(Above: Book 'em, Dano. That's a 1969 Ford Custom used as a squad car in Hawaii Five-O.) March 8, 1969 Fifty years ago this week you might have been reading the Playboy interview with Marshall McLuhan, he of "the medium is the message." If you are interested in communication studies and have never read the … Continue reading New this week in ’69: March 8
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New this week in ’69: February 22
It's the last new chart for February. What's going on 50 years ago today? February 22, 1969 Today marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the final stage of the Tet Offensive. It will last until June 8 and figure prominently in President Nixon's decision to take the war into Cambodia. On Monday the … Continue reading New this week in ’69: February 22
Rest in peace, Ken Nordine: Colors (1966)
Ken Nordine passed away today at the age of 98. You may not know Ken's name, but you know his voice. Nordine has done more than a small amount of voiceover work, including this legendary Levi's ad that might just make you OK with plaid pants. But Nordine is best known for Word Jazz, a … Continue reading Rest in peace, Ken Nordine: Colors (1966)
Great lost hit: Us3, “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” (1994)
(Above: If you haven't taken this off the shelf in a while, now's a good time.) I've had a lot of extra car time in the last few days due to the weather. One of the ways I pass the time on the commute is with - why not? - an iPod. Some days I'll … Continue reading Great lost hit: Us3, “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” (1994)
Soul sounds: WGES-AM/Chicago Top 30 Tunes, February 1, 1962
(Above: The back of the WGES survey, complete with on-air lineup.) One of the great tragedies of history occurs any time we lose something we can't get back. Along the way to doing the research for my dissertation, I learned quickly that the efforts made to preserve popular culture aren't equal, and there's no better … Continue reading Soul sounds: WGES-AM/Chicago Top 30 Tunes, February 1, 1962
New this week in ’69: January 18
(Above: It was a busy week in Washington.) January 18, 1969 The number 1 song in the country remains "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. Born on that day: Wrestler/MMA fighter Dave Bautista. The next day, football star Junior Seau would be born. The following Monday, the 20th, Richard M. Nixon will … Continue reading New this week in ’69: January 18
1984 turns 35: Van Halen, “Jump” (1984)
(Above: An album cover that doesn't need explanation.) For the past few days on Facebook, many have taken the "How has aging treated you?" challenge. The premise, basically, is that you post your first profile picture, and then your current, and see how time has treated you. In most cases, the span is about ten … Continue reading 1984 turns 35: Van Halen, “Jump” (1984)
New this week in ’69: January 11
(Above: Joe South tended to travel in triplicate.) There was positive response to the first installment in the "New this week in '69" series that started last week, so we'll continue. This is a weekly look at the new songs added to the Billboard Hot 100 exactly fifty years ago. A point of reference: a … Continue reading New this week in ’69: January 11
New this week in ’69: January 4
A lot of things will be turning 50 in 2019: the moon landing, the start of the Nixon presidency, the Chicago Cubs almost winning the pennant, the author of this blog... you get the idea. 1969 often gets overlooked in the retrospectives largely because of 1968 and the impact that that year had on American … Continue reading New this week in ’69: January 4
40 Christmases ago in Chicago: The WLS Top Forty-Fives, December 23, 1978
(Above: Clearly, someone was keeping score at home.) Christmas 1978 would have placed me in the fifth grade at Helen Keller Elementary School in Tinley Park, Illinois. The upcoming year would see me start to pretend that I was on a radio station for a class assignment; this career aptitude (or ineptitude) would not be … Continue reading 40 Christmases ago in Chicago: The WLS Top Forty-Fives, December 23, 1978
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 