Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – July 7, 2024
Over the years, a number of radio deejays and TV show hosts would play a theme song that became part of their brand.
A good example of this was “Bandstand Boogie” that Dick Clark used as his theme for American Bandstand. Clark also used the song “Action” for his Southern California Where The Action Is TV show. “Action” would go on to become a hit for Freddy Cannon in July of 1965.
In contrast, some deejays and artists would use certain recordings to close their shows.
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For years, legendary deejay Dick Biondi ended his radio shows with the Spaniels’ 1953 original version of “Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite.” From 1977 through 1981, this song was sung by Sha Na Na at the close of each episode of their syndicated TV series.
When Alan Freed signed off the air for the last time, he played Jesse Belvin’s 1956 release of “Goodnight My Love.” Since 1997, Michael Godin, creator and host of Treasure Island Oldies, continues to use this beautiful ballad to close out his weekly Internet radio show.
Now if you want to hear a closer that will really relax you and tug at your heart strings at the same time, give a listen to the end of Cal Lynch’s weekly online Hot Wax and Doo Wop Memories show on Memory Lane Oldies.
He closes his show with a song that was originally released by Bobby Bare. It reached the #11 position on the Billboard country chart in 1978. However, the version that Lynch plays was also recorded in 1978 but not released until 1986.
The cover version comes from Rick Nelson’s Memphis Sessions album that was recorded in Nashville in 1978-79. The focus of the album was to try and make new hits by returning to the basics of groundbreaking Rock & Roll.
”The original album was never released because it was a project of (CBS) Epic Records office in Los Angeles, and they felt it just wasn`t right for the pop market in 1979,” according to Bonnie Garner, vice-president of Artists & Repertoire at CBS Nashville. “And it wasn`t offered to CBS Nashville.”
Rick Nelson passed away on New Year’s Eve of 1985 during a crash-landing of his band’s plane. Memphis Sessions was released posthumously in May 1986. Critically acclaimed, the album charted for four weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums, peaking at #62.
It’s too bad that the cover of the Bobby Bare song did not get released as a single. According to a number of reports, Nelson’s vocals never sounded better. Rick Nelson fans continue to be delighted when they hear this arrangement, a gentle melodic lullaby that winds you down so you can “Sleep Tight Good Night Man.”
YouTube video of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzBSj3ytyJc
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.