Rock Radio JUNE 1973 Summer of Steamy Hits

Summer Love Holds the Other Key to Me    

We’re rolling into summer, lovin’ the music, sprinkled with a spirit of nostalgic adventure! Not only will we take you back to June 1973, we’re sharing 2023’s San Diego County Fair full of nostalgic music fun, and below that, you’ll find a lineup link to similar summer festivals across the country.

First, on the virtual Internet streets, word has it, June is National DJ Month! Sponsored by Music Talkers, they couldn’t have said it better, “Whether broadcasting to listeners on the radio, engaging TV audiences or just setting the mood of a party, wedding reception, or any a special occasion, the DJ is an essential part of our culture.”

So true—from decade to decade, radio for instance, has reinvented itself to remain relevant, with help from the disk jockeys who refuse to believe their listeners don’t need them. We do. Locally and globally.

So, together with our respective DJs, here we are in June 2023, Rocking back to the Summer of 1973 with fond memories of now-iconic tunes, like George Harrison’s “Give Me Love,” and “Thinking of You” (Loggins & Messina). No doubt about it, Summer Love holds a special place in the hearts of teens in every generation. The world feels brighter, hearts are lighter, and luuuuvvvv is in the air! 50 Years Ago this Month …

Rockin’ News 1973 ♪ 

June 4^th: Who recalls radio of the ‘60s and ‘70s in Davenport, Iowa? You might remember it was on this day 1973 that KFMH radio flipped its lid from one extreme to another—easy listening to alternative rock. Talk about culture shock! Captain Steve Bridges, local celebrity DJ, gave the station its new music ID as PD, and listeners loved it. Reportedly, the first song in the new lineup was 1971’s nearly seven-minute statement, “I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes.

June 15^th: ♪  And if you feel like I feel baby … ♪  “Let’s Get It On” was recorded by the inimitable Marvin Gaye on this day, finally hitting WCFL’s July 21^st chart at #37, to begin its slow, sexy, upward climb to the top ten tunes by November 1^st. ♪… Somethin' like summer time … ♪ #SoulTrain

On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪ 
Ya gotta love an ad that even 50 Years Ago compared itself to “industry standard,” McDonald’s. June 1973 radio survey ad: “Yahoo, Texas Burger! More beef than a Quarter Pounder or Big Mac from Dog N Suds …

And just to confuse you, that’s in Chicago! Yup, we’re heading into another month of WCFL on your turntable. Not for any particular reason—it’s just the only June vintage music chart in the BFYP Collection*.

Last month, we saw Larry Lujack lounging on WCFL’s cover. For June, mid-days’ DJ Bob Dearborn made the cover and brought you all the hot tunes for lunch! As a DJ mainstay with the top stations in Chicago, Bob’s career in the windy city spanned sixteen years in his forty-five-plus years in radio. Practically a record in DJ-speak!

We were getting thirsty for Pepsi as the turntable spun under the hot summer sun, JUNE 1973. A WCFL ad mentioned Pepsi-Cola's 75th anniversary ... but do you know what the famous "pop" was called for five years before 1898? Visit the Featured Radio Survey page for answer! Musically, not much changed in the Top 40 lineup from late May to early June. May’s top ten songs shuffled up-and-down and danced around each other, to push Sylvia’s steamy “Pillow Talk” to the top. ♪… And let's get together before the day runs us down … ♪  

Some fun new tunes are bubbling up from the bottom, with Pink Floyd (“Money”), Deep Purple (“Smoke on the Water”) and Tower of Power (“So Very Hard to Go”) all clinging to a bottom rung. By month’s end, the first two (incidentally, not about love) found their tunes jockeying in the top twenty of sweltering Summer hits …

Quirky Band Names ♪ 
Ya betcha there’s a band named New York City, with their first and biggest hit, “I’m Doin’ Fine Now” on the charts, 50 Years Ago this Month … after taking a bite of the Big Apple, we’re hitchin’ a train to the Midwest. Following a string of early no-hits, the still-active-today Ohio Players first gave us “Funky Worm.”

But it’s a band whose name defined the ‘70s and began their pot-smoking spiral rise up the charts this month, that caught my eye. The Doobie Brothers slipped into 1973’s steamy summer hits with yet another in their string of hits, “Long Train Runnin’.” After several resurrections over the past fifty years, they’re still playing strong.

Ah, but what about the Quirky Name? You guessed it—the Doobie Brothers earned their moniker honestly—so to speak—but band drummer, John Hartman, is reported to having not a clue “doobie” meant a marijuana joint. Um, okay. They also hadn’t intended to use the name permanently, just until they could think of a better one. And as our parents would have said, “See kids, this is what smoking pot does to you!” LOL Whatever their name, we’re glad they stuck around  ♪… Without love where would you be now … ♪  

Monthly Song of Note ♪ 
*Music surveys from the BFYP (Blast from Your Past) Collection of Rock & Roll and Radio memorabilia is the source for our Featured Radio Survey and monthly Song of Note. Limited availability of vintage charts means at times, I managed to collect only one radio station radio survey for any given month.

For instance, WCFL/Chicago’s charts are the only ones I have for both May and June of 1973. They’re only two weeks apart, so still share several tunes in the top ten. However, “My Love” by Paul McCartney (and Wings) rocketed up the WCFL/Chicago chart for June 2, 1973, hitting #6, from last week’s #16. Its rapid rise put it in a class by itself for June.

McCartney bounced onto the last few rungs of the Top 40 chart for the first time at #38, May 5^th, and with just three giant leaps, “My Love,” that celebrates his wife, Linda, passed up songs languishing in the top twenty for weeks, on its way to #6. Yup, it was a hot, steamy month for love, June 1973! ♪ … Don't ever ask me why | I never say goodbye to my love … ♪ 

June 2023 Music Tidbits ♪   

Making summer hot, our San Diego County Fair, June 7^th to July 4^th, brings the steam to SoCal stages. Their apropos theme: “Get Out There” urges us to roam and explore this summer, and ya may as well enjoy great music while you’re at it! Some standout Rock below and full list of stellar concerts and comedy in all-inclusive fun, here. (Of course, fair admission comes with ticket purchase!) And the Chevrolet Paddock Stage performances are all free with your fair ticket!

June 7^th: Don't you just love a great trip with California’s own Train?! Who knows, maybe you’ll “Meet Virginia.” Great way to open the Fair! Train tickets    

June 14^th: Bruuuuuce! You definitely don't want to miss a trip down Memory Lane with the Springsteen Experience! Performer Josh Tanner is also a Jersey guy & his Paddock Stage show is free with Fair ticket.

June 17^th: Keepin’ you Rockin’ halfway through the Fair, dig out your inner teen, 39ers, we’re heading to the 50^th anniversary tour of Lynyrd Skynyrd! From Jacksonville, Florida, to San Diego, California, like many Rock & Roll powerhouses, Skynyrd has proven 39 and HOLDING is more than a cliché (and our sister club’s platitude), and Rock is an enduring lifestyle. “Get Out There” and Rock On! ♪… Gimme three steps towards the door …♪ Skynyrd’s tickets    

June 23rd: What's a good date night concert? Eagle Eyes of course! This talented group has perfected their tribute to the acclaimed Eagles, down to the smallest details for the biggest effect. See for yourself ... free on the Paddock Stage. 

July 1^st: Shhhh, don’t tell anyone, but we’re sneakin’ into July to bring you news of Southern Rock band, Alabama, taking the stage at the San Diego County Fair! Who doesn’t love Rock with a twang?! Though their biggest hits ushered in the 1980s, founding member, Jeff Cook (with cousins, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry), was a Rock Radio DJ in their hometown of Fort Payne, Alabama, in the late 1960s. Playing together in the early ‘70s, it was 1973 when they decided to “go pro.” ♪… Oh, Tennessee River and a mountain man | we play together in Mother Nature's Band …♪  Alabama ticket-time   

The Fair’s steamy summer music doesn’t stop there. That’s just a sampling of the Toyota Summer Concert Series on the “Corona Grandstand Stage.” There are local bands and great tribute bands on the Chevrolet Paddock Stage throughout the month. Bottom line, make June 2023 a stand-out summer of music and more, to remember! And BFYP readers across the country, check out your local county fairs to make it a super summer and “Get Out There”!

June 28^th: Back to general June news, we’d be remiss not to tell those who Rock a little more laid back, Island Style-under-the-limbo-stick, it’s International Parrot Head Day. If you don’t know what that means, well, all I can ask is, where have you been for the past 50 Years-plus?! Jimmy Buffett is a classic and so are his songs ♪… Chew a little Juicy Fruit | Wash away the night …♪            

BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪ 
JUNE 2, 1973 ~ WCFL/Chicago—yep again! Last month’s Larry Lujack cover was fun, while June’s mid-day DJ Bob Dearborn, promised all the hot tunes for your afternoon lunch! You may remember Bob as the DJ who championed Don McLean’s “American Pie” with an in-depth analysis of the song in January 1972. This month, still playing the hits, Bob’s halfway through his six-year gig at WCFL … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Celebrate JUNE 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  

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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 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! 

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Rock Radio MAY 1973 Chart-topping Sunshine

Rockin’ Your World in the Sunshine of ’73   

I had to look twice at the WCFL/Chicago music chart for May 19, 1973—yep, it says MAY at the top and not October! You wouldn’t know it, seeing the top two spooky tunes on their Super CFL Survey. “Hocus Pocus” by Focus (I kid you not) moved up a notch to #2 from the previous week.
       Not a music expert, I’m so glad Wiki included this info definition of the Dutch band’s rondo role in “Hocus Pocus”: “… consisting of alternation between a powerful rock chord riff with short drum solos and then varied solo ‘verses’ … which include yodeling, eefing, organ playing, accordion, scat singing, flute riffs, and whistling.” Whew! They deserved their spot in the top five, just for such complicated musicianship—or is that magicianship?!
       But it took second place to … I swear, it’s true … “Frankenstein,” an instrumental by the Edgar Winter Group that staggered up to WCFL’s #1.
       It’s tough enough to grab music charts’ top spot, but doubly difficult for instrumentals. Why the title of “Frankenstein” you might ask? Apparently, it was too long for release at first; after scores of edits and parts and pieces were spliced and diced, Winter began referring to it as a “monster-like, lumbering beat,” and it stuck. *See below how it fits into today’s International Drum Month!

So after the doom and gloom of monsters and magic, let’s get into May 1973’s bright sunshine! Rockin’ you … 50 Years Ago this Month …

Then MAY 1973 ♪ 

May 4^th: Were you one of the lucky ones who rocked with Led Zeppelin in their heyday? Starting on this day they toured the U.S. for two months, setting concert records, most notably in Tampa, Florida. Playing to 56,800 of their most fanatic fans, they topped The Beatles’ previous record. 
       However, while their album, Houses of the Holy hit #4 on CFL’s LP list, the band were a no-show on the singles chart; but the tour yielded footage for their 1976 concert film of the same name as their popular, “The Song Remains the Same.” 

May 5^th: It didn’t take long for Paul Simon’s There Goes Rhymin’ Simon album released this day, to picture stardom with its “Kodachrome” grabbing WCFL’s May 19, #39 spot on its way to the top. I bet you still remember the words … come on, sing it! ♪… When I look back | on all the crap I learned in high school …♪     

On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪ 
Larry Lujack … just mention his name in a roomful of people and everyone who ever grew up in, moved to, or simply passed through 1970s Chicago, will exclaim, “Oh yeah, he was the greatest DJ ever!”

As many DJs did back in the day, he figured the gig was easy money while in college and honed his early skills in the Midwest, where he was born Larry Lee Blankenburg. Somewhere along the road of life, he adopted “Lujack” to honor his Chicago Bears football hero, Johnny Lujack.
       But radio hooks ya …Larry soon shuffled to the Pacific Northwest for DJ jobs and as far south as San Bernardino, California, where he settled at KFXM in its 1963 heyday of Top 40 hits. Still not settled, he eventually headed east again in the mid-sixties, and bounced between WLS and WCFL for the best twenty years of his career.
       We didn’t have the politically correct restrictions then as now, so our DJs were funny without malice, naturally. It was assumed we all had a sense of humor and could laugh at ourselves, as well as others …
       Larry personified DJs of the ‘70s with a caustic wit and mordant demeanor, giving his radio listeners mental relief in a wayback, also tumultuous, era.  

Monthly Song of Note ♪  
"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is a great Spring song leading into summer, as it climbs the chart at WCFL/Chicago to #10, soon to become one of Stevie Wonder’s best tunes …
       The simple song with a catchy, stick-in-your-head melody was nominated that year for both Record and Song of the Year. But did you notice, the first few lines of the song are not Stevie’s vibrant voice?
       Ever a promoter of other good people, Stevie gave great sessions musician, Jim Gilstrap, along with backup singers, Lani Groves and Gloria Barley, a vocal promo. ♪… yeah, that’s why I’ll always stay around …♪   

Quirky Band Names ♪
Rising up the chart a few notches, Gunhill Road took a stand at #24 on WCFL’s chart this month for “Back When My Hair was Short.” Still kickin’ it, their website proudly states how their name came to be, when formed in Mt. Vernon, New York, “…. and named for an iconic street in the Bronx.”

Dr. John’s moniker took a much longer and winding road, through the early years of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr.’s tuneful career. His name changes are as tough to pin down as his music was; the New Orleans native’s wiki bio even had a tough time categorizing him, with a “Soul, funk, New Orleans R&B, swamp rock,” description. With so many sounds to choose from, his charted “Right Place Wrong Time”—a dilemma we can all identify with—is at #35 this month. 

But the most quirky fun has to be Focus. After their magical “Hocus Pocus” song background above, their name is aptly as intriguing—okay, maybe just ‘cause I’m a writer and word etymology is a passion of mine, but profound reports tell us, “…Focus is a Latin word that is the same in many languages. It means concentration, which is the meaning of what Focus does." 

Now MAY 2023 ♪
Rockin’ Today … Join me in a drumfest for International Drum Month! Although no one claims the month’s honor, the PlayDrums site works for getting you in the beat.

For a long time in early Rock music, drummers were simply those who kept the beat steady and framed the background for guitarists and singers. Through the mid-sixties and seventies however, drummers found their voice and clamored to be recognized for their intricate, delicate, and resounding solos that often became the focal point of a popular song.
        Can you spot some iconic songs with memorable drum runs in the May 19, 1973, WCFL/Chicago Top 40 survey? A starting hint: Edgar Winter Group’s instrumental, Frankenstein, is a prime example, with Winter and their drummer, Chuck Ruff, wowing fans with a freaky-fine performance. There are more … take a look at the Featured Radio Survey …

BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪  
MAY 19, 1973 ~ WCFL/Chicago again, features the ever-popular DJ Larry Lujack on the cover, makin’ his DJ job look easy! Want to know what Canadians were listening to this month? Moody Blues, Donny Osmond, and Vicki Lawrence all made the top ten of “Montreal’s Super Hits” … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Celebrate MAY 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 

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ORIGINAL POST ~ LR / BFYP LATE NOTE ♪ 05/01/2023 @ 1:00a:  Yup, it’s-a-comin’! Just not ‘til later. Please bear with me as I finalize a fun month of Oldies Rock Radio History. Coming up is a quirky look at the top two tunes on WCFL/Chicago’s May 1973 survey, along with monthly happenings Quirky Band Names, Song of Note ♪, and iconic Rock Radio DJ, Larry Lujack! C’mon back … there’s MORE … 50 Years Ago this Month.

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! 

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