Listen here to this week’s edition of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic:
On a Friday night, the weekend beckons and you can count on me to be on hand with just what you need to raise the spirits and excite the senses. I arrived with the perfect ‘pick me up’ . . . a big dose of my special formula, Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic. As ever, I came with a cheery smile and an armful of the ‘good stuff’ that you won’t hear on ‘ordinary radio. To get it all started, I kicked off in fine style with something guaranteed to get all the way through to your rhythm receptors . . .The Pasadenas and ‘Riding On A Train’. I followed up with a sprinkling of tasty ‘newies’ in the Sonic Tonic mix, including Curtis Salgado, Rod Stewart, Georgia Randall, Arne Skage, John Paul Keith, David Shaw and Robin Thicke
Now, this week’s Tell It Like It Is brought a song with a story that just might have tweaked a few emotions for some out there in listening land. It came from Chas Hodges, who will be remembered well as one half of rockney duo, Chas & Dave. Along the way, Chas recorded up quite a few songs that remained unreleased, until recently, when his family put them together for an album release. My choice was one of the songs he wrote for the West End musical ‘Only Fools And Horses’ . . . ‘What You Got You Gotta Show It’.
She Likes It
Riding On A Train – The Pasadenas
I Don’t Do That No More – Curtis Salgado
Run Back Into Your Arms – Rod Stewart
She Likes It – Georgia Randall
Famous – Skage
Tell It Like It Is
What You Got You Gotta Show It – Chas Hodges
All Right Now
How Can You Walk Away – John Paul Keith
Heavy Soul – David Shaw
Take Me Higher – Robin Thicke
All Right Now – Lea Roberts
Mellow Moment
Ooh Baby Baby – Seal
It Wasn’t Me
Jackie Wilson Said – Van Morrison
Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson
New Coat Paint – Tom Waites
It Wasn’t Me – The Refreshments
Those with keen recall will remember, ‘All Right Now’, a song that did very well for UK band Free when it was first released and it was back in the charts this week in 1991. So, 21 years after its first release, it was re-issued to coincide with its use in a Wrigleys Chewing gum ad on TV and it inspired me to dig out another version by Lea Roberts, which I’m pretty sure you won’t have heard that one on ‘ordinary radio’.
There was a distinct change of mood for our Mellow Moment, when I delved into the music library to pull out a slinky little number, designed to encourage some out there in listening land to give their best smile to someone special nearby and give them an excuse for a smooch. This week, also happened to include a special day for the lovely Dee, who is a big fan of this week’s choice by Seal.
Every once in a while I come across a re-working of a familiar song that’s so much better than the original and this past week I was reminded of one of a Chuck Berry song that I found it remarkably under produced. The song is ‘It Wasn’t Me’ . . . which may have got Paul Armstrong waving and shouting the name, The Refreshments. If he did, he was right! Then, sadly, it was time to say a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and hope that we meet again soon for another dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 5 March 2021