Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ♪ ~ FEBRUARY 1976

Rock & Roll Lives for Love!  

Whether we are “in” Love or not, there is no dodging this month made for Love. And apparently, it stretches back to the oldest of “Oldies” music. Says a 2024 article from The Harvard Crimson, “In fact, the oldest known love song is that of Shu-Sin, which was discovered in the library of Ashurbanipal in Mesopotamia and dates back to 2000 BCE.”   

BFYP’s 1970s Oldies are no exception, so we’re giving love a capital “L” all month. In our  February Featured Radio Survey, there are no less than a dozen Love-themed songs in the Top 30, and half of those tout the word “Love” in their titles. So, Rock & Roll fans, you can’t escape the LOVE we feel for our top Oldies tunes … 50 Years Ago this Month …   

FEBRUARY 1976 Radio News & Muse ♪ 
What was your fave DJ playing when you turned on your tinny transistor radio 50 Years Ago? Did your fave artist make the news? Read on and enjoy the memories of what and who you were listening to … 50 Years Ago this Month!  

February 7^th: So, remember in December 2025 when I told you about the Brooklyn, New York, pirate radio station that snuck onto the airwaves? It was a brief escapade—and it was today in 1976 that the FCC raided the station and shut them down. Never fear, the operators, John Calabro and Perry Cavalieri were persistent, if not legal. It didn’t take ‘em long to find another, more elusive wayward station, in WFAT … and when that was raided in 1979 … WFOT. All were short-lived, but talk about tenacious!  

February 20^th: Stomped in Love! On this date 50 Years Ago, Kiss added their big ol’ bootprints to the sidewalk outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. They didn’t have anything on the charts this month, but hit the bottom of Radio lists by end of March with “Shout It Out Loud” to become Kiss’s second song to break the Top 40. Think it isn’t about Love? Au contraire mon chéri, Kiss made self-Love a thing with this tune!  ♪ … It doesn't matter what you do or say | Just forget the things that you've been told | We can't do it any other way | Everybody's got to rock and roll, whoo, oh, oh … ♪  

February 28^th: And what, pray tell, was Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards this day in 1976? Of course: “Love Will Keep Us Together." Although co-writers, Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield thought it would be a hit for them 1973, as did brother/sister team, Mac and Katie Kissoon, it was another duo, Captain & Tennille (Daryl Dragon & Toni Tennille) who found the groove with it. The tune gave them their first of many #1 hits. Though ultimately divorced, Ms. Tennille was by the Captain’s side when he passed in 2019. Love, did indeed, keep them together.

Although I don’t have an original February 1976 music survey in my BFYP Collection, I found a couple of fun ones at ARSA (not a secure site). From music artists to the Radio stations who played their hits and misses, where were you spinning the dial 50 Years Ago?  

Were you flyin’ high in Love or the sky, in mile-high Denver, Colorado? KTLK (not a secure site at ARSA) had recently surpassed popular KIMN in ratings and DJ John Edwards loved taking you to new heights in KTLK’s 10p.m. to 2a.m. slot. Believe it or not, in 1969 when KTLN changed its call letters to K-TALK / KTLK, they thought engaging the local teens in chit-chat and music would be fun and innovative. Not in the ‘70s! 
       Listeners loved the music, not so much the talk and it eventually surpassed then-dominant Top 40 station KIMN, especially when KTLK took on the Disco format of the late 1970s. “Denver’s Double K-1280” published a full Top 40 for its listeners—and nevermind that their two Ks were not doubled together.  

Let’s shiver our way over to the Northeast for our Featured Radio Survey, WTAC (ARSA survey, not a secure site) in Flint, Michigan. I had to laugh when I noticed one of their Hit Bound tunes, “Deep Purple” by “The Lovely Donny & Marie Osmond.” Someone at the station was obviously enamored of them (or at least, Marie)! And with good reason. “Deep Purple” ultimately became the 42^nd-biggest hit of 1976 in the U.S.
       DJ Peter Cavanaugh (1941-2021) was just getting started as a DJ and made a name for himself by striking up friendships with AC/DC (Australia) and The Who (England), premiering them in the U.S. They were connections that followed him as he moved up the Radio ladder, to serve in management, even though he’d scored a BA in political science. Radio is more fun!
       WTAC thrived throughout the decade as "The Big 600." That lasted 'til 1981 when Top 40s petered out and it flipped to Country. 

Having some fun with research, I found that in the first month, January) 2026, there may have been current songs about Love, but you can’t tell from their titles. Not a one with Love in the title … kinda sad, don’t you think? Since Love dominates our lives in mates, family and friends, check out the two tantalizing Love tunes for your February 1976 musical memories …  

♪ February 1976 Song of Note ♪  
Wow. Every year in the 1970s gets more and more difficult to choose a Song of Note—there are so many iconic classics in every Top 20! This month, from “Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover” (Paul Simon) at #1 on our Featured Radio Survey, to “Theme From S.W.A.T.” (Rhythm Heritage) rounding out the top 20 (of 30) tunes, it was a daunting jaunt through time.
       I try to take into account the general mood of the month, so Valentine Y Love rules February, and I finally settled on two, absolute opposites … from the pain of love in Nazareth’s “Love Hurts,” sitting at #5 on the chart, to the Miracles exclaiming love’s exuberant joy in “Love Machine,” at #6, we’ve got ya covered.
       Scottish band, Nazareth, struck a painful chord with “Love Hurts” that resonated with so many, and still does! By far, theirs is the most popular version of the song, originally recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1960 and covered by others before Nazareth gave it a hard Rock vibe. From the lead singer to the lead guitarist, you can feel their pain. ♪ … Love is like a flame | It burns you when it's hot | Love hurts...... ooh, ooh love hurts … Oh, yes, sometimes it does … 
       On the other end of the Love spectrum, however, following right on its heels on the WTAC music chart, “Love Machine,” by the Miracles, expressed the other side of Love—pure joy! And I gotta say, my pure joy came when I pulled up the YouTube video and found the Miracles dominating the stage flaunting extravagant 1970s Disco style, in matching “Pepto Bismal”-pink suits! Oh, the memories! ♪ … I'm just a love machine | And I won't work for nobody but you | A hugging kissing fiend … ♪   

Believe it or not, my Rock & Roll friends, this is NOT the end of our February 1976 Rockin’ the Love memories! There is a little more to come, but this is the bulk of it. Enjoy … and come back for more with images and a little sprucing up, in a couple of days.

Rock February 1976 and … Let’s Rock the Love!  

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! 
            RE: AI – 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 ~ December 1975

 Music Writes the Holiday Songs   

Happy Holidays! Is this month’s title a little confusing? Do you think I’ve finally gone senile? Well, maybe, but not completely. You’ll understand when you get down to our December Song of Note. It is totally apropos to the nostalgic Holidays and how music comes from the soul. Onward …

As hinted in previous months, December’s Featured Radio Survey is another hype for Wolfman Jack.

But that’s not all you’re gonna hear from him … not only does the inimitable Wolfman end our year on a sweeping high note, he also begins our New Year! Just not at the same station or even in the same state.
       Radio DJs have always been known as musical nomads, skipping around the country, going where the money and fun lead the pack. But by this time, Wolfman had established his popular, syndicated shows and could pop up anywhere, anytime. So it isn’t surprising that we see him sashay from Portland this month, to Georgia in January.

That said, let’s take a peek at what and who you were listening to … 50 Years Ago this Month! 

º DECEMBER 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪  

What music icon was in the news and what was your fave DJ playing when you spun the dial on your transistor radio 50 Years Ago?

December 6^th: Were you there?! As The Who toured the country in The Who by Numbers Tour, they played their biggest crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome, with 75,000+ screaming fans—setting the largest indoor concert to date.  

December 14^th: While we Boomers knew of the notorious offshore pirate radio stations of the 1960s, the ‘70s brought their own adored DJ scoundrels to land, in low-powered transmitters. On this day 1975, WCPR-1620AM/Brooklyn, New York, began broadcasting … which apparently lasted for only two months, but it made the news! Want to know more about pirate radio? Click the link.

December 25^th: Oh, sure, it was Christmas Day, but in 1975 the macabre gift under the tree was one of Britain’s pioneering heavy metal bands, Iron Maiden. Steve Harris says he formed the band and likened it to the torture device in The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 movie).  

December 31^st: Speaking of the Pontiac Silverdome, it was a New Year’s Eve spectacular with the irrepressible Elvis Presley facing the largest audience of cheering fans in his career … and splitting his pants onstage. Oh, my!

Turning to our December Rockin’ Radio Stations & dapper DJs … If you were in Portland, Oregon, the #1 tune on your tinny transistor radio was Barry Manilow’s bragging rights (seemingly) in “I Write the Songs.” But St.Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, fans heard the cry for help in Abba’s “S-O-S.” Both winter-cool radio station surveys proclaimed their listeners’ top tunes on December 1, 1975.

Let’s start in chilly Minnesota where KDWB wowed its fans with a music chart featuring bawdy, ballsy and hilariously lusty cartoon characters, to warm them up. The Playboy magazine reference is your hint of who sponsored it. It’s quintessential 1970s right down to the salacious lyrics of “That’s the Way (I Like It),” by K.C. & The Sunshine Band. It does, however, come with a music chart mystery. 
       In my collection of vintage surveys, I have a few without printed dates. Generally, the seller had already established the date and either indicated it on the sales paperwork, or stupidly written on the vintage survey. Purchased way back in 2010, this KDWB chart is in the latter category.  

       I didn’t have any reason to doubt the handwritten December 1, 1975 date—until now. I often consult the incomparably comprehensive ARSA survey archive (not a secure site) to validate accuracy. However, even that didn’t help with KDWB. Their offering did not include the usual survey image to establish its authenticity; unverified lists were available, but none of their Top 20 hits exactly matched the KDWB survey in my collection. I give up—it’s either the November 25, 1975 issue or the December 2, 1975 issue … your guess is as good as mine!  
       I’m leaning toward the November issue, and though that puts it in last month, I’m still including it here, ‘cause it’s such a fun survey. And our best BFYP DJ emeritus, Bill Gardner, sat behind their mic in December 1973! LOVE this Holiday pic from that year, of the station employees …

From radio survey mystery to Radio DJ mastery, we’re now in Portland, Oregon, listening to the pioneering DJ to whom my Blast From Your Past books are dedicated, Wolfman Jack!  

       Portland/Vancouver Radio fans were jacking up their Saturday nights from 10:00p to 1:00a, listening to Wolfman Jack on KISN. “When my syndication activity was at its peak, and I was on the armed Forces Network, I was on some 1,400 radio stations worldwide. That included Vietnam, of course.” Wolfman was humbled by the stories returning Vets told him. “By doing my thing in a Hollywood studio, I was helping them keep it together. And they made it out the other end of a pretty hellish experience.” (Quotes from Wolfman Jack’s Have Mercy! Confessions of the Original Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal.)
       KISN may be in what many might call the po-dunk of the Pacific Northwest, but it’s mostly been a die-hard, original Top 40 Rock & Roll station since 1959! Many top-ranking Radio DJs sat behind their mics, including "The Real" Don Steele. So they’re OK in our book! However, the FCC wasn’t as enamored of Star Stations, its parent company. It wasn’t long before they were unceremoniously given the boot off broadcasting for shenanigans stemming from WIFE/Indianapolis IN. They endure today, though in a lowkey way.  

But no self-respecting end-of-year Oldies Radio article would be complete without a couple of top tune Year End Surveys!

Powerhouse station WABC/New York MusicRadio 77 gave its listeners a huge Top 100 Hit List roundup of the year, with a cool cover graphic. WIND/Chicago was no slouch either, with their Top 56 tunes and awesome pics of their ten dynamic DJs. You’ll find these charts at the bottom of the Featured Radio Survey page.

♪ December 1975 Song of Note ♪

Heartfelt music is a running theme through the Holidays, so our December Song of Note gives music its due. You may think you know what Barry Manilow’s #1 tune, “I Write the Songs” is about … but you don’t, if you think he’s just bragging.
       Written by Beach Boys member, Bruce Johnston, as quoted from SongFacts.com, “I wrote it about 'where music comes from' (for me, music comes only from God).” Manilow had his reservations about recording it, and rightly so—many fans always thought he was being egotistical. But he simply agreed with Johnston … music is … My home lies deep within you | And I've got my own place in your soul …   

♪ December 2025 Music Events & More ♪    

Saturday/Sunday ~ December 13^th-14^th: I generally report only Rock & Roll events here, and though this is about a song-and-dance man, what makes Dick Van Dyke* (b.12/13/1925) specific to BFYP is he also began as a Rock Radio DJ at the tender age of sixteen in Danville, Illinois, ohhhhhhh so many years ago. And this weekend is special, as his documentary, “Dick Van Dyke: 100^th Celebration” is released in theatres on his 100^th birthday. *Mr. Van Dyke shares pre-documentary tales On Turning 100 with the Today show (November 2025). Go. Enjoy history in the making. 

Saturday ~ December 20^th: It’s always frustrating when a perfectly fun day to celebrate has lost its sponsor. But never fear, this Go Caroling Day link will tell you all about how a beloved Holiday tradition became part of our lives, around the 13^th century.
       For our purposes, I’ve listed the Top Ten (in my humble opinion) Rock & Roll versions of vintage and classic Christmas songs in alphabetical order … why not add them to your Christmas Caroling Day playlist and spread some upbeat cheer?    

Blue Christmas / Elvis Presley (1968)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) / Darlene Love 1963; this version 1986
Frosty the Snowman / The Ronettes (1963)
Jingle Bell Rock / Bobby Helms (1957; great b&w version on Dick Clark show)
Little Saint Nick / The Beach Boys (1963)
Please Come Home for Christmas / The Eagles (1978)
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree / Brenda Lee (1958)
Run Rudolph Run / Chuck Berry (1958)
Santa Baby / Eartha Kitt (1953)
Silent Night / The Temptations (1970?) 

Thursday ~ December 25^th: Of course, it’s Christmas Day! I hope you Rock around the Christmas tree and if you don’t have a tree, just Rock On!  

Wednesday ~ December 31^st: Have you been waiting all month for a festive New Years Eve? It’s here! Enjoy, be safe and face 2026 with a Rockin’ melody in your heart. See ya next year!

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
DECEMBER 1, 1975 ~ KISN/Portland, Oregon, is your Holiday Rockin’ Radio Station! Can’t go wrong with Wolfman Jack on the cover, tellin’ ya, he’ll Rock your Saturday nights. Memories are marvelous, and I expect there are more than a few who once called Portland home and remember Action Alley clothing store with their “Kicky Clothes for Gals.” I hear it was once on the South Fred Meyer corner … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Nostalgia and Rock Radio History all wrapped up with a bow, make great gifts! Don’t forget to check out Blast from Your Past books! All about the pioneering Rock Radio DJs of yesteryear. 1950-1959 Rock Radio DJs: The First Five Years (eBook only) and The Swinging Sixties (eBook & print). True tales of music and mayhem from behind the mic!

Rock DECEMBER 1975 and … Reflect, Rejuvenate, Rejoice & 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 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 

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! 
            RE: AI – 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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