Rock Radio JULY 1970 Heck Yeah I Remember!

From Tinny Transistor to YouTube! My Treat … 

While we continue to struggle with the literal and figurative ailments of the day, it’s so important to enjoy a little brightness. With a special treat this month for classic radio fans, I hope you find your bright spot of pleasure, here.

As usual, we start with memorable people and music of July 1970. But it’s who is On Your Tinny Transistor Radio that brings you news of two pioneering Rock & Roll DJs glowing in 5,000 watt glory, even after 50 years. Let’s not waste another second …

50 Years Ago this Month ~ JULY 1970 

July 1^st: Anniversary of Wolfman Jack's death (1995). The innovative, quintessential DJ needs no major introduction here, but should be noted as the disc jockey to whom the BFYP series is dedicated. Celebrating birth days rather than deaths have always been my criteria for tributes to those who have gone before us. Look for Wolfman’s homage again in January 2021! Aoooooww!

July 11^th: Casey Kasem launches “American Top 40” for national syndication. What quickly became a radio format staple has never really gone away. Mixing artist bio info and trivia with music, he co-founded ATF with fellow DJ Don Bustany. 

July 24^th: Cousins Day! There is no link in my source associated with the day, so we’ll claim it for a Blast from Your Past featured DJ, Cousin Brucie! He is still “everybody’s favorite cousin.”

Music-wise, Eric Burdon & War tells us to “Spill the Wine” at #4 in this month’s KYNO/Fresno, California, Featured Radio Survey! That was okay when we were drinking Riunite or Blue Nun. (And we won’t even mention Boones Farm!) ♪ … and take that pearl … ♪

Hopefully, we’ve evolved to a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon that we definitely don’t want to spill. Pour yourself a glass, lean back, and reminisce … besides reincarnated Burdon sans Animals, what was playing …

On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ~ JULY 1970 (radio/music & DJs)                  
In addition to the music, we’re all about DJs at BFYP. Who was cueing up “Spill the Wine” for your radio pleasure? Boy, do I have a treat for you!

Any 1970s Philly radio fans here? Two of broadcasting’s most popular behind-the-mic dudes got together recently for a “virtual” fun feast of memories (and probably a little libation, too). 

Smooth talker, Bill Gardner, joined shock jocker, Joey Reynolds, in Joey’s “Hangout” on YouTube. Bill and I correspond often, as he graciously wrote the forward for my Blast from Your Past book series. He mentioned hanging out with Joey recently, and I jumped on the chance to ask a poignant question for this month’s 50 Years Ago blog …

He replied, “Do I remember where I was in July 1970? Heck yeah! Midday guy on WIBG/Philadelphia. Joey Reynolds hadn't joined us yet...it would be a few more months.” 

Bill became a legend in his hometown of Philly, spreading his good cheer across the nation to San Diego, Phoenix, and beyond. He’s proud that younger brothers, Al and Andre followed in his DJ footsteps.

Meanwhile, Joey’s legendary status behind the mic came with gigs that included Detroit, Cleveland, Hartford, and his beloved New York.

Rarely did Bill and Joey’s paths meet in radio, but when they did, it was memorable! At one time, WIBBAGE (as WIBG was affectionately known) was home to both Rockin’ jocks. Can you imagine?!

Bill is our self-deprecating darling of radio … he told Joey up front, “You may be able to do three minutes here” … they went on about radio life (& life in general) for more than half-hour, ending with a Bill Gardner and Little Richard interview replay from 2005.

Of course, Joey knows better, exclaiming with obvious respect for Bill, “How many disc jockeys in the world became airline pilots, commercially?” Tame, coming from Joey, but mid-interview when recalling original meanings behind radio station call letters, look out! Joey has honed his shock-jock skills. (And please keep in mind this was recorded in the middle of COVID-19 drama, but just before the recent civil unrest.)

You won’t want to miss their raucous and randy reminiscing about life as a Rock & Roll Radio DJ in the 1970s! 

Take a break from your daily grind (it gets that way even working at home, doesn’t it?) and watch Bill Gardner and Joey Reynolds. Trust me, you’ll smile … a lot.

Featured Radio Survey
Though it wasn’t easy to learn, apparently the dairy industry launched ad campaigns in 1969 to beef up their milk sales. (Pun intended!) KYNO/Fresno, California, gave ‘em the back cover and splashed a hunky male lifeguard on its July 15, 1970 survey. Oh, yeah, and it had songs listed too … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played …

Celebrate JULY 1970 and … Rock On!  

Blast from Your Past Gifts

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 and 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, there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

 

Rock Radio JUNE 1970 War & Beanbag Chairs

Answer to War: Bean Bag Chair & a Lava Lamp! 

Have you lounged in a Bean Bag Chair lately? 50 years ago, they were fun and challenging. Now they’re just infuriating to anyone over fifty. In 1970 we paid around $19.99 for the kitschy seating. That’s about a quarter of the price you’ll pay now, to purchase one you might actually roll out of!

While vegging in a bean bag chair, June 1970 also saw us entranced by a lava lamp, with the radio blaring “Lay a Little Lovin’ [on me]” (Robin McNamara), or particularly pertinent to a June 1 post 50 years later, “War” by Edwin Starr.

I’ve been around for five decades with both—foreign and domestic war—and it is absolutely good for nothing. It devastates lives needlessly. Whatever the warring principle reason (except for country protection), no amount of violence is going to solve it. In most cases, war makes everything worse, dealing with the aftermath—governmentally, financially, psychologically, and individually.

That said, let’s get on with the lighter, musical side of life and put all the violent people in a bean bag chair—they’ll eventually be laughing too hard trying to get out, to fight! Rock On …

50 Years Ago this Month ~ JUNE 1970

Our Featured Radio Survey for this month took their survey design to a subtly salacious level and I seriously doubt they paid for using the trademark bunny logo. It was a more lenient era when companies often thought that any publicity was good publicity—even if the logo generated commercial revenue.

I miss those days. Obviously, if a brand’s logo is used for blatant massive profitability, that’s one thing; but a radio station or other business / individual who uses a logo for fleeting or common-interest promotion and/or comment, is another. But I digress (again).

“Back in the good ol’ days,” radio stations often grabbed a company’s emblem for fun and frivolity, like the WAIR/Winston-Salem’s (NC) June 26,1970 music chart. It was Playboy magazine’s heyday and everyone knew the cute little bunny meant surreptitiously sexy. I’ll bet it got the intended attention.

Poignantly, this Spring marked the final print issue of Hugh Hefner’s steamy legacy—its first issue bounced off the presses for December 1953. The publication is still digitally available (and some might say even better), but can that ever be the same?

Seriously, how can teenage boys everywhere stash a print issue under their mattress so the parents won’t see it? Although it does likely make the print versions even more desirable for collectors. (And mom knew it was there; and dad likely knew, chuckling at his own youthful memories.)

BFYP Collection. The white carafe is bigger but the Bunny gets noticed.

About the man behind the bunny, Art Paul (1925-2018), Playboy says, “Paul was Hefner’s very first hire—founding art director of the nascent PLAYBOY—and he quickly proved his worth, drafting the now ubiquitous Rabbit Head in less than an hour.”

Partly in thanks to Paul’s imagery, women and girls wanted to be a Playboy Bunny, and the guys … well … the bunny will live on in the archives of Boomers’ memories.

On Your Transistor Radio Dial ~ JUNE 1970

Although “Lay a Little Lovin’” made WAIR’s top twenty, “War” hit the chart as a “Hot Prospect,” bubbling under the radar and on its way up.

Other pockets of the country kept love tunes—won and lost—at the top, for this traditional wedding month, like KYNO/Fresno, California, and DJ Sean Conrad. Fans obviously disillusioned with marriage thought Freda Payne’s “Band of Gold” was Right On! and boosted it up to #2 in the June 24^th issue of their “Boss 30.”

On the other hand, and other side of the country, DJ Pat O’Day kept the turntable spinning for Orlando Florida’s WLOF fans who heated up the “Fun 40” chart with Rare Earth’s “Get Ready” hugging the #1 spot. ♪ And I'm bringing you a love that's true | So get ready, so get ready … ♪

Featured Radio Survey: WAIR/Winston-Salem, North Carolina personified the sexy ‘70s in this month’s “Music Power Survey” with that playful Playboy Bunny, decidedly not your Easter Bunny! Check out the list of airwave attributes they claimed for their DJ “Playboys” … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played …

Celebrate JUNE 1970 and … Rock On!  

Blast from Your Past Gifts

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. 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪