(Above: a beautiful night for baseball.) July 18, 1970 It's a slow period in the headlines, with only a couple of stories to share. On July 16, the Elks Club voted near-unanimously to remain an all-white organization. The official rules for membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, as it is formally called … Continue reading New this week in ’70: July 18
WCFL
Grand Rapids charts: WLAV-AM, April 1, 1974
Heading back in time today to take a look at what was popular in Grand Rapids, MI on WLAV-AM from the weekly playlist dated April 1, 1974. It's a top 30 list, and we'll count it up to the top. 30. "I Love" - Tom T. Hall (#23 last week). Let's just jump right in, … Continue reading Grand Rapids charts: WLAV-AM, April 1, 1974
New this week in ’70: March 28
(Above: That one's not even close.) March 28, 1970 It's the day that actor Vince Vaughan is born in Minneapolis. That same day, two members of the Weathermen, a domestic political protest group, were killed when a pipe bomb they were preparing exploded prematurely. Two days later, another famous figure is born: Secretariat, probably the … Continue reading New this week in ’70: March 28
Rest in peace, Eric Weissberg: “Dueling Banjos” (1973)
Eric Weissberg, who had a huge hit in 1973 with the instrumental hit "Dueling Banjos," passed away Sunday at a senior care facility near Detroit after a long battle with dementia. He was 80. Weissberg was fascinated by the banjo after seeing Pete Seeger play it as a part of his folk act in the … Continue reading Rest in peace, Eric Weissberg: “Dueling Banjos” (1973)
New this week in ’70: March 21
(Above: We don't put folding chairs on the court enough anymore.) March 21, 1970 It's a big day in college sports. UCLA claims the NCAA men's basketball championship, defeating Jacksonville University 80-69. That's right - Jacksonville, home of the Dolphins, which has just over four thousand students today and in 1970 was the second-smallest school … Continue reading New this week in ’70: March 21
New this week in ’70: February 14
(Above: Sabbath at 50.) February 14, 1970 Heavy metal turns fifty this week. The LP considered by many to be the first metal record, the eponymous Black Sabbath, was released in Britain on February 13. It'll go on to be a big hit there and not see release until June 1 in the States, where … Continue reading New this week in ’70: February 14
New this week in 1970: January 17 and 24
(Above: Curt Flood of the St. Louis Cardinals) January 17-24, 1970 This post combines two weeks into one to play catch-up. Among the history to cover is the final event of the AFL on the 17th. The final AFL All-Star Game takes place in Houston, and the West beats the East 26-3. The newly … Continue reading New this week in 1970: January 17 and 24
New this week in ’69: December 27
December 27, 1969 It's the night after the last airing of The Joey Bishop Show. The show, created to steal audience from Johnny Carson, didn't do so. On the final episode Bishop did the monologue, thanked the audience, and left - leaving the sidekick, a guy named Regis Philbin, to fill the rest of the … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 27
Grand Rapids charts: The WZZM-FM Hot 40, October 22, 1971
(Above: It's a cool layout with a clumsy slogan.) I don't believe we've ever done an FM playlist on the blog, so let's fix that today. I just happen to have, in a pile of surveys I file under "research" in my office, the playlist from WZZM-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan from October 22, 1971. … Continue reading Grand Rapids charts: The WZZM-FM Hot 40, October 22, 1971
New this week in ’69: July 5
(Above: Brian Jones and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.) July 5, 1969 The Rolling Stones play a gig at London's Hyde Park before an estimated crowd of 250,000 people. The show takes place just days after the death of Brian Jones, who was found in his swimming pool at the age of 27. Jones … Continue reading New this week in ’69: July 5
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 