You Make the Call

 Posted by
Jun 062010
 

Hartford, CT has two passable radio stations. WDRC-FM 102.9 is an oldies station, although they have been tweaking the format for the last 2 years and no longer use the term oldies but rather “good time rock ‘n roll.” WAQY-FM 102.1 out of Springfield, MA is a classic rock station.

In honor of MLB umpire Jim Joyce, I present nine choices for you. These are taken from actual instances on the radio while driving on weekend errands. I noted which song was being played on DRC and which song was on 102.1. So, you make the call: If you were listening, which song would be safe and which would be out. First song listed in each is the oldies choice, second is the classic rock choice.

(1) Neon Philharmonic, “Good Morning Girl” vs. Santana, “Oye Como Va”
(2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” vs. The Beatles, “Golden Slumbers” medley
(3) The Four Tops, “Same Old Song” vs. Heart, “Barracuda”
(4) Archie Bell & The Drells, “Tighten Up” vs. David Bowie, “Young Americans”
(5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds” vs. Boston, “More Than A Feeling”
(6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’” vs. Journey, “Lights”
(7) Beach Boys, “Wendy” vs. Don Henley, “Dirty Laundry”
(8) Jonathan King, “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon” vs. Grand Funk, “American Band”
(9) Billy Joel, “Only The Good Die Young” vs. Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”

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  22 Responses to “You Make the Call”

  1. Mr. Moderator

    I hope I don’t “kick the shit” out of these decisions.

    (1) Santana, “Oye Como Va”
    (2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”
    (3) Heart, “Barracuda” (only because it’s funnier – I’m tired of “Same Old Song”)
    (4) David Bowie, “Young Americans” (toughest call of the bunch; had it been “I Just Can’t Stop Dancing” Archie would have edged Bowie’s phinest Philly moment.
    (5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds”
    (6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’”
    (7) Beach Boys, “Wendy”
    (8) Grand Funk, “American Band” (this one was tough – isn’t King the guy who would go on to manage Genesis or Pink Floyd or some prog band?)
    (9) Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night” (never thought I’d pick a Squier song, but considering the competition…)

  2. bostonhistorian

    1. Santana is out, and not only out, but ejected from the game on the first pitch.

    2. Golden Slumbers is out under suspicion of being recorded with the help of banned substances.

    3. The Four Tops are safe, but barely. They’re like an over the hill player trying to hang on to reach 3000 hits.

    4. How can Archie Bell and the Drells be anything but safe? Better hope they don’t have to wait on the bench for a long half inning since they apparently have trouble staying loose.

    5. The King is saaaaaafe

    6. Dusty is safe, and not just because my wife’s aunt wrote a biography of her life. Dusty in Memphis is an all time top ten.

    7. Game called because of rain. Not an official game, no statistics count.

    8. Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, down three runs. It’s hit deep to left, the left fielder is racing
    back to the wall….it’s a grand funk!

    9. Does the title prove Billy Joel sucks? If he were good shouldn’t he be dead? Billy Squier is safe by a mile…

  3. Mr. Moderator

    Brilliant, bostonhistorian!

  4. hrrundivbakshi

    (1) Santana, “Oye Como Va” — safe, though I continue to get hives when I hear the bowdlerized version that’s considered “radio-friendly” these days. (The original has the line: “Oye como va, mulata” — roughly translated as, “Hey, how’s it going, hot black chick,” though the term “mulata” is really halfway between “black” and a much lighter version of the term “nigger.” The radio-friendly version uses digital trickery to chop off a syllable such that you hear: “Oye como va, mulaaah.” Bullshit!

    (2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”
    (3) Heart, “Barracuda”
    (4) David Bowie, “Young Americans”
    (5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds”
    (6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’” vs. Journey, “Lights” — talk about a Hobson’s choice, or whatever! Grudgingly I’ll give the nod to Dusty, who I otherwise can’t stand. Steve Perry is one of the few singers I like even *less.*
    (7) Beach Boys, “Wendy” — come ON.
    (8) Grand Funk, “American Band” — probably the greatest Rundgren achievement ever.
    (9) Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night” — I’m less tired of hearing the Squier turd.

  5. the folloeing are safe:
    Santana, “Oye Como Va”
    The Beatles, “Golden Slumbers” medley
    The Four Tops, “Same Old Song”
    David Bowie, “Young Americans”
    Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds”
    Journey, “Lights”
    Don Henley, “Dirty Laundry”
    Jonathan King, “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon”(i don’t know this song but American Band gets NO FUCKIN PLAY in this ride)
    Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”

  6. (1) Neon Philharmonic, “Good Morning Girl” vs. Santana, “Oye Como Va”

    Santana. I like Santana.

    (2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” vs. The Beatles, “Golden Slumbers” medley

    I Want to Hold Your Hand

    (3) The Four Tops, “Same Old Song” vs. Heart, “Barracuda”

    I’d pick “Same Old Song” over many other Motown favorites, let alone “Barracuda”

    (4) Archie Bell & The Drells, “Tighten Up” vs. David Bowie, “Young Americans”

    I loves me some Arche Bell. Fame might have a better chance but the sax in Young Americans drives me crazy.

    (5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds” vs. Boston, “More Than A Feeling”

    Elvis. But that Elvis soundalike song called “Suspicion” by Terry Stafford beats “Suspicious Minds” in my book.

    (6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’” vs. Journey, “Lights”

    “Wishin’ & Hopin'” I can hear anything other than Journey.

    (7) Beach Boys, “Wendy” vs. Don Henley, “Dirty Laundry”

    “Wendy”, but much as I dislike the Eagles, I do have a soft spot for Don Henley solo stuff.

    (8) Jonathan King, “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon” vs. Grand Funk, “American Band”

    I would probably go with Grand Funk, primarily bewcause of a friend’s parody, “We’re Just an Aryan Band”, which took the song to it’s not so distant logical conclusion. I know Zappa and Rundgren both produced Grand Funk. Which one did this one and did the other guy produce their version of “Loco-Motion”?

    (9) Billy Joel, “Only The Good Die Young” vs. Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”

    Both out on a double play?

  7. ladymisskirroyale

    Aren’t musical choices a lot about the personal memories they conjure up? Think of my choices as “I like that label so I’m buying that bottle of wine.”
    1. Santana – I grew up in AZ, so listening to Santana was part of a typical teenage rite of passage.
    2. Beatles Golden Slumbers – because my father used to sing it to me when I was going to sleep.
    3. Heart – see number 1.
    4. Tighten Up – tough choice but I’m going funk over soul.
    5. Another tough choice. Taste or nostalgia? I’m going for Boston. See #1.
    6. This is where taste predominates and I totally eschew my AZ roots. Dusty!
    7. Dirty Laundry is dumb, so almost any track would win over it. Besides Wendy’s has good frostees.
    8. Grand Funk! See #1. And the word “funk” gets an automatic vote.
    9. I’l go for “vs.”

  8. Here are the real calls I made:

    (1) Neon Philharmonic – Good Morning Girl – if I never hear Santana again (outside of the Woodstock version of Soul Sacrifice) I”ll be just fine

    (2) The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand – I’m beginning to think this is the greatest Beatles song ever

    (3) The Four Tops –Same Old Song – I could hear this same old song over and over and over…

    (4) Archie Bell & The Drells – Tighten Up – no contest

    (5) Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds – closer call than I would have thought because I am getting way tired of this song

    (6) Dusty Springfield – Wishin’ & Hopin’ – less of a contest

    (7) Don Henley – Dirty Laundry – I’m a big Beach Boys fan but I do like this Henley song. Like Geo, I like Henley solo (at least as far as the hits go); unlike him, my dislike for the Eagles (hits) is diminishing.

    (8) Grand Funk – American Band – should Grand Funk have had a Saturday morning cartoon show?

    (9) Billy Squier – Lonely Is The Night – I don’t know that I knew any Billy Squier song and here I am choosing one. Billy Joel makes it easy though. As I played this game I thought it was odd that I hadn’t heard a Zep song since they are played with such regularity on 102.1. When this Squier song started I thought it was a Zep song.

    I should have mentioned that this past weekend was a Super Sixties weekend on DRC so the playlist there was better than it might typically be.

  9. (1) Santana, “Oye Como Va”
    (2) The Beatles, “Golden Slumbers” medley
    (3) Heart, “Barracuda”
    (4). David Bowie, “Young Americans”
    (5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds”
    (6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’”
    (7) Beach Boys, “Wendy” (I don’t really know this one but I hate Don Henley except for Boys of Summer and maybe End of Innocence
    (8) Grand Funk, “American Band”
    (9) Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”

  10. Man, oh man. I adore that Neon Philharmonic record. Let’s hear it for Tupper Saussy! “Morning Girl” is fab slice of pop, but if we’re making the call, that tune isn’t even in the ball park. If I want to keep people tuned in I have to call the Santana tune “safe.” If it were me dialing in, I’d stick with any station brave enough to play Tupper, but there’s no way in a million years that tune will ever be safe.

    “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is safe by a mile. It’s exhilertating, plus it’s an actual hit. The Medley is good stuff, but in a head to head, it’s the early dance tune that will keep people’s feet moving.

    The Four Tops are safe, but “Barracuda” IS funnier.

    David Bowie is safe, but I do enjoy the music we tighten up with.

    This is a close call, but “Suspicious Minds” is about as fine a song as there ever was. Also, it’s Elvis. So he’s safe.

    I’m tuning into Dusty, but I have to call it like I see it. Journey is safe.

    I like this oldies station. It seems a little daring. Daring may make some big plays, but it’s not safe. Don Henley is safe.

    Grand Funk. Safe!

    See? Now the oldies station makes a play that can put them back in the game. Billy Joel is the safe choice.

    By my tally, the two stations were even in my calls. Looks like the oldies station scores more runs and they do it in a bold way. They’re not afraid to make risky plays in order to stay in the game, therefore making them a fun team to watch. The classic station sticks with the obvious. It works and probably gets them to the playoffs, but they can’t win where it counts most. I’m listening to the oldies station.

    TB

  11. (1) Santana, “Oye Como Va”

    (2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”
    I urge all townsfolk to immediately listen to this song again. This has to be one of the undisputed best pop gems ever performed. Killer harmonies, a simple sentiment, seemingly simple guitar parts, open hi-hat, clocking in at 2:24, unmistakable drug reference (I GET HIGH, not I CAN’T HIDE) — plus the best seven beat ending ever … “HA- HA- HA- HA- HA- HA- Hannnnd.” Whew. I’m cueing it up as we speak.

    (3) Heart, “Barracuda”
    I love the guitar parts.

    (4) David Bowie, “Young Americans”

    (5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds”
    Elvis wins with this one every time.

    (6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’”
    Journey? I’m tuning out right away.

    (7) Beach Boys, “Wendy”

    (8) Grand Funk, “American Band”

    (9) Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”

  12. 2000 Man

    (1) Neon Philharmonic, “Good Morning Girl”
    (2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”
    (3) Heart, “Barracuda”
    (4) David Bowie, “Young Americans”
    (5) Elvis and Boston are tossed from the game for sucking and I switch to Sports Talk on AM.
    (6) Haven’t changed back from AM yet.
    (7) Still haven’t changed back.
    (8) Grand Funk, “American Band”
    (9) I’m giving up and putting in a cd.

  13. I would love to hear a mash-up of “everyone’s gone to the moon” and “wonderful tonight” because I think they are largely the same song.

  14. The only mashup I’d like to hear involving Wonderful Tonight would be with John Cage’s 4’33” and then only if 4’33” was 99.44% of the mashup.

  15. Speaking of oldies, np is John Fogerty’s two disc live The Long Road Home which even as I was paying for it I thought “Why are you buying this?”. The answer was because it was only $5.00.

    It is surprisingly good but having said that, is anyone else out there totally sick & tired of “Proud Mary”? With all the classic CCR songs, how is it that that one is probably the most popular? I’d be well into a second disc if I were compiling a Best of CCR before I’d ever consider that one.

  16. misterioso

    (1) Neon Philharmonic, “Good Morning Girl” vs. Santana, “Oye Como Va”

    I have no knowledge of Neon Harmonic. I dislike Santana intensely, for the most part, but Oye Como Va is one of about 2 or 3 songs I don’t mind at all. So, Santana slides in safely.

    (2) The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” vs. The Beatles, “Golden Slumbers” medley

    I love ’em both, but–and it is hard to imagine how or why this is the case–I Want to Hold Your Hand is underrated whereas Golden Slumbers Medley has become overexposed. So, “Hand” is safe at home.

    (3) The Four Tops, “Same Old Song” vs. Heart, “Barracuda”

    No knock on the Four Tops, but Barracuda is a major song of my childhood. Wilson sisters, safe and safer!

    (4) Archie Bell & The Drells, “Tighten Up” vs. David Bowie, “Young Americans”

    Tighten Up, safe! Never have been as keen on Young Americans in reality as in theory. There is a good tv performance version from the Cavett show that I like better, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bed-pnf6oGY

    (5) Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds” vs. Boston, “More Than A Feeling”

    Sacrilege, but Boston is safe by a nose. That song is always going to get cranked in my car. Sorry, E.

    (6) Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’” vs. Journey, “Lights”

    Sweet, Jesus, Journey is out, out by a mile, didn’t even get into the batters’ box. Out. And stay out.

    (7) Beach Boys, “Wendy” vs. Don Henley, “Dirty Laundry”

    No real enthusiasm for Wendy, but the fielder dropped the ball. Henley is ejected, fined, and suspended.

    (8) Jonathan King, “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon” vs. Grand Funk, “American Band”

    Sorry, a brawl erupted and King and Grand Funk were both sent to the showers.

    (9) Billy Joel, “Only The Good Die Young” vs. Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”

    Squier, safe by by a mile.

  17. alexmagic

    1. Neon Philharmonic, “Good Morning Girl” vs. Santana, “Oye Como Va”
    I don’t know the former, so I’d probably give that a shot over Santana, which I’m sure I’d have no problem hearing again whether I wanted to or not.

    2. The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” vs. The Beatles, “Golden Slumbers” medley
    I agree about the greatness of I Want To Hold Your Hand, but the medley has two truly transcendent musical moments for me: part that starts with and follows “But oh, that magic feeling…” and everything that falls in between the tail end of Polythene Pam and runs through Bathroom Window. I’m never turning that off.

    3. The Four Tops, “Same Old Song” vs. Heart, “Barracuda”
    Same Old Song. It hasn’t lost any luster for me, and Barracuda isn’t nearly as fun as a song that goofy should be.

    4. Archie Bell & The Drells, “Tighten Up” vs. David Bowie, “Young Americans”
    Tough one, but Young Americans has really grown on me in recent years. I love how weird his “…your President Nixon?” comes off, and the whole last verse is up there among Bowie’s finest moments.

    5. Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds” vs. Boston, “More Than A Feeling”
    Elvis, easy.

    6. Dusty Springfield, “Wishin’ & Hopin’” vs. Journey, “Lights”
    Probably Lights, because I’m always amused by how aggressively they avoid rhyming any of the lines. I like to imagine Steve Perry trying to come up with a word that would describe how attractive the Bay looks at sundown and rhymed with city, but being stumped.

    7. Beach Boys, “Wendy” vs. Don Henley, “Dirty Laundry”
    Dirty Laundry, but only this summer in honor of Pat Burrell.

    8. Jonathan King, “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon” vs. Grand Funk, “American Band”
    American Band, which I don’t really like, but enjoy listening to so I can change the lyrics to things like “We’re comin’ to your house, we’re steal your TV, we’re an American Bay-eeeend”

    9. Billy Joel, “Only The Good Die Young” vs. Billy Squier, “Lonely Is The Night”
    Squier. Better question, are there any “good time rock” songs that Joel can beat?

  18. I shall don the late Pince Nez and help some of you out on the Neon Philharmonic tune: It’s called “Morning Girl.” I don’t know what they played on the radio, but there’s two parts to the songs as it is reprised on the original album. It’s a nice slice of baroque pop in the vein of The Left Banke.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlF_PdlmkEA

    TB

  19. “are there any “good time rock” songs that Joel can beat?”

    A while ago,maybe even on RTH v1.0, I asked which Billy Joel song would you listen to if you had a gun to your head. Not a pleasant decision to have to make but a rewarding soul searching exercise nonetheless.

    I really dislike Billy Joel but I bet I can pick a song of his that I would rather hear than anything by the Red Hot Chile Peppers, Natalie Merchant or the Four Seasons.

  20. misterioso

    cdm, good one! Mind you, the mere thought of Billy Joel pretty much turns my stomach, but sign me up for “Sometimes a Fantasy” or even “You May Be Right” over anything by the friggin Chile Peppers, who suck in a big way, and certainly anything by Natalie Merchant.

    Beyond that, it would have to be a pretty big gun pointed at my head.

  21. jeangray

    “Sometimes a Fantasy” jus’ may be Joel’s one true masterpiece.

  22. Mr. Moderator

    jeangray, if that song sticks in my head today I’m coming to get you! 🙂

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