WRCO Blog

Hey Rock and Rollers!  During WRCOs' six hour classic rock and roll show Saturday night,  I will be saluting the working folks of Southwest Wisconsin with some blue collar songs.  There are many songs that talk about work including;  Summer Breeze-Seals & Crofts,  Takin'' Care Of Business-B.T.O.,  16 Tons-Ernie Ford,  A Hard Days Night-Beatles,  Blue Collar Man-Styx, and Bang The Drum All Day (I don't want to work)- Todd Rundgren.  I will be in the studio to take your requests during the holiday weekend Saturday night.  Last week you hit a lot of home runs when you asked for songs that we have not played since my hair was brown.   Keep up the good work!   It is so much fun when I hear stories from radioland.  Last week a lady called and told about the first record she bought.  She made 25 cents per hour baby sitting.  After four hours she had a dollar and would go the store and buy a 45 record.  The first one that she ever bought was Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Prez Prado and his Orchestra in 1955!  Thanks for being so loyal to the Saturday night show, Those Were The Days.  I have been successful at acting like I've been working for the past 33 years.  I really like the following quote from Bob Dylan....“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.”      I hope to hear from you on Saturday night between six and midnight.

Phil

In August of 1982 I jumped off the tractor and went away to learn the radio trade in Wausau at Trans American School of Broadcasting.  My friend Marty and I were ready to leave Richland County to see if we could wreak havoc on Marathon County.  We met a lot of interesting characters that also wanted to be radio d.j.'s.  Music was always on in the back ground while we were taking part in our hoot and hijinks.  Wausaus' Top 40 radio station WIFC was playing all of the hits and MTV was brand new.  We also made lots of mix tape cassettes so that we could jam on the way to the arcade at Schofield Shopko Mall.  Some of my favorite August of 1982 jams included: Abracadabra-Steve Miller Band,   Out Of Work-Gary U.S. Bonds,  Vacation-Go-Go's , Jack & Diane-John Cougar (Mellencamp),  Do You Wanna Touch Me?-Joan Jett,  I Think I'm In Love-Eddie Money,  Hot In The City-Billy Idol,  Somebody's Baby-Jackson Browne, and Eye Of The Tiger-Survivor.  Join me Saturday night when I put my broadcasting tech school education to the test on WRCOs' Those Were The Days.  Between six and midnight you can contribute a song suggestion.  You could be the winner when we ask the trivia question of the hour.  Perhaps you will be the winner of tickets to see Elvis tribute artist Tony Rocker September 22nd at the Richland Center Performing Arts Center/City Auditorium.  We will have a rock and roll  party Saturday night during Those Were The Days radio when we feature the best music of the fifties through the eighties.  All the cool kids will be listening!

Phil

This Saturday night we will look back at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair which happened fifty years ago this weekend.  We will play some tracks from the artists that were at that history making festival.  I have watched the Woodstock documentary movie many times over the years and I have been blessed to be able to interview a few of the artists that graced that stage at Yasgur's Farm. You can hear a few stories from those that were there.  Join our Those Were The Days retro show on FM 100.9 for trivia and requests.  You could be the winner of tickets to see Elvis tribute artist Tony Rocker.  He will be playing in Richland Center on September 22nd courtesy of Galaxie Entertainment.  It will be a great show, and you can be one of the first to hold tickets for that concert at the Richland County Performing Arts Center (downtown auditorium).    You can be one of the cool kids and come to our Those Were The Days party on WRCO Saturday night.  We will take you to Woodstock and all over the World courtesy of our 45 RPM records.

Phil

We will playing some real classic rock and roll Saturday night during Those Were The Days radio show on WRCO FM 100.9.  You will be able to hear forty of the best charting hits from the psychedelic era of rock and roll.  All of the heavy hits that we will play were released between 1966 and 1969.  Many of these songs have been requested on a regular basis.  You will be able to hear tunes from artists including:  The Doors,  Steppenwolf,  Beatles,  Yardbirds,  Canned Heat,  Cream,  Jimi Hendrix Experience,  Blues Magoos,  Vanilla Fudge, and Deep Purple.  This was an outstanding era for rock and roll music.  There was so much experimentation and a return to more roots music and the beginning of what became known as heavy metal.  I will not be in the studio this week to take your requests.  Hang on to those and we will let you assemble the playlist again next Saturday night.  This week we will pay tribute to the 80s In The Dells concert Friday August 16th at the Crystal Grand Music Theater.  It will be a full fun night of great rock and roll.  I can't wait for you to hear all of the cool vinyl tunes during this weeks Those Were The Days.

Phil

This Saturday night on FM 100.9,  I will be looking back at the career of Lou Gramm and his former band Foreigner.  This will be a great show especially since some of our listeners will be seeing Lou perform with John Payne and Asia in a couple of weeks at Crystal Grand in the Wisconsin Dells.  Earlier this week , I had the chance to interview Lou Gramm and that was a real treat.  All through my younger days in the seventies and eighties the songs of Foreigner were on the radio.  The Lou Gramm solo single 'Midnight Blue' still is a popular request during Those Were The Days.  When I hear a song like 'Cold As Ice' or ' Long, Long Way From Home', I have flashbacks of riding in Larry Ferguson's Dodge on the way to the movies or Center Lanes (the bowling alley). Foreigner's first eight singles cracked the Billboard Top 20, making them the first band since the Beatles to achieve this.  It is such a blessing to be able to thank one of the creators of the hits of your youth and I have had the chance to do that over the years.  I hope that you will join me for a six hour tribute to the fifties through the eighties music on WRCO FM 100.9.  The magic cowbell will ring and trivia questions will be shared. Perhaps you will win tickets to see a show at the outdoor stage at 80s' In The Dells August 16th and 17th.  This Saturday night you can help me program the music on Those Were The Days when you request a song. 

Phil

My special guest on WRCO FM 100.9 on Saturday night will be Taylor Dayne.  She has sold over 75 million records worldwide and is considered one of the top dance artists of all time.  I was in charge of getting the new songs on the radio back in 1987 when Tell It To My Heart was released by Arista records.  All of our new music came to the station on 45 rpm records.  After her first record went to the Top 10, she followed it quickly with Prove Your Love,  I'll Always Love You,  Don't Rush Me,  With Every Beat Of My Heart,  Love Will Lead You Back, and I'll Be Your Shelter.  These were also top 10 records and they were released in a span of just two years!  During this weeks Those Were The Days radio show,  I will feature an interview with Taylor Dayne.  You could be the winner of tickets to see her show at the Crystal Grand Music Theatre's 80s' In The Dells August 16th and 17th.  I will be answering the WRCO 'hot line' so that you can contribute a song suggestion to the program.   It is still a joy to host Those Were The Days after all of these years.  I received a letter in the mail last week from a listener near Prairie Du Chien that just discovered the show.  It is very rewarding to hear that people still appreciate the show.  Thank you so much for reading this and listening Saturday nights.  Lets have another rock and roll party this weekend!

Phil

When I was young,  it was fascinating to read about the Apollo missions.  The school 'Weekly Reader'  often had stories of the upcoming moon missions.  I do remember the glow of the Curtis Matthis television set on July 20th, 1969.  My parents and other family members were glued to the screen while I was playing with my Tinker Toys trying to build a rocket.  Sometime during the night, I wandered onto the screen porch and looked up at the moon to see if I could see Neil and Buzz.  Do you remember watching or listening to this historic event?   You can share your memories with me during our Those Were The Days radio show Saturday night on WRCO FM 100.9.  We will countdown to the exact moment (9:56 pm CDT) when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface fifty years ago.  During the six hour tribute to the fifties through the eighties, we will be playing a few space/moon songs including:  Space Oddity-David Bowie,  Rocket Man-Elton John,  Dancing In The Moonlight-King Harvest,  Moonshadow-Cat Stevens,  Bad Moon Rising-C.C.R,  Space Age Love Song-Flock Of Seagulls,  and Major Tom-Peter Schilling.  Perhaps you have an idea for a song to go along with this weeks theme?  I will be in the studio Saturday night and you can check in with me.  It might be your night to win a big trivia prize like tickets to 80s' In The Dells at the Crystal Grand Music Theater.

Phil

Hey Rock n' Rollers!  I look forward to visting with you this Saturday night during my Those Were The Days radio show.  On this weekends WRCO FM 100.9 program, we will feed you with some fun food songs.  You could have a 'Cheeseburger In Paradise', 'Jambalaya', 'Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie', and other delicious song treats!  I hope you are 'Hungry', for 'Bread And Butter'.  It will be 'Yummy, Yummy, Yummy'.  We featured this theme a few years ago.  It is back by listener request.  There are many food songs that are easy to think of.  What about tunes such as; Popcorn by Hot Butter,  Eat It-Weird Al,  A Taste Of Honey-The Beatles,  I Want Candy-Strangeloves,  Sugar Sugar-Archies,  and TV Dinner-ZZ Top.  The request line will be open for those of you who want to contribute a song choice.  You can request your favorite song from the fifties through the eighties between six and Midnight this Saturday night.  Perhaps you will win tickets for the outdoor concerts during 80s In The Dells August 16th and 17th at Crystal Grand Music Theater.  Brush up on your trivia and be ready when you hear the 'Magic Cow Bell'  on Saturday night during Those Were The Days.

Phil

This is your old buddy Phil Nee.  I will be sitting by my rotary dial telephone this Saturday night.  You can help me with the playlist for my Those Were The Days radio show.    It will be great to be back in the studio with a live show.  During the six hour tribute to the first four decades of rock and roll, we will play a few songs that were at the number one position on the 4th of July.  These are tunes that take me back to those old days of Summer.  Many friends, neighbors, and relatives would come to our family farm during the Independence Day weekend.  We always had a lot of fresh from the farm food and a wash tub full of ice that was chilling bottles of Ski, Double Cola, and Hillbilly Beverages that were bottled in Richland Center.  Music was always in the background.   If I wasn't pretending to be a d.j.,  we would warm up the tubes in the radio.  Some of the biggest hits of Summer were number one during the first week of July.  Bill Haley and the Comets helped bring rock and roll to the mainstream.  Rock Around The Clock was the number one song back in 1955 on July 4th.  It was a hit when it was used in the movie Blackboard Jungle.  My dad told me a story about being in downtown Richland Center when that movie was showing at the theater.  Outside on the street they were playing Rock Around The Clock continously over loud speakers.  In 1989, my wife (June) and I were at Graceland in Memphis hanging out at the Elvis mansion.  That was a great trip and an outstanding place to be for the holiday.   The old Saturday night tunes take me back to those great celebrations and special occasions.

This Saturday night you could be the winner of two weekend passes to the Crystal Grand Music Theaters' 80's In The Dells which will be held August 16th and 17th.  We will also be giving away tickets to see the Beatles tribute band the Britins on Friday night July 12th at Richland Center High School. Get ready for a quiz!  It is going to be a really big shoe this weekend on FM 100.9.

Phil

Saturday night on WRCO FM 100.9, I will be spinning some of the hot tunes from the Summer of 1980.  Some of my favorites from that era include:  Cars-Gary Numan,  I'm Alive-ELO,  Brass In Pocket (I'm Special)-Pretenders,  Gimme Some Lovin'-Blues Brothers,  All Night Long-Joe Walsh,  Misunderstanding-Genesis,  Clones (We're All)-Alice Coopers,  We Live For Love-Pat Benatar,  Let My Love Open The Door-Pete Townsend,  and Into The NIght-Benny Mardones.  These were the songs that were running through my head as I ran the two row cultivator attached to the Farmall Super C tractor or threw hay bales. The Summer of 1980 I made a trip to Dubuque, Iowa.  That was a highlight for a farm boy who had rarely been out of the county.  It seemed like such a big city!    I remember crossing the bridge into Iowa just as Tired Of Toein' The Line by Rocky Burnette came on D-93 FM (The Love Rock) out of Dubuque.  Please stop by and check on us this Saturday night during Those Were The Days on WRCO FM 100.9.  I will be celebrating with songs from other memorable Summers.  We will also have a cool in studio guest that will play us a song.  The request line will not be open this Saturday night.  We will resume that feature during five Saturday nights in July.  Starting next Saturday night, you could win tickets to 80s In the Dells at the Crystal Grand Music Theater.  This is going to be a great music bash coming up August 16th and 17th.  Later this year Elvis impersonator Tony Rocker will be in Richland Center (September 22nd) at the Richland Center City Auditorium.  We will be telling you more about that and giving you chances to win tickets later this Summer.   Thank you for reading.

Phil

Saturday night on WRCO FM 100.9 we will create new memories with those classic Pop songs of the past.  The spotlight band will be the Dave Clark Five.  They arrived in America just after the Beatles fifty-five years ago.  They always seemed to finish second to the Fab-Four and the Rolling Stones.  I always have loved the songs they put out.  They packed so much excitement in a two minute record.  They were one of my favorite groups to collect.  Dave Clark has been known as a shrewd business man over the years, however, he has not authorized many re-releases of his groups material.  I believe that the group would be better remembered today if their songs would have been allowed to be used in movies and commercials.  Despite the challenge, I was able to buy good used copies of their original U.S. albums over the course of about ten years.  All have been converted to digital and we can play some of those high energy tunes for you during Those Were The Days salute to the DC5 this Saturday night.  In 2003 I had the honor of interviewing lead singer Mike Smith while he was doing a brief tour of the states.  I will feature a few highlights during the show.  Mike died in 2008 and I have great memories of how nice he was to me during our chat.  Those Were The Days will officially celebrate the arrival of Summer on FM 100.9 Saturday night.  Please give me a call and contribute a request to the program.  It would be awesome to hear from you.  Perhaps you can be on of our trivia winners! 

Phil

The Summer of 1979 was a good time in my life.  Things were looking up on the farm and with the power of music, I was getting my chores done by day and making mix tapes at night.  I did not have my drivers permit yet, however, there were a few girls I could call that did not hang up on me right away.  Older friends of mine were nice to pick me up and give me a ride to Dog n' Suds for a Texas Burger or a Coney Dog.  A bunch of farm friends would pile in for a ride to town to see movies such as:  Star Trek The Motion Picture,  Meatballs,  The Muppet Movie, and Moonraker.  Some of my favorite songs that Summer included:  The Logical Song-Supertramp,  Rock N' Roll Fantasy-Bad Company,  I Want You To Want Me,  Dance The Night Away-Van Halen,  Gold-John Stewart,  and ShakeDown Cruise-Jay Ferguson.   Disco music hit its peak that Summer.  I may not have admitted it at the time,  however, there were some memorable songs in the Summer of 1979 with a disco beat.  The group Kiss even stepped into the dance spotlight with I Was Made For Lovin' You.  New wave band Blondie had the groups first hit, Heart Of Glass, which has a Studio 54 feel.  On July 12th  a Disco Demolition publicity stunt went awry at Comiskey Park in Chicago.  The White Sox had to forfeit their second game of the doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.  It was a great time to grow up!   Some 1979 youth grew up and I never have.  Those old songs are like old friends.  It will be great to meet them again this Saturday night on WRCO FM 100.9.  Please invite your friends to join Those Were The Days between six and midnight.

Phil

Paul McCartney played Madison Wisconsin for the first time on Thursday night June 6th. This was his 5th appearance in the Badger State counting the Beatles only appearance in Milwaukee in September of 1964. I attended this show by myself. My wife, kids, and friends were not interested and I was not paying for a pricey ticket for someone that did not really want to be there. Several family members and listeners told me that they thought Sir Paul should have retired a while back and that his voice was shot. I agree that the latest videos of his live singing have been rough. I simply wanted to go see him because he may never be this close to my house again. When I went to the Kohl Center, I expected a decent show but figured I could be a bit let down by the 76 year old (soon to be 77) as he struggled to hit the notes. This may be the biggest surprise concert that I have ever attended. Paul played from 8:15 p and when the band finished Carry That Weight/ The End it was 11:15 p. Entertainers that are half his age sometimes can not generate that much energy. I will admit that a few of the first few songs sounded a bit rough at times. Let Me Roll It (from the Band On the Run album) may have been his weakest vocal of the night. That is a tough song to sing. He looked a bit tired at first and the vocals were raspy, however, he sounded better and seemed to have more energy three hours later! I counted only two sips of water in all of that time. His band does help with some of the high notes. His powerful drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. is simpy amazing with his playing and backing vocals. Paul was very funny and did a great job with stories and he read many of the signs that were being held up in the audience. One gentlemen had a sign that exclaimed that this was the 123rd time that he had attended a Paul McCartney concert. “You know we love you, but it’s slightly obsessive,” McCartney responded with a grin. Previously I have gone to his concerts at stadiums with 50 thousand plus. The 15,000 that saw the show at the Kohl Center witnessed a much more intimate setting. The three person horn section really added to songs such as: Got To Get You Into My Life, Let Em In, Lady Madonna and many others. There were two high school boys that sat by me and they sang along to every song. I asked them how they knew the music so well. They said that they and all of their friends are McCartney fans. "He is the greatest ever" said one of them. I can't think of another living artist that has that kind of reverence from young to the older than me. I am so glad that I went to this concert. Here is the playlist.

1. A Hard Days Night 2. Save Us 3. Can't Buy Me Love 4. Letting Go 5. Who Cares 6. Who Cares 7. Got To Get You Into My Life 8. Come On To Me 9. Let Me Roll It 10. I've Got A Feeling 11. Let 'Em In 12. My Valentine 13. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five 14. Maybe I'm Amazed 15. I've Just Seen A Face 16. In Spite Of All The Danger (The Quarrymen Song) 17. From Me To You 18. Dance Tonight 19. Love Me Do (George Martin tribute) 20. Blackbird 21. Here Today (John Lennon tribute) 22. Queenie Eye 23. Lady Madonna 24. Eleanor Rigby 25. Fuh You 26. Being For the Benefit Of Mr. Kite! 27. Something (George tribute) 28. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 29. Band On the Run 30. Back in the U.S.S.R 31. Let It Be 32. Live And Let Die 33. Hey Jude Encore: 34. Birthday 35. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) 36. Helter Skelter 37. Golden Slumbers 38. Carry That Weight 39. The End

Phil

During our Saturday night old music party, we will take a look at the Billboard chart from fifty years ago.  A Florida group known as Mercy was finishing second to the Beatles 'Get Back'.  The runner up song is considered by many to be the best love song of the 60's.  'Love (Can Make You Happy)' was featured a couple of weeks ago when we did a countdown of Forgotten HIts/Those Were The Days favorites from 1969.   This week on Those Were The Days on WRCO 100.9 FM, I will talk with James Marvell who was a member of Mercy and toured with them during a memorable music year.  We will talk about the groups followup called 'Forever' and the album which was released by Warner Brothers.  James has great stories about the days as a traveling rock and roller,  his career in country and gospel music, and he still makes music today.  He has recorded new Country versions of Mercys' hits.  Look for James Marvell on tour this year with Southwest Wisconsins' own Bobby G. Rice.  Bobby started as a child star on WRCO radio in the 50s' and has gone on to have a long career.  I will be in the studio Saturday night to take your 50's through the 80's pop chart requests.  You can win a prize during our trivia times throughout the six hour program.  We will also pay tribute to the Bruce Springsteen album Born In The USA which was released thirty-five years ago in June of 1984.  I recall an iconic moment of the 80s'.  Some of my friends met up with me on State Street in Madison.  We were standing on the side walk in front of one of the four record stores on that street when the shop owner was putting the new Springsteen album in the window.  I remember wondering if the album was good and worth buying.  Within days we knew it was an all time classic.    It is my hope that you will get a chance to tune in 100.9 WRCO FM 100.9 on Saturday night.

Phil

This Saturday night June 1st I will be playing some of my favorite Paul McCartney songs during Those Were The Days on WRCO FM 100.9.  Thursday night June 6th I will be in the same room as a former Beatle!  It is a big room called the Kohl Center, but it will still be cool.  This will be the 2nd time that I have witnessed Sir Paul in person.  The first time was back in 1993 at County Stadium in Milwaukee.  Those Were The Days will be the place for the pregame show for the two McCartney concerts during his 2019 tour (the other is at historic Lambeau Field).  We will get you fired up to see the show, or make you wish that you were going!  I grew up listening to the Beatles and have liked many of Paul's solo records. He has been playing few surprises during the early stages of this years tour.  Some of the songs that I wish he would play include: Getting Closer,  Coming Up,  Ballroom Dancing,  I've Had Enough,  My Brave Face,  Helen Wheels,  With A Little Luck, and  Daytime Nighttime Suffering.   A few of our listeners have told there stories about seeing the Beatles in Milwaukee on September 4th of 1964 (which was the groups only Wisconsin appearance).  One of our friends even brought that original program to the radio station proving that she was actually there.  Whoever put together the program had two names swapped and listed George under John's picture and John under George's photo.  It most likely made that program even more collectable.  This Saturday night you will be able to request your favorite McCartney song or Beatles tune.  I will be in the studio taking your requests and playing  trivia.  You can request any pop song you would like from the fifties through the eighties.  The party will start on FM 100.9 this Saturday night at 6 pm.

Phil

WRCO FM 100.9 will feature another 50th anniversary tribute to the year of 1969.  Saturday night you will be able to hear 40 hits picked by two guys that have studied the music of that year for 50 years.  Kent Kotal, the author of the Forgotten Hits website, has teamed with our Those Were The Days radio show for a list of faves that I hope you will enjoy.  You will also hear sound bites of news that was happening locally and nationally during that year.  Find out what Kent and I think is the best song to be released 50 years ago. You will hear some of radios geatest pop hits including songs from artists such as; CCR,  Tommy James and the Shondells,  Bob Seger System,  Beatles,  Doors,  Box Tops,  Classics IV, New Colony Six,  Rolling Stones,  Spirit, Beach Boys, and many more.  We will feature other highlights of the 50s' through the 80s' later in the program.  I will not be in the studio to take your calls this weekend and will miss you.  Please enjoy our special holiday weekend program on FM 100.9 Saturday night.

Phil

During our Those Were The Days radio show on FM 100.9 Saturday night,  I will be crowning some of the greatest hits of all time again this weekend. The playlist will include artists with royal titles, and royal nicknames.  There are plenty of royal song titles including:  King Of The Road,  Dancing Queen,  King Of Pain, Queen Of Hearts,  Kings and Queens,  King Tut, Ballad Of A Teenage Queen.  We will feature songs from artists such as: Sir Paul McCartney,  Sir Elton John,  Queen Of Soul,  King Of Rock & Roll,  Queen,  The Kings,  and Prince.  Perhaps you can request a song from that theme.  You can also ask for anything from the first thirty-five years of rock and roll.  We will be playing trivia and we wont be acting our age.  What fun would that be?  I am proud that we are one of the few stations that still has a light on during the weekend and that still answers the phone on Saturday nights.  It is a tribute to our owners, Ron and Beth Fruit, and our sponsors that help pay the bills.  Thank them for me when you get the chance.  The party will start here on Saturday night!

Phil

The Billboard Hot 100 chart this weekend in 1966 featured many songs that are still highly regarded today.  This week during Those Were The Days,  I will be featuring a few of the most requested gems from the second weekend of May including:  Good Lovin-Young Rascals,  Kicks-Paul Revere and the Raiders,  Gloria-Shadows Of Knight,  A Groovy Kind Of Love-Mindbenders,  Eight Miles High-Byrds,  Time Won't Let Me-Outsiders,  Try Too Hard-Dave Clark Five,  and Monday, Monday -Mama's and the Papa's.  Those songs still play on oldies channels everyday.  During our Those Were The Days radio program on WRCO FM 100.9, we will play a few of the hot ones from this weekend in 1966 along with your rock and roll requests from the fifties through the eighties.  We had a busy night last weekend.  It is rewarding to hear from listeners that have Summer homes in this area. Many were back and they checked in last Saturday night for the first time since last Fall.  I feel that many listeners are like family members, however, I would know them if we met on the street.  It is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.  Perhaps I will hear from you this weekend?   The party starts Saturday night at 6:00 on WRCO FM 100.9!

Phil

Saturday will be the day that fans of the Star Wars franchise most look forward to.  'May The 4th (force) Be With You Day' is a day to talk like Yoda, play with your light sabers, and nerd out with Star Wars stuff.  We will be playing a few songs in honor of the Sci-Fi classic films during Those Were The Days on WRCO FM 100.9 this Saturday night.  You can donate requests and play trivia during the six hour salute to the fifties through the eighties.  May the 4th has been a good day for Spring songs to hit number one.   I will be playing a few of those this week.  Number one songs in the 70s during early May included:  1970  American Woman-Guess Who,  1971  Joy To The World-Three Dog Night, 1972 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face-Roberta Flack,  1973 Tie A Yellow Ribbon-Tony Orlando and Dawn,  1974  The Locomotion-Grand Funk,  1975 He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)-Tony Orlando & Dawn,  1976 Welcome Back-John Sebastion  1977 Hotel California-Eagles  1978  Night Fever-Bee Gees   1979  Reunited-Peaches & Herb.  Those songs bring back lots of memories of riding bikes on gravel roads,  playing Euchre on the bus, trying not to be obvious about my crush on Brenda,  and those last days of the school year.  At that time, public school students were out for the season by the middle of May.  Summer was about to begin and I could not wait to listen to the radio every day and night!  I was ready to make some mean mix tapes using the songs I recorded off the radio.  This Saturday night I will be playing dj.  I will try not to talk over the intros of the songs so that you can get good clean recordings of the tunes for your mix tape!  The party Saturday night is on WRCO FM 100.9!

Phil

The power of music is amazing.  When I hear songs such as Come And Get Your Love by Redbone,  The Locomotion by Grand Funk, Blue Suede's  Hooked On A Feeling, or Oh My My by Ringo Starr, I am transported back to the Spring of 1974.  I can smell the dirt from the freshly plowed fields and feel the warm Spring breeze while riding my Hiawatha three speed bike (that included an AM radio on the handle bar).  With my 'high water flare leg jeans',  and my red with blue striped rugby shirt, I thought I was rocking the halls of Ithaca elementary.  The songs that Spring were so good, that it was tough to wait for the Watergate news to end so that another hit could spin!  This Saturday night I will again be going back to my childhood when I spin some of those hits on WRCO FM 100.9.  We have a radio party each week during our six hour Those Were The Days show.  We play a variety of hits and have fun with trivia games.   Perhaps we can hang out this weekend?  The party is on WRCO (where all the cool kids get together) between 6 pm and Midnight.

Phil