Rock Radio APRIL 1973 Sing a Song of Spring

Hope Springs Eternal with a Song

LR Note: It’s late on April 3^rd—a tad later than I’d hoped. It still needs some cleanup and images, but hope you enjoy!

So after February’s love-month and March’s breakup month, welcome to April when hope Springs eternal!

Love songs never leave radio’s Top 40 and this month, our April 1973 Song of Note ♪ ran a tight race for the honor on WFIL/Philadelphia’s song chart. #8 was a contender, scurrying up nine rungs on their Top 30, for an impressive showing. Both are tearjerkers worthy of heart-tugging hope. #10, though starting its downward slip on the chart, made the final cut. Check it out below!  

What else will you see this month? Quirky Band Names gives you the “Choice” between a “Bear” and a “King”! That and more … 50 Years Ago this Month … 

Then APRIL 1973 ♪ 
Writing these blogs is even more fun when I can spotlight a Blast from Your Past DJ. WFIL/Philly’s April 2, 1973 music chart features Dr. Don Rose just a few months before he skips to the other side of the country to joke his way into our hearts in NorCal.
       The popular DJ—in both BFYP 1950s and 1960s books—was infamous for his quick and corny one-liners that were uttered without malice or meanness, punctuated by a cowbell. We’ll delve more into the crazy antics of Dr. Don later this year, when he hits the West Coast.
       After a long history of roaming the Midwest and South, Dr. Don made his way to WFIL in the summer of ‘68, where he remained until at least August of 1973. By November, however, he heard “go West young man,” and away he flew. ♪ Let's get down on all fours and look at it from the boss's point of view ... ♪ 

On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪  
Small transistor radios competed with the burgeoning popularity of boomboxes this year 50 Years Ago, so our little, tinny transistor radios became fun and fashionable with cute and creative designs.
       Were you the “apple of your teacher’s eye,” or into “Love” and “Peace” out? There were radios for that …

Monthly Song of Note ♪ 
Hope springs eternal in Springtime! It was a super-tough choice this month as two very different songs helped our love and hope Spring eternal 50 Years Ago this Month.
       My first thought was to “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.” The catchy tune by Dawn, jammed up nine rungs from #17 of WFIL’s survey ladder to reach #8. No wonder, as it struck a nerve with nearly everyone who suffered separation of love, either from incarceration or military service, and gave hope a resounding voice.
       However, I chose for our April 1973 Song of Note, a quieter but no less heart-wrenching song in the #10 spot. It bears recognition for its heartfelt showing before slipping off the chart. “Last Song” by the group, Edward Bear (strong contender for Quirky Band Names, too!), gave listeners hope for love against all odds … and won.
       As the story goes, lead singer, Larry Evoy, had waited a couple years for his wayward girlfriend to return to him. Finally fed up, he penned the song in final resolution. ♪… It’s the last song I’ll ever write for you … ♪ Bereft, he left his light on every night according to song history, “… hoping that she’d think I was still awake and would drop by … and she did.” I love a story with a happy ending!

Quirky Band Names ♪ 
I love the origin of Edward Bear’s band name. Noted above with their “Last Song” as our Song of Note, they honored their youth with a nod to A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh—whose real name of course, was Edward Bear! … But the most important thing is, says Pooh, even if we’re apart, I’ll always be with you … Unfortunately, even when together, sometimes you’re not. Forming in 1966, the short-lived band rebuilt itself twice, but finally disbanded in 1974.
       And though EB’s a treasure, King Harvest, the French-American band who grabbed their moniker from a ’69 song that united farm workers "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" by The Band, is a band with heart. Their poignant breakout song, “Dancing in the Moonlight,” tells a compelling story, but …
       My first choice for Quirky Band Names is … drum roll, please … First Choice! What’s not to love about this all-American girl group from Philly! Forming as schoolyard singers the Debonettes, they became everyone’s First Choice when they hit hometown radio’s WFIL/#6 this month with “Armed and Extremely Dangerous.” A little bit pop-rock, a little R&B and listen closely for the budding promise of (gasp!) disco …
       With a few stops and starts and member changes along the way, the tantalizing trio is still performing! They just finished up a gig on the … wait for it … Ultimate Disco Cruise line. Point those fingers baby, swivel those hips, and lunge!

Now APRIL 2023 ♪ 
Rockin’ Today …  and every day! We’re celebrating whatever we can find that links today’s Rock & Roll Radio with April 1973. Sometimes I feel we’re slippin’ away … then I find a great link … but … it’s abandoned and obsolete. Ah well, who needs ‘em?!

Once upon a time April was designated International Guitar Month. Well, darn. The host link for this otherwise cool special month designation, is outdated. And, mostly just wanted to sell you something, anyway. Though like everything else, its ghost continues to linger on the ‘Net, it hasn’t had a viable entry since 2019. It’s included here, only in respect for their original premise.
       I know in essence, the world stopped “cohabitating” in 2020, but that’s no excuse for websites … the Internet exploded during those years of “don’t touch me” petulance. So, we’ll just leave it up to you to celebrate this month with your fave guitar, strumming it in hand, listening to it in vinyl, listening and watching, online, or joy-of-joys, in-concert-person. Enjoy!
       Although not so-designated on most daily calendars, it’s also Jazz Appreciation Month. Check out the festivities on April 30^th’s International Jazz Day.

April 11^th: … Louie Louie, oh no | We gotta go … it’s International "Louie Louie" Day and nobody cares but me!! Why? Because it was one of our BFYP Rockin’ Radio DJs who produced the Kingsmen’s iconic version in April 1963. Want to know more about Mike Korgan aka “Ken Chase” and this historic ultimate party song? Enjoy …   

April 30^th: Into jazz rather than Rock or enjoy the fusion? Celebrate! Today is International Jazz Day! A UNESCO designated special day, they have all kinds of fun planned for the day—check it out and join in. Already know about it and have an event all planned? Register it for free on their site.

Yup. That’s about all that was worth noting for this month.

BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪  
WFIL/Philadelphia, APRIL 2, 1973 ~ Did you know that vying for ladies’ attention with L'eggs, was Today’s Girl “Sheer-Toe-To-Waist Panty Hose”?! Their survey ad proves it. I’m sure Dr. Don Rose loved sharing the space with them … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Celebrate APRIL 1973 and … 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 Twitter: @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 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 … Book 3 – 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! 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

 

 

Rock Radio MARCH 1973 Makin' Love to Making Up

From Makin’ Love to Making Up ...

If you’re over the sweet fluff of lovers’ month and ready to dive into March Madness—whatever that might mean for you—come on along as we revisit MARCH 1973 … and Rock On, 50 Years Ago this Month …

Then MARCH 1973 Rockin’ News ♪ …   
Nothing of note could be found in radio news and when that happens, I revert to general music news, of which there is nearly always something notable. Like …

March 1st: Pink Floyd’s new album, “Dark Side of the Moon” is released on this day, and took barely a month for it to register on WFIL/Philly’s radar, hitting its “Top Ten LP’s” list on their April 2^nd survey. What’s your fave tune from this celebrated album? “Money”? “Us and Them”? “Time”? Difficult task to choose … ten dynamic songs that will never leave our consciousness …
… ♪ The time is gone | The song is over | Thought I'd something more to say … ♪  

March 27^th: I’m sure you recall many great moments in music history involving the inimitable Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead fame. This was one of his less-than-stellar, but totally Jerry days … if he just hadn’t been stopped for speeding by a New Jersey state trooper, he may have made it all the way to Massachusetts for his next gig, with his suitcase full of LSD, Marijuana and cocaine in the back of the car … ♪ What a long, strange trip it's been … ♪   
(From “Truckin’” released November 1970.)

On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪ …   
Three cool, vastly different, vintage Radio surveys are in the running this month for BFYP’s Featured Radio Survey.
       If you were roaming the Midwest around Cincinnati, Ohio, you likely bopped to the pop sounds of WKRQ (later parodied in the tv show, WKRP in Cincinnati). The survey I collected doesn’t have a printed date—not even the month—but my best guesstimation is it’s bringing you the “Super Q’s Top 15” for the first week of March. The fun and funky ‘70s art included a photo of “The Q’s All American Boy,” your mid-day DJ, Dan Lundy. Unfortunately, for all my research, I couldn’t find any historical tidbits on Dan.
       Were you more of a West Coaster back in the day? We head toward the Pacific Ocean to cruise the length of California from KSTN/Stockton, with a March 9, 1973, survey. Typical ‘70s style, there’s a comical, hand drawn cartoon of DJ Chuck Cannon on the cover. Chuck, your lively evening DJ, is the only redeeming factor for KSTN’s

otherwise plain (for the era) Top 40 chart. Is he the same Chuck “Boom Boom” Cannon who later worked for San Diego’s Q-106 (KKLQ/1980s)? Good question … I’ll bet a few of you know the answer …
       Speaking of San Diego, our last stop on the Featured Radio Survey train is SoCal’s KCBQ/San Diego. Sadly, there are no jocks in the March 30^th chart, but lots of 1170 cuteness in its psychedelic borders. There’s a surplus of curly-cues and squiggles, and squeezed between in artsy fashion are ankhs, music notes, celestial bodies, a funky peace symbol … almost hidden in the bottom ink is … “Do it, KCBQ it!” Cool.
       *And it’s a good bet, you were listening to the dulcet tones of KCBQ’s Shotgun Tom Kelly or Rich “Brother” Robbin’s on-air antics!  

Monthly Song of Note ♪ … 

For the shear fact that its musical tendrils reach all the way into the 21st century, “2001 Theme”—also seen as “Also sprach Zarathustra (2001)” by Deo Dato (a close version)—nearly became this month’s Song of Note. It hit the charts in February and shows up again in March still climbing to #18 at KSTN/Stockton, with its title shortened. However …  
       Interesting faux pas like misspellings and other anomalies happened often on the surveys, which can make them more interesting and valuable for collectors. Like “Little Willie” by The Sweet at #1 on WKRQ, should be “Little Willy.” It too, proved interesting … ♪ Willy drives them silly with his star shoe shimmy shuffle down  … ♪ but …
       After last month’s love-fest, I had to go with “Break Up to Make Up” by stylish The Stylistics, for the March Song of Note. It’s just one of their several hits to make the top ten of both R&B and pop radio charts. Up five rungs on WKRQ/Cincinnati it landed at #10 for the first week of March and just starting its climb at the bottom slot of KSTN’s Top 40 … First you love me, then you hate me | That’s a game for fools    

Quirky Band Names ♪ …
Did you notice the band name of the “Little Willy” tune? If you’re wondering The Sweet “what,” they were originally, The Sweetshop, a British glam Rock band making their way through the ‘70s. Aha. Though they’re at #1 on WKRQ’s chart, I think you’ll remember them best for a later ’73 song, “The Ballroom Blitz.” Need an energizing pick-me-up? This song’ll do it!
       Faces, with “Cindy, Incidentally,” clinging to #25 on KSTN’s survey, caught my eye. Who are they really? When original band members of Small Faces parted ways—Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane, and Kenney Jones—were left, and they teamed up with Rockin’ dynamos, Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart, to become simply, Faces.

Now MARCH 2023 Rockin’ Today ♪ ...     
March is  Music in our Schools Month! As always, BFYP celebrates this special designation, for its close relation to radio and all the music that flows through it to the communities it serves. (Remember when we got into trouble for bringing our transistor radios to school?) Many iconic musicians credit their school music programs for nurturing their budding melodic creativity. What can you do to support your local school music programs? Click the link and learn. Not much else in music/radio related items on the list. That’s not to say there isn’t more fun … 

March 14^th: Another day close to my heart of course, is Write Your Story Day. There is no official link, but check out the hints on my Penchant for Penning “Legacy” page link. It may not seem like this day is a fit for BFYP, but are you a pioneering Rock Radio DJ? Have you written your autobiography to include your years as a wild-and-crazy Disk Jockey? You don’t need to be a “Wolfman Jack” to have a fascinatingly unique story. And it doesn’t need to be published anywhere except for your close family and friends, but I guarantee you’ll have fun just in the writing and reliving the memories. Do it today!  

March 22^nd: And yep, more self-promotion happening here! This is the official 39 And Holding Day! My 39 and Holding Club site* is Blast from Your Past’s li’l sis and celebrates folks “of a certain age,” which likely includes 90% of our readers here. It’s a “just for fun” site—but then, isn’t that what aging should be—fun? Since people turn 39+ every day, how did I choose just one day to celebrate? Click here for answer! (*Um, like this blog, however, I’m still playing catch-up, so if it isn’t up to March, please be patient! There’s plenty of fun just roaming around.)  

March 29^th: Finally! A music-related special day, albeit mostly to celebrate Piano Day in all its classical glory. If you’re a piano-lover though, you enjoy playing or listening to many different genres of this spectacularly versatile instrument on the 88th day of the year—so listed of course, for its 88 sparkling keys of musical manipulation.
       While this day leans toward the formal side of piano, perhaps someone reading this would feel the need to create Rock & Roll Piano Day! It’s a whole different animal …
       With history in vaudeville, honky tonk and R&B, Rock & Roll took the piano off its staid rails and into mainstream music …
       Think, The Eagles’ “Desperado” for a prime example, to be seen on radio charts late next month, and Billy Joel’s infamous “Piano Man” debuts in the latter half of 1973. In the meantime, after an awesome February run, ”Crocodile Rock,” with its catchy piano riff by fantastic piano man, Elton John, clings tenuously to KCBQ’s top ten list, still visible at #8, and is slipping off the chart fast at #32 for KSTN.

BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪ ...
MARCH 09, 1973 ~ KSTN/Stockton, California ~ of course, we’re featuring the Chuck Cannon survey! Too cute. Not only a great Top 40 lineup, but a fun, exaggerated (?) peek at life behind the mic … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played …

Sláinte! MARCH 1973 and … 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 Twitter: @BlastFromPastBk 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪