The Bob Green Collection
Bob Green, 1963 
WQAM Fabulous 56 Survey, Week beginning August 3, 1963
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Bob Green of Bob Green Productions in Houston was PD of WKNR, Detroit, a great and legendary Top 40 station. Prior to WKNR, he worked at WQAM in Miami, and after WKNR, he was PD at KULF in Houston. He has about 700 reels of some of the greatest Top 40 radio ever made - and Bob made a lot of it!
Bob says: I began in radio in 1958, and I remember well how radio people would tell me... "now in MY day..." I promised myself that when I got to be the old guy, I'd NEVER say that to an aspiring radio personality. And, I've NEVER said it - but I THINK it all the time. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to work Top 40 in the sixties. Bob's collection is particularly notable (and delightful!) for the focus on production elements and commercial jingles of the era. Bob has demos of his award-winning production online at the Bob Green Productions website, and he invites you to surf on in at your convenience. There is simply no other way to thank Bob for these treasures than to say, Thanks, Bob! |
Todd Storz created Top 40 Radio, but nothing explains the existence of this brassy, shrill 1959 jingle package for Satellite Radio. Now, we can only wonder if Storz envisioned his station on a satellite feed, but it seems certain that being in the Magic City with a hot Top 40 radio station – he wanted to be part of the next big thing. Did these jingles ever make it to the air? Who produced these jingles? Why does it matter? Well, you haven’t considered the consequences of The Magic Eye.
Take a trip to space with Satellite radio! Leave all your cares below, go soaring through the world of stars! You’ll hear good music – out of this world! The Magic Eye is blasting off from The Magic City. Things are swingin’ in Miami, it’s the Sky High Sound of WQAM.
You’re in orbit with WQAM – welcome aboard the spaceship. But what about that Magic Eye, it has the world News and View, The Sports, The Weather, and SpaceStation 560 is looking down, all around, with the great big Magic Eye, it’s watching everything and keeping us well-informed. Are there privacy issues here? It’ll probably buy all the radio stations and put them in one building with one voice-tracked DJ and no jingle package at all, not even this one.
[Description by contributor Bob Green]
On a fairly regular basis, I receive e-mails saying.. more WQAM airchecks. Much of what I have is redundant, and embarrassing.
This exhibit is from a couple of days in August 1963. The fidelity ranges from very good to NOT very good, and the use of the “echo-button” is overwhelming. But it does contain a few interesting commercials, including the best one touting the need for more monosodium glutimate in our diet.
And enjoy we will! Thank you, Bob, for a truly classic recording. Robert W. Morgan had been with KHJ from the first week, in 1965, right up until his last hour (featured here), which Uncle Ricky guessed to be late August or early September, 1970. (Since then, our friend Don Jennett has provided a more exact date (see comments): Friday, October 2, 1970.)
Morgan went to WIND, Chicago – Charlie Tuna took his place in the mornings at KHJ; Morgan returned to KHJ in 1972, and Tuna went to KCBQ in San Diego.
This particular ‘check contains multiple moments to remember, including phoners with Emperor Bob Hudson, Charlie Tuna and of course, the Wolfman Jack sing-a-long with Bobby Sherman and Robert W.
Wolfman is introduced as “Dick Whittinghill” at 8:35 into this clip.
Bob did his best to gently persuade the contestant for Keener DJ Baseball to think carefully about going back to school. (Let’s hope he succeeded!) Remember the “Best Reason in the World to Drink Beer” Budweiser spots (with Ed McMahon?)
This composite ‘check includes an edited interview with Davey Jones of the Monkees, and features the Keener Count (13 to 1) from the Keener Music Guide that week. You’ll hear the famous KEENER 13 PAMS logo, and careful listeners will note the then legally-required “beep” in some of the phone stuff!
THIS IS AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THE EXHIBIT THAT ORIGINALLY DEBUTED ON JUNE 9, 1996.
Who remembers the act that the Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for on their first American appearance in Detroit? One also has to wonder how many of the kids that “testified what your love has done for me” ended up doing it for divorce proceedings in later years.
This composite exhibit includes The Supremes as guests on the Scott Regen Show, and Diana Ross reminisces about meeting Gordon Cooper and Charles Conrad, Jr., (Commander and Pilot of the Gemini V mission).
You’ll also hear a live on air call to the winner of a Motown contest, an early localized American Idol. (The winner was blind and in a wheelchair.) Bob says, We did 90% of our calls live, on air… without benefit of even a delay.
Amen! (Mr. Green is preaching to the choir on this one.) This is prime, genuine, authentic Top 40 radio from the 60’s. I wonder how many tape machines WQAM had online in 1963? Rick Shaw pops off promo after jingle after jingle after contest after promo after jingle!
Emotional level of this prize exhibit is over the top – bring a hanky. Mabel! Black Label! – Everybody’s heard about the bird – Identify the Daffy Dusty Melody – Prizes not Promises! – Number 5 in the PLATTER POLL – BEEP! – 56 seconds to call and win!
Wow!
Rick Shaw passed away on September 22, 2017. He was 78.