Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ~ MAY 1975

Old Days & Golden Days Rockin’ May 1975!   

As we move through May, late Spring, and on into Summer, moods often turn to nostalgic reminiscing. And that’s what we do here, all year! We’re bringing the Old Days back in short, reflective bursts of memories. Although up on May 1^st, this article may be a little devoid of pretty images and a couple of informative links. But it’s mostly intact and all will be good in a few days. Enjoy … 50 Years Ago this Month … 

 º MAY 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪  

Rockin’ back aways, we bring you music bulletins, news reports and a smattering of hearsay from back in the day. This month, our “resident DJ emeritus,” Bill Gardner, lets us in on the attitude of the day about encroaching syndicated shows, and our Song of Note reminds us of the good “Old Days.” It was a balmy Spring day …

May 1^st: Always the showmen, the Rolling Stones heralded their Tour of the Americas on New York City’s famed Fifth Avenue, from the bed of a truck. Oh, and it also coincided with new band guitarist’s debut, Ronnie Wood, launching with the Stones into their 1971 hit, “Brown Sugar.” On tour, Wood was a hit with the band and became an official member on April 23, 1976.   

May 17^th: It didn’t take long for the Rolling Stones to be back in the news. Reports, however, run from a barely chronicled newsline of Mick Jagger “punching” the window of Gosman’s restaurant in Montauk, Long Island, to a sympathetic story of him stumbling (why?) into the window and using his hand and arm to break his fall. Of course, the window broke too; but all was good with twenty stitches and no debilitating damage, to see him back on-stage to continue the tour.

May 26^th: Did John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” at #3 on KOLA’s chart, lead the way for the next Glen Campbell hit, “Rhinestone Cowboy," officially released on this day? Campbell’s storied and campy crossover hopped onto the chart early at #35 in the “bubbling under” list, going on to become one of his signature hits. In 1974 he recognized potential in the poorly received Larry Weiss tune and made it his own. By September “Rhinestone Cowboy” found itself atop both Pop and Country Hot 100 charts; reportedly a feat which hadn’t been made since November 1961, by Jimmy Dean and “Big Bad John.”
       Click the Denver song link above to not only enjoy its vintage performance, but Denver’s intro with old pics of Glen Cambell, Roger Miller and Johnny Cash. What fun!

May 27^th: Although Paul McCartney & Wings released their now-iconic tune, “Listen to What the Man Said” on May 16^th, it wasn’t until this date that they let loose Venus and Mars, the album from which it flowed. By May 24^th, the single had already hit #30 on KOLA’s chart. ♪ … For all we know, our love will grow | That's what the man said … ♪     

♪ On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪  

Where were you enjoying the simple pleasures of life in May 1975? Kansas City (MO), Tallahassee, or SoCal’s Inland Empire? Here’s a sample of what and who you were listening to …

Being the most “Western” of those cities, it’s no wonder John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” held the #1 spot on KBEQ 104 collectors’ chart #62 of “Kansas City’s Favorites.” Or that actually, the top five positions on the supposedly Pop station Top 40 were a li’l bit Rock & Roll and a whole lotta Country: #2: “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” #3: “Wildfire,” #4: “Sister Golden Hair” (well, ya gotta have one real Pop song), and #5: “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.”
       Insisting they were Pop, KBEQ—like most “Q” stations in the ‘70s—was modeled after San Diego’s KCBQ Top 40. So to prove their Top 40 status … popular Pop group, the BeeGees were on their way to Kansas City for a concert in June. Were you there? Or were you listening to …

DJ Dave Laing at WTAL on your morning commute in Tallahassee, Florida? It wasn’t easy to find history on either of these stations, but WTAL was the most elusive. It wasn’t ‘til I located an old discussion thread that I stumbled on a post telling us, “It was THE Top 40 station in the early 1970s until around 1976 or so. It was owned by the Hoy family during its top 40 days.” And though DJ Dave spent some early time at WTAL, he retired in 2018 after an impressive thirty-eight years with Daytona Beach’s WNDB. He only gets a text mention on the survey, but a great pic of their old building “… at the River Quay” graces the cover and tells listeners to gather ‘round at their new location “… Penntower at 31^st and Broadway.” Did you? But if you were in California’s Inland Empire …

You likely grooved to San Bernardino’s Stereo 99 KOLA, “The Pop Sound on the Chart,” where John Denver’s “Country Boy” crossover had so far, climbed to #3, beat out by Linda Ronstadt’s #2 tune, “When Will I Be Loved,” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s bright “Shining Star” at #1. Also shining on our Featured Radio Survey for May 24, 1975, was the trendy “King Biscuit Flower Hour.” Question: were syndicated shows like this one and Wolfman Jack’s scintillating, recorded broadcasts, viewed by DJs as usurping their income by replacing them? Hardly, says our radio expert, Bill Gardner.
       “I used to enjoy when we would carry Drake-Chenault's History of Rock and Roll 18-hour special. There was no income lost in most cases, as usually only the part-timers were paid hourly. I think all of my fellow DJs thought, ‘Great!  We get an extra day off this weekend.’”
       Which begged my next question … should current radio broadcasters be concerned about AI taking over their jobs? Bill replied, “As for AI, if today's DJs aren't worried about AI they should be. I can't believe some of the bottom-feeder cost-cutter corporations haven't started using it yet. (Long pause.) Maybe they have.”   
       The King Biscuit Flower Hour aired on KOLA—and apparently mandated all airings—in a Sunday night time slot with predominantly album-oriented Rock. Were you listening?

♪ MAY ’75 Song of Note ♪
Spring daydreaming is marvelously conducive to reminiscing and smiling at fond memories. If I don’t stir up at least one for you with this month’s Song of Note, I’m not doing my job here—or you’re just now old enough to remember Chicago! Not the city, sillies, but its namesake "rock and roll band with horns," in which singer/songwriter and founding member, James Pankow, penned his youthful remembrances of “Old Days.”   
       The nostalgic tune moved up the KOLA chart from #12 to #8 in May 1975, and if I could today, I’d vote it up to #1. Ahhhhh, the memories ♪ … Fun days | Filled with simple pleasures | Drive-in movies | Comic books and blue jeans … ♪    
       As well-received as the song was, some band members (likely younger than the rest—especially as they continue the Chicago essence on stage today—eventually refused to sing “Old Days” on stage, deeming it too corny for their sophisticated style. Methinks they miss the point. Music is made to stir up emotions … “Old Days,” with references to The Howdy Doody Show and collecting baseball cards, does just that whether you remember them or not. Enjoy ♪ … Memories | Seem like yesterday … ♪    

♪MAY 2025 Music Events & More ♪   

Drum roll please … for Drum Month … and … BFYP celebrating the incomparable DJ Joey Reynolds’ nomination for class of 2025 Museum of Broadcast Communications Hall of Fame!

As the story in RAMP reported, “The top six vote recipients will gain induction as part of the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame Induction class. The two additional inductees that will make up the eight-person induction class will be selected by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.” June 30^th is when we learn who made the cut and the HOF induction hoopla is set to take over the Swissotel Hotel in Chicago on October 30th. Joey took a nasty fall just over a year ago. Am hoping soon, for an update on his recovery. Help him get better … Vote for Joey! Vote for Joey!
       Oh yes, as for International Drum Month, it is again, an abandoned special day. But hey, you don’t need to be a drummer to honor the ancient and modern history of drums. Let’s face it, many of us “drum” throughout our busy days. Do you “drum” your fingers on a tabletop or any solid surface while waiting for something to happen? Or perhaps, rather than writing out an assignment in school, you grabbed a couple of pencils and imitated a drum solo by 1970s great, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame. You know as well as I do that “air drums” are just as much a thing as “air guitar”!

May 26^th: Not only is today a solemn commitment to our fallen soldiers (last Monday in May every year), but it’s also a day dedicated to helping each other look forward to emerge through strife with music in our souls. With that in mind, let’s dance! It’s World Lindy Hop Day!
       Classified as a Swing dance, The Lindy Hop could be considered early Rock & Roll dancing and is dear to my heart, since I share a name in sound, if not in spelling. My dance-instructor mother thought about spelling my name “Lindy” but desiring an even more distinctive moniker, settled on LinDee. Thanks mom … ? The energetic swing dance sashayed into popularity early in 1940s, just in time to boost the country’s spirit as it emerged from the Great Depression. We could use its bouncy enthusiasm right about now … take a look … is it for you?    

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
May 24, 1975 ~ KOLA/San Bernardino, California, entertained the state’s Inland Empire music fans with all the hits and gave them a fun “Pop Sound on the Chart” Stereo 99 survey to boot! With ‘70s pop style, KOLA listed the Top 30 most popular tunes, ten scorching “Bubbling Under”  songs and the Top 10 albums in the area. To their credit, KOLA still broadcasts a classic hits radio format. (Now, sadly, consisting tentatively of 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s hits; however, even those are aging out, as “classic” becomes tunes from the early 2000s.) Were your faves on the list … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio? It depends. Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Celebrate MAY 1975 and … Rock On!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
Blast from Your Past Gifts 
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk 

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LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            01/01/25: The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ~ APRIL 1975

APRIL ’75 Brought Freedom & Spring Alive!   

I have often mentioned how similar the 2020s are to the Rock and roil of the 1970s. This month, we find personal freedoms, political upheaval, irreverence and patriotism in both decades, all wrapped up in Peace and Love while Spring showers bring May flowers. A country and the ages bathed in contradictions.

But we’re talkin’ ‘bout Rock & Roll, after all—music that soothes the troubled soul—today, as it did yesterday. The only thing the Psychedelic Seventies decade really has over the current decade, is a catchy title! So let’s Rock On in 1975, looking back, from the Twisted Twenty-Twenties! Alright … I’ll keep workin’ on it. In the meantime, enjoy life … 50 Years Ago this Month …   

º APRIL 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪ 

April 3^rd or 4^th: Details are a little fuzzy 50 Years later. Now, be honest, as you’re reading this, you’re thinking you’ve either done it, or wished ya had at some point in a relationship … Steve Miller, yes THE Steve Miller, was apparently not happy in his relationship with Benita DiOrio. At least, it appeared that way to the cops who arrested him for setting her clothes and other items on fire—oh, and resisting arrest. No worries. The contentious Miller was released the next day when DiOrio dropped charges against him. Maybe he was bored ‘cause he hadn’t had a big hit since ‘73’s The Joker? The travesty of fame is everyone thinks your business is their business too. It made the news and here we are, fifty years later, still talking about it. Shame on us. 

April 28^th: Were you watching The Smothers Brothers Show on NBC this night when Ringo Starr and the comedy duo claimed they didn’t do drugs? Their fun, tongue-in-cheek (or fingers crossed) performance of Ringo’s “No No Song” delighted fans of his recent February hit. Whether they believed its premise or not. 😊  

♪ On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪  
Where were you dodging APRIL showers in 1975? Boise, Houston, Chicago? Here’s a sample of what and who you were listening to …    

If you found KFXD in Boise, Idaho, your go-to station 50 Years Ago, it’s a good bet you listened to the offbeat antics of DJ Drew Harold who wasn’t “…just another pretty foot.” It wasn’t only their DJs who were different … their survey style was also unconventional, with the “Boise Valley Music Survey” Issue No. 576 for April 30, 1975, listing your fave tunes as Hot / Moving / Warm and Night … and not in sequential order.
       Skewing the list, for instance, in the Hot category, the first five top tunes were: #1) “Wildfire” (Michael Murphy); #3) “Autobahn” (Kraftwerk); #4) “The Bertha Butt Boogie” (The Jimmy Castor Bunch); and #8) “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” (John Denver). See if you can figure it out at ARSA, my fave vintage surveys site. 

Then we mosey on down the road and flip the radio dial to Houston’s KILT for the same date and find DJ “Catfish,” the big guy at Big 610. Their chart sports a readable Top 40 with lyrics to their #10 standout tune, “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind and Fire. About the most funky, upbeat song I’ve heard in a long time … well in 50 Years!
       With some sketchy research, I believe I discovered The Catfish’s off-air name was Jim Prewitt; please feel free to correct me, if wrong. I did learn, however, that KILT was only his second radio gig in the beginning of a long career.  

And if you were in the Windy City, you must have heard the crusty but affable DJ Larry Lujack (1940-2013) on air at WCFL/Chicago. The venerable jock was a popular force to be reckoned with, and still a fond memory today. Profoundly present in our teen lives, Rock radio stations and their best DJs (like “Uncle Lar”) were often involved in our high school activities. Life was more innocent and enjoyable then, as we chatted with our radio idols at a school dance or special event.
       The Eagles* were riding the popularity wave with “Best of My Love” topping charts back in February. WCFL took advantage of their success, booking a school spirit contest to win a concert with them, emceed by Lujack. Dan Fogelberg (1951-2007) toured with Eagles in ’74, which likely got him on the school concert bandwagon too, as he navigated his solo musical footing. What a fun event that must have been for one lucky teen! 
       *A version of the Eagles with Don Henley in the forefront is still flying high in a Las Vegas Valley show this month, with added September dates because … well … their music is still a part of our souls, don’t ya think? More WCFL action in the Featured Radio Survey. Let’s keep Rockin’ On through April 1975 …

♪ April ’75 Song of Note ♪  

Let Freedom ring and April showers sing! Free your soul* and add a spring to your step as we celebrate Spring and our April Song of Note! *A little Rock & Roll meditation might help you remember or want to learn anew how a “non-political” song championed up to #3 by Chicago’s WCFL radio fans, became a patriotic anthem of the decades. Oh, and did I mention it was penned by two Brits?!  
       I kid you not … who doesn’t know “Philadelphia Freedom,” an iconic tune still in play today? If you’re an Eagles football fan, you’ll likely remember their ecstatic win over Kansas City Chiefs in February's Super Bowl LIX … let Philadelphia Freedom ring, as it hit the charts again in celebration.
       Simply by virtue of its title, the song’s iconic nature reaches back 50 Years Ago this Month as it energized radio listeners prepping for America’s 1976 bicentennial festivities. And now, 2026 will host our country’s Semiquincentennial—250^th— anniversary of American Independence.  
       Then, as now, politics were a hot button of patriotism and controversy, in life and in music. Master Brit musician, Elton John, asked lyricist, Bernie Taupin, to write a tribute tune for famed tennis champ, Billie Jean King. It’s reported, however, Taupin had no interest in that topic and penned the enigmatic song we’re still singing. One must wonder, though, how did it get from tennis to patriotism? According to Taupin, it didn’t … he insists it has nothing to do with tennis, King, or even patriotism—huh—ya coulda fooled me. For a non-patriotic song, it sure inspires freedom-loving loyaty!  
♪ … 'Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom | From the day that I was born, I've waved the flag … ♪ 

♪ April ’75 ~ Quirky Band Name Award ♪  
Every now and then, another genre makes a statement in Rock & Roll. Such was the case in April 1975 when Country artists, Pure Prairie League made a crossover hit out of “Amie.” After sitting in their 1972 album line-up, it was finally released as a single, and just getting started up the chart with WCFL listeners, at #35.
       Their ultimate success wasn’t just a fluke. Their original group began in 1970 with Craig Fuller, Tom McGrail, and John David Call. Pure Prairie League’s name was McGrail’s idea, emulating a temperance union in 1939’s Western movie, Dodge City with Errol Flynn. Though the band’s members have come and gone over the years, with guitar icons joining in, like Vince Gill, Gary Burr and Curtis Wright, they’re still around and proudly celebrating their 50^th anniversary. ♪ … I can never see what’s right | or what is wrong … ♪  

♪ April ’75 ~ Quirky Song Title ♪   
A couple of tunes on this month’s music chart from 50 Years Ago, caught my eye for this category. I thought you’d be learning more about “Remember What I Told You to Forget” by Tavares, just hitting the survey at WCFL’s #40. It reminds me of a question I might ask a close friend … however, it didn’t have a verifiable back-story. But that’s okay. I found the month’s perfect match … 

       Back to our running theme of patriotism, a surprising title was enjoying the top twenty for the month, pleading with the spirit of long-passed US President, Harry S. Truman to return in our hour of need. Yup, “Harry Truman” by Chicago, was a hit with 1975’s radio listeners as they grappled with the aftermath of Richard Nixon’s resignation. We could use his down-to-earth wisdom and trustful demeanor today, too. So tell me, do these lyrics speak to you, too?
       ♪ … America's wondering, "How we got here?" | Harry, all we get is lies | We're getting safer cars | Rocket ships to Mars | From men who'd sell us out | To get themselves a piece of power … ♪ Click the link to hear the campy tune …  

♪ April 2025 Music Events & More ♪    
It’s obvious we don’t want to let go of our vibrant retro Rock, as we keep finding ways today, to keep it movin’ on down the road …  

Crank up the volume on your amps, it’s International Guitar Month! Although the sponsoring site hasn’t updated its Guitar Month page since 2016, they’re johnny-on-the-spot with 2025 articles to sell you the latest equipment. Ok. Their prerogative.
       However, this site (albeit an old post) not only has histories and other fun info, but, “Watch 100 Guitar Riffs (A Brief History of Rock N’ Roll). Even if you don’t play guitar yourself, you’re sure to get a kick out of watching this clip. In just one take, Alex Chadwick, from The Chicago Music Exchange, chronologically plays 100 famous guitar riffs giving you a 12-minute history of rock n’ roll.” Now that’s cool …

Friday ~ April 11^th: What do you listen to your music on today? Your phone? Your computer? Some other fancy gizmo from the 21^st century? Welllll, today is 8-track Tape Day! I heard that … “Huh?! What’s that?” Oh, you are so spoiled. An 8-track tape player was a clunky portable radio-type music player, sometimes combined with our radios that then became our traveling music-maker. The “tapes” were about as clunky as the player. Nevermind, ask your grandparents while I go dig my tapes and player out of storage … Rock On!  

Friday ~ April 11^th: Sooooo, what did we play on our ol’ players? Get your party hat on, today we’re celebrating International "Louie Louie" Day, on whatever we can find to play the iconic 1963 party tune! There hasn’t been an official sponsoring link for several years, but no worries—our link above tells the story of BFYP DJ, Ken Chase of KISN/Portland fame, producer of the most popular version by The Kingsmen. Enjoy … reminisce … and party on!

April 20^th: Now, you know, among some folks of our generation (well, my generation), 4:20 p.m./April 20 is a holiday, right? Then you won’t be surprised to learn that the ever-high Cheech & Chong duo are releasing their authorized documentary today! First in a limited release, then we can all watch and reminisce in its nationwide release, April 25^th. The poster urges, “Bring a bud.” It should be a hoot! As AMC Theatres says, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie is “The result is an unlikely story of friendship and fame, turmoil and defiance, rebellion and ultimately - redemption.” Ummm, what they can remember of it … 

April 20^th-26^th: Just because there’s no sponsoring link, doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate National Karaoke Week! No sponsor link, and more frustrating, no related current events. However, I did find us an older link that offers great tips for having karaoke fun. Give it a look-see for “Kamikaze Karaoke” and “Dress-Up Karaoke.” And btw, “Louie Louie” sounds great whether you’re warbling into your home karaoke machine or regaling the local pub with your party tunes prowess … have fun!

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
April 19, 1975 ~ WCFL/Chicago, Illinois … “Lady Marmalade” was still hanging out on top of their chart, but coming up fast was Ringo’s “No No Song” and B.J. Thomas’s “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.” But WCFL’s big attraction was DJ delinquent, Larry Lujack and their “… win a concert” contest! 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Celebrate APRIL 1975 and … Rock On!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
Blast from Your Past Gifts 
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on “X”: @BlastFromPastBk 

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LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            01/01/25: The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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