grilled.cheese wrote:

I'm very surprised that all these new, fresh and hip songs are no longer played.

Indeed, my dad does not have any one of these on vinyl...though he does have 2 Blood Sweat and Tears albums
 

Donnie Iris "Ah Leah" is such a great tune, and I've rarely heard it on the radio.

betaylored wrote:

Donnie Iris "Ah Leah" is such a great tune, and I've rarely heard it on the radio.

If only Gord Lightfoot or Michel Bubbles would cover it 
 

RadioActive wrote:

I always thought I was the only one who wondered why certain Top 40 hits – even some that went to #1 - never get played on the radio anymore. Turns out I'm not alone. 
 
Sean Ross, a veteran media consultant, brings up the point in a recent article, complete with a list of tunes he thinks should get more airplay. For some reason he seems fixated on several ELO tunes, especially “Turn To Stone.”(While I have nothing against ELO, if you’re going to play a song called “Turn To Stone” it should probably be the completely different song by The Four Tops, one of the best Motown records ever. And that’s putting it pretty high.)
 
Ross’s theory is that there’s too much testing of music with audiences and not enough “go-with-your-gut” from gun-shy programmers, who think listeners will instantly tune out if they dare to play something that’s not “Stairway To Heaven” or “Satisfaction.”  
 
I agree with Ross on “Bad Time” by Grand Funk, which is probably the most commercial and best song they ever did. But there are so many former 45s that made a big splash on Billboard or on The CHUM Chart that never see any action on any station that caters to oldies or greatest hits. And that’s a shame, because they have that “Oh Wow, I Haven’t Heard That In Years” factor that makes you turn up the volume and explode silently with nostalgic joy. (Although I’ll give AM 740 credit for coming closest to that emotion.)
 
Here are just a few that would get my “Oh Wow” vote.
 
Yellow River – Christie #23 Billboard 1969

The River Is Wide - The Grassroots #31 1969

I Count The Tears – The Drifters #17, 1961

Mr. Businessman – Ray Stevens #7 in Canada (and by the way, his version of “Misty,” #14, is one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard.)
 
True Grit – Glen Campbell #35 Hot 100, #7 on Hot Country
 
And last but certainly not least, “You Haven’t Done Nothin’ ” by Stevie Wonder (backed by no less than the Jackson 5, who he refers to in the song.) This was a dig at Richard Nixon (who is also mentioned) back in 1974, but it could just as easily be used by critics of Donald Trump in 2017. The tune reached #1 on Billboard, but I can’t remember the last time I heard it on the radio.

Songs That Programmers Wish Would Test

I could make a list of "forgotten hits" a mile long but everybody has their own list. I realize the need to play the familiar but playing these forgotten hits lends spice to oldies programming. You're not going to remember that your favourite station played "Last Train to Clarksville" for the umpteenth time today but you will remember, say, "Nothing But a Heartache" by the Flirtations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72mXxaHkHnE
 

Dale Patterson wrote:

I could make a list of "forgotten hits" a mile long but everybody has their own list. I realize the need to play the familiar but playing these forgotten hits lends spice to oldies programming. You're not going to remember that your favourite station played "Last Train to Clarksville" for the umpteenth time today but you will remember, say, "Nothing But a Heartache" by the Flirtations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72mXxaHkHnE
 

I'll be looking forward to you playing your "list" Dale, when you host your weekend morning segments on FM108.ca!

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Old folks don't know everything...but they sure as shootin' know what SUCKS.  [and it ain't just cheese whiz]