November 1, 2025 - JS - Amazing Album Cuts & Surprising B-sides

 

Rockin' Remnants




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!)

 

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Date:  11/01/25

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  Amazing Album Cuts and Surprising B-sides

 

 

 

 I'm back after a six-week hiatus, and I'm borrowing a theme from my buddy Gregory James: Amazing Album Cuts and Surprising B-sides (because I've been away and haven't had time to get really prepped up). 6-9pm locally on 93.5FM (and streaming at wvbr.com worldwide). I'll also remind you to change your clocks. 

We are here to serve!

  

 

 

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)

 

Fever – Little Caesar & The Romans (9/61; dnc – this cool cover was tucked onto the B-side of “Memories of Those Oldies But Goodies Remind Me of You,” a cheap attempt to ride the coattails of the previous hit “Those Oldies but Goodies.” The A-side never cracked the Hot 100, but the B-side was pretty excellent!)

 

 

You Send Me – Aretha Franklin (5/68; #56 Pop, #28 R&B – this was the designated B-side of her #1 R&B hit “Think,” but it garnered enough interest that it did pretty well on both major music charts on its own. Sam Cooke wrote it, but Aretha put her distinctive stamp on it.)

 

Slow Down – Young Rascals (12/65; dnc – these guys were one of the hottest bar bands in the Greater New York area when Atlantic Records signed them. This cover of the Larry Williams song was released as the B-side of their first charting single. “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore” only made it to #56, but their next release would soar to the top of the chart and there was no looking back!)

 

 

 

Groovy Kind of Love – Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles (3/66; dnc – at about the same time that Atlantic released “Good Lovin’,” they also released The Bluebelles’ version of “Over the Rainbow.” It didn’t chart, but its B-side featured one of the earliest versions of this Pop classic. The Mindbenders’ version would also be released at about this time and reach #2.)

 

 

End of the World – Herman’s Hermits (8/65; dnc – Gregory James’s trivia answer two weeks prior is that Herman’s Hermits had five records on the 1965 year-end chart. One of them was “I’m Henry the VIII,” and this tasty cover of the Skeeter Davis hit was its B-side. There is widespread speculation that session player Jimmy Page was one of the guitarists on this track.)

 

 

Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney (5/70; NR – shortly after the Beatles’ break-up was announced, Paul released a solo album on which he apparently played all of the instruments. No singles were released from this record, but this was the likeliest candidate if there had been. Talk about “surprising album cuts!” Sure enough, a live version would be released about seven years later and crack the Top Ten.)

 

 

Everynight – The Drifters (10/72; NR – contrary to what you might think, the Drifters did NOT stop recording in 1965 – they just stopped being successful. This version of the Paul McCartney tune was released as a single in Europe in early 1973, and can also be found on the Bell Records LP Save the Last Dance for Me.)

 

 

Tell Me Why – The Beatles (8/64; NR – why this song was never released as a single still baffles me! I first heard it on the US Capitol Records LP called “Something New,” and it’s still one of my favorite songs by the band. This one also wraps up a mini-set of three songs that Paul McCartney had a hand in writing.)

 

 

Who Knows Where the Time Goes – Judy Collins (11/68; dnc – we play this one on the night that the clocks change, and we play it from a slightly scratchy 45. It was the B-side of “Both Sides Now,” and this version is a stripped-down one with just two guitars – both played by Stephen Stills – and bass, while the LP version has added instrumentation and some studio trickery. I love this version.)

 

 

Eli’s Comin’ – Laura Nyro (8/68; dnc – this was essentially the title track of her Eli & The Thirteenth Confession album, which was her first on the Columbia label. Three Dog Night would later have a big hit with it, but this is the version that captivated me when I was a boy – and still does. She does all of her vocal overdubs, accompanied by some of NYC’s finest studio players. A mono version was released as a single, but nobody ever really heard it.)

 

 

*  Haunted House – The Kingsmen (11/63; dnc – many many people bought this record back in 1963 but few probably played this side of it. That’s because the other side was “Louie Louie,” which was a smash hit that eventually reached #2, probably fueled by rumors that it contained dirty lyrics, which drove the grown-ups mad. In fact, the FBI did carry out an official investigation. They came up empty-handed. This side is a rather cool surf-rock instrumental, and doubles as our nod to last night’s holiday.)

  

 

Runaway Girl – Dion (9/61; dnc – here’s another B-side which was paired with a big hit record. In this case it’s “Runaround Sue,” which Dion took to #1 on the Pop chart and to #4 R&B, backed by the Del-Satins. It’s got a beautiful little melody with a nice piano line, and it probably could’ve been an A-side on its own.)

  

A Fork in the Road – The Miracles (3/65; dnc – occasionally I’m asked to name some of my favorite B-sides, and this one often tops my list. It can be found on the back of “Tracks of My Tears,” which is one of the greatest songs of the Sixties – and I think that this one gives that one a run for its money.)

   

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

 

October 27 – Gary Chester (studio drummer) – 1924

            – Floyd Kramer (session pianist) – 1933

 

October 28 – Wayne Fontana – 1945

  

October 29 – Denny Laine (Moody Blues) – 1944

         

October 30 – Grace Slick (Airplane) – age 86

            – Eddie Holland (Motown lyricist) – age 86

            – Timothy B. Schmit (Eagles) – 78

  

October 31 – Russ Ballard (Argent) – age 80

  

November 1 – Dan Peek (America) – 1950

           

  

He’s So Fine – The Chiffons (3/63; #1 for four weeks – songwriter Ronnie Mack knocked on doors for weeks to try to find somebody interested in his song. He finally found The Tokens, who had started doing production work. To save money, they played all of the instruments themselves – except for the drums. They hired Gary Chester to do that part.)

 

 

It Hurts To Be In Love – Gene Pitney (7/64; #7 – this song is one of hundreds of recordings propelled by the beat of NYC session drummer Gary Chester. He was the go-to guy for most of producers Lieber & Stoller’s hits, as well as Bacharach & David’s Dionne Warwick recordings, Phil Spector’s New York records, Girl Group hits, Drifters records, Brown Eyed Girl, Bad Bad Leroy Brown….you get the picture.)

 

 

A Mess of Blues – Elvis Presley (7/60; #32 – this was originally the B-side of “It’s Now Or Never,” but it was too good to fade into the background. The Jordanaires played a big part in its success, but it’s really driven by Nashville session player Floyd Cramer’s rolling piano. And Elvis, of course!)

 

 

Your Last Goodbye – Floyd Kramer (9/61; #63 – in addition to his session work for Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Skeeter Davis and dozens of other Nashville artists, Floyd had a few instrumental hits as the featured artist, showcasing his trademark “slip note” style of playing. This one is a good example.)

 

 

 

Go Now! – Moody Blues (2/65; #10 Pop, #1 UK for two weeks – Denny Laine was a founding member of this British Blues band that was obsessed with Black American music. Somehow, they got their hands on an obscure Bessie Banks single and faithfully copied her arrangement. The result was a big #1 hit in England, and the beginning of a long recording career for the band, who eventually moved away from the Blues. Denny got out early and later joined Paul McCartney’s “Wings.”)

   

 

The Game of Love – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (4/65; #1 – American songwriter Clint Ballard, Jr. wrote lots of hit songs, but none as big as this one. Riding the wave of the British Invasion and starting with a thundering drum beat, this one remains a classic Oldies radio staple. Between you and me, this is the first time that I’ve ever played it on the radio!)

 

 

Leavin’ Here – Eddie Holland (2/64; #76 – he’s best known as the lyricist for the prolific songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, who were responsible for at least 140 charting songs at Motown and beyond, but he also had a handful of hits from the other side of the microphone. This wasn’t his biggest, but it moves!)

 

 

Hold Your Head Up – Argent (6/72; #5 – the band took its name from keyboardist Rod Argent, but guitarist Russ Ballard was crucial to their success, both as a player and a singer and a composer. He wrote and sang this one, and tonight we hear the heavily-edited 45 version of their biggest hit. As soon as the early fade happened I regretted not playing the LP version.)

 

 

Lather – Jefferson Airplane (9/68; dnc – this album track from the band’s Crown of Creation album also appeared on their first greatest hits compilation “The Worst of the Jefferson Airplane,” and deservedly so. Singer Grace Slick had written it for drummer/boyfriend Spencer Dryden who was approaching his 30^th birthday, and it appeared as the B-side of the album’s title track.)

 

 

I Can’t Tell You Why – Eagles (2/80; #8 – singer/bassist Timothy B. Schmit had joined the band Poco when Randy Meisner departed to join Eagles, and then was brought on board as an Eagle when Meisner left THAT band. This was one of his rare appearances on a single as the lead singer, and the world got to hear that angelic voice out front.) 

 

 

*  Woman Tonight – America (11/75; #44 – the three main members of the group met in high school on a military base in London, and had a string of great radio-friendly hits including this one, weird time signatures and all. It was written by trio member Dan Peek who also sang lead on it, and it goes out from Scottie to Peggy tonight.)

 

 

Lonely People – America (12/74; #5 – this was also a Dan Peek composition and was much more straightforward as a singalong record. Peek would leave a couple of years later to branch out as a solo Christian artist. That's him in the middle.)

 

 

 

 

 

8-9pm

 

I Can’t See Nobody – Bee Gees (5/67; #128 – here’s a B-side that almost reached the chart itself! The Bee Gees’ first charting single in the States was “New York Mining Disaster, 1941,” and it was the beginning of a remarkable musical career. The brothers, though, had been at it for a long time – see the picture? – and had actually written this song with Otis Redding in mind. When he showed no interest, they recorded it themselves.)  

 

 

Kiss Me Baby – Beach Boys (4/65; dnc – here’s another stunning B-side, this one paired with the #1 hit “Help Me, Rhonda” and backed by the same wall-of-sound instrumentation of LA’s famed Wrecking Crew. This is another example of getting twice your money’s worth when you’d buy certain 45s, especially if they were by The Beach Boys, the Beatles or – in my opinion – the Miracles.)

 

 

Always It’s You – Everly Brothers (5/60; #56 – here’s a B-side that managed to chart on its own, although it was heavily overshadowed by the A-side. The Everly Brothers had famously left Cadence Records after signing a huge contract with Warner Brothers, and the industry was eager to see if it had been worth it. This was their first release for the new label, and “Cathy’s Clown” went on to spend five weeks at #1 here in the States and seven weeks at the top in England. All told, they sold 8 million copies of this record!)

 

 

 

Please Be There – Orleans (1973; dnc – this is the song that opened their eponymous major label debut album, and it’s brilliant. The band has strong local roots, with a couple of members who attended Ithaca College and a guitarist/singer/composer who’s from Elmira. This was apparently released as a single, but I’ve never seen it. I categorize it as an amazing album track!)

 

 

Carpet of the Sun – Renaissance (10/73; NR – this stunning album track was taken from their Ashes Are Burning LP and got lots of FM airplay in New York City. A live version recorded at Carnegie Hall was released as a single in 1978 and John Rudan says that he’s seen this original version on a 45, but I can’t find any info on it other than this photo.)

 

 

Castles in the Air – Don McLean (2/72; dnc – this was the B-side of “Vincent,” the poignant follow-up to “American Pie.” This particular version is drenched in synthesizer and strings, but I was hoping that it was the original 1970 version from his Tapestry LP. That version was actually his first single, but it went nowhere. Twelve years later he’d record a slower version and THAT version would reach the Top 40.)

 

 

*  Rain – The Beatles (6/66; #23 – I’d alluded earlier to the notion that certain artists were a better investment if you were spending your hard-earned allowance on 45s. This is a perfect example: “Rain” was the B-side of “Paperback Writer,” a song that spent two weeks at #1. If you flipped it over you also got this thundering masterpiece, mostly written by John Lennon. Going out at the suggestion of an old friend.)

   

 

(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone – Monkees (1/67; #20 – and here’s another! This was the flipside of “I’m a Believer,” a song that spent seven weeks at #1, but this one was a whole lot easier to play convincingly in a fledgling rock band: four chords and lots of strumming. It was composed by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart and appeared in several episodes of The Monkees TV show.)

 

 

One X One – Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band (9/77; NR – this is an album track from the group’s Intakes LP, and it certainly could’ve been a successful single – to my ears, at least. Instead, two other songs were selected by the people at Epic Records and neither had any traction. BTW – that’s Tom Brumley on pedal steel guitar.)

 

 

The Crystal Ship – The Doors (6/67; dnc – this was the LA quartet’s second single and it stormed up the charts all the way to #1 – or, at least the A-side did! That side was “Light My Fire,” and people who bought the album came to realize that this was a heavily-edited version of that song. The B-side was the same length in both formats, dripping with atmosphere and Jim Morrison’s cryptic lyrics.)

 

 

Time – Pink Floyd (2/74; dnc – on the night where we change our clocks, here’s another “time” song. This heavily-edited song from The Dark Side of the Moon was the B-side of an even more heavily-edited version of “Us & Them,” which never cracked the Hot 100. It did, though, reach #85 on the rival Cashbox chart. The album versions of both songs got lots of play on FM radio.)

    

 

Got a Feelin’ – Mamas & Papas (4/66; dnc – this is another B-side-of-a-big-hit that never charted but is pretty well known. It also starts with a ticking clock sound, which made for a cool musical segue on the radio. The A-side was “Monday Monday,” and it was the group’s only #1 hit.)

 

 

Sugar Mountain – Neil Young (6/70; dnc * 4/71; dnc * 4/72; dnc – the people at Reprise and/or Neil Young had so much faith in this song that they used it as a B-side three times in a row! First up was “Cinnamon Girl,” then “When You Dance” and finally “Heart of Gold!” I do remember that it was a rare treat to hear it on FM radio because it never appeared on an album until Neil’s big hits compilation Decade. Now here it is, just for you!)

 

 

Colour My World – Chicago (4/70; dnc * 6/71; dnc – this is another one that appeared as a B-side on two different singles. First it was “Make Me Smile,” and then it was “Beginnings.” If you ever attended a school dance in the early Seventies, this was guaranteed to be on the playlist. And my friend the piano tuner learned how to play it because the chord progression covers so many of the notes that he’d just tuned!)

 

 

To Put Up With You – Sandpipers (4/70; dnc – this was the B-side of a song that lost the Academy Award to “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head!” That song was “Come Saturday Morning” from the film The Sterile Cuckoo, and it was first released in late 1969 with a different B-side. That version reached #83. Several months later it was reissued with this Paul Williams song as the B-side and it reached #13. And that’s how we end our show tonight: with an amazing B-side! See you on 11/22!)

 

 

 

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

  

 

Congratulations to Jeffrey from Ithaca, for winning a $25 gift card to Asempe Kitchen!

 

 

 

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 Next Week (11/8/25):  Jan Hunsinger with a spotlight on songwriter Ellie Greenwich

 

 

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!