Chapter I: Don’s Greatest Hits 1955-1977

Chapter II: Don’s Greatest Hits 1978-1991

Chapter III: The Battle Of The Bulge And Beyond

Chapter IV: With deep regret

CHAPTER V: BAD NIGHT AT LZ BIRD

CHAPTER VI: IN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH

chapter VII: DYING IS EASY, LIVING, LIVING IS THE DIFFICULT THING

CHAPTER Viii: HEROES OR TRAITORS?

CHAPTER IX: WHAT I’VE learned

 

Chapter I: Don’s Greatest Hits: 1955-1977

I’ve highlighted some 1,000 songs in the following two chapters, covering thirty-six years’ of my favorite music (this chapter lists songs from 1955 to 1977).

This first grouping is my pre-DJ listing for Older Readers, like Me. 

My Favorites are in CAPS: 

(In no particular order)

 The Great Pretender (1955) Only You,  Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (1958)–The Platters;

Save The Last Dance For Me (1960)  Up On A Roof,   This Magic Moment–The Drifters;

Tears On My Pillow,  Think I’m Going Out of My Head–Little Anthony & The Imperials;

Hit The Road Jack (1961)  Busted,  Georgia,  What’d I Say,  I Can’t Stop Loving You–Ray Charles;

Devil Woman,  El Paso,  Eighteen Yellow Roses,  Don’t Worry (1961)–Marty Robbins;

Take Good Care Of My Baby,  The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Run To Him–Bobby Vee;

Hello Mary Lou,  Poor Little Fool,  Traveling Man,  Young World,  Garden Party–Ricky Nelson;

Poison Ivy,  Yakety Yak,  Along Came Jones–Coasters;

(Where Do I begin?) Love Story–Lonely Street–Andy Williams; 

Cathy’s Clown, Walk Right Back, All I Have To Do Is Dream (1958)  Let It Be Me–Everly Brothers;

Sweet Little Sixteen,  Johnny B. Goode,  Nadine,  Maybelline,  You Never Can Tell–Chuck Berry;

Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,  Where The Boys Are– Connie Francis;

Memories Are Made Of This,  Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime–Dean Martin;

Mack The Knife,  Dream Lover–Bobby Darin;

Walking To New Orleans, Blueberry Hill,  Blue Monday–Fats Domino;

The Monkey Time,  Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um–Major Lance;

Understand Your Man,  Ring Of Fire–Johnny Cash;

Letters Straight From The Heart– Ketty Lester;   The Three Bells (1959)–The Browns;

Rock Around The Clock (1955)–Bill Haley & His Comets;

Why Do Fools Fall In Love–Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers;

If You Don’t Know Me By Now–Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes;

Monster Mash–Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers; Fool #1 (1961)-Brenda Lee

Deep Purple-Billy Ward & His Dominoes; Look In My Eyes (1961)-The Chantels

Tonight–The Velvets:  Poetry In Motion–Johnny Tillistion;

Teen Angel–Mark Dinning;  Little Star-The Elangants;

He Will Break Your Heart (1960)-Jerry Butler; Gee Whiz, Carla Thomas;

Chain Gang–Sam Cooke;  Get Ready–The Temptations;

Hot Rod Lincoln–Johnny Bond;  Just One Look–Doris Troy;

The Way You Look Tonight (1961)–Letterman;  Tom Dooley–Kingston Trio;

Wolverton Mountain-Claude King;  North To Alaska–Johnny Horton;

Fall To Pieces–Patsy Cline;  Book Of Love–Monotones;  Memphis–Lonnie Mack;

Mama Didn’t Lie–Ian Bradley; Lonely Teardrops–Jackie Wilson;

Ghost Riders In The Sky–Sons Of The Pioneers;  500 Miles Away From Home–Bobby Bare;

Will You Love Me Tomorrow–Shirelles;  Mother-In-Law–Earnie K-Doe;

A Hundred Pounds Of Clay–Gene McDaniels;  Big Bad John–Jimmy Dean;

Blue Moon–Mercels;  The Twist–Chubby Checker;

Hello Walls–Faron Young;  Runaround Sue–Dion;  He’ll Have To Go–Jim Reeves;

Venus–Frankie Avalon; Dreaming–Johnny Burnette;  Kansas City–Wilbert Harrison;

Stagger Lee–Lloyd Price;  Washington Square–The Village Stompers;

Sea Of Love–Phil Phillips & The Twilights;  A Teenager In Love–Dion & The Belmonts;

16 Candles–The Crests;  Tragedy–Thomas Wayne;  Blue Moon-The Marcels;

Those Oldies But Goodies–Caesar & The Romans;  The End Of The World–Skeeter Davis;

Fool #1–Brenda Lee;  Moody River–Pat Boone; 

Hey Paula–Paul & Paula;  Make The World Go Away–Eddie Arnold;

My Boyfriend’s Back–The Angels;  Blowin’ In The Wind–Peter, Paul & Mary;

It’s All In The Game–Tommy Edwards;  It’s Only Make Believe–Conway Twitty; (Sounds Like Elvis)

Two Faces Have I–Lou Christie;  Sukiyaki–Kyu Sakamoto;

Where or When (1960), Dion & The Belmonts;

Right Next Door To An Angel–Neil Sedaka;  Hurt–Timi Yuro;

In The Misty Moonlight–Jerry Wallace;  Sixteen Tons–Tennessee Earnie Ford;

Born Too Late–Pony Tails;  Our Day Will Come–Ruby & The Romantics;

Hello Stranger–Barbara Lewis;  Wonderful World–Sam Cooke;

Fools Rush In–Brook Benton;  Still–Bill Anderson;

I Wanna’ Be Around–Tony Bennett;  You Really Got A Hold On Me–Miracles;

Then He Kissed Me–The Crystals;  From A Jack To A King–Ned Miller;

Peggy Sue–Buddy Holly;  Only Love Can Break A Heart–Gene Pitney;

My Precious Love–Jerry Butler;  What Kind Of A Fool Do You Think I Am–Tams;

Venus In Blue Jeans–Jimmy Clanton;  This Time–Troy Shondel;

Sealed With A Kiss–Brain Hyland;

I’m Leaving It Up To You–Dale & Grace;  Rhythm Of The Rain–Cascades;

There’s A Moon Out Tonight–The Capris;  Pretty Little Angel Eyes–Curtis Lee; 

Angel Baby–Rosie & The Originals;  Little Star–The Elegants;

The Birds & The Bees–Jewel Akens; Rhythm of The Rain-Cascades

What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted–Jimmy Ruffin;

The Wanderer–Dion;

Blame It On The Bossa Nova–Eydie Gorme;  Why–Frankie Avalon;

Remember (Walking In The Sand)–The Sangri-Las;  Stand By Me–Ben E. King.

In June of 1963, I began a 7-year run as a Disc Jockey (with breaks for the US Army and so forth) that took me to Elvis’ hometown, the Carolina’s, Vietnam, and finally Denver. Allow me to share some of the best music I spun for the masses, rated by yours truly:                              

ELVIS Favorites:                

Little Sister,  Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (1957),   (Marie’s The Name) Of His Latest Flame (1961)   (Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I,   Wooden Heart,  Please  Don’t Stop Loving me,  It’s Now Or Never,   I Need Your Love Tonight,   One Night,  Surrender,  (You’re The) Devil In Disguise,  Stuck On You (1959) and  That’s All Right (regional hit), and later  In The Ghetto,  Burning Love,  Suspicious Minds,  Kentucky Rain. Worst Elvis Song: Hound Dog.                                                                                    

         1580  5,000 Watts

Big Man In Town,  Save It For Me,  Dawn,  Big Girls Don’t Cry,  I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Candy Girl,  Ronnie,  Walk Like Man,  Bye Bye Baby,  Stay–The Four Seasons;

1490  Tupelo WTUP TOP DAWG

Paperback Writer,  I Want To Hold Your Hand,  Please Please Me,  Something,  She Loves You,  The Long & Winding Road,   P. S. I Love You,  Follow The Sun,  Do You Love Me,  Girl,  Across The Universe,  My Guitar Gently Weeps,  Hey Jude–The Beatles;

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,   The Last Time,  Ruby Tuesday,  As Tears Go By,  19th Nervous Breakdown,  Play With Me, Play With Fire,  Paint It Black,  Lady Jane,  I Used To Love Her,  Heartbreaker,  Jumping Jack Flash–Rolling Stones;

Stop! In The Name Of Love,  Where Did Our Love Go,  Love Child,  Some Day We’ll Be Together,  My World Is Empty Without You–The Supremes;

Don’t Worry Baby,  I Get Around,  Surfer Girl, Wouldn’t It Be Nice,  409,  Little GTO,  Sloop John B,  In My Room,  California Girls,  Fun Fun Fun –Beach Boys;

Fingertips Part II,  I Was Made To Love Her,  Suspicion,  A Place In The Sun &  I Just Called To Say I Love You (1984)–Stevie Wonder;

Oh, Pretty Woman,  In Dreams,  Blue Bayou,  Crying, Only The Lonely,  Blue Angel –Roy Orbison;

You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,  I Have To Say I Love You In A Song,  Big Bad Leroy Brown–Jim Croce;

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,  Night Fever,  How Deep Is Your Love,  Tragedy,  Words,  More Than A Woman-The Bee Gees;

Rocket Man (1972) Empty Garden,  Candle In The Wind,  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) -Elton John;

Dedicated To The One I Love (1976)   It’s Getting Better,  California Dreaming,  Creeque Alley–Mamas & Pappas;

I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (1970),  Anyone Who Had A Heart, Reach Out For Me-Dionne Warwick;

Respect,  I Say A Little Prayer,  I Ain’t Never Loved A Man–Aretha Franklin;

Gentle On My Mind,  Rhinestone Cowboy,  Wichita Lineman–Glenn Campbell;

Roses Are Red,  Blue On Blue,  Sealed With A Kiss,  Blue Velvet–Bobby Vinton;

Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying,  I’ll Be There–Gerry & The Pacemakers;

Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress),  The Air That I Breathe–The Hollies

1330 An Khe

I Will Follow Him-Little Peggy March; He’s So Fine (1963)–The Chiffons;

Deep Purple Dreams-Nino Tempo & April Stevens; Space Oddity-David Bowie;

Wishing And Hoping,  I Only Want To Be With You–Dusty Springfield;

Lying Eyes,  Hotel California,  Witchy Woman- Eagles;

Runaway,   Keep Searching,  Hats Off To Larry– Del Shannon;

I Knew You When,  Down In The Boondocks–Billy Jo Royal;

Young Turks,  Maggie May (1971),  Do Ya Think I’m Sexy–Rod Stewart;

Summer Breeze,  Get Closer,  I’ll Play For You–Seals & Crofts;

Castles In The Air, American Pie, Vincent–Don McLean;

A World Without Love,  Nobody I Know–Peter And Gordon;

Sister Golden Hair,  Ventura Highway–America;

Never My Love,  Windy–The Association;

It’s Up To You,  Young World,  Travelling Man–Rickey Nelson;

Heart Of Gold,  Old Man (1972),  Ohio–Neil Young; 

Everything I Own,  If (1970-2)–Bread; 

Handy Man,  You’ve Got A Friend (1971)–James Taylor;

Hello I Love You,  Light My Fire,  People Are Strange, Love Me Two Times-The Doors;

Diamonds & Rust (1975)  The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down–Joan Baez;

Everybody Loves A Clown,   Save Your Heart For Me-Gary Lewis & The Playboys;

Can’t Help Myself, Standing In The Shadows Of Love,  Baby I Need Your Loving–The Four Tops;

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (1965)-The Animals

The Bird Is The Word (1963)–The Trashmen; Rock Your Baby (1974)-George McCrae

Double Shot of My Babie’s Love-The Swinging Medallions;

Before The Next Teardrop Falls–Freddy Fender;

The One Who Really Loves You–Mary Wells;

Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye (1973)–Gladys Knight & The Pips;

Unchained Medley- Righteous  Brothers;

Going Out Of My Head-Little Anthony & The Imperials;

Love Hurts-Nazareth (1976);  Love Me With All Your Heart-The Letterman

I’d Really Love To See You Tonight–England Dan & John Ford Coley;                       

Happy Together,  Elanor,  It Ain’t Me Babe (1965)–The Turtles;  

Hanky Panky–Tommy James & The Shondells;

Blinded By The Light–Manfred Man’s Earth Band;

You’re My World-Helen Reddy;

Be My Baby–Ronettes; Lay Lady Lay (1969)- Bob Dylan; 

Memphis, Mountain Of Love-Johnny Rivers; 

You Don’t Own Me–Leslie Gore;

Forget Him If He Doesn’t Love You–Bobby Rydell;  Little Green Bag-George Baker;

Hold On To What You Got–Joe Tex;  Deadman’s Curve-Jan & Dean

Feelings (1974)–Morris Albert;  Long Tall Glasses (1974)–Leo Sayer;

Do You Love Me–The Contours;  Ballad Of The Green Berets–SSG Barry Sadler;

96 Tears–Question Mark And The Mysterians;  Lola–The Kinks;

When A Man Loves A Woman–Percy Sledge;   A Groovy Kind Of Love–The Mindbenders;

Don’t Leave Me This Way–Thelma Houston;  Turn Around & Look At Me–The Vogues;

Summer In The City,  You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice(1966)–Loving Spoonful;

Bad To Me–Billy J Kramer;  Sounds Of Silence–Simon And Garfunkel;

Taking Care Of Business, Down On The Corner-Bachman Turner Overdrive;

Crusin’–Smokey Robinson;  Land Of 1,000 Dances–Wilson Pickett;   My Guy–Mary Wells;

I Go To Pieces–Peter & Gordon;  Traces–The Classics IV;  Girl Watcher–O’Kasions;

Only Want To Be With You–Dave Clark Five;  Concrete & Clay–Unit 4 + 2;

Elusive Butterfly–Bob Lind Group;  Nice To Be With You–The Gallery;

Suspicion–Terry Stafford (sounds like Elvis);  

Taking Care Of Business, Down On The Corner-Bachman Turner Overdrive;

Something Stupid–Nancy & Frank Sinatra;  Little Green Apples-O. C. Smith;

Knock On Wood–Eddie Floyd;   It Must Be Him–Vicki Carr;

Will It Go Round In Circles (1972)–Billy Preston;  The Weight (1968)–The Band;

You’re So Vain (1972)–Carly Simon;  Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You (1975)–Sugarloaf;

You Are So Beautiful To Me (1974)–Joe Cocker;  Danny’s Song (1972)–Loggins & Messina;

White Rabbit (1967)–Jefferson Airplane;  Reflections Of My Life (1970)–Marmalade;

Signs(1970)–Five Man Electrical Band;  Baby, I Love Your Way (1975)–Peter Frampton;

Shake Your Botty-K. C. & The Sunshine Band

Going Down Country (1968)–Canned Heat;  Miracles (1975)-Jefferson Starship;

Baby Hold On (1977)-Eddie Money;  Here Comes The Night (1965)–Van Morrison;

Treat Her Right–Roy Head;  Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte–Patti Page;

For What’s Its Worth–Buffalo Springfield;  My Pledge Of Love–Joe Jeffery Group;

Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In–The Fifth Dimension;  One–Three Dog Night;

Sugar, Sugar–-The Archies;  Walk Don’t Run–The Ventures;  

Another Day–Paul McCartney & Wings;  These Eyes–The Guess Who;

Traces–Dennis Yost & The Classics 4;  United We Stand–Brotherhood Of Man;

Hawaii 5-O–The Ventures;  Poke Salad Annie–Tony Joe White;

Games People Play–Joe South;

Alone Again (Naturally)–Gilbert O’Sullivan;  Let’s Stay Together–Al Green;

The City Of New Orleans–Arlo Guthrie;  I Can See Clearly Now–Johnny Nash;

Hold Your Head Up–Argent;  Sylvia’s Mother–Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show;

Anticipation–Carley Simon;  Kiss An Angel Good Morning–Charley Pride;

Wipe Out–Safaris;  I Love You Because–Al Martino;

I Will Follow Him–Little Peggy March;  Freddie’s Dead–Curtis Mayfield;

I Got You Babe–Sonny & Cher;  Let Your Love Flow–The Bellamy Brothers;

Walk Right In–Rooftop Singers;  It’s My Party–Lesley Gore;

I Like Dreamin’–Kenny Nolan;  Honey,  Little Things-Bobby Goldsboro

If  You Wanna’ Be Happy–Jimmy Soul;  Easier Said Than Done–Essex;

I Just Can’t Stop Believing (1971)–B. J. Thomas;  Mr. Bojangles (1970)–Nitty Gritty Dirt Band;

Wild World (1970)–Cat Stevens;

When You Hot, You’re Hot (1971)–Jerry Reed;  Silence Is Golden (1967)–Tremeloes;

Angel Of The Morning (1968)–Juice Newton;  Photograph (1973)–Ringo Starr;

Rings (1972)–Cymarron;  I’m Not In Love–Will To Power;

Give Me Love–George Harrison (1973);  This Guy’s In Love With You (1968)–Herb Alpert;

Smiling Faces (1971)–Undisputed Truth;  My Pledge Of Love (1969)–Joe Jeffery Group;

Treat Her Like A Lady (1971)–Cornelius Bros & Sister Rose;

All By Myself–Eric Carmen;  It’s Your Thing-Isley Bros;

Bohemian Rhapsody;  We Will Rock, (1977)  We Are The Champions–Queen;

Ain’t No Sunshine (1971)–Bill Withers;  If You Could Read My Mind (1970)–Gordon Lightfoot;

Classical Gas (1968)–Mason Williams;  Black Dog (1971)–Led Zeppelin;

MacArthur Park (1968)–Richard Harris;  Delilah (1968)–Tom Jones;  Rings–Cymarron;

Telephone Line (1977)–Electric Light Orchestra;  At Seventeen (1975)–Janis Ian

Dancin’ Queen–ABBA;  Grease,  My Eyes Adore You (1975)–Frankie Valli;

Young Girl (1968),  Lady Willpower–Gary Puckett & The Union Gap;

Proud Mary (1969)  Bad Moon Rising,  Run Through The Jungle (1970)–Creedence Clearwater Revival;

Falling In Love–Hamilton-Joe Frank & Reynolds;

Bad Blood–Neil Sedaka;  Kicks–Paul Revere & The Raiders;  Hush-Deep Purple;

North Carolina 580

Kiss You All Over–Exile;  Show Me The Way-Peter Framptom

Honesty–Billy Joel;  California Sun–The Rivieras;  Sometimes When We Touch–Dan Hill;

I Love LA, Short People–Randy Newman;

Gold–John Stewart;  What’s Your Name–Lynyrd Skynyrd;

It’s So Easy–Linda Ronstadt;  We’re All Alone–Rita Coolidge;

Don’t Leave Me This Way–Thelma Houston;

Weekend In New England–Barry Manilow;  Walk This Way–Aerosmith;

You’re My World–Cilla Black;  Go Now–The Moody Blues;

Groovin’ Together–Smokey Robinson;   She’s Not There–The Zombies;

Turn Around Look At Me–The Vogues;  Rock On–David Exxes;

It’s Your Thing–The Isley Brothers;  Oh Girl–Chi Lites;

Venus–Baananarama;  We’re All Alone-Boz Skaggs

The Moment You Left Me–The Temptations;  Make Me Your Baby–Mary Wells;

Me And Bobby McGee (1969)–Janis Joplin;  The Way We Were-Barbra Streisand

Please Come To Boston (1974)–Dave Loggins;  D’Yer Mak’er(1973)–Led Zeppelin;

Carolina  860

Will It Go Round In Circles (1972)–Billy Preston;

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (1975)–Paul Simon;  All By Myself (1975)–Eric Carman;

You’re So Vain (1972)–Carley Simon;

One Of A Kind Love Affair–The Spinners;  Ode To Billie Jo–Bobbie Jentry;

 If You Could Read My Mind–Gordon Lightfoot;

After The Loving–Englebert Humperdinck;

More Love–Smokey Robinson & The Miracles;  Space Oddity (1972)-David Bowie;

Bad To Me–Billy Kilmer;  Engine Engine #9–Roger Miller;

You Keep Me Hanging On–Vanilla Fudge;

I’d Wait A Million Years–Grass Roots;  No No Song-Ringo Starr (1974);

You Really Got Me–The Kinks;  Get Down Tonight–K. C. & The Sunshine Band;

Hey Joe (1967)–Jimi Hendricks Experience;

Thick As A Brick (1972)–Jethro Tull;  You Look Wonderful Tonight (1977)–Eric Clapton.

There’s nothing like hearing the favorite song of you and your significant other on the radio when you’re apart, even for a short while. Or, a song that you remain in your car, so you can hear it to the end, after you’ve reached your destination.

More Great Music continues in the next chapter. . .