Now we don't understand why they called in the National Guard,
When Uncle Sam is the One Who Belongs in the Exercise Yard---
10cc "Rubber Bullets", (1973)
Those of my fellow Bay Areans who grew up in the Seventies (and those among you who just like pop music from that era) I hope will take a trip into the time machine offered here--a link to the Bay Area Radio website that features two hours or so of regular programming from radio station KLIV-1590 AM. The main sample I previewed is from an average broadcasting afternoon on August 19,1973. Tom Powers is your announcer. This is back when San Jose's "Silicon Valley" was simply the Santa Clara Valley in Santa Clara County. (We had computer companies like Hewlitt Packard and SemiMetals in the Valley back then, just not all over the place!)
Remember 1973? We were finally out of the Vietnam War, but Nixon was in the early stages of his Watergate meltdown; serial killers,alas, were still crazy and around (there was a local guy named Herbert Mullin who is reported on the KLIV newscast as being found guilty of murdering 10 people in order to try to prevent earthquakes!!!) ; there were a lot of fires all over southern and central California just as there are now. But the music I think was better. (Of course I'm totally objective). :-)
KLIV was my choice for listening to the hits of the time, some of which I might later go out and get on .45 records (which were about a dollar ) or a five or six dollar album. Just hearing some of the old commercials on this audio sample was well worth it. So many songs I remember--some still popular on "oldies" stations today. The Doobie Brothers "China Grove" for instance. Jim Croce was still alive--or at least still on the charts. Paul McCartney was doing his "Live and Let Die" thing with "Wings". Other songs--like a fine one by Aretha Franklin at around 55 minutes of the first hour--is one I've totally forgot, although I don't understand how I could because it is great.
There's also Maureen McGovern singing "There's Got to Be a Morning After" from the water-logged diaster movie "The Posideon Adventure". Hey, they can't all be unqualified gems, folks. As well as Cher doing "Half Breed", which I think isn't politically correct but belongs in the Great Cher Collection of "I'm A Real Alienated Chick, Dudes" songs. They also drop a few country-western "cross-over" songs here and there. Just so you know.
Anyway, good memories in this link. Old Jack in the Box commercials back before the clown was a snarky guy who flew around in his own jet and wore a tie and suit.
They weren't better times necessarily, just different. (More parking spaces and vacant lots around at least.) You'll get some good memories,too, even if you were listening to a different station in another part of the USA methinks. All you need is a Real Player download.
Bay Area Sports fans might want to look around the site as well for Giants and A's and Forty Niner and Raider games featuring commentary by the great Russ Hodges and the great Bill King and the superlative (at times) Lon Simmons! (Look up KSFO on the site.) The old San Francisco Warriors--whose current incarnation is locked in a tough playoff series right now with the Utah Jazz--is also here, as is the old Oakland Seals Hockey team. Anyway, my main goal is to inspire some rock and roll recalls as we first heard them "back in the day" so...what are you waiting for?
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