Vocals on Escape

[vchimpanzee]

On a Yahoo group I belong to, people are complaining that Escape (XM channel 28) has too many vocals.

If I was a subscriber I'd be getting mad about that. I think an instrumental channel should be just that.

My feeling is that there should be a standards channel other than Siriusly Sinatra, and an ideal music mix for that channel would be this:

http://www.1150wavo.com

 

[Otto Maddock]

Here's my take. I'd actually like more vocals on Escape... either that or some instrumentals on Siriusly Sinatra. In the car, I don't want to fall asleep to all instrumentals. So that's why I'm constantly hitting the preset buttons while driving.

If people do, in fact, want a 100% instrumental channel, then I agree there needs to be another standards channel concentrating on MOR hits, which is sorely lacking, with some instrumentals. Either way, both Escape and Siriusly Sinatra tend to be a bit droning without an on-air personality. That's why I tend to listen to The Roadhouse classic country channel more than any other, with jocks who tell you the stories behind the songs and artists.

It's frustrating that Sirius-XM can devote about 40 channels to the rock, dance & hip-hop genres to cover every possible taste and then some, yet have only 3 or 4 easy listening channels (if you count Sirius XM Love and The Bridge, and that's stretching it). I would like to see them carry Dial Global, Music of Your Life, and Timeless Favorites, as they do ESPN and Radio Disney.

 

[passtheword]

Here's my take. I'd actually like more vocals on Escape... either that or some instrumentals on Siriusly Sinatra. In the car, I don't want to fall asleep to all instrumentals. So that's why I'm constantly hitting the preset buttons while driving.

If people do, in fact, want a 100% instrumental channel, then I agree there needs to be another standards channel concentrating on MOR hits, which is sorely lacking, with some instrumentals. Either way, both Escape and Siriusly Sinatra tend to be a bit droning without an on-air personality. That's why I tend to listen to The Roadhouse classic country channel more than any other, with jocks who tell you the stories behind the songs and artists.

It's frustrating that Sirius-XM can devote about 40 channels to the rock, dance & hip-hop genres to cover every possible taste and then some, yet have only 3 or 4 easy listening channels (if you count Sirius XM Love and The Bridge, and that's stretching it). I would like to see them carry Dial Global, Music of Your Life, and Timeless Favorites, as they do ESPN and Radio Disney.

I like the vocals on "Escape", too. The vocals are a nice break and are blended well with the instrumental music. I've heard the instrumental channel that Music Choice offers. I'll leave it on, but I tend to lose interest in it within 15 minutes or so and change the channel. I like to hear instrumental music, too, but I don't necessarily want to hear it for hours on end, with just instrumentals. "Escape" is just following the same organization of instrumentals blended with vocals which many beautiful music stations were noted and successful for during their heyday.

[EDIT-unauthorized promotion]

 

[Otto Maddock]

"Escape" is just following the same organization of instrumentals blended with vocals which many beautiful music stations were noted and successful for during their heyday.

I guess from a programming perspective, that must have taken a special skill back in the day. You wouldn't want any of the vocals to be too jarring. Two that I distinctly remember from those days are "Once Upon A Time" by Perry Como and "Even Now" by Nana Mouskouri. Even with certain artists, you would need to be careful... Sinatra's "It Was A Very Good Year" seems like a natural fit, but "That's Life"... I would say, "No way."

 

[vchimpanzee]

"Escape" is just following the same organization of instrumentals blended with vocals which many beautiful music stations were noted and successful for during their heyday.

I guess from a programming perspective, that must have taken a special skill back in the day. You wouldn't want any of the vocals to be too jarring. Two that I distinctly remember from those days are "Once Upon A Time" by Perry Como and "Even Now" by Nana Mouskouri. Even with certain artists, you would need to be careful... Sinatra's "It Was A Very Good Year" seems like a natural fit, but "That's Life"... I would say, "No way."

Really? The easy listening station in Myrtle Beach, SC, which is now all vocal or close to it, was playing "Beyond the Sea" even when they were doing lots of instumentals. The drums on that clearly don't belong in any format described as "easy listening".

I still say they should go back to the old way and introduce a separate vocal-based format that includes a lot of 50s material that isn't getting played on the 50s channel any more, plus the softer music that might have been on "Movin' Easy".

I fear this is a trend that will end with the original format being vocal-based when Marlin Taylor is no longer around. I once was tempted to subscribe, but with no guarantee the instrumental-based format will be there, they can forget it. Besides, they expect you to pay for a subscription for each receiver, in addition to buying both receivers. You think I want to limit myself to listenng in the car? And I don't intend to use the web site to listen at home, since that has the potential for problems I don't currently have.