The Encore Show - Best of the 60s, 70s, and 80s

“Crystal Blue Persuasion”, “I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Hanky Panky”, “Crimson and Clover” – 23 gold records and 9 platinum albums for Tommy James and the Shondells. Tommy’s with us on this week’s show talking about his live album recorded at the Bitter End in New York City and his book, Me, the Mob, and the Music which is Tommy’s story of Morris Levy, known as the Godfather of the music business. The book is part rock and roll fairytale, part valentine to a bygone era, and part mob story that reads like a music industry version of Goodfellas.

If you’ve seen the movie Moonstruck with Cher more than a few times, you’ve heard “It Must Be Him” more than a few times. That was Vikki Carr’s million-selling gold record and she’s our guest this week talking about that and a mile-long list of accomplishments including the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation which is based in Texas and offers scholarships to Latino students who want to pursue their dreams of a college education. Do you remember what happened when she guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1973?                   

Dr. Joel Wallach, pioneer of the health supplement program called Youngevity talks about health issues facing the Baby Boomer generation, ages 50 and up. Doc Wallach dedicates part of his time to lecturing throughout the world on the therapeutic benefits of vitamins and minerals and on advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on behalf of the dietary supplement industry. I’m a Type 2 Diabetic, so this whole hour had my full attention.

We’re going to visit some great memories today with the chart-topping ‘60s hits from the Buckinghams. Their original lead guitarist, Carl Giammarese is here to tell us how it all began with their No. 1 Billboard hit, “Kind of a Drag”. They followed that with a string of hits including “Don’t You Care” and “Hey, Baby They’re Playing Our Song”. Billboard Magazine named them “The Most Listened To Band In America” and they went on to play The Ed Sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers’ Comedy Hour, and American Bandstand. They’re still on the road today and we talk with Carl about the ‘60s and what they’re doing now.

Do you remember the Detroit songwriting team of Holland, Dozier, and Holland. They wrote “Band of Gold” for Freda Payne who is our first guest this week. Freda’s sister, Sherrie became one of the Supremes and her two backup singers started a group called Tony Orlando and Dawn. Second up on this show is a guy who is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals. Their Top Ten Hits from the ‘60s included “Groovin’,” “Good Lovin’,” “It’s a Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure,” and “People Got To Be Free.”

Most people aren’t aware of what goes on behind the scenes when recording artists try to get their records played on the radio. In the Sixties, we used to call them “promo guys” and this week we’re talking with Jeff Trager, the consummate record promotion man who got all kinds of records played for Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles, and the Bee Gees. He’ll talk about that and some of the fundraisers he’s put together to benefit so many causes in the Bay Area.

It may have been one of the most well-known rock interviews of the ‘80s when Dave Sholin and his crew arrived at the Dakota apartments in New York City for a scheduled audience with John and Yoko. After the interview, Dave caught a flight back to the Bay Area and Lennon stopped in the courtyard to autograph a record for a stranger in an overcoat. Later that evening, Dec. 8, 1980, John Lennon was pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital. We talk with Dave about Lennon’s last interview and the heady days of radio  going all the way back to the Sixties.

Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero started out as an accordion player, but when she changed her name to Connie Francis, the hits just wouldn’t stop coming. With fifteen million sellers and a life story that has more ups and downs than the roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Connie talks about “Who’s Sorry Now”, which she only recorded at her father’s insistence and the many recordings she’s made in fifteen different languages. And her movie roles – remember Angie in Where The Boys Are?

Perry Botkin, Jr., through his arrangements, launched an abundance of hit records while conducting the Wrecking Crew at many of the famed recording studios in Hollywood. You’ll know Perry’s sound when you hear the backing tracks for the Lettermen, Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, Harpers Bizarre, and Barbra Streisand. On this week’s show, we get the stories behind all those recording sessions from the man whose charts graced many a music stand, Perry Botkin, Jr.

This week’s show begins with Florence La Rue of the 5th Dimension who remembers Up, Up, and Away with us. Then we shift to San Francisco’s Summer of Love recalling dj Big Daddy Tom Donahue with Tom’s wife, Raechel Donahue who became an entertainment reporter for CNN and is today the host of her own internet radio show. Finally, our last segment is with Rick Derringer of the McCoys (Hang On Sloopy) who’s appeared on numerous albums with Steely Dan, Air Supply, and Cindy Lauper.