"When I was young I'd listen to the radio, waiting for my favorite song ...."
Can anyone else relate?
There exists a snapshot in my head --
Sitting cross-legged in front of my folk's console radio. Finger poised above my brand-new cassette recorder, anxiously waiting to hear the Cascades' opening sound effects: "Listen to the Music of the Falling Rain."
I recently learned of the demise of that little station with a bit of surprise (that) it had even existed so long.
Sad? Not so much.
No, my heart belonged to another.
KOMA
... an Oklahoma City super-station with a strong signal that played all the latest hits. The soundtrack to my teen years.
After dark, that is. I don't believe they were allowed to broadcast that strong during the day. Quoting from their website: Often teens in New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and other western states would eagerly await sunset when the mighty 1520 would come booming through with the newest hits of the day. They would sit in their cars on hilltops, turn it up at parties, or fall asleep with the radio next to their beds as they listened to Chuck Berry, the Supremes, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and the Beatles. Soldiers in Viet Nam even reported tuning in KOMA to give them a little feeling of being back home.
I can visualize g'daughters' incredulous faces, hear their giggles.
Oh well. The power was real.
* * *
It doesn't seem that long ago, I was similarly infatuated by a station in Phoenix that played an eclectic mix. Everything from Nat King Cole ..... to Jagger ... Pat Boone ... to Soul City Symphony ("Do the Hustle!")
Then without warning, Corporate suits pulled the plug on that little station. Myself and most of Sun City residents (*smile*) were heartbroken.
Imagine my surprise when their former morning host -- a Facebook acquaintance -- announced he has a new gig.
I sent "Congratulations! Wish I could listen, but ..."
Danny responded, "Just ask Alexa: Play the WOW Factor 95.1 in Phoenix, AZ."
I did, and before you know it, I was doing a poorly-choreographed routine to the Stones, "Get off-a my cloud!"
(It wasn't pretty. But ask me if I care. LOL)
Who plays the music of your life?
Hugs, Myra
I am currently listening to the radio station here that plays Christmas Songs. They started before Thanksgiving and are certainly helping to make my days brighter. Christmas music always makes me happy and I am thankful for my radio.
ReplyDeleteI've not begun to play Christmas music because I don't want to grow tired of it. But now that you mention it ...
DeleteHA! I deserved the other morning while waiting for the ca to warm and de-ice that we have free Sirus radio--so I found the old time Christmas music--LOVING IT. Its a short drive to my employer, but at least I get in 1 song, smiles. I also found and bought old records from the 1940's of Christmas music, of course, I can't have my record player until Christmas. So says the boss, LOLOL.
ReplyDeleteFree Sirius radio ... lucky duck! If I didn't know better, I'd say your boss is a meanie. Ha!
DeleteHA! I'll tell him that, LOLOLOL.--- He can't stand 24-7 Christmas music. He says, "How many different ways can one hear I'll be Home for Christmas?" LOLOL
DeleteSirus is free for everyone until Jan.1. smiles
geesh, look at all those mistakes, you will need a copy right person to read it, LOLOLOL.
ReplyDeleteNaw, I know what you meant. :)
DeleteNow you are in Sherry's area. 'Oh her music was so soothing!' ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat I remember was the blow torch of XERF in Mexico, just across from Del Rio. At night they reached the EAst coast with their signal every night. I listened to music back then in the 50s.
We enjoyed the visit,
Sherry & jack
Leesburg
Isn't that neat? I used to be amazed how the sound carried so far. And only after dark! I still don't pretend to understand it, but still .....
DeleteI forgot we are on vacation, Sherry & jack near Inverness/Wildwood. LOL
ReplyDeleteHahaha ... it's all good!
DeleteWaiting for the songs to come on with our cassette recorders, those were the days! Now I want to see you doing a choreographed routine to the Stones, "Get off-a my cloud!" Maybe I'll even do it with you lol!
ReplyDeleteLet's have some wine and give it a go! HA.
DeleteWhen I was kid we listened to 96KX for pop and WDVE for rock. WDVE was a pioneering station in the modern rock format. The first to have the morning shock jocks...though they were pretty darn tame by today's standards. When I'd stay with my grandparents in the summer I loved that after dark I could listen to a big station from NYC and hear Wolfman Jack live.
ReplyDeleteWow. But we were so sheltered, I didn't realize Wolfman Jack was real until American Graffiti was released!
DeleteIf I'm listening at work it's usually Pandora. Who am I kidding, that is about the only time I listen to music. lol
ReplyDeleteI used to do the same thing. Who has time anymore?
DeleteOh I do wish you were on my radio show all those years ago. The music you mention is what I used to play - Carpenters, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sinatra, Nat King Cole - but also Glenn Miller, Waylon Jennings, Tom T Hall as well as Mozart and the other Classics.
ReplyDeleteYou would have helped prepare a good selection of music. Some of my programs lasted three hours. I also did an all-night show 0 10.00pm to 7:00am.
God bless.
You're too kind, my friend. But how I'd have enjoyed listening. Were you able, then, to build your own playlists?
DeleteYes I did; depending on the nature or flavour of the program - e.g. Country music, Christian Programs like the ones I feature on my Blog, easy listening music etc ...
DeleteGod bless always.
Gosh, that's so neat. I haven't really listened much to the radio since I retired. Before then I would listen to a wonderful Christian radio station (The Joy Fm) all the way of my 45 min. ride to and from work. IT kept me going strong. Now I am rarely in the car long enough to listen to the radio, and I just don't think about it here at home...too much other noise going on. But I love to hear the oldies now and then. Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end...
ReplyDelete... we'd sing and dance forever and a day! One of my favorites; in fact, my phone's playing it right now.
DeleteI love this post, Myra! It brings back memories of my 7-Transister radio, laying in the sun in our backyard, listening to WCOL (a Columbus, OH, AM station that played all the hits). Wow. How cool that you can hear your friend on the radio again! I need to ask Alexa to play that! xo
ReplyDeleteTransistor radios ... yes! Gotta say, it's a kick listening to the traffic reports.
DeleteThat is cool that you can still hear a favorite from here there where you live now!! I get my music through Pandora these days. Have several different stations set up on it based on what I want to hear at a particular time :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Mostly I stream music through Alexa. So neat we've SO many options!
DeleteI don't listen to music much at all any more...except for the happy little songs that play in my head. It works for me. 🙂
ReplyDeleteHappy little songs are always in style! :)
DeleteI sure can relate to those days of radio listening, waiting with baited breath for my favorite song to come on, Myra. What a cool story about the powerful station you could pick up at night! I'm not one to listen to much music these days, but Danny and I will listen to an oldies mix when we are playing backgammon in the evening.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I don't listen so much, either. And if something/someone comes to mind I can always ask Alexa to play it.
DeleteHi Myra:
ReplyDeleteI love "Listen to the Music of the Falling rain".
I also listen to Christmas music through the Christmas season and watch Hallmark Christmas movies.
Have a good day.
Thanks, Gloria! You do the same!
DeleteOh Myra, I can relate to this post so much! I remember several radio stations from my preteen and teen years! I loved the little country hometown radio station that had a "swap & shop" program every Saturday morning. People would call in with things they had to sell or give away. Then there was the station in Shreveport, LA that played the latest hits of the '70s. It was downright scandalous for the time! LoL If only music was that clean and innocent, these days! Yes, radio was the best in the old days! I, too, sat for what seemed like hours, trying to capture my favorite songs on cassette! So long ago! Too bad people don't know what they missed!
ReplyDeleteGrace & Peace,
Pam
I'd totally forgotten those 'swap and shop'-type programs. :) My grandparents used to listen to that and the farm report.
Deletei love this post. i'm with you about the music. it's the lifeblood of our lives. it lifts me up. my feet start a tapping and my not so great voice sings along envigorating my senses. i'm so glad you were able to reconnect with a station that plays your favorites. alexa definitely adds a new twist to radio listening.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right! I like your phrase, "lifeblood of our lives."
DeleteWhatever happened
ReplyDeleteTo Tuesday and so slow?
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Slipping and sliding
All along the waterfall, with you
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
I always wanted brown eyes when I listened to this song! Nick hates it! We have trapped him in the car, our three girls and me singing at the top of our lungs. My friend Karen and I would ride our bikes, transistor radios dangling from the handlebars and play our music. I love music and I listen every day. Memories HUGS & LOVE