November 22, 2025 - JS - Abraham, Martin & JFK

 

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:  11/22/25

Host:  John Simon

Feature:  Abraham, Martin & JFK

 

 

 

It was on this date back in 1963 that the whole world seemed to suddenly stop turning. If you were around back then, you know just where you were when you got the news. Tonight on WVBR’s Rockin’ Remnants we'll revisit the day and week and years that followed, starting at 6pm Eastern Time.

 

  

 

 

 

(scroll down to find 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)

 

Abraham, Martin & John – Dion (10/68; #4 – the world was reeling from the back-to-back assassinations of both Dr. King and RFK, which reopened the gaping wound left by JFK’s shocking murder four years prior. Former Doo Wop star Dion hesitantly released this gentle ballad by songwriter Dick Holler, and it was gobbled up by a grieving nation.)

 

 

Life in a Northern Town – Dream Academy (11/85; #7 – a full twenty years after those shots rang out in Dallas, there was still a collective ache in the air. This record, produced by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, references the winter of 1963 with John F. Kennedy and The Beatles, and the oboe that runs through it echoes the sound of Dion’s record. Chills!)

 

 

 

 

He Was a Friend of Mine – Byrds (10/65; NR – Roger McGuinn sat down on the night of November 22, 1963 with a heavy heart and an old guitar, and began to play with an old traditional Folk ballad. It became part of the Byrds’ repertoire, and they included it on their Turn! Turn! Turn! album two years later.)

 

Six White Horses – Tommy Cash (8/69; #79 Pop, #4 C&W – by 1963 almost every American home had at least one television, and they were all tuned into non-stop coverage on all of the major networks as the spectacle unfolded – first of grainy news images, then of LBJ being sworn in, of Lee Harvey Oswald being shot on live TV and finally of the dramatic funeral procession, complete with young John-John’s salute to the rider-less horse. Tommy Cash was the brother of Johnny Cash. This was his contribution to the canon.)

 

  

 

 

The Warmth of the Sun – Beach Boys (4/64; NR – this is another piece of music written on that dark night in 1963. The words don’t fit the narrative theme, but the mournful aching melody captures what young Brian Wilson was feeling that evening as the gravity of the day’s events sank in.)

 

One unrecognized casualty of the JFK assassination is that a lot of new music didn’t play on the nation’s radios for a couple of weeks. Current hits climbing the charts stalled, and many new releases went unheard. Coming up tonight we’ll hear some of them.

 

 

I Got a Woman – Freddie Scott (11/63; #48 – this cover version of the Ray Charles song was released on the Colpix Records label on November 2^nd. It was climbing rapidly until the world stopped turning three weeks later. The music stopped playing. When it resumed, this one had faded into obscurity.)

 

 

Have You Heard – Duprees (11/63; #18 – this was a lush and beautiful vocal number that was released on November 9^th, and it was the type of fare that many stations would start playing again when things began to go back to normal. Tonight we hear a stunning stereo version for the first time on our airwaves.)

 

  

Wonderful Summer – Robin Ward (11/63; #14 – here’s another record that was soothing to the collective ears out in radio land. It would also be her only charting single.)

  

I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight – Barry & The Tamerlanes (10/63; #21 – this record clocks in at 1:50 and was still hanging around on the charts when the music finally started to play again. The Barry in question is Barry De Vorzon, label founder,  producer, arranger and composer. This would be the group’s only Hot 100 single, although he and collaborator Perry Botkin, Jr. would be back in the mid-Seventies with a giant instrumental hit.)

 

 

 

 

Ally Ally Oxen Free – Kingston Trio (11/23/63; #61 – Rod McKuen penned this bittersweet Folk ballad that was released the very day after the Kennedy assassination, and it did manage to get some airplay, but it may have been a little too sad and cerebral to generate much interest from record-buyers.)

  

Do-Wah-Diddy – Exciters (1/4/64; #78 – this was written by the Brill Building team of Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, and may have been too bouncy or jarring for the times – but a copy did end up in the hands of a young British beat band, who would turn their own version into a worldwide smash a few months later. They were called Manfred Mann.)

 

 

 

What the World Needs Now/Abraham, Martin & John – Tom Clay (7/71; #8 – at the top of the show I mentioned that I had several versions of the Dick Holler song with me. This one goes out by request to listener Scottie, who wanted to hear some of the actual sounds of the day. Tom Clay was an LA DJ who signed with Motown’s west coast affiliate, and he pieced together this powerful montage of audio footage. At 6+ minutes long, it managed to get lots of airplay in parts of the country. Here it is.)

 

 

 

 

7-8pm

 

 Birthday Calendar

 

 

November 16 – Garnett Mimms – age 92

            – Dan Penn (composer/singer) – age 84

            – Chi Coltrane – age 77

 

November 17 – Gordon Lightfoot – born in 1937

            – Bob Gaudio (4 Seasons) – age 83

            – Gene Clark (Byrds) – born in 1944

 

 

November 18 – Pervis Staples – born in 1935

            – Hank Ballard – born in 1936

 

 

November 19 – Hank Medress (Tokens) – born 1939

            – Pete Moore (Miracles) – born 1939

 

November 20 – Norman Greenbaum – age 83

            – Joe Walsh (James Gang) – age 78

 

 

November 21 – David Porter (writer/prod) – age 83

            – Andrew Love (Memphis Horns) – 1941

 

 

November 22 – Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band) – age 74

           

 

I’m Your Puppet – Dan Penn (11/65; dnc – Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham wrote some terrific songs that have gone onto become stone soul classics. Before James & Bobby Purify recorded this one, he released his version on the M-G-M label to little notice – and with one minor difference: he sang it as “I’m THE puppet” instead of “I’m YOUR puppet.” Could that have made the difference between a hit or a miss???)

 

 

 

A Quiet Place – Garnett Mimms & The Enchanters (7/64; #78 – the history books often refer to him as a one-hit wonder best known because Janis Joplin recorded his most famous song. In truth, he charted ten R&B singles in the Sixties and he deserves to be known for more than just “Cry, Baby!”)

 

 

 

Save It For Me – 4 Seasons (8/64; #10 – original group member Bob Gaudio played the piano on and was co-writer of a bunch of the group’s biggest hits along with Bob Crewe, including this follow-up to the big #1 hit “Rag Doll.” In fact, he had full or shared writing credit on all five of group’s #1 singles!)

 

 

 

Thunder & Lightning – Chi Coltrane (9/72; #17 – she was from Racine, WI and signed with Columbia Records as a 23 year old pianist and vocalist. This was her first and only charting single here in the States, but she had considerable success in the UK.)

 

 

 

I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better – Byrds (7/65; #103 – this song was designated as the B-side of the group’s All I Really Want To Do, and in retrospect probably should’ve been the A-side. Rolling Stone ranks it at #79 in its list of the 500 greatest songs of the era, and it gets a lot more play than the Dylan song with which it was paired. Writer Gene Clark would leave after two albums, leaving a gaping hole in the group’s line-up and repertoire.)

 

 

 

If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot (12/70; #5 – he was a Canadian national treasure who’d started recording as Gord Lightfoot in 1960. His songwriting was recognized by many of his contemporaries, who recorded songs including “Early Mornin’ Rain” and “For Lovin’ Me,” but his signing to a major US label exposed him as a singer to a much larger market. This was his first charting single on the Reprise label.)

 

 

 

You’re My Girl – Tokens (11/64; NR – this Goffin-King composition was supposed to be the follow-up to “He’s In Town,” but the powers that be said that the two songs were too similar and the record was pulled at the last minute. British group The Rockin’ Berries successfully charted in the UK with both songs, but their arrangements were identical to the Tokens’ originals. This should’ve been a hit record.)

 

 

 

Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters (9/60; #6 Pop; #1 R&B for three weeks – Hank Ballard wrote a bunch of big hits over the years, but probably none as big as “The Twist.” Recording for King Records in the early Sixties, he had a couple of really big records that successfully crossed over to the Pop charts, including this and “Finger Poppin’ Time.” The latter was nominated for a Grammy Award.)

  

 

Choosey Beggar – The Miracles (3/66; #35 R&B – Pete Moore was a founding member of the group and was of Smokey Robinson’s most successful song-writing partners. This song was designated as the B-side of “Going to a Go-Go,” and managed to reach the Top 40 on the R&B chart on its own.)

  

Why? (Am I Treated So Bad) – Staple Singers (6/67; #95 – Pervis Staples was a founding member of the legendary family group featuring his two sisters and their guitar-player father “Pops” Staples. Steeply rooted in the Gospel tradition, many of their songs dealt with social justice and racial disparities. This was one of their final singles before signing with Stax Records, where they’d finally hit the big-time.)

 

 

 

Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum (2/70; #3 for three weeks; #1 UK for two weeks – he had one big hit, but what a hit it was! This record has been used in over 100 TV and movie soundtracks, over two dozen TV commercials has been covered by at least fifty other artists, ranging from Elton John to William Shatner! Not bad for a Jewish kid from a small town in Massachusetts.)

 

 

 

Walk Away – James Gang (6/71; #51 – Joe Walsh was the driving force behind this band, and he would also produce a number of great records for other artists before finally joining up to be one of the Eagles. This was the band’s highest-charting single and featured Walsh on guitar and lead vocal. He also wrote it.)

 

 

 

I Thank You – Sam & Dave (2/68; #9 Pop, #4 R&B – two of our birthday celebrants were significant contributors to this record: David Porter was the co-writer with Isaac Hayes and Andrew Love was one of the main members of The Memphis Horns. This was Sam & Dave’s final single on the Stax Records label before they were returned to the Atlantic Records imprint, from whom they’d been on loan. Talk about going out on a high note!)

 

 

 

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (9/75; #23 – this is the record that catapulted Bruce Springsteen to public prominence, after building his reputation as a blistering live performer. Rolling Stone ranks this song as #21 in its RS500. Bruce himself has said of his sidekick Steven Van Zandt that the opening guitar figure was “…arguably Steve’s greatest contribution to my music.”)

 

 

 

 

8-9pm

 

Abraham, Martin & John – Moms Mabley (6/69; #35 Pop, #18 R&B – the lingering shock and disbelief about these shooting deaths continued to haunt America, and this particular song seemed to resonate deeply with music consumers. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Tom Clay and Marvin Gaye are among the many artists who released it, but none was as surprising as Chitlin’ Circuit comedienne Moms Mabley. Her version was unexpectedly poignant. Tonight we hear a scratchy 45 copy.)

 

 

 

A Ray of Hope – The Rascals (12/68; #24 – hot on the heels of their massive hit “People Got To Be Free,” which was inspired by the sight of RFK’s casket crossing the continent by train, the group released a song dedicated to the youngest Kennedy brother. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was seen as a ray of hope for those hoping to keep the Kennedy dream alive. Those hopes would be dashed six months later when his car went off a bridge near Chappaquiddick.)

  

People Make the World – Roosevelt Grier (8/68; #126 – sports fans may remember Rosey Grier as a star defensive lineman in the NFL. Parents may remember him singing “It’s All Right To Cry” on the children’s LP Free To Be You & Me, but few probably remember that he was a bodyguard for presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy in 1968. He and fellow footballer Rafer Johnson helped to subdue the gunman who shot RFK, and he was moved to record a tribute to his friend a few weeks later. The record never charted, but it’s quite moving.)

 

 

I Am the Greatest – Cassius Clay (3/64; #113 – Cassius and Tom Clay were in no way related, and he is of course now known as Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest prizefighters of the 20th century. He was a brash young pugilist who was known for his slashing wordplay as well as his left hook. Columbia Records released a novelty single with "Stand By Me" on one side and this on the other. It sort of got lost in the British Invasion, but it's a cool slice of history.)

 

 

 

We Shall Overcome – Pete Seeger (1/64; NR – Joan Baez released her version of this Civil Rights anthem on November 9^th of 1963 and it debuted at #90 with “a bullet,” indicating that it was going to be a hit. When the following week’s chart was released, it had completely vanished. Tonight we’ll hear the version that Pete Seeger recorded at Carnegie Hall six months earlier, released shortly after JFK’s death.)

 

 

 

Everybody Loves Saturday Night – Beverly Washburn (11/63; dnc – this teen lament was released on the Smash Records label in late 1963 and got totally lost in the shuffle. The title may have been adapted from a popular folk song of the same name, but this was completely unrelated – and definitely NOT a smash record, chart-wise.)

  

 

Reach Out For Me – Lou Johnson (10/63; #74 – Lou recorded for the Big Top label and he was the first vehicle for many of Burt Bacharach’s songs. Big Top would soon fold and Dionne Warwick would go on to record more successful versions of this and other Lou Johnson material. Her version of “Reach Out For Me” would reach the Top Twenty a year later, and Lou would fade into obscurity.)

   

 

 

It’s All in the Game – Cliff Richard (11/63; #25 Pop, #2 UK – this is typical of the pleasant fare that made it to the airwaves in the wake of JFK’s assassination. Cliff Richard was one of the UK’s biggest stars, but this was his highest-charting record here in the States until he’d reinvent himself in the late Seventies.)

 

Stewball – Peter, Paul & Mary (11/30/63; #35 – this sweet little record had the misfortune of being released in the thick of the chaos of the times. While it may not get much airplay on Oldies radio these days, it was probably in many people's record collections as an album track.)  

  

Abraham Martin & John – Marvin Gaye (5/70; #9 UK – many artists recorded this song, but this version was never released as a single here in the States and was mostly only heard by people who’d bought Marvin’s That’s The Way Love Is LP. It’s a shame, because it’s a stunning version, propelled by James Jamerson’s rolling bass line and delivered as only Marvin can deliver a song.)

 

 

 

I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (1/6/64; #1 for seven weeks – from the deep dark despair of late November, something miraculous seemed to rise from the ashes: an exciting new sound from across the sea that would change the shape of American culture in ways that had seemed unimaginable. Much has been written about how the conditions were just right for The Beatles to take America by storm. This is the record that opened the floodgates.)

 

 

 

 

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & 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

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 (11/29/25):  Kim Vaughan with a spotlight as yet unknown

 

 

 

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!