fm authenticity

One example of my obsession with the music of 60s FM "underground" radio is that I have constructed an ever-growing Musicmatch playlist featuring the songs of that time. It's currently up to more than 87 hours of music. I put it on shuffle play and enjoy.

But I'm stymied by my attempt to recreate the past. Part of it is the missing DJs ... I don't mind the absence of ads, but it would be nice to have the voices of those days as part of the show. But even weirder is that the music sounds too good. I spent most of the 60s listening to the radio on little mono tabletop models barely bigger than a book, not to mention the station didn't always come in very good. When I listen now, with my subwoofer booming, it's not the same. Same songs, but not the same sound. And it never will be, of course.

Here's a bonus Friday Random Ten from my "FM" playlist:

1. The Mamas and the Papas, "Dedicated to the One I Love."
2. Cream, "Spoonful."
3. Sun Ra, "Where Is Tomorrow"
4. Sly & the Family Stone, "Hot Fun in the Summertime."
5. Traffic, "Medicated Goo."
6. The Mothers of Invention, "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?"
7. Little Richard, "Long Tall Sally."
8. Buffalo Springfield, "I Am a Child."
9. Fred Neil, "Sweet Cocaine."
10. The Rolling Stones, "Congratulations."

Comments

[Chris]

That's a good song list. It seems to me the DJs of early FM always spoke in that soft, slow Clint Eastwood Play Misty for Me voice. Today's FM sounds too much like the old AM for my liking.

[bflaska]

the fm underground dj's spoke in soft stony voices all of their own and (in san francisco in the beginning) just radiated hip. that meant you were just as hip if you were listening to them, see. they knew who their listening audience was and totally connected with them. very wonderful time of free american airwaves.

and yes, steve, i grow misty for me old skool listening habits of yore. i never took it for granted, though.