Playlist for The Rock and Roll Omnibus #82 (week of March 4, 2013)

We're on the air tonight at 9pm Central on WRFN 107.1 in Nashville . You can also listen at www.radiofreenashville.org

Opening

The Four Tops—Can't Help Myself 1965

The Four Tops---Reach Out I'll Be There 1966

The Four Tops—Bernadette 1967

The Four Tops—Ain't No Woman Like The One I Got 1973

Ernie Freeman—Raunchy 1957

Bobby Freeman—Do You Want To Dance 1958

Freddie and the Dreamers—I'm Telling You Now 1965

The Free Movement—I've Found Someone Of My Own 1971

Connie Francis—Who's Sorry Now 1958

Connie Francis—My Happiness 1958

Connie Francis—Everybody's Somebody's Fool 1960

Samantha Fox—Touch Me 1986

Foxy—Get Off 1978

Frankie and the Knockouts—Sweetheart 1981

Frankie Goes to Hollywood—Relax 1985

Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad—I Know Something's Going On 1982

Hour 2

Ace Frehley—Rip It Out 1978

Ace Frehley—New York Groove 1978

The Frost—Jennie Lee 1969

Frozen Ghost—Should I See 1987

Peter Gabriel—Solsbury Hill 1977

Peter Gabriel—On the Air 1978

Peter Gabriel—I Don't Remember 1980

Peter Gabriel—Shock the Monkey 1982

Peter Gabriel—In Your Eyes 1985

Peter Gabriel—Big Time 1985

The Fugs—I Want To Know 1966

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Happy Birthday Harry Belafonte!!

A quick note about the bus.....if you have not become our friend on facebook, please take the time to do so. It would help me know who's out there. I will not write to you (unless you write me first at rockandrollomnibus@gmail.com). Thanks!

The bus would like to wish Harry Belafonte a happy 84th birthday.

Solider (in WW II), singer, actor on stage and screen, author, and civil rights activist, Harry has had a long and varied career. With all of that, he is probably best known around the world for his popularizing Calypso music here in the US. Here are several cuts for your viewing pleasure....have a happy Tuesday.

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Elvis Presley: I Forgot To Remember To Forget (1956)

On this day in 1956 Elvis celebrated his first major hit when, "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" hit #1 on the Billboard Country & Western charts. Of course, most people "forgot" this song, when a week later, "Heartbreak Hotel" made it's debut on the pop charts...and well... you know the rest.

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Happy Birthday Gene Vincent.....

Happy Birthday Gene Vincent, who would have been 76 today.......

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The Day The Music Died (1959)

     It was the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa Feb 2, 1959. The Winter Dance Party featuring Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens had been miserable. A colder than normal winter, a bus that had faulty heat and long overnight trips had made it very difficult. This night Holly decided to take action, so he chartered a plane to take them to Fargo, North Dakota, from there they could catch a flight to Moorhead, MN. They left under clear skies, but no one had briefed the pilot of an impending blizzard just miles ahead. The men hopped on the plane and around 12:30 on Feb. 3 they took off in the Beech Bonanza never to be seen alive again.....

   I consider there to be five pillars of the "Rock and Roll" era. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. By December of 1959 when Berry was arrested all five had either had major career setbacks, in the Army (in Elvis' case), or dead. For me this was when Rock and Roll went into a mode of expansion, but no true direction until the Beatles in 1964.

    Of the five mentioned, one could argue that Holly's music predated the  "Rock" era of the mid to late 60's more than any of the other four.  The song forms and production techniques that Holly mastered became the cornerstone of Rock groups for years. I would contend that his death effected Rock just about more then any other event in it's early years. 

    So today we remember "The Day The Music Died".....

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Elvis Presley: Heartbreak Hotel (1956)

55 years ago, Elvis had his contract picked up by RCA and in a few weeks the first single, "Heartbreak Hotel" would be released and change his (and rock and roll's) destiny forever. Enjoy and have a great day today!

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Sunday Morning Vault: Sack dresses and The Accents Wiggle, Wiggle (1958)

The picture above is of a sack dress which evidently was in style in the 50's. Since I am not a fashion devotee (family and friends insert joke here), nor born before 1960, will have to take someone else's word on this monstrosity. Music has always touched on social commentary, moral sermonizing, or the latest fad. It could be fashion, a dance, a game (remember Pac-Man Fever?), or even a phrase.

Robert Draper Jr., Robert Armstrong, Billy R.Hood, James L. Jackson, Arvid Garrett and Israel L. Goudeau, Jr. made up The Accents. Draper was the lead singer, but at this time don't know any more about this band. It's only hit was in December 1958 and was called "Wiggle, Wiggle" (On charts for 12 weeks peaking at #51) . According to the song, all you needed was a sack dress and to "wiggle" where it counted. To my knowledge it's the only song written about this fashion fad, and if looks mean anything...there was a reason for that, however it's far from the last time a song implored a woman to um...wiggle. Hope you all have a great Sunday....

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Great news about the Omnibus!!!

We just got the dailies from Live 365 and out of 211 oldies stations we are number 93!! In these past 6 weeks we have been heard in 20 states here in the US and in 33 counties. Thanks SO much and not only keep listening, but get the word out about the BUS!

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Show #3 of "The History of Rock and Pop" is on!!

Hey y'all...you can find the latest edition of "The History of Rock and Pop" on the station for the next week at 3pm, 10pm, and 6am Central time US. Here on the Omnibus.....

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Never can say goodbye.....

    I approach this blog with a bit of sadness, and more than a bit of trepidation. Yesterday it had been reported that Chuck Berry had collapsed during a gig in Chicago. More info has come out that he had pushed himself a great deal during the weekend doing a couple of shows in New York for New Year's Eve and then moving on to the windy city.

     In this era of rock where the successful could make more than a lifetime's worth of money, it's hard to imagine someone who's 84 to even get on a stage much less play, sing (and let's not forget duckwalk) like Mr. Berry. However the work ethic portrayed by those from the golden age of rock and roll, Jerry Lee, Chuck, Little Richard, Bo Diddly and others is amazing. Of course, that's not to say that retirement would have been an option had they not been fleeced during the time of their greatest popularity and forced to make the bulk of their money on the road where they continue to this day.

      I'm not suggesting they stop performing. Every time Chuck Berry gets on stage he reminds us of his enormous influence. It's not a stretch to suggest that any man or woman who strapped on an axe, cranked up the volume and played until their fingers were blistered and bleeding were influenced either directly or indirectly the man.  And maybe because of that, it's sad to see incidences like this one. He has a once a month engagement at a club in St. Louis and plays to a full house every time. I suppose as long as he does that, the desire to perform, even beyond what is good for his health trumps everything. There are not many legends who's legacy is so solid that people will come to pay homage even when his talents are well past it's prime. Hail, Hail Rock and Roll..... 

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