(Above: 1706 Brady Street used to be the launch pad for flamethrowin' beautiful music.) In the fall of 1989 I moved away from home to take my first full-time job in radio at KRVR in Davenport, Iowa. Earlier that year I had decided to spend more time at my radio job and less time in … Continue reading Light and easy: Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66, “One Note Samba/Spanish Flea” (1966)
radio
Support your local rock, Michigan edition: The Unrelated Segments, “Where You Gonna Go?” (1967)
One of the things I've most enjoyed about delving into music history and local charts is finding regional hits. If you stick to the Billboard Top 10 or even Top 20, you are missing out on a lot of great music. A bit of context is necessary. Once upon a time, kids, radio stations enjoyed … Continue reading Support your local rock, Michigan edition: The Unrelated Segments, “Where You Gonna Go?” (1967)
Coming of age: 4 Non Blondes, “What’s Up” (1992)
(Above: Gisborne, New Zealand, where I lived for about a year in the mid-90s.) It's weird to think that the song that starts with the line "25 years and my life is still/Tryin' to get up that great big hill of hope/For a destination" turns 25 years old next year. Released in 1992, 4 Non … Continue reading Coming of age: 4 Non Blondes, “What’s Up” (1992)
Great lost hit: David and David, “Welcome To the Boomtown” (1986)
In the summer of 1986 David Baerwald and David Ricketts paired up to record a series of stories set to music. At least that's how I describe the songs on Boomtown, an album that managed to get to number 39 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart despite little support on the singles chart. It's … Continue reading Great lost hit: David and David, “Welcome To the Boomtown” (1986)
One morning in college radio: October 4, 1988
I never wanted to be the morning guy. I'm naturally an introvert. What might have been appealing about radio to me was the fact that I could have some alone time. I was also happy with not being the center of attention all of the time. In grade school I was often singled out for … Continue reading One morning in college radio: October 4, 1988
Radio Memories: 97X… Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll (Part 2)
Above: Mixtape, Summer 1991. 25 years ago today - 9/20/1991 - I did my last radio show on 97X in the Quad Cities. The summer of 1991 was a magical time at that station. We were a solid #1 in every demo and every daypart. The Birch ratings for the spring book had the night … Continue reading Radio Memories: 97X… Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll (Part 2)
Radio memories: 97X…Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll, Part 1 (1991)
(Above: Top, Raymond Babbit giving the station ID. Bottom, commemorating the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley in 1991. L-R: PD Guy Perry, production director Ray Sherman, Len as Elvis, and News Director Katie Cole.) Twenty-five years ago this week I left my job at 97X in the Quad Cities. In a career that … Continue reading Radio memories: 97X…Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll, Part 1 (1991)
Crossing the line: Utter Confusion, “Beer Goggles” (1988)
(Above: The 12" single in question. Good luck finding it.) I had a long conversation with my college radio advisor yesterday. John Carey has been responsible for the students of WLRA at Lewis University for the last thirty years or so. He was a young advisor when I was a freshman back at the school … Continue reading Crossing the line: Utter Confusion, “Beer Goggles” (1988)
Rainy day music: Dee Clark, “Raindrops” (1961)
The image that I use for the blog is a Panasonic phonograph model SG-336. It is identical to the one that was probably the most important birthday present I ever received. When I turned 4, my parents decided that I could probably handle my own phonograph. This may have been partly motivated that I was … Continue reading Rainy day music: Dee Clark, “Raindrops” (1961)
A radio anniversary: R.E.M., “It’s the End of the World As We Know it” (1987)
(Above: This is not at all what the first day looked like, but when I think "college radio," it looks like this.) Each of us has certain dates that stand out in our lives that go past our own birthdays. Anniversaries, the death of a parent (I have two of those dates to remember), job … Continue reading A radio anniversary: R.E.M., “It’s the End of the World As We Know it” (1987)
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 