[ Originally Posted at the Freeform Radio Forum: 23 Apr 2005
Post subject: A List (T's Recommendations) ]
Today I was thinking about Ashford's discography from the link that Malcolm provided a few months ago. I decided to share my list. This is a relatively short one composed of those artists that I think are consistently good, from early in their careers until present (if alive).
SRV
Emmylou
Los Lobos (except for "This Time")
Steve Earle
Haggard (especially in the early 80s, "The Way I Am" and "Big City")
Pearl Jam
Alan Jackson
Vern Gosdin
Dwight Yoakum
Rolling Stones
John Hiatt
- T
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Changed my mind about the Stones; I haven't bought a recording of theirs since "Goat's Head Soup" except to replace earlier vinyl with CDs. Same reason Dylan's not on the list. - T
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Mott The Hoople
NPR's got a short audio retrospective on Mott The Hoople at:
NPR : Mott The Hoople
(Mott The Hoople - first album, 1969)
NPR : Mott The Hoople
(Mott The Hoople - first album, 1969)
Friday, August 19, 2005
Firesign Theatre
[ Originally Posted: 12 Apr 2005 at the Freeform Radio Forum
Post subject: Firesign Theatre ]
The Firesign Theatre has all of their stuff up on the Net for sale. The fun part about their website (aside from seeing all the albums I missed), is sampling their clips.
The website is at: FIRESIGN THEATRE
FT clips are at: FT Audio
(my favorite FT album of all time... I'm also a big fan of Nick Danger!)
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Malcolm, is that the one with "your first three words in Turkish" on it?
Let's see...
"He's gonna be OK folks and ready to play.. BE-E-E-AT TH-E-E REA-AP-P-PER!!"
"That's a mount"
"No, it's a butte"
"And right purdy too"
"OK folks. fun's over. Back in the bus"
I suppose it wouldn't be as funny if I heard it all again. I kind of like the snippets I remember and the feeling they give me. T
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Hey, T ~
Call me weird, but I still like to listen to FT. Yeah, the snippets are still easily digestible. But, once or twice a year I will relisten to one of the FT albums (now CD) that I have and still get a kick out of it. Some things are dated, but their work now has an added dimension of time. They take me back to those days when we interwove Firesign Theatre comedy into our freeform shows.
Try it out. Especially their earlier work (pre-1976). Not to say that they haven't continued to be good. I'm just not as familiar with their stuff past 1976, so I can't recommend it. Going to their web page, I see that most of their recorded work I have yet to listen to! I hope to do that at some point... - MALCOLM
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OK Malcolm, I'll give 'em another listen. I use, "OK folks, fun's over; back in the bus." Nobody has ever recognized it as a line from FT (or at least hasn't said so. I could probably glean another phrase or two. T
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I found myself doing the same kinda thing the other day. Someone was saying:
"Who's responsible?!"
And I found myself in automatic response saying:
"Communist Martyr's High School, that's who."
Of course, of course... NO ONE knew what I was talking about... - MALCOLM
Post subject: Firesign Theatre ]
The Firesign Theatre has all of their stuff up on the Net for sale. The fun part about their website (aside from seeing all the albums I missed), is sampling their clips.
The website is at: FIRESIGN THEATRE
FT clips are at: FT Audio
(my favorite FT album of all time... I'm also a big fan of Nick Danger!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Malcolm, is that the one with "your first three words in Turkish" on it?
Let's see...
"He's gonna be OK folks and ready to play.. BE-E-E-AT TH-E-E REA-AP-P-PER!!"
"That's a mount"
"No, it's a butte"
"And right purdy too"
"OK folks. fun's over. Back in the bus"
I suppose it wouldn't be as funny if I heard it all again. I kind of like the snippets I remember and the feeling they give me. T
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, T ~
Call me weird, but I still like to listen to FT. Yeah, the snippets are still easily digestible. But, once or twice a year I will relisten to one of the FT albums (now CD) that I have and still get a kick out of it. Some things are dated, but their work now has an added dimension of time. They take me back to those days when we interwove Firesign Theatre comedy into our freeform shows.
Try it out. Especially their earlier work (pre-1976). Not to say that they haven't continued to be good. I'm just not as familiar with their stuff past 1976, so I can't recommend it. Going to their web page, I see that most of their recorded work I have yet to listen to! I hope to do that at some point... - MALCOLM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OK Malcolm, I'll give 'em another listen. I use, "OK folks, fun's over; back in the bus." Nobody has ever recognized it as a line from FT (or at least hasn't said so. I could probably glean another phrase or two. T
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I found myself doing the same kinda thing the other day. Someone was saying:
"Who's responsible?!"
And I found myself in automatic response saying:
"Communist Martyr's High School, that's who."
Of course, of course... NO ONE knew what I was talking about... - MALCOLM
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Public Radio Tool
[ Originally Posted at the Freeform Radio Forum: 08 Apr 2005
Post subject: PublicRadioFan.com ]
Freeform still exists in scattered pockets... In the U.S., you can find freeform shows mostly on non-commercial FM stations. A good tool to use to scour public radio is PublicRadioFan.com at:
http://www.publicradiofan.com/
Post subject: PublicRadioFan.com ]
Freeform still exists in scattered pockets... In the U.S., you can find freeform shows mostly on non-commercial FM stations. A good tool to use to scour public radio is PublicRadioFan.com at:
http://www.publicradiofan.com/
Monday, August 15, 2005
KFML Stones Dinner 1972
[ continuation of an original posting "Remembering KFML" at the Freeform Radio Forum, early 2005 ]
There were lots of ground breaking performances in Denver/Boulder, but I have a feeling you have forgotten some of the amazing things that happened at Mammoth Gardens. Also, Malcolm, where is the "recollection" you were going to share? - Bill
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Well, Bill, I never thought this day would come, but here it is. It is an opportunity to get an answer to a question I've always wondered about:
I was one of the part-timers who programmed the station while you guys were out eating with the Stones and then going to concert somewhere in the Spring/Summer of 1972.
One of the other part-timers came in to relieve me. I forget his name(Rick?). I remember he wore a western cut denim shirt with pearl snaps and had a Quicksilver patch sewn in on the yoke of the shirt, inback of the neck. I liked the look of that set-up so much, I did the same thing later on. I still wear denim shirts (no western cut in Santa Barbara, unfortunately) once or twice a week on average. I love the feel.
Anyway, he comes in and says he made it over to the dinner and was talking down about you guys arranging to have dinner with the Stones and then not eating at the same table. I always wondered about that. First of all, the bad-mouthing, then whether or not it was true or just what he thought he saw.
Now at long last I get the answer. Is that the dinner you were referring to above, that was on the lawn? What was it that that the other part-timer saw?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(we exchanged some private emails about it, then...)
OK, here's the deal, probably a bit less vitriolic than yesterday, you know how adrenilin goes. I have little recall of your misguided misinformant. My experience is that most grousing and griping comes from jealous souls who feel left out of things, always at the hands of others. Meanwhile, what they're afraid of is that we see through that to the feelings of personal worthlessness that they secretly harbor.
Now, we did not "arrange" to get ourselves to that party. Our attendance was requested because folks generally liked having us in the mix, because interesting things generally happened when we were around. I don't know why, but they just did. The only time I ever had to beg for anything as when I was sent to ask/beg, whatever, 50 tickets to the Denver Pop Festival. What a trip that was, then I got the tickets. Remember that. Our prescence was asked for.
We sat at different tables in order to spread and absorb the energy going around. Thom and I sat with Charlie, I think, then Bill joined us. After a while, we were all wandering around the house and the yard anyway. Maybe he didn't sit with any of us, because nobody wanted to.
It was just one of many great days and nights that we participated in thru the years. Don't always take the negative for truth. Put the little S-head in touch with me if he needs to be straightened out, or hurt him worse by simply ignoring him.
I'm sure I had more to say. I'll pass it along when it recycles.
Bill
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, sorry you lost the original vitriol ... What you say about grousing and griping coming from jealousy is right on. Here's a few more details/observations from my perspective:
I wish I could remember the guy's name. I remember him as a good guy. Matter of fact, I can't remember anyone at KFML that I didn't like or at least respect, except for maybe McGoey. But, as years passed, I got to understand where he was coming from, too.
As part-timers, we were always jealous of you guys who had the consistent gigs and the glory. So, I'm sure a lot of that was coming through that night. For my part, I felt I had my jealousy under control, though. For instance, I wasn't bummed that I missed a dinner with the Stones. I was just happy to be freeforming at prime time!
In defense of the guy whose name I can't recall (he was a part-timer like me and, I believe, rising up in the ranks at the time [spring/summer 1972]), he may have been negative about the dinner knowing I was somewhat of a persona non grata at that point. I can't recall if this was before or after the strike, but if it was after the strike, then his tone to me would make perfect sense.
Anyway, this guy said the full-time staff was asked what you wanted to do with the Stones and someone came up with the idea of a dinner. It was a total respect thing. The only negative this guy telling the story injected was the deal about how the Stones sat at one table and you guys at another. For some reason, that really stuck in my memory and I've occasionally -- at the oddest of times -- wondered about it. It did not fit my picture of what we all amounted to at KFML...
... Isn't the Internet great? Here we are basically 33 years later trading memories! Thanks so much for getting in the mix, Bill. - MALCOLM
------------------------------------------------------------------
But the point you're missing, and apparently so was he, is WE WERE NOT A SEPARATE TABLES!!!! Stones were spread around tables and so were we. How else would I have have been close enough to enjoy the sight of the lovely (and whacked) Anita nod out in her plate? Believe me, there were groupies, real and wannabees, guys who were close to the center of things and various and sundry Stones tour people. We were all intermixed. Again, I don't know where your boy was, but Thom & I were at a table with Bill & Charlie. Kreizenbeck, Sandy and others were at different tables. And, we were asked for an idea that wouldn't be too corny for the guests,(more on this a little further down. Sorry, it just jumped and I don't know how to get it back. Read it just after "for the guests" and "God, what an....." God, what an idiotic thing for this guy to carry around a lie about all the years.
Earlier I had asked a georgous, single teacher (female) to go with me, but she declined saying some one else had already assured her that he could get them in. Sometime during the evening, I was asked to go pick up a package which I did. The driver and I got, and fortunately found a space right the driveway. There we sat making certain that what we had attained was of suitable quality for us and the honored guests. I looked up in time to see this girl and her "date" walking toward the gatekeeper, who, after listening to about 30 seconds of bs, turned them around and away they went. I couldn't resist calling her around 4AM, to tell her I had witnessed her disappointed and reminded her to choose more carefully if another such occasion arrived Oh, I finally remembered the last part of my rant from yesterday. I do not deny that we managed to take up a lot of room whereever we went. [quote][quote]Wesuggested the idea of a back yard party, decorated with da tongue, etc. We didn't plan it, the property owner, deeming it to be the best idea he was likely to hear, had it put together. Sorry, I don't hang crepe paper!
People just seemed to noticed when we appeared in places. I also admit that I still know people who will not speak to me, based on some of my ill advised behavior back then. That's OK. I have survived Cancer surgery, radiation and a heart attack. I will get by with or without them. Hmmm...sounds like a line from a song. Blahblahblah...gotta go. B
------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh shid oh dear..ain't this grand, all this activity?! Bill, a couple days ago you mentioned the great shows at Mammoth Gardens; I'm afraid I missed it. I heard the stories [Cream, Hendrix (I think), others) but it was closed when I arrived (or soon after). I hear it opened again several years ago and is, once again, a great venue. I did catch some great shows at Ebbets Field (thanks CM) but missed out on Mammoth.
Thanks Malcolm and BTW I've been meaning to compliment you on the black background and format of the website for a couple weeks--looks great. T
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks T, thanks Bill.
No, I get it about the separate tables. If anyone is at fault for carrying around a lie, it is me. The guy who got it wrong told me about it that night in the KFML studios, 33 some odd years ago, and I've wondered about it ever since.
That's one reason I dig the Internet so much. We can have this give-and-take and flesh out some of the history. It should not be lost!
Good one about the babe... - MALCOLM
------------------------------------------------------------------
I probably should have started a new topic for this one, but I have some great memories of Kinky's stuff on KFML. He has recently announced that he is seeking the governor's office of Texas, running as an Independent.
Who can forget such Friedman classics as: "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven; and Your Buns in the Bed." and "[/i]They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore[/i]."
Also reminds me of a couple other artists who you could hear on KFML, David Bromberg, Louden Wainwright III, and Martin Mull (and the Fabulous Furniture). Good stuff, Good Luck Kinky. T
There were lots of ground breaking performances in Denver/Boulder, but I have a feeling you have forgotten some of the amazing things that happened at Mammoth Gardens. Also, Malcolm, where is the "recollection" you were going to share? - Bill
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, Bill, I never thought this day would come, but here it is. It is an opportunity to get an answer to a question I've always wondered about:
I was one of the part-timers who programmed the station while you guys were out eating with the Stones and then going to concert somewhere in the Spring/Summer of 1972.
One of the other part-timers came in to relieve me. I forget his name(Rick?). I remember he wore a western cut denim shirt with pearl snaps and had a Quicksilver patch sewn in on the yoke of the shirt, inback of the neck. I liked the look of that set-up so much, I did the same thing later on. I still wear denim shirts (no western cut in Santa Barbara, unfortunately) once or twice a week on average. I love the feel.
Anyway, he comes in and says he made it over to the dinner and was talking down about you guys arranging to have dinner with the Stones and then not eating at the same table. I always wondered about that. First of all, the bad-mouthing, then whether or not it was true or just what he thought he saw.
Now at long last I get the answer. Is that the dinner you were referring to above, that was on the lawn? What was it that that the other part-timer saw?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(we exchanged some private emails about it, then...)
OK, here's the deal, probably a bit less vitriolic than yesterday, you know how adrenilin goes. I have little recall of your misguided misinformant. My experience is that most grousing and griping comes from jealous souls who feel left out of things, always at the hands of others. Meanwhile, what they're afraid of is that we see through that to the feelings of personal worthlessness that they secretly harbor.
Now, we did not "arrange" to get ourselves to that party. Our attendance was requested because folks generally liked having us in the mix, because interesting things generally happened when we were around. I don't know why, but they just did. The only time I ever had to beg for anything as when I was sent to ask/beg, whatever, 50 tickets to the Denver Pop Festival. What a trip that was, then I got the tickets. Remember that. Our prescence was asked for.
We sat at different tables in order to spread and absorb the energy going around. Thom and I sat with Charlie, I think, then Bill joined us. After a while, we were all wandering around the house and the yard anyway. Maybe he didn't sit with any of us, because nobody wanted to.
It was just one of many great days and nights that we participated in thru the years. Don't always take the negative for truth. Put the little S-head in touch with me if he needs to be straightened out, or hurt him worse by simply ignoring him.
I'm sure I had more to say. I'll pass it along when it recycles.
Bill
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, sorry you lost the original vitriol ... What you say about grousing and griping coming from jealousy is right on. Here's a few more details/observations from my perspective:
I wish I could remember the guy's name. I remember him as a good guy. Matter of fact, I can't remember anyone at KFML that I didn't like or at least respect, except for maybe McGoey. But, as years passed, I got to understand where he was coming from, too.
As part-timers, we were always jealous of you guys who had the consistent gigs and the glory. So, I'm sure a lot of that was coming through that night. For my part, I felt I had my jealousy under control, though. For instance, I wasn't bummed that I missed a dinner with the Stones. I was just happy to be freeforming at prime time!
In defense of the guy whose name I can't recall (he was a part-timer like me and, I believe, rising up in the ranks at the time [spring/summer 1972]), he may have been negative about the dinner knowing I was somewhat of a persona non grata at that point. I can't recall if this was before or after the strike, but if it was after the strike, then his tone to me would make perfect sense.
Anyway, this guy said the full-time staff was asked what you wanted to do with the Stones and someone came up with the idea of a dinner. It was a total respect thing. The only negative this guy telling the story injected was the deal about how the Stones sat at one table and you guys at another. For some reason, that really stuck in my memory and I've occasionally -- at the oddest of times -- wondered about it. It did not fit my picture of what we all amounted to at KFML...
... Isn't the Internet great? Here we are basically 33 years later trading memories! Thanks so much for getting in the mix, Bill. - MALCOLM
------------------------------------------------------------------
But the point you're missing, and apparently so was he, is WE WERE NOT A SEPARATE TABLES!!!! Stones were spread around tables and so were we. How else would I have have been close enough to enjoy the sight of the lovely (and whacked) Anita nod out in her plate? Believe me, there were groupies, real and wannabees, guys who were close to the center of things and various and sundry Stones tour people. We were all intermixed. Again, I don't know where your boy was, but Thom & I were at a table with Bill & Charlie. Kreizenbeck, Sandy and others were at different tables. And, we were asked for an idea that wouldn't be too corny for the guests,(more on this a little further down. Sorry, it just jumped and I don't know how to get it back. Read it just after "for the guests" and "God, what an....." God, what an idiotic thing for this guy to carry around a lie about all the years.
Earlier I had asked a georgous, single teacher (female) to go with me, but she declined saying some one else had already assured her that he could get them in. Sometime during the evening, I was asked to go pick up a package which I did. The driver and I got, and fortunately found a space right the driveway. There we sat making certain that what we had attained was of suitable quality for us and the honored guests. I looked up in time to see this girl and her "date" walking toward the gatekeeper, who, after listening to about 30 seconds of bs, turned them around and away they went. I couldn't resist calling her around 4AM, to tell her I had witnessed her disappointed and reminded her to choose more carefully if another such occasion arrived Oh, I finally remembered the last part of my rant from yesterday. I do not deny that we managed to take up a lot of room whereever we went. [quote][quote]Wesuggested the idea of a back yard party, decorated with da tongue, etc. We didn't plan it, the property owner, deeming it to be the best idea he was likely to hear, had it put together. Sorry, I don't hang crepe paper!
People just seemed to noticed when we appeared in places. I also admit that I still know people who will not speak to me, based on some of my ill advised behavior back then. That's OK. I have survived Cancer surgery, radiation and a heart attack. I will get by with or without them. Hmmm...sounds like a line from a song. Blahblahblah...gotta go. B
------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh shid oh dear..ain't this grand, all this activity?! Bill, a couple days ago you mentioned the great shows at Mammoth Gardens; I'm afraid I missed it. I heard the stories [Cream, Hendrix (I think), others) but it was closed when I arrived (or soon after). I hear it opened again several years ago and is, once again, a great venue. I did catch some great shows at Ebbets Field (thanks CM) but missed out on Mammoth.
Thanks Malcolm and BTW I've been meaning to compliment you on the black background and format of the website for a couple weeks--looks great. T
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks T, thanks Bill.
No, I get it about the separate tables. If anyone is at fault for carrying around a lie, it is me. The guy who got it wrong told me about it that night in the KFML studios, 33 some odd years ago, and I've wondered about it ever since.
That's one reason I dig the Internet so much. We can have this give-and-take and flesh out some of the history. It should not be lost!
Good one about the babe... - MALCOLM
------------------------------------------------------------------
I probably should have started a new topic for this one, but I have some great memories of Kinky's stuff on KFML. He has recently announced that he is seeking the governor's office of Texas, running as an Independent.
Who can forget such Friedman classics as: "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven; and Your Buns in the Bed." and "[/i]They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore[/i]."
Also reminds me of a couple other artists who you could hear on KFML, David Bromberg, Louden Wainwright III, and Martin Mull (and the Fabulous Furniture). Good stuff, Good Luck Kinky. T
Friday, August 12, 2005
Remembering KFML
[ Originally Posted at the FFR Forum: 12 May 2004
Post subject: Memories of KFML-FM Denver by:
Dan Yurman djysrv@hotmail.com 43N 112W -7 GMT
"Our mountains are high and the emperor is far away" ]
--------------
KFML-FM was a top-rated radio station in Denver,CO, from 1971-1973. During this time its "free form" music format, which featured album cuts and long music sets, catapulted it to the top of the ratings charts among the 18-34 age group.
--------------
I was KFML's first newsman. I was hired in Spring 1971 because I mixed music with the news. What I didn't know was my so-called innovation wasn't unique. A fellow named Shadow Morton had tried it the previous year in San Francisco, but it was a hell of a hit in Denver.
Like any radio job, the way to get it was to submit a demo tape. I asked for and got studio time, albeit late in the evening. Lucky for me, I brought along a splicing block, white grease pencil and single edge razor blades. For those of you who live in the digital age, this is how we put stuff together on tape in the old days.
I put together two or three five minute spots using news stories I'd written for a Denver community newspaper called "Chinook," which was published by Patrick Dolan and occasionally illustrated by Phil Normand. Mixing music, sound effects, and voice together, I figured the station would either love it or hate it. The next morning I met my future boss Thom Trunnel, who looked up from his coffee and said, "you're hired. You're the only one who used music."
KFML was so new, and so strapped for cash, the UPI wire was taken out. I had to develop all the news from scratch. Since "rip & read" was gone, I produced a series of news reports first thing each morning and put them on carts (like old 8 tracks) in a rack with descriptive titles for the DJs to use with their shows. I'd get in about 6 AM and have the day's material produced by mid-morning. Then I'd start working on material for the next day.
Our youth oriented audience with an age range 18-34 had a distinct "alternative" flavor, and was not interested in the usual news about car crashes, blood-and-guts crime, and national events. What was popular was what we would call today "lifestyle" news, and our listeners loved it. I would listen to the music the DJs used on their shows and then take the current play list material and mix it into the news spots. I recall King Crimson, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Dan Fogelberg, among others, as being popular.
In addition to lifestyle news, there were also the issues of the day including a number of things left over from the 60s. These were the war in Viet-Nam, drugs, and so on. Frankly, some of this stuff didn't fit in with lifestyle news, but some of the other radio stations didn't have the staff, or the nerve, to cover them.
For instance, a series of reports that put us on the map were revelations of racially motivated beatings of black inmates by white guards that took place at the Lowry AFB stockade. An Air Force officer walked into the radio station one day with a secret tape recording of one of these incidents. Needless to say, the lid blew off at Lowry with newspaper headlines in the Rocky Mountain News. The Air Force later conceded the problem and commented that while the news coverage was fair, they also felt it was "overplayed." For this series of stories, the station was nominated for a George Foster Peabody Award, the "Pulitzer" of radio news.
However, life style news and the real world sometimes collided, and if I had it to do over again, I would have tried to develop more balance between the two. Unfortunately, I was only 24 at the time, and lacked the wisdom of 54 which is where I am today (2002). After one of these reports DJ Bill Ashford was so astonished he grabbed an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer album and played one side all the way through.
A saving grace was that some of the more popular pieces we aired were not only news, they were also satire after the tradition of Paul Krassner. I think I had more fun with these types of original material than almost anything else.
That's what made working at KFML worthwhile. It was just great fun! Where else could you go, every day, and blow the minds of 100,000 people with whatever came into you head that morning? I think that's why the DJs were into it because they got to put together music sets that were second to none compared to the rest of the radio universe. For these reasons, I enjoyed working with the entire KFML staff.
Like all good things, my time at KFML eventually came to an end. After that I worked as a freelance journalist for the Straight Creek Journal and several other publications. I helped organize the first two Capital Hill Peoples Fairs with Denver Police Officer Dick Alligood. The fair endures today more than 30 years later and is a signature event in Denver.
In closing I recall that being the newsman at a top-rated radio station had great social benefits. I got invited to a lot of parties, and people who didn't know my name would recognize my voice. This "celebrity" status was mind blowing.
When I saw recently found Dan Fong's famous KFML publicity photo, I sent it to my family and friends. I'm not sure what they think of all this, but I know what I think. KFML was a blast.
This is KFML news.
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Thanks for sharing this, Dan.
The format you developed for KFML News not only worked well, it was progressive and creative. What other radio station DJ could play his/her news whenever they wanted to? Since the news was on cart and we did not have established times set aside on the broadcast clock to air the news, we could fit it in however best it worked for our sets. It gave us DJ's tremendous freedom to freeflow our freeform!
Flowing out of music into a music bed used for news was incredibly effective. I believe listener tuneout was minimalized because of this. Certainly, using news in this way faked out the Arbitron hour stats.
BTW, I have three full newscasts circa Spring 1972 I plan on uploading to FreeForm.org soon. Jim Clancy and Ed Chatham's work.
Please stay in touch. - MALCOLM
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I regret that my tapes of that period were lost in a move years ago. I was pleased to see you mention Vince Scelsa at WFMU-FM. I had the opportunity to sit in on several of his all night Saturday night shows in the winter of 1969. About 3 AM we'd make a run for cheeseburgers at the local diner in South Orange, NJ, by puttting on the entire side of the Stones '2000 Light Years from Home."
After leaving KFML in 1972 I worked as a free-lance journalist for the Straight Creek Journal, Cervi's Rocky Mountain Journal, Capital Ledger, and several magazines. I also helped start the Capital Hill Peoples Fair with Dick Alligood. I left the Denver area in late 1975 after getting a masters degree in city planning and changing careers.
We tend to romanticize experiences from our early years, but I'm glad the better memories are the ones that last.
I still care about the music, and the news.
Dan Yurman djysrv@hotmail.com 43N 112W -7 GMT
A Time Traveler from the Age of Steam
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, Dan ~
I wasn't good about keeping airchecks until about 1977 and then I kept them religiously! As a consequence, all of my classic freeform work is lost forever, but I have a fairly large library of my days as a "progressive rock" jock... Not nearly as rewarding!
If you are so inclined, you might like to read "FM" by Richard Neer. He worked with Vin for a good number of years and there is a good amount of material about Scelsa and his contributions in the book.
I enjoyed reading that book, but I'm still at ground zero with books about FM radio: there needs to be a good one about freeform -- totally in the spirit of what we did...
... to those ends, I have been working on a book about freeform. I've waited many years for a bigger name, higher profile person to write it, but I'm afraid we're dying off to fast for me to be assured that it's gonna be done.
That was the primary motivating force behind getting this website together... to link up with other freeformers and mine the digs... Thanks for being part of this effort!
May The Longtime Sunshine Upon You! - malcolm
------------------------------------------------------------------
I began the evening searching for the Starlite Ramblers. I stumbled across a cassette I had recorded of "Ain't It the Truth" and thought I'd see what was out there. I thought of an old friend, KFML, and here I am.
Memories...Quite a few, suprisingly I guess.
How about a couple hours of ocean sounds during the afternoon when the AM only was just getting started.
Scotty's morning music.
The benefit for Sandy Phelps (as I recall she cut herself in a chain saw accident).
Bill's alter ego, Dumptruck O'Neil
Ashford getting mad at complainers when he played country...once he answered by playing, "You're Just a Jive Ass."
Speaking of lyrics, I heard Harry Nilsson's ode to unrequited love on KFML, "You're Breakin' My Heart"
Hope this message revives this string. T
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T ~ I had forgotten about Dumptruck O'Neill. Just the way Ashford said the name with a gravelly roll was funny... Bill's show always seemed to be a community affair. There were always people around him while he did his show and then there were those of us at the station who just liked his energy... One Friday will always stick out in my mind (maybe there were many and I'm just bunching them all into one). Bill must have really been looking forward to the meagre paycheck McGoey was doling out (Spring 1972). Bill'd blast ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid" over the studio speakers so loud, you'd think they'd loosen from their moorings! Thanks for jarring some memories... ~ malcolm
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T ~ Also posted two links to more Ashford bio info and KFML memories on the FreeFormRadio Blog. A gem at the tripod site is a portion of a Super Warthog aircheck... ~ malcolm
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Malcolm, I was pleased to see your quick response to my post; given that there was no action for several months, I imagined there would be no reply.
Thanks for the link to Ashford's present life. I'm struggling a bit with the idea of Bill on a talk radio format but hey...maybe someday I'll see if I can't find the station on the net and give a listen.
I left the front range in the mid-late 70's and was working as a wilderness ranger in the High Uintas in NE Utah. One night scanning the radio dial (when out of the high country), I picked up KFML when the skip was in. I called Ashford and had a good chat and requested a tune or two that I think he blew off. What I remember most about him--and what set him apart from others, then and since--is that he was just himself, not a radio personality; whether he was happy, mad or sad, his feelings shone through on the radio. Most uncommon.
I enjoyed reading his discography and have many of the albums on his list, mostly because of the years with KFML, including 60,000,000 Buffalo and Zephyr (I've got Sunset Ride, which I believe was the last album they recorded before Tommy Bolin left). Pretty sure I saw both these bands at Tulagi's. Oughta write more about the music, but this feels like enough. Good conversing with you. T
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T ~ There's a forum function that enables you to receive messages when a reply is posted, so it's pretty easy to see when there is a response. Take a look at the check boxes at the bottom of the thread. I check-in anyway to see who may have surfaced... A call from a ranger station in the Uintas would have made my night. I'm sure Bill got a good hit from your call. We all were not into fulfilling requests much in those days. We were on a track and riding it at full speed. Also, I must admit, when you're a young man you just don't appreciate what you have until many years later when you can't have it back... Zephyr's I'M NOT SURPRISED remains one of my favorite tunes of all time. First time I played it was on KFML and I continued to play it at other less well known stations throughout the '70s.... ~ malcolm
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Lost the site for awhile, Malcolm. I was a bit confused when my link took me to Legendary Surfers. Ah, but now I'm found.
About a year ago I posted a note on the AOL site for Denver suggesting the possiblity of a KFML and Friends reunion--no response. Be kinda neat to reserve a room in some club, play KFML music and visit..I can almost hear Rick Cuhna's "Damn Sweet Woman" ringing through room (I don't know maybe followed by Rioppelle's "Red Ball Texas Flyer"). T
BTW, I'm still with the Forest Service and back in Colorado after many years away (mostly AZ).
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T ~ I had to change the location for the FREEFORM RADIO site. It was costing me, so I just relocated it under the umbrella of my surf writings site. That costs me nothing... You will not end up the only one confused. Hopefully, others will quickly refind the site like you did... A KFML Reunion would be great! I can think of a number of supporters that could really get into it. I think the lack of response to your idea last year is only because -- so far -- there hasn't been a major connecting spot for former station people and listeners. Sandy and some others had a KFML website going for a while, but it has been down now, or only password-accessible, for about a year... I'm hoping the FREEFORM RADIO site can fill in the void, not only for KFML, but other freeform stations of the past (and the few freeform programs of the present), as well... - MALCOLM
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... Today I was thinking about one genre of music that Jerry Mills often played (at least I'm pretty sure it was Jerry)-- English, Irish and Scottish folk-rock. KFML introduced me to Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson and the great Fairport Convention album "Leige and Lief." Steeleye Span, JSD Band from Scotland, Shirly Collins and the Albion County Band (a collaborative that included the who's who of English folk-rock like Richard Thompson). T
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Greetings. I discovered this forum yesterday and find myself intrigued. First, I am out of the talk radio business, thank God!! When I moved my family back from Michigan to Colorado Springs in 1990, I visited a few people, including Harry Tuft and Meredith at Swallow Hill. I tried unsuccesfully to re-establish with some of my old workmates, but found them distant. I realize I "took a lot of space" back in the day, but no more than a few others I could name. Anyway, I finally worked it up one day to drive to Denver. I parked at the corner of 3rd & Filmore and just cried for about 15 minutes. I'm not sure if it was for a life wasted or for great times unimaginable these days. People and adventures unavailable and probably unsurvivable now. I've paid my price physically...Lung cancer leading to major surgery & radiation almost three years ago and a couple of other things I can only attribute to excessive wear and tear. I found that I have been out of warranty for some years. Anyway. the good, the bad and the ugly, it was my life and I don't regret most of it. Your postings are a bit old, so I have no idea who will see any of this, but life is OK in Florida, if you allow for the 5 hurricanes last year.
- Bill A.
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Bill! Great to be contact!
Thanks for posting and sharing. Admittedly, ours is a small group, right now, that check into this website/blog/forum. But, then again, as freeform programmers we were always a rare breed. I'm hoping the numbers will improve and by using the Internet, we can get reconnected with many of our old compadres if only to share some memories and -- why not? -- airchecks.
If I can find the necessary time to learn the technical details, I hope to have clickable audio that we can all listen to on our PC's and/or download to burn.
Sandy had a KFML website up for a while. Now, the only thing besides this site that gets into any KFML stuff is the one tribute page from KIMN and the one on Tripod (one in the same?). Links to it are on the blog, if you haven't seen it/them. There's a picture of you behind the control board and some audio of Superwarthog.
I think Sandy can get you in touch with Thom, if you are not already. Let me know if you need her email address.
Please keep the communication coming! - MALCOLM
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NIce to see you check in, Bill. Sorry to hear of the serious health problems and hope you stay in remission. In keeping with Malcolm's remark about freeform programmers being a rare breed, it appears that listerners are a rare breed too. How the chrise did you guys pay the bills? I could only make so many trips to Budget Tapes and Records in those days (I think they were a sponsor).
Oh well, somebody once said, "you can never go wrong underestimating the American public." With respect to popular music, I've certainly found that to be true. T
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I just reread this message string and there were a couple references to 1972. I'm pretty sure that was the year the Rolling Stones came to Denver on the "Get Yer Ya Yas Out" Tour.
Myself and several friends camped out at the old Denver Coliseum for tickets and got seats on the floor about 12 rows back from the stage. I remember Ashford playing sets of Stones music that evening before the concert. All of us down on the floor spent the whole show standing on our seats. What a nite...come to think of it...what a nite
I saw them again several years later up in Ft Collins, one of those stadium concerts. Chrise, that day like'd to never end. Hot, tired, too messed up..waited too long and the Stones weren't into it either. Big difference in two shows. I never went to another stadium concert again. T
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... As fate would have it, I have a story to tell about that night, but I'd like to defer to Bill, first. Whatcha remember of that day, Bill? - MALCOLM
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For me, most Stones days and the night before and after were generally a blur. I remember a really amazing part with ALL the Stones in Barry F's backyard. I was so secret we had to drive to a pick up point, where we poured ourselves into a van and taken to the party. That, I suppose, was to keep us from leaking the site. Naturally it got our and people began arriving in cars later, and were absolutely turned away. Dinner was served on low tables which afforded us the opportunity to sit on the grass. I think I remember there being one Stone per table. Keith came with Anita Pallenberg, who litterally noded out in her plate of food. Keith pull her up by the back of her hair, probably saving her from drowning in whatever it was we were eating. I remember a really huge replica of the tongue hanging in the air. As you would expect, a very surreal evening.
And very naughty.
The show I went to in Ft. Collins was an unannounced (officially) tune up concert in a gymnasium and was probably the best show I ever attended, by anyone any time, well maybe with the exception of Otis Redding and his band at the National Guard Armory building in Lumberton N.C. in 65 or 66. From there the Stones played LA next and eventually came back for that sloppy stadium show you saw. I attended ever concert they ever did in and around Denver, but the third one I remember almost vividly was the "Some Girls" show at Folsum Field. I ended up in one of the backstage trailers, talking country music with Mick. I was made very comfortable while Jerri Hall laced up Mick's leather pants. All of a sudden, a photograper bounced into the trailer and said to Mick and Me..."awright you to, stand together next two the wall for a press shot. It turned ou to be the ONLY shot with a radio guy to be used in any trade mag during that tour. I'm looking at it hanging on my wall right now. God, did I look rough. - Bill A.
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Great stories, Bill. Would have liked to just ride in the vapor trail in those days.
The 72 concert was opened by Stevie Wonder. As his set progressed he was led from instrument to instrument around the stage, playing keyboards, guitar, drums--'bout everything I guess. The Stones toured with Billy Preston and Bobby Keyes.
That concert was top three, along with The Who, touring Who's Next and the Reunion Tour with Dylan and The Band. Keith Moon was still alive then and I remember he had a quiver full of sticks. As he splintered pairs of sticks, he'd throw 'em down on the snare head and they'd spin off toward the crowd. Dylan did rock versions of Blood on the Tracks. All nite long he said only 1 thing, "Nice to be in the Rockies." T
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There were lots of ground breaking performances in Denver/Boulder, but I have a feeling you have forgotten some of the amazing things that happened at Mammoth Gardens. Also, Malcolm, where is the "recollection" you were going to share? -
B
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[ continued in: "KFML Stones Dinner" ]
Post subject: Memories of KFML-FM Denver by:
Dan Yurman djysrv@hotmail.com 43N 112W -7 GMT
"Our mountains are high and the emperor is far away" ]
KFML-FM was a top-rated radio station in Denver,CO, from 1971-1973. During this time its "free form" music format, which featured album cuts and long music sets, catapulted it to the top of the ratings charts among the 18-34 age group.
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I was KFML's first newsman. I was hired in Spring 1971 because I mixed music with the news. What I didn't know was my so-called innovation wasn't unique. A fellow named Shadow Morton had tried it the previous year in San Francisco, but it was a hell of a hit in Denver.
Like any radio job, the way to get it was to submit a demo tape. I asked for and got studio time, albeit late in the evening. Lucky for me, I brought along a splicing block, white grease pencil and single edge razor blades. For those of you who live in the digital age, this is how we put stuff together on tape in the old days.
I put together two or three five minute spots using news stories I'd written for a Denver community newspaper called "Chinook," which was published by Patrick Dolan and occasionally illustrated by Phil Normand. Mixing music, sound effects, and voice together, I figured the station would either love it or hate it. The next morning I met my future boss Thom Trunnel, who looked up from his coffee and said, "you're hired. You're the only one who used music."
KFML was so new, and so strapped for cash, the UPI wire was taken out. I had to develop all the news from scratch. Since "rip & read" was gone, I produced a series of news reports first thing each morning and put them on carts (like old 8 tracks) in a rack with descriptive titles for the DJs to use with their shows. I'd get in about 6 AM and have the day's material produced by mid-morning. Then I'd start working on material for the next day.
Our youth oriented audience with an age range 18-34 had a distinct "alternative" flavor, and was not interested in the usual news about car crashes, blood-and-guts crime, and national events. What was popular was what we would call today "lifestyle" news, and our listeners loved it. I would listen to the music the DJs used on their shows and then take the current play list material and mix it into the news spots. I recall King Crimson, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Dan Fogelberg, among others, as being popular.
In addition to lifestyle news, there were also the issues of the day including a number of things left over from the 60s. These were the war in Viet-Nam, drugs, and so on. Frankly, some of this stuff didn't fit in with lifestyle news, but some of the other radio stations didn't have the staff, or the nerve, to cover them.
For instance, a series of reports that put us on the map were revelations of racially motivated beatings of black inmates by white guards that took place at the Lowry AFB stockade. An Air Force officer walked into the radio station one day with a secret tape recording of one of these incidents. Needless to say, the lid blew off at Lowry with newspaper headlines in the Rocky Mountain News. The Air Force later conceded the problem and commented that while the news coverage was fair, they also felt it was "overplayed." For this series of stories, the station was nominated for a George Foster Peabody Award, the "Pulitzer" of radio news.
However, life style news and the real world sometimes collided, and if I had it to do over again, I would have tried to develop more balance between the two. Unfortunately, I was only 24 at the time, and lacked the wisdom of 54 which is where I am today (2002). After one of these reports DJ Bill Ashford was so astonished he grabbed an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer album and played one side all the way through.
A saving grace was that some of the more popular pieces we aired were not only news, they were also satire after the tradition of Paul Krassner. I think I had more fun with these types of original material than almost anything else.
That's what made working at KFML worthwhile. It was just great fun! Where else could you go, every day, and blow the minds of 100,000 people with whatever came into you head that morning? I think that's why the DJs were into it because they got to put together music sets that were second to none compared to the rest of the radio universe. For these reasons, I enjoyed working with the entire KFML staff.
Like all good things, my time at KFML eventually came to an end. After that I worked as a freelance journalist for the Straight Creek Journal and several other publications. I helped organize the first two Capital Hill Peoples Fairs with Denver Police Officer Dick Alligood. The fair endures today more than 30 years later and is a signature event in Denver.
In closing I recall that being the newsman at a top-rated radio station had great social benefits. I got invited to a lot of parties, and people who didn't know my name would recognize my voice. This "celebrity" status was mind blowing.
When I saw recently found Dan Fong's famous KFML publicity photo, I sent it to my family and friends. I'm not sure what they think of all this, but I know what I think. KFML was a blast.
This is KFML news.
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Thanks for sharing this, Dan.
The format you developed for KFML News not only worked well, it was progressive and creative. What other radio station DJ could play his/her news whenever they wanted to? Since the news was on cart and we did not have established times set aside on the broadcast clock to air the news, we could fit it in however best it worked for our sets. It gave us DJ's tremendous freedom to freeflow our freeform!
Flowing out of music into a music bed used for news was incredibly effective. I believe listener tuneout was minimalized because of this. Certainly, using news in this way faked out the Arbitron hour stats.
BTW, I have three full newscasts circa Spring 1972 I plan on uploading to FreeForm.org soon. Jim Clancy and Ed Chatham's work.
Please stay in touch. - MALCOLM
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I regret that my tapes of that period were lost in a move years ago. I was pleased to see you mention Vince Scelsa at WFMU-FM. I had the opportunity to sit in on several of his all night Saturday night shows in the winter of 1969. About 3 AM we'd make a run for cheeseburgers at the local diner in South Orange, NJ, by puttting on the entire side of the Stones '2000 Light Years from Home."
After leaving KFML in 1972 I worked as a free-lance journalist for the Straight Creek Journal, Cervi's Rocky Mountain Journal, Capital Ledger, and several magazines. I also helped start the Capital Hill Peoples Fair with Dick Alligood. I left the Denver area in late 1975 after getting a masters degree in city planning and changing careers.
We tend to romanticize experiences from our early years, but I'm glad the better memories are the ones that last.
I still care about the music, and the news.
Dan Yurman djysrv@hotmail.com 43N 112W -7 GMT
A Time Traveler from the Age of Steam
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Hey, Dan ~
I wasn't good about keeping airchecks until about 1977 and then I kept them religiously! As a consequence, all of my classic freeform work is lost forever, but I have a fairly large library of my days as a "progressive rock" jock... Not nearly as rewarding!
If you are so inclined, you might like to read "FM" by Richard Neer. He worked with Vin for a good number of years and there is a good amount of material about Scelsa and his contributions in the book.
I enjoyed reading that book, but I'm still at ground zero with books about FM radio: there needs to be a good one about freeform -- totally in the spirit of what we did...
... to those ends, I have been working on a book about freeform. I've waited many years for a bigger name, higher profile person to write it, but I'm afraid we're dying off to fast for me to be assured that it's gonna be done.
That was the primary motivating force behind getting this website together... to link up with other freeformers and mine the digs... Thanks for being part of this effort!
May The Longtime Sunshine Upon You! - malcolm
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I began the evening searching for the Starlite Ramblers. I stumbled across a cassette I had recorded of "Ain't It the Truth" and thought I'd see what was out there. I thought of an old friend, KFML, and here I am.
Memories...Quite a few, suprisingly I guess.
How about a couple hours of ocean sounds during the afternoon when the AM only was just getting started.
Scotty's morning music.
The benefit for Sandy Phelps (as I recall she cut herself in a chain saw accident).
Bill's alter ego, Dumptruck O'Neil
Ashford getting mad at complainers when he played country...once he answered by playing, "You're Just a Jive Ass."
Speaking of lyrics, I heard Harry Nilsson's ode to unrequited love on KFML, "You're Breakin' My Heart"
Hope this message revives this string. T
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T ~ I had forgotten about Dumptruck O'Neill. Just the way Ashford said the name with a gravelly roll was funny... Bill's show always seemed to be a community affair. There were always people around him while he did his show and then there were those of us at the station who just liked his energy... One Friday will always stick out in my mind (maybe there were many and I'm just bunching them all into one). Bill must have really been looking forward to the meagre paycheck McGoey was doling out (Spring 1972). Bill'd blast ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid" over the studio speakers so loud, you'd think they'd loosen from their moorings! Thanks for jarring some memories... ~ malcolm
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T ~ Also posted two links to more Ashford bio info and KFML memories on the FreeFormRadio Blog. A gem at the tripod site is a portion of a Super Warthog aircheck... ~ malcolm
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Malcolm, I was pleased to see your quick response to my post; given that there was no action for several months, I imagined there would be no reply.
Thanks for the link to Ashford's present life. I'm struggling a bit with the idea of Bill on a talk radio format but hey...maybe someday I'll see if I can't find the station on the net and give a listen.
I left the front range in the mid-late 70's and was working as a wilderness ranger in the High Uintas in NE Utah. One night scanning the radio dial (when out of the high country), I picked up KFML when the skip was in. I called Ashford and had a good chat and requested a tune or two that I think he blew off. What I remember most about him--and what set him apart from others, then and since--is that he was just himself, not a radio personality; whether he was happy, mad or sad, his feelings shone through on the radio. Most uncommon.
I enjoyed reading his discography and have many of the albums on his list, mostly because of the years with KFML, including 60,000,000 Buffalo and Zephyr (I've got Sunset Ride, which I believe was the last album they recorded before Tommy Bolin left). Pretty sure I saw both these bands at Tulagi's. Oughta write more about the music, but this feels like enough. Good conversing with you. T
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T ~ There's a forum function that enables you to receive messages when a reply is posted, so it's pretty easy to see when there is a response. Take a look at the check boxes at the bottom of the thread. I check-in anyway to see who may have surfaced... A call from a ranger station in the Uintas would have made my night. I'm sure Bill got a good hit from your call. We all were not into fulfilling requests much in those days. We were on a track and riding it at full speed. Also, I must admit, when you're a young man you just don't appreciate what you have until many years later when you can't have it back... Zephyr's I'M NOT SURPRISED remains one of my favorite tunes of all time. First time I played it was on KFML and I continued to play it at other less well known stations throughout the '70s.... ~ malcolm
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Lost the site for awhile, Malcolm. I was a bit confused when my link took me to Legendary Surfers. Ah, but now I'm found.
About a year ago I posted a note on the AOL site for Denver suggesting the possiblity of a KFML and Friends reunion--no response. Be kinda neat to reserve a room in some club, play KFML music and visit..I can almost hear Rick Cuhna's "Damn Sweet Woman" ringing through room (I don't know maybe followed by Rioppelle's "Red Ball Texas Flyer"). T
BTW, I'm still with the Forest Service and back in Colorado after many years away (mostly AZ).
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T ~ I had to change the location for the FREEFORM RADIO site. It was costing me, so I just relocated it under the umbrella of my surf writings site. That costs me nothing... You will not end up the only one confused. Hopefully, others will quickly refind the site like you did... A KFML Reunion would be great! I can think of a number of supporters that could really get into it. I think the lack of response to your idea last year is only because -- so far -- there hasn't been a major connecting spot for former station people and listeners. Sandy and some others had a KFML website going for a while, but it has been down now, or only password-accessible, for about a year... I'm hoping the FREEFORM RADIO site can fill in the void, not only for KFML, but other freeform stations of the past (and the few freeform programs of the present), as well... - MALCOLM
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... Today I was thinking about one genre of music that Jerry Mills often played (at least I'm pretty sure it was Jerry)-- English, Irish and Scottish folk-rock. KFML introduced me to Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson and the great Fairport Convention album "Leige and Lief." Steeleye Span, JSD Band from Scotland, Shirly Collins and the Albion County Band (a collaborative that included the who's who of English folk-rock like Richard Thompson). T
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Greetings. I discovered this forum yesterday and find myself intrigued. First, I am out of the talk radio business, thank God!! When I moved my family back from Michigan to Colorado Springs in 1990, I visited a few people, including Harry Tuft and Meredith at Swallow Hill. I tried unsuccesfully to re-establish with some of my old workmates, but found them distant. I realize I "took a lot of space" back in the day, but no more than a few others I could name. Anyway, I finally worked it up one day to drive to Denver. I parked at the corner of 3rd & Filmore and just cried for about 15 minutes. I'm not sure if it was for a life wasted or for great times unimaginable these days. People and adventures unavailable and probably unsurvivable now. I've paid my price physically...Lung cancer leading to major surgery & radiation almost three years ago and a couple of other things I can only attribute to excessive wear and tear. I found that I have been out of warranty for some years. Anyway. the good, the bad and the ugly, it was my life and I don't regret most of it. Your postings are a bit old, so I have no idea who will see any of this, but life is OK in Florida, if you allow for the 5 hurricanes last year.
- Bill A.
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Bill! Great to be contact!
Thanks for posting and sharing. Admittedly, ours is a small group, right now, that check into this website/blog/forum. But, then again, as freeform programmers we were always a rare breed. I'm hoping the numbers will improve and by using the Internet, we can get reconnected with many of our old compadres if only to share some memories and -- why not? -- airchecks.
If I can find the necessary time to learn the technical details, I hope to have clickable audio that we can all listen to on our PC's and/or download to burn.
Sandy had a KFML website up for a while. Now, the only thing besides this site that gets into any KFML stuff is the one tribute page from KIMN and the one on Tripod (one in the same?). Links to it are on the blog, if you haven't seen it/them. There's a picture of you behind the control board and some audio of Superwarthog.
I think Sandy can get you in touch with Thom, if you are not already. Let me know if you need her email address.
Please keep the communication coming! - MALCOLM
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NIce to see you check in, Bill. Sorry to hear of the serious health problems and hope you stay in remission. In keeping with Malcolm's remark about freeform programmers being a rare breed, it appears that listerners are a rare breed too. How the chrise did you guys pay the bills? I could only make so many trips to Budget Tapes and Records in those days (I think they were a sponsor).
Oh well, somebody once said, "you can never go wrong underestimating the American public." With respect to popular music, I've certainly found that to be true. T
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I just reread this message string and there were a couple references to 1972. I'm pretty sure that was the year the Rolling Stones came to Denver on the "Get Yer Ya Yas Out" Tour.
Myself and several friends camped out at the old Denver Coliseum for tickets and got seats on the floor about 12 rows back from the stage. I remember Ashford playing sets of Stones music that evening before the concert. All of us down on the floor spent the whole show standing on our seats. What a nite...come to think of it...what a nite
I saw them again several years later up in Ft Collins, one of those stadium concerts. Chrise, that day like'd to never end. Hot, tired, too messed up..waited too long and the Stones weren't into it either. Big difference in two shows. I never went to another stadium concert again. T
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... As fate would have it, I have a story to tell about that night, but I'd like to defer to Bill, first. Whatcha remember of that day, Bill? - MALCOLM
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For me, most Stones days and the night before and after were generally a blur. I remember a really amazing part with ALL the Stones in Barry F's backyard. I was so secret we had to drive to a pick up point, where we poured ourselves into a van and taken to the party. That, I suppose, was to keep us from leaking the site. Naturally it got our and people began arriving in cars later, and were absolutely turned away. Dinner was served on low tables which afforded us the opportunity to sit on the grass. I think I remember there being one Stone per table. Keith came with Anita Pallenberg, who litterally noded out in her plate of food. Keith pull her up by the back of her hair, probably saving her from drowning in whatever it was we were eating. I remember a really huge replica of the tongue hanging in the air. As you would expect, a very surreal evening.
And very naughty.
The show I went to in Ft. Collins was an unannounced (officially) tune up concert in a gymnasium and was probably the best show I ever attended, by anyone any time, well maybe with the exception of Otis Redding and his band at the National Guard Armory building in Lumberton N.C. in 65 or 66. From there the Stones played LA next and eventually came back for that sloppy stadium show you saw. I attended ever concert they ever did in and around Denver, but the third one I remember almost vividly was the "Some Girls" show at Folsum Field. I ended up in one of the backstage trailers, talking country music with Mick. I was made very comfortable while Jerri Hall laced up Mick's leather pants. All of a sudden, a photograper bounced into the trailer and said to Mick and Me..."awright you to, stand together next two the wall for a press shot. It turned ou to be the ONLY shot with a radio guy to be used in any trade mag during that tour. I'm looking at it hanging on my wall right now. God, did I look rough. - Bill A.
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Great stories, Bill. Would have liked to just ride in the vapor trail in those days.
The 72 concert was opened by Stevie Wonder. As his set progressed he was led from instrument to instrument around the stage, playing keyboards, guitar, drums--'bout everything I guess. The Stones toured with Billy Preston and Bobby Keyes.
That concert was top three, along with The Who, touring Who's Next and the Reunion Tour with Dylan and The Band. Keith Moon was still alive then and I remember he had a quiver full of sticks. As he splintered pairs of sticks, he'd throw 'em down on the snare head and they'd spin off toward the crowd. Dylan did rock versions of Blood on the Tracks. All nite long he said only 1 thing, "Nice to be in the Rockies." T
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There were lots of ground breaking performances in Denver/Boulder, but I have a feeling you have forgotten some of the amazing things that happened at Mammoth Gardens. Also, Malcolm, where is the "recollection" you were going to share? -
B
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[ continued in: "KFML Stones Dinner" ]
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Radio Free Phoenix
Posted at the Freeform Radio Forum: 09 Mar 2005
Post subject: Free Form Radio is alive and well at RadioFreePhoenix.com
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I've been reading the treads on Free Form Radio and would like to let everybody know about Radio Free Phoenix. http://radiofreephoenix.com Broadcasting on the web out of Phoenix, Arizona, Radio Free Phoenix brings back the style of Free Form Radio that existed in one form or another in Phoenix with KCAC, Underground KDKB, KSTM (The Storm) and other great free form stations of the past. We have a full airstaff of Phoenix vets like Andy Olson (KSTM, KZON KSLX); Liz Boyle (KDKB, KSLX, KOOL) Dave Cooper (KYOT, KJZZ) Lee Powell (KDKB, KSTM, KSLX) and Pete Michaels (KSTM, KLPX (Tucson) There's also a great article about the station in the Feb 5, 2005 issue of The Phoenix New Times:
http://music.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2005-02-03/music/music.html
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Andy ~ Thanks for the heads-up. I went to the website, cruised around a bit, and also read the Times piece. Congratulations! It sounds like you have a contemporary freeform station actually in operation. I especially liked that you trace what you are up to back to Bill Compton. Unfortunately, I am having difficulty connecting in order to hear what you are doing. Are you having server problems? I will try again and expect to eventually listen. Keep with it
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Thanks AO, I too had trouble listening, but spent a few minutes looking at the archived playlist--great stuff. I had to smile to myself when I saw Firesign Theatre on the list; that brings back memories...blurry ones, but memories nonetheless BTW, I'm an Arizona boy too, alum of Yavapai College and UofA. C ya T
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Here's a message I received from Andy Olson about the connection issue with RadioFreePhoenix:
Hi Malcolm,
Thanks for checking out the Radio Free Phoenix site. As for connection problems, I haven't discovered any myself. It seems the biggest connection problem is with Windows media player (depending on what player and operating system one has). The guy at the New Times who wrote the article could never pick it up at the New Times. It seems they have such serious firewalls in place they can't access any streaming audio. Can you explain your connection problem. I'd like to know. Perhaps the server acts different depending where the connection is coming from.
Thanks,
Andy Olson
P.S. You have a great site. Thanks for holding up the torch for Free Form Rock. I discovered your site through a google page search that was made by a German listener who connected with the Radio Free Phoenix page.
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My original problem connecting must have been because of the firewall at work (University of California, Santa Barbara). When I came home and tried connecting, I had no problem whatsoever. Fun listening!
Post subject: Free Form Radio is alive and well at RadioFreePhoenix.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been reading the treads on Free Form Radio and would like to let everybody know about Radio Free Phoenix. http://radiofreephoenix.com Broadcasting on the web out of Phoenix, Arizona, Radio Free Phoenix brings back the style of Free Form Radio that existed in one form or another in Phoenix with KCAC, Underground KDKB, KSTM (The Storm) and other great free form stations of the past. We have a full airstaff of Phoenix vets like Andy Olson (KSTM, KZON KSLX); Liz Boyle (KDKB, KSLX, KOOL) Dave Cooper (KYOT, KJZZ) Lee Powell (KDKB, KSTM, KSLX) and Pete Michaels (KSTM, KLPX (Tucson) There's also a great article about the station in the Feb 5, 2005 issue of The Phoenix New Times:
http://music.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2005-02-03/music/music.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy ~ Thanks for the heads-up. I went to the website, cruised around a bit, and also read the Times piece. Congratulations! It sounds like you have a contemporary freeform station actually in operation. I especially liked that you trace what you are up to back to Bill Compton. Unfortunately, I am having difficulty connecting in order to hear what you are doing. Are you having server problems? I will try again and expect to eventually listen. Keep with it
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks AO, I too had trouble listening, but spent a few minutes looking at the archived playlist--great stuff. I had to smile to myself when I saw Firesign Theatre on the list; that brings back memories...blurry ones, but memories nonetheless BTW, I'm an Arizona boy too, alum of Yavapai College and UofA. C ya T
------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a message I received from Andy Olson about the connection issue with RadioFreePhoenix:
Hi Malcolm,
Thanks for checking out the Radio Free Phoenix site. As for connection problems, I haven't discovered any myself. It seems the biggest connection problem is with Windows media player (depending on what player and operating system one has). The guy at the New Times who wrote the article could never pick it up at the New Times. It seems they have such serious firewalls in place they can't access any streaming audio. Can you explain your connection problem. I'd like to know. Perhaps the server acts different depending where the connection is coming from.
Thanks,
Andy Olson
P.S. You have a great site. Thanks for holding up the torch for Free Form Rock. I discovered your site through a google page search that was made by a German listener who connected with the Radio Free Phoenix page.
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My original problem connecting must have been because of the firewall at work (University of California, Santa Barbara). When I came home and tried connecting, I had no problem whatsoever. Fun listening!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
J. Parrets, M. Murphey & S. Fromholz
Originally Posted at the Freeform Radio Forum: 30 Jan 2005
Post subject: Others Deserving Recognition
I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Jeff Parretts (apologies if I spelled your last name wrong, Jeff) formerly of radio station KDKB in Phoenix, AZ. Jeff hosted a show he called The Sunday Night Spectrum in the late 80's that moved away from the FM playlist and very nearly achieved freeform. I used to record his show, then make cassettes (I know, flintlock technology) of my favorites: Steve Earle, Nancy Griffith, the Smithereens, Gear Daddys, John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin, Texas..ah that's enough, you get the idea.
I don't know where you are now, Jeff, but your efforts were appreciated by me. T
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T ~ Thanks. I searched on some various spellings and came up with a Jeff Parrets currently involved with a little-known current freeformer KCDX-FM, Florence, Arizona. Check the blog for further info.
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That's great, thanks Malcolm. Jeez I wish a few more people would get involved. Based on our exchanges the last month, I've thought of sending personal messages to Ashford, Steven Fromholz, and now Jeff Parrets and see if they might like to partake.
As I was telling you, I saw Michael Martin Murphey (he reminded us about the "e" in his last name; the proper Irish spelling) at the Bass Theatre in Ft Worth. The Bass is an absolute jewel, an updated take on a European opera house, complete with 4 stories of balconies. The acoustics are outstanding. Jerry Mills is not playing with him, he's touring with three excellent musicians (and I shouldn't have started writing without looking up their names), lead guitar and hammered dulcimer, bass (both electric and stand-up) and fiddle. Good show. Michael, if you should ever log into this forum; I think you should cover the Badger Clark song Spanish is a Loving Tongue. It would be tough to do it better than Emmy Lou, but I can't think of a male artist who could do it better. T
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T ~ I still forget the "e" in MMM's name. Old habits... People GO to websites out of a need -- whether it's information or to buy something or curiosity, etc. People come BACK to websites because the sites are updated -- new merchandise, new info, latest controversy, etc... I know we've had a very good number of people who have visited the FreeForm Forum and left no discernable footprint. That's OK. I think that over time, as people who lurk get to see that actual reconnections with freeform and their past compadres can happen using this site, there will be more participation... Just in this first year of operation, I've been able to renew friendships with my old pal Jim Clancy (KCFR - KFML - CNN), get to re-know Dan Yurman (KFML), communicate a lot with Moe Armstrong (KSAN - KUNM), trade mail with some of my old KCSB pals, and meet a new one (you). So, for me it has been worth it. When the word gets around and past freeform programmers see they can do the same with the people they want to connect with, there will be more repeat visitors and participants. ~ m
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We're not all dead, some of us just look like it. Let's face it, war is hell. FYI, I spoke with Frumholz last year (I think) and he is leading wild water trips for city types in West Texas. He sounded great. I have great stories, but I can't tell them til either he or I is/are gone. Like Hunter Thompson. When I was at KHOW in Denver, we used to have the phone number at his favorite bar in Aspen. If we didn't over use it, we were allowed to call him for comments on whatever. He was a great occasional voice on the radio. - Ashford
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Hey Bill ~
Sorry to hear about the Doctor's checkout. He was certainly a cultural hero.
I sent Fromholz an email about two weeks ago, but no reply. I've never met him, but wanted to let him know we were thinking about him. The email address I sent to is:
steven@stevefromholz.com
... Got it from his website. He's in cahoots with a rafting outfit HQ'd in Taos. I rode down the Rio Bravo with those guys in the early 1990's. Fun people.
Read a bit about health issues with Fromholz, while I was at his site. Happen to know anything more about that?
Post subject: Others Deserving Recognition
I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Jeff Parretts (apologies if I spelled your last name wrong, Jeff) formerly of radio station KDKB in Phoenix, AZ. Jeff hosted a show he called The Sunday Night Spectrum in the late 80's that moved away from the FM playlist and very nearly achieved freeform. I used to record his show, then make cassettes (I know, flintlock technology) of my favorites: Steve Earle, Nancy Griffith, the Smithereens, Gear Daddys, John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin, Texas..ah that's enough, you get the idea.
I don't know where you are now, Jeff, but your efforts were appreciated by me. T
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T ~ Thanks. I searched on some various spellings and came up with a Jeff Parrets currently involved with a little-known current freeformer KCDX-FM, Florence, Arizona. Check the blog for further info.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
That's great, thanks Malcolm. Jeez I wish a few more people would get involved. Based on our exchanges the last month, I've thought of sending personal messages to Ashford, Steven Fromholz, and now Jeff Parrets and see if they might like to partake.
As I was telling you, I saw Michael Martin Murphey (he reminded us about the "e" in his last name; the proper Irish spelling) at the Bass Theatre in Ft Worth. The Bass is an absolute jewel, an updated take on a European opera house, complete with 4 stories of balconies. The acoustics are outstanding. Jerry Mills is not playing with him, he's touring with three excellent musicians (and I shouldn't have started writing without looking up their names), lead guitar and hammered dulcimer, bass (both electric and stand-up) and fiddle. Good show. Michael, if you should ever log into this forum; I think you should cover the Badger Clark song Spanish is a Loving Tongue. It would be tough to do it better than Emmy Lou, but I can't think of a male artist who could do it better. T
-------------------------------------------------------------------
T ~ I still forget the "e" in MMM's name. Old habits... People GO to websites out of a need -- whether it's information or to buy something or curiosity, etc. People come BACK to websites because the sites are updated -- new merchandise, new info, latest controversy, etc... I know we've had a very good number of people who have visited the FreeForm Forum and left no discernable footprint. That's OK. I think that over time, as people who lurk get to see that actual reconnections with freeform and their past compadres can happen using this site, there will be more participation... Just in this first year of operation, I've been able to renew friendships with my old pal Jim Clancy (KCFR - KFML - CNN), get to re-know Dan Yurman (KFML), communicate a lot with Moe Armstrong (KSAN - KUNM), trade mail with some of my old KCSB pals, and meet a new one (you). So, for me it has been worth it. When the word gets around and past freeform programmers see they can do the same with the people they want to connect with, there will be more repeat visitors and participants. ~ m
-------------------------------------------------------------------
We're not all dead, some of us just look like it. Let's face it, war is hell. FYI, I spoke with Frumholz last year (I think) and he is leading wild water trips for city types in West Texas. He sounded great. I have great stories, but I can't tell them til either he or I is/are gone. Like Hunter Thompson. When I was at KHOW in Denver, we used to have the phone number at his favorite bar in Aspen. If we didn't over use it, we were allowed to call him for comments on whatever. He was a great occasional voice on the radio. - Ashford
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Bill ~
Sorry to hear about the Doctor's checkout. He was certainly a cultural hero.
I sent Fromholz an email about two weeks ago, but no reply. I've never met him, but wanted to let him know we were thinking about him. The email address I sent to is:
steven@stevefromholz.com
... Got it from his website. He's in cahoots with a rafting outfit HQ'd in Taos. I rode down the Rio Bravo with those guys in the early 1990's. Fun people.
Read a bit about health issues with Fromholz, while I was at his site. Happen to know anything more about that?
Monday, August 08, 2005
Tom Donahue brief bio
The Mickster at WNTI (North NJ and NE PA) did a decent but brief bio on Tom Donahue at:
Public Arts : Tom Donahue...300 Pounds of Solid Sounds (2005-02-19)
Public Arts : Tom Donahue...300 Pounds of Solid Sounds (2005-02-19)
Holland, Dozier and Holland
In my mind (or, I should say "my ear"), the best songwriting trio ever... They had a unique way of working together... Here's a recent interview with the three who helped make Motown great, complete with whole versions of some of their most popular hits:
NPR : Songwriting Trio: Holland, Dozier and Holland
NPR : Songwriting Trio: Holland, Dozier and Holland
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Charles Laquidara
Charles Laquidara was there at KPPC-FM (Pasadena, CA) when Tom Donahue took over and changed the station's programming to make it Southern California's first freeform station in 1967.
After the KMPX strike in 1968 and the move of Donahue and Crew to KSAN, Laquidara moved to freeformer WBCN-FM (Boston, MA) in 1969.
He's got a content-rich site, complete with audio clippings and biographical info at:
The Big Mattress
"The Big Mattress" was a morning show Laquidara developed, beginning in 1972, that became a Boston favorite for the next 2 decades and more.
After the KMPX strike in 1968 and the move of Donahue and Crew to KSAN, Laquidara moved to freeformer WBCN-FM (Boston, MA) in 1969.
He's got a content-rich site, complete with audio clippings and biographical info at:
The Big Mattress
"The Big Mattress" was a morning show Laquidara developed, beginning in 1972, that became a Boston favorite for the next 2 decades and more.
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