Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll in your Chevy
Van!
♪ … We made love in my Chevy van | And that's all right with me … ♪ Yep, in the 1970s we were carefree and cocky … and that was all right with me! How ‘bout you?
We were lucky to survive the ‘70s—a decade of excess and wildness—much like the 2020s! And some of that carefree ATTittude was echoed by our Rock & Roll Radio DJs, who reflected the mood of the Psychedelic Seventies, behind the mic, playing our hits with wild abandon. Think Cheech & Chong in a Radio studio … you’ll get the idea.
Let’s take a peek at what chart-topping artists were doing … 50 Years Ago this Month …
º MARCH 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪
Where are we spinning the Radio dial and listening to our fave DJs this month? Vegas, baby! Who remembers KENO 1460 (go figure) and its “Hit Parade” chart in teeny-tiny print on a boring gray background? At least its Top 40 was exciting. So let’s get Rockin’ and take a look at news of the day …
March 2nd: Keep in mind as you read this, not even a tiny amount of pot was legal back in the day … I’m sure Paul and Linda McCartney knew that when Paul ran a red light in L.A. Not smart, as police pulled them over and the cop got a whiff of sweet Maryjane. A quick rummage through Linda’s purse produced six-to-eight ounces of the wacky weed. Oops! She took the fall (and, ahem, the cop forgot about the likely faulty brakes on Paul’s 1974 Lincoln Continental). Just one of several legal mishaps for the duo … but hey, we didn’t care … that pot gave us great music!
March 10th: You would soon see another former Beatle still immersed in his “retro” tunes with John Lennon’s release this month of Ben E. King’s 1961 tune, “Stand By Me.” It had already hit KENO’s Top 20 chart by the 3rd week.
March 21st:
When you’ve been out of sight for a year, a music artist looking for a concert
comeback needs to make a spectacular statement … Alice Cooper (aka Vincent
Damon Furnier) did just that, beginning his two-year tour with his first solo
effort, “Welcome
to My Nightmare,” on this date in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
There’s no doubt Alice is a
controversial character, but I stumbled on a brilliant quote made in a 1975
(August) German press release: “ … critic Noel
Coppage already noted, 'since it is becoming increasingly difficult to shock
adults, Alice Cooper is an example of how hard a band must work these days to
gain the bad reputation that Elvis once achieved with a simple hip swing.'” So
true! His “Only Women” (also controversial) from the album, hit KENO’s
chart at #35 just five days later.
March 29th:
Ok, I’m going to have to let you laugh at me here … I totally remember loudly singing
along to Patti Labelle’s
chart-climbing tune, “Lady
Marmalade” that gave her a #1 hit on this date. No big deal, we all did
sing-alongs, right? Did you specifically memorize the French phrase that
comprised a popular chorus? I did … “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce
soir?”
I was SO proud to be able to just rattle that phrase off like I knew French! Do
you know what it translates to?
I did not … but I thought I was
cool, until I learned the catchy
song phrase asks, "Do you want to sleep with me, tonight?"
(!) Rumor has it though, Labelle
was as oblivious as I was! “I didn't know what it was about,” she said. “I
don't know French and nobody, I swear this is God's truth, nobody at all told
me what I'd just sung a song about.” I’m vindicated by the “Godmother of Soul”!
LOL
What were you listening to in March 1975? Actually, the story of “Lady Marmalade” is perfect to lead us into the top tunes as we heard them on KENO 1460/Las Vegas, Nevada. Is it any wonder the tune was at #1 on the Sin City’s “Hit Parade” survey for March 26th, before slipping into 2nd?
Although KENO is a Spanish language sports-talk station now, in the 1960s and ‘70s it was tunefully Top 40, swinging with vibes of the day. Top three listener picks: 1) “My Eyes Adored You,” (Frankie Valli), 2) “Lady Marmalade,” (Patti Labelle), and 3) “Lovin’ You” (Minnie Rip(p)erton*; *Radio stations weren’t always known for print accuracy on their charts.)
♪ March ’75 Song of Note ♪
No less sexy and controversial than “Lady Marmalade,” our vintage Song of Note is all in English and clear in its meaning. It was a prime example of Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll with a hippie van thrown in for fun. “Chevy Van” was a one-hit-wonder for Sammy Johns (1946-2013), telling the story of hook-ups from a half-century ago.
♪ March 2025 Music Events
& More ♪
Well, we’re a little sparse in this section, but the one special day we have is
a force to be reckoned with in Rock & Roll music. Musicians likely begin
their trip down the tuneful road first learning to play either the guitar or
the piano. So just for you …
March 29th: Do you know how to tickle those sweet ivories? It’s World Piano Day and piano or keyboards are such a fun part of Rock & Roll. From Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” (c. 1957; most fun in the Top Gun movie scene of 1986) to Billy Joel’s 1974 hit, “The Entertainer.” While there are plenty of international piano events to peruse, there are few (none I could find) in the US. So, unlock your inner Billy Joel and create one!
♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪
March 26, 1975 ~ KENO 1460/Las
Vegas, Nevada, may not have the coolest or flashiest Radio survey in the town which usually has plenty of both, but it did reflect its listeners' excellent taste
in music, served up by DJs like Phil Branigan, Norm Seeley and Dave Winter. Do you remember … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio? Where were you that groovy day when your radio played …
BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959)
on Amazon
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!
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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