hosskratz Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 When I was a kid, I remember listening to WABC in New York, and living in New Jersey, I remember that you could hear the Beatles, followed by the Four Tops, followed by the Lovin Spoonful to be followed by any number of different artists at any given time. You could hear the Mersey beat, r and b, doo wop, anything, it was what was hot and current, but more importantly, you liked what you heard and what you liked was what was played. In retrospect, it was "magic", a chance to listen and dream and escape and emulate the big stars. Eric, to me this was the "magic" that fueled Raspberries, and why, in Cleveland, Ohio, the harder edge that was the norm could be united with the pop simplicity that made the British Invasion so refreshing. I have read when you mention artists that you were influenced by and admired and always was impressed by how you would mention artists such as the Searchers and Lesley Gore. Given todays music, and how to me, a lot of it is formulamatic, I again have to say thank you for the reunion tour and for the fact that you, Wally, Dave, Jim, Scott and Mike could make that great music as Raspberries, and that you could stay true to yourself when you went solo. Thirty plus years since first hitting the scene, the music has stood the test of time and still is a testament of what rock and roll is all about. I always wish that radio could go back to those magical days of the mid sixties but I guess that would be asking too much. These days, radio stations are too narrow in their context, not enough styles are played on the same station. What do you think of Radio today Eric? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sterling Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Hosskratz,I grew up in Illinois and listened to WLS Chicago Silver Dollar Survey and WCFL, etc. Those stations were just unbelievable. You know we as teens back then just thought that it was that way always...you know good quality music always being played. Sadly, when our kids became teenagers we found out it wasn't quite the same. I really do not care for radio today unless it is an oldies station. I mean get real...Britney Spears?? I don't think so. We were very fortunate to have come of age in the sixties and the music back then was the best in the rock era...(actually early seventies also). Just my Humble Opinion.Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 We have a radio station here in my area..it plays nothing but the music of the 60's and 70's and early 80's....WOLZ...95.3This is what I listen to...I can't stand much of todays music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Hoss - I too grew up in NJ and we were always driving somewhere so the radio was tuned in to WABC and WNBC with my brother at the radio dial controls lol. Unfortunately all we have are those great memories to fall back on - radio today is nothing but a bunch of dj's yapping on about some stupid subject - or even worse - they have little jingle songs they sing out of key now on the Oldies station down here - something about Pull Up Your Pants .... I want to scream every time I hear it at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boopell Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Our local AM station plays the oldies, too. 50's-80's and they love the Beatles. Everyone listens to "Hometown Radio WCRK" for the news, contests, obituaries, church, etc. They've been here since 1947 and the morning announcer as been on the air since before I was born (1961). They even had the same "Santa" reading letters on the air every year for over 50 years. And, always, on Christmas Eve, "Santa" would give a little talk about the true meaning of Christmas. I could never listen without tear or two. This is the radio station that introduced me to Raspberries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I, like Phil, grew up with the same stations he mentioned. There's nothing like it anymore. They were incredible and those were the stations that mattered. I shudder to think what my kids must listen to the majority of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 KOOL 94 used to play a more varied playlist 10 or 12 years ago. There is another station out there...can't remember the #S... Played some obscure and varied oldies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HT from Mo Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 MJ said: - radio today is nothing but a bunch of dj's yapping on about some stupid subject - or even worse - they have little jingle songs they sing out of key now on the Oldies station down here - something about Pull Up Your Pants .... I want to scream every time I hear it at work. I couldn't agree more MJ. I almost can't stand to listen to the radio anymore. I just put in my cd(hmmm... who else would it be??) and cruise down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 "What I miss about radio"? Good music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMMY TUNES Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 MJ said: I too grew up in NJ and we were always driving somewhere so the radio was tuned in to WABC and WNBC with my brother at the radio dial controls lol. Unfortunately all we have are those great memories to fall back on - radio today is nothing but a bunch of dj's yapping on about some stupid subject - or even worse - they have little jingle songs they sing out of key now on the Oldies station down here - something about Pull Up Your Pants .... I want to scream every time I hear it at work. I too grew up in NJ (still there, not sure if I grew up however)I have similar memories as MJ listening to WABC and WNBC as a child. I 2aant to add that my fondest radio memories were probably as a high schooler and college goer when I "moved up" and across the dial to WNEW-FM, Great memories of listening to and calling in to DJ Dennis Elsas in particular. Raspberry fans should recognize that name. It was great to see Dennis introduce the 'berries at their NYC reunion show at BB Kings a few years back. NOTE TO MJ - "Pull up your pants!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 A New Jerseyan also, I grew up with the radio too. If my sister didn't have it on in the house, we had it on in the car, driving everywhere, especially to the shore in the summer. And of course, we had the radio on the beach. I loved Radio 77 WABC and also WNEW. When I got older and discovered Raspberries, I lived for Dennis Elsas because he loved them too. In high school I used to fall asleep with the radio under my pillow, listening to Jean Shepard's talk show and listening to music from "far away" stations like WGN and WLS, which I thought was pretty exciting. What a great post, hosskratz! It calls up the greatest memories in the world of a magic time. Yep, now I'm getting very nostalgic... --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Lesley Gore had a perfect pop voice. Sometimes people mistake oversinging or huge range for super talent. Using your voice as the main instrument for a song...without overpowering everything else is a real talent. I love Lesley Gore's singing...and am proud to be on a board where so many understand her greatness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Barbara --- I'm one of the ones in Lesley Gore's camp but I do think that, just like any artist, some appeal to your taste and some just don't. Personally, I believe it's a central nervous thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hosskratz Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 Ditto Hollies, and in response to Sterling, I have lived in Illinois for the past 30 years and have heard about the glory days of the battles between WLS and Super CFL. When you listen to the music of the mid sixties, you can see the foundation of which power pop and rock music drew their inspiration from. Eric had a vision and shared same with Wally, Dave and Jim and the collaboration turned into the music we loved. This is the true "heart" of rock and roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I grew up in Columbus, and used to listen to WCFL at night..we got it all the way from Chicago.But my favorite was a sports talk show out of Cleveland, the guy's name was Pete Franklin if I recall. He was irreverent for the times, but he was great, and my buddy on the radio as I fell asleep at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 PETE FRANKLIN! THE SWAMI! MR KNOW IT ALL [Mike Trivisano, who is now the #1 rated talker in town]. I loved Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I first heard Raspberries on WLS which we could get in Southern Wisconsin. On my little AM radio. I remember Larry Lujack and Bob Siratt too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkpat Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 WCFL was always my favorite station growing up, though I also listened to the rival WLS. Larry Lujack still broadcasts in Illinois on an obscure AM oldies station, but Bob Sirott is now the lead television anchor on the afternoon news for WMAQ-Channel 5. (Sirott was also a teacher of mine in college at Columbia) I always enjoyed Big Ron O'Brien in the evenings on CFL, but sadly heard that he passed away this year of pneumonia, while still a broadcaster in New York.For those Chicagoans interested, but get your credit cards ready as it costs fifteen dollars a year to be a member, there is a unique website that is www.reelradio.com and you can listen to over 2100 hours of broadcasts from WCFL from the early seventies in one hour increments recorded in high quality by a fan of the station. I have never tried it, but heard it's quite good. I believe they also have some New York and Michigan jocks from the 70's, too, on there.I used to collect the little surveys they handed out in record stores listing the Top 40 every week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 "Oh my gosh, is he gonna be alright, Uncle Lar?" "Yes, Little Tommy, he's gonna be just fine." ROFLOL That stuff was so much fun! Later in the mid 70s I forgot what station carried it but did any of you listen to Chicken Man? (Chic-ken Maaaaan! He's everywhere, he's everywhere!) John used to drive me to high school in the morning and we'd sit listening to that. Geez, I suddenly feel 150 yrs old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I got most of my radio education from listening to WLS...John (Records) Landecker played the soundtrack of my weekend nights...The music was great and spanned more than a decade...You could hear current songs (from the late 70's)...and oldies mixed in from as early as the mid 60's!...And of course there was his famous "Boogie Check"...A bunch of WLS alums got together recently for a special all day tribute...Here is a YouTube video with some of the highlights... Big 89 Rewind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Ecstasy said: "Oh my gosh, is he gonna be alright, Uncle Lar?" "Yes, Little Tommy, he's gonna be just fine." ROFLOL That stuff was so much fun! Later in the mid 70s I forgot what station carried it but did any of you listen to Chicken Man? (Chic-ken Maaaaan! He's everywhere, he's everywhere!) John used to drive me to high school in the morning and we'd sit listening to that. Geez, I suddenly feel 150 yrs old! Chickenman was a product of the creative and twisted mind of Dick Orkin when he was at WCFL Chicago...It was later syndicated all over the country...I first heard Chickenman on KXOK St. Louis. Dick Orkin is the voice and writer and all around creative genius behind some of the best commercials ever made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'd forgot about Chickenman.. I loved Chickenman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 what i miss about radio are the stations that did'nt stick to the "same rotation" list per say..like wmms cleveland back in the day!! you could listen for hours and not hear the same song twice..that's what i miss,and yes,the music was MUCH better then..lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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