• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Thanksgiving radio “tradition” ending?

D

DavidZ

I’m listening to WUMB and they aired a promo for a “50th Anniversary Show of the Beatles White Album” at Noon on Thanksgiving Day.

In the past, one of the usual air times for Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”.

How can I sit down to Thanksgiving Dinner without a helping of “Alice’s Restaurant”? :)
 
I'm sure plenty of stations will still play it. WUMB probably will some other times if not at noon. WZLX and WROR have still played it in recent years. Wouldn't be surprised if the new satellite-fed oldies station WUBG 1570/105.3 adds if for that day. WXRV "The River" is doing an "Unplucked" acoustic music day, wouldn't be surprised if it's played there. Maybe WATD.
 
Jersey Hal, sitting in for George Knight will be playing Alice’s Restaurant on the 9:30 Coffee Break, Thursday Morning on WERS!
 
Thanksgiving radio "tradition" ending?

DavidZ said:
I’m listening to WUMB and they aired a promo for a “50th Anniversary Show of the Beatles White Album” at Noon on Thanksgiving Day.

In the past, one of the usual air times for Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”.

How can I sit down to Thanksgiving Dinner without a helping of “Alice’s Restaurant”? :)
Click to expand...

We at WRSG air a show at noon on Tuesdays called "Nothing But Old 45's," and it featured "Alice's Restaurant" to close out the show. We will rerun it this Thursday as well, simply because of that song. You'll find us at 'wrsgradio.com'.
 
raccoonradio said:
Josh played it Sun morning on WMWM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FeMiy1djrJY The version of Alice's Restaurant you probably won't hear on the radio, except through DJs like me.No monologue, just music. A #97 hit
Click to expand...

How long does the music-only version run? Under 4 minutes? Under 3? I haven't listened to the full cut in many years, but it seems to me that Guthrie's rambling recitation takes up well over 20 minutes.

As a native Bostonian who's never quite understood the bizarre tradition of playing this thing at all, let alone on Thanksgiving, may I ask those of you who do look forward to hearing it why you do? If I were to drive up to Northampton and pick up some newly legal marijuana product, then go home, use it, then listen to "Alice's Restaurant," would I be more likely to enjoy it? I haven't touched pot since my long-ago college days, so its effects on my musical perception and appreciation are a faded memory now, 40+ years later.
 
It's 4 min or so and recorded separately from the original version, which was before a live audience. 1969 not 67.

The live versions he's done are full of humor and exaggeration. One version talks about registering for Selective Service, "and you can select whatever branch, or they'll select for you".
Arlo contends he may not be moral enough to go and kill the enemy for his country after committing the crime...of being a litterbug. Hippie nostalgia.The Motorcycle Song is good too. "I was goin' 60 miles an hour and 150 feet down at the same time..."
 
Last edited:
The littering crime took place on Thanksgiving.
Wikipedia:"Two years after the album came out, Guthrie released "Alice's Rock & Roll Restaurant" as a single—a much shorter (4:43) tune that incorporated the chorus, removed the entire monologue, used a significantly different arrangement, and added extra verses (all of which do little but advertise the restaurant). It peaked at #97 on the Billboard singles chart.It has become a tradition for many classic rock radio stations to play the song each Thanksgiving."
 
CTListener said:
How long does the music-only version run? Under 4 minutes? Under 3? I haven't listened to the full cut in many years, but it seems to me that Guthrie's rambling recitation takes up well over 20 minutes.

As a native Bostonian who's never quite understood the bizarre tradition of playing this thing at all, let alone on Thanksgiving, may I ask those of you who do look forward to hearing it why you do? If I were to drive up to Northampton and pick up some newly legal marijuana product, then go home, use it, then listen to "Alice's Restaurant," would I be more likely to enjoy it? I haven't touched pot since my long-ago college days, so its effects on my musical perception and appreciation are a faded memory now, 40+ years later.
Click to expand...

The equally strange tradition of playing the 1812 Overture at Independence Day concerts started here also.
 
One Thanksgiving tradition hasn't ended.

It's a holiday weekend, so 1200's running Wednesday's weather forecast at the bottom of the hour to go with their stale news.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom