Casey Kasem American Top 40

[Wayback]

The XM 80's Casey show was from October 24, 1981 which included the Four Tops last big hit "When She was My Girl" (peaking at #11 three weeks later, #13 on the 24th. The Four Tops did have one more top 40 hit but that peaked at #35 in 1988). I noticed a ton of what would be considered light rock/pop: Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme), Endless Love, For Your Eyes Only, Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg, Air Supply, Commodores, Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram among others.

While those hits are all very pleasant, the early 80's shift of Top 40 to light rock is the reason many of us prefer the charts of the '60's up to about '75.

[SFGuy]

The XM 80's Casey show was from October 24, 1981 which included the Four Tops last big hit "When She was My Girl" (peaking at #11 three weeks later, #13 on the 24th. The Four Tops did have one more top 40 hit but that peaked at #35 in 1988). I noticed a ton of what would be considered light rock/pop: Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme), Endless Love, For Your Eyes Only, Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg, Air Supply, Commodores, Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram among others.

While those hits are all very pleasant, the early 80's shift of Top 40 to light rock is the reason many of us prefer the charts of the '60's up to about '75.

I think most of you prefer those days to the 80's is because you folks grew up with that and so it's in your heart as the 80's (well up to about 1985, I don't like the late 80's much) is in my heart as I grew up with that period. I was in middle/high school during this period.

[Tinka Cat]

The XM 80's Casey show was from October 24, 1981 which included the Four Tops last big hit "When She was My Girl" (peaking at #11 three weeks later, #13 on the 24th. The Four Tops did have one more top 40 hit but that peaked at #35 in 1988). I noticed a ton of what would be considered light rock/pop: Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme), Endless Love, For Your Eyes Only, Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg, Air Supply, Commodores, Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram among others.

While those hits are all very pleasant, the early 80's shift of Top 40 to light rock is the reason many of us prefer the charts of the '60's up to about '75.

I think most of you prefer those days to the 80's is because you folks grew up with that and so it's in your heart as the 80's (well up to about 1985, I don't like the late 80's much) is in my heart as I grew up with that period. I was in middle/high school during this period.

I think SFGuy has a great point.  Every era produces "light" pop/rock (today the AT40 equivalents would be smo-o-ove ballads, I suppose?), but the stuff that imprinted on us at those impressionable ages tastes like like better cheese.

also, I blame Reagan!

[Wayback]

The XM 80's Casey show was from October 24, 1981 which included the Four Tops last big hit "When She was My Girl" (peaking at #11 three weeks later, #13 on the 24th. The Four Tops did have one more top 40 hit but that peaked at #35 in 1988). I noticed a ton of what would be considered light rock/pop: Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme), Endless Love, For Your Eyes Only, Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg, Air Supply, Commodores, Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram among others.

While those hits are all very pleasant, the early 80's shift of Top 40 to light rock is the reason many of us prefer the charts of the '60's up to about '75.

I think most of you prefer those days to the 80's is because you folks grew up with that and so it's in your heart as the 80's (well up to about 1985, I don't like the late 80's much) is in my heart as I grew up with that period. I was in middle/high school during this period.

I think SFGuy has a great point.  Every era produces "light" pop/rock (today the AT40 equivalents would be smo-o-ove ballads, I suppose?), but the stuff that imprinted on us at those impressionable ages tastes like like better cheese.
also, I blame Reagan!

I agree its a fact that people consider the music closest to their heart to be the hits of their youth.  My point is if you look at the Billboard Top 40 charts over the decades, there was a shift in early 80's where majority of tunes on chart were light rock/pop, that's why for last 30 years the "classic hits" format was Top 40 hits of 60's thru mid-70's.  Unfortunately that format doesn't bring ratings, as evidenced by today's news that KFRC is dropping its classic hits format to simulcast KCBS newsradio:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/21/DDLB13L3PG.DTL

[Tinka Cat]

The XM 80's Casey show was from October 24, 1981 which included the Four Tops last big hit "When She was My Girl" (peaking at #11 three weeks later, #13 on the 24th. The Four Tops did have one more top 40 hit but that peaked at #35 in 1988). I noticed a ton of what would be considered light rock/pop: Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme), Endless Love, For Your Eyes Only, Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg, Air Supply, Commodores, Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram among others.

While those hits are all very pleasant, the early 80's shift of Top 40 to light rock is the reason many of us prefer the charts of the '60's up to about '75.

I think most of you prefer those days to the 80's is because you folks grew up with that and so it's in your heart as the 80's (well up to about 1985, I don't like the late 80's much) is in my heart as I grew up with that period. I was in middle/high school during this period.

I think SFGuy has a great point.  Every era produces "light" pop/rock (today the AT40 equivalents would be smo-o-ove ballads, I suppose?), but the stuff that imprinted on us at those impressionable ages tastes like like better cheese.
also, I blame Reagan!

I agree its a fact that people consider the music closest to their heart to be the hits of their youth.  My point is if you look at the Billboard Top 40 charts over the decades, there was a shift in early 80's where majority of tunes on chart were light rock/pop, that's why for last 30 years the "classic hits" format was Top 40 hits of 60's thru mid-70's.  Unfortunately that format doesn't bring ratings, as evidenced by today's news that KFRC is dropping its classic hits format to simulcast KCBS newsradio:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/21/DDLB13L3PG.DTL

I haven't seen the charts, but you're right:  Music does go through trends, and I do recall thinking a lot of stuff I heard on the air back then was crappy -- Air Supply sums it up. and I recall being pretty bored w radio rock back in the early 80s, until I discovered the Pretenders other than Brass In Pocket. but maybe I was just a cranky moody teen. 

But judging from your handle I would say you do prefer the older stuff anyway, like most of us.   

[SFGuy]

The XM 80's Casey show was from October 24, 1981 which included the Four Tops last big hit "When She was My Girl" (peaking at #11 three weeks later, #13 on the 24th. The Four Tops did have one more top 40 hit but that peaked at #35 in 1988). I noticed a ton of what would be considered light rock/pop: Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme), Endless Love, For Your Eyes Only, Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg, Air Supply, Commodores, Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram among others.

While those hits are all very pleasant, the early 80's shift of Top 40 to light rock is the reason many of us prefer the charts of the '60's up to about '75.

I think most of you prefer those days to the 80's is because you folks grew up with that and so it's in your heart as the 80's (well up to about 1985, I don't like the late 80's much) is in my heart as I grew up with that period. I was in middle/high school during this period.

I think SFGuy has a great point.  Every era produces "light" pop/rock (today the AT40 equivalents would be smo-o-ove ballads, I suppose?), but the stuff that imprinted on us at those impressionable ages tastes like like better cheese.
also, I blame Reagan!

I agree its a fact that people consider the music closest to their heart to be the hits of their youth.  My point is if you look at the Billboard Top 40 charts over the decades, there was a shift in early 80's where majority of tunes on chart were light rock/pop, that's why for last 30 years the "classic hits" format was Top 40 hits of 60's thru mid-70's.  Unfortunately that format doesn't bring ratings, as evidenced by today's news that KFRC is dropping its classic hits format to simulcast KCBS newsradio:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/21/DDLB13L3PG.DTL

I haven't seen the charts, but you're right:  Music does go through trends, and I do recall thinking a lot of stuff I heard on the air back then was crappy -- Air Supply sums it up. and I recall being pretty bored w radio rock back in the early 80s, until I discovered the Pretenders other than Brass In Pocket. but maybe I was just a cranky moody teen. 

But judging from your handle I would say you do prefer the older stuff anyway, like most of us.   

These days the early 80's are considered "older" stuff much to my chagrin (makes me feel old).

[Wayback]

This weekend (10/25-26), our last Casey70's over the air on KFRC is from Oct 19, 1974.  Playlist:
http://www.whnn.com/goout.asp?u=http://images.radcity.net/5874/3167668.pdf

[RGMike]

This weekend (10/25-26), our last Casey70's over the air on KFRC is from Oct 19, 1974.  Playlist:
http://www.whnn.com/goout.asp?u=http://images.radcity.net/5874/3167668.pdf

Kiki's got the music; Wolfman's got the clap. And Gaz & I finally get to hear Steppenwolf's "Straight-Shootin' Woman"!

Not to mention the Osmonds' lovely "Love Me For a Reason", John Denver and Bobby Vinton.  Great cheezy stuff.

[Gazoo]

This weekend (10/25-26), our last Casey70's over the air on KFRC is from Oct 19, 1974.  Playlist:
http://www.whnn.com/goout.asp?u=http://images.radcity.net/5874/3167668.pdf

Kiki's got the music; Wolfman's got the clap. And Gaz & I finally get to hear Steppenwolf's "Straight-Shootin' Woman"!

Not to mention the Osmonds' lovely "Love Me For a Reason", John Denver and Bobby Vinton.  Great cheezy stuff.

Thanks for the reminder.  I'll be up early for this one.

[Tinka Cat]

This weekend (10/25-26), our last Casey70's over the air on KFRC is from Oct 19, 1974.  Playlist:
http://www.whnn.com/goout.asp?u=http://images.radcity.net/5874/3167668.pdf

Kiki's got the music; Wolfman's got the clap. And Gaz & I finally get to hear Steppenwolf's "Straight-Shootin' Woman"!

Not to mention the Osmonds' lovely "Love Me For a Reason", John Denver and Bobby Vinton.  Great cheezy stuff.

Thanks for the reminder.  I'll be up early for this one.

and I'll be up REALLY early (6 am-ish) for this.  prolly.

[Wayback]

This weekend (10/25-26), our last Casey70's over the air on KFRC is from Oct 19, 1974.  Playlist:
http://www.whnn.com/goout.asp?u=http://images.radcity.net/5874/3167668.pdf

Thanks for the reminder.  I'll be up early for this one.

and I'll be up REALLY early (6 am-ish) for this.  prolly.

Well, if you're gonna be up early for Casey with "6 Amish", I can be up early too!

[Wayback]

Other playlist source for this weekend's Oct '74 45-rpm party:
http://www.wbbgfm.com/pages/pp_caseykasem.html

[Gazoo]

This weekend (10/25-26), our last Casey70's over the air on KFRC is from Oct 19, 1974.  Playlist:
http://www.whnn.com/goout.asp?u=http://images.radcity.net/5874/3167668.pdf

Thanks for the reminder.  I'll be up early for this one.

and I'll be up REALLY early (6 am-ish) for this.  prolly.

Well, if you're gonna be up early for Casey with "6 Amish", I can be up early too!

I'll be listening @ work, so copmany is encouraged. 

[Wayback]

It occurs to me that KFRC is not going to air Casey, they've suspended all old programming and will just continue with what they've aired all week: music, liners, and top of the hour network news.  Damn.

[Gazoo]

It occurs to me that KFRC is not going to air Casey, they've suspended all old programming and will just continue with what they've aired all week: music, liners, and top of the hour network news.  Damn.

I checked to be sure - nope, they're doing news now.  And I can't listen live to the unfortunately named KOKZ.  So I'll be on Chico's KCEZ in 50 minutes.