Big D, A to Z

[CTListener]

DRC-FM's weeklong "alphabetical" blowout of its music library, which started last Monday with 1910 Fruitgum Company's "1, 2, 3, Red Light," ended just after 10 this morning with the Miracles' "You've Really Got a Hold On Me." Just terrific, from beginning to end, although it was kind of a bummer that there was no "Z" song -- "Zorba the Greek," maybe, or "Zabadak"?

As it wound down, Floyd Wright read a nice tribute to Grahame Winters, whose idea this was, and Rob Ray, who obsessed over the details. He also sent a verbal tip of the cap toward his bosses at Buckley Broadcasting, who "gave us the freedom to do radio that the big conglomerates would never do, because Buckley believes radio should be fun." That's a bit overblown, but for a week, certainly, the Big D was about as much fun to listen to as any station around here has been in a long, long time. Well done!

 

[KML0224]

In terms of variety, that was wonderful!

 

[DJ Jim Wayne]

DRC-FM's weeklong "alphabetical" blowout of its music library, which started last Monday with 1910 Fruitgum Company's "1, 2, 3, Red Light," ended just after 10 this morning with the Miracles' "You've Really Got a Hold On Me." Just terrific, from beginning to end, although it was kind of a bummer that there was no "Z" song -- "Zorba the Greek," maybe, or "Zabadak"?

The A-Z feature was tremendous! I hope they consider it again for Memorial Day week.
I was pleasantly surprised when I heard "Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh. I always considered that as strictly Classic Rock. It's good to know that it's on the playlist.
I also noticed that "Sweet And Innocent" by Donny Osmond (1971) didn't make the playlist. It's not a complaint; simply an observation.

 

[PaulRAnderson]

I'm no longer in range to listen to WDRC-FM, but a friend of mine is, and he really enjoyed the A to Z. He was hoping to hear "You Turn Me On" by Ian Whitcomb from 1965, but just missed it. Did they play it?

I would love to see the whole list. I couldn't find it on their web site and was hoping someone compiled a list.

I agree that all these songs should be in some sort of rotation.

Did they compile the list just from songs that appeared on their surveys? If not, I wonder which ones they dropped or, if any, which ones they never played over the years but are in their playlist now.

Paul

 

[MarcB]

I don't know if that one got played or not. I wasn't listening when they started the countdown at 5AM last Monday the 29th. I know I heard a lot of their countdown because I was fed-up with all the MIXSHOWS on WZMX. The Big D is usually my number 2 station after WZMX.

 

[CTListener]

I'm no longer in range to listen to WDRC-FM, but a friend of mine is, and he really enjoyed the A to Z. He was hoping to hear "You Turn Me On" by Ian Whitcomb from 1965, but just missed it. Did they play it?

I would love to see the whole list. I couldn't find it on their web site and was hoping someone compiled a list.

I agree that all these songs should be in some sort of rotation.

Did they compile the list just from songs that appeared on their surveys? If not, I wonder which ones they dropped or, if any, which ones they never played over the years but are in their playlist now.

Paul

I hope they post the list, too. You can poke around the daily logs at www.yes.com for an hour-by-hour look at what was played, but for some reason, not every song shows up. I heard "Twelve Thirty," "Bottle of Wine," and "Shaving Cream," (Yes, "Shaving Cream"!) for example, but neither shows up in the yes.com log. As for the song you ask about, "You Turn Me On," yes.com shows "You Talk Too Much," followed by "You Wear It Well," so it apparently wasn't played. The Tuesday playlist will disappear shortly after midnight.

As for "Ariel," the log from last Monday has already been replaced by today's log, so I can't look up that song anymore.

 

[CTListener]

And although I think Graheme sounds like a nice girl, I also thing she is a lousy jock. Maybe that comes from the fact that she is voicetracked most of the time.

That "nice girl" is the PD and MD at DRC-FM now. She used to be promotions director. The DJing has always been an occasional weekend/fill-in thing.

 

[qunewsguy]

Half those songs used to be played on XM on a regular basis. Now, no more. *sigh*. Can't find half this stuff anywhere anymore unless you go out and buy it.

 

[kms575]

They should take the idea of the A-Z thing, mix it up, and add it all back to their playlist. I haven't heard '1-2-3 Red Light' since I misplaced the 45 a very long time ago. DRC needs to not be playing 'Walking on Sunshine' by Katrina and the waves. They should not be playing 'You Give Love a Bad Name' by Bon Jovi. More along the lines of what they should be playing is 'Expressway' by the Soul Survivors and 'Poison Ivy' by The Coasters. And although the audio processing has improved thanks to Tom Ray, it still isn't where it should be. It's only the SECOND worst sounding station in CT, right behind WWYZ.

I hope 2009 will be a miracle year for Buckley and DRC-FM, and that they will finally get it together.

And although I think Graheme sounds like a nice girl, I also thing she is a lousy jock. Maybe that comes from the fact that she is voicetracked most of the time.

You do need DRC to be playing the newer '80's tracks if you want to format to continue. But, there's nothing wrong with having the older stuff thrown in also. CBS-FM does a great job of this.
Remember, Bon Jovi "Slippery When Wet" is now over 20 years old. That, to me, is an oldie. I'll listen to the '80's tracks and then be impressed by a 60's/70's song I've either never heard or not heard in a long time. I hope DRC keeps mixing it up.

 

[CTListener]

They should take the idea of the A-Z thing, mix it up, and add it all back to their playlist. I haven't heard '1-2-3 Red Light' since I misplaced the 45 a very long time ago. DRC needs to not be playing 'Walking on Sunshine' by Katrina and the waves. They should not be playing 'You Give Love a Bad Name' by Bon Jovi. More along the lines of what they should be playing is 'Expressway' by the Soul Survivors and 'Poison Ivy' by The Coasters. And although the audio processing has improved thanks to Tom Ray, it still isn't where it should be. It's only the SECOND worst sounding station in CT, right behind WWYZ.

I hope 2009 will be a miracle year for Buckley and DRC-FM, and that they will finally get it together.

And although I think Graheme sounds like a nice girl, I also thing she is a lousy jock. Maybe that comes from the fact that she is voicetracked most of the time.

You do need DRC to be playing the newer '80's tracks if you want to format to continue. But, there's nothing wrong with having the older stuff thrown in also. CBS-FM does a great job of this.
Remember, Bon Jovi "Slippery When Wet" is now over 20 years old. That, to me, is an oldie. I'll listen to the '80's tracks and then be impressed by a 60's/70's song I've either never heard or not heard in a long time. I hope DRC keeps mixing it up.

I agree. I'm 53 and I'm cool with the '80s tracks. I listened to Top 40 radio pretty regularly from the mid-'60s through the late '80s, when the advent of hip-hop drove me away. A station that plays the Stones and the Supremes ought to be playing Bon Jovi and Katrina and the Waves. Hell, why aren't they playing Genesis/Phil Collins and the Bangles? I think the only Collins on DRC's regular playlist is "Easy Lover," and the Bangles don't get played at all. Meanwhile, Grahame keeps adding Huey Lewis, Billy Joel and Hall & Oates '80s tracks to the playlist.

Hmmm ... I'm hearing Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" right now, and yesterday I heard the Fireballs' "Bottle of Wine" and the Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul." None of these usually get played outside weekend specials or Ron Sedaille's request show. Maybe some of those songs they brought back for the "A to Z ... umm ... Y" special ARE being added!

 

[DJKraze]

I didn't listen at all. Too busy playing my iPod. But I have to wonder if they happened to play 'Ariel' by Dean Friedman. That would have been classic!

I did manage to copy everything from yes.com and I note the following played last Monday morning which would indicate that they did not play that track:

Pacific Gas & Electric - Are You Ready? 1:48pm

# where your song would be if it were on the list

Mark Lindsay - Arizona 1:51pm