Join JR and JS every week for the sounds of the 50's, 60's and 70's from 6-9pm, and weekly updates on Facebook!
Upcoming Schedule:
9/04 - JR 1969
9/11 - JS "The Name Game, pt II"
9/18 - JR 70's Happy Hour
E-Mail your Oldies Requests to Rockin'
Remnants! rockinremnants@wvbr.com
Also check us out on Facebook!
~JR and JS
9/04 - JR 1969
9/11 - JS "The Name Game, pt II"
9/18 - JR 70's Happy Hour
E-Mail your Oldies Requests to Rockin'
Remnants! rockinremnants@wvbr.com
Also check us out on Facebook!
~JR and JS
The History of Rockin' Remnants
Rockin' Remnants as you know
it was started on WVBR by George Hiller, circa 1972 (although there was a
"Rockin' Remnants Show" on 640 WVBR-AM as far back as 1963, hosted by the
Mighty Darry Sragow). Rockin' Remnants was originally conceived as a doo-wop
show, although some rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' blues artists were played.
The show was on and off the air during the mid- to late 1970s. John Rudan
first came on as a producer in 1974, and did his debut show in April of 1975 (the
first song he ever played on Rockin' Remnants? "Paint it Black" by the Rolling
Stones).
In January 1981 the show was permanently reinstated on the air
at WVBR with JR as the host. He has been the main host since then, although he's
partnered with an varying line-up of co-hosts, including Bobby Comstock, Jr.,
Josh Blackler and, now, John Simon.
it was started on WVBR by George Hiller, circa 1972 (although there was a
"Rockin' Remnants Show" on 640 WVBR-AM as far back as 1963, hosted by the
Mighty Darry Sragow). Rockin' Remnants was originally conceived as a doo-wop
show, although some rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' blues artists were played.
The show was on and off the air during the mid- to late 1970s. John Rudan
first came on as a producer in 1974, and did his debut show in April of 1975 (the
first song he ever played on Rockin' Remnants? "Paint it Black" by the Rolling
Stones).
In January 1981 the show was permanently reinstated on the air
at WVBR with JR as the host. He has been the main host since then, although he's
partnered with an varying line-up of co-hosts, including Bobby Comstock, Jr.,
Josh Blackler and, now, John Simon.
The Hosts
Long-time host John
Rudan started at WVBR back in 1974 as a high school student. His voice has been
heard on many different shows through the years (doing regular shifts, voicing
radio ads, hosting Blues and Album Rock shows, even doing a stint on the Sports
Round-up team), but he's currently concentrating on Remnants and Saturday
afternoon's Vinyl Departure show.
John Simon has been co-hosting the show
since August of 2003. His love of the music of the Remnants
era began when he was growing up on New York City's Upper West Side and would
listen to WMCA, WABC and WWRL, dreaming of eventually becoming a Beatle or a
Miracle. He currently fronts the sixties-flavored band called Radio London. See???
Dreams do come true! JS also occasionally hosts the Vinyl Departure and Miles
Ahead, the Sunday afternoon Jazz Show.
since August of 2003. His love of the music of the Remnants
era began when he was growing up on New York City's Upper West Side and would
listen to WMCA, WABC and WWRL, dreaming of eventually becoming a Beatle or a
Miracle. He currently fronts the sixties-flavored band called Radio London. See???
Dreams do come true! JS also occasionally hosts the Vinyl Departure and Miles
Ahead, the Sunday afternoon Jazz Show.
Q & A
Q. What is that
music that starts your show each week?
A. Cat Mother & the
All-Night Newsboys' Good Ol' Rock 'n' Roll [summer of 1969; #29 on the
Billboard Hot 100, produced by none other than Jimi Hendrix].
Q. Why do you play the whole thing each
week?
A. It gives us a chance to cue up our first record, line
up the backing tracks for our talk breaks, adjust headphone levels and mic height,
check the paperwork and studio log and set the mood for the show - "when I was
just a little boy you know my one and only joy was listening to that good ol'
rock 'n' roll!"
Q. What is that music that ends your
show each week?
A. It's Sleepwalk by Santo & Johnny, #1 for
two weeks in the summer of 1959.
Q. Just what is that
music you play under your talk breaks?
A. Among others,
you'll hear:
Walkin' With Mr. Lee by Lee Allen
[1956]
Yellow Jacket by The Ventures
[1962]
Surf
Rider by The Lively Ones
[1963]
Out of Limits by The Marketts
[1964]
Apricot Brandy by Rhinoceros
[1969]
Stuck In The Mud by Miles Grayson
[1970]
Always There by Ronnie
Laws [1976]
Q. Do you really still play vinyl records
on the air?
A. Absolutely! We have 2 turntables and 3 CD
players at our fingertips, and we use 'em all. JR is especially interested in
playing true 45 edits from 45 rpm records. JS has been on the hunt for newly-
remastered Stereo Oldies since the very beginning of his tenure.
Q. Who does the engineering for you?
A.
We do everything ourselves - pick the music, play the tunes, keep track of all
the levels, answer the phones, dig up the requests, keep a running log of what we
play, set up the commercials, read the weather and more. We have a lot to keep
track of, and we tend to play those short (2:34) songs, so if we sometimes seem
harried on the phone, you now know why!
Q. Who's
behind the mysterious voice that says "Rockin' Remnants remembers 1967," or
"Rockin' Remnants, only on WVBR-FM?"
A. The voice of our
Remnants liners belongs to Jon Taylor, who was at WVBR from 1981-84. He had a
great voice and worked in radio production in NYC for about 5 years after leaving
Ithaca.
Q. Where do you find all those amazing facts
we hear week in and week out?
A. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop
Singles and Billboard Hot 100 Charts; Top 40 Music On Compact Disc by Pat
Downey - and years of just living the rock 'n' roll life....
music that starts your show each week?
A. Cat Mother & the
All-Night Newsboys' Good Ol' Rock 'n' Roll [summer of 1969; #29 on the
Billboard Hot 100, produced by none other than Jimi Hendrix].
Q. Why do you play the whole thing each
week?
A. It gives us a chance to cue up our first record, line
up the backing tracks for our talk breaks, adjust headphone levels and mic height,
check the paperwork and studio log and set the mood for the show - "when I was
just a little boy you know my one and only joy was listening to that good ol'
rock 'n' roll!"
Q. What is that music that ends your
show each week?
A. It's Sleepwalk by Santo & Johnny, #1 for
two weeks in the summer of 1959.
Q. Just what is that
music you play under your talk breaks?
A. Among others,
you'll hear:
[1956]
[1962]
Rider by The Lively Ones
[1963]
[1964]
[1969]
Stuck In The Mud by Miles Grayson
[1970]
Laws [1976]
Q. Do you really still play vinyl records
on the air?
A. Absolutely! We have 2 turntables and 3 CD
players at our fingertips, and we use 'em all. JR is especially interested in
playing true 45 edits from 45 rpm records. JS has been on the hunt for newly-
remastered Stereo Oldies since the very beginning of his tenure.
Q. Who does the engineering for you?
A.
We do everything ourselves - pick the music, play the tunes, keep track of all
the levels, answer the phones, dig up the requests, keep a running log of what we
play, set up the commercials, read the weather and more. We have a lot to keep
track of, and we tend to play those short (2:34) songs, so if we sometimes seem
harried on the phone, you now know why!
Q. Who's
behind the mysterious voice that says "Rockin' Remnants remembers 1967," or
"Rockin' Remnants, only on WVBR-FM?"
A. The voice of our
Remnants liners belongs to Jon Taylor, who was at WVBR from 1981-84. He had a
great voice and worked in radio production in NYC for about 5 years after leaving
Ithaca.
Q. Where do you find all those amazing facts
we hear week in and week out?
A. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop
Singles and Billboard Hot 100 Charts; Top 40 Music On Compact Disc by Pat
Downey - and years of just living the rock 'n' roll life....
Show Features
Spotlight Year: We'll focus on
a particular week in the Rockin' Remnants era (1955-1979) and play the hits
from that week based on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart
The 45 Corner: Coming to you at about 5:45, 6:45 (or
7:45 if it's a tune from the '70s), we spotlight a piece of vintage vinyl that
may tie in with the Spotlight year or simply deserves a closer listen. Listen
carefully and you'll hear the scratchy sound of the original DJ 45 edits, rare 45s
and "b-sides," and maybe a long-lost 45 that shoulda been a hit. A must-listen
every week!
The Seventies at 7: We'll wind
down the show with an hour of tunes from the '70s. It was a time when the records
were getting longer (as FM radio began to integrate onto the AM charts), and
there's often a little more room to breathe in this final hour. It still leaves
us plenty to mix it up with, though: Southern Rock, Disco, Singer/Songwriters,
Progressive Rock 45s, Philly soul, Nashville country, California folk rock,
novelty records and more.
Seventies Happy Hour: Once a month join your host JR for three hours of the music of the 1970's! From ABBA to ZZ Top, it's quintessential 70's, with spotlight dates, birthday tributes and those rare singles in the 45 Corner. If it was part of the "Me" decade, you'll hear it on the Seventies Happy Hour!
Themes: Both JR and JS will occasionally dedicate a show (maybe two) or a segment to a particular theme... It could be just about anything (think of Horn Bands, Cold Endings of the 1970's, Keeping up with the "Joneses", or Beatlemania), and we are always open to suggestions at rockinremnants@wvbr.com!
a particular week in the Rockin' Remnants era (1955-1979) and play the hits
from that week based on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart
The 45 Corner: Coming to you at about 5:45, 6:45 (or
7:45 if it's a tune from the '70s), we spotlight a piece of vintage vinyl that
may tie in with the Spotlight year or simply deserves a closer listen. Listen
carefully and you'll hear the scratchy sound of the original DJ 45 edits, rare 45s
and "b-sides," and maybe a long-lost 45 that shoulda been a hit. A must-listen
every week!
The Seventies at 7: We'll wind
down the show with an hour of tunes from the '70s. It was a time when the records
were getting longer (as FM radio began to integrate onto the AM charts), and
there's often a little more room to breathe in this final hour. It still leaves
us plenty to mix it up with, though: Southern Rock, Disco, Singer/Songwriters,
Progressive Rock 45s, Philly soul, Nashville country, California folk rock,
novelty records and more.
Seventies Happy Hour: Once a month join your host JR for three hours of the music of the 1970's! From ABBA to ZZ Top, it's quintessential 70's, with spotlight dates, birthday tributes and those rare singles in the 45 Corner. If it was part of the "Me" decade, you'll hear it on the Seventies Happy Hour!
Themes: Both JR and JS will occasionally dedicate a show (maybe two) or a segment to a particular theme... It could be just about anything (think of Horn Bands, Cold Endings of the 1970's, Keeping up with the "Joneses", or Beatlemania), and we are always open to suggestions at rockinremnants@wvbr.com!
Remnants Photo Album
Rockin' Remnants was
awarded "Specialty Show of the Year" honors at the annual Year-End WVBR Banquet
in May of 2006. Thanks to our friends and
colleagues!
John Rudan in the studio before the renovations.
John Simon On the Air May 13,
2006
