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: September 20, 2025
Host: Gregory James
Feature: Mid-September 1956, ’66, and ‘76
Birthday Calendar
September 14
Paul Kossoff (Free guitarist) b. 1950
Joey Heatherton 81 years old
Ed King (Lynyrd Skynyrd and Strawberry Alarm Clock)
Jon Bauman (Sha-Na-Na) 78 years old
September 15
Ola Brunkert (ABBA studio drummer) b. 1946
Jimmy Gilmer b. 1940
September 16
Kenney Jones (drummer with Small Faces, Faces) 77 years old
BB King b. 1925
September 17
Bill Burkette (Vogues lead singer) b. 1942
Les Emmerson (Five Man Electrical Band) b. 1944
Brook Benton b. 1932
September 18
PF Sloan (songwriter) b. 1945
Frankie Avalon 85 years old
September 19
Cass Elliot b. 1941
Bill Medley 85 years old
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
Chart positions are for this week in their respective years.
6:00
OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)
The Princess and the Punk Barry Mann #78 9/18/1976
Last Train to Clarksville Monkees #43 9/17/1966
Songwriter Bobby Hart died on September 10, 2025. In an interview with Gary James for Classic Bands.com Hart said, “[for] the songs we produced for the Monkees, we used my band, the Candy Store Prophets, and augmented it with a couple of guitar players named Louie Shelton and Wayne Erwin, and Tommy [Boyce] and I also played and sang background on ’em. The Monkees, … really was a garage band, and one that Tommy and I played with in one form or another for four or five years.” Hart is between Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz in the photo below.
Still the One Orleans #16 9/18/1976
Legend has it that Johanna Hall handed the lyrics to her then-husband John Hall written on a napkin.
That’ll Be the Day Linda Ronstadt #21 9/18/1976
Waddy Wachtel and Andrew Gold doubled up on lead guitars on this track from the album "Hasten Down the Wind."
Be Bop a Lula Gene Vincent #31 9/19/56
He had very cool hair for 1956. Capitol Records hoped he would be that label’s version of Elvis Presley.
Don’t Be Cruel Elvis #1 9/19/56
Otis Blackwell wrote the song and he said he would have gotten 50% of the royalties if he had not already sold it for $25.
Cherish Association #4 9/17/1966
Vocalist and composer Terry Kirkman wanted to write a slow song in the same vein as "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling." He has also said that he wrote the song in half an hour.
Cherry, Cherry Neil Diamond #24 9/17/1966
This was Diamond’s first big hit. Producers Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry were backing singers.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind The Five Keys #52 9/19/56
The group was originally a pair of brothers out of Newport News called the Sentimental Four.
Eleanor Rigby Beatles #14 9/17/1966
None of the Beatles played instruments on this song. This song could have been titled Daisy Hawkins if McCartney had not ultimately changed her name to Eleanor Rigby. He has said the song was influenced by an elderly woman whom he used to visit and shop for.
Don’t Fear the Reaper Blue Oyster Cult #31 9/18/1976
Composer Buck Dharma has said that the song is not gloomy, but rather “a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners". The cowbell was wrapped in tape and inspired the SNL skit “More Cowbell.”
You’re Gonna Miss Me 13th Floor Elevators #60 9/17/1966
Yup, that is an amplified jug doing those quick notes in an attempt to “put the acid” in the record.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice? Beach Boys #8 9/17/1966
The harp sound at the top was not a harp but a 12 string mando-guitar that has a shorter neck than a conventional guitar. It sounded like a mandolin, but played like a guitar.
Harvest for the World Isley Brothers #64 9/18/1976
The title track from the album of the same name on the Isleys’ own label T-Neck.
*In the Still of the Night The Five Satins #34 9/19/56 Not to be confused with the Cole Porter song with the same title. You can hear the phrase “doo-wop doo-wah” in the lyrics making it one of the first songs to give doo-wop its name. Requested by Tom.
Street Singin’ Lady Flash #27 9/18/1976
Lady Flash was a trio of backing singers for Barry Manilow, who wrote the song.
Turn Down Day Cyrkle #16 9/17/1966
They were originally a frat rock group called the Rhondells until Brian Epstein became their manager and suggested a different name with a spelling provided by John Lennon. Cyrkle opened for the Beatles 14 times in 1966.
7:00
Trouble on Double Time Free 1969 DNC
From Free’s second album called “Free.”
The Road I Took to You Joey Heatherton 1972 DNC
Written by Barbara Keith.
Incense and Peppermints Strawberry Alarm Clock 1967 #1
The band’s original name was Thee (sic) Sixpence. Ed King was denied royalty rights even though he contributed to the song’s composition. The video below is a lip sync, but worth seeing for the outfits.
Pretty Little Angel Eyes Sha Na Na 1973
Jon Bauman sang bass for Sha Na Na. More recently, he helped pass legislation that compels any group using the name of a classic group to have at least one of its original members. The measure is known as The Truth in Music Act and is in effect in 35 states, including New York.
Come On, React! Fireballs 1968 #63
Jimmy Gilmer was a session for Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis NM. He became a record company executive and, after he retired, he returned to the Fireballs. His last gig was in Clear Lake Iowa—where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper gave their last concert before they all died in a plane crash.
Waterloo ABBA 1974 #6
Ola Brunkert was a session drummer who played on every ABBA album prior to 2021. “Waterloo” brought global attention to ABBA due to its winning the 1974 Eurovision contest.
I Know I’m Losing You Faces 1971 #24
Apparently, Kenny Jones got a call from Rod Stewart as the song was about to roll tape. Jones lived nearby, so he drove to the studio and sat in on the session, creating the drum solo more or less on the spot.
Everyday I Have the Blues B.B. King 1955 #8 RB
Legend has it that King’s guitar was plugged directly into the mixing board rather than into an amplifier.
Lovers of the World Unite Vogues 1967 DNC
A classic of sunshine pop that did not chart.
Werewolf Five Man Electrical Band 1974 #64
Never too early to get into the Halloween spirit…
Lie to Me Brook Benton 1962 #13
You Baby Turtles 1966 #20
PF Sloan and Steve Barri wrote the title song which was the only single released from the album of the same name.
What’s the Reason I’m Not Pleasing You Frankie Avalon 1959 DNC
Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By Cass Elliot 1970 #110
Written by Sharon Rucker, this song was heard in an episode of “The Good Place.”
Just Once in My Life Righteous Brothers 1965 #9
This was the follow up to “Lovin’ Feelin” written by Carole King, Gerry Goffin with intrusions by Phil Spector.
See Saw Moonglows #63 9/19/56 (#5 RB peak)
8:00
*September Earth Wind and Fire 1978 #1 RB #8 H100
Guitarist Al McKay came up with the chord sequence. James Jamerson played bass on the track. Requested by Scottie for Peggy.
Shake Your Booty KC and the Sunshine Band #2 9/18/1976
This was their third number hit on both the Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles.
You Can’t Hurry Love Supremes #1 9/17/1966
There is some question as to whether Florence Ballard actually joined Mary Wilson singing back up or if it was Marlene Barrow of the Andantes instead.
Sugar and Spice Cryan Shames #51 9/17/1966
This was a cover of the Searchers’ song of the same name on the Destination label.
I Want to Be with You Dee Dee Warwick #65 9/17/1966
Fever Little Willie John #79 9/19/56
This was the original version of the song on the King label. Apparently Little Willie John was not enthusiastic about the song, and had to be persuaded to record it.
96 Tears ? and the Mysterians #25 9/17/1966
It made it to #1 in October
Shower the People James Taylor #22 9/18/1976
This was its peak chart position. His then wife Carly Simon sang harmony and the instrumentation was by The Immediate Family.
Funny How Time Slips Away Dorothy Moore #58 9/18/1976
This track peaked at #58 on the Hot 100, but made it to #5 on the RB chart.
I’m in Love Again Fats Domino #66 9/19/56
This was Domino’s fifth song to top the RB chart and it also peaked at #3 on the Hot 100.
Mr. Melody Natalie Cole #76 9/18/1976
Sunny Bobby Hebb #10 9/17/1966
The song was recorded while the session was in overtime. The chord progression has turned up in several subsequent songs, such as “If You Want Me to Stay” by Sly and the Family Stone and “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing” by Stevie Wonder.
More Than a Feeling Boston #86 9/18/1976 CHART DEBUT It made it to #5 on the Hot 100. The song took Tom Scholz five years to write
Love Is Alive Gary Wright #51 9/18/1976
All the sounds except the drums were created on a keyboard. The track spent 27 weeks on the Hot 100.
Birthday Beatles 1968 NR
For Jan Hunsinger’s birthday on September 18. The Beatles recorded the track at EMI Studios on September 18, 1968.
Fabulous Character Sarah Vaughan #55 9/19/56
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
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
RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
RS 500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranking of the top 500 singles of all time.
Host September 27, 2025: Kim Vaughan
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!
