|
Post by at40nut on Sept 26, 2015 18:32:27 GMT -5
Premiere played the 9/30/78 show previously in 2008, when Ed McMann introed it and the optional extras. This was the first time it was aired with Larry Morgan doing that, and he noted at the start of the countdown that it was the last three hour show, something that Casey did not do. The last hour, especially, has several songs presented in a manner that shows why AT40 believed an expansion to four hours was a good idea, even if the early four hour shows often seemed padded. Ken Martin, as noted, has produced a version of this week's show without the editing, and presumably without filler extras as well. I also noticed that the top 10 went very quickly. I'm curious to see how some of those songs played out the following week. The editing of the rock songs was the most annoying, especially the edit of The Who's "Who Are You." That one was a little strange. Even though Meatloaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" fell off the 40, even the single version may have prompted the AT40 staff to go with a 4 hour show- Might have put them over the edge LOL!
|
|
|
Post by statenislandfan on Sept 27, 2015 9:13:52 GMT -5
This is a great time to discuss this being that this was the last 3 hour show of AT40's history. I am noticing a change in the last few years on the length of singles that are being released today. Songs are now being clocked in at 2:45, 3:30 and 4 minutes long. There are hardly any 5 minute songs anymore. Do you think the current AT40 can run on 3 hours again? Listen to the IHeart version and decide.
|
|
|
Post by mkarns on Sept 27, 2015 10:12:30 GMT -5
This is a great time to discuss this being that this was the last 3 hour show of AT40's history. I am noticing a change in the last few years on the length of singles that are being released today. Songs are now being clocked in at 2:45, 3:30 and 4 minutes long. There are hardly any 5 minute songs anymore. Do you think the current AT40 can run on 3 hours again? Listen to the IHeart version and decide. AT40 today often has about 10-12 extras per show (it used to have fewer extras, but more talk that often had nothing to do with the countdown.) If they just went 40-1, with no more than a couple of extras (if that) per week, then I think they could probably keep it to three hours without too much editing; I'd probably mostly shorten the songs that have been on for months.
|
|
|
Post by mkarns on Sept 27, 2015 11:52:22 GMT -5
Premiere played the 9/30/78 show previously in 2008, when Ed McMann introed it and the optional extras. This was the first time it was aired with Larry Morgan doing that, and he noted at the start of the countdown that it was the last three hour show, something that Casey did not do. The last hour, especially, has several songs presented in a manner that shows why AT40 believed an expansion to four hours was a good idea, even if the early four hour shows often seemed padded. Ken Martin, as noted, has produced a version of this week's show without the editing, and presumably without filler extras as well. I also noticed that the top 10 went very quickly. I'm curious to see how some of those songs played out the following week. The editing of the rock songs was the most annoying, especially the edit of The Who's "Who Are You." That one was a little strange. Even though Meatloaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" fell off the 40, even the single version may have prompted the AT40 staff to go with a 4 hour show- Might have put them over the edge LOL! I think approval for a longer show was granted months earlier, probably in spring 1978. From March until the Long Distance Dedications began in August, most shows were just the top 40 without extras. The AT40 staff probably figured they should save the extras and related stories for later when they would be needed to fill time.
|
|
rustydj
Full Member
Out of radio, but can't get radio out of me!
Posts: 219
|
Post by rustydj on Sept 27, 2015 20:17:46 GMT -5
This week on WTOJ you'll hear an UNEDITED version of the 1978 countdown. This was the last week for the 3 hour show and AT40 needed to edit a lot of songs to make it fit. However, this week on WTOJ, no Premiere edits, no AT40 edits. Every song as released on 45. Radio station edits will be there, so you'll get the 3:22 version of "Who Are You", but that's what you heard on Top 40 radio in 1978. Yes, the countdown will run long, but that's OK. Starts 9 AM Eastern, Sunday morning. Wanted to thank Ken Martin for making this available. I thoroughly enjoyed it! So many songs were edited down to "shorter than K-Tel" length in much of 1977-78. It was great to hear the music unedited, and if you used the versions released on 45, there may be several that aren't commonly available on compilations and greatest hit collections today. Well done! Ken, are you going to do more of this sort of thing?
|
|
|
Post by dukelightning on Sept 28, 2015 11:59:44 GMT -5
I also noticed that the top 10 went very quickly. I'm curious to see how some of those songs played out the following week. The editing of the rock songs was the most annoying, especially the edit of The Who's "Who Are You." That one was a little strange. Even though Meatloaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" fell off the 40, even the single version may have prompted the AT40 staff to go with a 4 hour show- Might have put them over the edge LOL! I think approval for a longer show was granted months earlier, probably in spring 1978. From March until the Long Distance Dedications began in August, most shows were just the top 40 without extras. The AT40 staff probably figured they should save the extras and related stories for later when they would be needed to fill time. There was a Billboard article in the 5/27/78 issue that spelled out the four hour show debuting a few months later. What we don't know is if the first LDD letter came before that date. I am assuming not and thus that it was not saved as some stories evidently were. The length of the songs seems to be the main criteria for expanding to four hours and evidently was going to happen regardless of whether that LDD came in or not.
|
|
|
Post by mrjukebox on Sept 28, 2015 19:48:02 GMT -5
Optional Extra Predictions for 10/6/79: 1)."Cruisin"-Smokey Robinson 2)."Tusk"-Fleetwood Mac 3)."Heartache Tonight"-Eagles 4)."So Good,So Right"-Brenda Russell
|
|
|
Post by mkarns on Sept 28, 2015 21:07:52 GMT -5
I think approval for a longer show was granted months earlier, probably in spring 1978. From March until the Long Distance Dedications began in August, most shows were just the top 40 without extras. The AT40 staff probably figured they should save the extras and related stories for later when they would be needed to fill time. There was a Billboard article in the 5/27/78 issue that spelled out the four hour show debuting a few months later. What we don't know is if the first LDD letter came before that date. I am assuming not and thus that it was not saved as some stories evidently were. The length of the songs seems to be the main criteria for expanding to four hours and evidently was going to happen regardless of whether that LDD came in or not. I think you're right that the first LDD letter didn't come until after the show's expansion was approved. Casey and Co. probably got the letter requesting "Desiree", and thought that it would make a good start for a new regular feature to fill the extra time. It probably arrived shortly before the show including it was recorded; if it had come in much earlier then they might as well have held it for six more weeks (until October.) Meanwhile, while people guess at the 1979 extras, here are the recycled 1972 ones: Hour #1: "I Am Woman" - Helen Reddy Hour #2: "If You Don't Know Me By Now" - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Hour #3: "Summer Breeze" - Seals & Crofts Incidentally, the same three optional extras have been used twice for that same show before: in 2010 (when it was aired without an alternate) and 2012 (also as a B.)
|
|
|
Post by kchkwong on Sept 28, 2015 21:10:35 GMT -5
Predictions for the optional extras:
Still - Commodores Heartache Tonight - Eagles Tusk - Fleetwood Mac You're Only Lonely - J.D. Souther
|
|
|
Post by briguy52748 on Sept 29, 2015 11:10:45 GMT -5
KOKZ (Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa) is going with 1979. Same as, I'd guess, KMXG of Clinton, Iowa.
Predictions for the 1979 show:
* "Babe" - Styx. * "Heartache Tonight" - The Eagles. * "Still" - The Commodores.
And the only new song that was below No. 90 this week -- No. 93, in its first week on -- that would make the top 10:
* "Ladies Night" - Kool and the Gang. (Their comeback hit.)
Incidentally, two country connections this week, both mentioned previously:
* The flip side of Ronnie Milsap's eventual top 5 country hit, "In No Time At All," would be the primary pop-played side: "Get It Up." It was at No. 94 this week, eventually climbing as high as No. 43.
* A band called Bama -- NOT the same as the country group Alabama -- would chart with a song called "Touch Me When We're Dancing." Eventually, the Carpenters had a top 15 pop hit with it (in 1981) before Alabama would record their No. 1 country version in 1986 (their 20th straight No. 1 song without a miss, coming that November).
Speaking of Alabama, their eventual first top 40 entry on the Hot Country Singles chart, "I Wanna Come Over," was in its second week on that chart the week of Oct. 6, 1979. Thirty-six years later, a new album just released, they're still making awesome music ... music that beats most of what's played on country radio these days.
Brian
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Sept 29, 2015 22:21:15 GMT -5
Turns out that this was actually NOT the week to go guessing curveballs; this week's extras consist of three future #1s and a Fleetwood Mac. (Hey...that sounds familiar! 3/28/87, repeated six months ago, did that same thing.) Only briguy nailed all three, though both 80sat40fan and kchkwong got two of them along with the Mac.
This week's extras are: Fleetwood Mac - Tusk The Commodores - Still Styx - Babe The Eagles - Heartache Tonight
|
|
|
Post by mkarns on Sept 30, 2015 11:18:06 GMT -5
Use at your own risk, but here is what I have about a future weekend. I have no idea if it is the only offering or part of a "A" or "B" option: Oct 17-18: 1977 My guess is that it would be 10/22/77, which Premiere has never played. 10/15/77 is actually closer to that weekend's dates, but Premiere aired it just two years ago. 10/15 could be replayed as a B; if either show is an A it will probably be offered by itself.
|
|
|
Post by JessieLou on Sept 30, 2015 14:46:53 GMT -5
10/22/77 is the AT40 show that I have on vinyl. Would be cool to hear that one again!
|
|
|
Post by matt on Sept 30, 2015 15:17:44 GMT -5
Predictions for next week's show:
1st Guess - 10/10/70 2nd Guess - 10/13/73
The more likely of these two would be the '70 show, as it's never been aired before by Premiere (SXM aired it in 2010) and other than 1974, 1970 has the longest drought (one week longer than 1973--and 1974 doesn't work for next week). The '73 show was originally aired in 2009 and repeated as a 'B' show in 2012.
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Oct 2, 2015 17:09:35 GMT -5
Predictions for next week's show: 1st Guess - 10/10/70 2nd Guess - 10/13/73 The more likely of these two would be the '70 show, as it's never been aired before by Premiere (SXM aired it in 2010) and other than 1974, 1970 has the longest drought (one week longer than 1973--and 1974 doesn't work for next week). Actually, 1974 does work for next week. But, you're right about 1970 as well, as indeed, next week's "A" show features the chart from 10/10/1970: www.charismusicgroup.com/Cue%20Sheets/10-10-70.pdfAnd, yes, next week's "B" show will be from 10/12/1974: www.charismusicgroup.com/Cue%20Sheets/10-12-74.pdfAnd the 1974 extras will be the same as in 2013: Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting Billy Swan - I Can Help Harry Chapin - Cat's In The Cradle
|
|