorriere would assume that role.)
Scotch & Soda – Kingston Trio (4/62; #81 – Bob Shane was a founding member of the trio, and this became his showcase number in concert. Members of Cornell Class of 1966 have ranked it as one of the Top Ten records that played in Willard Straight Hall during their sophomore years.)
Bob Shane, Top Right
Walk Right Back – Everly Brothers (2/61; #7, #1 UK for four weeks – The Everly Brothers had signed a massive contract with Warner Brothers Records a year prior and this was their third release for their new label, and they all hit the Top Ten. Originally intended as the B-side, it outperformed “Ebony Eyes,” which made it to #8 as well.)
8-9pm
It’s No Secret – Jefferson Airplane (2/66; dnc – this was the group’s debut single and it failed to make much noise outside of the San Francisco Bay area. Their fortunes would change when Grace Slick joined the band, but Marty Balin found himself with a diminished role, and would leave the band after a couple more albums.)
It’s My Time – Mynah Birds (2/66; NR – these guys were a Canadian R&B group with an American ex-patriate named Rick James singing lead, along with guitarist Neil Young and bassist Bruce Palmer. They were signed to Motown Records and this was to be their debut single until it came to the label’s attention that Rick James was actually an AWOL serviceman named Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy went to the brig and Neil & Bruce left to form Buffalo Springfield.)
* Come and Stay with Me – Marianne Faithfull (2/27/65 > #26 – word spread quickly that British icon Marianne Faithfull had passed away on Thursday at the age of 78. Two separate listeners asked to hear something from her. I opted for the follow-up to “As Tears Go By,” which also fits our theme of February releases.)
19th Nervous Breakdown – Rolling Stones (2/23/66 > #2 for three weeks – their fifth of nine consecutive singles to reach the Top Ten, this one was only stopped from hitting #1 by “The Ballad of the Green Berets,” which spent five weeks in the top slot!)
Lady Madonna – The Beatles (3/68; #4 Pop, #1 UK for three weeks – one more from our birthday calendar: Jazz sax man Ronnie Scott had a birthday on 1/29. It was he who was recruited to play the saxophone solo on this nod to Fats Domino, and it’s time to give him credit.)
Everything That Touches You – Association (2/3/68 > #10 – this was the group’s final Top Ten single, and it storms out of the gate with a nimble bass line followed by lyricist Terry Kirkman’s impassioned vocal delivery. It’s also a sampling of what you’ll hear next week on the Valentine’s edition of RR with JH.)
La-La Means I Love You – Delfonics (2/3/68 > #4 for two weeks Pop, #1 for four weeks R&B – this was written and arranged by producer Thom Bell, and is one of the sweetest love songs of them all. This and the previous song are presented in the punchy mono forms, just the way the sounded on the radio back in the day.)
Sail On Sailor – Beach Boys (2/7/73 > #79 – this record was a departure for the group: drummer Dennis Wilson was out with an injury, Bruce Johnston had left the band and Brian was indisposed, so two South African musicians were brought in to fill in. Blondie Chaplin is the lead singer here.)
* Early In the Morning – Vanity Fare (1/69; #12 – listener Scottie requested that this one go out to Peggy and to your loved one, too.)
Love’s Theme – Love Unlimited Orchestra (2/74; #1 – this record was a Barry White project from start to finish! He composed the music, created the arrangement, recruited the session players and conducted the session. The result was a worldwide #1 hit.)
Once You Get Started – Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan (2/8/75 > #10 Pop, #4 R&B – Rufus was formed by some of the original members of The American Breed, but they really came into their own when singer Chaka Khan joined the group. Most CD versions have a longer intro, but this is the original 45 that comes roaring out of the gate. If you’re ever looking to start a party, this one will do the trick!)
Rock ‘n’ Roll Lullaby – BJ Thomas (2/12/72 > #15 – the producers of this one had a vision: they wanted a twangy Duane Eddy-like guitar and Beach Boys-like background vocals. Their solution? Book Duane Eddy to play guitar and the Beach Boys to sing. When the Beach Boys dropped out at the last minute, they recruited session singer Ron Hicklin to join former Diamond Dave Somerville and Darlene Love’s Blossoms. The final mix is sublime.)
CLOSING THEME: Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
Shel Silverstein was the writer of Dr. Hook’s first five singles, and two of them were Top 20 hits. He also composed Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” and The Irish Rovers’ “The Unicorn.”
Congratulations to Brad from Ithaca, for correctly answering the question and winning a loaf of bread and a large soup from The Ithaca Bakery!
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 (2/8/25): Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on Valentine’s Day songs
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!
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