Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 (edited) One of the reasons for the rise of soul music in the 60's was the effect of some US radio stns ... Much like the DJ's on the NS scene, American radio jocks would make their names by picking obscure local label releases to push, making them sought after 45's and helping them gain national distribution deals THUS going on to become national chart hits. They'd also flip a 45 and plug the B side, again getting listeners attention and promoting an obscure cut into becoming a hit. They'd also reactivate non-hit tracks from months / a year or so earlier and again push the 45 back into the spotlight. Most times, they'd be doing this to help progress their own careers, though some had a deep love of the music & just had to push neglected tracks they loved. If a radio jock picked winners on a regular basis, he'd build up a dedicated band of regular listeners & get offers of better posts on bigger stns. Some jocks on pop stns would pick many soul sides to spin (especially in the 1963 - 1968 period) when soul was becoming hot on the charts. They'd be playing soul sides that became popular and entered their stns charts, even when many of the other things given heavy airplay on their stn were by the likes of the Beach Boys, Beatles, Monkees, Bobby Vee, Lovin Spoonful, Frank Sinatra, etc. So, by viewing old US radio stn chart run-downs you can get a feel for those time and the way in which soul music was surging in popularity ... I'll start by posting bits from a pop stn down in Durham (Carolinas) ... WSSB .... Edited June 17, 2018 by Roburt 3
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 A typical WSSB spin, their No.1 track in Nov 67 ... a real pop throw-away track with a touch of a Beatles hippy vibe .. But also on their charts were some great soul cuts ...
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 Next up is a REAL soul stn, Memphis's finest R&B outlet ... WDIA ... a ground breaking stn started up in 1947. Played tunes aimed at a black audience from day one & even featured black presenters (many soul stns in the 60's still employed mainly white staff & DJ's) .. 1
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 A couple of cuts off the above WDIA Charts ...
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 Another famous soul stn ..... Philly's WDAS ...
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 AGAIN ... a couple of the above charts ... wanted to pick George & the Highlanders – The Hawk ... but it ain't on Youtube ..
Hooker1951 Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 That's a cracking write up Roburt great article, I can relate to all that music in the American soul and RNB charts at the time, it was my growing up music, We were lucky enough to hear a great deal of it on the fairgrounds in the north west which I worked on where we would buy the imports from the back street record shops in Manchester, especially for the waltzer S and Speedways at the time the machines and music at the time seemed to be joined at the hip , fantastic times and memories, ML
Tomangoes Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 Fascinating stuff. When I'm in the US, I always try and tune into the oldies stations, and it's amazing what gets played. Not super rare Northern, but plenty of lower national chart tracks, and local chart hits of the day. Probably all mp3 or cd tracks though! Ed
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 Can post up loads & loads more (old radio stn charts & related stuff) if there's much interest. 1
Soulfinger Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 That's wonderful stuff Roburt. Thank you for posting. It's fascinating to see what was being played where and when in the states and link it when I first heard stuff over here. Lots of the slightly more mainstream tunes could be heard on Radio Caroline and Radio Luxemburg in the mid 60's but there's plenty of stuff that took a long time to reach my ears.
John Hart Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 Well Done Roburt,Fantastic reading and listening, and yes keep the US radio stations playlist coming!! Imagine a comparable listing of UK radio station {uno!} of similar years, Thanks again,Johnny .
The Tempest Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 I love reading your posts - such an insight into the past - thanks for posting and keep em coming
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 Onwards & upwards then ... over to St Louis ... from when Jimmy Bishop was on the city's airways till Bernie Hayes was on & simply a radio jock .... Back in 1962, look who was No.1 on their chart ... don't think the lady lasted long in the biz !!! 1
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 Still in St Louis ... with KATZ this time .... 1
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 (edited) KATZ chart sounds .... BTW, I need a KATZ safety antenna ball, anyone got a spare one ?? Edited June 17, 2018 by Roburt
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 Not sure if this side of the Fidels 45 was also spun by the stn's jocks back then ... would guess it was, as it had that 'current sound' ...
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 (edited) WSID in Baltimore .... Edited June 17, 2018 by Roburt 1 1
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 (edited) A doo-wop sounding track ... a new release bu seemed old even back in 62 .. (off to get some dinner now, back later) ... Edited June 17, 2018 by Roburt
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 This ones a bit different ... an article about an outfit who made radio jingles to go out on air to black audiences in the US ... The guy, Walter Grady, ran a number of labels; Witches Brew, Cobra, Linco & more .... https://www.45cat.com/label/witchs-brew https://www.45cat.com/label/cobra-north-carolina
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 (edited) Various Baltimore radio stn bits ... radio show ads, radio stn DJ promoted live concerts, etc ..... Edited June 17, 2018 by Roburt
Tomangoes Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 I'd be listening to the radio all day! Love the Major. Ed 1
Roburt Posted June 17, 2018 Author Posted June 17, 2018 The Gospel Pick of the Week cuts from above (Jan & Feb 64) ... the O'Neal Twins is a later version though ..
The Yank Posted June 17, 2018 Posted June 17, 2018 10 hours ago, Roburt said: Can post up loads & loads more (old radio stn charts & related stuff) if there's much interest. I would be interested! Would love to see any 60's surveys from Chicago stations (WVON, WGRT) or from the suburbs (WBEE or WMPP). 1
Mark S Posted June 18, 2018 Posted June 18, 2018 This is what I love about this site peoples generosity with info thanks Roburt very interesting . I am just a punter who loves the music this stuff puts flesh on the bones . Thanks
Roburt Posted June 18, 2018 Author Posted June 18, 2018 (edited) Not heading off to Chicago area stns just yet ... staying in the New York thru to Baltimore area for this post .... Schaefer Beers ran a radio jingle contest in the 60's / early 70's and lots of soul acts made & submitted their efforts for consideration. The beer company turned it into an annual contest and announced the top entries each year. Lots of these were then aired on radio stns and a winner chosen. Would love to get to hear at least 8 of them (if they still exist that is) ... Edited June 18, 2018 by Roburt
George G Posted June 18, 2018 Posted June 18, 2018 Can't believe that no one has mentioned this website, 1000s of surveys here. You don't need to know the stations call letters, just pick a city and find the R&B stations https://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/index.php
George G Posted June 18, 2018 Posted June 18, 2018 13 hours ago, the yank said: I would be interested! Would love to see any 60's surveys from Chicago stations (WVON, WGRT) or from the suburbs (WBEE or WMPP). Have fun! Nice collection of WBEE, not as many for the others, although I recall seeing a bunch of WVONs somewhere, they were a big station. https://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/station.php?&it=31&s1=-1&q=chicago&ix=19&rs=1320 https://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/station.php?&it=31&s1=-1&q=chicago&ix=9&rs=2055 https://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/station.php?&it=31&s1=-1&q=chicago&ix=8&rs=2248 1
Roburt Posted June 18, 2018 Author Posted June 18, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Roburt said: ... in the New York thru to Baltimore area for this post .... Schaefer Beers ran a radio jingle contest in the 60's / early 70's and lots of soul acts made & submitted their efforts for consideration .... Would love to get to hear at least 8 of them (if they still exist that is) .. A compilation of Schaefer Beer TV ads from the old days ... none of the many soul versions though (think they were mainly the radio ads) ... Edited June 18, 2018 by Roburt 1
The Yank Posted June 28, 2018 Posted June 28, 2018 The Fantastic Four did better in Chicago (#20) without even showing up on the Detroit chart.
Roburt Posted June 30, 2018 Author Posted June 30, 2018 (edited) Heading up to Cleveland this time ... Edited June 30, 2018 by Roburt
Roburt Posted July 1, 2018 Author Posted July 1, 2018 Another WJMO chart from Cleveland ... This ones from July 67 and features tracks by Jimmy Conwell, Norma Jenkins, Lou Ragland, the Cruisers, Epitome of Sound, Lou Courtney, Bunny Sigler, Al Kent & more ...
Roburt Posted July 2, 2018 Author Posted July 2, 2018 The nation's capital ... DC time on the radio ... quite a few goodies on their Aug 69 chart ... none more so than their #19 ...
Roburt Posted July 2, 2018 Author Posted July 2, 2018 Happening on WOOK ... Wrong side of this 45 ... but still a goodie ..
Roburt Posted July 3, 2018 Author Posted July 3, 2018 They also played this one ... by Baltimore's fave old doo wopper ...
Roburt Posted July 5, 2018 Author Posted July 5, 2018 Even US Top 40 stns featured a whole load of soul cuts from the mid 60's thru to the late 70's .... Long Island's WBAB for instance ... .......... AND ...... on many occasions, it wasn't all the most obvious tracks that got featured (for a pop stn that is ) ...
Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 Roburt, allow me to congratulate you, your posts in these forums are an absolute joy! Two of my favourite films, 'Vanishing Point' and 'Play misty for me' both based around a small-time Radio jock/station, great insights into how it was. Again fantastic input, thankyou, I won't clutter it any further, a really good read as always from you!
The Yank Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 (edited) Good to see Patti Young and Duke Browner getting some airplay! See the Soul Prospects section. Edited July 5, 2018 by the yank
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