The Retro Mix Playlist for 1/11/14

Show theme: The 1960s, with a spotlight on The Marvelettes

6 pm hour

Please Mr. Postman- The Marvelettes
Green'ich Grendel- Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
Hang on Sloopy- The McCoys
Twistin' Postman- The Marvelettes

The Charleston- Chubby Checker

Son of a Preacher Man- Dusty Springfield

So Long Baby- The Marvelettes

(I Know) I’m Losing You- The Temptations

Crosstown Traffic- The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Too Strong to Be Strung Along- The Marvelettes

Runaway- Del Shannon

On the Flip Side:

Melody Hill- The Archies (B-side to Sugar, Sugar)

Beechwood 4-5789- The Marvelettes

Cry Baby- Garnett Mimms & the Enchanters

I Got Rhythm- The Happenings

Locking Up My Heart- The Marvelettes

Grazing in the Grass-Friends of Distinction

Pictures of Lily- The Who

My Daddy Knows Best- The Marvelettes

Bowling Green- The Everly Bros.

7 pm hour

Playboy- The Marvelettes

Everything’s Alright- The Newbeats

You Were on My Mind- We Five

As Long As I Know He’s Mine- The Marvelettes

Moody Woman- Jerry Butler

Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie- Jay & the Techniques

Strange I Know- The Marvelettes

Let’s Live for Today- The Grass Roots

I Saw Her Again- The Mamas & the Papas

He’s a Good Guy Yes He Is- The Marvelettes

The Greatest Miss of the Week:

That Acapulco Gold- The Rainy Daze (only reached #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967)

I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)- Otis Redding

You’re My Remedy- The Marvelettes

Under My Thumb- The Rolling Stones

Hazy Shade of Winter- Simon & Garfunkel

Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead- The Marvelettes

The Day You Take One (You're Going to Have to Take the Other)- The Marvelettes

I Gotta Get a Message to You- The Bee Gees

Hey Harmonica Man- Stevie Wonder

She Drives Me Out of My Mind- The Swinging Medallions

8 pm hour

Don’t Mess with Bill- The Marvelettes

Beggin’- The Four Seasons

Saturday Night at the Movies- The Drifters

The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game- The Marvelettes

I’m Coming Back to You- Jackie Wilson

Georgy Girl- The Seekers

You’re the One- The Marvelettes

Gimme Little Sign- Brenton Wood

I’ll Keep Holding On- The Marvelettes

Stuck on You- Elvis Presley

I’m Gonna Hold on As Long As I Can- The Marvelettes

Woman, Woman- Gary Puckett & the Union Gap

My Baby Must Be a Magician- The Marvelettes

Liar, Liar- The Castaways

Action- Freddy Cannon

Message to Michael- The Marvelettes

Time is Tight- Booker T. & the M.G.s

The Snake- Al Wilson

That’s How Heartaches are Made- The Marvelettes

Too Many Fish in the Sea- The Marvelettes

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: The Marvelettes perform a hits medley at The Apollo in 1963

The Retro Mix Playlist for 12/7/13

Show Theme: Marvin Gaye duets (along with other songs from the 60s and early 70s)

6 pm hour

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
I’m Alright- Little Anthony & the Imperials
Honky Tonk Women- The Rolling Stones
Deed I Do- Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
It Hurts to Be in Love- Gene Pitney
A Love That’s Real- The Intruders
Your Precious Love- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Fields of Clover- The Box Tops
She’s Not There- The Zombies
What Good Am I Without You- Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Let’s Do the Freddie- Chubby Checker
What’s the Matter with You Baby- Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
Girl Watcher- The O’Kaysions
Whispers (Getting’ Louder)- Jackie Wilson
If I Could Build My Whole World Around You- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Words of Love- The Mamas & the Papas
Heaven Sent You I Know- Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
I Looked at You- The Doors
Treat Her Right- Roy Head
Once Upon a Time- Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
Respectable- The Outsiders

7 pm hour

It Takes Two- Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Coming on Strong- Brenda Lee
Love or Let Me Be Lonely- The Friends of Distinction
Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
I Can’t Help Myself - The Four Tops
I’d Like to Take You Home- The Rascals
The Late Late Show- Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
Irresistible You- Bobby Darin
I Will Follow Him- Little Peggy March
I Couldn’t Help Falling for You- Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Justine- The Righteous Brothers
Let the Good Times Roll/Feels So Good- Bunny Sigler
Traces- The Classics IV
Something Stupid- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
You Didn’t Look ‘Round- Lesley Gore
If You Wanna Be Happy- Jimmy Soul
You Came a Long Way from St. Louis- Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
She’s Still a Mystery- The Lovin’ Spoonful
Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

8 pm hour

My Mistake (Was to Love You)- Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross
Give Me Just a Little More Time- The Chairmen of the Board
It’s My Life- The Animals
Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love)- Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Hit the Road Jack- Ray Charles
Let Me Be- The Turtles
You’re All I Need to Get By- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Attack- The Toys
Daughter of Darkness- Tom Jones
Don’t Knock My Love- Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross
The Onion Song- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
I’ll Be Around- The Spinners
Sweet Pea- Tommy Roe
Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)- Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
He Was Really Sayin’ Something- The Velvelettes
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do- Neil Sedaka
California Soul- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Turn Back the Hands of Time- Tyrone Davis
Stop, Look, Listen to Your Heart- Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross
Keep on Lovin’ Me Honey- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

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

Remembering the Master

Although I'm a little late, I still wanted to mention a couple of anniversaries in relation to Marvin Gaye that occurred earlier this week. The first is Wednesday April 1st, which marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Marvin Gaye at the hands of his father, Marvin Sr. Just like I remember where I was when I learned of the deaths of Elvis, John Lennon and other public figures, I still recall the moment I found out about the death of Marvin. I was listening to the radio in the car heading home with members of my family. It was a Sunday afternoon and we had just finished celebrating the birthday of one of my nephews at Showbiz Pizza Place. One of life's cruel jokes is how joyous moments can sometimes be interrupted by tragedy.

As I said in the previous paragraph, there are two anniversaries this week related to Marvin. Thursday April 2nd marked what would have been Marvin's 70th birthday. As with anyone who is taken too soon, we are left with a lot of unanswered questions about Marvin Gaye. Had he lived, did he have another masterpiece on the level of the 1971 album What's Going On in him? Would he have retreated from the spotlight, leaving us with just the memories of his recordings and performances from a 20-plus year career?

Because he released a wealth of quality material, it's hard for me to name my favorite Marvin Gaye song. In light of that, here are 5 of my favorite Marvin Gaye songs (in no particular order):

1. Piece of Clay
2. Hitch-Hike
3. Got To Give It Up
4. Chained
5. Trouble Man

What are some of your favorite tunes by The Master, Marvin Gaye?

Here is a clip of Marvin performing The Star Spangled Banner at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game:

The Retro Mix Playlist For 10/24/08

In honor of lead singer Levi Stubbs, who died on 10/17, the music of The Four Tops was featured throughout the show. Since I focused on their 60s heyday, I also played tunes by other artists from the 60s as well as the 50s.

7 pm hour

I Can't Help Myself- The Four Tops
Ready Teddy- Little Richard
Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile)- The Four Tops
Leader of the Pack- The Shangri-Las
I Beg of You- Elvis Presley
Something About You- The Four Tops
Special Delivery- The 1910 Fruitgum Co.
Bernadette- The Four Tops
Saved- LaVern Baker
Rock Around the Clock- Bill Haley & his Comets
Helpless- The Four Tops
I Only Want To Be With You- Dusty Springfield
I Got A Feeling- The Four Tops
I'm Walkin'- Fats Domino
Havin' A Wild Weekend- The Dave Clark Five
A Place In the Sun- The Four Tops
Maybe I Know- Lesley Gore
Almost Grown- Chuck Berry
It's the Same Old Song- The Four Tops
I Can Hear Music- The Ronettes

8 pm hour

Reach Out (I'll Be There)- The Four Tops
Fields of Clover- The Box Tops
Stagger Lee- Lloyd Price
Sad Souvenirs- The Four Tops
Da Do Ron Ron- The Crystals
If I Were A Carpenter- The Four Tops
Be-Bop-A-Lula- Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps
Easier Said Than Done- The Essex
Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)- The Four Tops
I'm In A Different World- The Four Tops
Mess Around- Ray Charles
The Locomotion- Little Eva
I'll Turn To Stone- The Four Tops
Incense and Peppermints- The Strawberry Alarm Clock
Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me- The Four Tops
Hide and Seek- Bunker Hill
Peggy Sue- Buddy Holly
7 Rooms of Gloom- The Four Tops
I Saw Her Again- The Mamas and the Papas
Standing In the Shadows of Love- The Four Tops

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Reach Out (I'll Be There) by The Four Tops