THE DIVERSITY OF THE MUSIC SCENE IN OCTOBER 1968

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Looking back 40 years at the music scene, it is quite apparent that the level of diversity was outstanding, especially in comparison to recent years. The pop scene, represented by the 45 RPM market, was still vital (but changing), while the 33 RPM album market could finally say that it had established itself where it was starting to surpass the singles market in terms of relevance.

            Here’s our proof -

            First, the singles;

1)    Love Child – Diana Ross & the Supremes

2)    Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf

3)    Elenore – The Turtles

4)    Quick Joey Small – Kasenetz/Katz Singing Orchestral Circus

5)    Naturally Stoned – The Avant Garde

Then, the albums;

6)    Astral Weeks – Van Morrison

7)    Sweet Thing – Van Morrison

8)    Rainy Day, Dream Away – Jimi Hendrix Experience

9)    Still Raining, Still Dreaming – Jimi Hendrix Experience

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-22 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’-SIDE, PART 22

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Today’s show, our 22^nd episode featuring every classic (and not-so-classic) Motown A-side starts as 1964 ends, and ends as 1965 begins. Quite obviously, this is Motown at the peak of its creativity and popularity, but there are still quite a few obscurities and oddities to keep things interesting.

Here’s a list of featured songs;

1)    Ever Since the World Began – Dorsey Burnette

2)    This Is the Life – Marvin Gaye

3)    My Girl – The Temptations

4)    Come See About Me – Choker Campbell’s Big Band

5)    Put Me in Your Pocket – Howard Crockett

6)    He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ – The Velvelettes

7)     Ask the Lonely – The Four Tops

8)    Do You Know What I’m Talkin’ About – The Downbeats

9)    Conscience I’m Guilty – Hattie Littles

10)  Shotgun – Jr. Walker & the All Stars

11)  All For You – Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-21 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’ SIDE, PART 21

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Our Motown marathon continues with our 21^st episode, covering the ‘A’ side of every 45 RPM single released by the Motown family of labels (including Tamla, Soul, Gordy, Melody, V.I.P and of course, Motown itself). Today’s show brings us to the end of 1964, a very period during a very successful year for the label. Songs include;

1)    Tonight’s the Night – The Headliners

2)    Too Many Fish in the Sea – The Marvelettes

3)    Come See About Me – The Supremes

4)    Pretty Little Angel – Stevie Wonder

5)    Without the One You Love – The Four Tops

6)    How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) – Marvin Gaye

7)    A Little More Love – Kim Weston

8)    Wild One – Martha & the Vandellas

9)    When Someone’s Good to You – Carolyn Crawford

10) Randy, the Newspaper Boy – Ray Oddis

11)  Can You Jerk Like Me – The Contours

12)  Come On Do the Jerk – The Miracles

13)  Talkin’ to Your Picture – Tony Martin

MUSIC AS OLD AS I AM - A 50TH ANNIVERSARY/BIRTHDAY

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Please pardon me if I take a personal approach to today’s show, but it marks a bittersweet signpost in my life. As of today, October 22, I have ‘crossed over’ to the other side…. I’m an official member of the AARP….aww, heck, I’m fifty today.

            What better reason to look at music from fifty years ago this month? As usual, we have a few stories, and plenty of great songs. Here are songs that we cover in today’s show;

1)    Tears On My Pillow – Little Anthony & the Imperials

2)    It’s Only Make Believe – Conway Twitty

3)    Bird Dog – The Everly Brothers

4)    Topsy (Parts 1 and 2) – Cozy Cole

5)    Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day

6)    It’s All in the Game – Tommy Edwards

7)    Summertime, Summertime – The Jaymies

8)    To Know Him Is to Love Him – The Teddy Bears

9)    A Lover’s Question – Clyde McPhatter

10) Lonesome Town – Ricky Nelson

11)  La-Do-Dada – Dale Hawkins

12)  This Little Girl’s Gone Rockin’ – Ruth Brown

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-20 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’ SIDE, PART 20

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The Motown juggernaut continues as we cover their releases through the summer of 1964. Plenty of hits combine with plenty of surprises. As usual, there are plenty of good stories, too…

            Here a list of songs from today’s program;

1)    It’s a Crying Shame (The Way You Treat a Good Man Like Me) – Shorty Long

2)    That’s What Love Is Made Of – The Miracles

3)    Lifetime Man – Oma Heard

4)    Baby Don’t You Do It – Marvin Gaye

5)    Needle In a Haystack – The Velvelettes

6)    Happy Street – Stevie Wonder

7)    Baby Love – The Supremes

8)    Whisper You Love Me Boy – Mary Wells

9)    Soul Stomp – Earl Van Dyke

10)  What Good Am I Without You – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

11)  Who You Gonna Run To – Mickey McCullers

12)  Sweet Thing – The Spinners

13)  Hello Love – The  Majestics

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-19 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’-SIDE, PART 19

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Our Motown marathon continues as we enter the classic era of Motown’s  existence. It’s an era that lasts for quite a while, and it’s shows like these that made us think of doing this in the first place!

            Here’s a list of songs from today’s show;

1)    Since I’ve Lost You – Jimmy Ruffin

2)    When I’m Gone – Mary Wells

3)    Baby I Need Your Loving – The Four Tops

4)    You Make Me Happy – Bruce Channel

5)    Candy to Me – Eddie Holland

6)    Dancing in the Street – Martha & the Vandellas

7)    Baby I Miss You – Tommy Good

8)    My Smile Is Just a Frown Turned Upside Down – Carolyn Crawford

9)    Looking for the Right Guy – Kim Weston

10)  Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) – The Temptations

11)  My Lil’s Run Off – Howard Crockett

12)  Satan’s Blues – Jr. Walker & the All Stars

13)  Bread Winner – Sammy Ward

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – 40TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASES

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Last week we dedicated our show to the wonderful new releases issued by Fantasy Records. We could barely fit half of the highlights into that one program, so we decided to follow up with a second show dedicated to the rest of the best bits that we couldn’t get to.

            So here is part two, dedicated to America’s best singles band ever (and they had a few great album tracks, too, as these shows ought to prove). Here’s the list of songs covered in today’s show;

1) Down on the Corner

2) Fortunate Son

3) Travelin' Band

4)Who'll Stop the Rain

5) Up Around the Bend

6) Run Through the Jungle

7) Lookin' Out My Back Door

8) Hey Tonight

9) Molina

10) Have You Ever Seen the Rain

            

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-18 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’-SIDE, PART 18

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Today’s episode in our coverage of Motown represents a significant signpost in the label’s history. Until now, Motown was an up-and-coming independent record label with an impressive roster of artists who were ready to take on the world. By this point in history, though, they were doing just that. Motown was competing directly on the charts with the Beatles, a musical phenomenon the likes of which had never been seen. Once the Supremes (finally) had their first #1 hit, Motown was established as an industry leader. They would remain there for the rest of the decade. Here’s a list of songs featured in today’s program;

1)    Just Ain’t Enough Love – Eddie Holland

2)    Once Upon a Time – Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells

3)    What’s the Matter with You, Baby – Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells

4)    I’ll Be in Trouble – The Temptations

5)    The Girl’s Alright with Me – The Temptations

6)    Hey Harmonica Man- Stevie Wonder

7)    Little Acorn – Dorsey Burnette

8)    You’re Just Like You – Bobby Breen

9)    Try It Baby – Marvin Gaye

10)  I Like It Like That – The Miracles

11)  You’re My Remedy – The Marvelettes

12)  Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes

13) Jimmy Brown – Dorsey Burnette

14)  I’ll Always Love You – Brenda Holloway

Creedence Clearwater Revival – 40th Anniversary Release Series, Part 1

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This week, Fantasy Records has finally reissued some of rock and roll’s most important and most loved albums. Between 1968 and 1970, Creedence Clearwater Revival released six albums, all of which has aged admirably and remain extraordinarily influential. At the time of their release, critical opinion varied widely about the value of these records. Forty years on, it is impossible to deny either the importance or the sheer joy provided by these releases. Even better, Fantasy has added a few bonus tracks of material to each release, adding to the historical relevance of these wonderful albums.

            There’s simply too much to cover here in one show, so we’re going to play excerpts from all six albums and try to fit the best bits into two back-to-back programs. Here’s a list of songs featured in today’s show;

1) Susie Q

2) Porterville

3) Born on the Bayou (with Booker T & the MG's)

4) Bootleg

5) Proud Mary

6) Green River

7) Commotion

8) Bad Moon Rising

9) Lodi

10) It Came Out of the Sky

11) Ramble Tamble

12) Broken Spoke Shuffle