The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Eric Alper Picks The 10 Greatest Songs About Radio

**Posted by RadioActive** April 16, 2025 11:56 am

Music publicist Eric Alper lists his choices for the 10 greatest songs about radio.

These lists always generate controversy because there's often so much left out. In this case, how you can omit Harry Chapin's incredible "WOLD" is beyond me. (And while "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me) by Reunion is a novelty tune that probably doesn't belong in this list, I have a real soft spot for it, especially the promotional versions made with real radio stations call letters worked into the lyrics.)

But see what you think of his choices.

The 10 Greatest Songs About Radio

**Posted by Chrisphen** April 16, 2025 12:05 pm

No Radio Ga-Ga?

Other than that, not a terrible list.

**Posted by Muffaraw Joe** April 16, 2025 1:44 pm

Here are some more songs...

Clap for the Wolfman-Guess Who

FM- Steely Dan

Radar Love- Golden Earring

Roxy Music- Oh Yeah On the Radio

And Tom Petty- The Last DJ

Just a few ideas...

**Posted by Ale Ont** April 16, 2025 2:10 pm

"And everything I had to know,
I heard it on my radio."
Queen

**Posted by 67GreenRambler** April 16, 2025 3:29 pm

https://youtu.be/jzPQh-0HBhY?si=e1bDmnGprTKlab38

**Posted by RadioActive** April 16, 2025 3:44 pm

I don't think this would make anyone's best radio list, but how about "Angie Baby" by Helen Reddy? It's the Twilight Zone-like story of a weird woman who traps a guy in her radio as she turns the volume down.

"Radio by her side, Angie Baby."

**Posted by deLaat** April 16, 2025 5:06 pm

I second "W.O.L.D". That was the first song that came to my mind.

I liked it but perhaps not a favorite if you're Talent.

As I recall, Russ Thompson, afternoon drive at CKFM at the time, refused to play it.

**Posted by mace** April 17, 2025 6:04 am

The Donna Summer, Joni Mitchell and Rush songs are the only ones I know. The others, I don't even recognize, let alone know of them.

**Posted by mic'em** April 17, 2025 6:54 am

Country music has a large number of songs related to radio. One that comes to mind being aired currently is ' Sounds like the radio " by Zach Top. Bing Videos Note, Zach Top is not related to ZZ.

Last edited by mic'em (April 18, 2025 8:28 am)

**Posted by Doug Thompson** April 19, 2025 12:48 pm

RA WROTE: I don't think this would make anyone's best radio list, but how about "Angie Baby" by Helen Reddy? It's the Twilight Zone-like story of a weird woman who traps a guy in her radio as she turns the volume down.

"Angie Baby" was written by Alan O'Day, who also wrote "Undercover Angel" and co-wrote "Rock and Roll Heaven".

Last edited by Doug Thompson (April 19, 2025 12:48 pm)

**Posted by BossRadio** April 20, 2025 9:28 am

Here is a personal favorite. Not well known, but a great alt. country lyric, about a free form DJ who refuses to play the consultant's playlist, and stands up for his beliefs. He also recorded a rock take on it a few years later, but this is the one that moved me: Mark Germino sings about Rex Bob Lowenstein.

Mark Germino Rex Bob Lowenstein 1 - YouTube

Last edited by BossRadio (April 20, 2025 9:30 am)

**Posted by Paul Jeffries** April 20, 2025 9:47 am

How about "Listen to the Radio", originally performed and co-written by Tom Robinson, which would later become a hit in Canada with its cover by the Pukka Orchestra.

Then there's also "Song on the Radio" by Al Stewart, a song he wrote as kind of a lark, as his label Arista Records wanted another hit single, another song on the radio.

PJ

**Posted by Dicky Doo** April 20, 2025 10:53 am

BJ the DJ by the late, great Stonewall Jackson

**Posted by newsguy1** April 20, 2025 2:03 pm

And the song that ended it all, "Video Killed The Radio Star," by The Buggles.
The first tune played on MTV.

Also a long shot, but it did get play on top 40 radio... "Theme from "WKRP in Cincinnati."

**Posted by Doug Thompson** April 20, 2025 2:12 pm

And while not specifically about radio itself, "The Disc Jockey's Theme Song" by Steve Allen 45 from 1957 is kinda cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnHVkEAYTQw

Last edited by Doug Thompson (April 20, 2025 2:14 pm)

**Posted by Doug Thompson** April 20, 2025 2:19 pm

Sorry, on a radio roll here. My all time favourite song about radio was created for the Radio Advertising Bureau in the U.S. by Stan Freberg. Released in 1964, it's sung by Sarah Vaughan with orchestra conducted by Quincy Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjAS4JcHVwg

Last edited by Doug Thompson (April 20, 2025 2:21 pm)

**Posted by Tq345** April 20, 2025 8:29 pm

I'll contribute "On Your Radio" by Joe Jackson.

https://youtu.be/BnoWkOOSKM4?si=DapCNqZGKvTGc6-q

**Posted by Paul Jeffries** April 20, 2025 8:39 pm

Also, "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo, "Pilot of the Airwaves" by Charlie Dore and "Magic Power" by Triumph.

PJ

**Posted by Doug Thompson** April 20, 2025 11:24 pm

Another of my all time favs about DJs and my final one on this thread is a rockabilly number from 1959 by Boyd Bennett and His Rockets on the King label in the U.S., "Cool Disc Jockey".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LvXc71-0io

**Posted by alangee** April 21, 2025 7:37 am

Song on the Radio - Al Stewart

**Posted by darcyh** April 21, 2025 10:44 am

Bill Anderson's "Country D. J."

**Posted by Fleadh** April 23, 2025 8:15 pm

No huge issues with his list, I certainly didn't expect to see Alper putting up the top notch Left of the Dial by the Replacements or Border Radio by the Blasters on there.

Van's Caravan, or Around the Dial by the Kinks perhaps.

As an R.E.M. from near beginning ('84) to last tour, about a dozen times in all, I'm certainly not going to object to Radio Free Europe (but there's no indication that song is about the radio network, Stipe back then was very into the way words and syllables sounded or represented other ideas)

Last edited by Fleadh (April 23, 2025 8:16 pm)

**Posted by Fitz** April 24, 2025 8:56 am

Some great songs on the list and here's four more mostly from the progressive/alt era:
Byrds somewht about Ralph Emery

Selector

Beach Boys a throw-away and rather whimsical EP included with the Holland Album

John Hartford

Last edited by Fitz (April 24, 2025 9:14 am)

**Posted by turkeytop** April 26, 2025 7:33 pm

I Bet You They Won’t Play This Song on the Radio - Monty Python

https://youtu.be/WTzM3NnjUuw