OBUI--Operating Blimp Under the Influence

[Biff Barfington]

Personally? I think 'Purple Rain' has a place in rock history. Prince is one hell of a fine guitarist and LGC kicks serious ass. A think a self proclaimed rock station should be extremely judicious about airing it, though. Maybe on the purple one's birthday, etc. By the same token, I see no reason for a rock station to play 'Our House' by CSN&Y, ever. Okay, maybe on Graham Nash's birthday or when David Crosby croaks, but that's about it.

True story, at WCOZ in Boston, shortly after John Sebastian had perfected his lilly-white, ultra short playlist format. 'Beat It' by Michael Jackson was huge; so huge we were compelled to play it. We were not allowed, however, to pre-sell it or back announce it as a Michael Jackson song. Instead, it was "....this great Eddie Van Halen solo....." Programming genius like that may be why the station dropped from a 12.6 Share to about a 2.6 in less than two years.

 

[Mediaace]

WBLM also (when they were hits) speaking of Prince played "Little Red Corvette" "Purple Rain" and other hits (Side note: WBCN also played "Purple Rain" - the long album version). WBLM played Chicago "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", "Stay The Night", "Your the Inspiration", and "Along Comes a Woman", Sade "Smooth Operator (Diamond Life) Wham Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Everything She Wants and Careless Whisper" Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" Bangles "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like and Egyptian" Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" "Time After Time" and "Money Changes Everything" (Hell they played the entire album one night back when they were promoting playing compact laser discs to air in 1984) Dan Fogelberg (All his hits - yes - including "Running for the Roses" Dan Hartman "I Can Dream About You" Tina Turner "What's Love Got to Do With It" Better Be Good to Me" and "Private Dancer" Daryl Hall and John Oates (most every hit) Duran Duran (most every hit) Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams" "Here Comes the Rain" and Love Is a Stranger" Julian "Valotte" "Too Late for Goodbyes" Mr Mister "Broken Wings, "Is It Love" and "Kyrie" and for the real kicker, Madonna "Crazy For You" and Jose Diaz had personally played "Into the Groove" on a Sunday morning! What was ironic, WBLM had it's highest ratings ever!!! They were willing to take a risk and it worked flawlessly.

I am more sorry than I could possibly express to you Mr. Remaster...but it was the one and only blimp that played "when doves cry" as well as "lets go crazy" and "purple rain" from the same album. Is this what it has come to? The station we crammed to in college back in the day can't even distinguish between rock and pop to save a few ratings points...in return for the loss of how many listeners? I tune into a radio station to hear the music I love, if the person on the air has something to say it needs to be entertaining or stay of the air...keep the music flowing...but please don't stunt with things like going off format to prove a highly insignificant point.

Thank You for Your Time...

 

[Underminer]

And don't forget "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Anyone remember their jock "Rainbow"? As in "it's a Rainbow afternoon"?

 

[Oldbones]

WBLM played Chicago "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", "Stay The Night", "Your the Inspiration", and "Along Comes a Woman", Sade "Smooth Operator (Diamond Life) Wham Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Everything She Wants and Careless Whisper" Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" Bangles "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like and Egyptian" Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" "Time After Time" and "Money Changes Everything" (Hell they played the entire album one night back when they were promoting playing compact laser discs to air in 1984) Dan Fogelberg (All his hits - yes - including "Running for the Roses" Dan Hartman "I Can Dream About You" Tina Turner "What's Love Got to Do With It" Better Be Good to Me" and "Private Dancer" Daryl Hall and John Oates (most every hit) Duran Duran (most every hit) Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams" "Here Comes the Rain" and Love Is a Stranger" Julian "Valotte" "Too Late for Goodbyes" Mr Mister "Broken Wings, "Is It Love" and "Kyrie" and for the real kicker, Madonna "Crazy For You" and Jose Diaz had personally played "Into the Groove" on a Sunday morning! What was ironic, WBLM had it's highest ratings ever!!! They were willing to take a risk and it worked flawlessly.

A playlist like this just screams "only game in town". What was the competitive situation they faced in the mid-80s? I can't imagine the black Camaro crowd was real big on this CHR stuff.