> Surprising that this hasn't been posted yet:
>
http://www.e> disonresearch.com/home/archives/2005/11/bob_and_jack_ev.html
>
>
> It's analysis about the "rules" of the Bob and Jack formats,
> and comes to the conclusion that, well, there are none. At
> least no hard and fast ones. The whole thing is a great
> read for supporters and naysayers alike.
>
Sean Ross has been my favorite radio writer since 1986 when he wrote the oldies column for R&R.
It's funny that he mentioned "Fox On The Run". That was my favorite song when it was a current and Sweet's "Desolation Boulevard" was one of the first albums I bought when I was a kid. Ross was right that until Variety Hits, radio has not played Sweet. In fact, radio ignored them for so long that the media did not report when two of their members died (including their lead singer in 1997). I wouldn't have even known if it wasn't for a Google search I did a few years ago, I was surprised and saddened to learn that they died at such a young age.
Not only does Variety Hits play songs I like that haven't played in decades.VH also plays songs I didn't like at the time. For example, "Sweetheart" by Franke and the Knockouts. In 1981, I was a teen and thought the song was overplayed and boring. When I heard my local Jack play it recently, I was in total AWE of how good it sounded. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. Hearing that song was like taking a trip to another dimension or a past lifetime. I did some research and was surprised to learn Franke's lead singer was the song writter for "I've had the time of my life" and "Hungry Eyes".
I guess the point of this post is those "forgotten" songs are my favorite thing about Variety Hits. I very much appreciate that aspect of the format.