Often these people, taken with the period, ask me about having been in radio during those years. You know -- "Gee did you really get to play the Beatles when they were putting out new music." Anyone from radio will have many stories of odd events and weird experiences from working in broadcasting in that Flower Power era. I recall the time Three Dog Night refused to "go on" because the promoter spent the money and could not pay them pre-concert, or the time Alice Cooper, after working himself into a frenzy during the interview, exited by jumping out the hotel window -- very weird. Also, radio stations promoting dances, trying to bring in a band with one big hit, had to be very careful. Lots of groups were out there, named/disguised as the one hit wonders, when they were not. They could not even play that one hit the band's name was associated with.
A few months back, my wife and I were having dinner with a friend, a thirty something. He loves music and was asking me the typical curious questions. We were talking history and he wanted to know what songs I had played on the air. I would have expected him to be asking about the definitive tunes of the 60's that changed the course of pop music. I expected him to ask me about this one, or at least about this band?
Or, on second thought, maybe he liked his rock n' roll with more of a rebellious edge. Asking about this one would not have surprised me either.
But he had other ideas, as far as exciting music. The song he really wanted to know about: had I played it? do I remember when it came out? do I remember the group? all ended up focused on one song -- the one below.
Okay, the guy has some moves there. I had played Dennis Yost and the Classics Four but, in my book, they were the "also rans." Spooky is about one step above Yummy, Yummy, Yummy I Got Love In My Tummy. I played that too, by the way, but I was partial to the followup Chewy Chewy. Regardless, the fact I had played Spooky, really impressed this 30 something guy.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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