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JULY 2024
FRIDAY JULY 26, 2024 3:31 AM CT…Next live show, Monday Night Trivia! Tonight it’s a replay of the last Monday Night Trivia. So don’t call, but I hope you will call Monday. A lot of you did last night, and I’m too tired to remember a thing about what we discussed, but it was mostly a good time had by all. I say ‘mostly’ because our last caller, Sherry, was sobbing and I felt so bad that the show was ending-- kinda like, “Gee, your entire life is falling apart? Sorry, gotta go, news is coming up.” Shamefully unacceptable. Sherry was regretting not being there for her grandmother’s final moments and has been wracked with guilt ever since.
I felt so badly for her and sorry we couldn’t have continued the conversation. Sherry (and everyone else), trust me on this: in the blink of an eye, we’ll all be together again on the other side, and until then, your grandmother is watching over you and she wishes she could alleviate your pain by letting you know she’s fine. Better than fine. OK, maybe I’ve listened to too many NDE podcasts, but I honestly believe that’s the truth. Our earthly existence is like a video game. The real action is between lives. Not that I want you to test it out right now, but we’ll all know soon enough. Yeah I am tired, and sorry that I didn’t have more time for Sherry. Though I did have time to play several of your requests:
Levi Stubbs – Mean Green Mother From Outerspace – 1986 Geffen
Parliament Funkadelic – Mothership Connection (Star Child) – 1975 Casablanca
Turbans – I’m Nobody’s – 1956 Herald
Bobby Lewis – One Track Mind – 1961 Beltone
Ronny Jordan – After Hours – 1992 Island [LP cut: The Antidote]
Hollywood Flames – Buzz Buzz Buzz – 1957 Ebb
Darrell Banks – Open The Door To Your Heart – 1966 Revilot
Unifics – The Beginning Of My End – 1968 Kapp
Eugene Church – Pretty Girls Everywhere – 1958 Class
Danderliers – Chop Chop Boom – 1955 States
THURSDAY JULY 25, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. We’ll solve the world’s problems again. We do that by ignoring them completely and having a good time. Last night we delved into Samsung’s Shortcut Sneaker (over 50 years after the concept was used in “Get Smart”, but this time for real), the possibility of having Neanderthal DNA, what to do with unsolicited phone calls, more on drummers, your requests, and I think I may have figured out who played drums on Dee Clark’s Hey Little Girl. Al Duncan! Right now he’s in the 75% possibility, but I’ll keep trying to track it down. (You’ve been of no help, I should add, affectionately of course).
Dee Clark – Hey Little Girl – 1959 Abner
Connie Francis – Lipstick On Your Collar – 1959 MGM
Parliaments – Don’t Be Sore At Me – 1967 Revilot
Four Tops – Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – 1966 Motown
Ray Charles – I’ve Got A Woman – 1954 Atlantic
Barbara Lewis – Hello Stranger – 1963 Atlantic
Ketty Lester – Love Letters In The Sand – 1961 Era
Loretta Lynn – One’s On The Way – 1971 Decca
Penguins – Memories Of El Monte – 1963 Original Sound
WEDNESDAY JULY 24, 2024 3:31 AM CT.. Full show tonight starting at 10. We can talk about anything you want, as long as it has no political significance—that you can get everywhere else. We started to get into the best drummers last night, but I’m saving the rest of that for Richard who requested the topic. Great to hear from Glen in Madison, and everyone else. If you didn’t call last night (or even if you did) I hope you’ll call tonight. Last night, we played a few songs from the newly departed, and a few of your requests too:
Jerry Fuller – Shy Away – 1961 Challenge
Ricky Nelson – Travelin’ Man – 1961 Imperial
Sandy Posey – It’s Midnight, Do you Know Where Your Baby Is – 1976 WB
Jack Gale – The Medicine – 1960 Columbia
Four Tops – Ask The Lonely – 1965 Motown
Jo Ann Campbell – Ahab The Arab – 1962 Cameo [LP cut: All The Hits By Jo Ann Campbell]
Tides – Chicken Spaceman – 1961 Dore
"Dion (DiMuci)" [yes that's what it said on the label] Donna The Prima Donna - 1963 Columbia
TUESDAY JULY 23, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. Let’s talk! Last night we had a rousing edition of Monday Night Trivia. You asked for a lot of categories (always fun) but never got the Straggler: Most of us encounter these virtually all the time these days, but the first time anyone saw one was in the latter ’70s. Saw what? An unsolicited email. (On May 3, 1978, Digital Equipment Corp sent an unsolicited email to 600 individuals on the Arpanet announcing an event where there newest computer would be on display.)
The Bumper Stumpers continued with last weeks ‘answer records’ theme:
Etta James – The Wallflower – 1955 Modern [Work With Me Annie]
Margaret Lewis – Honey (I Miss You Too) – 1968 SSS
Blossoms – Son In Law – 1961 Challenge [Mother In Law]
Gloria Lynne – You Don’t Have To Be A Tower Of Strength – 1961 Everest
Jo Ann Campbell – (I’m The Girl On) Wolverton Mountain – 1962 Cameo
Pearlettes – Duchess Of Earl – 1962 VeeJay [Duke of Earl]
Gene Chandler – You Threw A Lucky Punch – 1962 VeeJay [You Beat Me To The Punch]
Billy Ward & His Dominos – Can’t Do Sixty No More – 1955 Federal [60 Minute Man]
Esther Phillips – When A Woman Loves A Man – 1966 Atlantic
Linda Laurie – Stay At Home Sue – 1961 Rust [Runaround Sue]
Phil McClean – Small Sad Sam – 1961 Versatile [Big Bad John]
Frank Gallop – The Ballad of Irving – 1966 Kapp [Big Bad John]
Steve Greenberg – Big Bruce – 1969 Trip [Big Bad John]
Meanwhile, I am living an online nightmare. When you go to rollyestream.net (for downloads, for instance) you will see navigation bars that make no sense whatsoever. Ignore them. (I’ve left them up while I investigate the code culprit that’s creating this mayhem-- everything is perfect in preview, but when it hits the server it goes to hell. Using the above nav bar will get you where you want to go. Apologies for the confusion.
MONDAY JULY 22, 2024 2:14 AM CT... Apologies. Most of the older links on the Downloads page aren't active. They will be soon. Unfortunately I have to type each one in, individually. This takes a while, it's after 2AM and I'm getting hungry. I'll talk to you tonight at 10 for Monday Night Trivia. I'm ready and looking forward to it.
SUNDAY JULY 21, 2024 1:30 AM CT... Well, that went better than expected. I only had to delete and reload the program three times. But most seems well (and some doesn't, but why dwell on that?). Tomorrow I will attempt to reconfigure thed downloads page. Maybe. Either way, I'll keep you posted and will look forward to talking with you tomorrow on Monday Night Trivia!
SATURDAY JULY 20, 2024 10:35 PM CT... I am throwing caution to the wind and rebuilding this site (little by little). Keep in mind that if you suddenly see nothing (and if you haven't read this beforehand, you won't know why-- but assuming you're reading it now, that's the worst that will happen). For how long it will happen is dependent on more variables than I can count, but if it does, fixing it will instantly rise to the top of the to do list. Apologies in advance.
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024 3:31 AM CT Next live show, Monday Night Trivia! (Tonight it’s a replay of last Monday night’s trivia—don’t call, but do call on Monday.) We followed President Trump’s acceptance speech last night, and in keeping with our political free zone, didn’t say a word about it. We did note the passing of Bob Newhart, and played one of my favorite early bits of his. (We also played an explanation as to how he got started elucidated by none other than one of my all time favorite morning men, WCFL’s Dan Sorkin. PBS did an interview with him in 2005. If you’d like to hear the whole thing, click here.) As for the requests we played:
Kai Winding – Time Is On My Side – 1963 Verve
Irma Thomas – Time Is On My Side – 1964 Imperial
Rolling Stones – Time Is On My Side – 1964 London
Three Degrees – Maybe – 1970 Roulette
Billy Bland – Let The Little Girl Dance – 1960 Old Town
Gloria Lynne – Don’t Take Your Love From Me – 1964 Everest
THURSDAY JULY 18, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight, probably, but if President Trump runs long on his acceptance speech, we’ll be on after it’s concluded. Last night we played your requests, and a few other goodies, and talked about whatever was on your mind. Absolutely nothing of consequence— Connie Francis and Bobby Darin’s relationship (well it was of big consequence to her at the time, but you get my drift, so to speak); Patsy Cline, James Brown’s rift with King (resulting in two versions of I Feel Good)—among the spellbinding topics. More of the same tonight, I’m sure.
Gene Chandler – Groovy Situation – 1970 Mercury Fran
Sha Na Na – Lovers Never Say Goodbye – 1969 Buddah
Dean Martin – Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – 1960 Capitol
James Brown – I Feel Good – 1964 Smash [LP Cut: Out of Sight]
Dionne Warwick – I Say A Little Prayer – 1967 Scepter
Patsy Cline – Walkin’ After Midnight – 1957 Decca
Tim Tam & The Turn-Ons – Wait a Minute – 1966 Palmer
Coasters – Wait A Minute – 1961 Atco
Lost Generation – Wait a Minute – 1970 Brunswick
Enchanters – Wait A Minute Baby – 1956 Coral
WEDNESDAY JULY 17, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. Last night we discussed a number of inconsequential things including the history of Wibbage, various maladies (some of which are very consequential if you’re facing them, but none of them are divisive), and we played your requests:
Silhouettes – Get A Job – 1958 Junior/Ember – for linda in richton park
Silhouettes – Headin’ For The Poorhouse – 1958 Ember
Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew – Cops and Robbers – 1956 Crest
Lanes – Open Up Your Heart – 1956 Gee
Ella Fitzgerald – Soldier Boy – 1955 Decca
Wiliam Bell – Crying All By Myself – 1964 Stax
Peter Brown – Do You Wanna Get Funky – 1977 TK
Patsy Cline – She’s Got You – 1962 Decca
Pearl Bailey – Whoever You Are, I Love You – 1969
Robins – Live Wire Suzy – 1960 Arvee
TUESDAY JULY 16, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. There’s a lot happening in the world right now, and we’ll ignore all of it and have a good time—with one caveat. If menacing weather, or other local catastrophes occur, WGN will preempt my show to bring you full coverage—which is exactly as it should be. Radio serves no higher purpose than getting you critical information immediately. Last night we started Monday Night Trivia an hour late due to truly alarming conditions, and I was proud to be delayed. But we did spend two hours playing games. I threw out a question, which remains unanswered. It becomes next week’s straggler.
The Bumper Stumpers theme was easy and obvious-- all of what you heard were answer songs to big hit records. But the real challenge was identifying who did them. Tommy knew Carla Thomas. Below you’ll see all of them. But there were so many from which to chose, we’ll stick with the same theme next Monday night with a new crop of songs.
Al Smith Combo featuring Hazel McCollum & The El-Dorados – Annie’s Answer–1954 VeeJay
Carla Thomas – I’ll Bring It On Home – 1962 Atlantic
Mad Lads – Don’t Have To Shop Around – 1965 Volt
Debbie Dean – Don’t Let Him Shop Around – 1961 Motown
Chantels – Well I Told You – 1961 Carlton
Geraldine Stevens (Dodie) – Billy, I’ve Got To Go To Town – 1969 World Pacific
FRIDAY JULY 12, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Next live show, Monday Night Trivia at 10 PM next week. Tonight, it’s a replay of last Monday night’s trivia. Good to talk to you last night. We covered a lot of ground, from Open The Door, Richard to the abuse of Elvis. We also playe several of your requests. I didn’t get a chance to play Peter Brown’s Do You Wanna Get Funky. It was his 71st birthday yesterday. Seems like it was just a few years ago that a kid with a cardboard cut out on his album cover came up with one of the disco greats—maybe we’ll pay it next week.
Charlie Rich – July 12, 1939 – 1970 Epic
Hot Lips Page – Last Call for Alcohol – 1952 King
Arthur Prysock – Rainy Night in Georgia – 1987 Milestone
Jeanie C Riley – Harper Valley PTA – 1968 Plantation
Ben Colder (Sheb Wooley) – Harper Valley PTA (Later That Same Day) – 1968 MGM
James Brown – There Was A Time – 1967 King
Charlie Rich – Mohair Sam – 1965 Smash
Del Reeves – Slow Hand – 1981 Koala
Solomon Burke – Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – 1964 Atlantic
Jack McVea & This All Stars – Open The Door, Richard – 1946 Black & White
THURSDAY JULY 10, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10—do call. It started out sluggish last night, but I did my public service by telling you where to get free French fries (all over the place) and free Slurpees (limited to 7-Elevens). And I played some of your requests and talked about whatever was on your minds—music, radio, Y.Y. Wickie and more.
Manhattans – I’m The One Love Forgot – 1965 Carnival
Todd Rundgren – Cool Jerk Medley: I’m So Proud, Ooh Baby Baby, La La Means I Love You, Cool Jerk – 1973 Bearsville [LP cut: A Wizard, A True Star]
Manhattans – You Send Me – 1985 Columbia
Ray Sharpe – Linda Lu – 1959 Jamie
Kris Kristofferson – Help Me Make It Through The Night – 1970 Monument [LP cut: Kristofferson]
Sammi Smith – Help Me Make It Through The Night – 1971 Mega
James Brown – Super bad – 1970 King
Richard Dimples Fields – You Send Me – 1982 Boardwalk [LP cut: Give Everybody Some!]
Claudine Clark – Party Lights – 1961 Chancellor
Steve & Eydie – I Want To Stay Here – 1963 Columbia
Eddie Holland – Jamie – 1962 Motown]
Richard Dimples Fields – Sincerely – 1982 Boardwalk [LP cut: Mr. Look So Good]
WEDNESDAY JULY 10, 2024 3:31 AM CT…. Full show tonight at 10, and as usual anything goes providing it is of no importance whatsoever. We’ll have a good time. We did last night talking with Bruce Blackman of Starbuck. (You can hear the hour in perpetuity—click on downloads above). We played a lot of Starbuck songs last night, and some of your requests too:
Starbuck – Moonlight Feels Right – 1975 Private Stock
Starbuck – The Slower You Go – 1976 Private Stock
Starbuck – I Got To Know – 1976 Private Stock
Starbuck – Jim’s Café – 2014
Sha Na Na – I Wonder Why – 1973 (live) for Jim in Richmond WI
James & Bobby Purify – I’m Your Puppet – 1966 Bell
Dicky Doo & The Don’ts – Teardrops Wil Fall – 1958 Swan Jack St. Charles
Robert Mitchum – The Ballad of Thunder Road – 1960 Capitol
Starbuck - Lash LaRue – 1975 Private Stock
Arthur Alexander – Anna – 1962 Dot
Louis Jordan – Five Guys Named Moe – 1942 Decca
Danny O’Keefe – Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues – 1972 Atlantic
Leon Russell – Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues – 1984 Paradise
TUESDAY JULY 9, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight starting at 10. Bruce Blackman joins me in the first hour, and if the name doesn’t sound familiar that’s because you’re not associating it with Starbuck. But you will be tonight. If you want some pre-show reading, check out BruceBlackman.com and prepare to have a good time.
Last night’s Monday Night Trivia was also a good time. The Straggler question went all night. I finally revealed it at the end of the show: One out of three Americans believes this about themselves. What? That they’ve got a good idea for an invention [Akron Beacon Journal 9/6/01] I promised to share mine, and I will in the second hour tonight. If you don’t know what the vertical blanking interval is, you might want to google it first Look for it in relationship to NTSC. If you’re old, you’ll recall it as the black bar that repeated on your television screen when vertical hold needed attention. Yeah, you can tell it’ll be spellbinding, right. But I’ll try to make it at least mildly entertaining.
As for the Bumper Stumpers, there were two themes. An easy one—all the groups and artists’ last names started with a C (you’ll notice they’re all in reverse alphabetical order too). As for the more elusive connection. Every artist we played had a National Top Ten smash hit on the R&B charts—and then never charted R&B again. Only one song was guessed: Zippity Zum because Cleveland Dennis recognized the Chord’s from Sh-Boom. Here’s al of them (with their big hit in parenthesis—if nothing’s there, then I played the big hit—for all the good it did you):
Crows – Mambo hevitz – 1954 Tico (Gee #2 RB)
Crickets – You’re Mine – 1953 MGM (#10 RB)
Crescendos – Gawk N’Stroll – 1958 unreleased Nasco (Oh Julie - #4 RB)
Counts – Darling Dear – 1954 Dot (#6 RB)
C.O.D.’s – Cry No More – 1965 Kellmac (Michael #5 RB)
Tony Clarke – Landslide – 1966 Chess (The Entertainer #10 RB)
Claudine Clark – Walkin’ Throug A Cemetery – 1962 Chancellor (Party Lights #3 RB)
CJ & Co. – Devil’s Gun – 1977 Westbound (#2 RB)
Chords – Zippity Zum – 1954 Cat (Sh-Boom #2 RB)
Jimmy Charles – Age For Love – 1960 Promo (A Million To One #8 RB)
Chanters – Stars In The Sky – 1958 DeLuxe (No No No #9RB)
JULY 5, 2024 3:31 AM CT.. Next full show next week for Monday Night Trivia. (Tonight it’s a replay of last Monday night’s show.) Last night, I finally got around to tellin’ the whole Love Land saga. The only thing I didn’t tell you is why James Gadson thought he wrote it, but I haven’t a clue. It turned out fine in the end. Please pray for Bonnie from Butternut, she’s in the hospital with AFib-- scary stuff. Fortunately it’s usually not as dire as you’d think, but it’s no fun to be lying in bed in a hospital room so I’m glad we could keep her company. Here’s what we entertained her (and you, and in the case of Gee Whiz, me) with:
Al Hibbler – Love Land – 1958 Decca
Don Trotter And The Eighth Wonder – Loveland – 1969 Josie
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band – Love Land – 1970 Warner Bros.
James Gadson – Got To Find My Baby – 1971 Cream
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band – Love Land [1970 version]
Untouchables – Raisin’ Sugar Cane – 1961 Madison
Reunion – Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me) – 1974 RCA
Kasenetz Katz Singing Orchestral Circus – Quick Joey Small – 1968 Buddah
Frank Bishop – My Horoscope – 1967 Caravelle
Gene Cotton – Before My Heart Finds Out – 1977 EMI
Ray Charles – America The Beautiful – 2021 Tangerine [LP cut: True Genius]
Newbeats – Run Baby Run – 1965 Hickory
Bob & Earl – Gee Whiz – 1958 Class
Neil Diamond – Brooklyn Roads – 1968 Uni
THURSDAY FOURTH OF JULY 2024 3:31 AM CT… Live show tonight on the 4th, starting at 10. We’ll review the Love Land saga (there wasn’t much love, either, but it still is a great song, at least one of the versions, anyway). Last night we played your requests, talked about the usual subjects and heard from the usual suspects, and a few infrequent callers as well, not to mention a first time caller too. We played his request right away, and a number of yours too:
Les Brown (Doris Day vocal) – Sentimental Journey – 1945 Columbia
Junior Walker & The All Stars – 1965 Soul
Everly Brothers – Poor Jenny – 1959 Cadence
Diana Krall – Peel Me A Grape – 1997 Impulse [LP cut: Love Scenes]
Les Paul & Mary Ford – How High The Moon – 1951 Capitol
Gloria Gaynor – How High The Moon – 1975 MGM
Del Shannon – Little Flirt – 1962 BigTop
Louis Armstrong & His Savoy Ballroom Five – St. James Infirmary – 1928 Odeon
Johnny Cash – Ragged Old Flag – 1974 Columbia
Eddie Cochran – Sittin’ In The Balcony – 1957 Liberty
WEDNESDAY JULY 3, 2024 3:31 AM… Full show tonight at 10, please call. Last night several of you did. We talked a lot about music, as well as dance shows and disc jockeys from days gone by, the usual glot of nothing substantive but fun. And I played your requests. (OK, I played Foxy (the LA, not Miami, group) for me, but the rest of them were all up to you.)
Ohio Players – Jive Turkey (Part 1) – 1974 Mercury
B J Thomas – Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – 1975 ABC
Eddie Floyd – Knock On Wood – 1966 Staxrf
Johnny Bond – Hot Rod Lincoln – 1960 Republic
Arkie Shipley – Hot Rod Race 1951 Gilt-Edge
Charlie Ryan – Hot Rod Lincoln 1956
Foxy – I Like The Way You Love Me – 1971 Double Shot
Marlo – I Could Of Had A Good Thing – 2022 CD Baby
Marlo – Understanding - 2022 CD Baby
Bobby Peterson – Irresistable You – 1956 V-Tone
Statler Brothers – Do You Remember These – 1972 Mercury
Ohio Players – Fire – 1974 Mercury
TUESDAY JULY 2, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. Please call. Several of you did last night which makes Monday Night Trivia a pleasure to do. No one got the the trivia question I threw out, so it becomes next week’s Straggler.
You did get a few of the Bumper Stumpers (Flaming Ember, Original Casuals, & Matt Lucas) but on one came close to the theme. All these acts were big surprises to bookers. All were white artists booked at the height of their popularity by unsuspecting promoters of R&B venues. (And by all accounts, there was never a hint of the problem the apoplectic bookers thought might occur when they actually saw these performers.)
Roy Head - Just A Little Bit - 1965 Scepter (Treat Her Right)
Bobby Charles - Time Will Tell - 1956 Chess (Later Alligator)
Flaming Ember - Mind Body & Soul - 1969 Hot Wax (Westbound #9
Mello-Kings - Chip Chip - 1959 Herald (Tonite Tonite)
The O'kaysions - Love Machine - 1968 ABC (Girl Watcher)
Original Casuals - So Tough - 1957 Back Beat (top 10 R&B, not even Top 40 pop)
Eternals - Babalu's Wedding Day - 1959 Musictone (regional giant: Rockin' In The Jungle)
Matt Lucas - MC Twine - 1965 Karen (I'm Movin' On)
Linda Lindell - My Man, He's A Lovin' Man - 1967 Brent (What A Man)
Bob Kuban & The In-Men - SOS - 1966 Musicland [LP cut: Look Out For The Cheater]
[Other obvious off-the-top-of-my-head choices that we didn’t have time to play: Tony Joe White, The Soul Survivors, The Casinos, Frankie Laine, Timi Yuro, Bobby Caldwell, Buddy Holly (didn’t HE surprise The Apollo?), Johnny Rivers, Mark-Keys, Wild Cherry, and so many more.]
JUNE 2024
THURSDAY JUNE 27, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Next live show: Monday Night Trivia next week (on Monday Night at 10 CT)… Tonight you’ll hear the audio of the debate between Trump and Biden, with Chris Cuomo afterwards and a special guest. In the midnight hour, it’ll be a replay of last Thursday night’s conversation with author Del Staecker about his latest, “Another Southside”. Tomorrow night it’s a replay of this week’s Monday Night Trivia. As for last night, we talked about radio reception, air conditioning, driverless cars, delivery robots and Jim’s eye update, and we played several of your requests, as well as honored some birthdays:
Gilberto Gil – Here And Now – 1979 Elektra [LP cut: Nightingale] (turned 82 Wednesday)
Marcos Valle – She Told Me – 1968 Verve [LP cut: Samba ‘68]
Brenda Holloway – You’ve Changed Me – Motown (unreleased) (turned 78 Wednesday)
Bo Diddley – Ooh Baby - 1966 Checker
Bo Diddley – I’m Sorry- 1959 Checker [LP cut; Go Bo Diddley]
Bo Diddley – You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover – 1962 Checker (Willie Dixon wrote)
Georgie Fame – In The Meantime – 1965 Columbia [UK release] (turned 81 Wednesday)
Eddie Floyd – I Never Found A Girl – 1968 Stax (turned 87 Tuesday)
Floaters – Float On – 1977 ABC (Larry Cunningham would have turned 73 this week)
Rolf Harris – Sun Arise – 1962 Epic
Seekers - I’ll Never Find Another You – 1965 Capitol
WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. Please call! Many of you did last night, and apologies to the handful of you I left holding when the show ended. Call earlier tonight. Last night we played most of your requests, talked about problems with AI (I still want to know what the McDonald’s customer was actually ordering when she got vanilla ice cream topped with bacon), how to clean vinyl records, and the horror of lawyers (in this case blaming parents for an open pool drain that sucked in and killed an 8 year old).
Treniers – Say Hey – 1954 Epic
Bobbettes – Mr. Lee – 1957 Atlantic
Lena Horne – Stormy Weather – 1942 Victor
Peggy Lee – You Go To My Head – 1952 Decca
Heart – Dreamboat Annie – 1975 Mushroom
Shorty Long – Function At The Junction – 1966 Soul
Commodores – Nightshift – 1985 Motown
Johnny Adams – Body and Fender Man - 1988 Rounder [LP cut: Room With A View]
Patsy Cline – Strange – 1962 Decca
Chris Barber’s Jazz Band – Petite Fleur – 1958 Laurie
The Rinky-Dinks (really Bobby Darin) – Early In The Morning – 1958 ATCO
TUESDAY JUNE 24, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight starting at 10. Please join me and call. Last night’s Monday Night Trivia was an hour late in starting due to the final game of the Stanley Cup Championships. Glad that Edmonton had the MVP, and sorry Sunrise won. There’s something about pairing hockey with the everglades that doesn’t jibe with me, but it was a well played championship by both teams. Next year the Oilers rule (I hope).
No one got the Straggler… About twenty years ago, an analysis of internet search queries turned up 70 thousand hits for jokes about this. About what? Doctors. (British scientists took it a step further and ranked doctor jokes. What came in first is lost to history but thanks to the New York Times [1/27/02], we have the joke that came in second: A man goes to the doctor, telling him there’s a piece of lettuce sticking out of his bottom. The doctor examines him. The worried patient asked if it’s bad news. The doctor replies: I’m sorry to tell you, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. –-This is probably a big hit in Germany too where excrement jokes routiney rank #1.)
As for the Bumper Stumpers: All were mega hit artists with dozens of songs including several #1s on the Billboard R&B charts.. but none of them ever made it to number one on the Hot 100. That’s a reflection Billboard, not the wonderful performers. The list could have been a ot longer with Jackie Wilson, The Dells, The Impressions and too many more. Here’s what we played (and believe me, it was hard to find to find songs you wouldn’t notice by the likes of these guys):
Brook Benton – Walk On The Wild Side – 1962 Mercury
Martha & The Vandellas – You’re The Loser Now – 1970 Gordy
James Brown – These Foolish Things – 1963 King
Sam & Dave – May I Baby – 1967 Stax [LP cut: Soul Men]
Wilson Pickett – Sin Was The Blame – 1973 RCA [LP cut: Mr. Magic Man]
Isley Brothers – Time After time – 1962 Wand [LP cut: Twist & Shout]
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters – How You Gonna Get Respect – 1968 King
Fats Domino – Every Night About This Time – 1952 Imperial
FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Next live show—Monday Night Trivia next Monday. We’ll start at 10, or after the Stanley Cup Finals, if the match goes that long. Tonight it’s a replay of Monday Night Trivia from last Monday and there is a straggler. So if you missed it Monday night you might want to catch it tonight to give you time to think about it.
In the first hour last night, we talked with writer extraordinaire, Del Staecker. His latest, “Another Southside” is not to be missed if you’re a Chicagoan. (Even if you aren’t you’ll love it.) Click on it for ordering from Amazon.
After that we got an update from Jim, and calls from several of you including Cris and Eduardo, and we played some of your requests too:
Moroccos – Red Hots And Chili Mac – 1955 United
Gene Chandler – Bet You Never Thought – 1966 Constellation
Radiants – It Ain’t No Big Thing – 1965 Chess
Dells – Now I Pray – 1956 VJ (unreleased)
Voxpoppers – Wishing For You – 1956 Mercury
Escorts – Submarine Race Watching – 1962 Coral
Brenton Wood - I Like The Way You Love - 1967 Double Shot
Coasters – Three Cool Cats – 1958 ATCO
THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2024 3:31 AM CT.. Live show tonight at 10. Please call! Last night ran the gamut from Shreveport (radio stations) to Edmonton (go Oilers), with your requests intersperced:
Stompin’ Tom Connors – The Hockey Song – 1972 Boot
Chet Atkins – Frog Kissin’ – 1975 RCA
Tommy Edwards – It’s All In The Game – 1958 MGM
Barry Manilow – Sandra – 1974 Bell [LP Cut: Barry Manilow II]
Astrud Gilberto – Meditation – 1965 Verve [LP Cut: The Astrud Gilberto Album]
Ronnie Milsap – Stranger In My House – 1983 RCA
Johnny Burnett – Dreamin’ – 1960 Liberty
Toby Keith – Don’t Let The Old Man In – 2018 Show Dog
Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy – 1991 Tug
Tommy Hunt – Human – 1965 Scepter
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. Please call! Last night we started a bit late, but it was good to see The Oilers trounce The Panthers in Florida. We talked about everything from bearded dragons to cicadas, not to mention music. And we ran down the details in Marvin Gaye’s murder, though I’m not entirely sure why. But as I always say, if it’s on your mind, it’ll be on mine. As for your requests:
Justine Washington – I Can’t Wait Until I See My Baby – 1963 Sue
Major Lance – I’ve Got A Girl – 1960 Mercury (written by Curtis Mayfield)
Jackie Wilson – I’m So Lonely – 1965 Brunswick
Blue Notes – Get Out – 1965 Landa
Terry Cashman – Talkin’ Baseball (Willie, Mickey & the Duke) – 1981 Lifesong
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – I Should Be Your Lover – 1980 Source
Brenton Wood – Catch You On The Rebound – 1967 Double Shot
Kingsmen – Jolly Green Giant – 1964 Wand
Olympics – Big Boy Pete – 1960 Arvee
Roy Ayers – Hot – 1985 Columbia
TUESDAY JUNE 18, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Tonight we’ll be on after the Stanley Cup Finals. It could be right at 10, or anytime after that. Check in periodically. Last night was a rousing game of Monday Night Trivia. No one guessed the question I threw out, so it becomes a straggler for next week.
As for the Bumper Stumpers, the theme was the same for this week and last— artists that peaked in the 10 ten of the Billboard Hot 100 this week. Here’s what we played last night (followed by info on their peaking song this week):
Pat Boone – July You’re a Woman – 1969 Tetragrammaton (#1 1961 Moody River)
Coasters – Wait A Minute – 1961 ATCO (#8 1957 Young Blood)
Barbara Lewis – Pushin’ A Good Thing Too Far – 1964 Atlantic (#3 1963 Hello Stranger)
Major Harris – Jealousy – 1976 Atlantic (#5 1975 Love Won’t Let Me Wait)
Taste of Honey – Do It Good – 1979 Capitol (#3 1981 Sukiyaki)
Kenny Rogers – 1958 Carlton (#5 1977 Lucille)
George Benson – It Should Have Been Me #2 – 1954 Groove (#7 1978 On Broadway)
Temptations – My Pillow – 1962 (unreleased Gordy) (#8 1967 You’re All I Need)
Joe Simon – When – 1970 Sound Stage 7 (#8 1975 Get Down Get Down Get On The Floor)
Jimmy Rodgers – The World I Used To Know – 1964 Dot (#3 1958 Secretly)
Dorothy Moore – Funny How Time Slips Away – 1976 Malaco (#3 1976 Misty Blue)
Same theme for last week, except all the artists peaked on the national Billboard Hot 100 in the top 5. The list of what played is in the Tuesday June 11th post below, but as for the songs peaking this week:
Sheb Wooley –#1 1958 (6 weeks) Purple People Eater
KC & The Sunshine Band – #1 1977 I’m Your Boogie Man
Dixie Cups – #1 1964 Chapel Of Love
Dion – #3 1963 Lovers Who Wander
Dovells – #3 You Can’t Sit Down
Honey Cone – #1 1971 Want Ads
Chuck Berry –#1 1958 Johnny B Goode
Ray Parker Jr –4 1982 The Other Woman
There would have been sixteen other choices this week, including six #1s four additional top 5s, and five more top 10s (proving the theme could go on endlessly):
Gogi Grant – #1 1956 Wayward Wind
Stevie Wonder #1 1963 Fingertips Pt 1
Four Tops – #1 1965 I Can’t Help Myself
Herb Alpert – #1 1968 This Guy’s In Love With You
Captain & Tennille - #1 1975 Love Will Keep Us Together
Marvin Gaye – #1 1977 Got To Give It Up
Carpenters – #2 1971 Rainy Days And Mondays
Sister Sledge – #2 1979 We Are Family
Gene Pitney – #4 1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Johnny Mathis – #5 1957 It’s Not For Me To Say
Gary Lewis & The Playboys – #8 1966 Green Grass
Ray Parker Jr – #8 1981 A Woman Needs Love
Tommy James & The Shondells – #10 1967 Mirage
Friend & Lover – #10 1968 Reach Out Of The Darkness
AWB – #10 1975 Cut The Cake
FRIDAY JUNE 14, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Next live show, Monday Night Trivia. (Tonight it’s a replay of last Monday night trivia, so please don’t call—but do call on Monday.) We started a bit late last night, after the Stanley Cup Finals. It does not look good for Edmonton, sorry to say. But we had a good time talking about a wide variety of things, identifying songs, taking your calls and playing your requests:
Baby Washington – That’s How Heartaches Are Made – 1963 Sue
Mary Martin – Never Never Land – 1954 RCA [LP Cut: Peter Pan]
Jerry Reed – Caffein, Nicotine, Benzedrine (and Wish Me Luck) – 1981 RCA
Linda Clifford – Runaway Love – 1978 Curtom
Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues – 1958 Liberty
Eddie Cochran – Sittin’ In The Balcony – 1957 Liberty
Jonathan King – Everyone’s Gone To The Moon – 1965 Parrot
Brothers Four – Green Leaves of Summer – 1960 Columbia
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Mediation – 1963 Verve [LP: Composer of Desafinado plays]
THURSDAY JUNE 13, 2024 3:31 AM CT.. We’ll start right after the Stanley Cup Finals stop. Could be at 10, could be a bit later. Hang in there, and do call. Last night we identified songs that drive you crazy. Johnny D hummed Greenfields and Mary Ellen vocalized J’Taime. Now they both know what was running through their heads. (I wouldn’t have come up with either, but you guys did and for that we’re all grateful. There was another song Johnny Dee hummed, but it doesn’t sound familiar to any of us. Maybe he can hum it again. Now there’s a reason to listen tonight. As for bumpers:
Tower of Power – You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun – 1976 Columbia
Marvelettes – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game – 1966 Tamla
Ernest Tubb – Walking The Floor Over You – 1941 Desca
Ernest Tubb & Friends Walking The Floor Over You – 1979 Cachet
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – J’Taime – 1969
Mark James – Suspicious Minds – 1968 Scepter
Frank Dell – He Broke Your Game Wide Open – 1967 Valise
Rasputin Stash – The Devil Made Me Do It – 1974 Gemigo
Brothers Four – Greenfields – 1960 Columbia
Chan Romero – I Don’t Care Now – 1959 Del-Fi Jerry Montana
Pookie Hudson – I Know – 1963 Double L
Ray Charles – Unchain My Heart – 1961 ABC Paramount Dave LaSalle
WEDNESDAY JUNE 12, 2024 3:31 AM CT Full show tonight at 10. Please call. Good to talk with many of you and play your requests last night. Topics ranged from the history of KGO-FM, ABC’s ill-fated SuperRadio and NBC’s ill-fated NIS to the horror story of the night—guy coughed and sneezed so much his intestines fell out. And you didn’t think it could happen! (It probably can’t, unless like this guy you had recent abdominal surgery, but the headline was frightening as all get out.) As for what you heard:
James Carr – The Dark End Of The Street – 1967 Goldwax
Jimmy Clanton – Darkest Street In Town – 1962 Ace
Corsairs – Smoky Places – 1961 Tuff
Gino Vannelli – People Gotta Move – 1974 A&M
Brenton Wood – I Think You Got Your Fools Mixed Up – 1967 Double Shot
Robert Parker – Barefootin’ – 1966 Nola
David Rose – Ebb Tide – 1962 MGM
Clyde McPhatter – Lover Please – 1962 Mercury
Little Willie John – Sleep – 1960 King
Jackie Wilson – It’s So Fine - 1958 Coral
FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Happy Birthday to Michael O’Shea & Barbara Harvey!
Next live show: Monday Night Trivia at 10 CT. (Tonight, it’s a replay of last Monday’s show—if you missed the straggler, you’ll hear what it is.) Last night, we heard from Laura (the lady who gave us the great trivia questions and is now over one year sober—congratulations Laura!) and Lia (who gave us an update on her health issues—next surgery Wednesday, but it should be smooth sailing after that), Linda (who told us about her uncle’s WW2 service, a horrifying tale of racism, but he triumphed in spite of it), Fran, Ruth, Cindy, Eduardo, Chad and I’m leaving several folks out, so if you missed the show, the replay is streaming now and downloadable for the foreseeable future. We didn’t hear from James, but I did decid to play his request: “Play any version of A Room With A View” said James. The problem here is there are three completely different songs with that title, so we played ‘em all:
Paul McCartney – A Room With A View – 1999 Walrus [Noel Coward 1929]
Lou Rawls – Room With A View – 1989 Blue Note [Billy Vera & Lowell Fulson 1988]
Julie London – A Room With A View – 1957 Liberty [Einar Swan & Al Stillman 1938]
Louis Armstrong – A Kiss To Build A Dream On – 1951 Decca
Marvin Gaye – I’ll Be Doggone – 1965 Tamla
James Brown – A Cottage For Sale – 1968 King [LP: Thinking about Little Willie John]
James Brown – Sex Machine Pt.1 – 1975 Polydor
Larry Santos – Say Hello To Pan Am – 1980 (jingle)
Andrews Sisters – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – 1941 Decca
Orlons – South Street – 1963 Cameo
THURSDAY JUNE 6, 2024 3:31 AM CT… Full show tonight at 10. Attendance will be taken, and hopefully we’ll hear from Joanie about her daughter. Please pray for Chrissie. She’s had an awful systemic infection that has left her in a rehab hospital and in need of a liver transplant. On a happier note, we talked a lot about radio last night. We also covered abuse of animals in lab testing, specifically the mega fine given to the firm that abused tens of thousands of beagles. 4,000 were captured a couple years ago and all found good homes (including with Prince Harry and Meaghan). And we played several of your requests:
Chris Kenner – I Like It Like That – 1961 Instant
Lenny Welch – Since I Fell For You -1963 Cadence
Sam Cooke – Good Times – 1964 RCA
Frankie Ford – Time After Time – 1960 Ace
James Brown – Signed Sealed & Delivered – 1963 King
Cassius Clay – Stand By Me – 1964 Columbia
Miss Toni Fisher – The Big Hurt – 1959 Signet
Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters – Such A Night – 1954 Atlantic
Moody Blues – The Story In Your Eyes – 1971 Threshold
Sam Cooke – When A Boy Falls In Love – 1965 RCA
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5, 2024 3:31 AM CT.. Full show tonight starting at 10. Your participation is welcome! Last night ran the gamut. We started with the bad news about the cicadas you can’t stop hearing (yes in Chicago they are louder right now, and there’s a good reason that only happens every 220 or so years. We moved on to the delightfuol idea of living at the scene of gruesome murders, and explored using in appropriate bar codes. Like a bag of Doritos to gain access to a fitness center (no it didn’t work). We also played a lot of your requests:
James Brown – Get Up Offa That Thing – 1976 Polydor
Sam Cooke – Wonderful World – 1960 Keen
Felix Figueroa & His Orchestra – Pico & Sepulveda – 1946 Ambassador
James Brown – Hot Pants – 1971 People
Hound Dog Taylor – Give Me Back My Wig – 1971 Alligator [LP Cut: House Rockers]
Chi-Lites – Have You Seen Her – 1971 Brunswick
Boyz II Me – End Of The Road – 1992 Motown
Johnnie Taylor – Stop Doggin’ Me – 1972 Stax
TUESDAY JUNE 4, 2024 3:31 AM CT.. Full show tonight at 10. We played Monday Night Trivia last night, and Don from Beloit got the first of the Bumper Stumpers, the Bumper Stumper theme, and the Straggler question, all in the first few minutes of his call. Talk about lack of restraint! As for that Straggler:
Since the early 1800s it’s been legal for someone in France to wed this kind of spouse. What kind of spouse? A dead one. (In 1803, Article 171 provided for marriage to dead people, a provision intended for war widows. Marrying the dead is legal in numerous countries including Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, South Korea and the Sudan, for similar reasons. In America, it’s generally not allowed, but there have been exceptions.)
Our follow up question remains unanswered and thus becomes next week’s Straggler.
The Bumper Stumpers theme was all the acts I played were on The Dick Clark Show this week, mostly American Bandstand (AB), but a few on The Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show (SN) on the years noted below:
Danny & The Juniors – Doin’ The Continental Walk – 1962 Swan AB 1958
Dee Dee Sharp – Willyam Willyam – 1964 Cameo AB 1962
Tony Orlando – Happy Times (Are Here To Stay) – 1961 Epic AB 1961
Orlons - Envy (In Your Eyes) – 1965 Cameo AB 1962
Frankie Avalon – True True Love – 1961 Chancellor SN 1960
Jr. Walker & The All Stars – Right On Brothers and Sisters – 1971 Soul AB 1965
Bobby Lewis – What A Walk – 1961 Beltone AB 1961
Roy Orbison – Let The Good Times Roll – 1965 Monument AB 1966
Johnny Preston – Leave My Kitten Alone – 1961 Mercury SN 1960
Carl Dobkins Jr. – Exclusively Yours – 1960 Decca SN 1960
Stacey got Frankie Avalon, Tommy got Jr. Walker, and Don got Danny & The Juniors. The rest went without guesses (though Jon knew Roy Orbison instantly, leading me to wonder why you didn't call).
MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 10:05 PM CT... Monday Night Trivia is about to start, and I'm dedicating the show to Bob in Memphis, who would have turned 70 today! (He died on May 18th.) His wife, Carolyn was kind enough to send a link to the video of his funeral. Click here to see it. (When you get toward the end, Carolyn is the white haired lady helped into the wheel chair.)
SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2024 10:50 PM CT... I'm finally getting around to recoding my websites, and at best it's a work in progress. I'll stay on it when time permits, but time doesn't permit much, so apologies in advance and please bear with me. If you're looking for what was previously on this page, click here, but understand it's an outdated static image and eventually I'll remove it entirely. I spent some time on the site this weekend to my utter frustration, but fortunately I spent more time picking out the Bumper Stumpers and some followup questions if you get the straggler tomorrow night at 10 CT on Monday Night Trivia.
