Ken Clark, Operations Manager for WRIG in its current incarnation as Foxsports Wausau, sent me this survey of what was once called the “Nifty Fifty” but at this point in 1970 was the “Music Power Survey” WRIG was still battling it out as a music station with WSPT in Stevens Point and a newcomer in the market WIFC, which had debuted in 1969. I find this list fascinating. The broad strokes of music that it covers and what it ignores as well. The strangeness of finding an Andy Williams song sandwiched on the chart by Spill The Wine-Eric Burdon & War (as strange a song that ever hit the Top 40) and the counterculture outrage of Ohio by CSNY,coming out just weeks after the event they sing about hammered our consciousness. And Mississippi Queen by Mountain right next to an Engelbert Humperdinck song. And notice that the only black artists on the list are the Jackson Five and Dionne Warwick. With a non-hit by The Supremes as a “Good Guy Power Pick”. I was a heavy radio listener at this time and that's why I also find it weird that I didnt remember some of the songs on the list including the #1 song that week from Edward Bear. Other tunes that didnt ring a bell included a weird one called The Witch from the Rattles (a band I've never heard of either). Radio was a catch-all for all forms of music in the 70's…was that better than the niche formats of today and the cookie-cutter approach of the hit-maker producers using algorithms to manufacture hits? I would say yes, but that could just be the old man in me coming out.
Debbie Harry is releasing an autobiography of her life in music. It's due out in October and will include the story of her attempted abduction by serial killer Ted Bundy.
If you were planning to go to Christian Yelich bobblehead night at the Brewers game on June 9th, you will have to pay scalpers prices. The game is sold out.
Quotes Of The Day
“So here is a powerful takeaway from Mueller's statement: the fact that Mitch McConnell is blocking a bill to protect the United States from Russian interference in future elections is one of the most unpatriotic and despicable acts imaginable from an American public official.”-Norman Ornstein
“The American people don't have a fond opinion of government because too many people in government are afaid to take a stance. If you see the Constitution being trampled on, it's your duty as a member of Congress-and as an American- to act. It's time.”-Steve Cohen
“Charging the President with a crime was not an option that we could consider. “If we had confidence that the president did not commit a crime, we would have said so.”- Robert Mueller
“Dear Speaker Pelosi, Knowledge is power. If it weren't, Trump and the GOP would not go to such lengths to suppress it. Your number one goal right now should be to inform the public as to what happened in 2016 with hacked election 'networks' and 'websites',…to explain specifically how voting machine vendors have made our votes vulnerable to hacking, and explain specifically what must be done to correct this. Douse Trump in as much sunlight as possible too. An informed electorate can help the country survive this presidency and win in 2020. An uninformed or misinformed electorate can't do much of anything. And if Democrats now find themselves in a position where they cannot withstand the sunlight themselves, then its time for the old guard to step down and to replace them with newcomers who can still survive the light of day. Sunshine disinfects, and our country has never been in more need of disinfecting.”- Jennifer Cohn
Songs of The Day (Happy Birthday to Topper Headon, the great drummer of The Clash who turns 64 today. Bet he and most others didn't think he'd live this long)
