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Was KZEW as good as we all remember
- Thread starter Gopher
- Start date
R
rbrucecarter
Guest
> or is it just old timers thinking things were better then?
No - it was BETTER! I had a tough time getting it - there was a 97.9 in Odessa, 20 miles West of me. But when that pathetic station signed off, KZEW was fantastic! I was so happy to go to college at Texas Tech - because there was no 97.9 in Odessa to mess up the signal, I had a clear shot. Later I transferred to the University of Texas - hung a Yagi from my apartment ceiling - and really enjoyed it! I still have my copies of the Zewberry jam albums.
No - it was BETTER! I had a tough time getting it - there was a 97.9 in Odessa, 20 miles West of me. But when that pathetic station signed off, KZEW was fantastic! I was so happy to go to college at Texas Tech - because there was no 97.9 in Odessa to mess up the signal, I had a clear shot. Later I transferred to the University of Texas - hung a Yagi from my apartment ceiling - and really enjoyed it! I still have my copies of the Zewberry jam albums.
A
abcdj
Guest
> or is it just old timers thinking things were better then?
>
KZEW and Q102 (KFWD before that) were excellent AOR stations in their time. When they came on the scene in DFW, the young adult males made a very quick exit from the traditional Top 40 stations.
Remember too, that in the early to mid 70's, everything was anti-establishment and while the ZOO never openly endorsed that sort of thing, they surely were standing arm-in-arm with those who did. The window stickers were everywhere. There was a certain "understanding" among listeners as to what a real "Zoo Freak" was. It was like, "we're brothers"...and anyone who "got" the Zoo, must have been "cool". The concerts they sponsored were local mini-Woodstocks. It showed a large segment of the young, mostly male audience, that there was indeed a lot of other people just like them. Labella and Rody's morning show was a solid performer and engaged many listeners who might otherwise never had listened. Some of the magic faded later as the audience grew older, had to eventually join the establishment, take on a career and leave their ruthless wild and crazy college days behind.
In the 80's, many of the up and coming young listeners didn't share that same anti-establishment mantra and in fact had a completely different set of values, and dare we say some feeling of responsibility. The "druggie sounding" jocks and laid back "let's all take another toke" presentation didn't play as well.
Around that time Q102 came in with a more positive approach to hit rock music. They represented the lifestyle of the target audience better and won the battle. The Zoo tried and tried to regain the position in the market and came close, but overall Q102 survived.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by abcdj on 03/04/06 03:23 PM.</FONT></P>
>
KZEW and Q102 (KFWD before that) were excellent AOR stations in their time. When they came on the scene in DFW, the young adult males made a very quick exit from the traditional Top 40 stations.
Remember too, that in the early to mid 70's, everything was anti-establishment and while the ZOO never openly endorsed that sort of thing, they surely were standing arm-in-arm with those who did. The window stickers were everywhere. There was a certain "understanding" among listeners as to what a real "Zoo Freak" was. It was like, "we're brothers"...and anyone who "got" the Zoo, must have been "cool". The concerts they sponsored were local mini-Woodstocks. It showed a large segment of the young, mostly male audience, that there was indeed a lot of other people just like them. Labella and Rody's morning show was a solid performer and engaged many listeners who might otherwise never had listened. Some of the magic faded later as the audience grew older, had to eventually join the establishment, take on a career and leave their ruthless wild and crazy college days behind.
In the 80's, many of the up and coming young listeners didn't share that same anti-establishment mantra and in fact had a completely different set of values, and dare we say some feeling of responsibility. The "druggie sounding" jocks and laid back "let's all take another toke" presentation didn't play as well.
Around that time Q102 came in with a more positive approach to hit rock music. They represented the lifestyle of the target audience better and won the battle. The Zoo tried and tried to regain the position in the market and came close, but overall Q102 survived.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by abcdj on 03/04/06 03:23 PM.</FONT></P>
E
edwardrmurrow
Guest
> > or is it just old timers thinking things were better then?
>
>
> No - it was BETTER! I had a tough time getting it - there
> was a 97.9 in Odessa, 20 miles West of me. But when that
> pathetic station signed off, KZEW was fantastic! I was so
> happy to go to college at Texas Tech - because there was no
> 97.9 in Odessa to mess up the signal, I had a clear shot.
> Later I transferred to the University of Texas - hung a Yagi
> from my apartment ceiling - and really enjoyed it! I still
> have my copies of the Zewberry jam albums.
>
The "ZEW" was fantastic! Labella and Rody were far better than Bruce and Scott who replaced thm in the early 80's. The "poor people's concerts" played soon after a major concert at reunion had let out. The King Bisket Flower Hour plus DEEPER album cuts and less spots drowning it all out. The Zew was great. Tempie Lindsey (The Yawn patrol),Bo and Jim, Randy Coffey were excellent on KFWD before KTXQ.
>
>
> No - it was BETTER! I had a tough time getting it - there
> was a 97.9 in Odessa, 20 miles West of me. But when that
> pathetic station signed off, KZEW was fantastic! I was so
> happy to go to college at Texas Tech - because there was no
> 97.9 in Odessa to mess up the signal, I had a clear shot.
> Later I transferred to the University of Texas - hung a Yagi
> from my apartment ceiling - and really enjoyed it! I still
> have my copies of the Zewberry jam albums.
>
The "ZEW" was fantastic! Labella and Rody were far better than Bruce and Scott who replaced thm in the early 80's. The "poor people's concerts" played soon after a major concert at reunion had let out. The King Bisket Flower Hour plus DEEPER album cuts and less spots drowning it all out. The Zew was great. Tempie Lindsey (The Yawn patrol),Bo and Jim, Randy Coffey were excellent on KFWD before KTXQ.
> > > or is it just old timers thinking things were better
> then?
Ah, finally a topic I know something about. I created the ZOO & was PD/Operations Manager for the ZOO's first 5 years.
The playlist was huge compared to today's stations, but we had category rotations that insured that the less familiar music was balanced with more familiar stuff on either side. And we had a hell of a lot of variety. In one hour you could hear Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Charlie Daniels Band, and even a bit of jazz rock. Of course the core was always rock, but there was an intentional programming aspect to occasionally play some unpredictable stuff. I think that was an important factor. When stations play the exact same music over & over and become totally predictable there's less reason for someone to keep listening. But when listeners know that they may be hearing some great forgotten classic or hot new piece of music they are more likely to stay with you so they don't miss something special. I'd say it's programming for the positives instead of avoiding the negatives. Too many stations today just try to eliminate the negatives instead of adding the positives. "Too risky," they say. Harumpf.
Also, ZOO jocks (very talented people!) were encouraged to put together great sets of music. The categories were set out in the format, but the jocks picked the tunes from the playlists so that sets FLOWED and sometimes made statements. We worked hard to avoid jarring mixes. I've always felt that when songs blend together smoothly the listener doesn't go through as much of a decision-making process to question whether to change the station, because he/she isn't as aware of the change. We always had a very long time spent listening.
The airstaff at the ZOO always talked TO the listeners, not AT them. They were friendly & conversational and the tone of the station was very social. Listeners related to the jocks. We never had loud screaming liners or bragged about how big we were.
And finally, the station gave back to the community and helped encourage a feeling of brotherhood. One example - The ZOO Goodwill concert raised 110 TONS of clothes for Goodwill Industries. We put on SO many free concerts and community events. We created our own live studio concerts with huge acts - Frampton, Foghat, etc etc etc. I remember one conversation with Dave Van Dyke after he left his PD job at Q-102. He said that even when his station did a neat promotion, listeners thought it was something the ZOO did because the ZOO had the reputation of being the station that did all the great promotions.
I had WONDERFUL support from management, and could think up an idea on the way to work and have it on the air that day. I didn't have to go through research studies or corporate vice presidents or consultants. The station was always fresh, often trailblazing, and I'm proud that I never stole ideas from other stations. The ZOO was an original. It's hard to say that about many stations today.
Thanks for letting me ramble.
Ira "Eye" Lipson
Zoologist-In-Exile
> then?
Ah, finally a topic I know something about. I created the ZOO & was PD/Operations Manager for the ZOO's first 5 years.
The playlist was huge compared to today's stations, but we had category rotations that insured that the less familiar music was balanced with more familiar stuff on either side. And we had a hell of a lot of variety. In one hour you could hear Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Charlie Daniels Band, and even a bit of jazz rock. Of course the core was always rock, but there was an intentional programming aspect to occasionally play some unpredictable stuff. I think that was an important factor. When stations play the exact same music over & over and become totally predictable there's less reason for someone to keep listening. But when listeners know that they may be hearing some great forgotten classic or hot new piece of music they are more likely to stay with you so they don't miss something special. I'd say it's programming for the positives instead of avoiding the negatives. Too many stations today just try to eliminate the negatives instead of adding the positives. "Too risky," they say. Harumpf.
Also, ZOO jocks (very talented people!) were encouraged to put together great sets of music. The categories were set out in the format, but the jocks picked the tunes from the playlists so that sets FLOWED and sometimes made statements. We worked hard to avoid jarring mixes. I've always felt that when songs blend together smoothly the listener doesn't go through as much of a decision-making process to question whether to change the station, because he/she isn't as aware of the change. We always had a very long time spent listening.
The airstaff at the ZOO always talked TO the listeners, not AT them. They were friendly & conversational and the tone of the station was very social. Listeners related to the jocks. We never had loud screaming liners or bragged about how big we were.
And finally, the station gave back to the community and helped encourage a feeling of brotherhood. One example - The ZOO Goodwill concert raised 110 TONS of clothes for Goodwill Industries. We put on SO many free concerts and community events. We created our own live studio concerts with huge acts - Frampton, Foghat, etc etc etc. I remember one conversation with Dave Van Dyke after he left his PD job at Q-102. He said that even when his station did a neat promotion, listeners thought it was something the ZOO did because the ZOO had the reputation of being the station that did all the great promotions.
I had WONDERFUL support from management, and could think up an idea on the way to work and have it on the air that day. I didn't have to go through research studies or corporate vice presidents or consultants. The station was always fresh, often trailblazing, and I'm proud that I never stole ideas from other stations. The ZOO was an original. It's hard to say that about many stations today.
Thanks for letting me ramble.
Ira "Eye" Lipson
Zoologist-In-Exile
> > > > or is it just old timers thinking things were better
> > then?
>
>
> Ah, finally a topic I know something about. I created the
> ZOO & was PD/Operations Manager for the ZOO's first 5 years.
>
> The playlist was huge compared to today's stations, but we
> had category rotations that insured that the less familiar
> music was balanced with more familiar stuff on either side.
> And we had a hell of a lot of variety. In one hour you could
> hear Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The
> Charlie Daniels Band, and even a bit of jazz rock. Of course
> the core was always rock, but there was an intentional
> programming aspect to occasionally play some unpredictable
> stuff. I think that was an important factor. When stations
> play the exact same music over & over and become totally
> predictable there's less reason for someone to keep
> listening. But when listeners know that they may be hearing
> some great forgotten classic or hot new piece of music they
> are more likely to stay with you so they don't miss
> something special. I'd say it's programming for the
> positives instead of avoiding the negatives. Too many
> stations today just try to eliminate the negatives instead
> of adding the positives. "Too risky," they say. Harumpf.
> Also, ZOO jocks (very talented people!) were encouraged to
> put together great sets of music. The categories were set
> out in the format, but the jocks picked the tunes from the
> playlists so that sets FLOWED and sometimes made statements.
> We worked hard to avoid jarring mixes. I've always felt
> that when songs blend together smoothly the listener doesn't
> go through as much of a decision-making process to question
> whether to change the station, because he/she isn't as aware
> of the change. We always had a very long time spent
> listening.
> The airstaff at the ZOO always talked TO the listeners,
> not AT them. They were friendly & conversational and the
> tone of the station was very social. Listeners related to
> the jocks. We never had loud screaming liners or bragged
> about how big we were.
> And finally, the station gave back to the community and
> helped encourage a feeling of brotherhood. One example - The
> ZOO Goodwill concert raised 110 TONS of clothes for Goodwill
> Industries. We put on SO many free concerts and community
> events. We created our own live studio concerts with huge
> acts - Frampton, Foghat, etc etc etc. I remember one
> conversation with Dave Van Dyke after he left his PD job at
> Q-102. He said that even when his station did a neat
> promotion, listeners thought it was something the ZOO did
> because the ZOO had the reputation of being the station that
> did all the great promotions.
> I had WONDERFUL support from management, and could think
> up an idea on the way to work and have it on the air that
> day. I didn't have to go through research studies or
> corporate vice presidents or consultants. The station was
> always fresh, often trailblazing, and I'm proud that I never
> stole ideas from other stations. The ZOO was an original.
> It's hard to say that about many stations today.
>
> Thanks for letting me ramble.
>
> Ira "Eye" Lipson
> Zoologist-In-Exile
>
Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to the listener as a contemporary. Too bad the "suits" in the business today just cant get their head wrapped around that. Its all about consultants and key demos and playing the latest bubblegum-flavored crap thats pumped out by the "Major" labels. Im only 29(nearly 30) and missed out on that whole ZOO era(dad and uncle listened to it religiously)..its something im trying to recreate on my webstation im setting up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk and casual sense.
> > then?
>
>
> Ah, finally a topic I know something about. I created the
> ZOO & was PD/Operations Manager for the ZOO's first 5 years.
>
> The playlist was huge compared to today's stations, but we
> had category rotations that insured that the less familiar
> music was balanced with more familiar stuff on either side.
> And we had a hell of a lot of variety. In one hour you could
> hear Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The
> Charlie Daniels Band, and even a bit of jazz rock. Of course
> the core was always rock, but there was an intentional
> programming aspect to occasionally play some unpredictable
> stuff. I think that was an important factor. When stations
> play the exact same music over & over and become totally
> predictable there's less reason for someone to keep
> listening. But when listeners know that they may be hearing
> some great forgotten classic or hot new piece of music they
> are more likely to stay with you so they don't miss
> something special. I'd say it's programming for the
> positives instead of avoiding the negatives. Too many
> stations today just try to eliminate the negatives instead
> of adding the positives. "Too risky," they say. Harumpf.
> Also, ZOO jocks (very talented people!) were encouraged to
> put together great sets of music. The categories were set
> out in the format, but the jocks picked the tunes from the
> playlists so that sets FLOWED and sometimes made statements.
> We worked hard to avoid jarring mixes. I've always felt
> that when songs blend together smoothly the listener doesn't
> go through as much of a decision-making process to question
> whether to change the station, because he/she isn't as aware
> of the change. We always had a very long time spent
> listening.
> The airstaff at the ZOO always talked TO the listeners,
> not AT them. They were friendly & conversational and the
> tone of the station was very social. Listeners related to
> the jocks. We never had loud screaming liners or bragged
> about how big we were.
> And finally, the station gave back to the community and
> helped encourage a feeling of brotherhood. One example - The
> ZOO Goodwill concert raised 110 TONS of clothes for Goodwill
> Industries. We put on SO many free concerts and community
> events. We created our own live studio concerts with huge
> acts - Frampton, Foghat, etc etc etc. I remember one
> conversation with Dave Van Dyke after he left his PD job at
> Q-102. He said that even when his station did a neat
> promotion, listeners thought it was something the ZOO did
> because the ZOO had the reputation of being the station that
> did all the great promotions.
> I had WONDERFUL support from management, and could think
> up an idea on the way to work and have it on the air that
> day. I didn't have to go through research studies or
> corporate vice presidents or consultants. The station was
> always fresh, often trailblazing, and I'm proud that I never
> stole ideas from other stations. The ZOO was an original.
> It's hard to say that about many stations today.
>
> Thanks for letting me ramble.
>
> Ira "Eye" Lipson
> Zoologist-In-Exile
>
Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to the listener as a contemporary. Too bad the "suits" in the business today just cant get their head wrapped around that. Its all about consultants and key demos and playing the latest bubblegum-flavored crap thats pumped out by the "Major" labels. Im only 29(nearly 30) and missed out on that whole ZOO era(dad and uncle listened to it religiously)..its something im trying to recreate on my webstation im setting up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk and casual sense.
What's funny, Eye, is that the worst corporate-picked PD's of today SAY they're doing exactly what you just described. Of course, any sane observer can plainly see that they're NOT. But they walk around telling themselves they are. A sad display of group-think circle-jerking.
I'll add a postscript. Today's corporate PD's have no shame when it comes to the theft of ideas. They will brag to you about the liner they just stole from a station in another market. Then they poke their chests out... as if that act of stealing should be perceived as a feather in their own cap. Soooo warped.
I'll add a postscript. Today's corporate PD's have no shame when it comes to the theft of ideas. They will brag to you about the liner they just stole from a station in another market. Then they poke their chests out... as if that act of stealing should be perceived as a feather in their own cap. Soooo warped.
The ZOO was an original.
> It's hard to say that about many stations today.
Wow, "Eye", what a great post. It brings a tear to my eye to recall what we have lost. I remember fighting the 'progressive' battle in other markets, and I remember some insurmountale challenges:
* Another station would come on and play the album hits... the hottest core album cuts. The market would fragment. The programmer who knew how to tweak the format to achieve ratings beat the guys who just wanted to play good tunes.
* A salesman would convince the GM that those "Hippies" sounded un-professional, and insist the station had to play more "Commericial" music. And who was the GM going to listen to, if not the guy bringing in the money?
* Good musical taste cannot be quantified, especially by someone with no talent or taste. (see above)
* Dee Jays get lazy and self indulgent. Some would play artists because they liked them personally, or liked a song or songs on other of the artist's albums.
* The record companies pressured their artists to come up with "Hits", or songs that fit the top 40 mold. Selling 100,000 albums was no longer enough. If there weren't a million sold, the artist was cut.
* Stations began reporting their "Ads", and succumbed to pressure from the labels to support the tracks and the artists they were pushing. When Lee Abrams told us to add the Poussette Dart Band, I knew it was time to check out.
* Progressive and Liberal Arts became dirty words in the '80's.
The spirit still lives in isolated places, like triple a, college radio and non-commercial stations like KNON. You just can't make a living doing segues any more.
Thanks for the memories, Ira, Charlie Jones, Tempe Lindsey, Tim Spencer, and all the rest of you.
G
> It's hard to say that about many stations today.
Wow, "Eye", what a great post. It brings a tear to my eye to recall what we have lost. I remember fighting the 'progressive' battle in other markets, and I remember some insurmountale challenges:
* Another station would come on and play the album hits... the hottest core album cuts. The market would fragment. The programmer who knew how to tweak the format to achieve ratings beat the guys who just wanted to play good tunes.
* A salesman would convince the GM that those "Hippies" sounded un-professional, and insist the station had to play more "Commericial" music. And who was the GM going to listen to, if not the guy bringing in the money?
* Good musical taste cannot be quantified, especially by someone with no talent or taste. (see above)
* Dee Jays get lazy and self indulgent. Some would play artists because they liked them personally, or liked a song or songs on other of the artist's albums.
* The record companies pressured their artists to come up with "Hits", or songs that fit the top 40 mold. Selling 100,000 albums was no longer enough. If there weren't a million sold, the artist was cut.
* Stations began reporting their "Ads", and succumbed to pressure from the labels to support the tracks and the artists they were pushing. When Lee Abrams told us to add the Poussette Dart Band, I knew it was time to check out.
* Progressive and Liberal Arts became dirty words in the '80's.
The spirit still lives in isolated places, like triple a, college radio and non-commercial stations like KNON. You just can't make a living doing segues any more.
Thanks for the memories, Ira, Charlie Jones, Tempe Lindsey, Tim Spencer, and all the rest of you.
G
T
theshadow
Guest
> Too many stations today just try to eliminate the negatives instead
> of adding the positives. "Too risky," they say. Harumpf.
Great post, Eye.
It's way too much of a business today....too
much power, greed and money (sorta' like the
current administration in DC, but I won't go
into that), run by attorneys and folks that
have never once cracked open a mike, sat behind
a control board playing some great tunes, done
remotes and pressed the flesh, or fielded calls
from listeners. Their perception is whatever
sounds good in New York is going to sound great
in Dallas-Fort Worth according to the consultant,
which as most of us know, is total bullshit.
Somewhere along the line the vision of radio and
its purpose got terribly blurred, and the suits
perceived that putting that obscure tune or album
cut on the air that folks hadn't heard in ages was
all too edgy and risky for business. The bottom line
is that there are no more risk takers. Sorry to say,
but most radio is run today by a bunch of conservative
(BLEEP) who sit around listening to Celine Dion cuts
every day, not innovators. Perhaps we can blame some of
the PC crowd for it, I don't know. The fact is the
suits want the dollars coming in from their stations.
But where does the money come from? Advertisers! And
who buys the advertisers products? THE LISTENERS!!!!!
When the listener buys more products, the advertiser
makes money, which means they can afford more advertising
packages on the radio stations. The suits just don't get
it, and never will. I remember a manager at one station
I worked at (not locally) telling me I couldn't play a
couple of Sheryl Crow songs because she said "hell" and
"damn" in them. Total absurdity! And this was a Hot AC
station! But that's the mentality of some. That's why
things are in (and have been) in the crapper.
Just last week I was listening to some MP3's on my
computer from bands like Prism, Doucette, April Wine,
Chiiliwack, Lake, Moxy, Shooting Star...when was the
last time you heard any tunes from them on the radio?
Again, the suits would say "too risky...or "what band
is that?".....
It's no wonder satellite radio is doing so well with
their individual channels catering to different genres,
or folks are just burning their own CD's and listening
to them in the vehicle. We started this trend, now we
are paying for it, by not catering to the most important
piece in the broadcasting chain ...THE LISTENER!...
> of adding the positives. "Too risky," they say. Harumpf.
Great post, Eye.
It's way too much of a business today....too
much power, greed and money (sorta' like the
current administration in DC, but I won't go
into that), run by attorneys and folks that
have never once cracked open a mike, sat behind
a control board playing some great tunes, done
remotes and pressed the flesh, or fielded calls
from listeners. Their perception is whatever
sounds good in New York is going to sound great
in Dallas-Fort Worth according to the consultant,
which as most of us know, is total bullshit.
Somewhere along the line the vision of radio and
its purpose got terribly blurred, and the suits
perceived that putting that obscure tune or album
cut on the air that folks hadn't heard in ages was
all too edgy and risky for business. The bottom line
is that there are no more risk takers. Sorry to say,
but most radio is run today by a bunch of conservative
(BLEEP) who sit around listening to Celine Dion cuts
every day, not innovators. Perhaps we can blame some of
the PC crowd for it, I don't know. The fact is the
suits want the dollars coming in from their stations.
But where does the money come from? Advertisers! And
who buys the advertisers products? THE LISTENERS!!!!!
When the listener buys more products, the advertiser
makes money, which means they can afford more advertising
packages on the radio stations. The suits just don't get
it, and never will. I remember a manager at one station
I worked at (not locally) telling me I couldn't play a
couple of Sheryl Crow songs because she said "hell" and
"damn" in them. Total absurdity! And this was a Hot AC
station! But that's the mentality of some. That's why
things are in (and have been) in the crapper.
Just last week I was listening to some MP3's on my
computer from bands like Prism, Doucette, April Wine,
Chiiliwack, Lake, Moxy, Shooting Star...when was the
last time you heard any tunes from them on the radio?
Again, the suits would say "too risky...or "what band
is that?".....
It's no wonder satellite radio is doing so well with
their individual channels catering to different genres,
or folks are just burning their own CD's and listening
to them in the vehicle. We started this trend, now we
are paying for it, by not catering to the most important
piece in the broadcasting chain ...THE LISTENER!...
D
DXER1
Guest
> >
> Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to
> the listener as a contemporary. Too bad the "suits" in the
> business today just cant get their head wrapped around that.
> Its all about consultants and key demos and playing the
> latest bubblegum-flavored crap thats pumped out by the
> "Major" labels. Im only 29(nearly 30) and missed out on that
> whole ZOO era(dad and uncle listened to it religiously)..its
> something im trying to recreate on my webstation im setting
> up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts
> and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk
> and casual sense.
>
Man you just a baby when the era was do any of ya'll remember KTSA that is what my parents listened to growingup in Corpus and throughout college in Kingsville in the 70's. I wished I was born in the 60s to live through that KZEW and KTSA era.<P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien
"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"
Connan O'Brien
</P>
> Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to
> the listener as a contemporary. Too bad the "suits" in the
> business today just cant get their head wrapped around that.
> Its all about consultants and key demos and playing the
> latest bubblegum-flavored crap thats pumped out by the
> "Major" labels. Im only 29(nearly 30) and missed out on that
> whole ZOO era(dad and uncle listened to it religiously)..its
> something im trying to recreate on my webstation im setting
> up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts
> and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk
> and casual sense.
>
Man you just a baby when the era was do any of ya'll remember KTSA that is what my parents listened to growingup in Corpus and throughout college in Kingsville in the 70's. I wished I was born in the 60s to live through that KZEW and KTSA era.<P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien
"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"
Connan O'Brien
</P>
A
AliceTheCook
Guest
> its
> something im trying to recreate on my webstation im setting
> up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts
> and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk
> and casual sense.
Problem is, this generation of teens and 20-somethings would have no appreciation for something like that. They've only ever known Corporate Radio. They don't know about a station giving back to the community and the listener (they'd ask, why do something like that? Just play my damn song!) Think of the disrespect many of us had for The Eagle in the 80s, playing schlocky stuff that catered to our little brothers and sisters. By the late 90s, a lot of us 20- and 30-somethings were tuned to The Eagle ourselves, for lack of anything better on the dial. Our younger siblings had kept them in business, while we dumped out of our Q-102 and The Zoo for whatever "old age" took us to...country, KVIL, The Oasis, KMEZ, etc. But we can't take all the blame ourselves. Anchor Media ruined The Zoo beyond repair after they bought it from Channel 8. An uneven mix of classic rock, then a couple of rounds of firing all the jocks that made the station great...what did they expect? Jay Hoker managed the station in the early and mid-80s, and was given much the same free hand that Ira got. Once he left around 1985, that's when the station lost its spirit and let Q-102 take the lead. It never recovered.
And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and others. That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because both fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and Q-102 did.
Proof here is that John Dillon tried to market The Zoo via internet a few years back. It drew some interest, but ultimately, he had to start charging monthly fees to recoup some of his own operational costs, and not enough people were willing to pony up some cash to keep it going. We'd either outgrown the format, or just didn't care anymore. Thousands of other free choices on the web outweighed what one webcaster was doing.
Honestly, I think we're only stuck with the memories. Sure, satellite's there, and if you're only into the music part of what The Zoo played, they can accommodate you. But if you're expecting a great concert, a concert simulcast, a Zoo World, a slew of bumper stickers to identify your fellow Freaks with, or just bumping into a jock at a local club and telling them 'thanks' for all they do, or calling up a jock in the middle of the night when you're crashing down just to get talked down and get right with the world again, satellite just can't provide that.
And our 20-something counterparts today don't even know the difference. Sad.
> something im trying to recreate on my webstation im setting
> up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts
> and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk
> and casual sense.
Problem is, this generation of teens and 20-somethings would have no appreciation for something like that. They've only ever known Corporate Radio. They don't know about a station giving back to the community and the listener (they'd ask, why do something like that? Just play my damn song!) Think of the disrespect many of us had for The Eagle in the 80s, playing schlocky stuff that catered to our little brothers and sisters. By the late 90s, a lot of us 20- and 30-somethings were tuned to The Eagle ourselves, for lack of anything better on the dial. Our younger siblings had kept them in business, while we dumped out of our Q-102 and The Zoo for whatever "old age" took us to...country, KVIL, The Oasis, KMEZ, etc. But we can't take all the blame ourselves. Anchor Media ruined The Zoo beyond repair after they bought it from Channel 8. An uneven mix of classic rock, then a couple of rounds of firing all the jocks that made the station great...what did they expect? Jay Hoker managed the station in the early and mid-80s, and was given much the same free hand that Ira got. Once he left around 1985, that's when the station lost its spirit and let Q-102 take the lead. It never recovered.
And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and others. That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because both fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and Q-102 did.
Proof here is that John Dillon tried to market The Zoo via internet a few years back. It drew some interest, but ultimately, he had to start charging monthly fees to recoup some of his own operational costs, and not enough people were willing to pony up some cash to keep it going. We'd either outgrown the format, or just didn't care anymore. Thousands of other free choices on the web outweighed what one webcaster was doing.
Honestly, I think we're only stuck with the memories. Sure, satellite's there, and if you're only into the music part of what The Zoo played, they can accommodate you. But if you're expecting a great concert, a concert simulcast, a Zoo World, a slew of bumper stickers to identify your fellow Freaks with, or just bumping into a jock at a local club and telling them 'thanks' for all they do, or calling up a jock in the middle of the night when you're crashing down just to get talked down and get right with the world again, satellite just can't provide that.
And our 20-something counterparts today don't even know the difference. Sad.
> > >
> > Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to
>
> > the listener as a contemporary. Too bad the "suits" in the
>
> > business today just cant get their head wrapped around
> that.
> > Its all about consultants and key demos and playing the
> > latest bubblegum-flavored crap thats pumped out by the
> > "Major" labels. Im only 29(nearly 30) and missed out on
> that
> > whole ZOO era(dad and uncle listened to it
> religiously)..its
> > something im trying to recreate on my webstation im
> setting
> > up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts
> > and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk
>
> > and casual sense.
> >
> Man you just a baby when the era was do any of ya'll
> remember KTSA that is what my parents listened to growingup
> in Corpus and throughout college in Kingsville in the 70's.
> I wished I was born in the 60s to live through that KZEW and
> KTSA era.
>
Yeah, im young
but I know that its better to talk directly to your listener, not down to them like a uneducated dog (see: CC,CBS Radio,Radio One inc.). Maybe this is what "free" radio needs, people to come out and give a damn again not just about the product, but the end result you help create...
On my project: streampunkradio.com(which is up in an incomplete form currently) should be (hopefully) up and running by late spring(hoping end of may-beg. of june), as ive been dedicating all my energies to other things (real life, keeping my "day job") as of late. I'll give you guys a heads up when im closer to my launch date.
> > Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to
>
> > the listener as a contemporary. Too bad the "suits" in the
>
> > business today just cant get their head wrapped around
> that.
> > Its all about consultants and key demos and playing the
> > latest bubblegum-flavored crap thats pumped out by the
> > "Major" labels. Im only 29(nearly 30) and missed out on
> that
> > whole ZOO era(dad and uncle listened to it
> religiously)..its
> > something im trying to recreate on my webstation im
> setting
> > up at the present, with all the stuff ya know,deeper cuts
> > and some obscure stuff,peppered with some intelligent talk
>
> > and casual sense.
> >
> Man you just a baby when the era was do any of ya'll
> remember KTSA that is what my parents listened to growingup
> in Corpus and throughout college in Kingsville in the 70's.
> I wished I was born in the 60s to live through that KZEW and
> KTSA era.
>
Yeah, im young
but I know that its better to talk directly to your listener, not down to them like a uneducated dog (see: CC,CBS Radio,Radio One inc.). Maybe this is what "free" radio needs, people to come out and give a damn again not just about the product, but the end result you help create...On my project: streampunkradio.com(which is up in an incomplete form currently) should be (hopefully) up and running by late spring(hoping end of may-beg. of june), as ive been dedicating all my energies to other things (real life, keeping my "day job") as of late. I'll give you guys a heads up when im closer to my launch date.
> And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old
> notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and others.
> That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because both
> fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and Q-102
> did.
>
>
> Honestly, I think we're only stuck with the memories. Sure,
> satellite's there, and if you're only into the music part of
> what The Zoo played, they can accommodate you. But if
> you're expecting a great concert, a concert simulcast, a Zoo
> World, a slew of bumper stickers to identify your fellow
> Freaks with, or just bumping into a jock at a local club and
> telling them 'thanks' for all they do, or calling up a jock
> in the middle of the night when you're crashing down just to
> get talked down and get right with the world again,
> satellite just can't provide that.
>
> And our 20-something counterparts today don't even know the
> difference. Sad.
>
Compared to 92.5 and The Bone..... KZEW and Q102 are shining Stars.
Rock FM was juxtaposed to AM Top 40 ..... In the Beginning.
Now that is all lost, and it's Classic Rock Top 40. Which I Can't Stand.
The other genres didn't go throught that... so no missed expectations on their listeners part. And I'm sorry, but Satellite radio's compartmentalization does not get it for me..
But Rock FM like I knew it in the 70's will A-L-W-A-Y-S br more satisfying than the same old tired hits of 92.5 and The Bone. Top 40 is Top 40, and I don't want it instead of the GREAT Rock Music I know and Love !
As for KZEW.... they did indeed have great Specials.... and played albums all the way through from time to time. And they had smooth DJs.
BUT---- the Zoo was half playing the same old songs and the other half.... the half I really enjoyed.... played the "other" GREAT stuff.
After seeing Cheap Trick in 1978 warm up for Kansas, I called the Zoo and asked them to play one of the great classic tracks from their debut album. I was told outright that the station was --not-- going to play it. Now, sadly, there's a situation, in the late 70's where even the Zoo had small "balls" indeed. ----- When "I Want You To Want Me" became comerically Pop-ular after Budokan..... well then I suppose the Zoo couldn't play enough of it. And, that's how I remember the commerical integrity of the Zoo. Too Commerical Rock for me. There's staions that should play Pop-Rock.... and there --SHOULD-- be stations that --DO NOT--.
Also, I cannot hold in high regard any DJ working for any station that plays commerical Rock. Those DJs are the same to me as any Top 40 DJ..... No MUSIC credibility. WE who enjoy listening to great GREAT rock ---other--- than Commercial/Hit Rock are a differnt breed. We don;t mix the two. If I want to hear Good Pop Music.... I'll listen to early Beatles work.
IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T PLAY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
I WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH COMMERCIAL OR CLASSIC ROCK. I WAS NEVER THAT. NEVER WILL BE.
<P ID="signature">______________
1968-1978 -- THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF ALBUM ROCK MUSIC . . .
In spite of Disco and Top 40 in that period,
it yielded the "Motherload" of Great Album Rock Releases
--Enough for a Lifetime-- </P>
> notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and others.
> That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because both
> fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and Q-102
> did.
>
>
> Honestly, I think we're only stuck with the memories. Sure,
> satellite's there, and if you're only into the music part of
> what The Zoo played, they can accommodate you. But if
> you're expecting a great concert, a concert simulcast, a Zoo
> World, a slew of bumper stickers to identify your fellow
> Freaks with, or just bumping into a jock at a local club and
> telling them 'thanks' for all they do, or calling up a jock
> in the middle of the night when you're crashing down just to
> get talked down and get right with the world again,
> satellite just can't provide that.
>
> And our 20-something counterparts today don't even know the
> difference. Sad.
>
Compared to 92.5 and The Bone..... KZEW and Q102 are shining Stars.
Rock FM was juxtaposed to AM Top 40 ..... In the Beginning.
Now that is all lost, and it's Classic Rock Top 40. Which I Can't Stand.
The other genres didn't go throught that... so no missed expectations on their listeners part. And I'm sorry, but Satellite radio's compartmentalization does not get it for me..
But Rock FM like I knew it in the 70's will A-L-W-A-Y-S br more satisfying than the same old tired hits of 92.5 and The Bone. Top 40 is Top 40, and I don't want it instead of the GREAT Rock Music I know and Love !
As for KZEW.... they did indeed have great Specials.... and played albums all the way through from time to time. And they had smooth DJs.
BUT---- the Zoo was half playing the same old songs and the other half.... the half I really enjoyed.... played the "other" GREAT stuff.
After seeing Cheap Trick in 1978 warm up for Kansas, I called the Zoo and asked them to play one of the great classic tracks from their debut album. I was told outright that the station was --not-- going to play it. Now, sadly, there's a situation, in the late 70's where even the Zoo had small "balls" indeed. ----- When "I Want You To Want Me" became comerically Pop-ular after Budokan..... well then I suppose the Zoo couldn't play enough of it. And, that's how I remember the commerical integrity of the Zoo. Too Commerical Rock for me. There's staions that should play Pop-Rock.... and there --SHOULD-- be stations that --DO NOT--.
Also, I cannot hold in high regard any DJ working for any station that plays commerical Rock. Those DJs are the same to me as any Top 40 DJ..... No MUSIC credibility. WE who enjoy listening to great GREAT rock ---other--- than Commercial/Hit Rock are a differnt breed. We don;t mix the two. If I want to hear Good Pop Music.... I'll listen to early Beatles work.
IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T PLAY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
I WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH COMMERCIAL OR CLASSIC ROCK. I WAS NEVER THAT. NEVER WILL BE.
<P ID="signature">______________
1968-1978 -- THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF ALBUM ROCK MUSIC . . .
In spite of Disco and Top 40 in that period,
it yielded the "Motherload" of Great Album Rock Releases
--Enough for a Lifetime--
</P>
E
edwardrmurrow
Guest
> > >
> > Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to
>> Man you just a baby when the era was do any of ya'll
> remember KTSA that is what my parents listened to growingup
> in Corpus and throughout college in Kingsville in the 70's.
> I wished I was born in the 60s to live through that KZEW and
> KTSA era
KTSA was a good station in the early 70's and was the number one station in San Antonio PLUS Corpus Christi, and for 2 years was number 1 in teens 12-18 in all of Texas. KTSA was better under Mclendon,but Waterman did a very good job as well. KTFM was an answer to KEXL in San Antonio and both took theri cue from KSAN in San Francisco at the time. Now that was "Underground-Progressive- Acid Rock" KTSA started to flounder in 1979,and KTFM switched to Top 40 in 1973 after KEXL went away the first time. KZEW was a breath of fresh air compared to San Antonio radio at the time. It seems San Antonio has always been behind in regards to radio.
> > Eye, that...is what FM radio was all about man, talking to
>> Man you just a baby when the era was do any of ya'll
> remember KTSA that is what my parents listened to growingup
> in Corpus and throughout college in Kingsville in the 70's.
> I wished I was born in the 60s to live through that KZEW and
> KTSA era
KTSA was a good station in the early 70's and was the number one station in San Antonio PLUS Corpus Christi, and for 2 years was number 1 in teens 12-18 in all of Texas. KTSA was better under Mclendon,but Waterman did a very good job as well. KTFM was an answer to KEXL in San Antonio and both took theri cue from KSAN in San Francisco at the time. Now that was "Underground-Progressive- Acid Rock" KTSA started to flounder in 1979,and KTFM switched to Top 40 in 1973 after KEXL went away the first time. KZEW was a breath of fresh air compared to San Antonio radio at the time. It seems San Antonio has always been behind in regards to radio.
A
AliceTheCook
Guest
I hear ya. That commercial half of the Zoo's playlist is what paid the bills (brought in the mainstream listener looking for hits) and the other half was for you and other true album rock aficionados. FM tried it the other way with KFAD/KMAC, KNUS, KRLD/KAFM doing underground music, with all those great album cuts and such. It didn't last, but really I don't think they stayed with it long enough. In the late 60s and early 70s, FM was not considered a contender, and PD's were given free reign to put on there what they wanted, as management figured no one was listening, anyway. When FM became the supreme band, the consultants, programmers and bean counters all dove in, and applied their AM mode of operation to FM. It was all downhill from there.
Cheap Trick's studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" is timid and lame compared to the later Budokan version. I don't know if that played into their decision, or if they were more concerned about playing "name" bands. Of course, The Zoo and Q-102 both played a variety of hard and soft songs; I remember 102 playing Ambrosia and softer Doobies hits in the late 70s.
> > And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old
> > notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and others.
>
> > That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because
> both
> > fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and Q-102
>
> > did.
> >
> >
> > Honestly, I think we're only stuck with the memories.
> Sure,
> > satellite's there, and if you're only into the music part
> of
> > what The Zoo played, they can accommodate you. But if
> > you're expecting a great concert, a concert simulcast, a
> Zoo
> > World, a slew of bumper stickers to identify your fellow
> > Freaks with, or just bumping into a jock at a local club
> and
> > telling them 'thanks' for all they do, or calling up a
> jock
> > in the middle of the night when you're crashing down just
> to
> > get talked down and get right with the world again,
> > satellite just can't provide that.
> >
> > And our 20-something counterparts today don't even know
> the
> > difference. Sad.
> >
>
> Compared to 92.5 and The Bone..... KZEW and Q102 are shining
> Stars.
> Rock FM was juxtaposed to AM Top 40 ..... In the Beginning.
> Now that is all lost, and it's Classic Rock Top 40. Which I
> Can't Stand.
> The other genres didn't go throught that... so no missed
> expectations on their listeners part. And I'm sorry, but
> Satellite radio's compartmentalization does not get it for
> me..
>
> But Rock FM like I knew it in the 70's will A-L-W-A-Y-S br
> more satisfying than the same old tired hits of 92.5 and The
> Bone. Top 40 is Top 40, and I don't want it instead of the
> GREAT Rock Music I know and Love !
>
> As for KZEW.... they did indeed have great Specials.... and
> played albums all the way through from time to time. And
> they had smooth DJs.
>
> BUT---- the Zoo was half playing the same old songs and the
> other half.... the half I really enjoyed.... played the
> "other" GREAT stuff.
>
> After seeing Cheap Trick in 1978 warm up for Kansas, I
> called the Zoo and asked them to play one of the great
> classic tracks from their debut album. I was told outright
> that the station was --not-- going to play it. Now, sadly,
> there's a situation, in the late 70's where even the Zoo had
> small "balls" indeed. ----- When "I Want You To Want Me"
> became comerically Pop-ular after Budokan..... well then I
> suppose the Zoo couldn't play enough of it. And, that's how
> I remember the commerical integrity of the Zoo. Too
> Commerical Rock for me. There's staions that should play
> Pop-Rock.... and there --SHOULD-- be stations that --DO
> NOT--.
>
> Also, I cannot hold in high regard any DJ working for any
> station that plays commerical Rock. Those DJs are the same
> to me as any Top 40 DJ..... No MUSIC credibility. WE who
> enjoy listening to great GREAT rock ---other--- than
> Commercial/Hit Rock are a differnt breed. We don;t mix the
> two. If I want to hear Good Pop Music.... I'll listen to
> early Beatles work.
>
> IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T PLAY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
>
> I WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH COMMERCIAL OR CLASSIC ROCK. I
> WAS NEVER THAT. NEVER WILL BE.
>
Cheap Trick's studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" is timid and lame compared to the later Budokan version. I don't know if that played into their decision, or if they were more concerned about playing "name" bands. Of course, The Zoo and Q-102 both played a variety of hard and soft songs; I remember 102 playing Ambrosia and softer Doobies hits in the late 70s.
> > And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old
> > notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and others.
>
> > That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because
> both
> > fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and Q-102
>
> > did.
> >
> >
> > Honestly, I think we're only stuck with the memories.
> Sure,
> > satellite's there, and if you're only into the music part
> of
> > what The Zoo played, they can accommodate you. But if
> > you're expecting a great concert, a concert simulcast, a
> Zoo
> > World, a slew of bumper stickers to identify your fellow
> > Freaks with, or just bumping into a jock at a local club
> and
> > telling them 'thanks' for all they do, or calling up a
> jock
> > in the middle of the night when you're crashing down just
> to
> > get talked down and get right with the world again,
> > satellite just can't provide that.
> >
> > And our 20-something counterparts today don't even know
> the
> > difference. Sad.
> >
>
> Compared to 92.5 and The Bone..... KZEW and Q102 are shining
> Stars.
> Rock FM was juxtaposed to AM Top 40 ..... In the Beginning.
> Now that is all lost, and it's Classic Rock Top 40. Which I
> Can't Stand.
> The other genres didn't go throught that... so no missed
> expectations on their listeners part. And I'm sorry, but
> Satellite radio's compartmentalization does not get it for
> me..
>
> But Rock FM like I knew it in the 70's will A-L-W-A-Y-S br
> more satisfying than the same old tired hits of 92.5 and The
> Bone. Top 40 is Top 40, and I don't want it instead of the
> GREAT Rock Music I know and Love !
>
> As for KZEW.... they did indeed have great Specials.... and
> played albums all the way through from time to time. And
> they had smooth DJs.
>
> BUT---- the Zoo was half playing the same old songs and the
> other half.... the half I really enjoyed.... played the
> "other" GREAT stuff.
>
> After seeing Cheap Trick in 1978 warm up for Kansas, I
> called the Zoo and asked them to play one of the great
> classic tracks from their debut album. I was told outright
> that the station was --not-- going to play it. Now, sadly,
> there's a situation, in the late 70's where even the Zoo had
> small "balls" indeed. ----- When "I Want You To Want Me"
> became comerically Pop-ular after Budokan..... well then I
> suppose the Zoo couldn't play enough of it. And, that's how
> I remember the commerical integrity of the Zoo. Too
> Commerical Rock for me. There's staions that should play
> Pop-Rock.... and there --SHOULD-- be stations that --DO
> NOT--.
>
> Also, I cannot hold in high regard any DJ working for any
> station that plays commerical Rock. Those DJs are the same
> to me as any Top 40 DJ..... No MUSIC credibility. WE who
> enjoy listening to great GREAT rock ---other--- than
> Commercial/Hit Rock are a differnt breed. We don;t mix the
> two. If I want to hear Good Pop Music.... I'll listen to
> early Beatles work.
>
> IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T PLAY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
>
> I WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH COMMERCIAL OR CLASSIC ROCK. I
> WAS NEVER THAT. NEVER WILL BE.
>
> > > >
>
> KTSA was a good station in the early 70's
Ed;
for a brief time, once KEXL began to show up in the ratings, there were several competitors. KTFM was a sort of a hybrid, playing half pop and half album cuts. KMAC (not to be confused with KAMC in Arlington) turned hard rock with Lou and Joe in the afternoon, and then progressive country at night. In the late '60's, KONO had "Now Sounds" on Saturday night, which is where I heard Blind Faith for the first time. KRMH and KTAP would come in from Austin on the north side. I even heard KLOL one night.
Even KEEZ went freeform progressive, with a lighter approach, about 1971 or 72.
No one listend to it. KTFM was a waste of electricity until Trigger Black arrived in mid '75.
I think what ruined it all was an end to eclectic playlists, as 'Rock' fragmented into Folk-Rock, Acid-Rock, Country-Rock, Progressive-Rock, Heavy Metal, Southern Rock etc. By the '80s there was punk. Now there are too many genres to name: Ambient, Death Metal, Emo (I have no idea what that is) and more.
I remember hearing everything from Muddy Waters to Judy Collins on top 40 in the '60s. I remember when KTSA was playing Nights in White Satin and A Day In The Life. And what a thrill it was when WLS would blow in at night!
But now, even though we piss and moan about what used to be, there's always KGSR and KUT and thousands more on the internet. Everything that ever was is now available somewhere if you know where to look. I've found many of my old favorites in the vinyl bin at Half Price Books and Goodwill.
g
>
> KTSA was a good station in the early 70's
Ed;
for a brief time, once KEXL began to show up in the ratings, there were several competitors. KTFM was a sort of a hybrid, playing half pop and half album cuts. KMAC (not to be confused with KAMC in Arlington) turned hard rock with Lou and Joe in the afternoon, and then progressive country at night. In the late '60's, KONO had "Now Sounds" on Saturday night, which is where I heard Blind Faith for the first time. KRMH and KTAP would come in from Austin on the north side. I even heard KLOL one night.
Even KEEZ went freeform progressive, with a lighter approach, about 1971 or 72.
No one listend to it. KTFM was a waste of electricity until Trigger Black arrived in mid '75.
I think what ruined it all was an end to eclectic playlists, as 'Rock' fragmented into Folk-Rock, Acid-Rock, Country-Rock, Progressive-Rock, Heavy Metal, Southern Rock etc. By the '80s there was punk. Now there are too many genres to name: Ambient, Death Metal, Emo (I have no idea what that is) and more.
I remember hearing everything from Muddy Waters to Judy Collins on top 40 in the '60s. I remember when KTSA was playing Nights in White Satin and A Day In The Life. And what a thrill it was when WLS would blow in at night!
But now, even though we piss and moan about what used to be, there's always KGSR and KUT and thousands more on the internet. Everything that ever was is now available somewhere if you know where to look. I've found many of my old favorites in the vinyl bin at Half Price Books and Goodwill.
g
> Proof here is that John Dillon tried to market The Zoo via
> internet a few years back. It drew some interest, but
> ultimately, he had to start charging monthly fees to recoup
> some of his own operational costs, and not enough people
> were willing to pony up some cash to keep it going. We'd
> either outgrown the format, or just didn't care anymore.
> Thousands of other free choices on the web outweighed what
> one webcaster was doing.
Actually it was John Rody and it's still around kinda. http://www.itsthezoo.com/
Check out the Zoo Museum and he even has Pink Floyd and the Wizard of Oz up in there.
>
> internet a few years back. It drew some interest, but
> ultimately, he had to start charging monthly fees to recoup
> some of his own operational costs, and not enough people
> were willing to pony up some cash to keep it going. We'd
> either outgrown the format, or just didn't care anymore.
> Thousands of other free choices on the web outweighed what
> one webcaster was doing.
Actually it was John Rody and it's still around kinda. http://www.itsthezoo.com/
Check out the Zoo Museum and he even has Pink Floyd and the Wizard of Oz up in there.
>
> I hear ya. That commercial half of the Zoo's playlist is
> what paid the bills (brought in the mainstream listener
> looking for hits) and the other half was for you and other
> true album rock aficionados. FM tried it the other way with
> KFAD/KMAC, KNUS, KRLD/KAFM doing underground music, with all
> those great album cuts and such. It didn't last, but really
> I don't think they stayed with it long enough. In the late
> 60s and early 70s, FM was not considered a contender, and
> PD's were given free reign to put on there what they wanted,
> as management figured no one was listening, anyway. When FM
> became the supreme band, the consultants, programmers and
> bean counters all dove in, and applied their AM mode of
> operation to FM. It was all downhill from there.
>
> Cheap Trick's studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" is
> timid and lame compared to the later Budokan version. I
> don't know if that played into their decision, or if they
> were more concerned about playing "name" bands. Of course,
> The Zoo and Q-102 both played a variety of hard and soft
> songs; I remember 102 playing Ambrosia and softer Doobies
> hits in the late 70s.
>
> > > And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old
> > > notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and
> others.
> >
> > > That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because
> > both
> > > fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and
> Q-102
Well, to be honest, the studio version of "I Want You To Want Me" was lame, and I didn't ask for it to be played. Instead I wanted Hard Rockin' songs like "He's A (BLEEP)" and "The Ballad of TV Violence" to be aired back in 1978.
Something exciting. "I Want You To Want Me" is for teeny-Boppers....
But then that became the whole problem with FM Rock Radio.... Trying to be all things to all Rock fans meant that wherever the biggest audience was, that's where they were going. To Hell with "Standards". Talk about Listeners loyalty ! ! On their way to the Lowest Common Denominator Playlists..... The folks like me that had supported what the Zoo and Q102 did, just had to grin and bear it. Stations were now going to program "immature" music right along side the really cool stuff, like it or not. --- I didn't like it then---- not do I now.
I was in college in Austin 1973-1977. What I really loved about KLBJ-FM back then was that they ---would not--- play immature rock songs, or "Pop-Rock" songs. There was another FM station in town that did that. KLBJ simply played the best Rock Music by ---many, many --- bands. So, it was the kind of station that you really would enjoy listening to for ---Hours--- ---Not--- as "background" music.... but really listening----. Even the commercials were customized tothe KLBJ listener. --No standard obnoxious commercials found on Pop and Top 40 stations. I wasn't loyal to KLBJ-FM for any reason except the music the played the way the presented it... not talking over the songs, not chopping of the cool endings of songs, etc.
I was loyal, but not because of wise-crackin'DJs, Endless Pay-To-Listen Promotions, and all the other trappings of a Top 40 commercial station. That way of doing business is just antithesis to what great Rock was about.
Satellite radio offers much of that great music.... but, satellite radio is all compartmentalized. And nothing Satellite radio is doing quite matches what I heard on KLBJ-FM. That--- is what I am looking for on my radio dial, terrestrail or satellite......
Perhaps when AM goes digital, there can be a Renaissance of that kind of cool programming ---- without the Pop-Rock fluff and smartalek DJs.
<P ID="signature">______________
1968-1978 -- THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF ALBUM ROCK MUSIC . . .
In spite of Disco and Top 40 in that period,
it yielded the "Motherload" of Great Album Rock Releases
--Enough for a Lifetime-- </P>
> what paid the bills (brought in the mainstream listener
> looking for hits) and the other half was for you and other
> true album rock aficionados. FM tried it the other way with
> KFAD/KMAC, KNUS, KRLD/KAFM doing underground music, with all
> those great album cuts and such. It didn't last, but really
> I don't think they stayed with it long enough. In the late
> 60s and early 70s, FM was not considered a contender, and
> PD's were given free reign to put on there what they wanted,
> as management figured no one was listening, anyway. When FM
> became the supreme band, the consultants, programmers and
> bean counters all dove in, and applied their AM mode of
> operation to FM. It was all downhill from there.
>
> Cheap Trick's studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" is
> timid and lame compared to the later Budokan version. I
> don't know if that played into their decision, or if they
> were more concerned about playing "name" bands. Of course,
> The Zoo and Q-102 both played a variety of hard and soft
> songs; I remember 102 playing Ambrosia and softer Doobies
> hits in the late 70s.
>
> > > And we, the post-Zoo freaks, can't give up on those old
> > > notions of how radio was done then, by the Zoo and
> others.
> >
> > > That's why we grade The Bone and KZPS so hard, because
> > both
> > > fall so short of giving anything to us like KZEW and
> Q-102
Well, to be honest, the studio version of "I Want You To Want Me" was lame, and I didn't ask for it to be played. Instead I wanted Hard Rockin' songs like "He's A (BLEEP)" and "The Ballad of TV Violence" to be aired back in 1978.
Something exciting. "I Want You To Want Me" is for teeny-Boppers....
But then that became the whole problem with FM Rock Radio.... Trying to be all things to all Rock fans meant that wherever the biggest audience was, that's where they were going. To Hell with "Standards". Talk about Listeners loyalty ! ! On their way to the Lowest Common Denominator Playlists..... The folks like me that had supported what the Zoo and Q102 did, just had to grin and bear it. Stations were now going to program "immature" music right along side the really cool stuff, like it or not. --- I didn't like it then---- not do I now.
I was in college in Austin 1973-1977. What I really loved about KLBJ-FM back then was that they ---would not--- play immature rock songs, or "Pop-Rock" songs. There was another FM station in town that did that. KLBJ simply played the best Rock Music by ---many, many --- bands. So, it was the kind of station that you really would enjoy listening to for ---Hours--- ---Not--- as "background" music.... but really listening----. Even the commercials were customized tothe KLBJ listener. --No standard obnoxious commercials found on Pop and Top 40 stations. I wasn't loyal to KLBJ-FM for any reason except the music the played the way the presented it... not talking over the songs, not chopping of the cool endings of songs, etc.
I was loyal, but not because of wise-crackin'DJs, Endless Pay-To-Listen Promotions, and all the other trappings of a Top 40 commercial station. That way of doing business is just antithesis to what great Rock was about.
Satellite radio offers much of that great music.... but, satellite radio is all compartmentalized. And nothing Satellite radio is doing quite matches what I heard on KLBJ-FM. That--- is what I am looking for on my radio dial, terrestrail or satellite......
Perhaps when AM goes digital, there can be a Renaissance of that kind of cool programming ---- without the Pop-Rock fluff and smartalek DJs.
<P ID="signature">______________
1968-1978 -- THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF ALBUM ROCK MUSIC . . .
In spite of Disco and Top 40 in that period,
it yielded the "Motherload" of Great Album Rock Releases
--Enough for a Lifetime--
</P>
E
edwardrmurrow
Guest
> > > > >
>
> >
> > KTSA was a good station in the early 70's
>
> Ed;
> for a brief time, once KEXL began to show up in the ratings,
> there were several competitors. KTFM was a sort of a hybrid,
> playing half pop and half album cuts. KMAC (not to be
> confused with KAMC in Arlington) turned hard rock with Lou
> and Joe in the afternoon, and then progressive country at
> night. In the late '60's, KONO had "Now Sounds" on Saturday
> night, which is where I heard Blind Faith for the first
> time. KRMH and KTAP would come in from Austin on the north
> side. I even heard KLOL one night.
> Even KEEZ went freeform progressive, with a lighter
> approach, about 1971 or 72.
> No one listend to it. KTFM was a waste of electricity until
> Trigger Black arrived in mid '75.
> I think what ruined it all was an end to eclectic playlists,
> as 'Rock' fragmented into Folk-Rock, Acid-Rock,
> Country-Rock, Progressive-Rock, Heavy Metal, Southern Rock
> etc. By the '80s there was punk. Now there are too many
> genres to name: Ambient, Death Metal, Emo (I have no idea
> what that is) and more.
> I remember hearing everything from Muddy Waters to Judy
> Collins on top 40 in the '60s. I remember when KTSA was
> playing Nights in White Satin and A Day In The Life. And
> what a thrill it was when WLS would blow in at night!
> But now, even though we piss and moan about what used to be,
> there's always KGSR and KUT and thousands more on the
> internet. Everything that ever was is now available
> somewhere if you know where to look. I've found many of my
> old favorites in the vinyl bin at Half Price Books and
> Goodwill.
> g
>
Yep Grant .When KTFM went top 40 under Tony Raven,the best place to turn to was a little to the left side of the frequency and listen to KRMH in San Marcos."Karma"played some good stuff,especially the then "Austin Sound". KEXL was programmed by Woody Roberts very very briefly,but he made it sound so damn cool.KTSA played "Nights in White Satin" in 1972 when somebody at deram decided to release it as a single. KEEZ was adrift in trying to find their "nitch" and when through so many formats.Remember "the Pet Rock of San Antonio campaign" in 1975?.If conditions were right in the spring ,one could pick up KZEW. It was difficult to listen to KLOL out of Houston due to KBER-FM(Later KSAQ then KZZY). Speaking of KBER,that was so dumb to suddenly drop country,and go top 40 overnight with the same ol'country announcers. However it was fun to hear Andy Carr "The crazy cat in the cowboy hat" do morning drive after the switch. He was also at KMAC for years before that when they were Arthur Godfrey in the morning,Top 40 at noon and afternoon with Roney, then Country from 6p to midnight.Then in 1973 they simulcasted with KISS with the most free formatted album Rock anyone wanted to hear and I mean anyone. The jocks picked their own music,literally. KONO "now sounds" were great. They were on sundays too. I loved to hear the sound effects of missles being launched with a few other effects to Barry McGuire's "eve of destruction". The same held true for other songs including "Yellow Submarine".The show was a classic.In 1979 KTSA was losing it KTFM was to follow shortly. KITY was up and coming thanks to Steve Sellers. KONO
was picking up steam but not quite a success as it once was. KBUC was leading the pack. Meanwhile San Antonio was still lucky to receive KLBJ inAustin.
>
> >
> > KTSA was a good station in the early 70's
>
> Ed;
> for a brief time, once KEXL began to show up in the ratings,
> there were several competitors. KTFM was a sort of a hybrid,
> playing half pop and half album cuts. KMAC (not to be
> confused with KAMC in Arlington) turned hard rock with Lou
> and Joe in the afternoon, and then progressive country at
> night. In the late '60's, KONO had "Now Sounds" on Saturday
> night, which is where I heard Blind Faith for the first
> time. KRMH and KTAP would come in from Austin on the north
> side. I even heard KLOL one night.
> Even KEEZ went freeform progressive, with a lighter
> approach, about 1971 or 72.
> No one listend to it. KTFM was a waste of electricity until
> Trigger Black arrived in mid '75.
> I think what ruined it all was an end to eclectic playlists,
> as 'Rock' fragmented into Folk-Rock, Acid-Rock,
> Country-Rock, Progressive-Rock, Heavy Metal, Southern Rock
> etc. By the '80s there was punk. Now there are too many
> genres to name: Ambient, Death Metal, Emo (I have no idea
> what that is) and more.
> I remember hearing everything from Muddy Waters to Judy
> Collins on top 40 in the '60s. I remember when KTSA was
> playing Nights in White Satin and A Day In The Life. And
> what a thrill it was when WLS would blow in at night!
> But now, even though we piss and moan about what used to be,
> there's always KGSR and KUT and thousands more on the
> internet. Everything that ever was is now available
> somewhere if you know where to look. I've found many of my
> old favorites in the vinyl bin at Half Price Books and
> Goodwill.
> g
>
Yep Grant .When KTFM went top 40 under Tony Raven,the best place to turn to was a little to the left side of the frequency and listen to KRMH in San Marcos."Karma"played some good stuff,especially the then "Austin Sound". KEXL was programmed by Woody Roberts very very briefly,but he made it sound so damn cool.KTSA played "Nights in White Satin" in 1972 when somebody at deram decided to release it as a single. KEEZ was adrift in trying to find their "nitch" and when through so many formats.Remember "the Pet Rock of San Antonio campaign" in 1975?.If conditions were right in the spring ,one could pick up KZEW. It was difficult to listen to KLOL out of Houston due to KBER-FM(Later KSAQ then KZZY). Speaking of KBER,that was so dumb to suddenly drop country,and go top 40 overnight with the same ol'country announcers. However it was fun to hear Andy Carr "The crazy cat in the cowboy hat" do morning drive after the switch. He was also at KMAC for years before that when they were Arthur Godfrey in the morning,Top 40 at noon and afternoon with Roney, then Country from 6p to midnight.Then in 1973 they simulcasted with KISS with the most free formatted album Rock anyone wanted to hear and I mean anyone. The jocks picked their own music,literally. KONO "now sounds" were great. They were on sundays too. I loved to hear the sound effects of missles being launched with a few other effects to Barry McGuire's "eve of destruction". The same held true for other songs including "Yellow Submarine".The show was a classic.In 1979 KTSA was losing it KTFM was to follow shortly. KITY was up and coming thanks to Steve Sellers. KONO
was picking up steam but not quite a success as it once was. KBUC was leading the pack. Meanwhile San Antonio was still lucky to receive KLBJ inAustin.
A
AliceTheCook
Guest
> Actually it was John Rody and it's still around kinda.
> http://www.itsthezoo.com/
>
> Check out the Zoo Museum and he even has Pink Floyd and the
> Wizard of Oz up in there.
Oops. I was trying not to confuse my Johns and type "John Labella" by mistake and got WAY off track. Speaking of, Dillon should start up a web station for the old KFAD!
BTW, Labella's been gone FOUR years last week. Time flies whether you're having fun or not.
> http://www.itsthezoo.com/
>
> Check out the Zoo Museum and he even has Pink Floyd and the
> Wizard of Oz up in there.
Oops. I was trying not to confuse my Johns and type "John Labella" by mistake and got WAY off track. Speaking of, Dillon should start up a web station for the old KFAD!
BTW, Labella's been gone FOUR years last week. Time flies whether you're having fun or not.
- Status