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Hi Fi Club on 1360AM

No good or bad Wolfman impression is worthy of Uncle Dick's praise. I think it takes away from the production value and sounds cheesy. Just my opinion. Gotta admit, though, Aunt Billie is pretty freakin' good, though. She takes a big drag off a Winston; inserted into the tube in her neck, pinches her nose shut, inhales through her mouth and then, it's showtime! She is available. But, she doesn't work for free. Uncle Ira would never stand for that. She will work for scale and is available through the Campbell Agency.

All kidding aside, I'm really not picking on these guys. Mike and John, I want you to do well. My first impression was a little off. That's all. Seriously, I will not flip-flop on this Wolfman intro thing... Just because you're getting something for "free" doesn't mean you're getting quality work.

Uncle D. Balam
 
I have to agree on the intro but not so much because of the Wolfman but it's too long and by the time it ramps up it statrs to get on the nerves. Woody woodpecker needs to go too guys, sorry, it takes away from what is becomming a good show. It sounds like you have Jim Tomas doing some VOs. Those are good and gives an element of credability to the show. Just my observation. Here is what i like about the show, you guys are real. Your are not prefabricated corporate radio monkys. You do play good tunes, the music history and radio info are good, your personalitys ballance well and you are doing a service to the radio world by paying tribute to the ones who made it great. I grew up with 50s and 60s radio in the area and it is a real pleasure to hear these voice again but to also get back ground on things like why 820 and 570 swapped frequency. that was great! the old commercials are like old friends and there is an odd sort of comfort in hearing them. John, just becausethe "listener is king" does not mean the listener is always right! Keep that in mind. ;)
 
It's nice to see John step in here. John is what we call "hungry".He loves radio and has a very strong passion for it. He just over does it at times,BUT having read the reviews I have no doubt about he will follow up.
On the pre production elements. Its apples and oranges. If you listen objectively,they are done the way production WAS DONE IN THE LATE 50'S ,EARLY 60'S ON PURPOSE. Listen to an old aircheck of KLIF in 1962 KSAN 1955,etc. You will see what I am talking about.The idea is to set the mood when it was KXOL,KLIF,KBOX.To compare it to todays production standards and what we have been accustomed to listening in the last 10 years alone,is strictly apples and oranges,watermelon and tomatos. You are comparing a 6 transistor AM radio made in 1960 to a Bose Home theater with accoutamass speakers of today. All the elements fit for what the show is trying to do, going back 40 years ago to how things were sounding. The "wolfman" voice guy has had many requests by clients to do that voice. The "woodywood pecker" and "The Mickey Mouse Club"outro invoke the nostalgia factor that the HI-Fi Club is trying to establish,and it meshes well with the Jim Thomas Vo's for variety and not run the "JT"stuff into the ground.The intro can be shortened after the vocal intro,and use the rest as a bed transistion.The intro is supposed to be "traveling back in time".Notice the old sound effects of the TV series "The Time Tunnel'? How about the old transmission and switchboard tones of NBC's "Monitor (1955-1975)?
The historical speeches and excerpts from the popular TV shows are in the mix to give it perspective. If you listen to it objectively without comparing the values to today,you will understand.
 
All great points and taken in the right spirit. John and I have pledged to work harder on diplomacy and keeping things interesting, and I've asked Chad to do more homework on the pre-planned topics so he can participate more. BY NO MEANS are we there yet, though! Yes, I need to get my board op skills down better; it's just tough to interact AND to have the elements cued up and ready. My thinking is to have Chad ramped up on the subject matter and let he and John actively converse when I get tied up with tech issues.

The elements you guys don't care for are a couple of the ones that my friend Ray did. But don't blame him; I gave him the framework and let his creative mind run with it. Personally, I think they're good and they're definitely era-appropriate. If I'd given him the framework that Jim Thomas worked from, the elements would have THAT sound instead. I like the variety myself, and yeah, I think Ray does a damn good Wolfman Jack! But I put out feelers before the first show ever started for some of the area radio vets to cut me a "hello" or an ID to play, and they just haven't rolled in like I'd expected. Ultimately, you should never hear the same voice in the same show, if I had several dozen to choose from. One I'm going to work on is to get Ken Dowe to do a "Granny Emma" hello for us!

But yes, there will always be a "cheese" factor in this show; cheesiness was a staple of pre-70s radio (though they thought it was serious business then and NOT cheesy!) but I think there's some charm to not being cutting edge or full of double entendre, or making everything tight and perfect and pre-planned. I like trying to capture a little of that long-lost innocence of the 50s and 60s, and to make sure that we're always having fun with the show with as few constraints as possible.

And thanks to all for the input AND support. I know this isn't the normal thing to do, for a show to actually solicit comments, let alone RESPOND to them, and to listen and let others have some say-so. I should have an inflated ego, a non-negotiable plan that follows a consultant's advice, and a PD over my shoulder at all times. Thank God that none of these things is a problem!
 
Thanks kindly klifhanger and you nailed it. What Mike, Chad and I are trying to do is not only talk about the old days but emulate it as well. I mean, look at the website, all we were missing were fedoras! ;D In fact, if we had turntables in the studio we'd probably play everything on 45s and vinyl LPs! ;D But we do have to experiment with what works and what does not and then fine-turn what does work! We're working on it folks, please hang in there with us! :)

I think the intro fits the show perfectly just as the opening in the movie Contact does. "GOING BACK IN TIME". We are a sort of time machine or as I referred to Mike and I as, Sherman & Peabody in the Way-back machine! :D (only those growing up in the 60s will get that one) ;)

Please keep in mind that we did not get pulled from another market or even another local station either collectively or individually. Mike's the only cat in here that is doing regular radio work. I've been out for 20 years and I am as rusty as the Tin Man in a thunder shower! ::) Then we get this gig and are left to our own devises, own imagination, no prep, NADA. We hit the mics on 6/18 at 6pm and we winged it. Talk about adrenaline and nerves going into hyper drive! It is a rare and certainly unique opportunity! :)

Good, bad or indifferent I am stoked that people are talking about this! ;D

John Lewis
Please visit www.KXOL1360.com and support this years MDA drive.
 
Sherman & Peabody! ;D I also noticed the Bullwinkle fanfare in there as well. Time Tunnel i've not thought of that show in 30 something years! If it was me i would weaved in the old local jocks in there to and a little less of the tv sounds. It is radio. Just a thought and now that you guys explained it it make more sence.
 
I am reminded of two things about Wolfman Jack(Bob Smith. In 1992 he was live in the studio at KODZ in Las Colinas doing saturday nights. The station got a lot of phone calls,and mail stating that's "Not Wolfman Jack". "You guys hired someone to impersonate him!" "Another said I know what Wolfman Jack sounds like, and your pretender is lousy!" Bob kept those letters and laughed according to a former producer at the station.
Another time he was on the old Mutual Larry King show and there were come calls,saying it wasn't him. One even tried to show Wolfman how to sound like himself,by doing an on the spot demonstration. Bob just laughed and said "Ok I know I am not me,you are me, and I would like to know how I can get you to get in touch with me"
 
I use to listen to wolfman jack when he was in Mexico at XERF. there were only one wolfman. It's like Elvis impersonators, you can get close but can never capture the true sound. There was a program back in the 80s called the night train or Texas Night train with someone doing a pretty pittiful wolfmanish delivery.
 
That was Lee Poole on KLIF being the "coyote" back then,however that was in the 60's early 70's if I recall right. Yes there will be only one "Wolfman"and he was taken from us all too soon. I actually met him while visiting KODZ. What a nice guy.
 
WOW! TNT, we use to play that on KXOL back in 1984 and 1985 when they breifly went back to Top 40 from country. I still have one of the coffee mugs! In fact I still have one of the show on an LP somewhere! LOL!

John Lewis
Please visit www.KXOL1360.com and support this years MDA drive.
 
Thanks very much!!! ;D I missed having Chad there, but John and I did ok. I flubbed up the board many times AGAIN, but what can I say? Hopefully will get some practice time in this week to work out my bugs! One day I'll get it right.

And thanks to Steve Eberhart for calling in! What a great resource for everything radio!! :)
 
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