Something Old, Something New, Something Happy, Mona Wu: Sneak Preview - Beautiful Sunday!

(COLD SHOW OPEN)

"Go, Jimmy, Go" - Jimmy Clanton

(Jan./Feb. 1960, highest chart pos.
#5 Hot 100/#7 Cash Box/#1 Canada)

 

Getting things started on a happy note, that was Jimmy Clanton,

born on the bayou and nicknamed the "swamp pop R&B teenage idol,"

singing his top 5 hit from the early weeks of 1960 -- "Go, Jimmy, Go!"

 

Hey yu! I'm Mona Wu, the pert, purty, perky, pixieish

Pollyanna who worked for the Time Bureau on the

superhero TV series DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

If you watch my show you know that I am a former

food delivery girl who served as the Bureau's

Assistant Coordinator of Creature Upkeep,

that is until they gave me the ax.

You also know that

I am obsessed with

fantasy novels and

magical creatures of

all kinds. I actually

had a crush on

a wolf man.

I also believe music is magic. Good music has the power to

mend your achy breaky heart and make you happy again.

With that in mind, I am proud to announce that next

year I will be joining The Shady Bunch deejay legion.

I'm here today with a sneak preview of my show

Something Old, Something New,

Something Happy, Mona Wu.

 

The songs I'll be playing on

S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio

will spread sunshine into

your world. My tunes are

guaranteed to turn your

frown upside down.

Please listen to a few

samples from my show

and let me know if they

have that effect on you.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

Let's hear from the family pop group

The Cowsills.  They know a girl who

can make you happy - the flower girl

in their hit song-- "The Rain,

The Park and Other Things!"

"The Rain, The Park & Other Things" - The Cowsills

(Oct./Nov. 1967, highest chart pos. #1 Cash Box/#2 Hot 100)

From the fall of 1967 those were The Cowsills with their first
big hit, "The Rain, The Park & Other Things," a record that
topped the Cash Box chart but stalled at #2 on Billboard,
held back by The Monkees monster "Daydream Believer."

Mona Wu here... putting some sunshine

in your day. How's your weekend going?

Here now is an English singer who was

born Peter Charles Green, made records

as Lee Stirling and Peter Lee Stirling,

and finally had a hit in the U.S. using

the stage name Daniel Boone. Catchy!

START VIDEO NOW!

This is another song that's guaranteed

to make you smile.  Sing along with

me: Hi hi hi, beautiful Sunday...

This is my my my beautiful day.

Here's-- Daniel Boone!

"Beautiful Sunday" - Daniel Boone

(Sept. 1972, highest chart pos. 15 Hot 100/#16 Cash Box)

That was Daniel Boone, a one-hit-wonder in the U.S., with his feel good

signature song "Beautiful Sunday," a record that cracked the top 20 and

made it halfway to the top 10 in the late summer and early fall of 1972.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Yep, it's a beautiful Sunday... and it's 5 o'clock somewhere.
That's why my friends and I are having a little drinky-poo.
Firewater makes us silly and, as this song by
Blood, Sweat & Tears goes--  You've
Made Me So Very Happy!"

"You've Made Me So Very Happy" - Blood, Sweat & Tears

(Mar./Apr. 1969, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

"You've Made Me So Very Happy," a song penned by Motown's Berry Gordy,

Brenda & Patrice Holloway and Frank Wilson, and originally released by

Brenda in 1967. You just listened to the great cover by Blood, Sweat &

Tears, the popular jazz-rock band formed and first led by Al Kooper.

When Kooper left, he was replaced on lead vocals by the man you

just heard, Canadian singer David Clayton-Thomas. Released as

a single in 1969, that Blood, Sweat & Tears version spent three

weeks at #2, denied the #1 spot by The 5th Dimension's

mega-hit "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In."

If you're just tuning in, I'm Mona Wu,

how do you do? And you're listening
to a sneak preview of my new show
  Something Old, Something New,
Something Happy, Mona Wu,
coming in 2022 to Shady's Place
and S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Now here's a happy tune that ran
up the chart a few weeks after
that BS&T song reached its
peak. It's Atlanta pop-rock
artist Tommy Roe and--
oh "Heather Honey!"

"Heather Honey" - Tommy Roe

(May 1969, highest chart pos. #14 Cash Box/#29 Hot 100)

You just heard "Heather Honey,"

one of the many easy listening hits

waxed by Tommy Roe. That record

by Tommy barely made it into the

top 30 on the Billboard chart,

but closed in on the top 10

on the Cash Box survey.

Something Old, Something New,
Something Happy, and I'm your
host, Mona Wu, with yet another
great song to brighten your day.

From popular 1959 movie

A Hole In The Head... it's

the inspiring ditty about an

ant and a rubber tree plant

performed by Frank Sinatra

and a chorus of cute kids. 

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here they are, Ol' Blue Eyes and the kids, singing their hit song "High Hopes!"

"High Hopes" - Frank Sinatra "And A Bunch Of Kids"

(July/Aug. 1959, highest chart pos. #22 Cash Box/#30 Hot 100,

from the July 1959 film A Hole In The Head)

Nominated for a Grammy and the winner of an Oscar for Best
Original Song, that was Frank Sinatra "And A Bunch Of Kids"
(that's what it says on the record label) doing "High Hopes."

Oh darn! Shady's giving me the sign to wrap things up.

Now I'd like you to be honest and ask yourself this.

Do you feel happier now that you've sampled my songs?

If so, then won't you

please join me in 2022

for the debut of my new

S-P-M-M radio show

Something Old,

Something New,

Something Happy,

Mona Wu?

Of course, you could

always go someplace

else to get your happy

song fix but, knowing

how much fun it is

spending time with

me... I need to ask:

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

To play us off, here are those men from down under, the Little River Band,

the Aussie pop-rockers who placed ten singles on the U.S. chart between

1977 and 1983. This one took a 22 week ride on Billboard. That's longer

than any other record by the band. Hang on-- "Help Is On It's Way," and

I'm Mona Wu, always here for you, doing my best to make you happy.

I hope to see you next year!

"Help Is On It's Way" - Little River Band

(Oct./Nov. 1977, highest chart pos. #14 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

Dell Rat Tom's Jukebox Giants - Volume 4: A Tale of Two Ditties - Gimme Some Lovin'

BOOTH ANNOUNCER GARY OWENS:

...and the cow was returned to its rightful owner.

And that's the latest from S-P-M-M news...
fast, up-to-the-minute, completely fake
and proud of it. Now stand by for

 DELL RAT TOM'S 

 JUKEBOX GIANTS 

on the station that's #1 for music and fun - S-P-M-M!

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

(COLD SHOW OPEN)

START PLAYING VIDEO

AT 1:14 MARK!

"Hanky Panky" - The Shondells

(June/July 1966, highest chart pos. #1)

The Shondells leading us off with "Hanky Panky," another song that
gained a new set of naughty lyrics thanks to me and my Dell rat buddies.
By the way, "Hanky Panky" is a lot older than you might think. It was
written in 1963 and first waxed by a girl group called The Summits -
another cool record. The version you just heard by Tommy James
and his group was first released in early 1964 and again in '65,
but it took until the summer of 1966 to become a #1 smash.

Hi and welcome to the show!
I'm Dell Rat Tom back here on
S-P-M-M with another edition
of Jukebox Giants spotlighting
the greatest hits that played
in the dance hall of my old
hangout the Shady Dell
in York, Pennsylvania.

This special leap year edition is called "A Tale of Two Ditties" because I'm playing

two great versions of the same song -"Gimme Some Lovin'." One version was

released in the U.S. and the other in the UK.  In December 1966 The Jordan

Brothers, a veteran rock 'n' roll band from Frackville, PA, a town 60 miles

from York, became the first to release "Gimme Some Lovin'" as a single.

The record was just catching on when it was eclipsed by a version

waxed by the Spencer Davis Group, a Brit band that featured the

vocals of budding solo star Steve Winwood who wrote the song.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Although the platter recorded by The Jordan Brothers' merely Bubbled Under
on the national chart, it was big on the East Coast, big in Philadelphia, big on
York's WSBA radio and Lancaster's WLAN, and very big at the Shady Dell.
Listen now to the version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" 4 out of 5 Dell rats
recommend, the one they played more often. Coming in at #63 on
my list of The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell, a genuine
Jukebox Giant by-- The Jordan Brothers!

"Gimme Some Lovin'" - The Jordan Brothers

(Jan. 1967, highest chart pos. #129)

Frackville's finest - the Jordan Brothers - who began making records
way back in 1958, and their version of "Gimme Some Lovin"
released at the end of 1966.

Now here's the conclusion of my tale of

two ditties, the same song as recorded

by The Spencer Davis Group.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

The two versions of "Gimme Some Lovin'" charted

simultaneously for a couple of weeks in January of

'67, but the Jordan Brothers' record stalled at #129
while Winwood took his catchy composition all the
way to #7. The British record was also popular at
the Dell, ranked #78 on my Dell's Greatest Hits

survey. Listen now to The Spencer Davis Group

and their rendition of-- "Gimme Some Lovin'!"

"Gimme Some Lovin'"- The Spencer Davis Group

 (Jan./Feb. 1967, highest chart pos. #7)

A tale of two ditties - two great versions of "Gimme Some Lovin'" -

both records hot in the Shady in the early months of 1967. 

As much fun as the Dell was in summer...

it was pure magic in winter, and here's

another song from the same time period

that "Gimme Some Lovin'" was popular -

the frigid nights of January and February

1967. I can still see Dell rats huddled in

front of the fireplace to keep warm.

Outside it's chilling. The mercury is

dropping down to minus ten below

(the "feels like" temp). It's snowing

hard. Your parents called you crazy

for going out on a wicked night like

this, but you had to make the scene.

Feel the warmth radiating from that

roaring blaze. John just threw another

big log on the fire. Wet snow clung to

the wood and it’s starting to sizzle.

Can you hear the sound, Dell rats?

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Meanwhile, out on the dance floor, couples cuddle to
Tommy Roe’s solid cold classic-- "It's Now Winter's Day!"

"It's Now Winter's Day" - Tommy Roe

(Jan./Feb. 1967, highest chart pos. #23)

A roaring fire, a smoky haze, body heat, romance, perfumed hair
that I can smell to this day... essence that I liked so well. Sweet, misty
memories of the Dell in winter - "It's Now Winter's Day" by Tommy Roe.

If you're just  tuning in, I'm Dell Rat Tom bringing you Jukebox Giants,

the greatest Dell songs of the mid 60s here on S-P-M-M Radio.

As a teenager there were three coming-of-age

milestones that I couldn't wait to reach: getting

my driver's license, owning my first car and

buying my first Magnificent Men album.

A fact of life, a fundamental part of

growing up in Central PA, was a

love of "The Mag Men."

START VIDEO NOW!

Already soulfully inclined... Dell rats were

all the more receptive to what the Mag Men

were puttin' down because they were a home-

grown act... with roots in York and "The Burg."

Here's one of the great songs from that 1967

album, Dave Bupp, Buddy King and the

Magnificent Men-- "Cry With Me Baby!"

"Cry With Me Baby" - The Magnificent Men

(from 1967 album The Magnificent Men)

Our hometown heroes, The Mag Men, and "Cry With Me Baby"
from their eponymous debut album on Capitol. You're listening
to Jukebox Giants with Dell Rat Tom on S-P-M-M...
where all the cool oldies go to live forever.

Our seven song block party continues now with
a super sound from Motown. Like many other
60s artists, Kim Weston started out singing
gospel before making the switch to secular
Soul. Here's a Kim Weston song that missed
the R&B top 10 but was sandwiched between
her two top 5 hits - her original version of
"Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A
Little While)" and "It Takes Two,"
her hit duet with Marvin Gaye.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

This one played nightly in the Dell dance hall

and ushered in the spring of 1966. At #177 on

the Dell Hits list, Kim Weston is-- "Helpless!"

"Helpless" - Kim Weston

(Mar./Apr. 1966, highest chart pos. #13 R&B/#56 Hot 100)

That was "Helpless," a sensational yet under-performing
song by a sensational and underrated Motown artist -
Miss Kim Weston - who is now 80 years old.

Hey, time's up, and I gotta head for home to
beat the curfew. Stay tuned. Coming up on
the B side of news, it's my good buddy
Ernest P. Worrell with the premiere of
his new show Rock-A-Billygoat right
here on S-P-M-M, the station that's
number one for music and fun.

START VIDEO NOW!

Hang on because I'll be back soon with another
edition of Jukebox Giants - the greatest hits of
the Shady Dell. As I leave you with "My Girl"
 by The Temptations- #83 on the Dell survey,
this is Dell Rat Tom reminding you to make
every day a holiday... and every night a
Shady Dell night!

"My Girl" - The Temptations

(Feb./Mar. 1965, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100/#1 R&B)

Can We Be Frank With Each Other, Vern? ...or Would You Rather Be Ernest?

Hey there, Vern. Guess who?

I'll give ya three stabs at it

and the first two don't count.

That's right, it's me, your old buddy

Ernest P. Worrell!

Hey Vern, you look a little green around the gills today,
know what I mean? Git hold of a bad batch of moonshine?

Guess what, Vern. I'm back to spin more hep cat tunes
and sip Meller Yeller while I watch you paint your barn.

Taint none of my beeswax, Vern, but it
looks like you missed a spot over yonder.

Alrighty then, it's time for me to stop fiddlin' around and
start playing some grade A rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll!

 TED DAIGLE 

Ted Daigle is one of the founding fathers of Canadian country.
Ever since the mid 50s Ted has been promoting country music as a

performer, as a radio personality and as a music and program director
at stations across Canada. My first spinner is "Rock 'N' Roll Ruby,"
first recorded in 1956 by rockabilly singer Warren Smith. The song-
writing credit on this one went to Johnny Cash, but Smith claimed
the song was actually written by George Jones and sold to Cash.
Taint here nor there. Let's listen to Canadian Country Music
Hall Of Famer Ted Daigle with his 1961
cover of "Rock 'N' Roll Ruby."

"Rock 'N' Roll Ruby" - Ted Daigle

{1961, B side of 'When She Said

You All (Aka "Yo-All")'}

 JOHNNY CARROLL 

 AND HIS HOT ROCKS 

Now here's a good old Texas boy, Johnny Carroll. Johnny and his Hot Rocks
band also did a cover of "Rock 'N' Roll Ruby" on their second single
released in May 1956. A year later Johnny and his posse exploded
in the teenage crime musical movie Rock Baby - Rock It
singing "Rockin' Maybelle" (aka "Rockin' Maybel")
followed  by another ripsnorter, "Sugar Baby!"

"Rockin' Maybelle"/"Sugar Baby" - Johnny Carroll

And His Hot Rocks (from May 1957 film Rock Baby - Rock It)

 JOHNNY RIVERS 

"It Won't Happen With Me" was originally recorded in 1961 by
The Killer - Jerry Lee Lewis. The song begins with the lines:

You say you could fall in love with Elvis

And you love to hear Jacky (Jackie) Wilson sing

In 1964 Johnny Rivers sang the song on an album recorded
live At The Whisky À Go-Go. Johnny updated the song by
dropping the reference to Jackie Wilson and inserting
the hottest band in the world - The Beatles:

You say you could fall in love with Elvis

And you say you like to hear The Beatles sing

Johnny also changed the title to "It Wouldn't Happen With Me."
Wait for it, Vern-- Heeeeeere's Johnny!

"It Wouldn't Happen With Me" - Johnny Rivers

(from 1964 album Johnny Rivers At The Whisky À Go-Go)

 EDDIE COCHRAN 

Up next is rock 'n' roll and rockabilly great Eddie Cochran. Eddie first
performed a song he co-wrote, "20 Flight Rock," in the comedy film
The Girl Can't Help It released to theaters just before Christmas in
1956. The following spring, "20 Flight Rock" hit the street as a
single but failed to chart. Let's have a look and a listen as
Eddie takes the stage and wows the crowd in the movie.

"20 Flight Rock" - Eddie Cochran

(scene from Dec. 1956 movie

The Girl Can't Help It)

SONG STARTS AT 35 SEC. MARK!

 KITTY WELLS & RED FOLEY 

Now let's go way back and listen to an old school country record requested
by Shady Del Knight. In the mid 50s, when Shady was just a tadpole,
his pappy played this one around the house. It's a duet featuring a
couple of country music pioneers, Kitty Wells and Red Foley,
singing a song about cheatin' hearts. It's called "One By One."

"One By One" - Kitty Wells And Red Foley

(May/June 1954, highest chart pos. #1 Country)

 TOMMY ROE 

In the fall of '58 rockabilly singer Robin Luke went top 5 with "Susie Darlin'."
Tommy Roe is another boy who can really croon a tune. Early in Tommy's
career, before he switched to bubblegum pop, Tommy rocked and rolled

with the best of 'em. In the fall of '62 Tommy cracked the top 40 with
 a cover of "Susie Darlin'" that made a run at the top 10 in Australia. 

"Susie Darlin'" - Tommy Roe

(Sept./Oct. 1962, highest chart pos.

#35 Hot 100/#21 Canada/#13 Australia)

 BUDDY HOLLY 

Hard to believe it's been more than 60 years since that plane went down
and we lost music legend Buddy Holly. In late 1957 Buddy and his band

The Crickets, hit the top 3 on the pop chart with "Peggy Sue," a rockin'
little record listed as one of The Greatest Songs of All Time and one of
the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Hey, Vern, I'll bet you never

heard the "enhanced" version of "Peggy Sue" that I'm fixin' to play.
It's the original with extra instrumental backing tracks added to
the mix, including acoustic & electric guitar, piano, snare drum,
cymbals and tambourine. Here's the new "Peggy Sue!"

"Peggy Sue" (new enhanced ver.) - Buddy Holly

(Nov./Dec. 1957, highest chart pos. #3)

Hey, guess what, Vern...

I'll be back real soon with another batch of tunes
for your high school hop or heartland hoedown.

Till then don't take any wooden nickels,

and don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Know what I mean, Vern?