FM revelations

[Kirk]

Until the mid 70's AM ruled the airwaves. There are still some songs that, for some reason or another, have eluded my ears on FM. One of those songs was "Schools Out" by Alice Cooper. I heard that one for the first time on FM the other day, and from the first bars of the intro I realized there was so much more in the production that I had missed back in the early 70's. In fact, that intro in FM was every bit as powerful as GATW. Couldn't believe the difference from the AM days.

So, any songs out there that slipped by your ears over the years? Any FM revelations you'd like to share?

[Guest Fresh]

Except for the oldies stations, Elvis Presley was pretty much trapped in AM radio,right up until he died in August,1977.As an avid radio listener(both AM and FM),I can tell you that in the NYC market,only WCBS-FM carried his music.Before they went all-talk,the King could be heard on WABC 770AM.I remember in 1972 when "Burning Love" was released,there was no FM station playing it in NY.Yet it was a giant hit,thanks only to AM radio.

[Kirk]

Another one: "Frankenstein"- Edgar Winter Group. It was released during the AM monopoly on the airwaves. Years later, hearing it on FM- unbelievable difference.

Then again, our beloved Raspberries first three albums didn't benefit that much from FM. The goods just weren't there in the production.

[Raspbernie]

My first FM revelation was hearing George Carlin. You never heard him on AM, or on TV for that matter, like you heard him on FM.

[Early Wynn]

My first FM station was WABB in Mobile, Alabama. Surprising they were quite good for the early and mid-seventies. They played the heck out of Born to Run, enough to get Bruce to come to Mobile for 2 sold out shows in early 1976. The also played alot of Elvis Costello's first two albums. But my earliest memory from WABB was "Space Station #5" by Montrose. That opening riff still sounds good today. If I remember correctly, WABB went top forty in the late 70's.

[hollies65]

'Maggot Brain'

[blackhawkpat]

I remember there was an FM station in Chicago that every Sunday afternoon played "Revolver" and "Rubber Soul" in it's entirety and I used to think I was so cool for tuning in when I was about ten years old! They used to call it "underground radio" and would always say "don't tell you friends what you are getting away with". I would go in my basement, turn on the blacklight, and just groove. Ooh! I sure was a hipster, wasn't I?

[missm]

Yes, Pat you were quite the hipster!! I loved FM radio!! The best station here in San Diego county was KGB!!! The best DJ was Larry Himmel (who later went on to do human interest stories on the local news and who reported when he lost his home during the 2007 fires).

I do enjoy satellite radio. I loved FM for the fact there were no commercials. It is kind of like the way cable televsion started...no commercials and now it is chocked full!! Just like regular tv and AM radio!!

[Kirk]

If not for FM, I doubt any of us would have been treated to the Dr Demento show, either!

[angelina]

I remember Dennis Elsas (WNEW-FM) in NYC. I distinctly remember being 15 years old, in my room and some guy named Eric Carmen was chatting on the clock-radio about his debut solo album in '75. At that time, I was a quasi-fan of the Raspberries. I knew "GATW", "IWBWY" & "Let's Pretend"...but that was it. I seem to remember they covered each track of the solo album. They even touched upon "No Hard Feelings" and EC's scream at the end reminiscent of "Go All The Way". It was then I made the connection and became a crazy-assed Raspeberries fan..buying each of their albums, albeit after the fact. Of course I subsequently became an EC fan thereafter.

Can you believe it was a clock radio that became the conduit to my memory of intial FM listening-pleasure?