Here’s this week’s dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic:
On ‘National Leave The Office Early Day’ there was much encouragement to those who wanted to be at the front of the queue for this week’s dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic. It was just what was needed to start the weekend in style, with plenty of the ‘good stuff’ for those who were bored by the ‘same old, same old’ on ‘ordinary radio’. There was plenty in the Sonic Tonic to raise the spirits and excite the senses . . . and to prove the point, it all kicked off with JD’s Time Machine and ‘The Kiss Of Freedom’. Then, those good summertime vibes were kept going with Louisiana Avenue, who were taking us ‘Uptown’.
Well, this week’s Tell It Like It Is, had a song with a story that took us back to 1965 when Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil were song writers in New York’s famous Brill Building. They had recently written the number one hit “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ for the Righteous Brothers and were hoping to repeat that success with another song for the duo. The song was ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ and to promote the song, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil recorded their own demo version. UK record producer Mickie Most had a call out to the Brill Building songwriters for material for The Animals next recording session and, having heard the demo, The Animals recorded the song in June 1965. Their version became an international hit and The Righteous Brothers didn’t record the song back then, but they did record their version much later, in 2016 and it got slipped into the Sonic Tonic to make your ears smile.
Where Ya At
Kiss Of Freedom – JD’s Time Machine
Uptown – Louisiana Avenue
Where Ya At In Life – The Groove Crewe
Drift Away – Arlen Roth & Jerry Jemmott
Smile Time – Andre Bisson
Tell It Like It Is
We Gotta Get Out of This Place – The Righteous Brothers
Can’t See You
Living For The Ones – Bonnie Raitt
If I Can’t See You – Anne Peebles
Then I Loved You – Ron LaSalle
So Long – Jackie Mendez
Mellow Moment
Edith and the Kingpin – Herbie Hancock & Tina Turner
Ain’t Lyin’
I Ain’t Lyin’ – The Hogtown Allstars
Can’t Blame Nobody But Myself – Marcia Ball
Diddle-I – The Toreadors Trio
This week’s Mellow Moment arrived with the customary aim to soothe you, smooth you and help you relax. This time around, the choice came from an album called ‘River’ by Herbie Hancock, where he teamed up with a host of well known artists on a collection of covers of Joni Mitchell songs. It includes a rather special track, which features Tina Turner in an unusually cool and jazzy mood, but before we heard it, there was a familiar invitation . . . if there was someone special nearby . . . this was your moment to smooch.
There was a little more mixing of the flavours in the Sonic Tonic, with a change of style and pace, as we went swinging out with The Hogtown Allstars and then Marcia Ball with a couple of choices guaranteed to get your feet tapping and your head nodding. If it didn’t, the Sonic Tonic Recovery Team was on hand to cope with emergencies. But, all good things have to come to an end, and I was hoping I wasn’t the only one having a good time. Too soon, the clock on the studio wall said it was about time to be collecting up the music tidying up the studio and getting ready to head on out of here, but before I did . . . I had saved a little treat to send us off in high spirits and maybe even still singing along with the Toreador Trio. Before I let them loose, there was a big thanks for your good company this week and, until we meet again for another dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 2 June 2023