Oldies Rock Radio Brings You Home Again
Let me get you started on a musical feast from 50 Years Ago this Month …
NOVEMBER 1974 Radio News & Muse ♪
While most of us were prepping for family and feasting, some Rockin’ artists were making news rather than roasting a turkey …
November 2nd: Who was there? George Harrison struck out on his own in the first North American concert tour by a Beatles member since their final August 29, 1966, event in San Francisco. The Vancouver show held on this date in 1974 included his new best friend, Ravi Shankar, but few Beatles songs, except those written by George.
November 21st: Soul-master, Wilson Pickett, with buddies, O'Kelly and Rudolph Isley (members of The Isley Brothers), just wanted to have a little hunting fun in the country, today in 1974. While visiting the tiny town of Andes, New York, at the western edge of the Catskill Mountains, Pickett was arrested when the local law heard he’d (allegedly) fired a bullet that went right through the artists’ hotel room door. Rumor has it, a tad too much alcohol and hot-blues tempers were involved. Luckily, he was too inebriated to hit anyone.
November 28th: It was generally no big deal when one popular artist joined another on stage at a boisterous ‘70s concert. Though the former Beatles’ Harrison, had just begun his solo tours, this night turned out to be John Lennon’s final concert appearance, as he joined buddy, Elton John, in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Happy fans were treated to Lennon’s wildly popular, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," a soulful, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," and the prophetic, "I Saw Her Standing There." ♪ … Picture yourself in a boat on a river | With tangerine trees and marmalade skies … ♪
On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪
Where
were you bein’ thankful November 1974? I found Two dynamic, November
Rock Radio surveys in the BFYP Collection to remind us of the
1970s’ wild-and-crazy California lifestyle. OK, fine, it’s still
wild-and-crazy, but for all the wrong reasons. Back then, even when life was
tough, there was always a bouncy song of hope, and life’s distress could be softened,
with a soulful tune ♪ … Don't let life get me down | Gonna take it the way that I
found it | I got the music in me … ♪
Part of the crazy California reputation likely stemmed from one unique DJ who set the bar for the next couple of generations in radio and television broadcasting. Using radio show syndication before it was a thing, Wolfman Jack reached more listeners with his offbeat, salacious personality than anyone on the airwaves.
This month, his gravelly voice gave KAFY “The Big 55” in Bakersfield, California, something to talk about and swing with, when the November 28, 1974, survey advertised his live show with local DJ, Mark Daniels. Were you listening?
Moving on down the road to SoCal though, it’s the KOLA 99 November 9, 1974, chart in San Bernardino, California, that really caught my eye for collectability. Though now known as KOLA 99.9 FM, back in the day, history suggests “The POP SOUND of So. California” had a lack of consistent format or even on-air personalities.
Their “Now Sounds Plus Oldies” Top 40 survey also proclaims “Solid Music Uninterrupted.” Locals could/can attest to its reach, boasting a transmission tower height (1,663 ft) reportedly rivaling the Empire State Building (1,454 ft). In a comment on RadioDiscussions.com, “In the 70’s and early 80’s KOLA was ‘Jack’* before anyone even thought of the concept. A ‘single voice’ all day long, they played what they wanted and never took requests!” (*Jack-formatted station.) Since then KOLA streamed through the years, adapting to “Oldies” as the decades changed the term, and currently hosts a full roster of on-air personalities. Rock On!
November Song of Note ♪
Known for his heartfelt, homespun,
acoustic guitar tunes, John Denver gives us the perfect title tune
to take us through family-oriented November and Thanksgiving. BFYP’s
monthly Song of Note was #2 on KOLA/Bakersfield, California’s chart, to bring us “Back Home Again.”
Denver, a New Year’s Eve baby in 1943, began as Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., in Roswell, New Mexico. His early life in small towns like Roswell and Tucson, Arizona, explains a lot about his fondness for nature and contempt for cities. Through a tumultuous life and tragic death in a solo plane flight accident (1997), his legacy of music and love of nature endures.
Whether it’s real life, fantasy, or in spirit with family, friends, or fond memories, enjoy your Holiday “Back Home Again” ♪ … Sometimes this old farm feels like a long-lost friend | Yes 'n' hey, it's good to be back home again … ♪
November’s Quirky Band
Names
♪
B.T. Express hailed from Brooklyn, New York, and the funk/disco sound they wanted to present to the world was the easy part. The mix of artists and soulful I.D. took a little longer. Reports tell us the inkling of something new splintered from early 1970’s King Davis House Rockers, which soon turned into the Madison Street Express. Still seeking just the right identity, they tried on Brothers Trucking, before finally settling on B.T. Express.
Their first hit, "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)," confidently climbed the charts to #5, boosted by listeners at KOLA/San Bernardino, California. ♪ … Ooh, go on and do it, do it | Do it 'til you're satisfied | (Whatever it is) … ♪
NOVEMBER 2024 Music Events & More ♪
Humble November gives gratitude a home … just like Rock & Roll did for vinyl records about 70 years ago. While the king of music media for many years, there were a few decades when CDs threatened to squash vinyl records forever. Then it was discovered, vinyl still rules quality of sound.
If you haven’t seen it yet, a recent Associated Press article tells us the United Record Pressing story, and touted vinyl records’ endurance and new growth … “In 2023, U.S. revenues from vinyl records grew 10% to $1.4 billion, the 17th-straight year of growth, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Records accounted for 71% of revenues from non-digital music formats, and for the second time since 1987, vinyl outpaced CDs in total sold.” (October 29, 2024, Vinyl thrives at United Record Pressing as the nation’s oldest record maker plays a familiar tune.) Thank you. Now celebrate …
Wednesday ~ November 27th: Put on
your dancin’ shoes, it’s National Jukebox Day! We
don’t know who established this day, but I love it! And if you click the link,
you’ll find out who I think should become its sponsor, as he truly loves and
restores vintage Jukeboxes. (And no, I don’t know John Papa, and have had no
contact nor promotional payment from him.)
Thursday ~ November 28th: Much to the chagrin of the poor turkey, it’s Thanksgiving Day! Always an excellent Holiday for old tunes and sentimental memories. Oh … and great food! Over the years, I’ve sporadically spent this day alone, away from family. That didn’t stop me from cooking myself a turkey with all the trimmings, while I reminisced over past years of happy gatherings. And music is a big part of the memories. Enjoy.
BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪
Let’s Celebrate a Fun, Grateful Thanksgiving NOVEMBER 1974 … Rock On!
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon
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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 PastTM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging SixtiesTM (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.comTM. 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!
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