why does 104.5 play crappy re-recorded versions of hits?

[Scoobyfan1]

Actually i've been listening pretty regularly to KMCQ and their audio quality is pretty good

I really hope that you are Kidding...

Kidding about what, the fact that I listen regularly to them or the fact that their audio quality is good? By the way, I did have one question related to KMCQ: anybody heard of a show called the 10,000 oldies show hosted by Ted Alexander? I've heard parts of it on KMCQ in the past few weeks and i'm wondering if it's a syndicated show or what, just curious.

 

[Grounded Grid]

They've had their moments, but overall it sounds like a poorly engineered internet stream.

 

[bossbill]

It's all very amusing, and reminds me of a few stations I put on the air over the past several years.

The first one, we stuck random CDs, including all genres, into a 200 disc changer, with a short ID over the music at the top of each hour. Within days, we were building a small base of early adopters that were then later upset when we actually put a format on the air.

In the second case, we first ran bird chirping for a few weeks, and had people asking about which birds they were. We then loaded our country music library, turned on the automation, and let it randomize the music. Same story, we had early adopters, PLUS, our local competition was busy trying to figure out the "formula".

For my newest station, Classic Rock, we decided NOT to promote it in any way, because the signal is not yet where it needs to be. Nonetheless, we have numerous early adopters, they're finding it and making it their own. And my local competition has reacted to it by changing THEIR play list. My guess is they're writing down song names and working on that formula again.

I would guess that First Broadcasting is finding the KMCQ chatter humorous also.

 

[radiojjh]

Peter Frampton had a few studio recording hits that weren't recorded live like "I'm In You"--top-10(I still remember Rob Conrad playing that on 11-KING---"Seattle's Music Machine."), his remake of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." And a handful of others that didn't do quite as well. But you're right his biggest hits and the ones that still garner airplay today all came from "Frampton Comes Alive," not sure if it's still the most successful live album in history, but at one point in time it was the best-selling live one out there....

As as far as 104.5 playing re-recorded hits, it's the person who is choosing the music that obviously DOES NOT know what the original sounds like. Probably someone in their 20's who wasn't even around when the songs were hits and has no idea. Looks up the song in a Joel Whitburn book---sees it hit the top-20, and puts it in the computer---NOT KNOWING if it is the original hit version or not. I can tell almost instantly when it's NOT the original. Re-recordings may come close, but they just don't match up to the original. Like the 60's hit went "Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing Baby......"

 

[semoochie]

It has recently come to my attention that what I thought was the "hit" version of "Silly Love Songs", is apparently the album version!

 

[radiojjh]

It seems it was about the mid 70's that many stations played albums vs. 45's that would get cue-burned....so we all wound up playing mostly album versions of the hits...like "Baby Hold On"/Eddie Money, "Lady" & "Reminiscing"/Little River Band, and "Silly Love Songs," and "Let 'Em In." Even some Boz Scaggs stuff--much better on the LP vs the 45. I hated cue burned records......Columbia and RSO seemed to be the worst for cue burns. Atlantic, and Warner Bros were great--you could play most of those forever and no cue burn. A&M would vary from release to release.

FM of course was the first to discover this for the most part, then come AM stations came along...and occasionally we would make our own special edits like "Jet Airliner" long intro with the "funky kicks." And "Fly Like An Eagle."

They would be alot of work to edit on reel to reel, then we'd cart 'em up and away we'd go. Also we'd keep our turntables sped up around 1-3% tops...used to make our competitors songs sounds tired and boring....those were fun days....gosh I miss 'em!!!

 

[Scoobyfan1]

It seems it was about the mid 70's that many stations played albums vs. 45's that would get cue-burned....so we all wound up playing mostly album versions of the hits...like "Baby Hold On"/Eddie Money, "Lady" & "Reminiscing"/Little River Band, and "Silly Love Songs," and "Let 'Em In." Even some Boz Scaggs stuff--much better on the LP vs the 45. I hated cue burned records......Columbia and RSO seemed to be the worst for cue burns. Atlantic, and Warner Bros were great--you could play most of those forever and no cue burn. A&M would vary from release to release.

FM of course was the first to discover this for the most part, then come AM stations came along...and occasionally we would make our own special edits like "Jet Airliner" long intro with the "funky kicks." And "Fly Like An Eagle."

They would be alot of work to edit on reel to reel, then we'd cart 'em up and away we'd go. Also we'd keep our turntables sped up around 1-3% tops...used to make our competitors songs sounds tired and boring....those were fun days....gosh I miss 'em!!!

On that subject I have noticed something else interesting about KMCQ; they've played We Built This City a few times and the version I guess that they have does not include the DJ rap in the middle of the song; just thought that was interesting. By the way(since JJ is in radio he may find this interesting), I am in my mid twenties and love listening to 60's, 70's and even 80's music; I know it's been mentioned on these boards a few times about what younger radio listeners listen to and that's mostly what I like, so young listeners to radio don't always like rap and current top 40 music for the most part(although I guess I’m in the minority). And while I don't have much radio experience(actually none), if I was put in charge of a radio station I would run it like a radio station should be run: good music, regular news, sports and weather reports(probably news every half hour in the mornings and at 5 PM, weather and sports the same way); plus I would cover local high school sports, I would do remotes at community events and businesses, I would have lots of contests and promotions, basically my station would be on the level of something that you would find in small towns in many places around the country; I know that’s not quite what the topic of this thread is but I thought I would share that.

 

[Lonely Summer]

Live albums were big in the 70's, and no one had more success with the format than Frampton, what made him stand out was the lack of success before "Frampton Comes Alive" became a megahit. Most successful live albums were by already successful bands or artists. The only non-live songs of his I ever hear on the radio are I'm In You and his cover of Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

 

[TowerLamp]

It's all very amusing, and reminds me of a few stations I put on the air over the past several years.

The first one, we stuck random CDs, including all genres, into a 200 disc changer, with a short ID over the music at the top of each hour. Within days, we were building a small base of early adopters that were then later upset when we actually put a format on the air.

In the second case, we first ran bird chirping for a few weeks, and had people asking about which birds they were. We then loaded our country music library, turned on the automation, and let it randomize the music. Same story, we had early adopters, PLUS, our local competition was busy trying to figure out the "formula".

For my newest station, Classic Rock, we decided NOT to promote it in any way, because the signal is not yet where it needs to be. Nonetheless, we have numerous early adopters, they're finding it and making it their own. And my local competition has reacted to it by changing THEIR play list. My guess is they're writing down song names and working on that formula again.

I would guess that First Broadcasting is finding the KMCQ chatter humorous also.

Bill, Note that how the discussion kept right on going as if you'd never posted. I've been chuckling for quite a while at all the comments regarding KMCQ's processing, rotation, playlist, DJ's, etc. Gimme a break. It's a damn laptop playing oldies. There is no format here. It's a transmitter with a "For Sale" sign hanging out front till someone bites. Wish someone with deep pockets would buy the sucker and stop the insanity!

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

just for s%%ts and giggles....does anyone know what the current legitimate ASKING price is for this thing? There has been speculation, but wonder if the ask has been posted anywhere for brokers as a starting point?

 

[GS]

They do occasionally, but they cover a wide spectrum of 60s and 70s material, including some that KBSG and even the old KVI didn't play. But I prefer BOOM FM's mix, 96.5 HD-2.

 

[mightymoose]

Towerlamp's right, it's just a damned computer picking out songs from a huge database while a FOR SALE sign hangs on a door in Enumclaw...or somewhere nearby. There is NO format. Mark Christopher was on noon-6 for about 6 weeks as an experiment (and it was a good one). I think Mark posted something on his Facebook page about it being an experiment and that the facility he had to work with was not...oh how shall we say it...put together at TOYS-R-US.

Bill, I too was amused at your stories about radio start-ups that most everyone simply sailed right over. It had me laughing.

 

[Mediaace]

One Peter Frampton studio hit I well remember in 1979 played on both CHR and AOR was "I Can't Stand it No More". Speaking of successful LIVE versions, how about "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick?

Sometimes record company vault lackies will grab the wrong take off a reel when prepping material for a greatest hits disc. A worse example is the remastered ZZ TOP CD "Eliminator". The track "Legs" is the SINGLE version and NOT the album version. Great for CHR, bad for AOR.

TM Century accidently mastered a re-recording of "Kiss You All Over" by Exile on Gold Disc 423. They have since re-issued this disc.

Live albums were big in the 70's, and no one had more success with the format than Frampton, what made him stand out was the lack of success before "Frampton Comes Alive" became a megahit. Most successful live albums were by already successful bands or artists. The only non-live songs of his I ever hear on the radio are I'm In You and his cover of Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

 

[mightymoose]

Sadly iTunes is not above selling remakes of songs. I just don't think they have anyone on staff who's old enough to know it.

 

[SRP]

Sadly iTunes is not above selling remakes of songs. I just don't think they have anyone on staff who's old enough to know it.

Wrongo, bud. It's an issue of rights to the original recordings. Some companies are very willing to offer them up while others aren't so cooperative. And sometimes artists do what they have to to keep their songs in the public eye.

One big problem for years was getting original Cameo-Parkway recordings to be released on CD (e.g. Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Orlons, etc.). So artists re-recorded those hits and those came out on various compilations. Finally, a few years ago the rightsholder finally caved in and allowed the originals to be released.