Thank
You … Thank You Very Much …
November and December are months devoted to food, don’t you
think? What’s for Thanksgiving … who’s bringing the eggnog for Christmas … and
where’s the next potluck Holiday party? Sound familiar?
Food
was certainly on Dave Thomas’s mind when he opened his first Wendy's Hamburgers in
Columbus, Ohio, November 15, 1969. Yep – 50 Years Ago this Month!
So
while we were munching on the new American fast food delicacy, Thanksgiving was
just around the corner. Although certainly worthy and debatably the most
celebrated meal, it isn’t the only event in November. So after we give thanks for the food and family memories, let’s take a walk and
work off our big-T-dinner with more fun. Rockin’ on down Memory Lane …
Your Tinny Transistor Radio
News ~ NOVEMBER 1969
November 1st: Without
any recent records from Elvis, by 1969 everyone wondered if we would ever hear his
sexy sounds on the radio again. Oh ye of little faith. After a seven-year
hiatus, he hit Billboard’s #1 in ratings again on this date, following the
popularity of “Suspicious
Minds” during the Halloween season. Thank you ... thank you very much.
KHJ/Los
Angeles fans bounced it to the top as early as October 8th, and by
November 3rd, it still rallied at #5 on *WLS/Chicago.
California wearied of it finally, kicking it off KHJ’s
chart by November 5th, to replace it with The Beatles’ dynamic duo, **“Something” and “Come Together.” ♪
Got to be a joke he just do what he please ♪ …
November 7th: Where
were you this date in 1969? If you called Fort Collins, Colorado, home, or Colorado
State University your alma mater, it’s likely you favored stones over boulders,
to attend The Rolling Stones’ concert on this date. Rock critics dubbed it a
Rock and Roll legend. What made this American warm-up show of their long-awaited
tour so memorable?
It
was the first major outing for “Little
Mick” Taylor having recently replaced guitarist Brian Jones. From “Honky Tonk Women” to "All Down the Line"
and “It’s Only Rock ‘n
Roll,” Taylor contributed to many of the Stones’ early best works, 1969-1974.
♪ But I like it … ♪
**November
29th: Was it fair that “Something” and “Come Together” kicked
other songs off the top of charts 50 Years Ago this Month? I’m sure The Beatles
thought so. Revising charting policies for A and B songs on this date, Billboard
gave the two songs a push by combining each song’s accrued points to create “one”
#1 hit. It wasn’t long before other artists cashed in as well, like Creedence
Clearwater Revival with “Fortunate
Son” and “Down On The
Corner.” Cool. ♪ Willie and the Poor Boys were playin’ …
♪
Rockin’ Retro Radio
Buy, sell,
trade. The mechanics of business plays out in radio ownership, and 1969 saw
significant changes, like the National Science Network’s acquisition of KMPX-FM/San
Francisco, along with KPPC-AM & FM stations/Pasadena.
BFYP DJs Tom and Raechel Donahue had already
reprogrammed KMPX to a successful album-oriented Rock format before
exiting in 1968. As 1969 came to a close, KPPC was about to follow suit headed
by PD Doug Cox, who begged (BFYP) DJ, William F. Williams, to join him.
Says Raechel of the long-play
format growing ever more popular in that era, “… it was really fun to be able
to create the show when you could weave a musical topic and tell the
story.” (BFYP, Book
2.)
It appears about two years was the average length of time for
conservative owners NSN to tolerate KPPC’s Rockin’ rebellious staff. Case in
point—William dubbed it, the “PP”. Williams left late in 1972.
WLS/Chicago captures this month’s Featured Survey
honors, as their “Radio 89 Hit Parade” holds former #1 comeback hit for Elvis’ “Suspicious
Minds” at #5 on the November 3, 1969 chart. ♪ And
we can’t build our dreams | on Suspicious Minds ♪ … 50
Years Ago this Month in Rock &
Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when
…
Celebrate NOVEMBER 1969 and … Rock On!
Share on Twitter: @BlastFromPastBk
LinDee Rochelle
is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. She has
published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five
Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging
Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic Seventies!
Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally
visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of
reputable note. However, as with everything cyber-security, use at your own
discretion.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
