April 25, 2026 - GJ and JR - Songs About Resilience and Real People

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: April 25, 2026

Hosts:  Gregory James and John Rudan

Feature: Songs About Resilience and Real People

Birthday Calendar

April 19

Mark Volman (Turtles, Flo and Eddie)  b. 1947

Eva Graham  (New Seekers)  83 years old

Alan Price (Animals keyboard)  84 years old

Larry Ramos  (Association)  b. 1942

April 20

Luther Vandross   b. 1951

April 21

Paul Davis   b. 1948

April 22

Peter Frampton   76 years old

Glen Campbell  b. 1936

Paul Carrack   75 years old

April 23

Ray Peterson  b. 1935

Roy Orbison  b. 1936

April 24

Doug Clifford  (Creedence Clearwater Revival  drummer)  81 years old

April 25

Michael Brown  (Left Banke keyboards/songwriter)  b.1949

Stu Cook    (CCR bassist)  81 years old

Bjorn Ulvaeus  (ABBA guitarist)  81 years old  

Playlist

* 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 (GJ)

OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)

Keep On Truckin’   Eddie Kendricks   1973  #1 RB and H100

This was Kendricks’ first major hit as a solo artist after he left the Temptations

I’ll Take You There   Staple Singers   1972  #1 RB and H100

The instrumentation was by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

Give Peace a Chance   Johnny Harris   1970

Harris was a British composer, arranger and producer who did a lot of work for Pye Records. Paul Anka took notice of Harris and in 1972 lured him to the U.S. to lead his orchestra.

I Will Survive   Gloria Gaynor  1979  #4 RB   #1 H100

The track won the 1980 Grammy for Best Disco Recording. 

We Are the Champions    Queen   1977

Originally the song was segued with “We Will Rock You” which did not chart as a single. However the song was certified as quadruple gold for digital downloads. It is also in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

America the Beautiful   Rascals   1969

The song was written by Felix Cavaliere and was included on the album “Freedom Suite.”

A Change Is Gonna Come    Aretha Franklin  1967

Franklin’s version was recorded two years after Sam Cooke’s death. She recorded it in one take during the same session that “Respect” was recorded.

Carry On   Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young   1970  NR

The album was recorded on the heels of romantic break ups by group members. For example, Graham Nash had split up with Joni Mitchell and Stephen Stills had broken up with Judy Collins.

Time   Edwin Starr   1970  #39 RB    #117 H100

Some fine socially conscious Northern Soul from his album “War and Peace.”

Worse Comes to Worst   Billy Joel  1974  #80

Off the “Piano Man” album, commentators at the time referred to the track as funky.

Power of My Love   Elvis Presley  1969  NR

The brief, punchy lyrics are an interesting feature of the song. You heard the song in Baz Luhrman’s film “Elvis.”

Stronger Than Before  Chaka Khan  1984  NR

The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

Tower of Strength   Gene McDaniels   1961  #5 H100  and RB

Burt Bacharach wrote this song, too.

I Wish You Peace   Eagles  1975 NR

The song was written by Bernie Leadon and Patti Davis (Ronald Reagan’s daughter).

7:00  (GJ)

Is It Any Wonder   Turtles  1967  NR

Written by PF Sloan and Steve Barri.

All Right My Love   New Seekers  1971  NR

Just For You  Alan Price  1977  DNC

One internet source claims the single was released on a heart shaped disc. Not sure how that would work..

Like Always    Association   1968  NR

Larry Ramos sang lead on this jazzy waltz that has echoes of Beach Boys harmonies. Ramos was the first Asian American to win a Grammy

Never Too Much   Luther Vandross  1981  #1 RB  #33 H 100

This was Vandross’ debut single from his debut album

Cool Night   Paul Davis   1981  #11 H100  #2 AC

Baby I Love Your Way  Peter Frampton   1975  #12

On this track Frampton played all the instruments except percussion.

Wichita Lineman    Glen Campbell  1968  #1 CW #1 AC  #3 H100

The song has been called the first existential country song. It was one of Bob Dylan’s favorite songs. Former Wrecking Crew member Campbell played the guitar solo himself.

How Long    Ace   1975  #3

Paul Carrack wrote and sang the song.

Til Then  Ray Peterson  1958   NR  

For publicity reasons Peterson claimed that he had been born in 1939, but he was born four years earlier.

Candy Man   Roy Orbison  1961  #25

The song was written by Fred Neil and the harmonica was played by Charlie McCoy. 

Big Boss Man  Jimmy Reed  1960  #13 RB, #78 H100

Born on the Bayou   Creedence Clearwater Revival  1969  DNC

This was the B-side to “Proud Mary.”

Pretty Ballerina    Left Banke  1967  #15

I like this track better than Walk Away Renee because the strings don’t drown out the piano

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!   ABBA   1980  NR

The song was not originally released as a single in the U.S. The song was inspired by Donna Summer’s recording of “Hot Stuff.” 

8:00 (JR)

American Pie – 1972  Don McLean – Written for “The Holy Trio”, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper.

Suite Judy Blue Eyes – 1969 C,S, N – For Judy Collins, Stephen Stills then-girlfriend.

Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile) – 1972 Van Morrison – Wilson was a big influence on young Van.

Abraham, Martin & John – 1968 Dion – In memory of the assassinations.

Candle In The Wind – 1973 Elton John – Written about Marilyn Monroe

You’re So Vain – 1972 Carly Simon – For Warren Beatty?  Never confirmed.

Hurricane, Pt. 1 – 1975 Bob Dylan – For boxer Ruben “Hurricane” Carter.

Harry Truman – 1975 Chicago

Annie’s Song – 1974  John Denver – For his then-wife Annie Martell

Angie – 1973 -- Rolling Stones – For David Bowie’s wife Angela Barnett

Bad Blood – 1975, Neil Sedaka – Allegedly about Karen Carpenter

My Sharona – 1979, The Knack – For Sharona Alperin, LA socialite.

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

CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host May 2: John Simon with a spotlight on songs from early May.

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!