|
Post by at40petebattistini on Jul 18, 2011 13:46:59 GMT -5
Very interesting Pete, thank you! Now, can you dig up stories on other themes? Shuckatoom would be interesting as would the end of hour original theme and End Of hour from 1979 or so until 1983. I believe I read something somewhere about Shuckatoom. (I thought it was in Rob's book but apparently not.) However, I don't think Casey ever gave similar details about Shuckatoom as he did with the original theme. The other (unnamed) themes? The best I can offer is a referral to a few memos in the 80s book. While you're getting interesting insight there, all you're really getting is the theme's source (circa 1984) and a few program production details. Perhaps someone else can be more enlightening.
|
|
|
Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 18, 2011 14:33:33 GMT -5
Hey pete, were any of the end of hour themes ever put on any shows as an extra thing? (Like other full show themes had done, such as Shuckatoom)
Just curious, I like the opening theme from late Sept-October 1979, which became the closing theme later on. Also the end of hour we've just mentioned.
|
|
|
Post by jblues on Jul 18, 2011 16:57:58 GMT -5
jblues, just for you. Here's Casey's explanation of AT40's theme as a result of a listener letter. The text below was transcribed verbatim from the March 9, 1974 program... "...Well now we're about to answer that letter from Rick Peabody, a disk jockey at KVOX, one of the AT40 stations in Moorhead, Minnesota. Rick wanted to know the story behind the American Top 40 theme music. Well Rick, we've been using this theme for some time now so, to refresh our memory, we went straight to Jim Kirk, the composer. And here's what he told us. And we're quoting him. 'One Friday evening as I was leaving the studio, I was asked to write and play some synthesizer music for American Top 40. The catch was, it had to be recorded, mixed and ready to go by the following Monday. So all day Sunday I sat by the pool with a kiddie piano and a card table for my music writing. Monday morning we went into the studio, turned on our big, $11,000 Moog synthesizer,' (and I'm quoting him here), 'and began laying down one track at a time. First came the electronic drummer, then the bass part, followed by all the other parts, ending with the highest part -- the flute-like melody line. I remember trying to keep the Moog electronic feeling without getting too spacey. We were afraid of covering up the melody with a lot of electronic junk. Well besides the Moog, the other equipment was a multi-track tape recorder, and a variable speed oscillator for special effects. The whole process of doing one thing at a time was like putting together a giant puzzle. We didn't know what it would sound like 'til it was completed. Well, we made our deadline and I guess everyone's happy with it.' (unquote), Jim Kirk. Jim, thanks for an interesting story, and you're right -- we are all happy with it. And Rick, thank you for a good question. Now, on with the countdown..." One final thought. The reference to the "kiddie piano" may have actually been a "kitty piano" which, obviously could explain the cat meowing sound. ;D Thanks Pete, appreciate it. Above he mentions a speed oscillator for special effects. The special effects may have been the cat noises!
|
|