Great songs that were Top 40 hits that you never hear on the radio

[allenv]

Hey Surf,
I am I like to think a guy who is happily married with two children.I am in to some fairly manly things....Nascar,Football,Baseball and old school wrasslin'.Dude i love
Kiss,AC/DC the Stones etc....I also love Air Supply,Merle Haggard,Andy Williams and Tennessee Ernie Ford.I know all the words to Christine Sixteen and Feelings..
I would love to hear more about your research over the last 20 years.I'm sure it is very interesting.I have had a sleepover with my buddy Double J.He is a much smarter dude than me,he's better looking,women love him and that lullabye he sang to me put me right to sleep.He however is a lousy kisser........

Allen

 

[allenv]

Surf,
If you ever question my manhood again I'll clock you with my purse and beat you to death with my Bay City Rollers 8 Track!!!!!!

Allen

 

[ZAX Double J]

I've been researching these songs since '87, there IS a reason they're not played anymore.
They're either "unfamilar" or "dislike a lot", with a few exceptions on your lists.

This sounds EXACTLY like a narrow minded consultant and thier EXTREMELY small "focus groups" that are supposed to tell the rest of us what WE know, remember, and like to hear on the radio. I'll bet if I looked in your iPod or record collection there will be several of these songs there. What research have you been doing? Did you ever really LOOK at the Billbosrd charts? These songs can't possibly be unfamiliar or disliked a lot by looking at the chart data and if so it's because people have not HEARD them on the radio which is the point of this thread. That's what's wrong with radio today the PDs have listened to this same BS from consultants for the last however many years to the point that they don't know HOW to think anymore for themselves let alone program a station. But unfortunately, it all comes down to - MONEY AND THE CLIENTS to hell with the listener and what he/she thinks. But if the listener turns your station off because of your narrow playlist and they don't go to your clients businesses then you are out of a job and at that point you might as well turn in the license and let someone who cares that will make a difference.

I have never advocated that these songs should be the main basis of your format, but the sprinkling of some of these songs will make your format "stand out". It's like making speghetti, everybody can make it, but it's what you put in the sauce that makes the difference. This is that "secret ingredient<sp>" that everyone talks about but never tells you what it is.

I am a 40 1/2 year old single male who is completely happy with my manlyness thank you. I am not a homosexual in any way shape or form. I do not know how this has turned into this type of discussion.

 

[allenv]

Here Here!!! Well said Double J!!!!! ;D ;D

 

[Ssummers]

....74 was an interesting year for music.There was alot of different sounding things on the radio which is my point.

Yes, 74 was an interesting year for music. Without 74, there's no I Honestly Love You/Olivia Newton-John or, (gulp), Having My Baby/Paul Anka...or, (forgive me for saying it...) Seasons in the Sun/Terry Jacks.

Of course, you'd have no Billy, Don't Be a Hero/Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods either.

 

[ZAX Double J]

....74 was an interesting year for music.There was alot of different sounding things on the radio which is my point.

Yes, 74 was an interesting year for music. Without 74, there's no I Honestly Love You/Olivia Newton-John or, (gulp), Having My Baby/Paul Anka...or, (forgive me for saying it...) Seasons in the Sun/Terry Jacks.

Of course, you'd have no Billy, Don't Be a Hero/Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods either.

All great songs by the way that should be played too.

My sister who is 4 years older than me liked The Osmonds way more than The Beatles, so we could add all of their songs there too including Donny's solo stuff.

 

[Marathon Don]

Can't...resist...urge...to...contribute....

Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade) by the Lemon Pipers.

OK, so I said it.

 

[surfdude]

Relax fellas. Wasn't a personal attack, just having fun. Like I said in an earlier post, I know and like some of these songs, too.

Scott, there HAS been discussion about playing these songs on the air, so the fact that I've programmed three oldies stations in three large markets and have seen much research helps me render my comments
about playing these songs. (it is a discussion/opinion board)

Double J, they're not focus groups, they're auditorium music tests with well over 100 actual LISTENERS to the station participating in each test. These same listeners are also likely to keep an Arbitron diary for the same reason they've decided to participate in a music test.

In a market where ratings determine your success as a business, you must play the Arbitron game. Much to my dismay, many of the songs on your lists, I've tested, and they are either UNFAMLIAR or have a high DISLIKE score. You, as the programmer would have a hard time playing those songs knowing your job and
the livelyhood of your co-workers relied on it.

I've seen it for 30 years, the tighter, well researched playlist garners higher ratings. Don't believe me?
Look at the Raleigh market. WQDR and G105 lead the market with tight playlists for their formats.

The average listener, not radio guy or radio board fan, wants to hear one of their favorite songs EVERY time they punch up your station. MAKE A LITTLE MAGIC by the Dirt Band ain't gonna work.

Some of my favorite "turntable hits...

MA BELLE AMIE Tee Set
FUNKY NASSAU Beginning of the End
SAUSOLITO SUMMER NIGHTS Diesel
TELL HER SHE'S LOVELY El Chicano
STREET CORNER SERENADE Wet Willie

 

[allenv]

See there is the problem. I'm sure there are lots of people who like Make A Little Magic and Several other dirt band songs that were hits.The problem is alot of the 40 plus audience likes and remembers these songs but the 40 plus listener is being forgotten.They spend alot of money.Plus there are only about 200 titles that pepole recognize in the first five notes but alot of these songs mentioned would jog their memory
and keep everyone from sounding alike.My thing is no one is willing to try something different.This industry has become a bunch of copycats all grabbing for the same piece of pie.I am willing to bet you i could find you a 100 people who remember 75% of these songs.Maybe we should start music testing on the internet.They can do it in the comfort of home in their leisure.Another problem is the same songs keep getting tested over and over.Let's face it, you can't play every song so you're research is already compromised.The research was done for you when the songs were out so play them and stop trying to over research and make rocket science out of a simple process.I don't like all these songs but there should be an outlet on the radio for them. Alot of people bought these tunes...
Just think outside the box.In the case of an already struggling station what have you got to lose????

Allen

 

[ZAX Double J]

See there is the problem. I'm sure there are lots of people who like Make A Little Magic and Several other dirt band songs that were hits.The problem is alot of the 40 plus audience likes and remembers these songs but the 40 plus listener is being forgotten.They spend alot of money.Plus there are only about 200 titles that pepole recognize in the first five notes but alot of these songs mentioned would jog their memory
and keep everyone from sounding alike.My thing is no one is willing to try something different.This industry has become a bunch of copycats all grabbing for the same piece of pie.I am willing to bet you i could find you a 100 people who remember 75% of these songs.Maybe we should start music testing on the internet.They can do it in the comfort of home in their leisure.Another problem is the same songs keep getting tested over and over.Let's face it, you can't play every song so you're research is already compromised.The research was done for you when the songs were out so play them and stop trying to over research and make rocket science out of a simple process.I don't like all these songs but there should be an outlet on the radio for them. Alot of people bought these tunes...
Just think outside the box.In the case of an already struggling station what have you got to lose????

Allen

Well said Allen I couldn't have said it any better!

 

[Ssummers]

Scott, there HAS been discussion about playing these songs on the air, so the fact that I've programmed three oldies stations in three large markets and have seen much research helps me render my comments
about playing these songs. (it is a discussion/opinion board)

Sorry, Surfie, but the only discussion regarding playing these songs on the air has confined itself to that of developing a specific format for the former Top 40 hits that aren't played (for one reason or another) anymore, not why they're not played on existing formats anymore. Subtle, yet important difference. Besides, the vast majority of the posts are volunteering songs and discussing those songs. And I get research. I understand it, how it's derived and how to apply it. I also know how it can upset the balance of a playlist and overconstrict airplay rotations. It's a "chicken or egg" argument. Did research exist before "Great songs that were Top 40 hits that you never hear on the radio" faded into oblivion or or after? One school of thought is that the fact that a lot of oldies or older songs that don't test or research well is a direct result of the "overconstriction" or "tightness" that results from placing too much stock in research. It is possible to choke a format.

The radio world needs MORE Tom Donahues and LESS Clear Channels, Paragon Researches and consultants.

Having said that, Street Corner Serenade is an excellent choice.

 

[ZAX Double J]

Scott, there HAS been discussion about playing these songs on the air, so the fact that I've programmed three oldies stations in three large markets and have seen much research helps me render my comments
about playing these songs. (it is a discussion/opinion board)

the only discussion regarding playing these songs on the air has confined itself to that of developing a specific format for the former Top 40 hits that aren't played (for one reason or another) anymore, not why they're not played on existing formats anymore.

They all SHOULD be played on exsisting formats. I don't recall there being any mention that there should be a seperate format for these songs. And yes, Street Coner Serenade is a good one too.

I'm sorry, I have a problem with 100 or so people telling thousands or millions what they should or shouldn't hear is crap. The larger the sampling the better the outcome of the research. I took statistics in college and know with this small of a smpling the data WILL be skewed. Not to mention if you have only a small amount of songs as your test then you possibly can't know what all 100 or so of these test audiences LIKE and REMEMBER.

 

[Ssummers]

They all SHOULD be played on exsisting formats. I don't recall there being any mention that there should be a seperate format for these songs. And yes, Street Coner Serenade is a good one too.

Sure you do. It was on the first page of the thread when Allen posed the question, "I wonder if sometime soon there will ever be a radio format where the songs you are reminicing about in addition to all those other "forgotten" favorites will come together on one station?, It can be done!"

To which you replied, "Yes it sure can!! I'd call it "True Classic Top 40". Some say that it would sound like a train wreck, but it was done 30 years ago and it didn't sound like a train wreck then so why can't it be done now?"

My take from your and Allen's conversation was that a format could be developed that would encompass the "Island of Misfit Toys" type songs that make up the "Great songs that were Top 40 hits that you never hear on the radio".


..and I agree totally with you about focus groups. In the end, research should be a tool, not the final word.

 

[allenv]

How about Weekend-Wet Willie.A great Friday tune you never hear.....

 

[allenv]

Seriously I know surf was playing when he was questioning my manhood but it is that type of thinking that no real man likes Bread,Carpenters,Manilow etc..that is really unfounded and is keeping a very viable adult format from getting a fair shake.
If we are all honest with ourselves there is no denying that they made some great music......
Just look at the views these groups get on Youtube.There is still a large audience for them....

Allen

 

[ZAX Double J]

They all SHOULD be played on exsisting formats. I don't recall there being any mention that there should be a seperate format for these songs. And yes, Street Coner Serenade is a good one too.

Sure you do. It was on the first page of the thread when Allen posed the question, "I wonder if sometime soon there will ever be a radio format where the songs you are reminicing about in addition to all those other "forgotten" favorites will come together on one station?, It can be done!"

To which you replied, "Yes it sure can!! I'd call it "True Classic Top 40". Some say that it would sound like a train wreck, but it was done 30 years ago and it didn't sound like a train wreck then so why can't it be done now?"

My take from your and Allen's conversation was that a format could be developed that would encompass the "Island of Misfit Toys" type songs that make up the "Great songs that were Top 40 hits that you never hear on the radio".


..and I agree totally with you about focus groups. In the end, research should be a tool, not the final word.

OK I stand somewhat corrected, I guess what I was meaning was that a station that would play "Classic Top 40" could play all these songs too in addition to the "safe" list ones and I would moniker that station as "True Classic Top 40". It would be nice to have a station that would just play these "misfit" songs, I know that would be doubtful, but I believe it too could work.

 

[Raleigh Rocker]

All you guys who are handing in your man cards, I was just playing.
Whirly Girl Oxo

Still, you do have to turn in the cards.

 

[wnmb]

Excuse someone from South Carolina chiming in here, but at WNMB in North Myrtle Beach, we play most of the songs which have been listed on this thread; not all, but many, along with about 3000 other songs. Sure, most of our rotation is of the "big" hit variety and its 60s based, but we have a slot every hour where we do play songs that are not heard much anymore on other stations. For us, it works and we have much fun. So, next time you're in the Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach area say "hello". We have a 24 stream on our website at www.wnmb.net

 

[allenv]

Hey Bill,
I will check you out and thanks for being willing to not play follow the leader..

Allen

 

[ZAX Double J]

How about..

We Are The World/USA for Africa

This was a huge hit in 1985.