Yesterday Once More

Everyday we use expressions or sayings to emphasize a point or issue, to dispel a theory, to help cope with awkward situations or merely to have a bit of fun.  We have probably learned these from family and friends, through common public use, and possibly from the world of entertainment. So this week’s theme focuses on songs whose titles illustrate common expressions.

PLAYLIST

* We Are Family – Sister Sledge

* Over and Over – Bobby Day

* We May Never Pass This Way Again – Seals and Croft

* That’s Life – Shirley Bassey

* Silence Is Golden – Tremeloes

* Blowin’ In The Wind – Peter, Paul And Mary

* Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life – Monty Python Crew

* Let It Be – Beatles

* Fools Rush In – Elvis Presley

* Easier Said Than Done – Essex

* Point Of No Return – Gene McDaniels

* Needle In A Haystack – Twilights

It’s somewhat ironic to listen to wealthy musical artists singing about money in cynical and dismissive ways. Cynicism shows through in Liza Minnelli’s and Joel Grey‘s great duet from the film ‘Cabaret’ (Money Money) and the Kingston Trio’s ‘Greenback Dollar’. The Beatles are more straightforward in John Lennon’s rocking ‘Money’ (That’s What I Want’). ABBA and Hall and Oates emphasise the difference between the world of the rich and the poor in ‘Money Money Money’ and ‘Rich Girl’. Donna Summer portrays the life of a a hard working girl in ‘She Works Hard For The Money’. On a smaller scale Roy Orbison (Penny Arcade) and Gene Pitney (If I Didn’t Have A Dime) deal with minor currency. Aussie group Men At Work (‘Til The Money Runs Out) completes the set.

PLAYLIST

* Money (from Cabaret) – Liza Minnelli/Joel Grey

* Penny Arcade – Roy Orbison

* ‘Til The Money Runs Out – Men At Work

* She Works Hard For The Money – Donna Summer

* If I Didn’t Have A Dime – Gene Pitney

* Easy Money – Billy Joel

* Greenback Dollar – Kingston Trio

* Money Money Money – ABBA

* Don’t Bet Money Honey – Linda Scott

* Money -The Beatles

* The Money Tree – Margaret Whiting

* Rich Girl – Hall & Oates

This week’s theme, After Sunset, includes songs relating to the shades of night or time after dark. It appears that a lot happens around the ‘…Midnight Hour’ as Ray Brown’s waiting to meet up with his girl, Betty McQuade who is on a bus with her baby; Paul Anka is waiting for a kiss in lover’s lane and ABBA are looking for a man after midnight. Elvis sings of ‘One Night’, the Bee Gees, Rod Stewart, Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta and Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton look forward to some fun activities during the night.  Paper Lace is having a shootout between police and gangsters in ‘The Night Chicago Died’, Murray Head is enjoying his ‘One Night in Bangkok’ while the Beatles are recovering from a hard day.

PLAYLIST

* Hard Day’s Night – Beatles

* Gimme Gimme Gimme – ABBA

* Tonight’s the Night – Rod Stewart

* One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head

* Summer Nights – Olivia Newton John & John Travolta

* We’ve Got Tonight – Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton

* Night Fever – Bee Gees

* The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace

* In The Midnight Hour – Ray Brown

* One Night – Elvis Presley

* Midnight Bus – Betty McQuade

* Midnight – Paul Anka

The period from the early 17th century to the early 19th century is known as the time of the American Wild West or the American frontier. It was a time of mass migration across the American continent from East to West. It inspired many multi-media imaginations which often exaggerated the romance, violence, lawlessness and chaos of that time. Epic films were shot such as ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (with Gene Pitney singing the song of the same name), ‘Calamity Jane’ which spawned Doris Day‘s popular ‘Deadwood Stage’ and Frankie Laine‘s rendition of the title song from the classic Western film ‘High Noon’. Gun duels were a feature of The Wild West and many songs reflected this: Marty Robbins’ ‘El Paso’, Johnny Cash‘s ‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ and an unusual song from a female point of view is Patti Page‘s ‘One Of Us’. The Aussie contribution is not about the American Wild West at all (Way Out West) but concentrates on the fly in fly out miners of our own West.

 

PLAYLIST

* The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Gene Pitney

* Deadwood Stage – Doris Day

* El Paso – Marty Robbins

* Don’t Take Your Guns To Town – Johnny Cash

* Way Out West – The Dingoes

* Indian Reservation – Don Fardon

* High Noon – Frankie Laine

* Mr Custer – Larry Verne

* Western Movies – The Olympics

* Ghost Riders In The Sky – Peggy Lee

* One Of Us – Patti Page

* The Good The Bad And The Ugly – Ennio Morricone

Mossy and Rob are sending out a big THANK YOU to all our wonderful listeners and members of the JOY family. We love sharing time with you on Sunday afternoons and surely appreciate your continued support.  Accolades must go to the talented Clayton, our technician who got us to air each week and the wonderful Julia who orchestrated the weekly podcasts. Our final show before we venture into 2021 features songs with titles or lyrics that promote optimism and happiness wrapped around JOY, HOPE & WONDER .

Best wishes for a HEALTHY and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

We’ll be back on January 17th.

 

PLAYLIST

* I’m into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits

* Some Kind of Wonderful – Drifters

* Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Billy Thorpe

* Imagine – John Lennon

* You Came, You Saw, You Conquered – The Ronettes

* Heading in the Right Direction – Renee Geyer

* Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead

* The Wonder of You – Ray Peterson

* Wonderful Wonderful – Johnny Mathis

* It’s a Beautiful Morning – Young Rascals

* Somewhere there’s a Someone – Dean Martin

* What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

 

It’s here again and in these trying times we wish everyone health and happiness at Xmas and throughout the next year. Departing from the usual Xmas fare we decided to wander into unusual and varied presentations of Xmas. We have some religious songs such as Colleen Hewett’s epic from ‘Godspell’, ‘Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord/Day By Day’ and the popular gospel ‘Oh Happy Day’ from the Edwin Hawkins singers. Of great interest is the haunting carol from Canada (Huron Carol). John Lennon‘s anthemic plea for world peace features (Happy Xmas/War Is Over) and Slade‘s rock song (Merry Xmas Everybody). There is comedy in the form of the delightful Aussie spoof on ‘Jingle Bells’ written by Greg Champion called (Aussie Jingle Bells) and South African singer/comedian Paddy Roberts, with a satirical jab at Xmas commercialism and indulgence (Merry Xmas You Suckers). Elton John (Step into Xmas) and Chuck Berry (Run Rudolph Run) chime in with their own take on Xmas.

PLAYLIST

1 & 2. Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord/Day By Day – Colleen Hewett

* Wonderful Xmas Time – Paul McCartney

* Huron Carol – Canadian Tenors.

* Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade

* Oh Happy Day – Edwin Hawkins Singers

* Aussie Jingle Bells – Bucko & Champs

* Happy Xmas/War Is Over – John Lennon

* Step into Xmas – Elton John

* Merry Xmas You Suckers – Paddy Roberts

* Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry

* Little Saint Nick – Beach Boys

 

As we near the close of a year that can be seen as somewhat tactile deficient, we thought it was time to embrace some wonderful songs that are well situated within the theme of HOLD.  The majority of songs tend to relate to holding or touching people, though ELO wants you to hold on to your dreams, John Lennon suggests that when you’re alone in the world you just have to hold on, Smokey Robinson refers to an emotional hold on someone and Sue Thompson is hoping that James will hold the ladder steady to aid in her safe getaway.

PLAYLIST

* Hold Me – P J Proby

* You Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

* Baby Hold Me Close – Billy Thorpe

* Hold Me ‘til the Morning Comes – Paul Anka feat. Peter Cetera

* Hold On Tight – ELO

* Hold the Line – Toto

* Hold Me Close – David Essex

* Hold On – John Lennon

* Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash

* Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me – Mel Carter

* James Hold the Ladder Steady – Sue Thompson

* I Want to Hold Your Hand – Beatles

When do we have enough of it? Will we make it in time? Every day in every way our lives are ruled by Time. This week’s program presents some songs straight from the vault – ‘Good Timin’ by falsetto impresario, Jimmy Jones, ‘It’s Just A Matter Of Time’ (Brook Benton) and ‘Goodtime Baby’ from teen idol, Bobby Rydell. More recently is Cyndi Lauper‘s gorgeous eighties hit ‘Time After Time’. Super groups The Rolling Stones (The Last Time) and The Beatles (Any Time At All) feature as well. The signature song ‘Time’ is sung by English singer, Craig Douglas. The Aussie flavour is provided by Ray Brown and The Whispers with their cover of the Wilson Pickett hit ‘In The Midnight Hour’ and impressive singing from King Harvest with their medley (Wichita Lineman/ By The Time I Get To Phoenix).

PLAYLIST

* In The Midnight Hour – Ray Brown & The Whispers

* Time (Clock Of The Heart) – Culture Club

* Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper

* Do That To Me One More Time – Captain & Tennille

* Good Timin’ – Jimmy Jones

* Wichita Lineman/By The Time I Get To Phoenix – King Harvest

* It’s Just A Matter Of Time – Brook Benton

* The Last Time – Rolling Stones

* Time – Craig Douglas

* Sign Of The Times – Petula Clark

* Goodtime Baby – Bobby Rydell

* Any Time At All – Beatles

This week, the 6th edition of the theme Guys and Dolls includes another twelve great songs titled with a person’s name. Paul Peterson refers to ‘Sandy’, Janis Joplin is with ‘Bobby McGee’ and Bobby Gentry remembers ‘Billie Joe’. The Australian contingent is singing about ‘Penelope’, ‘Magazine Madonna’ and ‘Timothy’ while Johnny Mathis, one of our LGBTI favourites, sings about ‘Maria’ from the musical Westside Story. Wings enjoy a road trip with ‘Helen Wheels’, Ram Jam rev up a great version of ‘Black Betty’ and Neil Sedaka is smiling now that he’s met ‘Sunny’. The Cufflinks are telling ‘Sally’ to run toward happiness while Dion is telling people to stay away from ‘Runaround Sue’.

PLAYLIST

* A Little Bit For Sandy – Paul Peterson

* Penelope – Normie Rowe (AUS)

* Magazine Madonna – Sherbet (AUS)

* Me & Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin

* Black Betty – Ram Jam

* Ode To Billie Joe – Bobby Gentry

* Helen Wheels – Wings

* Maria – Johnny Mathis

* Sunny – Neil Sedaka

* Runaround Sue – Dion

* Run Sally Run – Cuff Links

* Timothy – Ann Hawker (AUS)

This week’s theme is ‘Belonging’. In some ways this is a loaded term with implications. When you are dealing with songs from different eras they will inevitably reflect values that are challenging, even antithetical, to our modern values. Songs containing the word ‘mine’ implying ownership were very frequent in the fifties and sixties. Starting with the Small Faces sixties song’ Sorry She’s Mine’ to Jimmie Rodgers ‘Are You really Mine?’ and Pat Boone‘s ‘Remember You’re Mine’ we start to form a picture of how relationships were viewed. Songs containing the word ‘belong’ such as Jo Stafford‘s ‘You Belong To me’ and Aussie duo Bobby and Laurie‘s ‘I Belong With You’ also suggest togetherness with an underlying nod to ownership. But just as we were despairing along comes Lesley Gore in the sixties with her ‘antidote’ song ‘You Don’t Own Me’ which challenges all the conventions of ‘Belonging’.

PLAYLIST

* Sorry She’s Mine – Small Faces

* You’re My World – Cilla Black

* She’s My Baby – Johnny O’Keefe

* The Two Of Us – Jackie Trent & Tony Hatch

* You Belong To Me – Jo Stafford

* Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship

* You Don’t Own Me – Lesley Gore

* You Like Me Too Much – The Beatles

* Are You Really Mine? – Jimmie Rodgers

* I Belong With You – Bobby & Laurie

* Remember You’re Mine – Pat Boone

* Tonight You Belong To Me – Patience & Prudence