KROQ Going Wayyy Back for Their Top 500

[scooty430]

If you thought KROQ had abandoned their heritage....

this weekend's Top 500 has them playing songs, lots of them, from the early and mid 80's. Very surprising, as it's been years since KROQ played these songs. Berlin, Queen, Talking Heads.....alongside the 90's and 00's material. Even the Flashback Lunch disappeared long ago, so this is very surprising.

 

[emailfailed]

I didn't get a chance to listen to their countdown this weekend, but I do recall in the past they even included a few obscure bands.

While it was interesting they, whoever is programming their countdown, added some old stuff from the past, I don't expect this to be a mainstay.

Maybe for KROQ's sake that is too bad as for the younger generation as "the 80s" has since become a romanticized decade for those who never "lived" through it... but have this idea every guy dressed like Nicholas Cage in "Valley Girl" and every girl looked like Cyndi Lauper.

Nonetheless KROQ is doing quite alright.

Speaking of "Valley Girl"... anyone remember when the Zappa's "Valley Girl" was played for 24-hours straight on KROQ?

 

[scooty430]

That was back when the station had more of a soul.

The DJs are sort of apologizing for the older tunes. After U2's Bad, the DJ said "I was born the year this was recorded, so don't worry if you don't know this song either."

By the way, they are giving a somewhat revisionist history here. They have Guns and Roses and Metallica on the countdown, two groups that KROQ never played when they were popular. (Lately they've thrown on poppier Metallica.)

Culture Club and Wham are also conspicuously absent.... LOL

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Culture Club and Wham are also conspicuously absent.... LOL

Good points, Scooty. I also remember KROQ playing "Constant Craving" - kd lang and "All That She Wants (is to have another baby" - Ace of Bass. Were they on the Countdown?

 

[BACKnUSSR]

The DJs are sort of apologizing for the older tunes. After U2's Bad, the DJ said "I was born the year this was recorded, so don't worry if you don't know this song either."

Yeah thats smart...slag the music.
And everyone cares about when the DJ was born. Me me me.......
Why don't they just say..."dude dont listen to us this weekend".

 

[scooty430]

I think the young KROQ jocks try to sound a little "too cool for the room." Inside they're probably really excited to be on the radio, and on such a big station.

At least Jed the Fish was there for some authenticity.

Not that it matters, but this Top 20 of all time has nothing past 1997, and the top 100 only has 6 songs past 2000. I guess nothing "timeless" is being made lately.

20 - Violent Femmes - Blister In the Sun (1983)
19 - Bob Marley - Jammin’ (1975)
18 - Offspring - Self-Esteem (1994)
17 - U2 - Pride (1985)
16 - NIN - Closer (1994)
15 - Pearl Jam - Alive (1992)
14 - Depeche Mode - People Are People (1984)
13 - Nirvana - Come As You Are (1991)
12 - Beastie Boys - Fight For Your Right To Party (1985)
11 - Metallica - Enter Sandman (1991)
10 - Sublime - Date Rape (1994)
9 - The Cure - Just Like Heaven (1987)
8 - Green Day - Brain Stew (1995)
7 - Foo Fighters - Everlong (1997)
6 - Radiohead - Creep (1993)
5 - Rage Against the Machine - Killing In The Name Of (1992)
4 - The Smiths - How Soon Is Now (1985)
3 - RHCP - Under The Bridge (1991)
2 - Sublime - What I Got (1996)
1 - Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)

 

[oldies76]

Scooty, any chance did you tune in on KRTH's Top 500 this Memorial Weekend??

 

[scooty430]

Scooty, any chance did you tune in on KRTH's Top 500 this Memorial Weekend??

A little bit. I was listening more to the KROQ list, because it was a little different. KRTH was a letdown after that crazy 1001 in January.

However, when KROQ finished, I switched over to KRTH, and they are on #44. Am I a radio nerd or what?

 

[scooty430]

Here's the top 20 of KRTH for Oldies76. Kind of a strange choice for #1, but that's par for K-Earth.

20 - Drifters - Under the Boardwalk (1964)
19 - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
18 - Aretha Franklin - Respect (1967)
17 - Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music (1976)
16 - Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman (1966)
15 - Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
14 - Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (1967)
13 - Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (1965)
12 - Stevie Wonder - You Are The Sunshine of My Life (1973)
11 - Beatles - Hey Jude (1968)
10 - Elton John - Your Song (1970)
9 - Beach Boys - California Girls (1966)
8 - Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On (1972)
7 - Doors - Light My Fire - long version..... (1967)
6 - John Lennon - Imagine (1971)
5 - Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (1965)
4 - Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (196?)
3 - Santana - Black Magic Woman (1971)
2 - Temptations - My Girl (1965)
1 - Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman (1964)

 

[oldies76]

What, "My Girl" didn't make #1 on this list? You kind of expected that, knowing that K-Earth plays "My Girl" so frequently. So instead it's "Pretty Woman" another song played heavy by them. Obviously, a Top 500 based on K-Earth's playlist of.....(drumroll please) 500 songs.

Did not tune in this year, because I was focused on CBS-FM's #1's weekend. Also beginning today, check out KDZA (JET 107.9) out of Pueblo, Co. They are playing every single song in their massive library A to Z, they claim this could take many days, if not weeks to play them all (could be thousands of songs!) Begins at 9am MT.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Here's the top 20 of KRTH for Oldies76. Kind of a strange choice for #1, but that's par for K-Earth.

20 - Drifters - Under the Boardwalk (1964)
19 - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
18 - Aretha Franklin - Respect (1967)
17 - Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music (1976)
16 - Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman (1966)
15 - Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
14 - Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (1967)
13 - Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (1965)
12 - Stevie Wonder - You Are The Sunshine of My Life (1973)
11 - Beatles - Hey Jude (1968)
10 - Elton John - Your Song (1970)
9 - Beach Boys - California Girls (1966)
8 - Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On (1972)
7 - Doors - Light My Fire - long version..... (1967)
6 - John Lennon - Imagine (1971)
5 - Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (1965)
4 - Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (196?)
3 - Santana - Black Magic Woman (1971)
2 - Temptations - My Girl (1965)
1 - Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman (1964)

Thanks for the list ... I don't think the Big O's Big Hit was a surprise, though .... "What a Wonderful World" came out originally in 1967 and 20 years later charted again when it was featured in the Robin Williams' movie "Good Morning, Vietnam". That's one song that has totally grown in popularity compared to its original chart run. I think its safe to say it never made #4 on the national charts. "California Girls" was a hit in 1965, not '66. "What's Going On" was a #1 hit in 1971 not '72.
The following songs I have also heard on 100.3 The Sound: Fleetwood Mac - Dreams ; Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl ; Beatles - Hey Jude ; Santana - Black Magic Woman ; Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman.

While I haven't personally heard them, I wouldn't be surprised if The Sound has also played: the 2 Elton John songs, Satisfaction, Imagine, Light My Fire, and California Girls (they have played a few BB songs)

 

[failsafe]

If you thought KROQ had abandoned their heritage....

this weekend's Top 500 has them playing songs, lots of them, from the early and mid 80's. Very surprising, as it's been years since KROQ played these songs. Berlin, Queen, Talking Heads.....alongside the 90's and 00's material. Even the Flashback Lunch disappeared long ago, so this is very surprising.

I didn't listen, but I wonder if these obscure gems were remembered :
T.V. OD - The Normal
City Bound - Novo Combo
The Munsters theme - The Coma Teens
Dad, I'm in Jail - Was not Was

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Here's the top 20 of KRTH for Oldies76. Kind of a strange choice for #1, but that's par for K-Earth.

20 - Drifters - Under the Boardwalk (1964)
19 - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
18 - Aretha Franklin - Respect (1967)
17 - Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music (1976)
16 - Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman (1966)
15 - Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
14 - Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (1967)
13 - Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (1965)
12 - Stevie Wonder - You Are The Sunshine of My Life (1973)
11 - Beatles - Hey Jude (1968)
10 - Elton John - Your Song (1970)
9 - Beach Boys - California Girls (1966)
8 - Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On (1972)
7 - Doors - Light My Fire - long version..... (1967)
6 - John Lennon - Imagine (1971)
5 - Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (1965)
4 - Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (196?)
3 - Santana - Black Magic Woman (1971)
2 - Temptations - My Girl (1965)
1 - Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman (1964)

Thanks for the list ... I don't think the Big O's Big Hit was a surprise, though .... "What a Wonderful World" came out originally in 1967 and 20 years later charted again when it was featured in the Robin Williams' movie "Good Morning, Vietnam". That's one song that has totally grown in popularity compared to its original chart run. I think its safe to say it never made #4 on the national charts. "California Girls" was a hit in 1965, not '66. "What's Going On" was a #1 hit in 1971 not '72.
The following songs I have also heard on 100.3 The Sound: Fleetwood Mac - Dreams ; Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl ; Beatles - Hey Jude ; Santana - Black Magic Woman ; Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman.

While I haven't personally heard them, I wouldn't be surprised if The Sound has also played: the 2 Elton John songs, Satisfaction, Imagine, Light My Fire, and California Girls (they have played a few BB songs)

LOL they just played Light My Fire!!

 

[nightfly61]

What, "My Girl" didn't make #1 on this list? You kind of expected that, knowing that K-Earth plays "My Girl" so frequently. So instead it's "Pretty Woman" another song played heavy by them. Obviously, a Top 500 based on K-Earth's playlist of.....(drumroll please) 500 songs.

Did not tune in this year, because I was focused on CBS-FM's #1's weekend. Also beginning today, check out KDZA (JET 107.9) out of Pueblo, Co. They are playing every single song in their massive library A to Z, they claim this could take many days, if not weeks to play them all (could be thousands of songs!) Begins at 9am MT.

A station I was once at the PD/MD/OM(all the same person) had those kinds of A-Z Weekends, but wouldn't play everything in the library. Being an AOR, especially on a holiday weekend that would be what I WOULD listen for. He especially dissed lots of the hair metal(except core artists) & acted like hair bands weren't worth the time. He'd also "shut the countdown off" at night & resume the next day so he wouldn't have to pick out as many songs for the whole weekend.
I do remember one 80's weekend he did where the Def Leppards, Cinderellas & 80's Aerosmiths( :) of the world were the same cuts in nearly the EXACT same order as 22 hours before. I also remember a lot of mainstream Phil Collins/Genesis being forcefed that weekend. : and Brown Eyed Girl was grandfathered over from when the station had been an oldies station & still got played every 12 hours. You couldn't shake it.

 

[LA_Guy]

The Sound played; "In My Room" by the Beach Boys the other afternoon. I thought to myself: What are they trying to be?

 

[WBIMDJ]

I hope KROQ played some XTC in this list.

 

[scooty430]

I hope KROQ played some XTC in this list.

With ya on that. One of the most underrated, somewhat forgotten bands around. Sadly, though they were a core KROQ band for years, they are nowhere to be found on this list. I'm actually surprised at least "Dear God" did not get on there.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I hope KROQ played some XTC in this list.

With ya on that. One of the most underrated, somewhat forgotten bands around. Sadly, though they were a core KROQ band for years, they are nowhere to be found on this list. I'm actually surprised at least "Dear God" did not get on there.

I know The Sound has played some XTC- Dear God, Sense Working Overtime and Mayor of Simpleton

 

[WBIMDJ]

I hope KROQ played some XTC in this list.

With ya on that. One of the most underrated, somewhat forgotten bands around. Sadly, though they were a core KROQ band for years, they are nowhere to be found on this list. I'm actually surprised at least "Dear God" did not get on there.

I know The Sound has played some XTC- Dear God, Sense Working Overtime and Mayor of Simpleton

Indie does play those cuts quite a bit too.

 

[radiosanchez]

That's funny.....I was in LA over Memorial Day weekend, with my HD radio, and also thought it was interesting that they were going that far back for their "500" on KROQ. Nevertheless, aside from being in a car someone else was driving with the main KROQ on, I still listened mostly to their all-80s HD-2 while resting in the hotel.

Interesting the jock was being apologetic, but I remember when I worked at an Alt-Rock station and we did a similar thing (it was an a "A to Z"), and we'd play alot of the older, softer songs.....Alot of kids were calling up and really whining about it.