The Oldies

[chris olivarez]

When I've had a chance to listen to oldies radio stations some things appears to me to be missing. Maybe it's just a perception issue with me but those things(artists)that appear to be MIA are(1)Motown (2)British "invasion"artists save for the Beatles(more specifically Stones,Yardbirds and the Animals as opposed to Brit bubblegum dreck).(3)Artists such as James Brown,Sam Cooke and the Impressions.(4)Later 60's artists such as Hendrix and the Cream.

One has to wonder about a format that values the Archies over Marvin Gaye. Maybe it's just me but I would appreciate hearing from someone who has spent anytime listening to one of these radio stations especially recently but any and all comments would be appreciated.

[Rooster_Ties]

Just a hunch, but I can think of a few ideas for why...

1) There's a larger listener base for really vacuous "oldies" music, like The Archies, who (probably) also never watch the news - or if they do, they piss and moan about the news stations not showing enough "good" news stories. Call it the "Music as Prozac" theory... I'm not kidding - we all know these people, or at least cross paths with them in the grocery store... People who long for a simpler time - and the music you do hear on "Moldy Oldies" stations these days certainly represent a simpler kind of music - the kind everyone can sing along too, the kind nearly devoid of any kind of musical sophistication.

2) I've seen a few "Golden Oldies" music collection ads/infomercials on cable TV stations mostly (although you see them less now than 10 years ago). Some of them seem to be aimed at promoting the more lightweight music of the 50's as being likeable/suitable/appropriate for kids, like ages 4-7 or so. Can't imagine that kids would be a serious 'target' audience (or parallel target audience), but then again - if they're trying to target a generation that are now grandparents (most of them), then maybe there is some kind of subtle tie-in here.

3) In general, I think most radio stations of every genre are all programming to the lowest common denominator. With the FCC regs being relaxed (or obliterated completely) about corporate ownership of multiple stations in the same market - you're finding more and more stations being programmed to absolutely maximize listenership. Not like the really older 50's crowd is gonna stand for any of that Cream crap, or Hendrix freakazoid music, or anything as visceral as James Brown. Nah, why would anyone want to listen to that when there's good old "la-de-la" fun early 50's music, that every person on the planet knows in their sleep.

4) Might also have something to do with the general reduction of listenership for radio in general, and oldies stations in particular. I think there used to be more of an older "Oldies" format, with Sinatra, 40's music, early 50's doo-wop, and other "pre-British-Invasion" styles. Then there was the more late-50's/all-60's format, which had a tiny bit more edge to it. Now, with the audiences shrinking for both formats, I think they're just programming to what's common between them, the dreck you described.

[Harold_Z]

It seems like they're playing the same hundred or so songs over and over as if those were the only hits. In a couple of years it'll probably be the same 20 or so.

[BFrank]

My suggestion: With the consolidation of the radio industry (basically Clear Channel monopolizing the airwaves), stay away from commercial music stations altogether. Try to find an independant, non-commercial station down on the "left" side of the dial.

[Harold_Z]

Absolutely. The only time I'm hearing commercial radio is when the radio is being held hostage.

Edited April 19, 2003 by Harold_Z

[Jazzmoose]

Wow. Chris, my wife listens to an oldies station regularly. Every monday is "Motown Monday", so I can't say they're ignoring this stuff. They play it on other days as well. They certainly don't play Cream and such, but hey; they're appealing to the singles crowd even at this late date. It's not like you're going to hear a lot of Led Zeppelin on these stations. I personally think her station (KFRC) is light on British Invasion stuff (very little Kinks, no Who, what are "Yardbirds"?), but they certainly play a lot of Stones. Sam Cooke, the Impressions, etc. (plus later faves I can dig like the O'Jays and the Chi-lites!) are played quite a bit.

Are we just lucky??

[Rooster_Ties]

Just saw a TV ad for a local oldies station here in Kansas City. It was playing up the "songs you can sign with your kids" angle, which fits my theory stated above...

http://www.oldies95.com/

Also found this on their site, probably consistant with their play list (or at least not inconsistant), I would guess...

OLDIES 95 KARAOKE

ARTIST TITLE SONG #

   

AD LIBS BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY 19-6-7 

AMERICAN BREED BEND ME, SHAPE ME 5-3-12. 

ANGELS MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK 15-1-11 

ANIMALS DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD 16-4-15 

ANIMALS THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 16-1-5 

ANIMALS WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE 20-3-5 

ARCHIES SUGAR, SUGAR 15-3-4 

ASSOCIATION CHERISH 18-1-4 

ASSOCIATION NEVER MY LOVE 15-2-7 

BADFINGER DAY AFTER DAY 11-5-14. 

BEACH BOYS CALIFORNIA GIRLS 25-2-13 

BEACH BOYS CATCH A WAVE DVD14-18 

BEACH BOYS DON'T WORRY BABY 15-3-9 

BEACH BOYS FUN, FUN, FUN 11-2-14. 

BEACH BOYS GOOD VIBRATIONS 13-3-2 

BEACH BOYS HELP ME, RHONDA 13-2-7 

BEACH BOYS I GET AROUND DVD-14-13

BEACH BOYS LITTLE DEUCE COUPE 16-6-12 

BEACH BOYS SURFER GIRL DVD-3-18 

BEACH BOYS SURFIN' U.S.A. DVD-7-20 

BEACH BOYS WOULDN'T IT BE NICE 13-6-5 

BEATLES A HARD DAY'S NIGHT 14-5-11 

BEATLES ALL MY LOVING 12-1-12. 

BEATLES AND I LOVE HER 14-6-6 

BEATLES CAN'T BUY ME LOVE 15-1-7 

BEATLES DAY TRIPPER 13-6-4 

BEATLES DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET 16-6-6 

BEATLES DRIVE MY CAR 11-6-11. 

BEATLES EIGHT DAYS A WEEK 13-2-14 

BEATLES ELEANOR RIGBY 16-4-17 

BEATLES HELLO GOODBYE 15-2-4 

BEATLES HELP! 13-2-15 

BEATLES I FEEL FINE 13-2-2 

BEATLES I SAW HER STANDING THERE 12-1-10. 

BEATLES I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER 14-6-7 

BEATLES I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND 13-2-9 

BEATLES IN MY LIFE DVD-14-9 

BEATLES LET IT BE 15-4-14 

BEATLES LOVE ME DO 11-6-14. 

BEATLES MICHELLE 14-5-9 

BEATLES NOWHERE MAN 13-3-4 

BEATLES OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA 18-1-18 

BEATLES PENNY LANE 16-1-16 

BEATLES PLEASE PLEASE ME 15-3-10 

BEATLES SHE LOVES YOU 12-1-11. 

BEATLES TICKET TO RIDE 13-2-13 

BEATLES TWIST AND SHOUT 13-2-1 

BEATLES YESTERDAY 13-2-8 

BEAU BRUMMELS JUST A LITTLE 7-5-14. 

BOX TOPS THE LETTER DVD-6-22 

BROWN, JAMES I GOT YOU (I FEEL GOOD) 15-2-1 

BUCKINGHAMS HEY BABY (THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG 7-5-11. 

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH (STOP, HEY WHA 13-6-1 

BYRDS MR. TAMBOURINE MAN 13-3-6 

BYRDS TURN! TURN! TURN! 5-3-6. 

CARTER, MEL HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME 1-1-15. 

CHECKER, CHUBBY LET'S TWIST AGAIN 17-4-12 

CHECKER, CHUBBY THE TWIST SGB51-17 

CHIFFONS ONE FINE DAY 14-6-8 

CHRISTIE, LOU LIGHTNIN' STRIKES DVD-6-6 

CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER R TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW 17-1-16 

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REV. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN 13-3-11 

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL DOWN ON THE CORNER 1081-7 

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL LOOKIN' OUT MY BACK DOOR 14-1-7 

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL PROUD MARY 13-6-16 

CROCE, JIM BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN 15-4-8 

DAVE CLARK FIVE BECAUSE 11-1-14. 

DELL-VIKINGS COME GO WITH ME 13-5-10 

DIAMOND, NEIL CHERRY, CHERRY 2-6-2. 

DIAMOND, NEIL CRACKLIN' ROSIE 2-6-3. 

DIAMOND, NEIL GIRL, YOU'LL BE A WOMAN SOON 2-6-5. 

DIAMOND, NEIL SOLITARY MAN 2-6-15. 

DIAMOND, NEIL SWEET CAROLINE DVD-6-10 

DION RUNAROUND SUE 13-5-18 

DION THE WANDERER 13-5-2 

DION & THE BELMONTS A TEENAGER IN LOVE 13-5-16 

DOOBIE BROTHERS LISTEN TO THE MUSIC DVD-16-23

DRIFTERS ON BROADWAY 15-5-7 

DRIFTERS THIS MAGIC MOMENT DVD-12-11

DRIFTERS UNDER THE BOARDWALK 1-2-14. 

EAGLES TAKE IT EASY 3-1-9. 

EVERETT, BETTY SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT'S IN HIS KISS 5-6-7. 

EVERLY BROTHERS ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM 14-5-12 

EVERLY BROTHERS WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE 15-1-5 

EXCITERS TELL HIM 14-6-17 

FOUNDATIONS BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP 6236-8 

FOUR SEASONS BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY 15-3-11 

FOUR SEASONS SHERRY 15-1-12 

FOUR TOPS BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING DVD-13-13

FOUR TOPS I CAN'T HELP MYSELF (SUGAR PIE, HO 1-2-10. 

FOUR TOPS IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG 1-2-2. 

FOUR TOPS REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE 0-101-2 

FRANKLIN, ARETHA RESPECT DVD-2-7 

FRANKLIN, ARETHA NATURAL WOMAN 11/6/01 

FRANKLIN, ARETHA THINK DVD-12-22

FULLER, BOBBY FOUR I FOUGHT THE LAW 15-3-14 

GAYE, MARVIN HOW SWEET IT IS (TO BE LOVED BY YO 1118-16 

GAYE, MARVIN I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE DVD-9-1 

GAYE, MARVIN & TERRELL, TAMMI AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH 1062-4 

GORE, LESLEY IT'S MY PARTY 13-5-11 

GRASS ROOTS LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY 11-1-9. 

GRASS ROOTS MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS DVD-15-17

GRASS ROOTS TEMPTATION EYES 7-5-1. 

GRAY, DOBIE DRIFT AWAY DVD-13-17

HAMILTON, JOE FRANK & REYNOLD DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE 14-6-15 

HARRISON, WILBERT KANSAS CITY 14-5-6 

HEBB, BOBBY SUNNY 14-5-15 

HERMAN'S HERMITS I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD 15-1-9 

HERMAN'S HERMITS THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH (ALL OVER T 13-6-13 

HOLLY, BUDDY THAT'LL BE THE DAY 13-2-10 

ISLEY BROTHERS SHOUT (PART 1) 13-5-1 

JACKSON, J.J. BUT IT'S ALRIGHT DVD-13-6 

JAMES, TOMMY & THE SHONDELLS CRIMSON AND CLOVER 13-3-14 

JAN & DEAN LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA 14-6-11 

JAN & DEAN SURF CITY 20-1-12 

JAY & THE AMERICANS COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER 15-1-15 

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE SOMEBODY TO LOVE 6024-8 

JOHN, ELTON CROCODILE ROCK 12-6-5. 

JONES, TOM IT'S NOT UNUSUAL 17-3-12 

KING, BEN E. STAND BY ME 11-1-2. 

KING, CAROLE IT'S TOO LATE 11-4-9. 

KINGSMEN LOUIE, LOUIE 1-1-14. 

KINKS ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT 16-1-2 

KINKS YOU REALLY GOT ME ('64 STUDIO VERS 16-4-6 

LOGGINS & MESSINA YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE 15-4-12 

LOVIN' SPOONFUL DAYDREAM 0-063-13 

LOVIN' SPOONFUL DID YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR 0-063-15 

LOVIN' SPOONFUL DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? 0-063-16 

LOVIN' SPOONFUL SUMMER IN THE CITY 0-063-10 

LOVIN' SPOONFUL YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE SO NICE 0-063-11 

LULU TO SIR WITH LOVE 13-4-13 

MAIN INGREDIENT EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL 2-4-15. 

MAMAS & THE PAPAS CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' 14-5-17 

MAMAS & THE PAPAS MONDAY, MONDAY 13-3-10 

MANFRED MANN DO WA DIDDY DIDDY 15-1-2 

MANFRED MANN MIGHTY QUINN (QUINN, THE ESKIMO 16-1-14 

MARCELS BLUE MOON 15-1-6 

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS DANCING IN THE STREET DVD-13-20

MCKENZIE, SCOTT SAN FRANCISCO (BE SURE TO WEAR FLO 13-6-14 

MONKEES DAYDREAM BELIEVER 13-2-12 

MONKEES I'M A BELIEVER DVD-3-8 

MONKEES LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE 13-3-9 

MORRISON, VAN BROWN EYED GIRL 16-6-1 

MUNGO JERRY IN THE SUMMERTIME 17-4-15 

NASH, JOHNNY I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW 1-4-15. 

NELSON, RICK TRAVELIN' MAN 16-6-8 

ORBISON, ROY OH, PRETTY WOMAN SPC-09-5 

ORBISON, ROY ONLY THE LONELY 12-1-3. 

OUTSIDERS TIME WON'T LET ME DVD-12-15

PAYNE, FREDA BAND OF GOLD 16-2-10 

PICKETT, WILSON IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR 15-2-2 

PICKETT, WILSON MUSTANG SALLY 3-2-3. 

PRESLEY, ELVIS CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE 13-2-4 

PRESLEY, ELVIS DON'T BE CRUEL 13-2-7 

PRESLEY, ELVIS IN THE GHETTO 2-5-5. 

PRESLEY, ELVIS RETURN TO SENDER DVD-12-5 

PRESLEY, ELVIS SUSPICIOUS MINDS 2-5-7. 

PUCKETT, GARY & THE UNION GAP LADY WILLPOWER 7-5-3. 

PUCKETT, GARY & THE UNION GAP OVER YOU 7-5-7. 

PUCKETT, GARY & THE UNION GAP YOUNG GIRL 16-6-14 

RASCALS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING 7-5-4. 

RASCALS GOOD LOVIN' 0-063-3 

RASCALS GROOVIN' 15-3-6 

RASCALS HOW CAN I BE SURE 7-5-5. 

RASCALS I'VE BEEN LONELY TOO LONG 7-5-6. 

RASCALS PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE 13-3-17 

REDDING, OTIS (SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY 1-2-9. 

RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS (YOU'RE MY) SOUL AND INSPIRATION 1-1-1. 

RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS UNCHAINED MELODY 14-5-1 

RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELIN SPC-09-1 

RIVERS, JOHNNY MOUNTAIN OF LOVE 15-2-12 

RIVERS, JOHNNY ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA AND THE BOOGIE W 1-1-9. 

RIVIERAS CALIFORNIA SUN 11-2-8. 

ROBINSON, SMOKEY & THE MIRACL I SECOND THAT EMOTION 1118-19 

ROBINSON, SMOKEY & THE MIRACL THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS DVD-9-18 

ROLLING STONES AS TEARS GO BY 6-6-2. 

ROLLING STONES GET OFF MY CLOUD 6-6-6. 

ROLLING STONES SATISFACTION 6-6-6. 

RUSH, MERRILEE & TURNABOUTS ANGEL OF THE MORNING 20-2-17 

SAM & DAVE SOUL MAN 11-6-2. 

SAM THE SHAM & PHARAOHS LIL' RED RIDING HOOD 15-3-8 

SAM THE SHAM & PHARAOHS WOOLY BULLY 14-6-9 

SEARCHERS LOVE POTION NUMBER NINE DVD-3-21 

SEDAKA, NEIL BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO ('62 FAS 12-1-16. 

SHANNON, DEL RUNAWAY 1-1-13. 

SHIRELLES WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW 11-6-5. 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 9-6-3. 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL CECILIA 7-2-12. 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL MRS. ROBINSON 7-2-2. 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE 9-6-7. 

SIMON, PAUL KODACHROME 9-6-1. 

SLEDGE, PERCY WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN 11-6-3. 

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE DANCE TO THE MUSIC 3036-15 

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE EVERYDAY PEOPLE 13-6-3 

SONNY & CHER I GOT YOU BABE 13-3-3 

SONNY & CHER THE BEAT GOES ON 16-6-4 

SPENCER DAVIS GROUP GIMME SOME LOVIN' 7-1-14. 

SPRINGFIELD, DUSTY SON OF A PREACHER MAN 26-1-11 

SPINNERS I'LL BE AROUND 17-1-9 

STEAM NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE 15-2-3 

STEPPENWOLF BORN TO BE WILD 14-5-2 

STEPPENWOLF MAGIC CARPET RIDE 16-4-10 

STEWART, ROD MAGGIE MAY 1081-12 

SUPREMES BABY LOVE 0-1330-14 

SUPREMES BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN 19-5-13 

SUPREMES COME SEE ABOUT ME 0-1330-18 

SUPREMES I HEAR A SYMPHONY 0-1330-17 

SUPREMES LOVE CHILD 0-1330-15 

SUPREMES SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER 0-1330-20 

SUPREMES STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE DVD-9-4 

SUPREMES WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO 0-1330-11 

SUPREMES YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE 0-1330-19 

SUPREMES YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON 0-1330-16 

TEMPTATIONS AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG 0-101-10 

TEMPTATIONS GET READY 0-003-13 

TEMPTATIONS JUST MY IMAGINATION 0-003-15 

TEMPTATIONS MY GIRL 15-6-6 

THOMAS, B.J. HOOKED ON A FEELING 16-1-11 

THREE DOG NIGHT AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG DVD-5-15 

THREE DOG NIGHT JOY TO THE WORLD 0-13-8 

THREE DOG NIGHT MAMA TOLD ME (NOT TO COME) 1081-8 

THREE DOG NIGHT ONE 17-3-13 

TOKENS THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT 25-2-16 

TROGGS WILD THING 16-1-1 

TROY, DORIS JUST ONE LOOK 15-3-7 

TURTLES ELENORE 13-3-15 

TURTLES HAPPY TOGETHER 25-2-15 

VALENS, RITCHIE LA BAMBA 25-2-11 

VOGUES FIVE O'CLOCK WORLD 7-5-2. 

WARWICK, DIONNE WALK ON BY 20-1-15 

WELLS, MARY MY GUY 1062-10 

WILLIAMS, MAURICE & ZODIACS STAY 0-13-5 

WILSON, J. FRANK & THE CAVALI LAST KISS 1-1-12. 

WONDER, STEVIE FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE  

WONDER, STEVIE UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) DVD-11-8 

WONDER, STEVIE YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE 1118-20 

WOOD, BRENTON GIMME LITTLE SIGN DVD-5-23 

ZOMBIES SHE'S NOT THERE 14-6-16 

ZOMBIES TIME OF THE SEASON 11-1-10

also found this, which is also somewhat telling of their programming choices...

Great Oldies On the Air and On the Web!

Oldies 95 plays your favorite oldies from your favorite artists, and now you can find out even more about the legends of Rock and Roll with our Great Oldies link page. Click on any of the artists listed below to go to their home on the internet. There you'll find the latest news and information about them, their history, and even tour dates.

The Animals

The Beach Boys

The Beatles

The Byrds

Chubby Checker

Petula Clark

Creedance Clearwater Revival

Neil Diamond

Elvis

The Everly Brothers

The Four Seasons

The Four Tops

Herman's Hermits

Tommy James

Jan and Dean

Jerry Lee Lewis

The Lovin' Spoonful

The Mamas & Papas

The Monkees

Motown's Classic Stars

Otis Redding

The Righteous Brothers

Johnny Rivers

The Rolling Stones

Paul Simon

Three Dog Night

The Turtles

Edited April 19, 2003 by Rooster_Ties

[chris olivarez]

Rooster Ties-Your observations might have hit the nail on the head. I was ok with the playlist at least some of it on your KC station and others selections just reinforced some of the revulsion that I'm feeling towards this format.

Jazzmoose-I wonder if your station is independently programmed or if it's part of a large chain? There seems to be at least some originality in their approach.

What bugs me about this format is that black artists who did so much to vault this music to prominence are once again getting the short shrift.In the 50's their music was covered a lot and it seems the playlist on a lot of these stations is an insidious variation on what happened in the 50's.

[Rooster_Ties]

Stumbled on this thread searching for something else, and noticed that the Kansas City "oldies" station that used to be "50's and 60's" --- is now "60's and 70's". Funny, the same image hot-link still works, just their logo has changed (well, that, and their format).

My bet is that the "50's and 60's" oldies stations are going the way of the Dodo bird, as did the "40's, 50's, and 60's" stations that existed as recently as 10 or 15 years ago. (I know, I worked on-air at an AM/FM set of sister stations while I was in college -- where the AM station was 40's, 50's and 60's.)

Up, for no good reason.

Edited September 30, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Jazzmoose]

Quite right. In the SF market, before we left, KFRC had already made the change from 50s/60s to 60s/70s, and the main 40s station, KABL had gone kerplunk. Something about dead people not being the right demographic...

Heck, for a while there was an oldies station in the bay area playing new wave "classics". Must admit, I enjoyed it quite a bit...

[Rooster_Ties]

Only a matter of time before the "New Wave" is the new "Oldies".

[JSngry]

Only a matter of time before the "New Wave" is the new "Oldies".

If you're ever in Dallas, liste to The Flashback Cafe on KDGE and know that it already is.

[Harold_Z]

Has anyone noticed that ALL the pop stations, whether oldies or contemporary, are really WAYYYYY over compressing everything?

I can't stand the sound of these stations what ever they're playing !

[Dan Gould]

You would think that Magic 102.7 in south Florida would be one station that would have stuck with the 50s-60s model but not too long ago, they also dropped Elvis and the rest of the 50s and added f*cking disco from the 70s. There's something really annoying about any station that counts disco as an "oldie" but then again I'm just getting a head start on being an angry old fart I guess.

On the plus side they've always played plenty of motown, and I've never ever known an oldies format that included Cream or the Yardbirds or Hendrix.

BTW, before Magic made the switch, the most recent song on the playlist was Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock 'n Roll", which is at least 7 years younger than the rest of the old playlist but I guess it fit with the mentality of the programming. Now its just an anachronism, particularly when it comes up after "I Will Survive" or "Get Down Tonite".

[Rooster_Ties]

Only a matter of time before the "New Wave" is the new "Oldies".

If you're ever in Dallas, liste to The Flashback Cafe on KDGE and know that it already is.

Yeah, we heard a similar station in Denver when we were on vacation back around Labor Day.

DJ's totally had that upbeat "moldy oldies" vibe goin' on, but it was "all 80's and early 90's" (that's how they billed what they played). "The music you remember" ( ) was another tagline I'm pretty sure I heard.

That pissed off my wife like you wouldn't believe!!!! (And don't think I didn't milk it for all it's worth -- since she'll be turning 40 in a year or two --- a full 18 months BEFORE I do. )

Yes, I'm evil.

No, I very carelfully choose when to be evil, and when not to. (I'd be a fool not to!! )

Edited September 30, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Jim R]

When I've had a chance to listen to oldies radio stations some things appears to me to be missing. Maybe it's just a perception issue with me but those things(artists)that appear to be MIA are(1)Motown (2)British "invasion"artists save for the Beatles(more specifically Stones,Yardbirds and the Animals as opposed to Brit bubblegum dreck).(3)Artists such as James Brown,Sam Cooke and the Impressions.(4)Later 60's artists such as Hendrix and the Cream.

Interesting... I was just thinking about this last night. All of this change has happened so gradually, I think I'm just beginning to realize how different things have become. Along with that, almost all of my radio listening over the past couple of decades has involved those "left side of the dial" FM stations (and we're lucky to have many of them around here). Anyway, it occurred to me last night that there's no longer a station (AM or FM) where I can even find the Beatles anymore. The pop stations have either converted to talk radio or to hispanic ownership/programming, and even "classic rock" is hard to come by! That is, it's even hard to find a station playing "stairway to heaven" and "free bird", let alone anything that pre-dates those.

It's great to have access to a number of college and listener-supported FM stations, and just about anything you'd care to hear is available at one time or another, but it comes down to rememebring to stay up until midnight on the third Thursday of every other month in order to catch a full program of whatever it is you want to hear.

A few months ago I tried sampling a few of the internet stations available through iTunes, but the issues of selection and repetition (as mentioned above) were discouraging.

[ghost of miles]

Some of the oldies stations have switched to the "jack" format, which is basically a mishmash of 70s/80s/90s... or basically "new oldies," I guess.

I've plugged this show elsewhere on the forum, but my friend Greg Adam's program Rhythm Ranch is a great alternative to the same ol' oldies (example of recent show: "From 50's Rocker to 70's Honky-Tonker"). It airs from 7-9 p.m. EST Monday evenings on our community radio station WFHB.

Edited September 30, 2006 by ghost of miles

[medjuck]

If memory serves me right (unlikley) CHUM-fm became the first rock fm station in Toronto around 1967-68. (I think it was a classical station previously!) It was on everywhere I went that year so I have a pretty good memory of the records that were played a lot and I never hear any of them when I accidently tune into an oldies station: the first Richie Havens, Jimmy Hendrix and Country Joe Lps, the first Jefferson Airplane with Grace Slick and It's A Beautiful Morning (Was that really their name?) plus some local groups like The Paupers.

[sheldonm]

I love the oldies, I really love Motown, I don't love the Archies.

[Alexander]

I love the oldies, I really love Motown, I don't love the Archies.

I love oldies, I love newies. I just like good music...

[chris olivarez]

Stumbled on this thread searching for something else, and noticed that the Kansas City "oldies" station that used to be "50's and 60's" --- is now "60's and 70's". Funny, the same image hot-link still works, just their logo has changed (well, that, and their format).

My bet is that the "50's and 60's" oldies stations are going the way of the Dodo bird, as did the "40's, 50's, and 60's" stations that existed as recently as 10 or 15 years ago. (I know, I worked on-air at an AM/FM set of sister stations while I was in college -- where the AM station was 40's, 50's and 60's.)

Up, for no good reason.

I had a conversation with a KCMO guy who was passing through this area. If I converse with him again I'll have to remember to ask him about this?

[chris olivarez]

You would think that Magic 102.7 in south Florida would be one station that would have stuck with the 50s-60s model but not too long ago, they also dropped Elvis and the rest of the 50s and added f*cking disco from the 70s. There's something really annoying about any station that counts disco as an "oldie" but then again I'm just getting a head start on being an angry old fart I guess.

On the plus side they've always played plenty of motown, and I've never ever known an oldies format that included Cream or the Yardbirds or Hendrix.

BTW, before Magic made the switch, the most recent song on the playlist was Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock 'n Roll", which is at least 7 years younger than the rest of the old playlist but I guess it fit with the mentality of the programming. Now its just an anachronism, particularly when it comes up after "I Will Survive" or "Get Down Tonite".

Come to think about it you are right. At one time Cream,Yardbirds,Hendrix singles did receive airplay but now that I think of it not on oldies stations. They're more likely to play Herman's Hermits or Disco and that is absolutely criminal.

Edited October 1, 2006 by chris olivarez

[chris olivarez]

On the whole it's interesting to see what constitutes oldies is evolving but it seems to be evolving from one sorry mess to another.

[Jazzmoose]

My idea of the perfect oldies station would be just to rebroadcast the day from KSAN from 35 years ago or so...

[chris olivarez]

My idea of the perfect oldies station would be just to rebroadcast the day from KSAN from 35 years ago or so...