Yesterday Once More

This week the theme is a simple one word theme: Don’t. Highlights include ex- Kiwi Dinah Lee with her big hit ‘Don’t You Know Yockomo’ and Australia’s King Of Pop John Farnham with ‘Don’t You Know It’s Magic’. The definitive song for this theme is Elvis‘s ballad ‘Don’t’. British legends Cliff Richard (We Don’t Talk Any More) and Petula Clark (Don’t Sleep In The Subway) are also featured. Not forgetting a searing rendition of the Animal’s hit “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ by Nina Simone. The Aussie highlight is the impressive group The Ferrets with their big hit ‘Don’t Fall In Love’.

 

PLAYLIST

* Don’t You Know Yockomo – Dinah Lee

* Don’t Fall In Love – The Ferrets

* Don’t You Know It’s Magic – John Farnham

* Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone

* Don’t Bring Me Down – ELO

* We Don’t Talk Any More – Cliff Richard

* Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying – Gerry & The Pacemakers

* Don’t Sleep In The Subway – Petula Clark

* Don’t Cross The River – America

* Don’t – Elvis Presley

* Don’t Pull Your Love – Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

* You Don’t Know Me – Jerry Vale

For those who grew up without television the radio or wireless was a major source of information and entertainment. For years the radio has been a great medium for listening to our favourite songs and disc jockeys (DJs). This week’s theme RADIO looks at songs that include the word radio in their lyrics (Starman),or talk about the value of the radio (Radio Radio) and that of DJs (DJ saved my Life). The song Misty is included as it’s a focal aspect in the Clint Eastwood film ‘Play Misty For Me’. The Master’s Apprentices are the AUSSIE HIGHLIGHT of the week with their song ‘Turn Up Your Radio’.

PLAYLIST

* Starman – David Bowie

* Don’t Play That Song – Ben E King

* On the Radio – Donna Summer

* Wired for Sound – Cliff Richard

* Radio Radio – Elvis Costello and the Attractions

* Last Night a DJ Saved My Life – The  Indeep

* Radio Ga Ga – Queen

* Angie Baby – Helen Reddy

* Turn Up Your Radio – Masters Apprentices

* Transistor Sister- Freddie Cannon

* Misty – Johnny Mathis

* Radio and TV – Everly Brothers

Inspired by the whistling prowess of Tim (Queen Of The Night) Perry we found that there were many songs which employed whistling as a component. The most obvious are ‘I Whistle A Happy Tune’ from ‘The King And I’ sung by Dame Julie Andrews and the popular instrumental tune of the fifties ‘The Happy Whistler’ performed by Don Robertson. Two great C&W cross over singers Marty Robbins (The Story Of My Life) and Guy Mitchell (Singing The Blues) both use whistling to great effect. There is a wonderful song from Gene Pitney (Only Love Can Break A heart) and the quirky ‘Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life’ from The Monty Python Gang.

PLAYLIST

• Centrefold – J Geils Band

• I Whistle A Happy Tune – Julie Andrews

• Goodbye Stranger – Supertramp

• Only Love Can Break A Heart – Gene Pitney

• Can’t Smile Without You – Barry Manilow

• Magic Moments – Perry Como

• Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life – Monty Python Gang

• The Story Of My Life – Marty Robbins

• 20 Miles – Ray Brown & The Whispers

• The Happy Whistler – Don Robertson

• Daydream – Lovin’ Spoonful

• Singing The Blues – Guy Mitchell

The term ‘one hit wonder’ or ONCE AT THE TOP (this week’s theme) is most commonly used regarding ‘musical performers’ who may have had only one hit single which in turn eclipses their other material. This week provides a variety of performances that have either reached the top spot or featured in the top 10 of charts. They include the great duo of Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta with sales of over 15 million copies, the animated group The Archies and the Dutch group Shocking Blue‘s ‘Venus’. Axiom is the Aussie Highlight.

PLAYLIST

* Kung Foo Fighting – Carl Douglas

* So Much In Love – Cheek

* My Sharona – The Knack

* Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles

* Arkansas Grass – Axiom

* Slice of Heaven – Dave Dobbyn and Herbs

* You’re The One that I Want – Olivia Newton John /John Travolta

* Sugar Sugar – The Archies

* Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

* Venus – Shocking Blue

* Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day

* To Know Him Is To Love Him – Teddy Bears

This week’s theme is Denial (i.e unwillingness to face the truth). Several songs deal explicitly with this theme. The classic denial song is 10CC‘s ‘I’m Not In Love’. Other songs are ‘It Must Be Him’ (Vicki Carr) and ‘No Not Much’ (The Four Lads). Probably the singer who revels the most in Denial songs is Shirley Bassey (Never Never Never). More implicit depictions of Denial are found in songs like ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’ (The Platters) and ‘Woman Woman’ (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap). Today’s Aussie highlight is the good song ‘You Weren’t In Love With Me’ by Billy Field.

PLAYLIST

* I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Credence Clearwater Revival

* Face It Girl It’s Over – Nancy Wilson

* Would I Lie To You – Eurhythmics

* You Weren’t In Love With Me – Billy Field

* Escape (Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

* I’m Not In Love – 10CC

* Never Never Never -Shirley Bassey

* Woman Woman – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

* It Must Be Him –  Vicki Carr

* No Not Much – Four Lads

* Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters

* Pretend You Don’t See Her – Jerry Vale

This week’s theme MEMORY MAKERS is where Mossy and Rob share songs with you which evoke personal memories for them.

PLAYLIST

* Mossy             Windy – The Association

* Rob                 Send For Me – Nat King Cole

* Mossy             White Rose Of Athens – Nana Mouskouri

* Rob                 High Energy – Evelyn Thomas

* Mossy             Fool Fool Fool – Ray Brown and The Whispers

* Rob                 All Out Of Love – Air Supply

* Mossy             Secret Love – Doris Day

* Rob                 I Am What I Am – Gloria Gaynor

* Mossy             I Love To Love – Tina Charles

* Rob                 Broken Hearted Melody – Sarah Vaughan

* Mossy             More Than The Greatest Love- Della Reese

* Rob                 Love Letters in The Sand – Pat Boone

Novelty songs formed a big part of the pop music charts in the fifties, sixties and some in the seventies. So popular were they that many reached No 1 on the charts. Monster Mash (Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett), Purple People Eater (Sheb Wooley) and ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman’ were huge sellers. The most popular Australian international hit ever was ‘Shaddap You Face’ (Joe Dolce) which managed to reach Number 1 in fifteen countries.

PLAYLIST

* Along Came Jones – The Coasters

* Farewell Aunty Jack – Graham Bond & Rory Donaghue

* Monster Mash – Boris ‘Bobby’ Picket

* My Old Man’s A Dustman – Lonnie Donegan

* Mr Custer – Larry Verne

* Disco Duck – Rick Dees

* Shaddap You Face – Joe Dolce

* Duncan – Slim Dusty

* Short Shorts – Royal Teens

* Hello Muddah Hello Faddah – Alan Sherman

* Witch Doctor – David Seville

* Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley

This week’s set of songs pays tribute to an American rock band and a wonderful brother and sister duo.

Dr. Hook was successful in the 1970s. The band’s music spanned several genres and, over eight years, had a string of hits including ‘Sylvia’s Mother’, ‘Cover of the Rolling Stone’ and ‘Only Sixteen’ as well as those presented in the playlist.

The Carpenters, Karen and Richard produced a distinct soft musical style, combining Karen’s contralto vocals with Richard’s arranging and composing skills. During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded ten albums and numerous singles.

PLAYLIST

* When You’re In Love with a Beautiful Woman – Dr. Hook

* Close To You – The Carpenters

* More Like the Movies – Dr. Hook

* Solitaire – The Carpenters

* Better Love Next Time – Dr. Hook

* Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft – The Carpenters

* Everyone’s Making It Big But Me – Dr. Hook

* Superstar – The Carpenters

* Sharing The Night Together – Dr. Hook

* Mr Postman – The Carpenters

* A Little Bit More – Dr. Hook

This week’s theme features songs with ‘Rock N Roll’ in the title. The legendary rock n roller, Chuck Berry is here with ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and The Beatles‘ version of another Chuck Berry song ‘Rock N Roll Music’. There are slower songs too such as the quirky ‘Rock n Roll Waltz’ by fifties singer, Kay Starr. An Aussie classic is Kevin Johnson’s ‘Rock N Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life’) and Peter Paul and Mary‘s satirical ‘I Dig Rock N Roll Music’.  Aussie highlight is little known Aussie rocker, Johnny Cooper with his version of the Bill Haley classic ‘Rock Around The Clock’.

PLAYLIST

* Rock Around The Clock – Johnny Cooper

* Rock N Roll Is King – ELO

* Rock N Roll Waltz – Kay Starr

* Rock N Roll Love Letter – Bay City Rollers

* Rock N Roll Is Here To Stay – Danny & The Juniors

* Rock N Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life) – Kevin Johnson

* I Dig Rock N Roll Music – Peter Paul & Mary

* Rock N Roll All Night – Kiss

* Rockin’ Good Way – Dinah Washington/Brook Benton

* I Love Rock N Roll – Joan Jett

* Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry

* Rock N Roll Music – Beatles

This week’s song list includes some great songs that incorporate aspects relating to our theme of HOUSE and GARDEN.  The lyrics convey a variety of experiences including protesting (Where have all The Flowers Gone?), internment (Jail House Rock), love (Doll House), expectation ( I Never promised You a Rose Garden), courting (I’m Gonna Knock on your Door) and personal encounter (Garden Party).

 

PLAY LIST

* Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley

* Garden of Eden – Joe Valino

* Where Have All The Flowers Gone – Kingston Trio

* Garden Party – Ricky Nelson

* Rock the House ACDC

* Upstairs In My House – Men At Work

* Devil Gate Drive – Susie Quatro

* When You Walk In The Room – Searchers

* Rose Garden – Lynne Anderson

* Doll House -Donnie Brooks (10secs)

* I’m Gonna Knock on your Door – Eddie Hodges

* Come On A My House – Rosemary Clooney