(Above: You may not know this man, but you know his work.) We might chalk this up as our first major musical loss of 2018: Rick Hall, who engineered the Muscle Shoals sound and, in the process, created dozens of classic R&B records, passed away today at the age of 85. The list of names … Continue reading Rest in peace, Rick Hall: Arthur Alexander, “You Better Move On” (1961)
radio
Christmas on the air: The songs I hated – and loved – to play
In the last post, I talked about working in both retail and in radio. In both careers I got to deal with people, often at their worst. I also worked on or around Christmas in both jobs, and it is for that reason that I think I never truly appreciated the holiday like I did … Continue reading Christmas on the air: The songs I hated – and loved – to play
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the mall: Atlantic Soul Classics (1985)
(Above: The mall used to get a bit trashed on the day after Christmas.) In my career, I have worked in three main areas: Retail (1985-1988). My first job was selling cigarettes to minors at a gas station in Tinley Park, IL. From there I moved to working at the mall. Most of the time … Continue reading ‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the mall: Atlantic Soul Classics (1985)
Rest in peace, Dick Orkin: The Adventures of Chickenman (1967)
(Above: An LP I do not own, have been looking for for some time, and will have a harder time getting now.) Late Christmas night we got word from Lisa Orkin that her father, Dick Orkin, passed away at the age of 84. The name might not ring a bell for you unless you are … Continue reading Rest in peace, Dick Orkin: The Adventures of Chickenman (1967)
Radio and Records Top 89 of ’89: AOR (December 15, 1989)
(Above: Before the Internet, it's how we looked for work.) Once upon a time, even DJs read the paper, and that paper was Radio & Records. R&R, as we called it, was a paper that served as the journal for both the radio and the music industries. It was where you read about program directors … Continue reading Radio and Records Top 89 of ’89: AOR (December 15, 1989)
Happy 75th, Harry Chapin: “W*O*L*D” (1973)
(Above: There's a lot going on on this album cover.) Harry Chapin would have been 75 today. The singer-songwriter is probably best known to classic rock audiences (and classic rock DJs in need of bathroom breaks) for his epic "Taxi," which tells of a cabdriver's chance meeting with an ex-lover one evening. To pop audiences, … Continue reading Happy 75th, Harry Chapin: “W*O*L*D” (1973)
Fifty years ago this week in Grand Rapids: The WERX 15+30 Survey (December 6, 1967)
(Above: A bit of this week's chart, typos and all.) The bulk of the research done for my dissertation had to do with looking at original copies of pop surveys from the 1960s. You see these for sale on eBay and at record shows quite often for big stations like WLS and WCFL. The ones … Continue reading Fifty years ago this week in Grand Rapids: The WERX 15+30 Survey (December 6, 1967)
Rest in peace, David Cassidy: The Partridge Family, “Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted” (1971)
(Above: The 45 picture sleeve, which - depending on your preference - you saved either for David Cassidy or Susan Dey.) The news of the passing of David Cassidy this week at the age of 67 wasn't entirely a surprise. Earlier this year, he had shared that he was suffering from dementia, and earlier this … Continue reading Rest in peace, David Cassidy: The Partridge Family, “Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted” (1971)
Rest in peace, Mel Tillis: Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” (1969)
(Above: Mel Tillis and Terry Bradshaw hiding the car in the pool in The Cannonball Run.) Word is also circulating today that country singer Mel Tillis passed away on Sunday, November 19, after a long illness at the age of 85. Tillis' recording history is astonishing. In all he placed 26 albums in the Top … Continue reading Rest in peace, Mel Tillis: Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” (1969)
Rest in peace, Malcolm Young: AC/DC, “Rocker” (1976)
(Above: Hey, I think I know those guys.) Word spread over the weekend that Malcolm Young, one of the co-founders of Australian rock mainstay AC/DC, lost his battle with dementia at the age of only 64. It was just a few weeks ago that I wrote about the passing of Malcolm's older brother George Young … Continue reading Rest in peace, Malcolm Young: AC/DC, “Rocker” (1976)
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 