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Post by at40petebattistini on Aug 6, 2020 20:28:20 GMT -5
Here’s a brief (approx. 2 minutes), audio preview of the National Album Countdown. An original broadcast, I recorded this off-air from Chicago’s WCFL, which carried AT40 from June through December 1972. Within this track – the show’s transition from Hour #2 to Hour #3 – listen for: *Casey’s misstep in his Hour #2 closing *Casey making a rare, first person reference in the Hour #3 opening *The downside of AM Radio – thunderstorm static During its tenure on WCFL, AT40 aired every Saturday night beginning at 1am. A few months later, the station slightly adjusted the start time to 2am. Two??? soundcloud.com/petebattistini/radio-at40-wcfl-8-5-72m-cass-off-air
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Post by cachiva on Aug 7, 2020 1:13:09 GMT -5
Haha, that little misstep is funny! I guess you can make the case that the top third of the songs are Part 1 of the Top 40... just not Part 1 of a countdown! I can think of a bunch of times Casey made first person references (he took his girl to see Elvis in Las Vegas, he saw the Spinners opening for Marvin Gaye, he was off filming a movie ( Soul Hustler) or doing a guest spot on TV ( Hawaii 5-0,) he was in Houston for the premiere of a movie he'd made, etc.) Why does your recording sound so good? Did you use a mic, or did you have a cassette recorder as part of a component system? Did WCFL broadcast in stereo? Do you have any theories as to why the show was never picked up for syndication? My theory is that having the Allman Bros and Santana next to Sammy Davis Jr. and the Osmonds was okay for Top 40 fans, but not for "album oriented" stations. Thanks for sharing that sound, Pete! Here is Casey in Soul Hustler:
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Post by mkarns on Aug 7, 2020 1:39:12 GMT -5
"Soul Hustler" was originally to be called "That Lovin' Man Jesus". Casey referred to it by that title at the beginning of the November 13, 1971 AT40 when explaining his first-ever absence from the previous week's show.
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Post by at40petebattistini on Aug 7, 2020 2:20:54 GMT -5
Why does your recording sound so good? Did you use a mic, or did you have a cassette recorder as part of a component system? Did WCFL broadcast in stereo? Do you have any theories as to why the show was never picked up for syndication? My theory is that having the Allman Bros and Santana next to Sammy Davis Jr. and the Osmonds was okay for Top 40 fans, but not for "album oriented" stations. Thanks for sharing that sound, Pete! You're welcome. I was hoping someone would enjoy a piece of a vintage broadcast. Believe it or not, the brief recording I posted came from the original tape I used to record the show in 1972, on a Sears AM/FM cassette recorder. And the tape still plays great. To the best of my knowledge, WCFL wasn't around long enough as a Top 40 station to broadcast in AM stereo. My theory why the National Album Countdown wasn't pursued by Watermark goes in three directions, all educated guesses: 1)What stations would've been interested in airing the National Album Countdown? In 1972, part of that group would've been FM rock stations. But the Top 40 album chart consisted of all music genres. Look at the 8/5/72 listing -- Donny Osmond (2 LPs), The Osmonds, Pipes & Drums ... Royal Scots Dragoon Guard, Aretha Franklin, Carpenters, etc. These artists may have been off-format for a few potential LP countdown subscribers. Plus, Watermark didn't yet have the capability to produce the show in stereo. 2)Watermark was struggling financially in 1972 and looking to broaden its offerings. But at the same time, they invested in a new studio at a new location late in '72 to address growth and the need to upgrade AT40's audio to accommodate FM stereo outlets. The LP concept may have been put on hold while these changes were made. 3)Other radio shows based on Billboard charts were undoubtedly explored. Although it took a year, obviously "American Country Countdown" was launched at the right time. Here are a few more facts about the National Album Countdown special: *There were only 36 songs played during this show ... the fewest of any AT40 program. *There were 8 tracks played that were recorded live, in-concert ... the most ever heard within one AT40 show. *And there were numerous 'sneek peeks' to upcoming Top 40 singles. Future hits that Casey played this week included songs by the Eagles, Chicago, Nilsson, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The Donny Osmond song played turned out to be the hit flipside of his next single. Casey also mentioned two future Chuck Berry hits by name. And finally, the show's cue sheets noted an "unplayed" album track ("Sister Mary Elephant") by Cheech & Chong. Apparently, Watermark realized that Top 40 radio was not quite ready -- in 1972 -- for their irreverent style of humor. "Hey elephant, I gotta go to the can, man."
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Post by cachiva on Aug 7, 2020 5:53:01 GMT -5
You're welcome. I was hoping someone would enjoy a piece of a vintage broadcast. Holy smokes, it was excellent! I can remember putting my shoebox-sized cassette player/recorder on the floor next to the radio to record local countdowns while growing up in the Boston area. And each tape being ruined by my mom walking in to announce it was time for dinner or some such intrusion!Believe it or not, the brief recording I posted came from the original tape I used to record the show in 1972, on a Sears AM/FM cassette recorder. And the tape still plays great. To the best of my knowledge, WCFL wasn't around long enough as a Top 40 station to broadcast in AM stereo. Well, it sounds terrific! I have two methodology questions to ask of you:
Did you use two C-90 cassettes to record the full 3-hour show each week? Or something shorter, where you cut out the commercials?
And, did it catch you off guard in 1978 when you started to record the show only to hear it was now 4 hours long?
My theory why the National Album Countdown wasn't pursued by Watermark goes in three directions, all educated guesses: 1)What stations would've been interested in airing the National Album Countdown? In 1972, part of that group would've been FM rock stations. But the Top 40 album chart consisted of all music genres. Look at the 8/5/72 listing -- Donny Osmond (2 LPs), The Osmonds, Pipes & Drums ... Royal Scots Dragoon Guard, Aretha Franklin, Carpenters, etc. These artists may have been off-format for a few potential LP countdown subscribers. Plus, Watermark didn't yet have the capability to produce the show in stereo. I think that is the strongest argument. But I have two caveats I'd like you to consider. In 2020 we all know what classic rock is, and we all remember when those songs were the staples of FM rock radio. But, in 1972, the format of rock radio was not set in stone yet, with many "free form FM" stations on the dial. Perhaps a national show like the National Album Countdown could have helped to define the format (or a section of it) in a way that would be quite different from what we all remember. Along the lines of "Hear ALL the music from YOUR favorite artists!" Not just the Top 40 hits churned endlessly. Maybe a burgeoning station willing to take a chance at 2am over the weekend...?
The other caveat would have been to have a superstar host with enormous appeal to attract listeners. Who was a superstar DJ in 1972? Wolfman Jack? That might have worked. But what if Neil Diamond hosted it? Or even Elvis himself? Not likely, for sure, but you see my point. As the kids say, somebody with CLOUT! Haha!
2)Watermark was struggling financially in 1972 and looking to broaden its offerings. But at the same time, they invested in a new studio at a new location late in '72 to address growth and the need to upgrade AT40's audio to accommodate FM stereo outlets. The LP concept may have been put on hold while these changes were made. Did you ever see the movie Contact, with Jodie Foster? The billionaire investor says, "Why build one, when you can build two for the same price?" With a writing and production team already in place, adding a second show might not have been the burden it appears. But as you say, the show wasn't even making money at that point, so I agree that it was a bridge too far at that time.
3)Other radio shows based on Billboard charts were undoubtedly explored. Although it took a year, obviously "American Country Countdown" was launched at the right time. Agreed! The National Soul Countdown with Flip Wilson would have been a gas! I wish SiriusXM would play the Don Bowman hosted show. I mean, he was hand picked by Casey and Don, and his take on AT40 is marvelous! (Oh look! A flying pig!)
Here are a few more facts about the National Album Countdown special: *There were only 36 songs played during this show ... the fewest of any AT40 program. I didn't know that. It did get confusing as Casey would have to name the current hit along with the album/album track info. I mean, "Now at #7 down from #5 it's the Five Stairsteps, and up five to #7 on the album chart after five weeks it's the Jackson Five with Looking Through the Windows!" lol *There were 8 tracks played that were recorded live, in-concert ... the most ever heard within one AT40 show. Ooh! Joplin In Concert available now on two 8 tracks for a special low low price!*And there were numerous 'sneak peeks' to upcoming Top 40 singles. Future hits that Casey played this week included songs by the Eagles, Chicago, Nilsson, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The Donny Osmond song played turned out to be the hit flipside of his next single. Casey also mentioned two future Chuck Berry hits by name. That could have been spun into a selling point for the Album Countdown show: And now, the current #1 song in the nation that you heard first, here, last month... Honky Cat!
And finally, the show's cue sheets noted an "unplayed" album track ("Sister Mary Elephant") by Cheech & Chong. Apparently, Watermark realized that Top 40 radio was not quite ready -- in 1972 -- for their irreverent style of humor. "Hey elephant, I gotta go to the can, man." Hmmm... I was lucky enough to get all of the remastered 70's shows from Shannon Lynn, and, at #8 Sister Mary Elephant and the album Big Bambu are listed on the files, but, as you note, Casey just names the artist and the album, but no mention of any song. I guess Cheech & Chong knew better, however, and there was the record sitting pretty at #24 over a year later. SHUUUUT UP! Haha!
Thank you for all of your insights, Pete. They add enormously to my enjoyment of the show!
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Post by djjoe1960 on Aug 7, 2020 7:03:24 GMT -5
I wonder if Humble Harve (Miller) got the idea to do the National Album Countdown show from this special. NAC ran from the mid 1970's through the mid '80's and was a countdown of the Top 30 albums as taken from the Record World chart (I wonder what chart was used after RW stopped publishing in April of 1982). I remember hearing a couple of these shows but it is rather hard to find these days--I don't think it ran on that many stations.
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Post by cachiva on Aug 7, 2020 7:28:35 GMT -5
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Post by cayleytable on Aug 7, 2020 10:36:19 GMT -5
Thanks, cachiva, for linking to that blog post--I'm the author. I can still hear Miller's voice in my head, all these years later.
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Post by cachiva on Aug 7, 2020 10:51:38 GMT -5
My pleasure. By the way, take a bow for creating an album title that is equally awesome to the original:
Self Degrees!
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Post by Michael1973 on Aug 7, 2020 13:08:47 GMT -5
Man, those days when XM played more shows, and also played the AT40 shows on the 80's channel (and not the abomination they run now) sound like they were the best ever! Too bad it had to end... ...and that it was before my time! Same here. I didn't get SiriusXM until 2011, and all I've heard since then was how much better XM was before the merger. Oh well.
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Post by djjoe1960 on Aug 7, 2020 18:11:19 GMT -5
Here is the only clip of an actual show, National Album Countdown featuring Humble Harve, I have found over the last few years--
It's a shame nobody has posted an actual show--since it ran weekly for almost 10 years.
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Post by at40petebattistini on Aug 7, 2020 19:13:27 GMT -5
cachiva, >>>Did you use two C-90 cassettes to record the full 3-hour show each week? Or something shorter, where you cut out the commercials?<<< I recorded the show every week on Memorex C-90s. Because I stopped the recorder for commercials and newscasts (yes, there were 5 minutes of news each hour), I didn't completely fill a 2nd tape. Then, at the end of one recorded show, I started the following week's recording. As a result, many of my tapes have two partial AT40s. Occasionally, I zonked out and ended up with complete commercial breaks. Once or twice, I missed the end of the show altogether. >>>And, did it catch you off guard in 1978 when you started to record the show only to hear it was now 4 hours long?<<< Thanks to Billboard, I knew in advance of the first 4-hour show. And it turned out to be the last of my weekly rituals to tape record every show. By 1978, life was taking me in a different direction and music was not a priority as it once was.
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Post by cachiva on Aug 8, 2020 5:03:08 GMT -5
August 8-9, 2020: Now let's go back to this week in 1972 - Randy Bachman, August 5, 1972
The National Album Countdown!
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Post by skuncle on Aug 8, 2020 5:04:38 GMT -5
Aug. 8-9, 2020: Now lets go back to this week in 1972 - Randy Bachman, August 5, 1972
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Post by cachiva on Aug 8, 2020 6:04:17 GMT -5
This is from Billboard magazine in April 1977. Interesting details about the show, sponsors, station count, etc.
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