Giving Life a Break ♪ Down by the Lazy River ♪*
Although like most years, there are some real song and album gems, 1972 tunes really kept me reaching for the radio. You too? We aren’t the only ones who love the music of 1972 ... apparently, much of San Diego agrees ...
♪ Then & Now Rockin’ News & Views
The San Diego Union
Tribune
recently ran a fun, front-page story in their Arts & Culture
section that begins, “Fifty years later, 1972 remains arguably the greatest
year ever for truly exceptional albums.” Reading the lengthy article it's hard to disagree. The writer traveled through 1972
listing dozens of amazing albums, both studio and live, starting with Neil
Young’s Harvest (studio) and The Allman Brothers Band’s Eat a Peach
(studio/live mix).
Long time journalist, George Varga (also an esteemed voting
member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), obviously had fun with this one. He took us with him down 1972 music memory lane with fervor, admitting his coming-of-age year as a “devoted
musical sponge.”
Of course, not all his faves were Rock or Pop albums. Still, an interesting take on the year's music, his album picks included some familiar tunes that stood out--Joni Mitchell's "You Turn Me On I'm a Radio" (November release), and from the Eagles' self-titled debut album, I spotted "Witchy Woman" (August release).
> Rockin’ News Then FEBRUARY 1972 …
Radio
stations flipping formats is an inevitability and has always been an emotional
roller coaster for their listeners. We run the gamut from happy, excited and
thrilled, to irritated, frustrated and incensed. And finally, like it or not,
acceptance.
February 13th – Fifty Years Ago this month, Singapore apparently wasn’t the hipster city it is now (tongue-in-cheek), when a Led Zeppelin concert had to cancel because ... are you ready for this? ... their hair was too long. Yup. Wouldn’t even let ‘em off the plane. And that was their biggest concern?! My, how we’ve changed. Meanwhile, Zep’s “Black Dog” had slipped from #5 to #12 on this month’s FRS*. ♪ Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move | Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ♪ ...
> Rockin’ News Now FEBRUARY 2022
…
At BFYP we think in terms of entertainment radio
stations. But more significantly, radio as an informational tool has long had a
global reach beyond entertainment.
As a part
of the system, entertainment radio DJs have often been our first contact for
critical news over the past century ... think about that as we celebrate ...
experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Are in in Radio? Register and publicize your WRD event or activity with them. If you’re a Radio fan (like me) rummage around for your trusty ol’ vintage radio and tune it into whatever suits your fancy!
February 14th: Of course, it’s “hearts and flowers” day. I left my 💖 with Oldies music on the Radio!
February 22nd: This month's 02/22/2022 is even more numerologically unique in the '70s style of New Age than the multiple ones (11) karmic experience of 2011's 01/11/2011 and 11/11/2011. Back in the day we learned about numerology and the three master numbers ... 11 / 22 / 33 ... in some circles, 02/20/2022 is special for the U.S., because it heralds the return of the Pluto cycle to the U.S. (its cycle takes approx. 247 years); while 02/22/2022 will be considered a triple-whammy portent of great changes and good things to happen. It is the third and last multiple twos for another couple hundred years. There obviously can’t be a “33” calendar date, so this is it for a while!
It took six Rockin’ DJs to keep WAPE/Jacksonville, Florida, at the top of the radio ratings. Who were you listening to 50 Years Ago (in order, morning-to-midnight): Jay Thomas (who went on to acting fame), Larry Dixon, Cleveland Wheeler, Teddy Bear Richards, Sean Conrad, or a cool guy I didn’t meet until 2010, David London (aka David Cockrell)? And WAPE has more ...
> *Monthly Song of Note ♪: This month’s tantalizing tune from the Featured Radio Survey takes us on a journey to the water’s edge together, with The Osmonds escaping the city in “Down by the Lazy River.” Slipping from #1 the previous week, it rested at #4 on WAPE/Jacksonville’s “Hit List” for February 23, 1972. Rumor has it, at the time, The Osmonds were giving Donny a little break as their dynamo lead singer, while he traversed the coming-of-age voice changing frustrations.
> Quirky Band Names – Not
much has changed in selecting a name for your musical moniker – today, just as
yesterday, we love to be creative and unique. Though many current artists are
headlining bands with their real names or an alter ego, there are still a few
inspired artistic band names on the charts, like Glass Animals.
February 1972 artists
on the radio 50 Years Ago however, reflected the mood of the day in their titles ... we
listened to Congregation
[The] – “Softly Whispering (I Love You)” – but never to be heard on the top ten
list again, loud or soft; along with Five Man [Electrical] Band – “Julianna”; and Originals [The] – “Someone
Who Cares.”
♪
*BFYP Featured Radio
Survey
Let’s Celebrate FEBRUARY 1972 and … Rock On! ♪
Share on Twitter: @BlastFromPastBk
LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three) are published 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. 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. 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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Original Intro ~ LR / BFYP NOTE ♪ 01/31/22 @ 4:30p: Well, it’s up. To even
get it this far was a struggle, as my poor ol’ laptop needs a new NIC card. So,
it may not be “pretty,” as images are lacking and some interesting links are
yet to come. No doubt it needs a tad more editing too, but for the most part it’s
ready for your reading pleasure. Look for the sprucing up tomorrow and/or
Wednesday. Rockin’ on ... don’t touch that dial! Work in progress …