Original "History of Rock and Roll" Available

[DavidKaye]

I've acquired the Drake/Chenault "History of Rock and Roll", the original version from an estate sale. It's on a crateful of LPs (ETs actually). The records were acquired by the family of a production guy who worked on the series. The ETs look to be in good condition, probably only played once or twice.

Please email me to make an offer at [email protected]

This is just a box of vinyl recordings of the show. Naturally it does NOT come with any broadcast rights.

 

[michael hagerty]

David: The original KHJ version, the original KFRC version or one of the other RKO stations?

 

[DavidKaye]

David: The original KHJ version, the original KFRC version or one of the other RKO stations?

As far as I can tell it was produced at Drake/Chenault in Canoga Park in 1976 or thereabouts. Given that these are ETs and not tapes, I assume they were produced for AFRTS and not for syndication in the States where open reel was the norm.

 

[michael hagerty]

David: The original KHJ version, the original KFRC version or one of the other RKO stations?

As far as I can tell it was produced at Drake/Chenault in Canoga Park in 1976 or thereabouts. Given that these are ETs and not tapes, I assume they were produced for AFRTS and not for syndication in the States where open reel was the norm.

Okay, so that would make it the 1977 version, the first one voiced by Bill Drake and not aired on the RKO stations, but syndicated nationally. Probably identical to that except for the means of distribution. Nice find!

 

[landtuna]

I have a copy of the KHJ version with commercials edited out. 6GB in glorious digital FM.

 

[michael hagerty]

I have a copy of the KHJ version with commercials edited out. 6GB in glorious digital FM.

FM?

 

[landtuna]

Recorded off-air digitally. ;D

 

[michael hagerty]

Recorded off-air digitally. ;D

I know I'm missing the joke, I just can't be sure where.

 

[landtuna]

Recorded off-air digitally. ;D

I know I'm missing the joke, I just can't be sure where.

No joke. I recorded the show off KOOL-FM a few years ago onto my computer.

 

[michael hagerty]

Recorded off-air digitally. ;D

I know I'm missing the joke, I just can't be sure where.

No joke. I recorded the show off KOOL-FM a few years ago onto my computer.

Okay, that's why I was confused.

The original KHJ version never aired on FM and never at a time when it could have been recorded digitally. It ran once, in February, 1969, narrated by Robert W. Morgan.

It was split into four 12-hour segments for Labor Day weekend, 1969 and re-voiced by Humble Harve (Morgan walked out of KHJ for 60 days in a salary dispute earlier that summer). That was version 2.

In 1970, The History of Rock and Roll was expanded to 52 hours to include Woodstock, the breakup of The Beatles and the singer-songwriter movement. Humble Harve again narrated. That was version 3 and the last to air on KHJ. (The other RKO stations...KFRC, WRKO, WHBQ, CKLW and WOR-FM), were sent the scripts, music and interview clips and aired their own versions...identical to KHJ's apart from the narration, which was done by one of their jocks. I believe Charlie Van Dyke did CKLW's, transferred to KFRC and did the next version there).

In 1977, Drake-Chenault re-wrote and re-recorded The History of Rock and Roll. Many of the songs were the same (but recorded from fresher vinyl) and some of the interview clips. And it was produced in stereo. Bill Drake himself narrated it, and it was syndicated nationally. KHJ and the RKO stations were not among those who bought it (Drake left RKO in May, 1973). That was version four.

What you have is version five. The 1982 update of the 1977 show. Because they didn't add hours, it was significantly re-written and re-edited to accommodate five years worth of musical trends. Again, narrated by Bill Drake. This is the last version produced and is the one KOOL and KRTH and other stations around the country have been airing. It is the only one legally available for air.

 

[Rusty Muck]

The long-defunct KENR also sold the 1982 broadcast right version of "History of Rock and Roll" as a multiple CD set back in 2005. My biggest regret was not buying it.

 

[Bryan Simmons]

Recorded off-air digitally. ;D

I know I'm missing the joke, I just can't be sure where.

No joke. I recorded the show off KOOL-FM a few years ago onto my computer.

Okay, that's why I was confused.

The original KHJ version never aired on FM and never at a time when it could have been recorded digitally. It ran once, in February, 1969, narrated by Robert W. Morgan.

It was split into four 12-hour segments for Labor Day weekend, 1969 and re-voiced by Humble Harve (Morgan walked out of KHJ for 60 days in a salary dispute earlier that summer). That was version 2.

In 1970, The History of Rock and Roll was expanded to 52 hours to include Woodstock, the breakup of The Beatles and the singer-songwriter movement. Humble Harve again narrated. That was version 3 and the last to air on KHJ. (The other RKO stations...KFRC, WRKO, WHBQ, CKLW and WOR-FM), were sent the scripts, music and interview clips and aired their own versions...identical to KHJ's apart from the narration, which was done by one of their jocks. I believe Charlie Van Dyke did CKLW's, transferred to KFRC and did the next version there).

In 1977, Drake-Chenault re-wrote and re-recorded The History of Rock and Roll. Many of the songs were the same (but recorded from fresher vinyl) and some of the interview clips. And it was produced in stereo. Bill Drake himself narrated it, and it was syndicated nationally. KHJ and the RKO stations were not among those who bought it (Drake left RKO in May, 1973). That was version four.

What you have is version five. The 1982 update of the 1977 show. Because they didn't add hours, it was significantly re-written and re-edited to accommodate five years worth of musical trends. Again, narrated by Bill Drake. This is the last version produced and is the one KOOL and KRTH and other stations around the country have been airing. It is the only one legally available for air.

Didn't RKO put a version together for their stations in the late 70's? I seem to recall hearing John Mack Flanagan narrating on KFRC...

 

[landtuna]

Okay, that's why I was confused.

I should have been more specific. I have the KOOL-FM version, recorded off-air as well as the version voiced by Bill Drake over KHJ which was not recorded off-air. Actually, I have two copies of the KHJ version(s) but don't know, without listening closely, whether they are identical or not. The last time I listened was some years ago.

Is there a way to determine Version 4 from Version 5?

 

[michael hagerty]

Didn't RKO put a version together for their stations in the late 70's? I seem to recall hearing John Mack Flanagan narrating on KFRC...

Bryan: That was "The Evolution of Rock", created and syndicated by CHUM in Canada. KFRC aired it in December, 1977, revoiced by John Mack Flanagan and split up into six-hour segments which ran 9 AM-3 PM over several days. By that point, RKO stations had considerably more autonomy than they had under Drake and Drew and I believe KFRC may have been the only RKO station to air it.

 

[michael hagerty]

Okay, that's why I was confused.

I should have been more specific. I have the KOOL-FM version, recorded off-air as well as the version voiced by Bill Drake over KHJ which was not recorded off-air. Actually, I have two copies of the KHJ version(s) but don't know, without listening closely, whether they are identical or not. The last time I listened was some years ago.

Is there a way to determine Version 4 from Version 5?

Yes. Version 5 has music from 1977 to 1981.

Also, no version voiced by Bill Drake ever aired on KHJ. Just the ones voiced by Robert W. Morgan and Humble Harve. Since 1992, however, KRTH has aired version 5 (voiced by Drake) several times.

 

[michael hagerty]

Easy identifiers:

Version 1 is the only one voiced by Robert W. Morgan.

Version 2 is voiced by Humble Harve.

Version 3 is voiced by Humble Harve, runs 52 hours instead of 48 and includes Woodstock and the breakup of The Beatles.

Version 4 is voiced by Bill Drake, with music up to 1977.

Version 5 is voiced by Bill Drake, with music up to 1981.

 

[landtuna]

Also, no version voiced by Bill Drake ever aired on KHJ. Just the ones voiced by Robert W. Morgan and Humble Harve. Since 1992, however, KRTH has aired version 5 (voiced by Drake) several times.

Looks like I have V4 but they are not identical so perhaps someone along the line edited one of the copies.

The version I have though is clearly identified as being narrated by Bill Drake and he credits the staff of KHJ for the production. Why would he do that if it was never broadcast on KHJ?

 

[Bryan Simmons]

Didn't RKO put a version together for their stations in the late 70's? I seem to recall hearing John Mack Flanagan narrating on KFRC...

Bryan: That was "The Evolution of Rock", created and syndicated by CHUM in Canada. KFRC aired it in December, 1977, revoiced by John Mack Flanagan and split up into six-hour segments which ran 9 AM-3 PM over several days. By that point, RKO stations had considerably more autonomy than they had under Drake and Drew and I believe KFRC may have been the only RKO station to air it.

Thank you Michael, I was hoping you would post the answer and you did. I wish I had airchecked "Evolution of Rock", things I could kick myself about. JMF sounded so good on that. Thanks again!

 

[michael hagerty]

Also, no version voiced by Bill Drake ever aired on KHJ. Just the ones voiced by Robert W. Morgan and Humble Harve. Since 1992, however, KRTH has aired version 5 (voiced by Drake) several times.

Looks like I have V4 but they are not identical so perhaps someone along the line edited one of the copies.

The version I have though is clearly identified as being narrated by Bill Drake and he credits the staff of KHJ for the production. Why would he do that if it was never broadcast on KHJ?

Wow. I don't know, unless versions 4 and 5 used bits (interviews, music montages) from the original. While Drake owned the rights, the work on the original was done by KHJ employees, and it was Drake's move to air it with different voices on the other RKO stations that in part led to Ron Jacobs resigning three months later as KHJ's PD...condemning RKO's "Xerox mentality" to Billboard when he left.

Does that version have jingles?

 

[Bryan Simmons]

Also, no version voiced by Bill Drake ever aired on KHJ. Just the ones voiced by Robert W. Morgan and Humble Harve. Since 1992, however, KRTH has aired version 5 (voiced by Drake) several times.

Looks like I have V4 but they are not identical so perhaps someone along the line edited one of the copies.

The version I have though is clearly identified as being narrated by Bill Drake and he credits the staff of KHJ for the production. Why would he do that if it was never broadcast on KHJ?

Wow. I don't know, unless versions 4 and 5 used bits (interviews, music montages) from the original. While Drake owned the rights, the work on the original was done by KHJ employees, and it was Drake's move to air it with different voices on the other RKO stations that in part led to Ron Jacobs resigning three months later as KHJ's PD...condemning RKO's "Xerox mentality" to Billboard when he left.

Does that version have jingles?

From what I've heard the KHJ production department did the initial work and I read somewhere, perhap Don Barrett's LA Radio that KHJ producer Bill Mouzis worked on it as well.