hop into our time machine
and go Cruisin' through
top 40 radio history.
This is the blog series
that pays tribute to
the Cruisin' albums,
those simulated radio broadcasts hosted by
that pays tribute to
the Cruisin' albums,
those simulated radio broadcasts hosted by
some of the greatest
top 40 deejays of
the 50s and 60s.
top 40 deejays of
the 50s and 60s.
As I have done in the past,
I will play a few songs
found on the original
Cruisin' album plus a
couple more favorites
released the same year.
I will play a few songs
found on the original
Cruisin' album plus a
couple more favorites
released the same year.
To transport us back in
time, set the mood and
create a party atmosphere,
I tacked up on the wall
these nostalgic vintage
soda pop print ads.
time, set the mood and
create a party atmosphere,
I tacked up on the wall
these nostalgic vintage
soda pop print ads.
The year is 1961 and we're
heading up the road to Beantown.
That's where "Old Aching Adenoids"
Arnie "Woo Woo"
Ginsburg
is hosting
The Night Train Show on
WMEX, Boston!
THE MARCELS
Listen to this brief clip to familiarize yourself with Arnie's voice
and DJ style. Arnie begins speaking at the 40 sec. mark
and introduces the first record-- "Blue Moon!"
and DJ style. Arnie begins speaking at the 40 sec. mark
and introduces the first record-- "Blue Moon!"
"Blue Moon" - The Marcels
(Mar./Apr. 1961, highest chart pos.
#1 Hot 100/#1 Cash Box/#1 R&B)
#1 Hot 100/#1 Cash Box/#1 R&B)
DEL SHANNON
Del Shannon's "Runaway" was one of
the biggest hits of 1961, topping the
Billboard chart four weeks in a row.
the biggest hits of 1961, topping the
Billboard chart four weeks in a row.
In the late 80s, Del reworked the
lyrics and re-recorded the song for
use as the theme of the NBC TV
series Crime Story, a cop drama
from executive producer Michael
Mann, the guy who transformed
the genre with the cult phenom
Miami Vice a few years earlier.
lyrics and re-recorded the song for
use as the theme of the NBC TV
series Crime Story, a cop drama
from executive producer Michael
Mann, the guy who transformed
the genre with the cult phenom
Miami Vice a few years earlier.
"Runaway" - Del Shannon
(Apr./May 1961, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100,
#1 Cash Box, /#3 R&B, re-recorded version used
as theme of TV series Crime Story, 1986-1988)
#1 Cash Box, /#3 R&B, re-recorded version used
as theme of TV series Crime Story, 1986-1988)
NEIL SEDAKA
Brooklyn born singer, songwriter and
pianist Neil Sedaka made enormous
contributions to pop music, yet he is
still locked out of the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame, leading some fans to
conclude it's because Neil wrote
and recorded pop instead of
rock 'n' roll. That's crazy talk.
In the 50s and early 60s, pop
was a big part of rock 'n' roll,
especially the danceworthy
up tempo style of pop that
was Neil's specialty.
"Calendar Girl," a song written by Sedaka
along with his composing partner Howard
Greenfield, is a great example. Released in
December 1960, "Calendar Girl" climbed the
chart in the early weeks of 1961 and finished
at #4, Neil's first single to reach the top 5.
along with his composing partner Howard
Greenfield, is a great example. Released in
December 1960, "Calendar Girl" climbed the
chart in the early weeks of 1961 and finished
at #4, Neil's first single to reach the top 5.
"Calendar Girl"
(Scopitone film)
- Neil Sedaka
(Jan./Feb. 1961, highest
chart pos. #4 Hot 100,
#4 Cash Box)
JOEY DEE & THE STARLITERS
Joey Dee went to school with the
classic girl group The Shirelles in
Passaic, NJ. Joey formed a band
called The Starliters which briefly
included actor Joe Pesci on guitar.
Joey Dee and The Starliters became
the house band at The Peppermint
Lounge, a club in New York City.
In late 1961 the group released a
single inspired by the trendy night-
spot and by the wildly popular
dance craze-- Peppermint Twist!"
classic girl group The Shirelles in
Passaic, NJ. Joey formed a band
called The Starliters which briefly
included actor Joe Pesci on guitar.
Joey Dee and The Starliters became
the house band at The Peppermint
Lounge, a club in New York City.
In late 1961 the group released a
single inspired by the trendy night-
spot and by the wildly popular
dance craze-- Peppermint Twist!"
"Peppermint Twist - Part 1"
Joey Dee And The Starliters
Joey Dee And The Starliters
(Dec. 1961/Jan. '62, h.c.p.
#1 Hot 100/#2 Cash Box/#8 R&B)
#1 Hot 100/#2 Cash Box/#8 R&B)
THE REGENTS
You heard it last week on the sneak preview of Wordless Wendi.
In the early weeks of 1966, The Beach Boys cover of "Barbara Ann"
reached #2 on the chart, denied the top spot by two other records,
"We Can Work It Out" by The Beatles and "My Love" by Petula Clark.
Some folks don't remember the original recording of the song by
the New York doo-wop vocal group The Regents. Arnie Ginsburg
sure does... and he played it on his volume of Cruisin'!
"Barbara-Ann" - The Regents
(June 1961, highest chart pos. #7 R&B,
#13 Hot 100/#13 Cash Box)
#13 Hot 100/#13 Cash Box)
LITTLE EVA
From 1956 until he left WMEX in 1967, Arnie Ginsburg was
the number-one disc jockey in Boston. Let's Cruise past 1961
to the following year and let Arnie introduce the last song in
the style he used to delight listeners on his Night Train Show.
It's the Ginsburg Go on
Color Radio, and here's
the record that's perched
at the tip top of the Wimex
Tunedex - number one in
Beantown and all around.
START VIDEO NOW!
It's the perfect dance ditty for
the summer of '62. If you've
got the ocean, the lotion and
the notion, Little Eva's got --
"The Loco-Motion!"
"The Loco-Motion" - Little Eva (July thru Sept. 1962,
highest
chart pos. 1 R&B, Hot 100 & Cash Box,
June 2021 enhancement)
Don't miss the next thrill packed
episode of Cruisin' coming soon!
NEWS FLASH!
Hey, gang, this is your pal
Arnie Ginsburg of WMEX
Boston with exciting news.
Beginning next year, I'll
be
bringing my Wimex-Tunedex
Night Train Show to S-P-M-M
when I join The Shady Bunch
deejay team. The "Woo Woo"
wants
to see you-you in '22
right
here at Shady's Place
Music & Memories!
