Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ~ JULY 1975

An Age-old Query Heats up Summer Airwaves  

Mid-to-late 1970s music was Pop Rock and Disco at its best. Which is to say, according to many “true” Rock & Roll fans, the music was mellowing … at least for a time. Disco tunes began filling up the Top 10, but we’re still heating up Summer with a lighter side of unrest … 50 Years Ago this Month … and away we go …

º JULY 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪ 

Radio stations flipping formats is an inherent trait of the trade. This month 50 Years Ago, KRRV—K-Red River Valley—in the heart of Texas (Dallas) did the unthinkable. It switched from Country music (go figure, in Texas) to Top 40 and became KIKM for several years. Yeehaw. And ... 

July 5^th: Pink Floyd were riding high, coming off their spectacular The Dark Side of the Moon album. A bit spent and wondering where to go next with their music, they sought to rationalize their success through 9^th album and same-named tour, Wish You Were Here. 
       Unfortunately, their final tour performance on this date two months before its official release, was less than stellar at the Knebworth music festival in the UK. Hoping for rave reviews, pyrotechnics and plane flyovers and all, they received lukewarm comments, due mostly to technical difficulties. It has, however, stood the test of time. As one music lover said, Wish You Were Here is … one of the most emotionally resonant albums in Rock history. 
       Personal comment: I would never disparage Pink Floyd. They’re phenomenal. However, about stage performances in general, after many years of escalating theatrics and especially dangerous ones, I’m still at a loss as to why that’s a part of concerts at all. In my humble opinion, it detracts from enjoying a truly talented performance for its merit.

July 20^th: It's reported that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were strapped for dollars to complete their Born to Run album, so they played concerts like crazy from 1974-‘77. Smack dab in the middle, they kicked off the “official” tour a month prior to its release date, on THIS date at the Palace Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island. Were you there? Then you also saw that Steven Van Zandt energized the band as a full-fledged member.  ♪ … In the day we sweat it out on the streets | Of a runaway American dream … We gotta get out while we’re young | ‘Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run … ♪  

♪ On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪  
Where were you bein’ silly in the Summer of ’75? Was it your coming-of-age year or another year of cool pool parties and hot Rockin’ Radio sounds in Bakersfield, California, or maybe Chi-ca-go? Here’s a sample of what and who you were listening to …

Dynamite DJs spun our top tunes with career highlight years, and one of the decade’s few female DJs, making her mark in broadcasting. We’re talkin’ Rockin’ love, a little Country & Disco! 

Who remembers the plum of Bakersfield, DJ Nancy Plum, and her fave cowboy hat? Though Nancy held down the fort in the midnight-to-6:00a spot for Rockin’ station, KAFY in the heart of central California, her heart Rocked with Country. She spent a lot of time at Country stations, prior to this gig. Was she the reason Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” was in KAFY’s Top 10? From Country to jazz to funk and Rock, Nancy made her station, your station. 
       If the Plum was your go-to DJ pal while you partied the night away, you’ll be glad to know she danced through the decades honing her broadcast skills, and wrote all about ‘em in her rompin’ book, Do Not Air: Radio Stories and "Other Stuff”. “What's really awesome is that today, Nancy Plum continues to be one of America's most popular disc jockeys, heard nationwide on Passport Radio on the web,” says her blurb. Now, her tunes are “5 at 5 Jukebox Jams” and the “60’s at 6.”
       At KAFY, you’d swear she turned the station Country, as she crouches in boots and cowboy hat, next to a race car proudly sporting her name. The survey says, “You’ve Gotta be Plum Crazy!” Well, it’s a known fact that most DJs of the day were a little on the wild side … though Nancy sat behind a mic for work, she had a love for aviation that landed her in later years as an airborne reporter for KFWB News 980 in L.A. She musta been good, as in 2000 she claimed a Golden Mic award from the Southern California Radio and Television News Association.
       What top tunes was Nancy spinning at KAFY in July 1975? #1 – “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” asked WAR; #2 – “The Hustle,” heated up Disco by Van McCoy; and #3 – “Please Mr. Please,” begging for another song, by Olivia Newton-John.

While land-locked Californians listened to Nancy Plum on restless nights, DJ duo, Dick Sainte (Richard Arnold Middleton) and Doug Dahlgren, kept WCFL/Chicago listeners jumpin’ with their Dick and Doug Show.
       Though highly popular for years in Chicago, the guys, transplanted from Portland, Oregon, didn’t make a career to retire from in the Windy City. It was easy to struggle with all that was the Psychedelic ‘70s, and by all accounts, ‘CFL was their career highlight. Obviously frustrated about the station changing formats in 1976, they didn’t help matters any (or themselves), by bad-mouthing all things WCFL in the weeks leading up to its switch to elevator music. This account of Dick and Doug’s final show by pioneering DJ Jim Bartlett, is an interesting take by a jock who had experienced his first full-time station send-off in a rare, congenial manner.
       Dick and Doug’s mics were finally cut about a half-hour before the show’s scheduled sign-off, marking “the end” of their ‘CFL gig, March 12, 1976. Sadly for their fans, they couldn’t get work together again after, and though going their own ways, both eventually migrated back to the Pacific Northwest. Dick Sainte passed away at the age of 67 (12/10/2005), and Doug Dahlgren joined him in Rock & Roll Heaven just last year (11/30/2024), at the age of 82.
       While it’s frustrating to recount only a fraction of extraordinary lives lived, we are generally defined by one or two memorable moments from our full spectrum of fun in the sun. WCFL was that for both Dick and Doug.
       So, ‘CFL/Chicago fans, what were you listening to with the incomparable Dick and Doug? Spinning the 3 top spots of the chart: #1 – ironically, “Love Will Keep Us Together” by The Captain & Tennille; #2 – Paul McCartney reminding you, “Listen to What the Man Said”; and #3 – “One of These Nights,” promised the Eagles. 

♪ JULY ’75 Song of Note ♪      
This month’s Song of Note struck a note with listeners in 1975, peaking at #1 on KAFY/Bakersfield charts and still rising at #9 for WCFL/Chicago fans. The band’s name is markedly incongruous to the song’s title, and yet offers a simple solution for … WAR, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”

       It’s an especially poignant question, considering recentglobal events … and the daily unrest still today, in our own country. We could also ask, “Why is there so much hatred?” and be no closer to peace.
       Founding member of the popular funk/soul/jazz/Rock group, Leroy “Lonnie” Jordan and the band, used songwriter/producer, Jerry Goldstein’s influence to offer harmony with all their music, in troubled times. The song was even chosen by NASA, beaming the hopeful tune up to space to bond U.S. astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts in their space journey, this same month, for Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
       I rarely quote more than a line or two from sources, but WAR drummer, Harold Brown told Songfacts a philosophy about “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” origin that bears repeating … over and over and over: The band got the idea for this song when they were traveling in Japan in the early '70s …”We're all connected by language, and by our food, and by our culture. Most racists don't know why they're racist. But you pick them up and take them over and drop them in a country, like India or Pakistan, guess what? 'Why can't we be friends?' Because all of a sudden you find out we're more alike inside than we are on the outside. We started realizing that that's really important. You travel all over the world, you can't speak a lot of their language. But one thing they do know, they know your body language, how you may react." 
       With July 2025 still in the throes of discontent, the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, felt the need to honor WAR and their optimistic messages of peace, with a star (June 5, 2025) to commemorate their 50^th anniversary of the song’s same titled album. Are the song’s lyrics still relevant? You be the judge … 
♪ … I'd kinda like to be the President | So I can show you how your money's spent | Why can't we be friends? … ♪      

♪ July 2025 Music Events & More ♪    

Monday ~ July 7^th: Although the National Day of Rock ’n’ ‘Roll is listed on some holiday calendars, there is no definitive link to a supporting site. So let’s just roll with it! It’s described as a day to celebrate the climb of emerging Rock Radio up the charts as it gained popularity in mid-1950s through 1960s. And we’re all about that! The legends, the culture, the music and the Radio that urged us to dance, people, dance! Now would be a great day to watch Dirty Dancing (again).
       And yes, there is an International Day of Rock ‘n’ Roll on July 13^th, but is apparently only supported in Brazil and Ireland. Really? Never would’ve thunk it …  

Wednesday ~ July 30^th: And I guess the former sponsors of Paperback Book Day gave up, with the proliferation of eBooks and audio books. Well, we aging 39ers don’t give up so easily. I STILL sell Blast from Your Past paperback books! (Hence, the links 😊) Enjoy the true tales of Rock & Roll Radio DJs in the 1960s! (1954-1959 in eBook only) Thank you Rock & Roll friends. 

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
July 26, 1975 ~ WCFL/Chicago, Illinois, turned up the Summer heat with a Top 40 lineup that had something everyone. Feeling funky? Hankerin’ for Country? Want to jive to a Jazzy tune? Sure, it’s all there, but iconic ‘70s Rock & Roll is dominant. When it comes to big-time Rock Radio stations, ‘CFL had it all and many of the best pioneering Radio DJs. What’s your music flavor … 50 Years Ago this Month? Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Enjoy JULY 1975 and … Rockin’ Hot Memories!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
Blast from Your Past Gifts 
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk 

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LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            01/01/25: The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ~ APRIL 1975

APRIL ’75 Brought Freedom & Spring Alive!   

I have often mentioned how similar the 2020s are to the Rock and roil of the 1970s. This month, we find personal freedoms, political upheaval, irreverence and patriotism in both decades, all wrapped up in Peace and Love while Spring showers bring May flowers. A country and the ages bathed in contradictions.

But we’re talkin’ ‘bout Rock & Roll, after all—music that soothes the troubled soul—today, as it did yesterday. The only thing the Psychedelic Seventies decade really has over the current decade, is a catchy title! So let’s Rock On in 1975, looking back, from the Twisted Twenty-Twenties! Alright … I’ll keep workin’ on it. In the meantime, enjoy life … 50 Years Ago this Month …   

º APRIL 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪ 

April 3^rd or 4^th: Details are a little fuzzy 50 Years later. Now, be honest, as you’re reading this, you’re thinking you’ve either done it, or wished ya had at some point in a relationship … Steve Miller, yes THE Steve Miller, was apparently not happy in his relationship with Benita DiOrio. At least, it appeared that way to the cops who arrested him for setting her clothes and other items on fire—oh, and resisting arrest. No worries. The contentious Miller was released the next day when DiOrio dropped charges against him. Maybe he was bored ‘cause he hadn’t had a big hit since ‘73’s The Joker? The travesty of fame is everyone thinks your business is their business too. It made the news and here we are, fifty years later, still talking about it. Shame on us. 

April 28^th: Were you watching The Smothers Brothers Show on NBC this night when Ringo Starr and the comedy duo claimed they didn’t do drugs? Their fun, tongue-in-cheek (or fingers crossed) performance of Ringo’s “No No Song” delighted fans of his recent February hit. Whether they believed its premise or not. 😊  

♪ On Your Tinny Transistor Radio ♪  
Where were you dodging APRIL showers in 1975? Boise, Houston, Chicago? Here’s a sample of what and who you were listening to …    

If you found KFXD in Boise, Idaho, your go-to station 50 Years Ago, it’s a good bet you listened to the offbeat antics of DJ Drew Harold who wasn’t “…just another pretty foot.” It wasn’t only their DJs who were different … their survey style was also unconventional, with the “Boise Valley Music Survey” Issue No. 576 for April 30, 1975, listing your fave tunes as Hot / Moving / Warm and Night … and not in sequential order.
       Skewing the list, for instance, in the Hot category, the first five top tunes were: #1) “Wildfire” (Michael Murphy); #3) “Autobahn” (Kraftwerk); #4) “The Bertha Butt Boogie” (The Jimmy Castor Bunch); and #8) “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” (John Denver). See if you can figure it out at ARSA, my fave vintage surveys site. 

Then we mosey on down the road and flip the radio dial to Houston’s KILT for the same date and find DJ “Catfish,” the big guy at Big 610. Their chart sports a readable Top 40 with lyrics to their #10 standout tune, “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind and Fire. About the most funky, upbeat song I’ve heard in a long time … well in 50 Years!
       With some sketchy research, I believe I discovered The Catfish’s off-air name was Jim Prewitt; please feel free to correct me, if wrong. I did learn, however, that KILT was only his second radio gig in the beginning of a long career.  

And if you were in the Windy City, you must have heard the crusty but affable DJ Larry Lujack (1940-2013) on air at WCFL/Chicago. The venerable jock was a popular force to be reckoned with, and still a fond memory today. Profoundly present in our teen lives, Rock radio stations and their best DJs (like “Uncle Lar”) were often involved in our high school activities. Life was more innocent and enjoyable then, as we chatted with our radio idols at a school dance or special event.
       The Eagles* were riding the popularity wave with “Best of My Love” topping charts back in February. WCFL took advantage of their success, booking a school spirit contest to win a concert with them, emceed by Lujack. Dan Fogelberg (1951-2007) toured with Eagles in ’74, which likely got him on the school concert bandwagon too, as he navigated his solo musical footing. What a fun event that must have been for one lucky teen! 
       *A version of the Eagles with Don Henley in the forefront is still flying high in a Las Vegas Valley show this month, with added September dates because … well … their music is still a part of our souls, don’t ya think? More WCFL action in the Featured Radio Survey. Let’s keep Rockin’ On through April 1975 …

♪ April ’75 Song of Note ♪  

Let Freedom ring and April showers sing! Free your soul* and add a spring to your step as we celebrate Spring and our April Song of Note! *A little Rock & Roll meditation might help you remember or want to learn anew how a “non-political” song championed up to #3 by Chicago’s WCFL radio fans, became a patriotic anthem of the decades. Oh, and did I mention it was penned by two Brits?!  
       I kid you not … who doesn’t know “Philadelphia Freedom,” an iconic tune still in play today? If you’re an Eagles football fan, you’ll likely remember their ecstatic win over Kansas City Chiefs in February's Super Bowl LIX … let Philadelphia Freedom ring, as it hit the charts again in celebration.
       Simply by virtue of its title, the song’s iconic nature reaches back 50 Years Ago this Month as it energized radio listeners prepping for America’s 1976 bicentennial festivities. And now, 2026 will host our country’s Semiquincentennial—250^th— anniversary of American Independence.  
       Then, as now, politics were a hot button of patriotism and controversy, in life and in music. Master Brit musician, Elton John, asked lyricist, Bernie Taupin, to write a tribute tune for famed tennis champ, Billie Jean King. It’s reported, however, Taupin had no interest in that topic and penned the enigmatic song we’re still singing. One must wonder, though, how did it get from tennis to patriotism? According to Taupin, it didn’t … he insists it has nothing to do with tennis, King, or even patriotism—huh—ya coulda fooled me. For a non-patriotic song, it sure inspires freedom-loving loyaty!  
♪ … 'Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom | From the day that I was born, I've waved the flag … ♪ 

♪ April ’75 ~ Quirky Band Name Award ♪  
Every now and then, another genre makes a statement in Rock & Roll. Such was the case in April 1975 when Country artists, Pure Prairie League made a crossover hit out of “Amie.” After sitting in their 1972 album line-up, it was finally released as a single, and just getting started up the chart with WCFL listeners, at #35.
       Their ultimate success wasn’t just a fluke. Their original group began in 1970 with Craig Fuller, Tom McGrail, and John David Call. Pure Prairie League’s name was McGrail’s idea, emulating a temperance union in 1939’s Western movie, Dodge City with Errol Flynn. Though the band’s members have come and gone over the years, with guitar icons joining in, like Vince Gill, Gary Burr and Curtis Wright, they’re still around and proudly celebrating their 50^th anniversary. ♪ … I can never see what’s right | or what is wrong … ♪  

♪ April ’75 ~ Quirky Song Title ♪   
A couple of tunes on this month’s music chart from 50 Years Ago, caught my eye for this category. I thought you’d be learning more about “Remember What I Told You to Forget” by Tavares, just hitting the survey at WCFL’s #40. It reminds me of a question I might ask a close friend … however, it didn’t have a verifiable back-story. But that’s okay. I found the month’s perfect match … 

       Back to our running theme of patriotism, a surprising title was enjoying the top twenty for the month, pleading with the spirit of long-passed US President, Harry S. Truman to return in our hour of need. Yup, “Harry Truman” by Chicago, was a hit with 1975’s radio listeners as they grappled with the aftermath of Richard Nixon’s resignation. We could use his down-to-earth wisdom and trustful demeanor today, too. So tell me, do these lyrics speak to you, too?
       ♪ … America's wondering, "How we got here?" | Harry, all we get is lies | We're getting safer cars | Rocket ships to Mars | From men who'd sell us out | To get themselves a piece of power … ♪ Click the link to hear the campy tune …  

♪ April 2025 Music Events & More ♪    
It’s obvious we don’t want to let go of our vibrant retro Rock, as we keep finding ways today, to keep it movin’ on down the road …  

Crank up the volume on your amps, it’s International Guitar Month! Although the sponsoring site hasn’t updated its Guitar Month page since 2016, they’re johnny-on-the-spot with 2025 articles to sell you the latest equipment. Ok. Their prerogative.
       However, this site (albeit an old post) not only has histories and other fun info, but, “Watch 100 Guitar Riffs (A Brief History of Rock N’ Roll). Even if you don’t play guitar yourself, you’re sure to get a kick out of watching this clip. In just one take, Alex Chadwick, from The Chicago Music Exchange, chronologically plays 100 famous guitar riffs giving you a 12-minute history of rock n’ roll.” Now that’s cool …

Friday ~ April 11^th: What do you listen to your music on today? Your phone? Your computer? Some other fancy gizmo from the 21^st century? Welllll, today is 8-track Tape Day! I heard that … “Huh?! What’s that?” Oh, you are so spoiled. An 8-track tape player was a clunky portable radio-type music player, sometimes combined with our radios that then became our traveling music-maker. The “tapes” were about as clunky as the player. Nevermind, ask your grandparents while I go dig my tapes and player out of storage … Rock On!  

Friday ~ April 11^th: Sooooo, what did we play on our ol’ players? Get your party hat on, today we’re celebrating International "Louie Louie" Day, on whatever we can find to play the iconic 1963 party tune! There hasn’t been an official sponsoring link for several years, but no worries—our link above tells the story of BFYP DJ, Ken Chase of KISN/Portland fame, producer of the most popular version by The Kingsmen. Enjoy … reminisce … and party on!

April 20^th: Now, you know, among some folks of our generation (well, my generation), 4:20 p.m./April 20 is a holiday, right? Then you won’t be surprised to learn that the ever-high Cheech & Chong duo are releasing their authorized documentary today! First in a limited release, then we can all watch and reminisce in its nationwide release, April 25^th. The poster urges, “Bring a bud.” It should be a hoot! As AMC Theatres says, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie is “The result is an unlikely story of friendship and fame, turmoil and defiance, rebellion and ultimately - redemption.” Ummm, what they can remember of it … 

April 20^th-26^th: Just because there’s no sponsoring link, doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate National Karaoke Week! No sponsor link, and more frustrating, no related current events. However, I did find us an older link that offers great tips for having karaoke fun. Give it a look-see for “Kamikaze Karaoke” and “Dress-Up Karaoke.” And btw, “Louie Louie” sounds great whether you’re warbling into your home karaoke machine or regaling the local pub with your party tunes prowess … have fun!

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
April 19, 1975 ~ WCFL/Chicago, Illinois … “Lady Marmalade” was still hanging out on top of their chart, but coming up fast was Ringo’s “No No Song” and B.J. Thomas’s “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.” But WCFL’s big attraction was DJ delinquent, Larry Lujack and their “… win a concert” contest! 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Let’s Celebrate APRIL 1975 and … Rock On!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
Blast from Your Past Gifts 
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on “X”: @BlastFromPastBk 

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LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            01/01/25: The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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