re: High Praise For The Cryan' Shames:
>>>I haven't heard the CRYAN' SHAMES record for years so can't really remember it but would have been very pleased to have them cover it. Pretty good for a 48-year-old record but the lyrics are the most basic (or do I mean banal?) ever written. I think that resolves the issue of the songwriting credit. I wrote the tune. Fred wrote the lyrics. (Tony Hatch)
>>>I haven't heard the CRYAN' SHAMES record for years so can't really remember it but would have been very pleased to have them cover it. Pretty good for a 48-year-old record but the lyrics are the most basic (or do I mean banal?) ever written. I think that resolves the issue of the songwriting credit. I wrote the tune. Fred wrote the lyrics. (Tony Hatch)
It's really hard to believe that Tony Hatch would actually describe his song "Sugar and Spice" as "banal." Yes, he's written a lot of classic hits, but "Sugar and Spice" -- as arranged and performed by the Cryan Shames -- has to be one of most perfect portraits-in-sound of the euphoria of young love. It works musically, lyrically and as a timeless recorded performance. I've always liked The Searchers ("Don't Throw Your Love Away," "Needles and Pins," "Love Potion #9," etc.) but have also always felt that their original version of "Sugar and Spice" sounds uninspired, like a routine demo. In contrast, The Cryan Shames added passion, propulsion and a surge of unbridled joy that transformed the song into a pure romantic rush. Female equivalents: The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" and Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want To Be With You." Had The Cryan Shames' version only been released on a major label with good distribution (rather than tiny Destination) in 1966, I'll bet it would have gone #1. As it was, the single (despite limited distribution) did well enough to land the group a deal with one of the majors, but unfortunately it was Columbia -- the label Mitch Miller had kept rock free until only shortly before -- when they signed Paul Revere & the Raiders (and then bungled THEIR first releases). Columbia at that time was simply not set up to maximize the potential of an act like The Cryan Shames, which is why their subsequent singles that should have gone Top 10 ("I Wanna Meet You," "It Could Be We're In Love", etc.) didn't. In my estimation, The Cryan Shames' "Sugar and Spice" is one of the most emotionally effective records released in the '60s -- and 48 years later it still makes my heart soar every single time.
Gary Theroux
High praise indeed, coming from such a renown musicologist and also the author of the widely-syndicated radio special "The History Of Rock And Roll" ... hearing an authority such as yourself heap such high praise on The Shames was quite satisfying. I forwarded a copy to the guys. (kk)
I was thrilled to get this response from James Fairs, who doesn't speak about "the old days" very often:
Thanks, gentlemen!
It was the times, guys. Love was in the air, music was new and fresh, and an incredible number of children were coming of age, and convinced themselves that this feeling could change the world.
Gary Theroux
High praise indeed, coming from such a renown musicologist and also the author of the widely-syndicated radio special "The History Of Rock And Roll" ... hearing an authority such as yourself heap such high praise on The Shames was quite satisfying. I forwarded a copy to the guys. (kk)
I was thrilled to get this response from James Fairs, who doesn't speak about "the old days" very often:
Thanks, gentlemen!
It was the times, guys. Love was in the air, music was new and fresh, and an incredible number of children were coming of age, and convinced themselves that this feeling could change the world.
Although it didn't play out that way, the sound you hear is sheer optimism … not yet damaged.
My very best to you!
James
(still trying' to make a difference) … ;))
And this from Tom Doody ...
Wow, nice words!
Tom
re: This And That:
When we think about "The Girl Groups" sound, we tend to be a bit more "vintage" in our thought process ... the girl groups sound dominated the '60's and has a very loyal following. So when we heard that Billboard Magazine was saluting The Top 40 Girl Group Records of All-Time, we couldn't wait to see the list.
Needless to say ... we were a bit surprised ... I guess I just never expected to see artists like Destiny's Child, The Spice Girls, The Pussycat Dolls and En Vogue heading up a list like this! (In fact, The Emotions' 1977 Hit "Best Of My Love" tops the list.)
Well, in all fairness, they never really established a criteria ... and they DO say "of all time" ... so I guess I get it. (Yes, sometimes it's hard letting go!!! lol)
And some of OUR favorite girl groups do make the list. (The Supremes, The Angels, The Shirelles and The Chiffons are represented ... although The Shangri-Las failed to make the list ... but to find these titles, you'll have to wade through some pretty undistinguishable titles by artists like 702 (who?), Divine (huh?), SWV (wha'???) and Sweet Sensation (I give up!). And while the hit records listed by the likes of TLC, The Bangles, The Go Gos and Wilson Phillips certainly made their mark at that time along the way, it's just difficult to see them lumped in with ... and, in most case, finishing well ahead of ... some of our all-time favorites. You can count 'em down ... and listen to the songs that put them there ... here: Click here: Top 40 Girl Group Songs Of All Time | Billboard
>>>Which came first ... the cool band or the great car? (Blossmwrld)
Ford produced two models of cars with acrylic roof panels, both called "Skyliners"; one in 1954 and another in 1955 and 1956. They then applied the Skyliner name to cars with retractable hard tops in 1957, 1958 and 1959.
The group took their name in 1958. According to Jimmy Beaumont and Skyliners' manager Joe Rock, the group was named for the song "Skyliner", used as a theme by big band leader Charlie Barnet, so that's the story I wrote in the liner notes for the Skyliners' 40th anniversary CD on Collectables. However, original group member Jackie Taylor says that the group was named for the car. In an interview I did with him for "Soul Up North" Magazine, Jackie said that Joe was hoping that he could get cars for the group.
Ed Salamon
LOL ... I kinda think the second story makes a whole lot more sense!!! (lol) Thanks, Ed! (kk)
>>>Unfortunately this won't be the "colorized" version that we campaigned for earlier (kk)
It's true that a one-time viewing of 'A Hard Day's Night' in colour might interest me, but it could never surpass the black and white film. The original has the capability to transport me (and, I suspect, anyone else who grew up at that time) to those gritty, rain-sodden English streets all over again. Now, I understand from a monetary point of view that they might find it hard to resist cashing in on our penchant for all things new. However, I really believe that colourizing would alter the essential character of the work, just as colourized film noirs lose their ominous, moody cast when they are altered. Sorry, Kent, but I have to disagree with you on the merits of this one.
MSpins
I think it'd be cool to have BOTH versions available ... kinda like what they did with "Jailhouse Rock" several years ago. (Still my favorite Elvis movie ... and I can watch it either way ... but the "colorized" version makes it a bit more palatable for folks seeing it for the first time ... and adds a little spice and variety for old-timers like me.)
Honestly, I wouldn't have really thought much about it had I not seen these colorized clips on YouTube ... to say the least, I was immediately intrigued. As a fan of the film, give these clips a once-over and see if you don't agree that it'd be pretty cool to at least have this available as an option.
re: This And That:
When we think about "The Girl Groups" sound, we tend to be a bit more "vintage" in our thought process ... the girl groups sound dominated the '60's and has a very loyal following. So when we heard that Billboard Magazine was saluting The Top 40 Girl Group Records of All-Time, we couldn't wait to see the list.
Needless to say ... we were a bit surprised ... I guess I just never expected to see artists like Destiny's Child, The Spice Girls, The Pussycat Dolls and En Vogue heading up a list like this! (In fact, The Emotions' 1977 Hit "Best Of My Love" tops the list.)
Well, in all fairness, they never really established a criteria ... and they DO say "of all time" ... so I guess I get it. (Yes, sometimes it's hard letting go!!! lol)
And some of OUR favorite girl groups do make the list. (The Supremes, The Angels, The Shirelles and The Chiffons are represented ... although The Shangri-Las failed to make the list ... but to find these titles, you'll have to wade through some pretty undistinguishable titles by artists like 702 (who?), Divine (huh?), SWV (wha'???) and Sweet Sensation (I give up!). And while the hit records listed by the likes of TLC, The Bangles, The Go Gos and Wilson Phillips certainly made their mark at that time along the way, it's just difficult to see them lumped in with ... and, in most case, finishing well ahead of ... some of our all-time favorites. You can count 'em down ... and listen to the songs that put them there ... here: Click here: Top 40 Girl Group Songs Of All Time | Billboard
>>>Which came first ... the cool band or the great car? (Blossmwrld)
Ford produced two models of cars with acrylic roof panels, both called "Skyliners"; one in 1954 and another in 1955 and 1956. They then applied the Skyliner name to cars with retractable hard tops in 1957, 1958 and 1959.
The group took their name in 1958. According to Jimmy Beaumont and Skyliners' manager Joe Rock, the group was named for the song "Skyliner", used as a theme by big band leader Charlie Barnet, so that's the story I wrote in the liner notes for the Skyliners' 40th anniversary CD on Collectables. However, original group member Jackie Taylor says that the group was named for the car. In an interview I did with him for "Soul Up North" Magazine, Jackie said that Joe was hoping that he could get cars for the group.
Ed Salamon
LOL ... I kinda think the second story makes a whole lot more sense!!! (lol) Thanks, Ed! (kk)
>>>Unfortunately this won't be the "colorized" version that we campaigned for earlier (kk)
It's true that a one-time viewing of 'A Hard Day's Night' in colour might interest me, but it could never surpass the black and white film. The original has the capability to transport me (and, I suspect, anyone else who grew up at that time) to those gritty, rain-sodden English streets all over again. Now, I understand from a monetary point of view that they might find it hard to resist cashing in on our penchant for all things new. However, I really believe that colourizing would alter the essential character of the work, just as colourized film noirs lose their ominous, moody cast when they are altered. Sorry, Kent, but I have to disagree with you on the merits of this one.
MSpins
I think it'd be cool to have BOTH versions available ... kinda like what they did with "Jailhouse Rock" several years ago. (Still my favorite Elvis movie ... and I can watch it either way ... but the "colorized" version makes it a bit more palatable for folks seeing it for the first time ... and adds a little spice and variety for old-timers like me.)
Honestly, I wouldn't have really thought much about it had I not seen these colorized clips on YouTube ... to say the least, I was immediately intrigued. As a fan of the film, give these clips a once-over and see if you don't agree that it'd be pretty cool to at least have this available as an option.
And then this one for comparison's sake:
And, speaking of rockin' movies ...
ON THE TUBE ... A 'replay' movie channel has shown this repeatedly this last week or so. I finally stopped to watch a bit and was pleasantly surprised.
According to Wiki: The Girl Can't Help It is a 1956 musical comedy starring Jayne Mansfield in the titular role, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London. The movie was originally intended as a vehicle for the American sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, with a satirical subplot involving teenagers and rock 'n' roll music. The unintended result has been called the "most potent" celebration of rock music ever captured on film.-- Renfield
ON THE TUBE ... A 'replay' movie channel has shown this repeatedly this last week or so. I finally stopped to watch a bit and was pleasantly surprised.
According to Wiki: The Girl Can't Help It is a 1956 musical comedy starring Jayne Mansfield in the titular role, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London. The movie was originally intended as a vehicle for the American sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, with a satirical subplot involving teenagers and rock 'n' roll music. The unintended result has been called the "most potent" celebration of rock music ever captured on film.-- Renfield
YOU CAN EASILY 'WORK-AROUND-THE-PLOT'!
Gary
It's been a while since I've seen this one but I noticed it's been on quite a bit lately ... might be worth a couple of hours to catch it again. That song list alone is enough to make me want to tune in. Thanks, Gary! (kk)
Kent -
For those of your group that loved the Cruisin' series, I have an unreleased master of 1963 WKBW / Joey Reynolds that was done in the late 1990's or early 2000's that, because of clearance on the songs, has never seen the light of day. I wrote the liner notes for the release for Increase but we were never able to release it. I will have to try to find the master, as it was very well done, as only Joey Reynolds could have done! The best part of it is him interviewing Little Eva (Boyd) and it is hilarious!
CLAY PASTERNACK
Hmmm ... I wonder if the statutes of limitations has run out on this yet where we could maybe "sneak peek" a track or two on the website!!! Let us know if you find anything, Clay! (kk)
It's great seeing Pete Drake in the Top Ten in Chicago. He lived near us and had kids our age. We knew their dad was a studio musician, but there wasn't any hoopla when he did "Forever." These were just regular neighborhood folks.
David Lewis
I always loved Peter Drake's "Forever" and the sound of his "talking guitar" ... GREAT track. We featured this one recently in our Saturday Surveys. (kk)
Hey Kent,
It's fun to read the WLS charts from fifty years ago! One song listed, I had forgotten about, was "Wonderful Summer" by Robin Ward. I absolutely LOVED it, and I was only eleven at the time, when it made the top ten! I guess I had a crush on her voice. The song was so romantic! Robin also went by Jackie, which was another stage name. Besides her one-hit wonder, she was known for Shirley Jones' singing voice in "The Partridge Family" and the Rice-a-Roni commercials. She's had a life-long body of work in the studio and has sung with zillions of the greats. I'd like to know what small town in Nebraska she was raised in, but can't find it anywhere. Here is a very interesting interview about her work in the business.
- John LaPuzza
http://www.cmongethappy.com/interviews/jw/
It's fun to read the WLS charts from fifty years ago! One song listed, I had forgotten about, was "Wonderful Summer" by Robin Ward. I absolutely LOVED it, and I was only eleven at the time, when it made the top ten! I guess I had a crush on her voice. The song was so romantic! Robin also went by Jackie, which was another stage name. Besides her one-hit wonder, she was known for Shirley Jones' singing voice in "The Partridge Family" and the Rice-a-Roni commercials. She's had a life-long body of work in the studio and has sung with zillions of the greats. I'd like to know what small town in Nebraska she was raised in, but can't find it anywhere. Here is a very interesting interview about her work in the business.
- John LaPuzza
http://www.cmongethappy.com/interviews/jw/
We've profiled Jackie Ward a few times before in Forgotten Hits ... the Robin Ward "Wonderful Summer" single is one of my favorites, too ... and it was a #1 Hit here in Chicago. It's also one of those that has always scored well when we've done our FH All-Time Favorite Summer Songs Polls in the past. One of those GREAT ones that still sounds good today ... if they'd ever play it! (kk)
>>>Eric Clapton's 'Journeyman' Album (Featuring George Harrison, Chaka Khan, Daryl Hall, Robert Cray, Phil Collins and others) Is Now Available On Hybrid SACD
"Bad Love" from Clapton's Journeyman album is just such a terrific piece of work on every level. Written with Mick Jones, from Foreigner, it embodies the over-indulgent times.
Watch the accompanying video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlRuOQ91DXo
Eric was going through his Versace - rock god status ... playing great and looking great. The video with Phil Collins on drums; Nathan East on Bass and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards is terrific.
Great song; great video; great album!
David Salidor
Hello Kent,
"Bad Love" from Clapton's Journeyman album is just such a terrific piece of work on every level. Written with Mick Jones, from Foreigner, it embodies the over-indulgent times.
Watch the accompanying video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlRuOQ91DXo
Eric was going through his Versace - rock god status ... playing great and looking great. The video with Phil Collins on drums; Nathan East on Bass and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards is terrific.
Great song; great video; great album!
David Salidor
Hello Kent,
Thanks a lot for your thorough vetting of my 'questionable' trivia fact regarding 'Chapel of Love'.
I hope you enjoyed researching that wonderful year of our musical expansion. I do know that one of my many CD inserts had stated the facts as I 'mis'-understood them. ha ha Someday I may find it and will forward it along to you.
Well paraphrasing from one of my all time favorite movies "I Love You, Kent" (surely you will figure this out) When a young girl ask Wolfman Jack how old he is and he responds 14 she replies 'I love you Wolfman'.
Take Care,
CharlieOFD
Kent and Gary,
I found this picture, which I had seen before in a Beatles "coffee-table book", on a blog spot titled On My Mind. It shows my Uncle Art looking on as The Beatles stand backstage with Ed Sullivan. I sent it to my sister Vyn (that email is below), and thought I would share it with you both. I think this is from one of the later appearances by The Beatles on Ed's show, judging by the haircuts and the differing stage clothes they wore that night. During the first appearance they all dressed the same. (in this pic, Paul is hidden behind John Lennon's left shoulder)
Thanks for the e-mail back in February(!) Kent, sorry it took so long to reply, and thanks for adding my comments to Forgotten Hits. Gary T., would be fun to exchange memories with you, I enjoyed your past story on Forgotten Hits about working with my Uncle Art at KIIS in LA, sounds like you guys had a nice friendship and mutual respect.
The photo link is at the bottom of the page.
Gary Hannes
I found this picture, which I had seen before in a Beatles "coffee-table book", on a blog spot titled On My Mind. It shows my Uncle Art looking on as The Beatles stand backstage with Ed Sullivan. I sent it to my sister Vyn (that email is below), and thought I would share it with you both. I think this is from one of the later appearances by The Beatles on Ed's show, judging by the haircuts and the differing stage clothes they wore that night. During the first appearance they all dressed the same. (in this pic, Paul is hidden behind John Lennon's left shoulder)
Thanks for the e-mail back in February(!) Kent, sorry it took so long to reply, and thanks for adding my comments to Forgotten Hits. Gary T., would be fun to exchange memories with you, I enjoyed your past story on Forgotten Hits about working with my Uncle Art at KIIS in LA, sounds like you guys had a nice friendship and mutual respect.
The photo link is at the bottom of the page.
Gary Hannes
Here's a copy of my original email to Vyn, my sister, about spotting this photo on the "On My Mind" blog:
This is the pictures that I was telling you about. Ed Sullivan in the center, with The Beatles around him; Ringo to the right (back to camera), George Harrison to the left, John Lennon farther to the left, with Paul McCartney hidden behind John Lennon (note the change of the collar line and left shoulder line of John Lennon). Other pictures from this show depict the differing outfits they had on, with John and Paul’s very similar. I think this was from one of their late / last appearances on the Ed Sullivan show.
To the very far left, with clipboard (?) in hand and headset microphone on, our very own Uncle Art!! Standing two feet away from The Beatles, and looking a little bored?!
To the very far left, with clipboard (?) in hand and headset microphone on, our very own Uncle Art!! Standing two feet away from The Beatles, and looking a little bored?!
Here's the link to the photo:
(Singing in my head: "It's a small world after all ...") Don'tcha just love it when all this stuff comes together?!?!? The "On My Mind" blog is put together by Rick Phillips, a LONG-time Forgotten Hits Reader. How cool that you found this photo ... then connected with regular FH contributor Gary Theroux (he's the guy who wrote the syndicated "History Of Rock And Roll" radio special ... and ALSO worked with your Uncle Art Hannes at KIIS back in the day!) ... all thanks to our daily Forgotten Hits postings! VERY cool (even if it DID take you several months to respond!!! lol) Just kidding ... it never ceases to amaze me how "connected" we all really are ... even some fifty years later! Proof yet again of the INCREDIBLE bond of music we all share. Great to hear from you, Gary! (kk)
Hi Kent,
Sorry to say I cannot remember where I got the following information from so just in case it was something you ran in Forgotten Hits, please accept my apologies for wasting your time with the following. The other day you mentioned Tony Hatch saying to you that "Downtown", in fact, was based and inspired by the Drifters' Hit "On Broadway". I read / or was told recently that the intro to Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison was based on Lucille by Little Richard! If you listen to them both there is no doubt in my mind.
Take care,
Rockin’ Lord Geoff (in England)
That didn't come from me but now that you mention it, it sure does sound obvious! And did YOU know that Bobby Goldsboro, a one-time member of Roy Orbison's band, took the opening riff from "Oh Pretty Woman", turned it around and played it backwards and created his own Top 20 Hit in the process with "Little Things"??? Proving once again that when it comes to great rock and roll music, one good turn deserves another. (John Lennon often mentioned how he took Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata", which he heard Yoko playing on the piano, turned the chords around backwards, and created "Because", the beautiful three-part harmony piece that graces side two of "Abbey Road".) What goes around, comes around! (kk)
And then this begat that ... and then that begat that ...
And that's why rock and roll music will never die!
And then this begat that ... and then that begat that ...
And that's why rock and roll music will never die!
May 1, TOLEDO, OH - Over a dozen celebrities have teamed up with Ohio-based Veterans Matter to generate awareness about the issue of homeless veterans and to help raise funds that will decrease the number of unhoused vets on our streets. The campaign is supported by media giant Cumulus Media which is airing Veterans Matter celebrity-voiced public service announcements in 110 U.S. markets May 1 - 31, 2014.
The thirty-second announcements, encouraging listeners to pledge support by texting “VETS” to 41444, are voiced by musicians Kid Rock, Kix Brooks, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp, Darius Rucker, Darryl Worley, Stevie Nicks, ZZ Top's Dusty Hill, Emerson Drive, Jennifer Nettles, Natalie Stovall and The Drive as well as author Mitch Albom.
"It’s really important to me that we take care of our service men and women,” says Kix Brooks. “There are so many precautions taken to be sure they’re safe while they’re serving, but we also need to keep in mind what happens when they get home.”
Veterans Matter, a national program of 1Matters, a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit with roots back to 1990, was started by founder Ken Leslie in 2012, after learning that the biggest obstacle facing some 60,000 homeless veterans eligible for housing assistance was the lack of a rental deposit, which is not covered by the HUD-VASH voucher assistance program.
“When you are working on the streets you see veterans beaten, robbed, even killed, yet if that happened behind enemy lines Americans would be outraged," explains Leslie. "Veterans Matters is just some regular Americans taking care of our own one at a time, just because we should, and because we can, everyone can."
To date, Veterans Matter has housed 235 veterans, and veteran families, in six states. Partnering with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Matter provides rental deposits for homeless veterans who qualify for voucher-assisted living but are unable fund the initial housing costs. With the outpouring of celebrity support and the backing of Cumulus Media, Veterans Matter has high hopes of being able to help house 1,000 more veterans in 2014. 100% of funds raised go toward the program.
“We must help get these warriors back into housing and recapture their lives,” says Dusty Hill of ZZ Top. “We must take care of our own. Veterans Matter.”
Visit VeteransMatter.org and Facebook.com/VeteransMatter for more information and to join the campaign.
Very sad news this week as we lost Larry Ramos of The Association. Larry always stood out on stage ... there weren't a whole lot of Hawaiian Rock Stars back in the '60's!!! He will be missed. And I think you'll find this VVN piece very touching.
"It’s really important to me that we take care of our service men and women,” says Kix Brooks. “There are so many precautions taken to be sure they’re safe while they’re serving, but we also need to keep in mind what happens when they get home.”
Veterans Matter, a national program of 1Matters, a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit with roots back to 1990, was started by founder Ken Leslie in 2012, after learning that the biggest obstacle facing some 60,000 homeless veterans eligible for housing assistance was the lack of a rental deposit, which is not covered by the HUD-VASH voucher assistance program.
“When you are working on the streets you see veterans beaten, robbed, even killed, yet if that happened behind enemy lines Americans would be outraged," explains Leslie. "Veterans Matters is just some regular Americans taking care of our own one at a time, just because we should, and because we can, everyone can."
To date, Veterans Matter has housed 235 veterans, and veteran families, in six states. Partnering with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Matter provides rental deposits for homeless veterans who qualify for voucher-assisted living but are unable fund the initial housing costs. With the outpouring of celebrity support and the backing of Cumulus Media, Veterans Matter has high hopes of being able to help house 1,000 more veterans in 2014. 100% of funds raised go toward the program.
“We must help get these warriors back into housing and recapture their lives,” says Dusty Hill of ZZ Top. “We must take care of our own. Veterans Matter.”
Visit VeteransMatter.org and Facebook.com/VeteransMatter for more information and to join the campaign.
Very sad news this week as we lost Larry Ramos of The Association. Larry always stood out on stage ... there weren't a whole lot of Hawaiian Rock Stars back in the '60's!!! He will be missed. And I think you'll find this VVN piece very touching.
Kent,
I really enjoy seeing the surveys of other radio stations in other markets and in particularly what records made their surveys but didn't here in the OKC area. I always like to look up on you tube and find and play those songs which did make other markets but didn't make it here in OKC. It kind of makes me think about what songs I missed out on by them not charting here (or maybe I didn't miss out on them.) LOL!
The one thing I immediately noticed about the surveys posted today in that the DJ's on WLS apparently worked every day of the week for some 2-3 hours on the average. Here in OKC, the DJ's worked some 4-5 hours a day Monday through Friday with some working a shortened air shift on either Saturday or Sunday.
Larry
The one thing I immediately noticed about the surveys posted today in that the DJ's on WLS apparently worked every day of the week for some 2-3 hours on the average. Here in OKC, the DJ's worked some 4-5 hours a day Monday through Friday with some working a shortened air shift on either Saturday or Sunday.
Larry
Back in the day before voice-tracking, I believe a lot of these jocks pre-taped their weekend shows during the week for airing over the weekend. I don't know that any of these jocks REALLY did live shows seven days a week ... but I asked Clark Weber what he recalled.
Hi Kent;
As the morning man I only worked six days however and they ran church programs on Sunday ... however I recall that both Art Roberts and Ron Riley taped their 7th days. What I don't recall is if they actually taped a 7th day or it was an amalgam of stuff that was spliced together. Art Roberts recorded his Sunday night show during the week and called it a "Hootenanny" where he featured the likes of Winn Stracky, album tracks by Bob Dylan and other folk artists of the day and even played his banjo.
Clark
re: On The Radio:
Is anyone listening ?
I'm still a radio junkie, listening via my WiFi radio all across the nation to formerly award winning facilities decline into an embarrassment for a once proud industry.
Depending on the radio group I tune in, the sloppy, noncaring programming of this group is more than I can take. It's unfortunate that some very good on air hosts must put up with the magnets for tune out, encouraging many like me to simply change the dial.
All across America, one radio group above the others demonstrates over and over, they either have no programmers or they are not aware those who tune in to hear their favorite program also must endure the content in commercial breaks.
I saw it coming a few years back when I received an inquiry of my availability to program a major market facility. Explaining to the president of the company that I could not accept a position to program again without total control of all programming. It was when he understood that included all commercial content too, that he responded “that's not programming's responsibility John, that's sales”. I replied, “oh, so the listeners don't hear that huh”.
Tuning into this groups stations, one can not listen for a full hour without enduring what would have sent most program directors in the past rushing to make sure it didn't happen again. Not only does this group have very little paid commercial content, they “fill” those vacant slots with the exact same dozen public service announcements, aired on all of their stations nationally, with the exact same one airing up to three times in a single hour. The repetition alarm once understood to create tune-out, is totally ignored by this group. Even worst, “filling” a commercial break, all four minutes of it, with a monotonous 15 second bumper played over and over. On a regular basis, two units at the same time are programmed, ten second drop in's collide with a host returning to the air. Not to forget the exact same newscast running time and time again.
It goes on and on with this group that demonstrates it has little if any programming guidance available or they simply don't consider programming of importance. They consider their stations as distributors of commercial content, they pay little attention to any programming, including over all content.
Regardless of ones feelings about the radio industry today, it's interesting to me that in programming, this groups competitors very seldom have similar problems. I also find both CBS radio and Clear Channel pay attention to programming suggestions.
Of course both CBS and Clear Channel headed up by two with major experience as programmers, Dan Mason and Bob Pittmann, understand it all begins with programming.
It's unfortunate that the “dog” in the industry, Cumulus Media, either has no programmers or just simply don't care they are an embarrassment to radio.
I'd almost forgot those days when a WLS sales department found need to produce a video about their program director.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV0v2kIZDzo
John Rook
I'm still a radio junkie, listening via my WiFi radio all across the nation to formerly award winning facilities decline into an embarrassment for a once proud industry.
Depending on the radio group I tune in, the sloppy, noncaring programming of this group is more than I can take. It's unfortunate that some very good on air hosts must put up with the magnets for tune out, encouraging many like me to simply change the dial.
All across America, one radio group above the others demonstrates over and over, they either have no programmers or they are not aware those who tune in to hear their favorite program also must endure the content in commercial breaks.
I saw it coming a few years back when I received an inquiry of my availability to program a major market facility. Explaining to the president of the company that I could not accept a position to program again without total control of all programming. It was when he understood that included all commercial content too, that he responded “that's not programming's responsibility John, that's sales”. I replied, “oh, so the listeners don't hear that huh”.
Tuning into this groups stations, one can not listen for a full hour without enduring what would have sent most program directors in the past rushing to make sure it didn't happen again. Not only does this group have very little paid commercial content, they “fill” those vacant slots with the exact same dozen public service announcements, aired on all of their stations nationally, with the exact same one airing up to three times in a single hour. The repetition alarm once understood to create tune-out, is totally ignored by this group. Even worst, “filling” a commercial break, all four minutes of it, with a monotonous 15 second bumper played over and over. On a regular basis, two units at the same time are programmed, ten second drop in's collide with a host returning to the air. Not to forget the exact same newscast running time and time again.
It goes on and on with this group that demonstrates it has little if any programming guidance available or they simply don't consider programming of importance. They consider their stations as distributors of commercial content, they pay little attention to any programming, including over all content.
Regardless of ones feelings about the radio industry today, it's interesting to me that in programming, this groups competitors very seldom have similar problems. I also find both CBS radio and Clear Channel pay attention to programming suggestions.
Of course both CBS and Clear Channel headed up by two with major experience as programmers, Dan Mason and Bob Pittmann, understand it all begins with programming.
It's unfortunate that the “dog” in the industry, Cumulus Media, either has no programmers or just simply don't care they are an embarrassment to radio.
I'd almost forgot those days when a WLS sales department found need to produce a video about their program director.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV0v2kIZDzo
John Rook
Even second and third generation oldies music fans are appalled by the way radio treats this music today. Check out this blog posting sent in by FH Reader Frank B:
Kent ...
I think you'll agree with her after reading this article.
Frank B.
I think you'll agree with her after reading this article.
Frank B.
Honestly, all she's saying is exactly the same thing WE'VE been saying for the past fifteen years ... but it goes on to prove two of my on-going points. Give the next generation(s) a chance to discover and fall in love with this music and they will ... it's timeless, infectious pop that could live on forever, if only given the chance. And the fact that even a "newbie" is disgusted by the complete lack of respect radio holds for its listeners shows you just how far this situation has truly deteriorated.
She also hits on a key point ... "True Oldies" ... "Real Oldies" ... not this 1975-1992 crap they're passing off as oldies and classic hits today. SOMEBODY needs to step forward and dedicated a program, a format, a designation of TRUE, REAL, GENUINE Oldies Music, 1954 - 1975, and run with it. And let it be known that that's ALL that you play ... and the audience will come. And NEW audience members will be added every day as they, too, discover the rich legacy of this music. (kk)
re: Then Again, It Only Takes ONE To Turn Everything Around:
If I was a little bummed out last week by the email I received from former WLS Jock Dex Card (and I was ... but some of you were, too ... to the point that I can't even run some of the responses that I received!!! lol) ... then this email from ORIGINAL WLS Jock Bob Hale certainly perked me right back up again. Thanks, Bob ... that was a HALE of a nice thing to say! You truly made my day! (kk)
re: Then Again, It Only Takes ONE To Turn Everything Around:
If I was a little bummed out last week by the email I received from former WLS Jock Dex Card (and I was ... but some of you were, too ... to the point that I can't even run some of the responses that I received!!! lol) ... then this email from ORIGINAL WLS Jock Bob Hale certainly perked me right back up again. Thanks, Bob ... that was a HALE of a nice thing to say! You truly made my day! (kk)
Hello Hail from Hale ...
I continue to marvel at your web site. INCREDIBLE. It's not only a work of love, it's a work of dedication, perfection ... and darned good fun!!! As one who was, for a while, close to the WLS scene and pop music, I relish the time spent wandering through your efforts. I am applauding the work ... and I hope that all of this will be kept together, available and used by researchers when you and I are gone to the big radio studio in the sky! (That last sentence will be never be seen by my pastor for poor theology, but once in a while we have to break format!)
Hale and Farewell! (For the moment!)
I continue to marvel at your web site. INCREDIBLE. It's not only a work of love, it's a work of dedication, perfection ... and darned good fun!!! As one who was, for a while, close to the WLS scene and pop music, I relish the time spent wandering through your efforts. I am applauding the work ... and I hope that all of this will be kept together, available and used by researchers when you and I are gone to the big radio studio in the sky! (That last sentence will be never be seen by my pastor for poor theology, but once in a while we have to break format!)
Hale and Farewell! (For the moment!)
Thanks, Bob, that means a lot ... and on THAT up-note, we're outta here!!! Be sure to check the web page next week for more concert reviews. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
