The Retro Mix Playlist For 9/17/10

Show Theme: One-hit wonders of the 50s and 60s

6 pm hour

Cool Jerk- The Capitols
School Is In- Gary "U.S." Bonds
Sea Cruise- Frankie Ford
The Martian Hop- The Ran Dells
Love Is Strange- Mickey & Sylvia
So Fine- The Fiestas
The Birds and the Bees- Jewel Akens
Mockingbird- Inez & Charlie Foxx
Hallelujah, I Love Her So- Ray Charles
Girl Watcher- The O'Kaysions
Baby Come Back- The Equals

Double Retro segment:
Nobody But Me- The Human Beinz (recorded in 1967)
Nobody But Me- The Isley Brothers (orig. version recorded in 1962)

Born Too Late- The Poni Tails
Earth Angel- The Penguins
My Babe- The Righteous Brothers
Come On Down To My Boat- Every Mother's Son
Sunshine Girl- Parade
Tell Him- The Exciters
Willie and the Hand Jive- The Johnny Otis Show
My Lover's Prayer- Otis Redding

7 pm hour

Black Is Black- Los Bravos
Killer Joe- The Rocky Fellers
Shake- Sam Cooke
High School U.S.A.- Tommy Facenda
Mr. Lee- The Bobbettes
Doggin' Around- Jackie Wilson
Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead- The Fifth Estate
I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman- Whistling Jack Smith
Friday On My Mind- The Easybeats
Bongo Rock- Preston Epps
Mother-In-Law- Ernie K-Doe

The Guestbook segment::
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away- The Silkie (produced by John Lennon and featuring Paul McCartney on guitar and George Harrison on tambourine)

Next Plane To London- The Rose Garden
Yakety Yak- The Coasters
Talk Talk- The Music Machine
Hey Joe- The Leaves
Summer In the City- The Lovin' Spoonful
Love Makes the World Go 'Round- Deon Jackson
I Wanna Love Him So Bad- The Jelly Beans
Pretty Little Angel Eyes- Curtis Lee
I Like It Like That- Chris Kenner
Rock Around with Ollie Vee- Buddy Holly

All one-hit wonders the rest of the way...
8 pm hour-

California Sun- The Rivieras
Good Old Rock & Roll- Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys
Don't You Just Know It- Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns
Happy, Happy Birthday Baby- The Tune Weavers
Smoky Places- The Corsairs
Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)- The Hombres
She's the One- The Chartbusters
Pipeline- The Chantays
Heart and Soul- The Cleftones
Baby It's You- Smith
Green Tambourine- The Lemon Pipers
Silhouettes- The Rays
Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)- Barry Man
Farmer John- The Premiers
Shape of Things To Come- Max Frost & the Troopers
Keep On Dancing- The Gentrys
Sally Go 'Round the Roses- The Jaynettes
One Summer Night- The Danleers
Ooh Poo Pah Doo- Jessie Hill
Little Girl- The Syndicate of Sound
Foot Stompin'- The Flares
(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet- The Blues Magoos

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Baby It's You by Smith (from The Leslie Uggams Show)

Valerie Brown of Josie & the Pussycats Makes Saturday Morning Cartoon History

On September 12, 1970, Josie & the Pussycats made its transition from comic book to CBS Saturday morning cartoon.  One of the characters making the transition (Valerie) is significant because she became the first female African-American cast member on a regular Saturday-morning cartoon.

Valerie almost didn't make her historic appearance on Josie & the Pussycats.  In preparation for the cartoon, Hanna-Barbera Productions decided to assemble a real-life Josie & the Pussycats group, who would provide the singing voices of the girls in the cartoons and also record an album (other actresses provided the speaking voices for the characters on the series). The company who would be in charge of the recordings (La La Productions)  held a talent search to find three females who would match Josie & the Pussycats in the comic book in both looks  and singing ability.  The trio chosen to be "Josie & the Pussycats" were: Cathy Douglas (Josie), Patrice Holloway (Valerie) and Cherie Moor (Melody).  Side note: after Josie & the Pussycats disbanded, Moor got married, took her husband's surname and gained fame as Cheryl Ladd.

When one member of La La Productions (Danny Janssen) presented the newly formed trio to William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, he learned that they wanted to recast Patrice Holloway because they had decided to portray Josie & the Pussycats as all-white (even though Valerie was an African-American in the comic book).  Janssen refused to recast Holloway and threatened to walk away from the project.  After a nearly month-long stalemate between Janssen and Hanna-Barbera, Hanna-Barbera conceded and allowed Janssen to keep Holloway, and changed Valerie back to being African-American.  Ironically, Holloway became the most prominent voice of the trio.  In addition to singing lead on many of the tracks on their self-titled album, Holloway also provided lead vocals to the cartoon's iconic theme song.

Although it often gets overlooked, I think it's important to recognize the significance of the appearance of Valerie on the cartoon version of Josie & the Pussycats.  Her inclusion on the series opened the doors to black female cartoon characters on TV and helped lead to others such as Dee Dee (Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels), Susie Carmichael (Rugrats and All Grown Up), and Vixen (Justice League Unlimited).  

Below is the first single (Every Beat of My Heart) from the only album Patrice Holloway, Cherie Moor, and Cathy Douglas recorded as Josie & the Pussycats. Although the player below doesn't contain any performance footage, there  are stills from the cartoon series and of Holloway, Moor, and Douglas  recording in the studio.

The Retro Mix Playlist For 9/10/10

6 pm hour

Your Love- The Outfield
Help Yourself- The Undisputed Truth
A Love Bizarre- Sheila E.
Fox On the Run- Sweet
Here We Go- C&C Music Factory
Different People- No Doubt
If You Leave Me Now- Chicago

Now & Then segment’s feat. artist: Lita Ford
Scream for Me (from her 2009 CD Wicked Wonderland)
Kiss Me Deadly

How You’ve Grown- 10,000 Maniacs
Hold Me Now- The Thompson Twins
Shake and Dance with Me- Con Funk Shun
Theme from The Rockford Files- Mike Post
‘Taint What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It)- Fun Boy Three with Bananarama

7 pm hour

Good Vibrations- Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch feat. Loleatta Holloway
Say No Go- De La Soul
You’re the First, the Last, My Everything- Barry White
One Step Up- Bruce Springsteen
Into Your Arms- The Lemonheads
Butter Boy- Fanny
Back In the Saddle- Aerosmith

With or Without You segment’s feat. artist: Don Henley
Wasted Time- The Eagles
The Boys of Summer- Don Henley

It’s All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix)- Puff Daddy & Family
Lust for Life- Iggy Pop
Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble- DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Here’s Some Love- Tanya Tucker

8 pm hour

Under the Milky Way- The Church
Sad Tomorrow- The Muffs
Wishing Well- Terence Trent D’Arby
Every 1’s A Winner- Hot Chocolate
Stage Fright- The Band
Sirius/Eye in the Sky- The Alan Parsons Project
Stir It Up- Patti Labelle
Blood On the Dance Floor- Michael Jackson
Unconditional Love- Donna Summer
The Ghost in You- The Psychedelic Furs
Rhinestone Cowboy- Glen Campbell
Boogie Fever- The Sylvers
Knock On Wood- Amii Stewart
Symphony of Destruction- Megadeth

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Sad Tomorrow by The Muffs


The Muffs - Sad Tomorrow
Uploaded by WBRNewMedia. - Explore more music videos.

The Retro Mix Playlist For 9/3/10

When I got to the studio on Friday evening, one of my worst fears when it comes to doing my show came true... I forgot my playlist at home!  What could have been a disaster turned into a fairly solid show.  Fortunately, I was able to recall parts of what I had planned to play.  Listener requests helped out too! Although I proved to myself I can do a show without a playlist, I don't plan on going through that again because having a safety net when doing live radio is always comforting.

6 pm hour

September- Earth, Wind and Fire
Could You Be the One- Husker Du
Lithium- Nirvana
Montana- Frank Zappa
Think It Over- Cheryl Ladd
I Love A Rainy Night- Eddie Rabbitt
Keep Pushin’- REO Speedwagon
Criticize- Alexander O’Neal
Live Forever- Oasis
Tell Me What- Fine Young Cannibals
Wheel In the Sky- Journey
Slippery When Wet- The Commodores
Mr. Telephone Man- New Edition
Virtual Insanity- Jamiroquai
Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)- ABBA

7 pm hour

Oh Yeah- Yello
New Song- Howard Jones
Stuck In the Middle with You- Stealer’s Wheel
Take Me to the Pilot- Elton John
Thank U- Alanis Morissette
Dangerous Type- The Cars
Obsession- Animotion
Slaughter- Billy Preston
Cut the Cake- AWB
Losing My Religion- R.E.M.
I Drove All Night- Cyndi Lauper
Natural High- Bloodstone
Share the Land- The Guess Who
Generals & Majors- XTC

8 pm hour

Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo- Rick Derringer
Truck On (Tyke)- T. Rex
Hazy Shade of Winter- The Bangles
The Humpty Dance- Digital Underground
Weird- Hanson
So Very Hard To Go- Tower of Power
Tenderness- General Public
Change- John Waite
We Used to Be Friends- The Dandy Warhols
Seether- Veruca Salt
Love or Let Me Be Lonely- The Friends of Distinction
Steady- Jules Shear
True- Spandau Ballet
I Need A Lover- John Cougar

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: New Song by Howard Jones

Please Take A Moment To Vote In the Current Dancing With the Stars Poll... Thank You

On August 30th, the cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 11 was announced.  They are (starting with the top row, left to right):

Michael Bolton
Brandy
Actress/comedian Margaret Cho
Former NBA player Rick Fox
Jennifer Grey
David Hasselhoff
Florence Henderson
Actor Kyle Massey (That's So Raven, Cory In the House)
Bristol Palin
Actress/reality star Audrina Patridge (The Hills)
Reality star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino (Jersey Shore)
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner

Although the term "star" is being used very loosely in some cases, this season's cast is an intriguing mix. Season 11 of Dancing with the Stars will premiere Monday, September 20 at 8pm on ABC.  

The Retro Mix Playlist For 8/27/10

Spotlight artist: The Monkees

6 pm hour

(Theme from) The Monkees- The Monkees
I See the Light- The Five Americans
Last Train to Clarksville- The Monkees
Plain Jane- Bobby Darin
People Say- The Dixie Cups
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone- The Monkees
Pow!- The Lovin' Spoonful
Saturday's Child- The Monkees
I Love You- People!
I’m Walkin’- Fats Domino

With or Without You segment:
Papa Gene's Blues- The Monkees
Joanne- Michael Nesmith

Da Doo Ron Ron- The Crystals
Sweet Young Thing- The Monkees
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag- James Brown
She- The Monkees
Time Is Tight- Booker T. & the Mgs
Through the Looking Glass- The Monkees
Sidewalk Surfin’- Jan & Dean
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)- The Monkees
I’m Into Something Good- Earl Jean

7 pm hour

I’m A Believer- The Monkees
Can I Get To Know You Better- The Turtles
I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind- The Monkees
You Never Can Tell- Chuck Berry
Tapioca Tundra- The Monkees
A Little Bit of Soap- The Jarmels
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You- The Monkees
Do It Again, A Little Bit Slower- Jon & Robin and the In Crowd
A Big Hunk O’ Love- Elvis Presley
All of Your Toys- The Monkees
The Rain, the Park, and Other Things- The Cowsills

On the Flip Side segment:
The Girl I Knew Somewhere (The B-side to A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You)- The Monkees

To Sir, With Love- Lulu
No Time- The Monkees
Slippin’ and Slidin’- Little Richard
Randy Scouse Git- The Monkees
Lover Please- Clyde McPhatter
Shades of Gray- The Monkees
Galveston- Glen Campbell
You Just May Be the One- The Monkees
Try the Worrying Way- The Fabulettes

8 pm hour

Pleasant Valley Sunday- The Monkees
Up Down Sue- The Luv’d Ones
Words- The Monkees
You Told Me- The Monkees
Gypsy Woman- The Impression
Mommy & Daddy- The Monkees
Love Is Only Sleeping- The Monkees
Pineapple Princess- Annette Funicello

All Monkees the rest of the way...

Daydream Believer
Door Into Summer
Teardrop City
Zor and Zam
What Am I Doing Hangin’ ‘Round
She Hangs Out
Good Clean Fun
As We Go Along
Circle Sky
Steam Engine
Star Collector
For Pete’s Sake

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: No Time by The Monkees

The Retro Mix Playlist For 8/20/10

Spotlight: New Wave

6 pm hour

Major Tom (Coming Home)- Peter Schilling
Only A Lad- Oingo Boingo
Mexican Radio- Wall of Voodoo

The Best Disco In Town- The Ritchie Family
Tempted- Squeeze
Two Occasions- The Deele
Underground- Men At Work
Dreaming- Blondie

Now & Then segment's feat. artist: Crowded House
Saturday Sun (from their 2010 album Intriguer)
Locked Out (1993)

Whip It- Devo
Lawn Chairs- Our Daughter's Wedding
How Do I Make You- Linda Ronstadt
Make A Circuit with Me- The Polecats
Kids In America- Kim Wilde
Everything's Tuesday- Chairmen of the Board

7 pm hour

Turning Japanese- The Vapors
Let's Face It- The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Walking On Sunshine- Katrina & the Waves
Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again- Gary Glitter
Love Is A Stranger- Eurythmics
Tainted Love- Soft Cell
Mental Hopscotch- Missing Persons
Johnny and Mary- Robert Palmer

With or Without You segment's feat. artist: Alison Moyet
Don't Go- Yaz
Invisible- Alison Moyet

Delirious- Prince
Europa & the Pirate Twins- Thomas Dolby
Vanity Kills- ABC
Cars- Gary Numan
He Could Be the One- Josie Cotton
Girls On Film- Duran Duran
Every Night- Paul McCartney

8 pm hour (all New Wave)

Once In A Lifetime- Talking Heads
Antmusic- Adam & the Ants
Goodbye To You- Scandal
Love Missile F1-11- Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Forever Young- Alphaville
Space Age Love Song- A Flock of Seagulls
Just Can't Get Enough- Depeche Mode
He's So Dull- Vanity 6
Pump It Up- Elvis Costello
Shake It Up- The Cars
The Metro- Berlin
Video Killed the Radio Star- The Buggles
Happy Birthday- Altered Images
Rock Lobster- The B-52s

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Johnny and Mary by Robert Palmer

The Retro Mix Playlist For 8/13/10

Show theme: Motown treasures

On this show, my niece Pam joined me as co-host as we featured some of our favorite lesser known Motown tunes.  Throughout the show, we also shared some background info and personal stories about some of the songs we selected for the show.  Pam's son (and my great nephew) Brian also joined me briefly for the "Motown Meets the Beatles" segment in which we both reminisced about watching The Beatles cartoon on WXON Channel 20 when we were kids.  Although the show's first hour had a couple of behind the scenes gaffes, we were able to get back on track with ease.  All in all, the show went well and we had a lot of fun doing it. 

6 pm hour

Motoring- Martha & the Vandellas
The Girl's Alright with Me- The Temptations
Riding High On Love- Jr. Walker & the All-Stars
California Soul- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Heaven Must Have Sent You- The Elgins
The Bells- The Originals
You Met Your Match- Stevie Wonder
Can You Jerk Like Me- The Contours
Catching Up On Time- The Isley Brothers
You're the One- The Marvelettes
(It's the Way) Nature Planned It- The Four Tops
I'm Living In Shame- Diana Ross & the Supremes
The Touch of Venus- Patrice Holloway
Way Over There- The Miracles
I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved- David Ruffin
Buttercup- The Jackson Five
Needle In A Haystack- The Velvelettes

7 pm hour

On the Avenue- Jimmy Ruffin
Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)- Edwin Starr
It Should Have Been Me- Gladys Knight & the Pips
Does Your Mama Know About Me- Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers
If This World Were Mine- The Fantastic Four
Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone- Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
I'll Always Love You- The Spinners
It Must Be Love Baby- Chuck Jackson & Yvonne Fair
Bye Bye Baby- Mary Wells
That's How Love Is- The Jackson Five

Motown Meets the Beatles:
You Can't Do That- The Supremes
Yesterday- Marvin Gaye
Eleanor Rigby- The Four Tops
We Can Work It Out- Stevie Wonder

I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying- The Miracles
Don't Let Me Down- Kim Weston
Please Return Your Love To Me- The Temptations
Love's Gone Bad- Chris Clark

8 pm hour

Love Comes In Different Flavors- The Jackson Five
Home Cookin'- Jr. Walker & the All-Stars
Laughing Boy- Mary Wells
He Was Really Saying Something- The Funk Brothers
Helpless- The Four Tops
Hey Harmonica Man- Stevie Wonder
The End of Our Road- Gladys Knight & the Pips
If You Can Want- Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
The Composer- Diana Ross & the Supremes
Good Things- The Isley Brothers

The Guest Book segment:
Try It Baby- Marvin Gaye (backup vocals by The Temptations)

Truly Yours- The Spinners
Tear It On Down- Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
I'll Keep Holding On- The Marvelettes
Baby Hit and Run- The Contours
I Know She's Not A Mannequin- The Temptations
Trapped In A Love Affair- Brenda Holloway
Born To Wander- Rare Earth

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: The End of Our Road by Gladys Knight & the Pips

The Retro Mix Playlist For 8/6/10

Show theme: Two-hit wonders

6 pm hour

Rock Me Amadeus- Falco
Vienna Calling- Falco
Humpin' Around- Bobby Brown
Swoop- The Dazz Band
If You Wanna Get To Heaven- The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Jackie Blue- The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Be- Lenny Kravitz

Now & Then segment's feat. artist: Sheryl Crow
Peaceful Feeling (from her 2010 album "100 Miles From Memphis")
If It Makes You Happy (released in 1996)

Shattered Dreams- Johnny Hates Jazz
I Don't Wanna Be A Hero- Johnny Hates Jazz
In Between Days- The Cure
More, More, More- The Andrea True Connection
N.Y. You Got Me Dancing- The Andrea True Connection
Big Mouth- Whodini

7 pm hour

Round and Round- Ratt
Lay It Down- Ratt
Nuthin' But A "G" Thang- Dr. Dre
Do That Stuff- Parliament
Superstar- Murray Head
One Night In Bangkok- Murray Head
Must of Got Lost- The J. Geils Band

On the Flip Side segment:
The Kind of Fella I Am- John Cougar Mellencamp (song was the B-side of Lonely Ol' Night)

Sideshow- Blue Magic
Three Ring Circus- Blue Magic
Cruel To Be Kind- Spacehog
One Thing Leads To Another- The Fixx
Buffalo Stance- Neneh Cherry
Kisses On the Wind- Neneh Cherry

8 pm hour

Just Got Paid- Johnny Kemp
Birthday Suit- Johnny Kemp
Fly- Sugar Ray
Safety Dance- Men Without Hats
Pop Goes the World- Men Without Hats
Get Up, Stand Up- Bob Marley
Get Up and Boogie (That's Right)- Silver Convention
Fly, Robin, Fly- Silver Convention
Tonight- Kool & the Gang
Take On Me- a-ha
The Sun Always Shines On T.V.- a-ha
Cum On Feel the Noize- Quiet Riot
Bang Your Head (Metal Health)- Quiet Riot

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats

Final Results of the Recent Mel Gibson Poll

In the recent poll in which I asked readers if they would ever pay to see another Mel Gibson film, nearly 3/4 of people said hell no!  I felt he had a chance to be the next Clint Eastwood and continue as a successful actor/director/writer/producer well into his 70s. 

It's too bad Mel's demons got the best of him.  Regardless of what happens to Mel professionally, hopefully he can get his personal life straightened out.

Here are the final results:


No- 70%
It depends- 20%
Yes- 8%

Thanks to all of you who participated.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the next poll.