WABC Rewound

My January 1, 2006 entry described my interest in radio.  From 1960 until 1982 WABC was the number one radio station in NYC.  Back in those days the station played no more than 40 current hits with some recurrents.  Since more music was heard on the FM band, WABC became a talk station in 1982.  On Memorial Day for the last 7 years WABC plays records of its days as a rock station and calls it WABC Rewound.  You can hear shows with legendary DJs including Harry Harrison, Bruce Morrow, Ron Lundy, and Chuck Leonard.  In previous years, I taped the shows, but I have enough old radio tapes in my collection.  I am sure that someone will post this show on the web.  WABC now has an oldies show on Saturday night with Mark Simone.

Myspace

It seems that everybody and his brother is on Myspace these days.  Just for the heck of it, I set up an account at http://www.myspace.com/75364985 .  If you are curious, you can go there, but it will refer you to this AOL blog.  There is no sense of maintaining several blogs.

Poseidon/The Mets

Today, the Slutsky crew went to the local multiplex and saw Poseidon.  Back in 1972 when I was a student in Rhode Island, I saw the original Poseidon Adventure which I thought was better.  When we got home we turned on the Met game.  Tom Glavine retired the first 15 batters.  He lost the perfect game, and the Mets eventually won 7-4.  In 45 years, no New York Met pitcher has hurled a no hitter.  The Mets historically have had good pitching, but never a no hitter.  In 2004 we went to a game at Shea where Glavine was 4 outs away from a perfect game.  Maybe some day.

My yearly visit to Rego Park

Thank goodness I was on vacation today.  There was a very serious power failure along the Northeast Rail Corridor between NYC and Washington.  New Jersey Transit trains were out.  the power failure occurred at 8 AM when I would have been on the train.

Once a year a take a walk around my old neighborhood in Rego Park Queens.

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/regopark/regopark.html

When I was two years old (1951) my family moved there from Brooklyn.  I stayed there with my parents on Saunders Street until 1972 when I went off to school at the University of Rhode Island.  I returned in 1974 when I didn't get a job immediately after graduation.  In May 1974 when I got my first job I moved to New Brunswick, NJ and from there to New London, CT.  Circumstances forced me to move back with my parents in late 1978.  In 1980, I got my own apartment on Wetherole St. a few blocks away from my parents.  Later in 1980 they moved about a mile away to Forest Hills.  IN 1983 when I was first married, Karen and I moved to an apartment on 99th Street in Rego Park.  In 1984 when my father-in-law moved to Florida we took over his co-op in Flushing which is only 4 miles away.  We have lived there ever since.

When I make my yearly trip to Rego Park (usually in May) I observe the retail establishments.  Only a few have remained since the 1960s.  The demographics of the neighborhood have changed.  It is not as Jewish as it once was.  Today, I observed several stores with signs in Greek.  I made it my business to pass by the three apartments where I lived over the years.

The biggest retail establishment was Alexanders Department Store which closed about 15-20 years ago.  That site is now occupied by 5 smaller stores.  I stopped by Circuit City where I resisted the temptation to buy an XM radio.  I can get the XM radio stations on AOL anyway.

Until next year.

 

 

Salute him when his birthday comes

It is Bob Dylan's birthday and I am off from work.  WFUV is playing the 15 essential BobDylan songs as voted by listeners and Dylan covers.  I just heard a reggae version of Maggies Farm followed by I Shall be Released.  I remember in 1971 seeing a Peanuts strip saying Oh My Bob Dylan is 30.  When Mr Zimmerman is now 65 years Forever Young.  Many happy returns and many more years Bob.

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

New Johnny Cash CD

The Man in Black passed away in September 2003, but he left us his music.  Today Sony music released a two CD set of never released recordings.  This will make Lee very happy when he arrives from school.  Since I was off from work, I drove to the FYE music store in Bayside and purchased the CDs for him.  We got to see the musical Ring of Fire in February.  It closed at the end of April.  We all like to make our childeren happy, so if Lee likes Johnny, I like him too.

On Vacation this week

Since I work for a university, I get 20 vacation days plus 3 personal days every year.  I always take a week off in May after the Spring Semester ends.  Today I drove out to Wantaugh, Long Island to meet Matt, an aircheck collector.  One of my previous blog entries talked about my interest in radio.  Over the years I had recorded shows off the radio.  I made trades with many people over the years and amassed a collection of hundreds on tapes from radio stations all over the country.  I even have a couple of tapes from abroad.  Matt's collection is a lot bigger than mine.  He is making a CD on the radio life of the late Jack Spector best known for his time at WMCA.  I had some airchecks of Jack which I let Matt copy.  Recently, I have not recorded and collected as many tapes as I did.  There used to be many unique radio stations, but there has been homogenation of radio formats over the years.  Now I can listen to a multitude of stations over the internet.  Some years back I would have to get a tape of a station from a collector in another city.  Right now I am listening to an aircheck on the Internet from CHUM from Toronto recorded in 1963.

The Mets Lost to the Yankees 5-4

I bought a six pack of tickets to the Mets so I can see one game against the Yankees live.  The Mets were ahead 4-0 going into the top of the ninth.  Billy Wagner, the closer, was brought in.  He walked several batters until Will Randolph took him out.  It was too late, since the Yankees tied it up.  The Yankees scored a run in the top of the 11th to win it 5-4.  Oh well.

Billy Joel's Birthday

Since WBGO is fundraising this week, I am listening to Reel Jazz on XM.  I gave WBGO $88 a few months ago.  Anyway, since today is Billy Joel's birthday, Karen took out an LP of his greatest hits and we played it at dinner time.  We acutally have a turntable and records that I bought back in the 1960s.  Billy is 2 weeks younger than I.

Lee's talent show at the Samuel Field Y

Today we went over to the Samuel Field Y in Little Neck to see Lee perform in his groups talen show.  We took it easy for the rest of the day.

Mets Beat Atlanta 6-5

We went to Shea this afternoon as game 1 of our 6 pack.  We sat in section 5 of the upper deck just behind home plate.  The Mets held on the beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5.  The pitching staff was depleted after the 14 inning game Friday night.  Jorge Julio came in the pitch the ninth inning and was luck to hold on to the lead.

Judy Collins Birthday today

When I got home Lee did his research and found out that today is Judy Collins' birthday.  We have one CD titled Judy Sings Dylan just like a Woman, a collection of Dylan covers.  She did a good job on Dark Eyes, since Judy has a very sweet voice her versions of Dylan's songs just don't have the "Dylan bite".  I have to catch some British oldies on Live 365 before 9 PM when I switch between the Mets-Nationals and the Yankees-Red Sox.