Friday, January 16, 2009

January 16 Playlist + American Idol Blog

We were ready for some GOOD news and boy did we get it! The Miracle On The Hudson inspired me to chuck the planned playlist and just go for what makes me happy--AM Radio Gold from my favorite year for pop music--1966. ALL the songs I played were on some chart or another this week 42 years ago (maybe except for The Brogues track.) And ALL were aMAzing! Check for yourself:

http://wvkr.radioactivity.fm/playlist.html?djoid=1633&date=01-16-2009

I'm a bigAmerican Idol fan (even though I've never bought a tune from any contestant-- ever. Oh wait, I downloaded Kat McPhee's "Over It"--loved that one.) But I've already forgotten all of the Tuesday night contestants (except for Bikini Girl) so let's move on to Wednesday that I just watched on DVR last night.

I think we've seen the next American Idol and it is NOT guy who sadly lost his wife recently. (Why does the cynic in me think he might be faking that for sympathy votes? What does that say about ME to even THINK such a thing????....) He was good, but not even in my Top 5, though the Grapevine tells me he'll be a contender.

#5. Jennifer Two Last Names--kinda chubby with glasses who will shine with a little help from the AI Stylists. Appealing, don't you think?

#4. India Sister of Asia, (daughter of Europe and Antartica?)--Spunky and perky and possibly quickly annoying in a Ramiele kinda way.

#3. #2 #1 it's a TIE ! it's a TIE.! ALL of these contestants wowed the pants off of me (which was not a good thing since it was so cold last night) I rewound the digital tape to watch them all again because I was so impressed. In order of appearance....

Kasey Carlson aka KC shouldn't have dressed like one of the attendants at Cinderella's Fairy Castle--(the Dollywood version judging by the cowgirl boots) but I haven't been knocked out by a girl that much since I caught the McPheever a couple years ago. Did you see how appropriate she acted when she was put through? SHE didn't have to "knuckle punch" the judges like the widower did. And what a voice!

Michael Castro--I know I know, I should DESPISE this guy, he's "only been singing for 20 days" "If 'J' can do it..." but come ON, I couldn't take my eyes off him despite the pink mohawk. (Better Mo than Dread?) The guy was VERY appealing and I hope he makes it through!

Lil Rounds-- Hands down better than Lil Kim, and way better than Lil Bow Bow and even Lil Orphan Annie. Kara's comment: "a combo of Fantasia and Mary J Blige"--not an altogether bad comparison. I expect good things. Umm,,,can we pep up the husband a little bit? He didn't look all that happy. Perhaps he senses several months of diaper changing and meal prepping ahead....

And I am already sold on new judge Kara! I hope she sends Bikini Girl packing SO fast! THOSE are the types of contestants the judges need to be blunt with, not the ones who have obvious....issues..

Like....Red and Blue hair Jazzmine--a train wreck to be sure, who probably watched the show from the Kansas City equivalent of Bellevue and poor poor Michael Nicewater!!! The thing about the mother?????? OMG! (Can a 50 year old man say "OMG"?) I SO wanted him to be good; knew he wouldn't be. Sorry, the producers should NOT have let that air.

All in All, I was NOT disappointed in Season 8's first week. Also, I discovered the way to watch IS to DVR......1 hour and 23 minutes. That's WITH rewinds. Amazing.

Your thoughts on IDOL and...oh yeah, MY show are SO welcome either publicly or lostoldies@yahoo.com Thanks for reading AND listening!

Sammy

Friday, January 9, 2009

WVKR Listeners Raise $ for Food Pantry


Thanks to Rich, Judy, and Johnny Tremendous who played TV Trivia and enabled Sammy to present Philipstown Food Pantry coordinator Jackie Sammons with a check for $105.00.




Contact lostoldies@yahoo.com to find out YOU can help our neighbors in need!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Jan 2 Playlist + An Amazing Factoid Or Two

http://wvkr.radioactivity.fm/playlist.html?djoid=1633&date=01-02-2009

Happy New Year, you wonderful listeners. Your loyalty and enthusiasm keeps me coming back week after week with what I always hope are innovative ways to listen to the music of our past.

Commencing Memorial Day 2006, I started taking a weekly look back at the hits (and more often than not: misses) of 40 years ago.

In 1967, there were 322 singles that reached their peak position on the Billboard Top 40 charts that year. I played 286 of those in 2007 or all but 36.

In 2008, I did even better. Out of the 277 records to make the Top 40, I played 269 or all but 8! Wow!

In addition, over the year (including today's show), I played another 230 singles that reached the Billboard TOP ONE HUNDRED for a total of 499 songs from 1968! I think that's quite an achievement. Most Oldies shows, even on satellite, would shy away from Tiny Tim, Pigmeat Markham, Claudine Longet, The Archies (unless it's "Sugar Sugar") but The Lost And Found Oldies Show brought you all these artists and so many more. Songs you never thought you'd hear again and some that could comfortably wait another 40 years to resurface.

And let's not forget the great LP cuts, R & B records and regional songs played from the great '68 over the past year. Where else can you hear such variety????

Actually, I was planning to play 500 Billboard Hot 100 Hits from 1968. The plan was to play the last Number One song of 1968 and then "miraculously" find another '68 single in my bag making it the magic 500. But I brought the wrong CD by the #1 song's performer which meant I really DID play only 499 Billboard hits from 1968 this past year. Darn!

If you're wondering what Top 40 records from 1968 I did NOT play, here they are:

#39 B B King--Paying The Cost To Be Boss ( I should have borrowed a copy from Nick or Doug!)
#39 Bull & The Matadors--The Funky Judge ( But I played THREE versions of "Here Come The Judge"!)
#39 Roger Miller--Little Green Apples (But I played O C Smith's more successful version!)
#36 Billy Vera & Judy Clay--Country Girl City Man ( I have this 45 but it was too scratchy to play on the air)
#35 Etta James--Security (Great tune, wish I had it!)
#33 Andy Williams--Battle Hymn Of The Republic ( umm...not sure I'd play it even if I had it.)
#31 James Brown--Goodbye My Love (Oddly enough not on JB's 4 disc set "Soul Time.")
#31 Peaches & Herb--Two Little Kids (Not big on P & H's 60s output anyway. They're an act who improved with age ala "Reunited" and "Shake Your Groove Thing" in 1979.

Pretty impressive huh? I'm considering making the "Forty Years Ago" segment a once-monthly thing, probably coinciding with Primitive George's always awesome GarageARockARamaPaLooza the first Friday of the month. I'm ready to shake things up a bit.

Let me know your thoughts at lostoldies@yahoo.com Thanks for listening and Happy New Year!

Sammy