(Above: Hitting the prehistoric big time.) Back in the day when we had a broadcasting major at GVSU, we had a course called "Life on Television." (Remind me to bring one or both of those things back one of these days.) In the end days of the course, I evolved it into a television history … Continue reading Bedrock and roll: The Beau Brummels, “Laugh Laugh” (1965)
1960s
Rest in peace, Roy Clark: “Yesterday, When I Was Young” (1969)
Country music legend Roy Clark has passed away at the age of 85. I have to admit - Hee Haw was not something that I watched. Growing up as a kid in the Chicago area, I didn't have much exposure to Country music. Sure, there were radio stations playing it, like WMAQ (during the "WMAQ's … Continue reading Rest in peace, Roy Clark: “Yesterday, When I Was Young” (1969)
Fifty years ago today: WGRD’s Hot 30 In the Furniture City, November 14, 1968
(Above: The late Wayne Thomas - GR's Ron Britain, right down to singing the weather forecast.) Fifty years ago the country was preparing for a change in government - Richard Nixon had just been elected the 37th President of the United States. In Southern Illinois a couple that was married five months ago was preparing … Continue reading Fifty years ago today: WGRD’s Hot 30 In the Furniture City, November 14, 1968
Pop perfection: The Left Banke, “Walk Away Renee” (1966)
(Above: An Album I have yet to find, but need.) Today I debut a tag for articles that I've been kicking around for a while now - "Pop Perfection." I think of it often when I'm driving, and I hear a song, and I think "Man, that's absolutely perfect, and I don't have to think … Continue reading Pop perfection: The Left Banke, “Walk Away Renee” (1966)
Rest in peace, Don Sandburg: The Banana Splits, “Tra-La-La Song” (1969)
(Above: The original Bozo's Circus cast: Ringmaster Ned Locke, bandleader Bob Trendler, Bozo [Bob Bell], Oliver O. Oliver [Ray Rayner], Sandy [Don Sandburg].) Don Sandburg, the last surviving original cast member of the Chicago edition of Bozo's Circus, passed away over the weekend in Oregon as a result of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was … Continue reading Rest in peace, Don Sandburg: The Banana Splits, “Tra-La-La Song” (1969)
Rest in peace, Geoff Emerick: The Beatles, “A Day In the Life” (1967)
(Above: Geoff Emerick with a well-known collaborator.) Geoff Emerick was a production genius. Anyone who spends any time in radio working as a production director has dreams of spinning the dials on a fantastic production. Emerick, who passed away yesterday at the age of 72, was at the controls for some of the most legendary … Continue reading Rest in peace, Geoff Emerick: The Beatles, “A Day In the Life” (1967)
Rest in peace, Marty Balin: Jefferson Starship, “Miracles” (1975)
(Above: Balin with the rest of the Airplane on the cover of Surrealistic Pillow.) Marty Balin, one of the founding members of the Jefferson Airplane, passed away yesterday at the age of 76. No cause of death has been given. Balin, along with Paul Kantner, Jack Casady, and - of course - Grace Slick, formed … Continue reading Rest in peace, Marty Balin: Jefferson Starship, “Miracles” (1975)
Greatest misses: Barbara Acklin, “Am I The Same Girl?” (1969)
(Above: Hidden in this album is a great song.) Sometimes, what may be the best version of a song is the one that finishes in third place. 1n 1968 session musicians at Brunswick Records went into the studio and laid down a jam. That track was released by Brunswick and first hit the Billboard Hot … Continue reading Greatest misses: Barbara Acklin, “Am I The Same Girl?” (1969)
Multiple-hit wonders: How a music network got a countdown wrong
(Above: Hits, as in "more than one.") Today is some sort of holiday called National One-Hit Wonder Day. I don't remember celebrating this as a kid, so I suspect that it came out of social media as an opportunity for people to share forgotten songs that are fun to dig out every once in a … Continue reading Multiple-hit wonders: How a music network got a countdown wrong
Ten Albums: The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds (1966)
We're getting closer to the top. #2. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966) I guess I was always a Beach Boys fan. When I got my first collection of 45s at the age of 4, one of the records in the pile was "Wouldn't It Be Nice." As a small child I played it … Continue reading Ten Albums: The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds (1966)
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