My Place with Joel Najman

Motown Overseas

Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a collection of rarely heard recordings by the Supremes, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and others singing phonetically in Spanish, Italian and French.

Donald "Duck" Dunn 1941-2012

Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn passed away at age 70 this past May 13 2012 while on tour in Japan. Duck Dunn during the 1960's as house band bassist for Memphis' Stax Record Company was responsible for laying the bedrock for some of the biggest soul-inflected R&B hits of that decade, as well as for numerous hit instrumentals as longtime bassist for Booker T and the MG's. This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates the life in music of Duck Dunn with an hour of significant early studio recordings on which he played electric bass.

The Songs Of Carole King - Revisited

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates the release of Carol King's memoir and cd containing original demo recordings of some of her most famous pop music compositions, with an hour of songs written or co-written by her as recorded by the artists that first released them commercially.

A Musical Profile Of Doris Day

Sat, 05 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates Doris Day's life in music with an hour of her most historically significant recordings as well as her most memorable and enduring popular hits.

Pop Songs With Titles That End With The Words "Of Love" - Part 2

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second and concluding hour of vintage pop music hit recordings of songs with titles that end in the two words "Of Love". Memorable hits by Billy Vaughn, The Four Aces, Bobby Vinton and many others are among the songs featured.

Pop Songs With Titles That End With The Words "Of Love"

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents on hour of vintage pop music hit recordings of songs with titles that end in the two words "Of Love". Memorable hits by Buddy Holly, Johnny Maestro, The Mamas & Papas and many others are among the songs featured.

Joel Najman Remembers Dick Clark

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0400

Joel Najman and George Thomas reflected on the life of Dick Clark in an hour long interview. It's a fascinating conversation about Clark, his impact on American music, and Joel's knowledgeable perspective on American Bandstand and the evolution of early rock n roll.

Songs About "Wind" - Part 3 (conclusion)

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a third and concluding hour of vintage popular hit songs about "wind" and "breezes", all of which are recommendations and suggestions sent by VPR listeners following the first two My Place program of songs of this type presented on March 24 and April 7.

Songs About "Wind" - Part 2

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second hour of vintage popular hit songs about "wind" and "breezes", all of which are recommendations and suggestions sent by VPR listeners following the first hour of songs of this type presented during the My Place program on March 24.

On April Fools Eve, Songs About Fools And Foolishness

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Sunday April 1, 2012 is April Fools Day, and in anticipation of this annual day of trickery and pranks, on Saturday March 31, 2012 Joel Najman's My Place program presents an April Fools Eve collection of popular songs about "fools" and "foolishness". Memorable songs by Brenda Lee, Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley are among the sixteen songs featured.

The promised "Part 2" of popular songs about "wind" comprised exclusively of songs recommended by My Place listeners is scheduled the next Saturday April 7, 2012.

Popular Songs About "Wind"

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents an hour of famous and not-so-famous hit popular songs about "wind". Memorable recordings by Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, John Denver and many others are among the songs featured,

Davy Jones Of the Monkees 1945-2012

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates the life in music of former Monkee Davy Jones, who passed away suddenly of a heart attack at age 66 on February 29, 2012.

Female Singing Groups Of Early Rock & Roll

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program samples a baker's dozen of teenage female vocal singing groups from the early to mid sixties, including selections by Angels, Chiffons, Dixie Cups and many others.

Freddie Milano Of The Belmonts 1939-2012

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:00:00 -0500

On January 1st 2012, the founding member of the Belmonts vocal group Freddie Milano passed away at age 72. This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates the life in music of Freddie Milano, the one Belmont who actually lived on Belmont Avenue in the Bronx

Morris Levy And Roulette Records

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program tells the story of music mogul Morris Levy, labeled by Variety "The Godfather" of the record business.

Real Names Of Rock Divas

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program looks at the female vocalists of the early years of Rock & Roll, specifically those who adopted professional names different from their original given names.

Johnny Otis 1921-2012

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates Johnny Otis' nearly seven decade career in contemporary American popular music.

Popular Songs About "Houses" - Part Two

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second and concluding week of vintage popular songs about "houses", of which many came as suggestions from listeners to an earlier "part one" program. Memorable recordings by Brook Benton, Aretha Franklin and Roy Orbison are among the sixteen songs that are featured.

More Of Drummer Hal Blaine's Greatest Hits

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:00:00 -0500

Drummer Hal Blaine, as one of Los Angekles' famous "Wrecking Crew" of studio musicians, played on an amazing 150 top-ten national hit records during the 1960's and 1970's. This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents the second in a series of programs that feature an entire hour of hit recordings on which Hal Blaine played drums. Hits by Jay & The Americans, Simon & Garfunkel and Jan & Dean are among the selections featured.

Popular Songs About "Houses"

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents an hour of vintage popular songs about "houses" with historical tidbits about the songs, their writers, and the artists who recorded them.

Memorable recordings by Rosemary Clooney, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and others are among the selections featured.

The Muscle Shoals Sound - Part 2

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second and concluding hour showcasing the many soul music hits that emanated from Rick Hall's FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama during the 1960's and 1970's.

The "Muscle Shoals Sound" - Part One

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:00:00 -0500

The southern community of Muscle Shoals, Alabama for now over fifty years has been a wellspring of hit popular music far out of proportion to its tiny size. This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents the first in a several part series on what has come to be known as "The Muscle Shoals Sound" with a collection of landmark "soul" style recordings made at Rick Hall's legendary Fame studios in Muscle Shoals during the 1960's. Memorable hits by James & Bobby Purify, Joe Tex, Aretha Franklin are among the many selections presented.

New Year's Eve Harmony on My Place

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:00:00 -0500

Joel Najman's My Place program is "A New Year's Eve Vocal Group Harmony Celebration" featuring a variety of memorable doo-wop and group harmony favorites from the Rock & Roll era's first golden period. Memorable recordings by the Penguins, Ravens, Spaniels and other legendary vocal groups are among the selections featured.

A My Place Christmas Special

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a Christmas Holiday Special on Christmas Eve. Featured is a profile on prolific Christmas songwriter Johnny Marks, as well as favorite holiday recordings by six different members of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, including Elvis Presley, Smokey Robinson and the 4 Seasons.

Drummer Hal Blaine's Greatest Hits - Volume 1

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:00:00 -0500

Drummer Hal Blaine, working as a studio drummer in Los Angeles beginning in the late 1950's, played on a staggering 35,000 tracks over a twenty-five year period, making him the most prolific drummer in recording industry history. This week, Joel Najman's My Place program presents the first in a series of programs that spotlight what may be describes as Hal Blaine's "greatest hits".

The Other Side Of Darlene Love

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:00:00 -0500

This week's Joel Najman's My Place program features some of Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame member Darlene Love's most famous backup work on hit singles of the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and many others. Joel also previews Darlene's upcoming Love For The Holidays concert December 14 at Burlington, Vermont's Flynn Theater Mainstage in Burlington.

1960's Soul Music - Part 2

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second hour of 1960's "soul" music. Featured are memorable recordings by James Brown, Otis Redding, Percy Sledge and many others.

A Mixed-Bag Of 1960's Soul Music

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program looks back to the mid 1960's for a mixed-bag sampling of the gospel-inflected secular rhythm&blues that DJ's labeled "Soul" music. Memorable recordings by Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Wilson Pickett and others are featured.

Rock And Pop Instrumentals Of the Rock&Roll 1950's

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program samples some of the instrumental hits and misses from 1956-1959, both by R&B and jazz musicians who adapted to the new style, and by several of the teen-oriented guitar-driven instrumental Rock&Roll bands that were springing up everywhere.

Songwriters Felice And Boudleaux Bryant - The Hitmaking Years

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:00:00 -0500

This week Joel Najman's My Place program concludes a two-part series on the careers of the husband and wife songwriting team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. This week's program picks up their successes in the late 1950's and beyond, and includes memorable hit recordings by the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jim Reeves and many others.

Songwriters Felice And Boudleaux Bryant - The Early Years

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program explores the early "hungry" years in the songwriting career of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.

Halloween at My Place

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program is a Halloween party during which many familiar as well as not-so-familiar novelty records from years gone by are resurrected, including songs about ghosts, goblins, mummies, zombies and other scary characters. Recordings by Rosemary Clooney, Phil Harris, The Kingston Trio and Bobby "Boris" Pickett are among the selections featured.

My Place Profiles Darlene Love

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week, Joel Najman's "My Place" program presents a musical profile of Darlene Love, including a number of her famous solo recordings as well as several well-known hit singles by other artists on which she sang uncredited as a background singer.

A Mixed Bag Of Vintage Pop And Rock & Roll

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Joel Najman's My Place program is a mixed bag of vintage pop and rock&roll music. Among the selections presented are memorable recordings by the Drifters, Glen Campbell, and Buddy Holly.

The Era And Dore Records Story

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program traces the history of Era and Dore Records and that of their entrepreneurial founders, cousins Herb Newman and Lew Bedell.

Folk Music On the Hot 100: The Early 1960's

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program selectively samples recordings from the national folk music craze of the pre-Beatles 1960's including both those that were big hits and others that are historically significant.

Jerry Leiber 1933-2011 - Part Two

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second hour of songs co-written by Jerry Leiber, who passed away in August 2011 at age 78.

Jerry Leiber 1933-2011

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:00:00 -0400

On August 22, 2011 Jerry Leiber, one half of the legendary songwriting and production team of Leiber & Stoller, passed away in Los Angeles at age 78. This week Joel Najman's My Place program celebrates Jerry's life in music with an hour of his most significant and famous songs.

A Musical Profile Of Pop Music Lyricist Bob Hilliard

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents an hour of some of the most famous and enduring hit songs written by Bob Hilliard. Memorable recordings by Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, The Drifters and Chuck Jackson are among the many numbers featured.

More Of The Songs Of Popular Music Lyricist Mack David

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:03:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a second and concluding hour of songs written by American popular music lyricist Mack David. Memorable recordings by Frank Sinatra, Brook Benton, Ricky Nelson and others are featured.

A Musical Profile Of Songwriter Mack David

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents an hour of the music of Songwriter Hall Of Fame member Mack David.

A Musical Profile Of Guitarist, Songwriter And Record Producer Chips Moman

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents an hour of Chip Moman's most famous and significant recordings.

Songs About Automobiles

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Coinciding with the 54th annual Antique & Classic Car Show in Stowe, Vermont, Joel Najman's My Place program this week presents an hour of popular songs dealing with America's long running love affair with the Automobile.

A Musical Profile Of Singer/Songwriter Toni Wine

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program spotlights the music of Toni Wine, who pioneered the role of women in the contemporary music industry during the Rock era's earliest and most exciting years.

A Mixed Bag Of Early Pop And Rock&Roll

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This week Joel Najman's My Place program is a mixed bag of early pop and rock&roll music. The "Bronx" sound of Dion DiMucci, The Belmonts and the Del-Satins begin the program, followed by a celebration of rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson's first concert appearance in Vermont in her 50-plus year singing career. Joel also looks ahead to a performance in September of the surviving members of Frankie Lymon's Teenagers at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

She's Got The Power - A "Girl Group" Extravaganza

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

This Saturday, Joel Najman's My Place will feature hit recordings by girl groups that are being honored on July 30th in New York at the "She's Got The Power - A Girl Group Extravaganza" symposium and concert.

A Musical Profile Of Songwriter And Record Producer Clyde Otis

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Clyde Otis back in 1959 was the first African American hired as an Artist & Repertoire Director of a major U.S. record label, and is responsible for having produced several dozen major hit records as well as having written over 800 published songs. This week Joel Najman's My Place program presents a musical profile of Clyde Otis, featuring an hour of his biggest hits and most significant recordings.

Florence Greenberg's Scepter Records - Part Two

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Florence Greenberg was the first and only woman to be CEO of a record company that played a major role charting the direction of American popular music during the early days of the rock & roll era. and her story is told in a new hit music titled "Baby It's You", currently on Broadway. This week Joel Najman's My Place program continues the story of Florence Greenberg's Scepter Record Company with more of the major hit records she released in the early-to-mid 1960's.

Florence Greenberg, Scepter Records, And The Shirelles

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Joel Najman's My Place program tells the remarkable real-life story of Florence Greenberg, the first woman CEO of an independent record company in a program titled "Florence Greenberg, Scepter Records, And The Shirelles".

An Evening With Burt Bacharach

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Joel Najman's My Place program this week is titled "An Evening With Burt Bacharach" and features several of his major successes as well as several recently unearthed obscurities from very early in his career.