Today in 1969:
American Motors Corporation offered it’s “Rambler” at an entry level price of $1998.00 in a full page newspaper ad on this date in 1969. The company was was formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history. It went on to compete with the US Big Three with the Rambler American, Hornet, Gremlin and Pacer; muscle cars including the Marlin, AMX and Javelin; and early four-wheel-drive variants of the Eagle, the first true crossover. The company was known as “a small company deft enough to exploit special market segments left untended by the giants”, and was widely known for the design work of chief stylist, Dick Teague, who “had to make do with a much tighter budget than his counterparts at Detroit’s Big Three” but “had a knack for making the most of his employer’s investment”. Renault acquired a major interest in AMC in 1979—and the company was ultimately acquired by Chrysler. At its 1987 demise, The New York Times said AMC was “never a company with the power or the cost structure to compete confidently at home or abroad. (Wikipedia)
The DJ’s Love Affair With Radio
Those of us who practiced the art will tell you that radio is an “addiction”. In the golden age of Top 40, there was the instant ego gratification of Hit Line adoration, recognition in grocery store checkout lines and the ability to turn someone’s day around with a single song and a few kind words. On the flip side, we learned self sufficiency. It’s a world notable for job insecurity, volcanic tempers and owners who might flip formats and broom a staff without notice. The bottom line is that radio is a business. Our value as practitioners was directly connected to our ability to generate value for the company, no different than any commercial entity. But the romanticism of the work is something that stays with you, long after many have moved on to other professions. The buddhists say, “Attachment is the root of all suffering.” But oh, was it worth it!
Today, Fred Jacobs shared some short stories by notable broadcasters, who tell how they first fell in love with radio. Note the impact that Keener’s Bob Green had on two of them you may know.
Quick Takes:
Program Note: The Elvis All-Star Tribute, will air Sunday night on NBC. Taped in October, the two-hour program will mark 50 years since Presley’s historic ’68 Comeback Special. John Fogerty, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Lisa Marie Presley are among the luminary participants. More from Rolling Stone. Via Bob Berry.
The unsurprising Valentine Fact of the Day: A recently released Stanford study says more and more of us are meeting our lovers online.
Newsweek’s list of 40 romantic flicks for Valentine’s Day. How many have you seen?
Here’s a name from the past that you’ may forgotten. The NYT reports that Lyndon LaRouche, the cult Figure who ran for president 8 times, Died Tuesday at 96.
This Day In History:
1970, The Who appeared at Leeds University, England. The show was recorded for the bands forthcoming ‘Live At Leeds‘ album. Since its initial reception, Live at Leeds has been cited by several music critics as the best live rock recording of all time.
1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono started a week long run as co-hosts on ‘Mike Douglas‘ US TV show.
1992, The film ‘Wayne’s World‘, which featured appearances from Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper premiered in the US. The use of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the film propelled the song to No.2 on the US singles charts nearly 20 years after its first release.
Happy Birthday to: Hugh Downs, 1921; Murray “the K” Kaufman, 1922 (d. 1982); Vic Morrow, 1929 (d. 1982); Florence Henderson, 1934 (d. 2016); Carl Bernstein, 1944; Gregory Hines, 1945 (d. 2003); Tim Buckley, 1947 (d. 1975); Teller, 1948; Rob Thomas, 1972
Much More Music:
1968, Manfred Mann were in the top 10 with their version of the Bob Dylan song ‘The Mighty Quinn’. Dylan recorded the song in 1967 during the Basement Tapes sessions, but did not release a version for another three years. (Video)
1977, Janis Ian receives 461 Valentine’s day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her song ‘At Seventeen’, she had never received any. (Video)
Today’s Quote Worth Re-Quoting: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~Lao Tzu
We leave you with a memorable winter love song from the 1978 Film Ice Castles. Ironically, when we were playing the hits back when the movie was popular with our teenage audience, this Melissa Manchester classic was never promoted by her record company. Arista President, Clive Davis, in a rare misstep, waited a year before releasing the tune as a single, the follow up to “Midnight Blue”. By then the film’s glow had dimmed and the record barely charted in the Hot 100. May you be surrounded by love and affirmation this Valentine’s Day. As the Beatles said, “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” (Video)
