It’s funny, I’ve always heard more CCR on classic rock stations than oldies, and that’s starting in the mid-80s to today. I might just be a New York thing. And I can’t wait to listen to this playlist—and for your patio opus.
There's a station based in Chicago that's branded as MeTV-FM (and now simulcast/syndicated to other towns/cities) that plays mostly 1960s and early 1970s AM-radio hits, many of which are "new" to me. I'm wondering if the relative disappearance of this format is due to both the folks remembering the songs getting older and the relative lack of folks who know how to program it for the same reason. Even the streaming stations/digital services are lacking, though playlists from Little Steven's Underground Garage fill in a good chunk of the gap for me.
Also, echoing Steve Reynolds' comment -- in Chicago, CCR is claimed by classic rock and classic rock-adjacent stations -- they're played frequently on XRT and the Drive, and used to be played on the Loop back in its glory days.
Out in Stillwater. I’ve been proselytizing WDGY for years now. I swear it sounds “better” on the AM dial as opposed to the 103.7 FM option. Especially while driving around … like those songs were meant to be heard.
My dad worked at a radio station out of Galesburg, IL called WAIK-1590 and it was this very format. If memory serves me, he was there from around 1985-1988. But it was the EXACT format you’re referring too. He’d try to push the envelope a little bit with a Zeppelin tune here and there, but you’d be more likely to hear Paul Revere and the Raiders and Strawberry Alarm Clock. The funny thing about that station was they also had a Big Band show on a midday as well. But when you think about it, the ‘40s back then were equivalent distance-wise to the ‘80s today, so it’s not really that outlandish. But you’re so right. Time felt inordinately different back then. Thanks for the playlist!
Pardon me for replying to myself on an old post of yours, but this piece lit up my brain! I’m also remembering a syndicated radio show of the era called Solid Gold Saturday Night where people could call in to the request line (which was, I believe, 1-800-634-5789…an homage to the Wilson Pickett song) to hear their favorite Solid Gold Hits. I’d usually be in the backseat of my family’s car, coming back from, or heading out on a road trip and this was just part of the soundtrack. It all just seemed so perfect. Thanks again!
I think it really shows the staying power of the classic rock branding that (some of) the kids I teach in high school still connect with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc... but everything before that is ancient history. I think the biggest difference between oldies and classic rock is albums vs singles (which you point out in your classic rock book) and it's also interesting that in an age where music is consumed through single songs on a streaming playlists the bands that focused on albums are still more remembered. I wonder if when most of the boomers are gone that will start to finally fade. It really is a long tail for a phenomenon of pop culture.
I grew up in the '70s during the last gasp of the Top 40 AM era, and I was too young in the '60s when it was full of great DJs and fast patter. For a sampling, though, Dave Hoeffel does a weekly '60s Top 40 countdown on SiriusXM for a particular week from 1960-69. Talk about deep cuts!
I know you gotta pay for it, but the 60s channel on Sirius is a perfect throwback to an oldies station and always on in my car. I’m glad I got to expose my son to it
I’m a late millennial, and I remember the only music my gym teacher in elementary school played was Kool 105, which currently plays only 80s hits and used to actually play the oldies. And it’s so weird, because there was an 80s station in the 90s, too? And it’s still around, but now plays both the 80s and 80s adjacent new pop songs
For Apple users:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hyden-wold-yr-good-times-great-oldies-station/pl.u-LdbzgR3FK15aX
Thank you! Was just about to make this myself but you saved me!
Enjoying the renewed posting on Substack! Keep it up.
It’s funny, I’ve always heard more CCR on classic rock stations than oldies, and that’s starting in the mid-80s to today. I might just be a New York thing. And I can’t wait to listen to this playlist—and for your patio opus.
There's a station based in Chicago that's branded as MeTV-FM (and now simulcast/syndicated to other towns/cities) that plays mostly 1960s and early 1970s AM-radio hits, many of which are "new" to me. I'm wondering if the relative disappearance of this format is due to both the folks remembering the songs getting older and the relative lack of folks who know how to program it for the same reason. Even the streaming stations/digital services are lacking, though playlists from Little Steven's Underground Garage fill in a good chunk of the gap for me.
Also, echoing Steve Reynolds' comment -- in Chicago, CCR is claimed by classic rock and classic rock-adjacent stations -- they're played frequently on XRT and the Drive, and used to be played on the Loop back in its glory days.
Out in Stillwater. I’ve been proselytizing WDGY for years now. I swear it sounds “better” on the AM dial as opposed to the 103.7 FM option. Especially while driving around … like those songs were meant to be heard.
My dad worked at a radio station out of Galesburg, IL called WAIK-1590 and it was this very format. If memory serves me, he was there from around 1985-1988. But it was the EXACT format you’re referring too. He’d try to push the envelope a little bit with a Zeppelin tune here and there, but you’d be more likely to hear Paul Revere and the Raiders and Strawberry Alarm Clock. The funny thing about that station was they also had a Big Band show on a midday as well. But when you think about it, the ‘40s back then were equivalent distance-wise to the ‘80s today, so it’s not really that outlandish. But you’re so right. Time felt inordinately different back then. Thanks for the playlist!
Pardon me for replying to myself on an old post of yours, but this piece lit up my brain! I’m also remembering a syndicated radio show of the era called Solid Gold Saturday Night where people could call in to the request line (which was, I believe, 1-800-634-5789…an homage to the Wilson Pickett song) to hear their favorite Solid Gold Hits. I’d usually be in the backseat of my family’s car, coming back from, or heading out on a road trip and this was just part of the soundtrack. It all just seemed so perfect. Thanks again!
gotta love "Vehicle". my middle school ska band included it in our repertoire, partially in deference to local rocker Jim Peterik.
Late Gen-Xer here, and this playlist replicates my hometown's oldies station from the 1990s so well it's scary (San Bernardino's KOLA 99.9).
I think it really shows the staying power of the classic rock branding that (some of) the kids I teach in high school still connect with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc... but everything before that is ancient history. I think the biggest difference between oldies and classic rock is albums vs singles (which you point out in your classic rock book) and it's also interesting that in an age where music is consumed through single songs on a streaming playlists the bands that focused on albums are still more remembered. I wonder if when most of the boomers are gone that will start to finally fade. It really is a long tail for a phenomenon of pop culture.
I grew up in the '70s during the last gasp of the Top 40 AM era, and I was too young in the '60s when it was full of great DJs and fast patter. For a sampling, though, Dave Hoeffel does a weekly '60s Top 40 countdown on SiriusXM for a particular week from 1960-69. Talk about deep cuts!
I know you gotta pay for it, but the 60s channel on Sirius is a perfect throwback to an oldies station and always on in my car. I’m glad I got to expose my son to it
I’m a late millennial, and I remember the only music my gym teacher in elementary school played was Kool 105, which currently plays only 80s hits and used to actually play the oldies. And it’s so weird, because there was an 80s station in the 90s, too? And it’s still around, but now plays both the 80s and 80s adjacent new pop songs