ROCKOLLECTIONS

Much more of The 60's Poets, and their Thoughts and Stories About Loneliness.Again I say, these Songs Read Well Written Down On Paper!Without the Music or the Arrangements.And again I ask you to Please Listen To The Words...The Lyrics, of the 60's Poets.They are still touching to me.And I am a Highly Opinionated Guy, lol!

Mike

It's a good time for The Poets.I chose 5 Topics for The 60's Poets, and I will  over time return to them- for this Maiden Voyage the topic is Loneliness.This is something Scott Muni used to do in his very early years at WNEW-FM.The 60's Poets were more relevant and understandable than the ones I later learned in school- the likes of Frost, Keats, Tennyson, etc.To this impressionable kid, The 60's Poets were spellbinding!Still today, these Songs Read Well Written Down On Paper!Never mind the Music or the Arrangements.I ask you to Listen To The Words...The Lyrics... of the 60's Poets.And their Thoughts and Stories, on the Subject Of Loneliness!

Mike

I'll finish that First (and last!) Anniversary Concert at the Village Theater on June 11, 1967.The acts perfectly reflected what WOR-FM was playing by that time, the station was a huge success with over a million listeners- and the best part was these were primarily college students and young adults who didn't listen to AM or FM...they didn't listen to the RADIO!WOR-FM had created a new audience!But the greedhead suits and consultants always want more.Thank goodness WNEW-FM was listening!They picked up the ball WOR-FM dropped and ran with it.You will hear Rosko quit on the air in this episode.But the Sad Story of WOR-FM will have a Happy Ending for most who were involved!Hope you enjoyed this journey, and I thank you for getting on the bus with me!

Mike

Getting ready to wrap things up at the late great WOR-FM with these last two Chapters, and we will drastically go from joyous celebration to the people responsible for the station's success being fired.The DJ's were allowed to play songs by groups better known for their Top 40 hits but were stretching out and expanding themselves, attempting experimental things- those hidden album cuts that were amazingly progressive for their time!You'll hear Rosko reading poetry, as he frequently did by a guy with an exotic name that I had never heard of!And I will begin to re-create a 1-year Anniversary Concert that WOR-FM held on June 11, 1967.Although the poster lists three acts- in fact there were FIVE acts, and I will get to all of them.As things would turn out, happy as this event was, those evil, greedy "consultants" were shortly about to swoop down at WOR-FM and ruin everything!Let's put that aside for now, and just enjoy some truly wonderful Tunes!

Mike

In this Chapter, Murray the K goes off, after playing a song that WOR-FM was the first in the country to play, and for a good while it was the only station to play it.Rosko comes on, doing some scat singing to an instrumental I cannot identify, and he is doing his show live from a club called The Cheetah- I don't know precisely how long that continued.Now he was the one we didn't know from other stations, and he was the biggest surprise,His real name was William Mercer, often talked about how he had been a men's room attendant in New Jersey, and went by the name Rosko on air.He had a very interesting delivery, and did unusual things on his show, some of which I will get to.If you are interested, in this Episode I will play THE song that changed my life!It was Rosko who played it, and I was completely drawn to it.I don't know if that has ever happened to you, but it did to me in 1967- and it was when I still didn't have an FM Radio, still listening to someone else's, but now...now it was imperative that I get my own!So after serious thought, I confirm what I always suspected and play for you the song that changed everything for me.And was responsible for my deep and abiding love for our Music that continues to this day.I just hope YOU like it, lol!

Mike

Their call letters no longer even exist, but the celebration of WOR-FM continues with some more Murray The K.Murray would do what he called "Attitude Blocks"- sets of music with a common thread tying them together.It was in late winter or early spring of 1967 that I finally found a friend who had an FM Radio, and soon after, a girl who had one.I would go over to one of their homes and try to be a fun guest, while simultaneously listening to their radio!One night, I heard Murray or Rosko play the album version of a song I was very familiar with- it was a huge hit on AM Radio.But I had never heard THIS!It was more than twice as long as that hit song I knew!I didn't even know there WAS a longer version- by the time that song was over, I felt like something was happening here and I was missing out, it blew my mind!Songs could be more than 3 minutes long?WOR-FM was presenting a new kind of Rock Music, daring to do so with intelligence.Some real memory busters in this chapter, hopefully some of those "Oh Wow" moments for you!Do enjoy!

Mike

Moving on with this celebration of WOR-FM bringing Rock & Roll to Commercial FM Radio, a look at a guy who many people liked and almost just as many found grating, Murray Kaufman, known famously as Murray The K.To begin, I'll play a couple of songs ABOUT Murray The K, one so horrid I wonder why I played it, lol!Ah well, it is probably the only chance I will ever have to play either of them.Then some Airchecks, and it is his first day too, that Oct. 8th 1966, and he brings with him all the gimmicks he used on AM, yet is noticeably toned-down.And he states that his aim is to appeal to college students, those in their 20's as well as their parents with an intelligent presentation of the Music.While this is his first show, as things turned out, and I was surprised by this, Murray was the most innovative and creative of all the DJ's at WOR-FM.He truly re-invented himself in the next year, and fought hard to play Album Cuts, Psychedelic Music and Long Songs.Murray, maybe even more than the other guys, was was taking Rock Music seriously and presenting it that way.He and FM Radio- and Our Music- would never be the same again!Enjoy the Swingin' Soiree' in this Brave New World!

Mike

I mentioned last week, a union strike over a new pay scale for FM jocks prevented the hired DJ's to go on the air.

They were anxious to go on that first day, July 30th 1966, but not allowed.

On the 2nd day, July 31st 1966, WOR-FM did a very strange thing.

They started running announcements explaining their position and predicament regarding this labor dispute.

Very unusual in Radio, where silence rules the day!

You know what I mean- your favorite DJ suddenly disappears...and there is no explanation, hell no MENTION of him or her ever again!But here was WOR-FM treating us as if we were intelligent, and giving us a look at what was going on behind the scenes.That foretold well what was to come, as WOR-FM would treat Rock & Roll and us like adults- even if we weren't yet adults, lol!And I'll have a continuing look at my Radio hero, not the only one but certainly the most important to me, Scott Muni.

Also, I am sure you heard him as a Disc Jockey for many decades- but how about my man Scott as a Newsman/Sportscaster/Weatherman?

It's in this episode...plus LOTS of Music Of The Period!

I hope you are enjoying this look at Radio History, because I am having a ball!

Mike

The Anniversary of WOR-FM's July 30th 1966 debut on the air is here, I'll continue with some fun old Airchecks and Music ONLY from 1967 and Before.

And I know there are radio freaks like myself who LOVE those old airchecks.

In many cases they bring back happier times just as much as the Music does!

The strike was settled, and the DJ's began on Oct. 8th 1966...a Saturday...very odd!

They were feeling their way around as most of us would starting a new job, probably not aware of their iconic status as Firsts.

Scott Muni and Murray the "K" in particular had to re-invent themselves, not be the Top 40 people they were remembered as.

They did so very nicely, and by the time I got an FM Radio were almost totally different- much more likable, laid back and friendly.

And they played music AM Radio wouldn't go near!

Enjoy the memories, or make some new ones!

Mike

No theme, group or artist featured for the next few weeks- but a Radio Station!A now-defunct Radio Station, WOR-FM, that had really only about 14 months of glory- and sadly, it's call letters no longer even exist.But it was the First Commercial FM to play Rock & Roll, and it laid the groundwork for what was later to be regarded as the best Rock Station Ever, WNEW-FM.WOR-FM debuted on July 30, 1966.The year before, the FCC made a ruling that made this extraordinary event possible.And I will play the first song they played on that historic day.The words GROOVE, GROOVY,  and particularly HAPPENING will pop up frequently during these shows, lol!For oldsters and youngsters alike, I invite you to join me, because "The Sound Is WOR-FM...New York!"

Mike