Saturday, April 18, 2015

Rock & Roll Never Forgets – Record Store Day!


Say hi to Jack in Wayne City IL!

It’s Record Store Day! Boomers – back in the day, what did you do when you heard a great new song on the radio? Hot-footed it down to your corner record store to buy it, of course. Do you know where your vinyl records are?
Yep-they're '70s radios!

Hunt them up, play them reverently. There’s nothing like vinyl for soul-catching layered sound. If you’re missing a fave, it might be a little more difficult to find a local record store, but there must be one – go dig in the secondhand bins for a long-lost treasure!

Have an unforgettable record memory from days of yore? Share it! I recall the first time I heard Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love” in headphones … oh, the ecstasy as its multi-leveled riffs buzzed in one ear and out the other like a psychotic bee on steroids!

And for those into new music, yep – they’re still making vinyl records. The reports of the death of those black spinning platters was greatly exaggerated!

The Record Store Day site is teeming with names of stores around the country participating in new exclusive releases and re-release specials, all weekend long.

“Best thing to do?” they say? “Follow your local store(s) on their social media(s) or give them a shout, or head on in in advance to find out what’s on the dancecard. There are parties being planned Saturday. It’s gonna be awesome.”

So put on your dancin’ shoes and boogie down to your closest record store; or jump-jive at home – set a stack of ol’ 45s on the turntable, and Rock On!

 







Monday, April 13, 2015

Blast from Your Past - Book 1, Excerpt 5: DJ Ken Chase aka Mike Korgan

[LR note 04/29/15: With heavy heart we report the ascent of Jack Ely to Rock & Roll Heaven, Monday, April 27, 2015. He was lead singer of The Kingsmen, whose song, "Louie Louie" became a legendary party song. BFYP DJ Ken Chase produced the record in 1963. His 1950s story is below. Party on, Jack!]

Every April 11th is “International ‘Louie Louie’ Day”! There are no raucous parties (that I know of) happening (unless at your place, and you didn't call me!), or even a link on the Brownielocks site that lists it as a special commemoration day.

But at BFYP it deserves distinct recognition because Ken Chase (aka Mike Korgan), one of our pioneering Rock & Roll DJs, produced the iconic song by The Kingsmen in April 1963. “Louie Louie” rose to the top of the charts and by November, and for all time, became the “ultimate party song.”

Granted, 1963 is out of the purview of BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959), but Mike’s tenure at the mic began well before “Louie Louie’s” bouncy beat hit the airwaves.

Rock on in Excerpt #5 from Book 1, Blast from Your Past! Rock & Roll Radio DJs: the First Five Years 1954-1959. Enjoy the moments … again!(TM)