During the Golden Age of Top-40 falling in love with radio was easy. Those of us who practiced the art will tell you that it is an “addiction”.
There was the instant ego gratification of Hit Line adoration, recognition in grocery store checkout lines and the ability to turn someone’s day around with a single song and a few kind words. On the flip side, we learned self sufficiency. It’s a world notable for job insecurity, volcanic tempers and owners who might flip formats and broom a staff without notice. The bottom line is that radio is a business. Our value as practitioners was directly connected to our ability to generate value for the company, no different than any commercial entity. But the romanticism of the work is something that stays with you, long after many have moved on to other professions. The buddhists say, “Attachment is the root of all suffering.” But oh, was it worth it!
Here’s a best-of from Fred Jacobs‘ blog sharing some short stories by notable broadcasters, including some members of our mailing list, tell how they first fell in love with radio.
Quick Takes:
The unsurprising Valentine Fact of the Day: A recently released Stanford study says more and more of us are meeting our lovers online.
Newsweek’s list of 40 romantic flicks for Valentine’s Day. How many have you seen?
Quick Takes:
1970, The Who appeared at Leeds University, England. The show was recorded for the bands forthcoming ‘Live At Leeds‘ album. Since its initial reception, Live at Leeds has been cited by several music critics as the best live rock recording of all time.
1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono started a week long run as co-hosts on ‘Mike Douglas‘ US TV show.
1992, The film ‘Wayne’s World‘, which featured appearances from Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper premiered in the US. The use of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the film propelled the song to No.2 on the US singles charts nearly 20 years after its first release.
Today in History:
1876: Alexander Graham Bell files application for patent on the telephone
1924: Thomas J. Watson renames the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) as International Business Machines (IBM).
1929: St Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago, 7 gangsters killed, allegedly on Al Capone‘s orders.
1931: The original ‘Dracula‘ film starring Bela Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released.
1932: The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show debuts on CBS radio, airing there until 1937, moving to NBC until 1949, and returning to CBS in 1949, before moving to television.
1939: Victor Fleming replaces George Cukor as director of film ‘Gone With the Wind’.
1962: US 1st lady Jacqueline Kennedy conducts White House tour on TV.
1967: ‘Respect‘ recorded by Aretha Franklin (Billboard Song of the Year 1967).
1968: Manfred Mann were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Bob Dylan song ‘The Mighty Quinn’ which was also a No.10 hit in the US. Dylan recorded the song in 1967 during the Basement Tapes sessions, but did not release a version for another three years.
1971: Richard Nixon installs secret taping system in the White House.
1971: Movie ‘Ben Hur‘ 1st shown on television.
1972: John Lennon and Yoko Ono started a week long run as co-hosts on ‘Mike Douglas‘ TV show.
1973: David Bowie collapsed on stage during a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
1977: US singer songwriter Janis Ian received 461 Valentine’s day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her song ‘At Seventeen’, she had never received any.
1980: Lou Reed married Sylvia Morales at a ceremony in his New York apartment.
1984: Elton John married recording engineer Renate Blauer in Sydney, Australia. Rod Stewart and Olivia Newton-John were among the guests. The couple stayed together for four years, although John later admitted he knew he was homosexual before the marriage.
1985: ‘Whitney Houston’ debut album by Whitney Houston is released (Grammy Award Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female 1986, Billboard Album of Year 1986).
1986: Frank Zappa appeared on an episode of the television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrayed a crime boss named ‘Mr. Frankie.’
1989: English keyboardist Vincent Crane (The Crazy world of Arthur Brown) dies.
1991: ‘The Silence of the Lambs‘ film based on the book by Thomas Harris, directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, is released (Best Picture 1992).
1992: The film Waynes World, which featured appearances from Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper premiered in the US. The use of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the film propelled the song to No.2 on the US singles charts nearly 20 years after its first release.
1999: American singer and songwriter Buddy Knox dies at 65.
2010: American singer-songwriter-musician Doug Fieger (The Knack-My Sharona) dies.
Today’s Birthdays:
Sean Connery & Lois Maxwell1894: Jack Benny [Benjamin Kubelski], (d. 1974).
1902: Thelma Ritter, (Miracle on 34th Street), (d. 1969).
1913: Mel Allen, American sportscaster (voice of NY Yankees), (d. 1996).
1913: Jimmy Hoffa, Teamsters leader who disappeared in 1975.
1916: Edward Platt, (Chief-Get Smart), (d. 1974).
1921: Hugh Downs, (20/20, Concentration), (d. 2020).
1922: Murray the K [Kaufman], (d. 1982).
1927: Lois Maxwell [Hooker], (Goldfinger, Dr. No, Miss Moneypenny) (d. 2007).
1929: Vic Morrow, (Combat, Roots, Twilight Zone the Movie), (d. 1982).
1934: Florence Henderson, (Carol in The Brady Bunch), (d. 2016).
1944: Carl Bernstein, (Watergate Reporter).
1945: Gregory Hines,(White Nights, Taps, Running Scared), (d. 2003).
1947: Tim Buckley, (d. 1975).
1948: Teller [Raymond Joseph Teller], (Penn & Teller).
1950: Roger Fisher, (Heart).
1957: Alan Hunter, one of the original MTV VJs.
1970: Simon Pegg [Buckingham], (Shaun of the Dead, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek).
1972: Rob Thomas, (Matchbox 20).
Much More Music:
1968, Manfred Mann were in the top 10 with their version of the Bob Dylan song ‘The Mighty Quinn’. Dylan recorded the song in 1967 during the Basement Tapes sessions, but did not release a version for another three years. (Video)
1977, Janis Ian receives 461 Valentine’s day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her song ‘At Seventeen’, she had never received any. (Video)
By Request – From our Valentine’s Day Hit Line on Facebook:
For Jeff Smith: “Longer”, written on a hammock in Hawaii by Dan Fogelberg. (Video)
For Steve Schram: “You’re The One“, the Vogues classic that he and Laurie always sing “at full volume”. (Video)
For Jana O’Brien: “Peaceful Easy Feeling“, written by Jack for the Eagles in 1972. (Video)
For Colleen Shepherd: “Love Is All Around“, the Wet, Wet, Wet rendition of the Trogg’s classic. (Video)
For Cori Lindell Denman: “Your Body is a Wonderland“, John Mayer (Video)
For John Kajander: “Heart” by Rockpile (Video)
For Rob Brines: “Love Is Alive“, Gary Wrights follow up to “Dreamweaver” (Video)
For Julie Ann Whelan: “We All Need Someone”, The Strumbellas (Video)
For Kevin Kearney: “You’re In My Heart“, Rod Stewart (Video) “If“, Bread (Video)
Today’s Quote Worth Re-Quoting: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~Lao Tzu
We leave you with a memorable winter love song from the 1978 Film Ice Castles. Ironically, when we were playing the hits back when the movie was popular with our teenage audience, this Melissa Manchester classic was never promoted by her record company. Arista President, Clive Davis, in a rare misstep, waited a year before releasing the tune as a single, the follow up to “Midnight Blue”. By then the film’s glow had dimmed and the record barely charted in the Hot 100. May you be surrounded by love and affirmation this Valentine’s Day. As the Beatles said, “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Thanks for listening!
Scott Westerman
Host and Producer – Rock and Roll Revisited
Author: Motor City Music – Keener 13 and the Soundtrack of Detroit
