WOR-FM/New York was the first commercial FM station to play Rock. This was WOR-FM's first day on the air with live talent (the station had been running jockless since July '66 due to a labor dispute). Personalities included Scott Muni, Johnny Michaels, Murray The K, and Rosko.
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| Ichiban Radio Productions |
Last week, we had a visit from listener Wim Reckers from the Netherlands. We were the last stop on his bicycle tour of the USA!! Here's his take on NYC.
What an amazing city New York is. Nothing to compare with. Twenty-four hours a day you are stiff with stimuli, everywhere there is something to see and experience. This time (I've been here many times) I went a little more off the beaten track, through the Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn. You lack eyes and ears.
Yesterday first – for the weekly radio broadcasts on Noord and OOG – to the radio studio of Boss Radio 66 (photo 1), an internet station in Brooklyn that broadcasts old rock & roll, blues and soul 24 hours a day. I listen to it very often, you spontaneously wash and vacuum faster. From there, yesterday, the contributions with the Netherlands.
Then strolled through Brooklyn. What a circus! Stalls, music, crowds, life everywhere (photos 2, 3 and 4). Just an afternoon lunch at the Chinese, cozy between the parked mopeds (photo 5), and then on to Harlem. Same sheet a suit (photos 6 and 7). Finally, across the High Bridge (New York's oldest bridge, photo 8) to the Bronx, to Yankee Stadium for the usual game of baseball.
The New York Yankees want to convey that they – and only they – are the epitome of baseball in America. They built a stadium in 2009 for the sweet sum of 2.3 billion dollars, in the middle of the Bronx working-class district. Everything should radiate that you don't just come here to watch a baseball game. No, it's a baseball experience. The idea is that you will be taken by the hand to the baseball mecca.
To begin with, the exterior view. I came walking through the dingy Bronx streets and suddenly there he is, as if a spaceship has crashed. I don't think it's beautiful; maybe a little ugly to say, but the thing could have been designed by Albert Speer, the notorious architect of the Third Reich (photo 8).
Inside, it's all Yankees splendor. A real Yankees museum, where the old heroes can be idolized. There is a solemn silence as we shuffle reverently from one Yankees greatness to the next (photos 9 and 10). Further on is a 'Monument Park', where they are once again immortalized in bronze. The match will be lost, by the way.
At night a stop along the East River. You probably recognize this image (photo 12). New York all the way. Now some museums and shopping (it's raining here!) and then slowly packing up luggage and bicycle for the return trip next Wednesday.
Finally, I would like to thank you again sincerely and sincerely for all your sweet and heartwarming responses, over and over again. Fantastic, it was a motivation every day, and sometimes also a heart under the belt. Glad you cycled with me a bit every day, on the back of the luggage carrier. It's helped me a lot to be able to do what I've done here.
Thanks to Peter Skiera for choosing Boss Radio 66 as the #1 recommended online radio station of 2022!
Check out his Patreon page for the other stations. The runner up sounds pretty cool too!
WVON/Chicago was one of the most influential Black radio stations of the sixties and beyond. Here's E. Rodney Jones with the soul of Chicago in 1966.
In the Sixties, Miami's WQAM was the destination station for lovers of Top 40 radio, and Rick Shaw was its brightest star. Here's Rick Shaw on Tiger Radio WQAM from September, 1964.
This week's subject is K.O. Bayley, sometimes known as K.O. Beachin or Bob Elliot. K.O. worked in many cities, but is best remembered in Detroit, San Diego, New York, and San Francisco. This week we'll listen to K.O. on KFRC/San Francisco. I understand that he was a favorite of Boss Radio 66's Tom Hanks. So Tom, this one's for you!
This week, it's your main man Jake, booby. Jack Spector on WMCA/New York in September, 1965. This was originally a scoped studio-quality aircheck. I restored the music, and remixed the whole thing in stereo. You've never heard WMCA like this before! Listen and enjoy.
Thanks to Peter Skiera for recommending Boss Radio 66 as the #1 station for August in his Recommended Stations newsletter! Here's an excerpt from our interview.
Two and a half years ago I recommended a fantastic oldies Internet station called Rock ‘n’ Soul Ichiban by New Jersey station WFMU. That stream was expertly programmed by Debbie Daughtry. After 18 years at WFMU she was let go by the station manager during the summer of 2020, so she took all her records and went home. She then did what any music and radio geek would have done- she started her own station! Boss Radio 66 is a new and improved version of Rock ‘n’ Soul Ichiban with a minty fresh taste. She also forced WFMU to drop the “Ichiban” name. You go girl.
Songs I’ve Never Heard
As with Daughtry’s previous station, most of the artists on Boss Radio 66 I’ve never heard of before. Examples? The Monks, The Vibrations, The Rhythm Rockers, The Exciters, Wanda Jackson, The Iguanas, and The Apostles. Even the names I was familiar with like Chuck Berry, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Zombies, The Ronettes, The Kinks, and The Guess Who, featured songs that weren’t monster hits but were nonetheless most enjoyable to listen to. There’s nothing particularly special about your average oldies station, but my Recommended Stations are never average. In the case of Boss Radio 66, it gives life to forgotten rock and soul gems from the 50’s and 60’s. If you think that drastically limits BR66’s playlist, your ears will be pleasantly surprised. Boss Radio 66’s music library exceeds 8,800 songs. The music libraries of most of my Recommended Stations don’t even come close to that figure. Of course, quality is more important than quantity, but I have no complaints in that department either.
Vintage Fluff
In between song sets, the retro vibe is further reinforced with nifty vintage sound bites and radio adverts like the “Pepsi generation” and “Diet Rite” spots, an extended segment from the US Army’s In Sound radio program, B movie trailers, a Dragnet-inspired public service announcement, and old radio station jingles performed by The Johnny Mann Singers. Some stations go overboard with this kind of fluff and it can border on annoying, but Boss Radio 66 strikes just the right balance between music and nostalgic clips.
Unlike most of the people I’ve interviewed for my Recommended Stations, Daughtry, like myself, actually has professional radio experience, having worked for NPR, WQXR, WNYC, Air America Radio, and her time with WFMU. That experience lends Boss Radio 66 a consistent, professional sound. It also has a clean sound since it streams in the AAC audio codec. I re-established contact with Daughtry to get the story behind her new station.
Peter: Why the name Boss Radio 66?
Debbie: It could mean 66 on the AM Dial or the year 1966, when so much great music was being released.
Peter: Assuming most of your listeners are from the US, what are the other leading countries?
Debbie: UK and France.
Peter: Tom Hanks created an hour-long Rockabilly/Surf/Hot Rod radio show exclusively for Boss Radio 66?
Debbie: Tom Hanks has been a DJ for the past year, with 9 shows to date. The name of his show is Songs From The Back Of The Station Wagon. All of our archived shows are uploaded to Mixcloud.
Peter: How did the Hanks show come about?
Debbie: Tom was a big fan of the Ichiban stream and he sent me a type-written letter @ 10 years ago. We became pen pals and when I told him I'd been fired from WFMU, he offered to do a guest DJ set for me. That was last July and he's done 8 more shows since then! He's a great DJ.
Peter: Do you have a favorite strange album or song?
Debbie: So many! I especially love weird advertising records.
Peter: How does Boss Radio 66 stay on the air?
Debbie: We are listener supported. Fans can donate via Ko-Fi or Patreon
Peter: Anything else to add, Debbie?
Debbie: We are always looking for new DJ's who spin obscure 60's music! Get in touch bossradio66@gmail.com
Boss Radio 66 is a fun, upbeat Internet station you won’t soon grow weary of listening to. It sounds so sweet you could practically spread it on a biscuit. It’s a great summer station, too, though I started tuning in long before the summer rolled around. Even though it’s technically an oldies station it maintains a fresh sound since every song isn’t burned into your cerebral cortex. It also helps that it’s programmed by someone who knows exactly what she’s doing and has major respect for the music. Hey- If it’s good enough for Tom Hanks…
Now you can support Boss Radio 66 by becoming a monthly member for $6 a month. Cheap! Thanks to all our monthly supporters! Autumn E, Pat K, Melissa Jean G, Connie F, Deviln T, Lynn P, Mandy M, Andreas T and Scooter!
Fuzzy 60s garage, wild rockabilly, hot R&B, and a spotlight on the Antipodes !
Rising Suns - I'm Blue
Rogues - It's The Same All Over The World
Unlimited - Feelings
Spires Of Oxford - But You're Gone
Livin' End - Making Time
Tom & The Tornadoes - Long Pony Tail
Sam Hall & The Mor-Loks - Elaine
Lenny And The Thundertones - Hot Ice
Jerry Dallman And The Knightcaps - The Bug
Bracey Everett - The Lover's Curse
Pogs - The Pogs Theme
Missing Links - You're Driving Me Insane
Little Easybeats - Coca Cola spot
La De Das - Jump Back
Steve & The Board - Farmer John
Tony Barber - I Want Her Too
Pretty Boy Don Covay - Switchen' In The Kitchen
Slim Harpo - Little Queen Bee
Little Jerry Williams - Hum Baby
Syl Johnson - Little Sally Walker
Lord Luther - A Thinkin' Man's Girl
Sheep - Hide And Seek
Stags - You Know He Did
Jimmy Soul - Everybody’s Gone Ape
Happy 66 Tom! Hope it's another bitchin' year! Thanks to David Helton for the beautiful birthday card.
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| Image by Johnny Bartlett |
Tune in Saturday, July 9th for an all day marathon with birthday boy, DJ Tom Hanks! Starting at NOON ET, we'll hear the latest and greatest new show followed by all the archives. Don't miss it!
Birthday greets can be sent to P.O. Box 66, Brooklyn, NY, 11218
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