Thursday, June 23, 2005
Flashback Thursday
I have an addictive personality. So, when I find a website that I enjoy reading, I have a tendency to go back and re-read it day after day.
Take this site for example. I found this compilation of KROQ Top 106.7 Year-End Countdowns when I was working on a project regarding The Tipping Point (please read this book if you have not already done so, it's fascinating), dance music and car commercials. The lists helped me track the decline of dance music on commercial radio playlists. More than that, though, it helped me track the decline of the station that was central to my development as a music geek.
I already wrote about my relationship with KROQ for Razorcake, so if you want something more in-depth, go pick up issue #25. This time around, I would like to point out some odd tidbits about the world famous station.
1. The fact that KROQ used to play the Rolling Stones (see charts from 1981 and 1982) and Phil Collins (1985) is just odd, particularly since the station was also playing stuff like Barbie and the Kens at that time. I'm too young to remember that, although, for some reason, I do remember hearing Prince.
2. In 1981, the station's number one song was "Mental Hopscotch" from Missing Persons. Who could have guessed that?
3. The Holy Trinity of Los Angeles (via the UK) is intact in 1987 where the top three songs are brought to us by The Cure, The Smiths and Depeche Mode.
4. The big "flashbacks" that you hear on KROQ during non-theme hours generally include Beastie Boys and "Anything Anything" from Dramarama. In 1987, Beastie Boys were #51 on the chart. Dramarama was #95. When was the last time you heard The Cure, The Smiths or Depeche Mode outside of the Flashback Lunch?
5. KROQ has championed Metallica for more than ten years now, but look at the playlists and you'll see that they didn't really play the band until the Black Album, which is when the band already sucked! I know you all probably realize that, but I have to point it out over and over again because I really hate Metallica.
If you decide that you want to follow the links, post anything interesting in the comments section.
Take this site for example. I found this compilation of KROQ Top 106.7 Year-End Countdowns when I was working on a project regarding The Tipping Point (please read this book if you have not already done so, it's fascinating), dance music and car commercials. The lists helped me track the decline of dance music on commercial radio playlists. More than that, though, it helped me track the decline of the station that was central to my development as a music geek.
I already wrote about my relationship with KROQ for Razorcake, so if you want something more in-depth, go pick up issue #25. This time around, I would like to point out some odd tidbits about the world famous station.
1. The fact that KROQ used to play the Rolling Stones (see charts from 1981 and 1982) and Phil Collins (1985) is just odd, particularly since the station was also playing stuff like Barbie and the Kens at that time. I'm too young to remember that, although, for some reason, I do remember hearing Prince.
2. In 1981, the station's number one song was "Mental Hopscotch" from Missing Persons. Who could have guessed that?
3. The Holy Trinity of Los Angeles (via the UK) is intact in 1987 where the top three songs are brought to us by The Cure, The Smiths and Depeche Mode.
4. The big "flashbacks" that you hear on KROQ during non-theme hours generally include Beastie Boys and "Anything Anything" from Dramarama. In 1987, Beastie Boys were #51 on the chart. Dramarama was #95. When was the last time you heard The Cure, The Smiths or Depeche Mode outside of the Flashback Lunch?
5. KROQ has championed Metallica for more than ten years now, but look at the playlists and you'll see that they didn't really play the band until the Black Album, which is when the band already sucked! I know you all probably realize that, but I have to point it out over and over again because I really hate Metallica.
If you decide that you want to follow the links, post anything interesting in the comments section.
Comments:
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you know, for some reason everyone I know keeps mentioning dramarama to me lately. I have absolutely no. freakin'. idea. who. that. is. I'm not playing. my childhood vow to not listen to commercial radio ever again obviously paid off.
Dramarama has one song called "Anything Anything" but you would most likely know it if you heard it. Kinda rock-song but very danceable with these lyrics:
I'll give you candy, give you diamonds, give you pills
I'll give you anything you want-- hundred dollar bills!
I'll even let you watch the shows you want to see
Just marry me, marry me, marry me!!!
That's close enough. If you still don't know it you've been living under a rock. Not all over commercial radio nowadays but always played around three-quarters into the night (12-12:30) at any LA 80s club.
I'll give you candy, give you diamonds, give you pills
I'll give you anything you want-- hundred dollar bills!
I'll even let you watch the shows you want to see
Just marry me, marry me, marry me!!!
That's close enough. If you still don't know it you've been living under a rock. Not all over commercial radio nowadays but always played around three-quarters into the night (12-12:30) at any LA 80s club.
right. people have sung it to me. I don't know this song & have never heard it. & it's having a zeitgeist resurgence! I wonder why? is it featured in an ad or something?
PS the rock's called manhattan. easy to hide out from culture there.
PS the rock's called manhattan. easy to hide out from culture there.
Dramarama, I think, was for some reason bigger in LA than most places. Kind of like a hell of a lot of other bands.
I see. I have family in New York and they haven't heard of Dramarama either. If you're interested, here's a link to download the song in question.
And Liz, who are Flash & the Pan?
And Liz, who are Flash & the Pan?
They had a minor hit called "Hey St. Peter" in the 1980s. I say minor hit because it's on one of Richard Blade's Flashback Favorite compilations, but I can't remember ever hearing it on the radio. The song that I played is a million times more awesome. I only found out about it, though, because of Brinkley, who was a regular when I was doing Transmission.
My friend use to watch Nightmare on Elm Street 4 to hear "Anything, Anything" which was played during the martial arts scene. I got my oil changed the other day and the mechanics were listening to it, adding "fucking" were it'd work
BTW, Dramarama has been playing clubs out in the Inland Empire. I'm sure people go wanting to hear that damn song.
BTW, Dramarama has been playing clubs out in the Inland Empire. I'm sure people go wanting to hear that damn song.
Have you tried calling the club? I didn't see anything when we left last night. However, nobody is there during the day, so if you stop by when it opens at 7 or call the club when it opens (the number is at www.parlourclub.com), I'm sure someone will be able to help you.
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