October 25, 2025 - JH: Golden Oldies

 October 25, 2025

Host: Jan Hunsinger (JH)

Spotlight: Golden Oldies

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!)

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

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 chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted

·     a glossary of terms is below the playlist

6:00 - 7:00

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

I Got a Line on You - Spirit (1969 - #25: uptempo tune has been called the "definitive rock song")

Playgirl - Thee Prophets (1969 - #49: Milwaukee group whose biggest song does not qualify them as a one-hit wonder as it did not make the Top 40)

Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In) - The First Edition (1968 - #5: first charting single for the group which included Kenny Rogers; for their third single, his name would precede the group)

13 Questions - Seatrain (1970 - #49: from the first LP that George Martin produced post-Beatles)

Rock Me on the Water - Jackson Browne (1972 - #48: we heard the mono single version of the song, which differs from the LP version; David Crosby provided backing vocals)

*Rocky Mountain High - John Denver (1973 - #9: one of Denver's signature songs and a state song of Colorado, it was banned on some stations for promoting drug use)

Since I Don't Have You - The Skyliners (1959 - #12: first charting single for the Pittsburgh trio)

Welcome Me Love - The Brooklyn Bridge (1969 - #48: lead singer was Johnny Maestro, who in the '50s was lead singer for The Crests)

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Cher (1966 - #2: one of her biggest selling singles, but it was kept out of the #1 spot by the Righteous Brothers' "Soul and Inspiration")

Don't Let Go - Roy Hamilton (1958 - #13: Down Beat magazine named Hamilton "Vocalist of the Year" in 1955)

Jennifer Tompkins - The Street People (1970 - #36: studio group that included Rupert Holmes; we heard the original version, not the re-mastered one)

Stoney End - Barbra Streisand (1970 - #6: her cover of the Laura Nyro song)

45 Corner

Carolina in My Mind - James Taylor (1969 - #118; 1970 - #67: the original version recorded in London on Apple Records when Taylor was feeling homesick; Paul McCartney played bass and George Harrison provided backing vocals; Taylor re-recorded the song for his 1976 "Greatest Hits" LP and that is the version most people know)

5-D (Fifth Dimension) - The Byrds (1966 - #44: Roger McGuinn wrote the song as an attempt to explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity, but some interpreted the psychedelic lyrics as drug references and some radio stations banned the song)

Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan (1975 - #31: song ranks #68/RS500 and is off Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" LP)

7:00 - 8:00 - The Birthday Calendar 

Background Song: Time Is Tight - Booker T. and the MGs (1969 - #6)

October 19th:
Dave Guard (The Kingston Trio) - b. 1934
Larry Chance [Figueiredo] (The Earls) - b. 1940
George McCrae - 81
Gloria Jones - 80
Jeannie C. Riley - 80
Wilbert Hall (The Delfonics) - 78
Patrick Simmons (The Doobie Brothers) - 77

October 20th:
Wanda Jackson - 88
Jay Siegel (The Tokens) - 86

October 21st:
Norman Wright (The Dell-Vikings) - b. 1937
Manfred Mann [Michael Lubowitz] - 85
Steve Cropper (Booker T. and the MGs) - 84
Elvin Bishop - 83
Ron Elliott (The Beau Brummels) - 82
Kathy Young - 80
Lee Loughnane (Chicago) - 79

October 22nd:
Ray Jones (Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas) - b. 1939
Bobby Fuller - b. 1942
Eddie Brigati (The Rascals) - 80
Leslie West [Weinstein] - b. 1945

October 23rd:
Charlie Foxx - b. 1939
Ellie Greenwich - b. 1940
Freddie Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers) - b. 1940
Barbara Ann Hawkins (The Dixie Cups) - 82

October 24th:
The Big Bopper [J.P. Richardson] - b. 1930
Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones) - 89
Dale Griffin (Mott the Hoople) - b. 1948

October 25th:
Helen Reddy - b. 1941
Jon Anderson (Yes) - 81
Mary Katherine "Taffy" [Nivert] Danoff - 81

Tom Dooley - The Kingston Trio (1958 - #1: song won a Grammy for Best Country Record)

Remember Then - The Earls (1963 - #24: song made its chart debut on 12/15/62)

Rock Your Baby - George McCrae (1974 - #1: song spent two weeks at the top of the charts)

Tainted Love - Gloria Jones (1965 - DNC: Jones was known as the "Queen of Northern Soul" in the UK and was driving the car in which T. Rex's Marc Bolan was killed; Glen Campbell played guitar on the song)

Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley (1968 - #1: song was written by Tom T. Hall and won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Female; Jerry Kennedy played the Dobro guitar)

Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - The Delfonics (1970 - #10: song won the Grammy for R&B Vocal Group)

China Grove - The Doobie Brothers (1973 - #15: song has a distinctive opening guitar riff)

Let's Have a Party - Wanda Jackson (1960 - #37: known as the "Queen of Rockabilly", Jackson dated Elvis Presley for a time)

The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens (1961-2 - #1: song reached #1 on 12/18/61 and remained there until 1/13/62)

Come Go With Me - The Dell-Vikings (1957 - #4: Norman Wright was lead singer for the hit song which ranks #441/RS500)

Pretty Flamingo - Manfred Mann (1966 - #29: Mann was born in Johannesburg, South Africa)

Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop (1976 - #3: Bishop played guitar on the song, which was sung by Mickey Thomas of Starship)

Laugh, Laugh - The Beau Brummels (1965 - #15: first charting single for the group, which marked the beginning of the San Francisco sound; Ron Elliott wrote the song and was the group's lead singer and guitarist)

A Thousand Stars - Kathy Young and the Innocents (1960 - #3: song was originally a hit for The Rivileers in 1954)

Questions 67 & 68 - Chicago (1969 - #71; 1971 - #24: Lee Loughnane played trumpet and flugelhorn for the group)

Bad to Me - Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas (1964 - #9: song was written for the band by Lennon and McCartney)

8:00 - 9:00 - Still More Birthdays!

I Fought the Law - Bobby Fuller Four (1966 - #9: song ranks #175/RS500)

How Can I Be Sure - The Young Rascals (1967 - #4: Eddie Brigati sang lead vocals for this song when the group was still "Young")

Mississippi Queen - Mountain (1970 - #21: Leslie West co-wrote and played lead guitar on the song with the distinctive cowbell intro)

Mockingbird - Charlie and Inez Foxx (1963 - #7: pair were brother and sister; song was later covered by Carly Simon and James Taylor when they were married)

You Don't Know - Ellie Greenwich (1965 - DNC: Greenwich was known as the "Queen of the Demos" and co-wrote dozens of hit singles)

Ferry Cross the Mersey - Gerry and the Pacemakers (1965 - #6: Freddie Marsden was the drummer for the group and brother to Gerry)

Iko Iko - The Dixie Cups (1965 - #20: song originated in a studio jam session with group members using drumsticks on a chair, an ashtray, and a Coke bottle)

Chantilly Lace - The Big Bopper (1958 - #6: he was killed in the plane crash that also took Buddy Holly and Richie Valens)

19th Nervous Breakdown - The Rolling Stones (1966 - #2: Bill Wyman was bassist for the band from 1962-93 and he provided the bass runs that mark this hit song)

All the Way From Memphis - Mott the Hoople (1973 - DNC: song went to #10 in the UK)

Angie Baby - Helen Reddy (1974 - #13: Reddy was known as the "Queen of '70s Pop")

Roundabout - Yes (1972 - #13: Jon Anderson co-wrote the group's big hit)

Afternoon Delight - The Starland Vocal Band (1976 - #1: Bill Danoff was inspired to write the song by a restaurant menu; song spent two weeks at #1 in July of '76)

Don't It Make You Want to Go Home - Joe South (1969 - #41: one of a handful of charting singles for this songwriter/producer/session musician)

Both Sides Now - Judy Collins (1968 - #8: her cover of the Joni Mitchell song)

A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles (1964 - #1: song ranks #153/RS500)

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959 - #1 for two weeks; brothers Santo [steel guitar] and Johnny [rhythm guitar] Farina from Brooklyn)

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 November 1: John Simon (JS) with a spotlight on amazing B-sides and cool album tracks!

Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9pm on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca, NY) or streaming here. 

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

October 18, 2025 - GJ and JR - Musical Miscellany

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.)

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

Date: October 18, 2025

Hosts:  Gregory James and John Rudan

Feature: Musical Miscellany

Birthday Calendar

October 12

Sam Moore (Sam and Dave)  b. 1935

Steve Martin Caro  (Left Banke lead singer)  b. 1948

Melvin Franklin  (Temptations bass singer)  b. 1942

October 13

Paul Simon  84 years old

Robert Lamm  81 years old

October 14

Cliff Richard  85 years old

Justin Hayward  (Moody Blues)  79 years old

October 15

Barry McGuire  90 years old

Richard Carpenter  79 years old

October 16

Fred Turner  (BTO bassist)  82 years old

October  17

Gary Puckett   83 years old

Jim Seals  (Seals and Crofts)  b. 1941

October 18

Laura Nyro   b. 1947

Joe Egan (Stealers Wheel)   b. 1946

Chuck Berry  b. 1926

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

What artist or group had the most records in Billboard’s Year End Hot 100 in 1965.  

(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)

People Got to Be Free   Rascals  1969  #1

The track spent five weeks at #1.

Peace Train    Cat Stevens  1971  #7

Apparently he wrote the song while actually riding on a train.

Put a Little Love in Your Heart   Jackie DeShannon   1969  #4

Can't You Hear My Heartbeat?   Herman's Hermits  1965  #2

Herman's Hermits had five songs on the Year-End Hot 100, the most of any artist in 1965.

Downtown    Petula Clark  1965  #1 for two weeks.

Jimmy Page is reputed to have played on the track along with violins, violas, celli, trumpets, trombones, woodwinds and piano (which starts the song).

I'll Never Find Another You   The Seekers 1965  #4

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me    Mel Carter   1965  #8

This cover version is the one most closely associated with the 1952 song.

Stop! In the Name of Love  Supremes  1965  #1

The Andantes and  Funk Brothers helped out on the track.

Baby, Baby, Baby Bobby Byrd & Anna King 1964 #52

I've Got Money The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown 1968  NR

A frenetic cover of the James Brown original.

Baby Driver Simon & Garfunkel  1970  #101

The B-side to “The Boxer”

I Can't Help Myself    Four Tops    1965  #1 H100 and RB (9 weeks)

Mess Around Ray Charles  1953  DNC

You Were On My Mind We Five   1965  #3

The song was written by Sylvia Fricker of Ian and Sylvia.

*Any Way You Want It   Dave Clark Five  1964  #25

Requested by Scottie for Peggy.

This Wheel's On Fire   Brian Auger,  Julie Driscoll, The Trinity 1968  #106

Baby Please Don’t Go  The Orioles   1952  #8 RB

7:00-8:00

Soothe Me   Sam and Dave   1967  #16 RB  #56 H100

Great cover of an unmistakable Sam Cooke song.

Pretty Ballerina   Left Banke  1967   #15

Sung by Steve Martin Caro who had a crush on Renee Fladen—yup, that Renee.

My Girl   Temptations  1965  #1

Composer Smokey Robinson gave the Temptations the freedom to create their own background vocals because “they were so great at them.”

Still Crazy After All These Years   Paul Simon  1976  #40

The track features the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the sax solo was by Michael Brecker whose initialed autograph is on the upper right of the record sleeve below.

Devil Woman   Cliff Richard   1976   #6

From his album “I’m Nearly Famous.” The song was heard in the 2017 film “I, Tonya” as the theme for Alison Janney’s character.

Beginnings    Chicago   1971  #7

Composer and lead singer Robert Lamm said the song was inspired by Richie Havens.

Blue Guitar    Justin Hayward and John Lodge      1976   #94

From their album Blue Jays which was recorded and released during the five year hiatus of the Moody Blues.  Bandmate John Lodge died on October 10, 2025.

Ticket to Ride    Carpenters   1970   #54

One of Richard Carpenter’s favorite recordings with Karen.

Blue Collar   Bachman Turner Overdrive   1973   #68

Bassist Fred Turner wrote and sang the song.

Lady Willpower   Gary Puckett and Union Gap      1968   #2

Most of the group’s songs were written by producer Jerry Fuller.

Diamond Girl   Seals and Crofts     1973  #6

David Paich and Jeff Porcaro of Toto played on this track.

Back on the Road   Joe Egan   1979   DNC

This was a “turntable hit” in the U.K. -–a song that was successful on the airplay charts but weak in sales.

Beads of Sweat    Laura Nyro (with Duane Allman)  1970  NR

The Muscle Shoals rhythm section helped out on this track.

8:00-9:00 (John Rudan's Hour)

The Long and Winding Road – 1970 - The Beatles

The Beatles last #1 record, produced by Phil Spector.

Black Pearl - 1969 - Sonny Charles & Checkmates LTD. 

And Phil Spector’s last 60’s Wall of Sound production.

Young Blood - 1979 – Rickie Lee Jones

I love doing theme’s and here’s another:  Rickie Lee Jones debut album and Bad Company’s cover version of the Coasters 1956 song.

Youngblood- 1976 – Bad Company

Cut The Cake – 1975 – Average White Band 

The funkiest band from Scotland, ever.

Salvation    Elton John

Boogie Wonderland – 1981 – Earth Wind & Fire (with The Emotions)  

This Chicago soul band  kept rolling out the music from the 70’s right into the 80’s

Blood Red And Going Down – 1973 – Tanya Tucker – Crossing over from the Bill Board Country Chart where it was a #1 record.

Never Been To Spain – 1971 – Three Dog Night  Songwriter Hoyt Axton also wrote Joy To The World for the ‘Dogs.

Harvest    Neil Young

Hold Me  - 1982 - Fleetwood Mac 

Lindsey Buckingham was a quirky producer, and this is one of his most quirky?  Still a Top 10 single.

Poor Poor Pitiful Me – 1976 – Warren Zevon  

Linda Ronstadt had the hit with this in 1977.

Say You Say Me – 1985 – Lionel Richie  

Frontline – 1982 – Stevie Wonder 

Two of Motown’s finest artists, still relevant in the 80’s!

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

Trivia Answer

Herman’s Hermits had five records in the 1965 year-end Billboard Hot 100 more than anyone else that year.

Congratulations to Kathy 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

H100 = Billboard Hot 100

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host October 25, 2025: Jan Hunsinger.

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!