Radio 100, 50 Years Ago

[DavidKaye]

Next month is KCBS's 100th anniversary. Not long from now is the 50th anniversary of when KLX became KEWB and KROW became KABL.

When we think how amazing the past 20 to 30 years has been, it seems to have nothing on what technological advances happened in the early 20th Century. At the time KCBS was born in 1909, towns were still lit with gaslights. People washed clothes with scrub boards unless they were rich enough to afford one of those new washing machines. Fully half the country did not even have indoor plumbing.

And I'm thinking about radio programming. The music played in 1959 while different from music today is not so unpalatable as to not be played at all. And today, people in their 20s and 30s will hear lounge music from 1959 and think it's just fine. But how many songs have you heard that were played in 1909? Probably none. Ever.

Or announcing styles. The grand style that was popular until Arthur Godfrey and Paul Harvey is long gone. But an aircheck of Bill Ballance from KFWB in 1959 would sound as fresh today as if he'd made it last week.

So, though we have seen a lot over these past umpteen years, it seems we haven't seen anything near the change people did who lived from 1909 to 1959.

 

[radioman148]

Next month is KCBS's 100th anniversary. Not long from now is the 50th anniversary of when KLX became KEWB and KROW became KABL.

When we think how amazing the past 20 to 30 years has been, it seems to have nothing on what technological advances happened in the early 20th Century. At the time KCBS was born in 1909, towns were still lit with gaslights. People washed clothes with scrub boards unless they were rich enough to afford one of those new washing machines. Fully half the country did not even have indoor plumbing.

And I'm thinking about radio programming. The music played in 1959 while different from music today is not so unpalatable as to not be played at all. And today, people in their 20s and 30s will hear lounge music from 1959 and think it's just fine. But how many songs have you heard that were played in 1909? Probably none. Ever.

Or announcing styles. The grand style that was popular until Arthur Godfrey and Paul Harvey is long gone. But an aircheck of Bill Ballance from KFWB in 1959 would sound as fresh today as if he'd made it last week.

So, though we have seen a lot over these past umpteen years, it seems we haven't seen anything near the change people did who lived from 1909 to 1959.

I was thinking the same thing recently. I regularly listen to music from the 50s & 60s all the time and enjoy it now as I always have. My daughter who was born in the late 70s knows all that music & enjoys alot of it.
Then I went back and thought about being back in the early 60s. Rarely did I want to hear most of the music that my parents let alone my grandparents listened to.
The music from 1959 doesn't seem that long ago to me, but in 1959 I could have never imagined listening to anything from 40 or 50 years earlier.
Obviously the advent of better sound recordings along with tapes for us to preserve them on has helped us keep this music and the DJs who presented it to us much fresher in our minds.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Next month is KCBS's 100th anniversary. Not long from now is the 50th anniversary of when KLX became KEWB and KROW became KABL.

The music played in 1959 while different from music today is not so unpalatable as to not be played at all. And today, people in their 20s and 30s will hear lounge music from 1959 and think it's just fine. But how many songs have you heard that were played in 1909? Probably none. Ever.

So, though we have seen a lot over these past umpteen years, it seems we haven't seen anything near the change people did who lived from 1909 to 1959.

There are a few songs from thr turn-of-the-20th-century era that everyone still knows and that people still hum. One that comes to mind immediately is "Bicycle Built for Two." It's NOT the only one; I just can't think of others at the moment. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is probably another. But your post completely overlooks the fantastic heritage of melodies and lyrics from what was truly the Golden Age of American Popular Music, which extended from around 1920 to 1950. These were the songs of composers and lyricists such as Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Cole Porter, E.Y. Harburg, Arthur Schwartz, and many, many, many more. This is a musical legacy that once formed the core of what was heard on radio in both recorded and live performances. For the last decade or so, this music has almost disappeared from radio, but I have to hope it will never die, because both the wonderful melodies and the truly urbane and witty lyrics have, to my knowledge, no equal in the annals of popular music in any other time or place.

I don't know who wrote it, but is there another song that captures the flavor of a haunting and terrible era better than does the anthem of the Great Depression, "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?" That song, in particular, has become relevant again in the 21st century for reasons we were assured would never again apply in the US.

 

[radioman148]

Next month is KCBS's 100th anniversary. Not long from now is the 50th anniversary of when KLX became KEWB and KROW became KABL.

The music played in 1959 while different from music today is not so unpalatable as to not be played at all. And today, people in their 20s and 30s will hear lounge music from 1959 and think it's just fine. But how many songs have you heard that were played in 1909? Probably none. Ever.

So, though we have seen a lot over these past umpteen years, it seems we haven't seen anything near the change people did who lived from 1909 to 1959.

There are a few songs from thr turn-of-the-20th-century era that everyone still knows and that people still hum. One that comes to mind immediately is "Bicycle Built for Two." It's NOT the only one; I just can't think of others at the moment. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is probably another. But your post completely overlooks the fantastic heritage of melodies and lyrics from what was truly the Golden Age of American Popular Music, which extended from around 1920 to 1950. These were the songs of composers and lyricists such as Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Cole Porter, E.Y. Harburg, Arthur Schwartz, and many, many, many more. This is a musical legacy that once formed the core of what was heard on radio in both recorded and live performances. For the last decade or so, this music has almost disappeared from radio, but I have to hope it will never die, because both the wonderful melodies and the truly urbane and witty lyrics have, to my knowledge, no equal in the annals of popular music in any other time or place.

I don't know who wrote it, but is there another song that captures the flavor of a haunting and terrible era better than does the anthem of the Great Depression, "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?" That song, in particular, has become relevant again in the 21st century for reasons we were assured would never again apply in the US.

I don't think you were addressing me, but yes your point about certain songs from that era of the depression & before that will always be standards and that we all know is well taken. What I was trying to say was that with the advent of more & more media outlets the population was much more exposed to the music of the later years continuously.

 

[DavidKaye]

But your post completely overlooks the fantastic heritage of melodies and lyrics from what was truly the Golden Age of American Popular Music, which extended from around 1920 to 1950. These were the songs of composers and lyricists such as Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Cole Porter, E.Y. Harburg, Arthur Schwartz, and many, many, many more.

Understand that I'm not denouncing any of this at all. I'm simply pointing out facts. Actually, I put on a live music stage show every Wednesday night in SF which sometimes features performers playing music from the Tin Pan Alley days (Devine's Jug Band, etc.). However, the audience for this music is not very large. But also notice that you're not talking about any music from 100 years ago. You're talking about much more recent music.

 

[DavidKaye]

What I was trying to say was that with the advent of more & more media outlets the population was much more exposed to the music of the later years continuously.

My point is that there was a more dramatic shift in musical tastes as well as radio presentation between 1909 and 1959 than there has been since. This is actually not so unusual compared with other changes. Computers changed more radically between 1969 and 1989 than they have between 1989 and today.

 

[radioman148]

What I was trying to say was that with the advent of more & more media outlets the population was much more exposed to the music of the later years continuously.

My point is that there was a more dramatic shift in musical tastes as well as radio presentation between 1909 and 1959 than there has been since. This is actually not so unusual compared with other changes. Computers changed more radically between 1969 and 1989 than they have between 1989 and today.

Good point.

 

[radioman148]

But your post completely overlooks the fantastic heritage of melodies and lyrics from what was truly the Golden Age of American Popular Music, which extended from around 1920 to 1950. These were the songs of composers and lyricists such as Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Cole Porter, E.Y. Harburg, Arthur Schwartz, and many, many, many more.

Understand that I'm not denouncing any of this at all. I'm simply pointing out facts. Actually, I put on a live music stage show every Wednesday night in SF which sometimes features performers playing music from the Tin Pan Alley days (Devine's Jug Band, etc.). However, the audience for this music is not very large. But also notice that you're not talking about any music from 100 years ago. You're talking about much more recent music.

There are also less people around from that era than the late 50s & 60s era.

 

[SFStatic]

Recording and audio quality changed more drastically between 1909 and 1959 than it has since, too. Some of the stuff from early in the last century is interesting, but hard to listen to and enjoy due to the sound quality. OTOH, some of the recordings from the 50's and 60's stand up pretty well, despite there being less call for hearing them.

 

[radioman148]

Recording and audio quality changed more drastically between 1909 and 1959 than it has since, too. Some of the stuff from early in the last century is interesting, but hard to listen to and enjoy due to the sound quality. OTOH, some of the recordings from the 50's and 60's stand up pretty well, despite there being less call for hearing them.

In my opinion that's one of the major reasons there is more quality sound from the 50s & 60s to listen to than earlier eras.

 

[LKellerIII]

Recording and audio quality changed more drastically between 1909 and 1959 than it has since, too. Some of the stuff from early in the last century is interesting, but hard to listen to and enjoy due to the sound quality. OTOH, some of the recordings from the 50's and 60's stand up pretty well, despite there being less call for hearing them.

In my opinion that's one of the major reasons there is more quality sound from the 50s & 60s to listen to than earlier eras.

Well, uh - yeah...the technology improved. The late 40s saw the introduction of "long-play" hi-fidelity record albums that played at 33 1/3 rpm. Sound quality was considerably better than the old 78 rpm records. My father held stubbornly onto his huge monaural "hi-fi" with big banks of vacuum tubes and one huge speaker - until the late 60s. But the sound qualify was excellent. If I remember correctly, stereophonic systems and stereo records were introduced to the mass market in the early 60s.

When I first started buying albums about 1963 (primarily Beach Boys, then Beatles) - you could still choose between monaural and stereo versions (same price), so I always chose stereo - figuring I'd have a sound system of my own some day.

Pardon the nostalgic digression...the point is, sound quality was much better by the 50s and more realistic with the introduction of stereo in the 60s. That didn't really change until the digital revolution - and some would argue that digital sound is not inherently superior. The main argument for digital sound is that it is cleaner, and doesn't degrade in quality after repeated plays, like vinyl records and tape did.

 

[radioman148]

Recording and audio quality changed more drastically between 1909 and 1959 than it has since, too. Some of the stuff from early in the last century is interesting, but hard to listen to and enjoy due to the sound quality. OTOH, some of the recordings from the 50's and 60's stand up pretty well, despite there being less call for hearing them.

In my opinion that's one of the major reasons there is more quality sound from the 50s & 60s to listen to than earlier eras.

I wish I had shopped at your record store because where I went stereo LPs were $1 more than mono.
I also remember that I was told that if you played a stereo record on a mono turntable, no stereo stylus, that you could damage the record. Don't know if this was really true.

Well, uh - yeah...the technology improved. The late 40s saw the introduction of "long-play" hi-fidelity record albums that played at 33 1/3 rpm. Sound quality was considerably better than the old 78 rpm records. My father held stubbornly onto his huge monaural "hi-fi" with big banks of vacuum tubes and one huge speaker - until the late 60s. But the sound qualify was excellent. If I remember correctly, stereophonic systems and stereo records were introduced to the mass market in the early 60s.

When I first started buying albums about 1963 (primarily Beach Boys, then Beatles) - you could still choose between monaural and stereo versions (same price), so I always chose stereo - figuring I'd have a sound system of my own some day.

Pardon the nostalgic digression...the point is, sound quality was much better by the 50s and more realistic with the introduction of stereo in the 60s. That didn't really change until the digital revolution - and some would argue that digital sound is not inherently superior. The main argument for digital sound is that it is cleaner, and doesn't degrade in quality after repeated plays, like vinyl records and tape did.

 

[Bowler Bob in Brisbane]

Not long from now is the 50th anniversary of when KLX became KEWB and KROW became KABL.

And I'm thinking about radio programming. The music played in 1959 while different from music today is not so unpalatable as to not be played at all. And today, people in their 20s and 30s will hear lounge music from 1959 and think it's just fine.

Or announcing styles. The grand style that was popular until Arthur Godfrey and Paul Harvey is long gone. But an aircheck of Bill Ballance from KFWB in 1959 would sound as fresh today as if he'd made it last week.

Hey there David,

It's ironic that you brought up the 50th anniversary of KEWB, because I just put together a set of popular songs from 1959 for one of my upcoming live DJ sets as part of my "Just For the Record" radio series.

I can remember being 4 years old in 1959 and riding in my dads '57 Chrysler Suburban station wagon, while my parents listened to what turned out to be KEWB.

Here are the songs from March 21st,1959 that I remember from back then, and plan to play now...

1) VENUS
Frankie Avalon–Chancellor 1031

2) CHARLIE BROWN
Coasters–Atco 6132

3) ALVIN’S HARMONICA
David Seville & Chipmunks–Liberty 55179

4) COME SOFTLY TO ME
Fleetwoods–Dolphin 1

5) STAGGER LEE
Lloyd Price–ABC-Paramount 9972

6) PETER GUNN
Ray Anthony & Orchestra–Capitol 4041

7) DONNA
Ritchie Valens–Del-Fi 4110

8) PINK SHOE LACES
Dodie Stevens–Crystalette 724

9) TALL PAUL
Annette with Afterbeats–Disneyland 118

10) SINCE I DON’T HAVE YOU
Skyliners–Calico 103

11) 16 CANDLES
Crests–Coed 506

12) SEA CRUISE
Frankie Ford–Ace 554

13) LONELY TEARDROPS
Jackie Wilson–Brunswick 55105

14) SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
Platters–Mercury 71383

15) SORRY (I Ran All The Way Home)
Impalas–Cub 9022

16) EVERYBODY LIKES TO CHA CHA CHA
Sam Cooke–Keen 2018

17) WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
Fats Domino–Imperial 5569

18) THE HAPPY ORGAN
Dave “Baby” Cortez–Clock 1009

19) LA BAMBA
Ritchie Valens–Del-Fi 4110

20) THAT’S WHY (I Love You So)
Jackie Wilson–Brunswick 55121

I inherited most of these records from my parents collection, and it is in their memory that I spin them with sheer delight.

Long live the "oldies-but-goodies", because after all... I am one now, lol!

Cheers!

BB in B

 

[DavidKaye]

Here are the songs from March 21st,1959 that I remember from back then, and plan to play now...

It's funny that I've been talking about how the songs of 1959 would be more palatable to a 2009 ear than those of 1909. because there is not a song on that list I'd play for my own enjoyment, except maybe the Peter Gunn theme. Even when I was a kid none of the songs on your list appealed to me. They didn't rock enough for me.

But yours is the taste shared by more Americans of that era than mine was (or is today).

 

[radioman148]

Not long from now is the 50th anniversary of when KLX became KEWB and KROW became KABL.

And I'm thinking about radio programming. The music played in 1959 while different from music today is not so unpalatable as to not be played at all. And today, people in their 20s and 30s will hear lounge music from 1959 and think it's just fine.

Or announcing styles. The grand style that was popular until Arthur Godfrey and Paul Harvey is long gone. But an aircheck of Bill Ballance from KFWB in 1959 would sound as fresh today as if he'd made it last week.

Hey there David,

It's ironic that you brought up the 50th anniversary of KEWB, because I just put together a set of popular songs from 1959 for one of my upcoming live DJ sets as part of my "Just For the Record" radio series.

I can remember being 4 years old in 1959 and riding in my dads '57 Chrysler Suburban station wagon, while my parents listened to what turned out to be KEWB.

Here are the songs from March 21st,1959 that I remember from back then, and plan to play now...

1) VENUS
Frankie Avalon–Chancellor 1031

2) CHARLIE BROWN
Coasters–Atco 6132

3) ALVIN’S HARMONICA
David Seville & Chipmunks–Liberty 55179

4) COME SOFTLY TO ME
Fleetwoods–Dolphin 1

5) STAGGER LEE
Lloyd Price–ABC-Paramount 9972

6) PETER GUNN
Ray Anthony & Orchestra–Capitol 4041

7) DONNA
Ritchie Valens–Del-Fi 4110

8) PINK SHOE LACES
Dodie Stevens–Crystalette 724

9) TALL PAUL
Annette with Afterbeats–Disneyland 118

10) SINCE I DON’T HAVE YOU
Skyliners–Calico 103

11) 16 CANDLES
Crests–Coed 506

12) SEA CRUISE
Frankie Ford–Ace 554

13) LONELY TEARDROPS
Jackie Wilson–Brunswick 55105

14) SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
Platters–Mercury 71383

15) SORRY (I Ran All The Way Home)
Impalas–Cub 9022

16) EVERYBODY LIKES TO CHA CHA CHA
Sam Cooke–Keen 2018

17) WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
Fats Domino–Imperial 5569

18) THE HAPPY ORGAN
Dave “Baby” Cortez–Clock 1009

19) LA BAMBA
Ritchie Valens–Del-Fi 4110

20) THAT’S WHY (I Love You So)
Jackie Wilson–Brunswick 55121

I inherited most of these records from my parents collection, and it is in their memory that I spin them with sheer delight.

Long live the "oldies-but-goodies", because after all... I am one now, lol!

Cheers!

BB in B

Dodie Stevens was 14 when she recorded "Pink Shoe Laces". She sure didn't sound 14.

 

[radioman148]

Here are the songs from March 21st,1959 that I remember from back then, and plan to play now...

It's funny that I've been talking about how the songs of 1959 would be more palatable to a 2009 ear than those of 1909. because there is not a song on that list I'd play for my own enjoyment, except maybe the Peter Gunn theme. Even when I was a kid none of the songs on your list appealed to me. They didn't rock enough for me.

But yours is the taste shared by more Americans of that era than mine was (or is today).

I also have most of those records & still enjoy them today.