1972-wherever they leave off in the 80s
All of these years are non-mass appeal music years due to fragmentation.
All of these years are non-mass appeal music years due to fragmentation.
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BAD YEARS FOR MUSIC THAT WCBS-FM PLAYS
- Thread starter RADIO TRUTH
- Start date
1974 was an excruciating year for top 40 radio, and about the worst year ever for the format, going back to the 'British Invasion' years starting in 1963/64.
Coming on the heels of the exceptional year for the format that 1973 was (and primarily because of the extraordinary collection of rock albums released in that watershed year), 1974 was indeed painful--no doubt about it.
Coming on the heels of the exceptional year for the format that 1973 was (and primarily because of the extraordinary collection of rock albums released in that watershed year), 1974 was indeed painful--no doubt about it.
Common now..'74 did have some nice hits: Rock the Boat, Bennie and the Jets, Then Came You, Sundown, Dark Lady, Cat's in the Cradle, You ain't Seen Nothing yet, I shot the Sheriff, Hooked on a Feeling, TSOP.
It wasn't that bad guys.
Now: I Can Help, Having My Baby, The Streak, Billy Don't be a Hero, that's another story!
And these are just some of the 35 #1's mentioned.
One question though..why in the world were there 35 #1 songs in 1974 and 1975..just a huge turnover in the mid 70's, even the late 80's too.
It wasn't that bad guys.
Now: I Can Help, Having My Baby, The Streak, Billy Don't be a Hero, that's another story!
And these are just some of the 35 #1's mentioned.
One question though..why in the world were there 35 #1 songs in 1974 and 1975..just a huge turnover in the mid 70's, even the late 80's too.
it was self inflicted pain, as US Top 40 steered clear of the amazing glam and post glam singles out of the UK(T.Rex,Slade,Bowie, Suzi Quatro, Mudd,Gary Glitter, Sweet,anything resembling fun rocknroll)in favor of MOR Helen Reddy, female vocal ballads,trying to shake off the teen /guitar/rebellion element that had powered Top 40 from Elvis and Bill Haley through Beatles/Stones/Doors/Steppenwolf;
Top 40's US 70s demise was a self inflicted suicide ,I remember it all very well,and then they cried as they all lost their base; they thought they could control the audience's tastes,and even before MTV, found out how wrong they were
Top 40's US 70s demise was a self inflicted suicide ,I remember it all very well,and then they cried as they all lost their base; they thought they could control the audience's tastes,and even before MTV, found out how wrong they were
B
BACKnUSSR
Guest
RADIO TRUTH said:
Yeah....acts like The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Elton John, Billy Joel
certainly never had any appeal....right??
Lalumia.....I agree with you 100%.
BACKnUSSR.....The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Elton John, Billy Joel are exactly why post 1972 music is so bland and boring. All are poor excuses for rock artists if you like anything with energy. Let's compare those artists to these 60s artists.....the
Beatles, Four Seasons, Beach Boys, Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Doors. Which group of artists is more boring? Which group of artists will more likely put you to sleep? I think you know the answer. Let's try five 50s artists.....Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Elbow Parsley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Dion and the Belmonts. Again, the 70s artists come out dead last. Think about what it would be like to hear any of the above 70s artists sing "Rock N' Roll Is Here To Stay".
BACKnUSSR.....The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Elton John, Billy Joel are exactly why post 1972 music is so bland and boring. All are poor excuses for rock artists if you like anything with energy. Let's compare those artists to these 60s artists.....the
Beatles, Four Seasons, Beach Boys, Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Doors. Which group of artists is more boring? Which group of artists will more likely put you to sleep? I think you know the answer. Let's try five 50s artists.....Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Elbow Parsley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Dion and the Belmonts. Again, the 70s artists come out dead last. Think about what it would be like to hear any of the above 70s artists sing "Rock N' Roll Is Here To Stay".
RADIO TRUTH said:
The 60's also has it's very mellow stars and singers too, so did the 50's. The 70's bands you mentioned above are only 5 artists / groups mentioned out of hundreds. You cannot judge an era of music, based on ONLY 5 bands. Yes, those band's music were mainly mellow and A/C oriented, but there are many, many other acts in the 70's that prove otherwise!
Yes, those band's music were mainly mellow and A/C oriented, but there are many, many other acts in the 70's that prove otherwise!
well then, name a few that were supported with airplay by Top 40 radio in America; it seemed that 70s Top 40s mission was to drain pop music of any rock based energy at all, leaving only Disco, John Denver and Olivia Newton John, and this is what brought the pop scene to the cliff of doom by 1980;
the only thing that saved it was MTV, exposing the types of artists that Top 40 fled from in the 70s
well then, name a few that were supported with airplay by Top 40 radio in America; it seemed that 70s Top 40s mission was to drain pop music of any rock based energy at all, leaving only Disco, John Denver and Olivia Newton John, and this is what brought the pop scene to the cliff of doom by 1980;
the only thing that saved it was MTV, exposing the types of artists that Top 40 fled from in the 70s
D
drpickle
Guest
oldies76 said:
I agree that 74 was a good year. That year also had Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks, Im A Train by Albert Hammond, and the Lords Prayer by Sister Janet Meade and many others.
In regards to Billy Don't Be A Hero, the song is very disturbing. Im all for protesting wars. I was too young to have an opinion on Vietnam but I've studied it since and believe it was wrong, just like the current war today. But, to discredit your signifigant other's memory, and rip up his letter sent from Vietnam is pathetic.
lalumia said:
Steve Miller Band, Bachman-Tuner Overdrive, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Grand Funk RR, and even the Knack in 79. Just too many to mention.
A lot of songs in the 70's were slow and A/C, but those were the styles back then. Just a different scene compared to the late 60's rock and turmoil (great music by the way). New artists come and go and change the music scene over the years and the listening public approved of it. Look at all the mellow #1 songs in the 70's (singles sales)
Today and since the 90's, look how R&B and Rap have taken over.
By 1975, one would have noticed how many mellow and slow-funk songs have taken over the airwaves since 1968, but it was accepted then.
An example "Afternoon Delight" 2 weeks at #1 in '76 or "Having My Baby" 3 weeks in '74. These were not bad songs then, maybe now, but not then. They were always aired on Top 40 then, among many others.
Steve Miller Band, Bachman-Tuner Overdrive, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Grand Funk RR, and even the Knack in 79. Just too many to mention.
Stewart and The Stones were releasing wimpy ballads and disco records in the 70s, as singles for Top 40 anyway;Steve Miller and BTO were wimp rock at best,and Grand Funk had gone bubble gum with Loco Motion; the Knack was the end of the decade, the beginning of the MTV generation; not one good example, cos there weren't any
A lot of songs in the 70's were slow and A/C, but those were the styles back then. Just a different scene compared to the late 60's rock and turmoil (great music by the way). New artists come and go and change the music scene over the years and the listening public approved of it. Look at all the mellow #1 songs in the 70's (singles sales)
singles sales? of course, it's all the public was exposed to, and big selling rock singles just didn't get played at Top 40; the foisting of Wimp 40 'hits' is what led to the malaise/decline in the latter part of the 70s;lead a horse to water,can't make him drink
Today and since the 90's, look how R&B and Rap have taken over.
thanks to MTV and the internet;Top 40 had no choice
By 1975, one would have noticed how many mellow and slow-funk songs have taken over the airwaves since 1968, but it was accepted then.
again, there was no choice
An example "Afternoon Delight" 2 weeks at #1 in '76 or "Having My Baby" 3 weeks in '74. These were not bad songs then, maybe now, but not then. They were always aired on Top 40 then, among many others.
they were always aired on Top 40 because they were part of the Wimp 40 agenda
Stewart and The Stones were releasing wimpy ballads and disco records in the 70s, as singles for Top 40 anyway;Steve Miller and BTO were wimp rock at best,and Grand Funk had gone bubble gum with Loco Motion; the Knack was the end of the decade, the beginning of the MTV generation; not one good example, cos there weren't any
A lot of songs in the 70's were slow and A/C, but those were the styles back then. Just a different scene compared to the late 60's rock and turmoil (great music by the way). New artists come and go and change the music scene over the years and the listening public approved of it. Look at all the mellow #1 songs in the 70's (singles sales)
singles sales? of course, it's all the public was exposed to, and big selling rock singles just didn't get played at Top 40; the foisting of Wimp 40 'hits' is what led to the malaise/decline in the latter part of the 70s;lead a horse to water,can't make him drink
Today and since the 90's, look how R&B and Rap have taken over.
thanks to MTV and the internet;Top 40 had no choice
By 1975, one would have noticed how many mellow and slow-funk songs have taken over the airwaves since 1968, but it was accepted then.
again, there was no choice
An example "Afternoon Delight" 2 weeks at #1 in '76 or "Having My Baby" 3 weeks in '74. These were not bad songs then, maybe now, but not then. They were always aired on Top 40 then, among many others.
they were always aired on Top 40 because they were part of the Wimp 40 agenda
B
BACKnUSSR
Guest
RADIO TRUTH said:
Nice spin. Then lets try this....
70's= BTO, Raspberries, Sweet, KISS, Donna Summer, etc.
60's= Dusty Springfield, Bobby Vinton, Peter Paul & Mary, The Association
50'= Pat Boone, Johnny Ray, The Platters, Kingston Trio, Perry Como
Which decade makes you want to grab a pillow the most??
(I just remember Lawrence Welk's "Calcutta" and I'm starting to yawn).
B
BACKnUSSR
Guest
Except for Maggie May, Hot Legs, Brown Sugar, It's Only RocknRoll, and others.lalumia said:
Many would disagree about Steve Miller & BTO, some would say BTO took the Guess Who ("These Eyes") and really amped iy up quite a bit. Grand Funk also did American Band....so what? And actually the Knack's peak had come and gone before MTV was ever heard of.
Not true most BIG selling rock singles DID get played at Top 40, including KISS, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Led Zep, and many more....
Really??? MTV's musical influence has waned considerably since the 90's.
And even in the 90's, it was more responsible for the Britney's, Alanis's, Christina's, etc...than any RAP or R&B.
"Leaving On A Jet Plane", "Cherish", and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" were somehow exempt from that Wimp agenda because they were pre 1972????
we're talking 74 and onward from the original post,by then the Stones and Stewart had joined the wimp parade....as to the rock of the 60s(classic Stones,Steppenwolf,Blues Magoos,Amboy Dukes,Yardbirds, etc,or the great UK glam bands mentioned above, Steve Miller and BTO were a pale shadow in comparison,creating rote, color by numbers rock that was acceptable to Rick Sklar and Co .nationally; they didn't want to scare off the 'old folks',and they started steering Top 40 in the 'safe' direction, the facts (and the on line surveys) speak for themselves..it became a Tony Orlando & Dawn,Bobby"My Melody Of Love" Vinton world, by design
By the way, white America embraced 'rap' via two very safe versions presented by MTV ,MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice and NOTHING was ever the same after that; I was owner of a Billboard reporting record store at the time, I lived through that 'change of life",and again, the facts speak for themselves;it's complete ignorance to not acknowledge that Top 40 only accepted rap after MTV's 90s influence(Yo! MTV Raps, etc) left them no choice
......as to "Leaving On A Jet Plane", "Cherish" etc,yes, they were lite hits, but they were counterbalanced at the time they were hits with real rock singles getting equal time,look it up...we're all entitled to our own opinions,but we're not entitled to our own facts; the reality is all there for all to see
By the way, white America embraced 'rap' via two very safe versions presented by MTV ,MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice and NOTHING was ever the same after that; I was owner of a Billboard reporting record store at the time, I lived through that 'change of life",and again, the facts speak for themselves;it's complete ignorance to not acknowledge that Top 40 only accepted rap after MTV's 90s influence(Yo! MTV Raps, etc) left them no choice
......as to "Leaving On A Jet Plane", "Cherish" etc,yes, they were lite hits, but they were counterbalanced at the time they were hits with real rock singles getting equal time,look it up...we're all entitled to our own opinions,but we're not entitled to our own facts; the reality is all there for all to see
M
MarcR
Guest
lalumia said:
I thought what those male suburban white teens "embraced" was that "gangsta" image of rampant misogyny and casual violence. Since you didn't actually treat women that way outside of the "hood", and the sound of gunfire in suburbia was about as common as a hurricane striking Long Island, it seemingly became permissible to fantasize about both through the music.
lalumia said:
The late 60's classic rock acts, like Amboy Dukes, Steffenwolf, Yardbirds, Hendrix..etc..evolved into a harder rock scene throughout the 70's, into the 80's and beyond (hard rock, heavy metal, acid rock..etc..)
The alternative to rock getting louder and more obnoxious by then, was for a lighter side of music throughout the 70's and into the early 80's. Early indications of this light side of rock and roll, was sprouting by the late 60's (Honey, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Windy, Cherish, Theme from "Romeo and Juliet"...etc..) Even Dionne Warwick's standards were very popular too.
By the 70's, you had the light mellow songs and a new rock sound, like B.T.O, Steve Miller, Elton John and others AND you also had the hard rock acts, like Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Edgar Winter, Ted Nugent...etc..
Hard rock songs rarely got played on Top 40, unless it was popular among the listeners and it ranked in their playlists.
The softer rock, like Steve Miller, BTO, Grand Funk...etc.. was aired more. People found this to be the comfort zone to the hard rock and the really soft songs. That's why it's still popular today on classic hits stations, like CBS-FM. It's these songs, that you are calling the wimp parade. Well obviously, if they are all still being aired today, then they weren't so wimpy after all, aren't they lalumia?
You forgot what was arguably the most excruciating single of 1974 or the entire decade--'The Night Chicago Died' by Paper Lace.
CBS-FM's PDs continue to face the same challenges as the PDs of any other Classic Hits and/or Oldies stations out there; playing the good stuff while leaving the bad stuff dead and buried.
There was still plenty of hard rock at top 40 radio throughout the seventies; there was plenty more during the eighties thanks to bands such as Midnight Oil, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Judas Priest and lots of others.
Top 40 stations certainly played lots of rock music, from Jimi Hendrix & Deep Purple in 1967/68 throughout the eighties; why wouldn't they continue to do so after the Classic Rock format came along?
Granted, there was plenty of really schlock-filled AC dreck from Debby Boone to Air Supply which also polluted top 40 radio during the seventies and eighties as well as lots more country classics, but that was just the way the format was from the mid-fifties to KHJ's arrival in 1965 and long after that; play the widest possible and best variety of music you could get your hands on--a format staple until the early nineties.
Once adults started bailing out of the top 40 format starting in the late eighties due to the explosion of vulgar rap music which horrified adults (and not just the 'soccer moms'), rap & hip-hop were free to take over @ top 40 radio while country, AC, smooth jazz, & oldies welcomed millions of adult listeners.
Toss in the introduction of Hot AC (aka Adult top 40) for the adults who wanted hip and contemporary music without the rap and hard rock (what an overworked positioning statement that was!!), and it was inevitable that hip-hop and rap music would take over at top 40 radio as dozens of top 40 stations left the format.
Many top 40 stations overreacted to the emergence of CHR/Rhythmic powerhouses in the mid-to-late eighties such as KPWR (which went from nonexistent to #1 in LA in under a year!!!), and either got creamed in the ratings or bailed from the format.
The PDs and MDs @ CBS-FM have always been and will continue to be as challenged as their counterparts at other similarly-formatted stations in playing the right music from the 60s, 70s and 80s, but there's certainly no shortage of great music from those years and/or eras of music.
CBS-FM's PDs continue to face the same challenges as the PDs of any other Classic Hits and/or Oldies stations out there; playing the good stuff while leaving the bad stuff dead and buried.
There was still plenty of hard rock at top 40 radio throughout the seventies; there was plenty more during the eighties thanks to bands such as Midnight Oil, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Judas Priest and lots of others.
Top 40 stations certainly played lots of rock music, from Jimi Hendrix & Deep Purple in 1967/68 throughout the eighties; why wouldn't they continue to do so after the Classic Rock format came along?
Granted, there was plenty of really schlock-filled AC dreck from Debby Boone to Air Supply which also polluted top 40 radio during the seventies and eighties as well as lots more country classics, but that was just the way the format was from the mid-fifties to KHJ's arrival in 1965 and long after that; play the widest possible and best variety of music you could get your hands on--a format staple until the early nineties.
Once adults started bailing out of the top 40 format starting in the late eighties due to the explosion of vulgar rap music which horrified adults (and not just the 'soccer moms'), rap & hip-hop were free to take over @ top 40 radio while country, AC, smooth jazz, & oldies welcomed millions of adult listeners.
Toss in the introduction of Hot AC (aka Adult top 40) for the adults who wanted hip and contemporary music without the rap and hard rock (what an overworked positioning statement that was!!), and it was inevitable that hip-hop and rap music would take over at top 40 radio as dozens of top 40 stations left the format.
Many top 40 stations overreacted to the emergence of CHR/Rhythmic powerhouses in the mid-to-late eighties such as KPWR (which went from nonexistent to #1 in LA in under a year!!!), and either got creamed in the ratings or bailed from the format.
The PDs and MDs @ CBS-FM have always been and will continue to be as challenged as their counterparts at other similarly-formatted stations in playing the right music from the 60s, 70s and 80s, but there's certainly no shortage of great music from those years and/or eras of music.
All this discussion is fun, but from a male point of view.
Top 40, especially from the 70s on has been a FEMALE leaning format.
So, our male opinion only counts for about 35%.
Many women would disagree with with most of you about the mellow and
wimpy songs which they probably like/liked, along with some Rock.
I wouldn't want any of you to program MY Oldies station.
Top 40, especially from the 70s on has been a FEMALE leaning format.
So, our male opinion only counts for about 35%.
Many women would disagree with with most of you about the mellow and
wimpy songs which they probably like/liked, along with some Rock.
I wouldn't want any of you to program MY Oldies station.
surfdude said:
Would you play then, "Angie Baby", "Having a Baby" "Annie's Song", "Morning After", "Delta Dawn", "Way We Were"
"I Honestly Love You" "Have You Never Been Mellow" and the like...etc..
Just curious....wouldn't bother me to stick one in every so often.
There's nothing wrong with those songs, just..you don't hear them anymore, possibly due to reasons given by some other posters here. They were popular in their times on Top 40 radio.
Your oldies station would be great Surfdude!
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