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: June 10, 2023
Host: Gregory James
Feature: What If? Song Titles Beginning with “If.”
Birthday Calendar
June 4
Gordon Waller (Peter and Gordon) b. 1945 d. 2009
Michelle Phillips (Mamas and Papas) 79 years old
Freddy Fender b. 1937 d. 2006
June 5
Astrud Gilberto, the voice of Bossa Nova, passed away on June 5, 2023.
June 6
Gary US Bonds 84 years old
Levi Stubbs (Four Tops) b. 1936 d. 2008
June 7
Prince b. 1958 d. 2016
Tom Jones 83 years old
June 8
Boz Scaggs 79 years old
Nancy Sinatra 83 years old
June 9
Jackie Wilson b. 1934 d. 1984
Johnny Ace b. 1929 d. 1954
Les Paul b. 1915 d. 2009
June 10
Shirley Owens Alston (Shirelles) 82 years old.
Rock n’ Roll Trivia
Question: The Beatles recorded two songs that began with the word “If.” What were they and which one charted?
(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)
If You Could Read My Mind Gordon Lightfoot 1971 #5
Once you have heard this song, you never forget it.
If You Really Love Me Stevie Wonder 1971 #8 H100 #4 RB
This record was one of Stevie Wonder’s last tracks to use the Funk Brothers.
*If Bread 1971 #4
Requested by Scottie for Brooktondale Peggy and for loved ones everywhere.
If Not for You Bob Dylan 1970 DNC
Dylan wrote the song in reference to his first wife Sara. He once referred to the song as “sort of Tex-Mex.”
If I Fell Beatles 1964 #53
John and Paul used a single microphone when recording their vocals.
If I Needed Someone Beatles 1965 DNC
In writing the song, George Harrison channeled the Byrds who were channeling the Beatles.
If You Love Me Let Me Know Olivia Newton John 1974 #5 H100 #2 CW and Easy Listening
If You Don’t Know Me By Now Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes 1972 #3 H100 #1 RB
Composers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff originally intended the song to be recorded by Labelle. The record was selected as one of the “Songs of the Century” by the Recording Industry Association of American.
If I Can Dream Elvis Presley 1969 #12
This highly emotional and deeply personal song was the finale of Presley’s 1968 Comeback TV special.
If He Walked Into My Life Eydie Gorme 1966 #120
The song originally occurred in the musical Mame.
If I Didn’t Love You Chuck Jackson 1965 #39 H100 #18 RB
If I Didn’t Care Platters 1961 #30
The Platters were considered by some to be the group that made the most romantic doo-wop music.
If a Man Answers Bobby Darin 1962 #32
Bobby Darin starred in a movie of the same name opposite his wife Sandra Dee.
If A Woman Answers Leroy VanDyke 1962 #35 H100 #3 CW
Barry Mann and the late Cynthia Weill penned this song.
If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me Wanda Jackson 1962 #58 H100 #28 CW #16 AC
If Paragons 1961 #82
An influential rocksteady group out of Kingston Jamaica.
If I Give My Heart to You Kitty Kallen 1959 #34
7:00-8:00
World Without Love Peter and Gordon 1964 #1
Written by Paul McCartney when he was 16 and his girlfriend was Jane Asher, Peter Asher’s sister. (McCartney did not think the song was good enough to be released by the Beatles.)
Victim of Romance Michelle Phillips DNC
Michelle Phillips learned to write in Spanish before she learned to write in English. She released a solo album in 1977 called “Victim of Romance,” and you heard the title track.
Before the Next Teardop Falls Freddy Fender 1975 #1 H100 #1 CW
Fender said it took him “a few minutes” to dub bilingual vocals into a pre-existing instrumental track. He didn’t think the record had much potential, but it hit the top of both the pop and country charts.
The Girl from Ipanema Astrud Gilberto 1977 NR
Astrud Gilberto passed away on June 5, 2023. From her 1977 LP “That Girl from Ipanema,” here is a disco version of the boss nova anthem that she made a world-wide smash hit.
This Little Girl Gary US Bonds 1981 #11
Written by Bruce Springsteen.
It’s the Way Nature Planned It Four Tops 1972 #53 H100
I Wanna Be Your Lover Prince 1979 #11 H100 #2 RB
This track was Prince’s first major hit single in the U.S. written, it was speculated, about Patrice Rushen.
Delilah Tom Jones 1968 #15
“Delilah” was sung at Welsh Rugby events for several years before being discontinued. The song stirred vigorous controversy in Wales as a murder ballad.
Hollywood Boz Scaggs 1978 #49
From his LP “Two Down, Then Left.”
These Boots Are Made for Walking Nancy Sinatra 1966 #1
She may be 83, but Nancy Sinatra could probably still walk her boots all over you—especially if that’s the kind of thing you enjoy…
Higher and Higher Jackie Wilson 1967 H100 #6 RB #1
Although this track was recorded in Chicago, the Detroit based Funk Brothers and backing singers Andantes moonlighted on this side. Jackie Wilson recorded his vocals in one take.
Yes, Baby Johnny Ace and Big Mama Thornton 1954
Many of Johnny Ace’s records were downbeat ballads, but this track is a jumping blues duet with Big Mama Thornton.
How High the Moon Les Paul and Mary Ford 1951 #1
It’s Gonna Take a Miracle Shirelles 1971 NR
This is a really fine cover of a great song from their 1971 LP “Happy and in Love”.
If I Had a Hammer Peter Paul and Mary 1962 #10
This won the Grammy for Best Folk Recording and Best Recording by a Vocal Group. The version you heard is speeded up from its original tempo.
If I Were a Carpenter Tim Hardin 1966 DNC
One of the weirder rumors about the song is that Tim Hardin wrote it during the construction of his recording studio in Lenny Bruce’s home. What?!?
If I Could Build My Whole World Around You Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell 1968 #10 H100 #2 RB
This was their third single together.
8:00-9:00
If Heaven Could Find Me Ambrosia 1979 #107
Recorded at Mama Jo’s Studio in North Hollywood.
If I Could Reach You 5th Dimension 1972 #10
This was the 5th Dimensions final record in the top 10 of the Hot 100.
If I Can’t Have You Flamingos 1953 DNC
Johnny Carter sang the high falsetto vocal line.
If I Didn’t Have a Dime to Play the Jukebox Gene Pitney 1962 #58
In 1962 a dime contained silver alloy. Today it would be worth between one and two and a half dollars.
If It’s Real What I Feel Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager 1971 #69 H100 #8 RB
Brenda Lee Eager was the lead singer in Peaches, Jerry Butler’s backing singers.
If I Ever Lose This Heaven Average White Band 1965 #46 H100 #25 RB
If You Gotta Go, Go Now Manfred Mann 1965 DNC
This Bob Dylan cover did not chart in the US, but reached #2 in the UK.
If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody James Ray 1962 #22 H100 #10 RB
This was one of John Lennon’s favorite records, and the song was performed live by the Beatles, and covered by Freddie and the Dreamers and Ronnie Wood.
If Loving You is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right Millie Jackson 1975 #42
This version of the song changes the gender of the narrator, to stunning effect.
If I Should Lose You Dreamlovers 1962 #62
In an earlier incarnation, the Dreamlovers were known as the Midnighters—as in Hank Ballard and the Midnighters who recorded the first version of “The Twist.”
If You Can Dream Four Aces 1956 #62
The original format of this recording was a shellac 78 RPM record on the Decca label.
If 6 Was 9 Jimi Hendrix 1968 DNC
Hendrix played the recorder on the fade out. Graham Nash provided some foot stomping percussion.
If It’s So Baby Robins 1950 #10 RB
Another record on the Savoy label originally issued as a 78 RPM. The group exemplified West Coast doo-wop and moved the genre in a new direction with the help of Johnny Otis.
If You Need Me Solomon Burke 1963 #37 H100 #2 RB
Burke co-wrote the song with Wilson Pickett, who had his own version of the song on the chart at the same time.
If You Want Me to Stay Sly and the Family Stone 1973 #12 H100 #3 RB
The song started life as a letter of apology from Sly Stone to his future wife Kathleen Silva.
CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)
Trivia Answer
“If I Fell” 1964, #53
“If I Needed Someone” 1965 DNC
Congratulations to Dave from Ithaca for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s movie house for first run, independent, international and local films.
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
June 17, 2023: John Simon with a spotlight on songs or groups containing the word “Blue.”
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.
And thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!
