Oldieslist - Oldies Music & Related Sites from the 50's 60's 70's and 80's

I Am Back!

2010-10-07T23:38:00.002-05:00

Sorry everyone, I have been very sick on and off after several major surgeries since September 2008. I just could not sit down at my computer for any length of time. There is a good chance that I could still be hospitalized again. I have become drug resistant to some of the antibiotics that are used to treat my medical issues.

I urge everyone to use antibiotics with caution. Back in the 1960's when I was growing up Doctors gave penicillin for just about everything. Every time I would get a cold or flu I would get a shot. In the late 70's and early 80's again, I was given various versions of antibiotics when they were not necessary.

Now, I am paying the price. During one of my surgeries I contracted MRSA Staph Infection at the hospital and given IV antibiotics that just barely cleared it up. I was in the hospital for 2 full weeks and also 10 days of out patient to make sure the MRSA was cured.

So, ask your doctors about antibiotics before you use them! Especially if you grew up in the 60's and 70's and had taken a lot of them.

'Tis The Season...Again!!!

2009-12-08T23:29:00.000-06:00

At Oldieslist find your favorite Christmas Music sites by searching "Christmas" or "Christmas Music" on the site Search box (upper right hand column) on the Main Page. These are all excellent streaming sites. Unfortunately, many stations that were listed last year have gone away. I think the RIAA and the bad economy may have had something to do with it.

We again have made WLIT 93.9 (our local on air station) the Official Christmas Music Station on Oldieslist. They will be broadcasting Christmas Music right up to Christmas day, then back to normal format the day after. Their streaming audio is great quality. Take a listen! We have it on all day!

Have a GREAT Holiday Season!

Catching Up

2009-12-06T15:17:00.002-06:00

Hello everyone! It has been a long time since I have posted. A lot has happened this year. I spent over 38 days in the hospital and numerous visits and outpatient procedures to get fixed up. I am getting back to "normal" or at least better condition than last year and will make more posts in 2010.

With the Holidays upon us I wish everyone well and good health through the season and a prosperous New Year!

Health Issues Again

2008-09-24T14:54:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone. If you noticed things haven't been happening here on the Blog or on our Oldieslist for a while it is because some serious health issues have happened again. I have just arrived home from a 2 week stay in the Hospital, and will be having some ongoing treatments over the next few weeks in hopes to prepare for a final surgery to follow within the next six months.

Needless to say, my Oldieslist projects and maintenance will be slowed down for a while. We will try to work on it when we can to keep our mind busy during recuperation.

Thanks for your understanding,

Retromoose a.k.a Jim

Clark Weber and Neal Samors Rock and Roll Radio Book Signing

2008-08-11T21:55:00.007-05:00

Oldieslist was there! Chicago Radio Legend Clark Weber and Neal Samors of Chicago's Books were at the Frugal Muse Books & Multimedia Superstore in Darien, Illinois to kick off the release of their new book "Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio The Fun Years: 1955-1975". It was a real pleasure to meet with Clark and Neal at their book signing event.

If you were a youngster in the 1960's and lived in the Chicago area, you grew up listening to some of the best DJ's of the era on WLS and WCFL. If you were not in the Chicago area, chances are you still heard Clark Weber, Dick Biondi, Art Roberts, Larry Lujack, Jim Stagg, Ron Brittain and many other talented DJ's in a "radio war" at night on these 50,000 watt AM "Clear Channel" stations. Yes, we heard these guys on our 6 and 8 Transistor Radios playing Rock and Roll Top 40 Hits just like the kids today listening to their MP3 Players. The BIG difference was, we had live radio personalities behind the music, that entertained us between songs and came out to visit us at Sock Hops to tell us their corny jokes. It was good, clean fun!

As I stood in line, I heard many stories and comments that brought back many memories. Whenever I visit an event that has a famous veteran WLS or WCFL DJ, I hear the "I grew up listening to you with my radio under my pillow!" or "you were my lifeline to home over the airwaves while I was away at college!" Our DJ's truly helped lay down the 'soundtrack's' of our lives!!!

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Clark and Neal's book. It is sure to bring back some great memories!

Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio

2008-08-05T10:15:00.002-05:00

UPDATE!

Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio: The Fun Years, 1955-1975 is now available at Amazon, BN.com and Borders.com. Oldieslist supporter Neal Samors of CHICAGO'S BOOKS has been working with the legendary Clark Weber since last January on this memory packed book which has been released.

On Memorial Day (2008) it was announced on the WLS Big 89 Rewind by Tommy Edwards and Larry Lujack that Clark Weber was releasing the book which features some interesting stories about Ol' Uncle Lar and his Sidekick Lil' Tommy and other WLS DJ's in the Top40 Rock and Roll Era.

Neal has sent Oldieslist a copy of this fantastic book and it is very hard to put down. Indeed, it brings back some great memories of the WLS we grew up with. You'll love it! We give it the Oldieslist "Double Thumbs Up" rating. Thanks again Neal for another great book that "Keeps The Oldies Alive"!

The book includes a companion CD that is narrated by Clark Weber. It includes of clips of jingles and "air checks" of your favorite Dee Jays like Dick Biondi, Dex Card, Clark Weber, Ron Riley and many more. Thanks Clark and Neal for taking us on a great trip down Memory Lane!

Join Clark Weber and Neal Samors at these Book Signing Events:

Thursday, August 7, 7:30PM Barnes and Noble - Old Orchard, Skokie, IL

Saturday, August 9, 1-3PM Frugal Muse Books - Darien, IL

Thursday, August 14, 12:30PM Barnes and Noble - DePaul, State and Jackson, Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 23, 2-3PM Borders - Oak Park, IL

Saturday, September 27, 3PM Barnes and Noble - Webster Place, Chicago, IL

Saturday, October 4, 1PM Read Between The Lynes - Woodstock, IL

Saturday, October 11, 1PM Bookstall at Chestnut Court - Winnetka, IL

Tuesday, October 14, 7PM Glenview Public Library - Glenview, IL

Read more about Clark Weber by Chicago Sun Times Columnist Robert Feder.

WLS FM Rides The Airwaves Again!

2008-06-26T00:07:00.005-05:00

It's Official! Chicago's True Oldies 94.7 (WZZN) is now 94.7 WLS-FM Chicago's True Oldies. It is still the same station you have been enjoying, but with a "blast from the past". At 12:00 am Thursday, June 26 the station signed on with all of their new (and old) WLS Jingles, Bumpers, and Shotguns to begin the broadcast day. If you were up late and listening you would have heard Chicago's Icon Dick Biondi kick off this momentous occasion.

Mentioned last Friday in Robert Feder 's Column in the Chicago Sun-Times the FCC granted permission to change the stations callsign from WZZN to WLS effective Thursday June 26, 2008. Citadel Broadcasting owns WLS AM Talk Radio and WLS FM. Let the good times Rock and Roll!

The WLS Big 89 Rewind Returns

2008-05-15T17:44:00.004-05:00

The BIG 89 REWIND will return again this Memorial Day Weekend! WLS Newsradio format will be replaced with the WLS we knew from the 60's and 70's from 5 AM to Midnight Memorial Day. Last year was the first time the station switched from the News and Talk Radio Format on Memorial Day and was a smash success with listeners. Some of the personalities that participated last year are expected to return again for this 89 Rewind. WLS NewsTalk 890 has announced who will be participating on their web site. Click on the Big 89 Rewind above for details.

The last years 89 Rewind was released on CD and all proceeds went to Orchard Village a Chicago area non-profit organization for people with disabilities. They will likely do the same this year.

Oldieslist's Official Oldies Station

2008-05-13T23:56:00.004-05:00

I love Oldies Radio, but there is a guy that loves it even more. If it wasn't for Michael Scott Shannon, Oldies Radio might have disappeared from your radio dial. When you hear "Shannon is on the radio..." you know your going to hear some great Oldies. Scott Shannon is like the Energizer Bunny, he keeps the Oldies on the air from Coast to Coast and around the World Wide Web 24 hours a day.

We listen to The True Oldies Channel here in the Chicago area on 94.7 FM just about 16 hours out of the day. Every radio dial is tuned to our local outlet during the day as we work on the Oldieslist site or out driving around town. Many links found on our site have been inspired by The True Oldies Channel. So, we thank Scott and all the folks who are dedicated to Keeping The Oldies Alive, we are designating Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel the Official Oldies Station of Oldieslist. Thank-You Michael Scott Shannon for all your hard work!

Hey Man, Get ready for Hippie Radio!

2008-05-09T21:51:00.005-05:00

If you are a Baby Boomer, and if you ever inhaled, this is really "Far Out". We all know the Oldies Format as we know it has been slipping away. It's getting harder and harder to get the music we grew up with on the radio dial. Now, a new way to market the Oldies format may be coming to a station near you soon.

It's an Oldies radio programmer dream come true, it's called Hippie Radio and it is being rolled out in several radio markets right now! WoW, that really is far out dudes and dudettes! It really is all the same Oldies music we enjoy, the format is just getting a "face lift". Still the same music we enjoy from 1964 to 1973 and geared to Baby Boomers aged 45 to 60 years young.

Read more about this format at their site Hippie Radio.net

Look for links to stations that will carry this format at our Oldieslist.com.

Flash! Elvis Teams Up With Laurel and Hardy!

2008-05-03T09:45:00.005-05:00

Did you ever wonder who the King of Rock and Roll would team up with in Rock and Roll Heaven? Well, here's your answer. Check out this great video with Elvis singing back up for Laurel and Hardy in their release of "Ain't That Loving You Baby?". Great job boys!!!

Soul Singer Al Wilson dies at age 68

2008-04-22T22:28:00.002-05:00

Al Wilson best known for his famous single "Show and Tell" and my favorite "The Snake" has entered Rock and Roll Heaven. Al died Monday, April 21, 2008 of kidney failure in Fontana, California near San Bernardino at age 68.

Oldieslist Member a 94.7 True Oldies Winner!

2008-04-08T18:20:00.006-05:00

Oldieslist Member Peg152 a.k.a. "Marg" gathered up her old WLS and WCFL albums to bring to Chicago's 94.7 FM True Oldies DJ Dick Biondi doing a promotional "Meet and Greet" at Castle Chevrolet in suburban Villa Park April,5 2008. Dick said "The first person to come up to Dick with Castle Chevrolet written on their person would win a nice Castle Chevrolet Cubs Baseball duffel bag.
Everyone there liked the old albums. Dick signed them all and gave Peg a big hug for bringing them!

Go Cubs!

Photo from 94.7 Chicago's True Oldies Channel

Lack of Oldieslist Posts

2008-03-14T21:30:00.002-05:00

I am sorry for the lack of posts over the last few months. We have had our share of health problems and hope things are going to smooth out now that spring is just around the corner. Some of our projects for Oldieslist have been put on hold until we get these health issues under control.

A few problems with our database have been fixed with a minor upgrade. The rest of our upgrades will be online shortly. Thanks for your patience!

Site Maintenance and Updates

2008-02-02T22:39:00.000-06:00

Just a note to let Oldieslist users that we will be making software upgrades and reworking some areas of our site. There may be some pages that do not display correctly at times. Work will begin on or about February 9, 2008 and completed by March 1, 2008. We think you'll like the new features and speed.

2007 Silent Voices

2007-12-31T21:17:00.000-06:00

As 2007 fades away, Oldieslist remembers those who have passed. It is always sad each year to learn who has left us. Thanks to my wife Margaret for putting this list together.

We pay tribute to:

January 19 - Denny Doherty, singer in the original Mamas and Papas, Age 66.

February 6 - Frankie Laine, singer known for "Rawhide", "Moonlight Gambler" and other hits, Age 93.

March 9 - Brad Delp, lead singer of Boston singing such hits as "More Than A Feeling" and "Long Time", Age 55.

April 14 - Don Ho, singer/performer and songwriter with his big hit "Tiny Bubbles", Age 76.

April 25 - Bobby "Boris" Pickett singer of the "Monster Mash", Age 69.

April 30 - Zola Taylor, Singer with the Platters, Age 73.

July 2 - Beverly Sills, Brooklyn-born opera diva, Age 78.

August 4 - Lee Hazlewood, singer and songwriter of such hits as "These Boots are Made for Walking" and "Tell Me About Phaedra", Age 78.

September 6 - Luciano Pavarotti, legendary Italian tenor, Age 71.

October 17 - Teresa Brewer, singer "All Alone Am I" and "Music, Music, Music", Age 76.

October 30 - Robert Goulet, Singer/actor most famous for his run in "Camelot" and tv show in the 1960's, Age 73.

October 28 - Porter Wagoner, Country singer and Grand Ole Opry star famous for his early commercials with Dolly Parton for 'Breeze' detergent, Age 80.

December 12 - Ike Turner, controversial Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Age 76.

December 17 - Dan Fogelberg, singer and songwriter of such hits as "Leader of the Band" and "Same Ole Lang Syne", Age 56.

Christmas Music

2007-11-24T00:17:00.000-06:00

Oldieslist is gearing up for the Holiday Season. It is very easy to find sites streaming your Holiday Favorites, just search "Christmas" at our main page www.oldieslist.com Ho Ho Ho!

New CD by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

2007-10-28T10:50:00.001-05:00

My lovely wife Margaret (I prefer "Peg") bought me a present a few days ago. (she spoils me) She bought "Raising Sand" by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at our local Walmart after hearing it on NBC's morning Today Show during the week. They played their version of The Everly Brothers "Gone Gone Gone" live on the show and Peg and I were completely blown away. The rest of the CD is excellent as well, but my absolute favorite is this cut. The harmonies are hauntingly brilliant with a touch of Plant's Led Zeppelin "Immigrant Song" accent. He tastefully slips the unique Plant sound on other tracks as well. If you were a Zeppelin Fan, you'll recognize it immediately.

Peg's little story about a Walmart employee that was helping her find the new CD was typical of today's generation. Peg asked her "Do you have the new CD by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss?" She replied "Who is Robert Plant? I've never heard of him, but Alison Krauss would be in the Country section." Peg tried explaining that Plant was in the group Led Zeppelin from the late 60's, but it went right over her head. When she finally found the new release (which was NOT in the Country section) she opened one and put it in a player to listen and also thought it was fantastic.

You can Preview the WHOLE Album FREE here or click the CD image. I guarantee you'll like it. I would say it is Rockabilly. What do you think?

Listen to this Everly Brothers version on YouTube:

New Book by Neal Samors and Eric Bronsky

2007-10-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

Oldieslist friend Neal Samors has co-authored a new book with Eric Bronsky "Downtown Chicago In Transition". If it is anything like "Chicago In The Sixties", I guarantee you will be mesmerized for hours on end.

The book is now available at Chicago's Books Press . Neal and Eric will be having book signings and have provided the following dates and locations:

Sunday, October 28, 2PM at Barnes and Noble Old Orchard Shopping Center

Saturday, November 3, 2PM Bookstall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL.

Sunday, November 4, 3PM to 4:30 PM Don Roth's Blackhawk Restaurant in Wheeling

Monday, November 5, 7PM at Indian Trails Library, Wheeling, IL.

Tuesday, November 6, 9:30AM - 11AM Chicago Sun-Times Store

Tuesday, November 6, Noon at Barnes and Noble, DePaul University, at State &
Jackson, Downtown Chicago.

Saturday, November 17, 1PM at Burkes Books, Park Ridge, IL.

Sunday, November 18, 2PM at Borders, Wilmette, IL.

Wednesday, December 5, Noon at Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago, IL.

Thursday, December 13, 7PM Oak Park Library, Oak Park, IL.

Saturday, December 15, 1PM to 3 PM at Read Between The Lynes Bookstore, Woodstock, IL.

Also, I would like to remind everyone that Neal is working on his next Chicago book and would like our readers to contact him. Here is our previous Blog entry on that project.

TrueOldies 94.7 Adds Greg Brown!

2007-10-15T21:27:00.000-05:00

WZZN 94.7 Chicago's TrueOldies Station has added Greg Brown to the afternoon drive 4pm - 8pm. Welcome back! Greg Brown takes the afternoon slot that John "Records" Landecker had occupied for the last year. John will still be on TrueOldies 94.7 as host of "Into the '70s," from 7 p.m. to midnight Sundays, starting Oct. 21. He will continue to fill in on news/talk WLS-AM (890).

Greg Brown had been filling in at 94.7 and other stations since the layoff of Dick Biondi, Fred Winston, and Connie Szerszen at WJMK when they changed to the "Jack" format. Greg was at WJMK for 11 years doing "The Brown Bag Lunch".

Good-bye Summer!

2007-09-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

What a FANTASTIC summer! I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did this year! We will be making some more Blog entries now that Summer is leaving us.

I would like to make a request of our visitors. If you have any interesting Oldies related pictures from visiting summer festivals please send us a few photos or links to photos you may have to share with our visitors. We will post them to our Kodak Gallery site for all to view. Sort of a "What I did on my Summer Vacation" theme.

Also, I would like our visitors to notify us on dead or changed links. It is very tedious work to check links that no longer function or web addresses that change. I would also like visitors to notify us about sites that have annoying ads and such.

Well, that's about all for now. Thanks for visiting our site!

Elvis Week

2007-08-31T12:22:00.000-05:00

August 12 - 18, 2007 marked the 30th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's death in 1977. Oldieslist paid tribute to The King by visiting Graceland and Sun Records along with Special Events held in his honor.

Here are some of our photos from Elvis Week 2007.

This probably was the last celebration of this magnitude. Oldieslist friend Phil Arnold sums it up best in his fantastic Blog. Also, take a look at our friend Red Robinson's great site. Red was Emcee at events we attended and we had a great time! Red Robinson is host of "The Red Rock Diner" on 650CISL every Sunday.

Oldieslist and Friends did a lot of "Walking in Memphis". Once you have walked down Beale Street, watching and listening to this video takes on new meaning.

Elvis Week 2007 image from www.elvis.com

New Book on Chicago's Top40 Radio Era: 1955 to 1975

2007-07-17T19:16:00.000-05:00

Neal Samors (author: Chicago in the Sixties) is in the early stages of co-authoring a new book with Chicago's legendary deejay Clark Weber. The book will cover 20 years of Chicago radio memories from 1955 to 1975 and will include memorabilia and key deejay interviews from Clark's years at WIND, WJJD, WLS and WCFL. The new book will be titled "Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio in Chicago: 1955 to 1975" and is scheduled to be published in the Fall of 2008.

Neal would like to include a listeners perspective from this era and has asked us:

"If you could put a note on your website and bloglist and ask people to write to me with their memories about rock and roll radio during those years. Those memories can range from a few sentences to a few paragraphs to a couple of pages, and we will include as many of those that are interesting and informative."

You can contact Neal Samors with your Solid Gold Listener Memories at:

NSamors@comcast.net

Summer Vacation

2007-07-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

Oldieslist Blog will be on vacation for the next few weeks. Our Oldieslist Directory will still be updated regularly.

WLS Big 89 Rewind Airs Again July 4, 2007

2007-06-23T14:42:00.000-05:00

WLS 890 AM will air the Memorial Day Special "The Big 89 Rewind" again on July 4, 2007 in it's entirety. The Rewind show was a huge success thanks to WLS 890 Program Director Kipper McGee and the following participants: Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards, Fred Winston, Chris Shebel, Jeff Davis, John "Records" Landecker, Tom Kent, Les Grobstein, Linda Marshall, Catherine Johns, Bill Shannon, Jay Philpott, Scott Childers, Art Vuolo, Ed Glab, Michael Wolfgang, Gil Gross, Steve Jones, Bill Price, Maura Myles, Brad Wallace, Chuck Brueckmann, Michael Garay, Brian Althimer, Brandy Burkhardt, Sean Bresnahan, Tracy Slutzkin and the WLS 890 Sponsors.

Tune your portable radios, car radios or listen online all day!

Wanted: Old Rock n' Rollers or DJ's from the Sixties and Beyond

2007-06-14T21:59:00.000-05:00

If you were a Rock and Roll entertainer or a DJ from the Top40 era, we would like to hear from you. Why? We would like to "Keep the Oldies Alive" by giving our visitors your perspective on what it was like in the 50's 60's 70's and early 80's.

With your permission we would like to post unique articles and photos. We will not SPAM, sell or use submissions for any other purpose. Honest! Please email us from our Contact Form on the Oldieslist.com site. And while you are at it, sign up as a Member and send us a "Mug Shot" for your Member Profile. If you don't know how to make one, we will do it for you!

AT&T Yahoo Internet Email Ads

2007-06-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

Today's Blog entry has nothing to do with Oldies, but instead deals with an old problem, SPAM. Only this time by my own Internet Provider. (NOT our Web Host) Please read on...

If you happen to be a AT&T Yahoo Internet Service subscriber, you probably have noticed ads appearing in your Web Mail browser. I had heard this was going to start happening this past May 2007 from several computer related forums I visit. AT&T Yahoo Internet claim they are using this advertising model to bring more features like unlimited email storage to subscribers. Here is a portion of the email response I received after filing my complaint.

"... As more customers are using AT&T Yahoo! Mail to send and receive photos, videos, and music, we will begin offering unlimited e-mail storage to both existing and new customers later this year. In addition, your service also continues to include all the industry leading premium products you have enjoyed, including video, LAUNCHcast Plus, and an all-in-one security suite.

All of these features are made possible by the graphical advertisements that are integrated into your AT&T Yahoo! Mail/Portal service. As such, we unfortunately do not have the option to remove these advertisements as of this time. Personally, I know how annoying advertisements can be and we all want ad-free web pages. It also saddens me to think of the prospect of losing customers over this. However, advertising is a useful resource that results in providing you with the best service at an affordable price. It also allows us to continue delivering new and innovative elements to that service, while delivering it with the high level of quality that you have come to know and trust ..."

Why not reasonably raise subscription rates or let subscribers choose the services they use instead of SPAMMING their subscribers with these advertisements? I think this is absurd. If you are a AT&T Yahoo Internet subscriber, PLEASE register a complaint!

Solution: At Oldieslist we prefer and use the Mozilla Firefox browser for 90 percent of our surfing and web site work. Firefox v2. along with Adblock Plus deals with this problem effectively. It also takes care of other problem sites as well. If you do not feel like writing a formal complaint to AT&T Yahoo Customer Support, I recommend this option.

I will now get off the Soap Box....

Send Bo Diddley a Get Well Card

2007-05-31T21:22:00.000-05:00

Bo Diddley suffered a stroke on May 13, 2006 and it is reported that he is recovering well. He has been moved to a rehabilitation hospital to start therapy. Oldieslist friend Dick Biondi at Chicago's True Oldies Channel 94.7 WZZN has put out a request for listeners to send Bo "Get Well" cards and letters to cheer him on to a full recovery.

Send your cards and letters to:

Bo Diddley c/o Shand Rehabilitation Hospital
4101 Northwest 89th Boulevard
Gainesville, FL 32606

Photo by Jeff Christensen AP/ File MSNBC

WLS "The Big 89" Memorial Day Rewind

2007-05-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

For those of us that remember how Top 40 radio was done in Chicago during the 70's, and early 80's, get ready for a real treat on this Memorial Day. Make sure you have your portable radios handy on the picnic table and tuned to "The Big 89" WLS AM. Yes, I said AM! WLS 890 is going to temporarily suspend their News Radio/Talk format from 5:00 am to 12:00 pm on Memorial Day and bring in the Jocks from that era when it was WLS Music Radio.

Kicking off the broadcast will be Ol' "Uncle Lar" Superjock Larry Lujack and his "Sidekick Li'l Tommy" (Tommy Edwards), Fred Winston, John "Records" Landecker and other WLS Alumni that will appear throughout the day. So keep your radio on all day and "Rewind with The Big 89". WLS AM does have Streaming Audio and I am fairly confident they will broadcast it here on the Internet for those that have trouble receiving the 890 AM signal. So, please spread the word!

UPDATE May 30, 2007

The WLS Big 89 Rewind played all day at Oldieslist. It was EXCELLENT! We fired up the radio in the office, put fresh batteries in our 1980's Boom box , and made sure we could hear WLS from the front yard and back while doing our Memorial Day chores. I even programmed our cell phones so we could call in when you heard the famous WLS Touchtones to win a "WLS Prize Pack" commemorating the Big 89 Rewind. Just like in the old Music Radio Days! Of course we were never able to get through as there were thousands of calls.

The Podcast highlights of The WLS Big 89 Rewind are now available at the WLS 890 Web Site. You can also watch a news clip of the WLS Rewind at the Chicago ABC News site.

Watch ABC News video of the WLS Rewind HERE

Listen and Download edited WLS Podcast of the Rewind HERE

Information Sources: Robert Feder Chicago Sun-Times Business Columnist and ABC News.

Chicago in the Sixties by Neal Samors

2007-05-22T12:10:00.000-05:00

I was listening to the Dick Biondi show on our True Oldies Station 94.7 last evening. There was a very interesting telephone interview with the author of a new book "Chicago in The Sixties" by Neal Samors. Dick was a big influence in Neal's life as well as anyone who grew up in the Chicago area during the 60's Top 40 radio era.

I can't even count the number of times I cut class in High School to ride the train down to the Chicago Loop and hike up to the Marina Towers studio of WCFL to see a young (and even skinnier) Dick Biondi perched upon his trademark studio bar stool clad in his white socks, black shoes with black pants and probably wearing a Banlon Shirt!

You could hear the excitement and enthusiasm in Dick's voice during the interview that he was included generously in Neal's book. I think this is a really great thing to honor the people that have made a difference in our lives while they are still with us. Growing up and listening to the energy of Mr. Biondi back in the 60's as well as every Monday through Friday evening makes you smile inside and out.

I have ordered the book from Amazon.com and look forward to it's arrival. Thank's Neal for honoring Dick Biondi and Chicagoland! Click Here to order Chicago in the Sixties from Amazon.com

UPDATE 06-15-2007

RetroMoose Quick Review: What a delight to read! Especially the introduction by Chicago's Radio and TV Personality Bob Sirott. Great job Neal!

After reading each chapter and looking at the fantastic photos, you will want to keep it handy on the coffee table. Neal's book is very addictive reading. From the fire at McCormick Place to the Democratic Convention in 1968, this book covers it all. 5 Stars and Oldieslist Approved!

Chicagoland Record Collectors Show

2007-05-20T20:44:00.000-05:00

Oldieslist attended the Chicagoland Record Collectors Show at the Holiday Inn in Hillside Illinois. We met up with some friends from Michael Godin's Treasure Island Oldies Show and Ron Smith of Oldiesmusic.com

A really great show for record collectors. Click here for a few photos we took at the show.

The Ultimate Doo Wop Show

2007-05-13T20:43:00.000-05:00

My lovely wife Margaret (AKA Peg or Marg) was Dick Biondi's tenth caller on our favorite Chicago's True Oldies 94.7 WZZN and won a pair of tickets to The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show at the Chicago Theatre for Saturday, May 12. What a fantastic Mother's Day present! A great big Thank-You to True Oldies 94.7, Dick Biondi and Canterbury Productions for a "Truly Ultimate Event".

We had seats 3 & 4 in row 1 center at the Stage! All we can say is Wow! It was a once in a lifetime show! Just look at the Playbill (click here for larger image) talent we were treated to, it was unbelievable! As Mr. Biondi would say, "One in a Million" with class, talent and showmanship abounding! If you have a chance to attend one of these events by Canterbury Productions, please do. They are Oldieslist Approved!

Special Thanks to Hedy Tan for sending in some great photos from the event. Photography was not allowed during the show, however ticket holders in the special seating at the stage orchestra pit were treated to a special Meet and Greet after the show. Take a look here!

Forgotten Instrumentals

2007-05-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while you hear something on the radio that sticks in your head and you go nuts trying to find out what it was. Last week I had one of those moments while listening to our local TrueOldies outlet 94.7 WZZN in Chicago. I caught the last 30 seconds before commercial while driving and missed the song info. So, I emailed Scott Shannon and Voila! The answer to the mystery solved.

Back in the early 60's instrumentals were very popular, mainly with the older listeners. The younger radio audience liked Rock and Roll, R&B, and Motown hits. Occasionally a modern instrumental made it to Top 40 stations, and being in orchestra in grade school I appreciated the instrumentals along with all the Top 40 hits. The tune that I liked so much had a couple Viola solo (the string instrument not to be confused with the French word voila) parts which happened to be the instrument I played in High School.

While remembering the song, my memory was failing me on it's title. The year was 1968 and the song was "Soul Coaxing" Ame Câline by Raymond Lefevre. See if you remember this instrumental...Thanks to Scott Shannon for jogging my memory!

The Big 89 WLS Special on XM Radio

2007-04-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

• WLS and The Golden Age of Top 40 Radio in the 1960s will be fondly recalled for five hours Friday April 27, 2007 on XM Satellite Radio's '60s Channel. From 3 to 8 p.m. Central Time, "Sonic Sound Salutes" will rewind the classic songs, jingles, commercials and station breaks from the heyday of "The Big 89." ...Robert Feder Chicago Sun Times.

Hopefully this XM Special will air more than once and if it does we will give you an update. If you are not a XM Radio Subscriber, sign up for their Free Trial so you can listen to this show online.

Mystery Man

2007-04-18T16:43:00.000-05:00

Who is this guy? I got this email the other day with the same question. It had me "stumped", I would have never guessed. Of course all I had to do was scroll down for the answer. I am going to make this slightly difficult, just a click away for the answer. I have to say it really made me feel old! O.K. give up?

>>> Click Here to feel old. <<<

Garage Bands and One Hit Wonders

2007-04-12T11:08:00.000-05:00

I live next door to some very energetic almost full fledged teenagers that have a drum kit set up in the garage. They also have a few friends that bring their guitars and amplifiers each week to "Jam". We hear them quite well with all our doors and windows closed any time of the day or week. They even play during the winter months allbeit very short sessions when the temperature drops below freezing.

The kids mother often asks me if all that noise bothers us, I keep telling her that I would rather see them playing music than out on the streets getting in trouble. She always seems to be apologizing, and I always tell her I really don't mind. The reason I don't mind is because I did the very same thing at that age. As young kids, the dream is always the same, hoping you'll have a song that will climb the charts or be discovered and appear on American Idol.

It all starts from those sessions in the garage. In the next few weeks I will be putting together some links to early "Garage Bands" that had Top40 hits like "The Castaways and Liar Liar". So, when driving around this summer with the windows or top down, listen carefully for those kids practicing in the garage with their friends.

Beyond Motown

2007-04-05T10:14:00.000-05:00

What comes to mind when you hear "Love Train", "Back Stabbers", "Me & Mrs. Jones", and "If You Don't Know Me By Now"? Motown right? Think again, these songs were written by the team Gamble and Huff with a songbook well over 3500 songs over the course of 40 years. Even though their hit songs were performed by many well known artists like "The O'Jays", "Dianna Ross and The Supremes", "The Temptations", "Wilson Pickett" and "Aretha Franklin", it was really "That Philly Sound" influence that deserves the credit.

It's only Rock and Soul...but, I like it! ; )

We all love Music and so do Lawyers!

2007-03-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

Most of us have heard the Lawyer Jokes, and we all know sooner or later most of us will need the services of one. In the music world, there is always somebody suing someone about music related affairs. At Oldieslist, we received a very interesting newsletter that covers all sorts of Class Action suits from the proverbial "soup to nuts". We like the Lawyers and Settlements site because they are a public information resource for The People (in the 60's we would say...Right On!). They don't represent any specific lawyer, they just supply information to the public with a way to see if any class injustice has been committed against them. It is surprising, to say the least, about what is going on especially in the music world.

One of the most interesting items is the class action against Sony Entertainment (click here for current music settlements). Also, look for installing copy protection on your computer from their CD's you buy. It amounts to Sony installing a "Trojan" or "Virus" piece of software whenever you play a CD or DVD on your computer. It also prevents you from copying music or videos with that piece of equipment. Even though some record companies allow "backing up" your music for your own personal use, what gives them the right to install programs that track your usage for marketing purposes or prevent you from putting music tracks on your MP3 device or portable player?

Visit the Lawyers and Settlement site to see if you are eligible for ANY of the cases that are listed. It is a very interesting site, you never know, it may be your lucky day!

Puppy Died after Eating Menu Foods

2007-03-21T13:34:00.000-05:00

This Blog entry has nothing to do with Oldies today, instead I am posting an article I received from Lawyers and Settlements . I am sure you have heard the news about the tainted dog food that has killed many dogs and cats over the past several months. As one commercial on TV makes the statement "I am for Dogs" well, that's me. (I have nothing against cats) I own a Pug that was just recently one year old, this very well could have been our dog as we use some of the products mentioned. Please read the article and if you know anyone that has a sick pet due to this manufacturer, please inform them about the lawsuit investigation going on through the Lawyers and Settlement site.

March 20, 2007. By Jane Mundy

Chicago, IL: "Our puppy died after eating Eukanuba, one of the brands from Menu Foods," says Wendy Mena. "My kids are devastated."Mina bought their Chihuahua from a breeder in Texas and had him shipped to Chicago. Although her family only had 'Rocky' for a short time, it doesn't take long to get attached to a puppy. He was immediately one of the family. "We got Rocky when he was three months old and the breeder told us to feed him Eukanuba," Mena says. "So we started feeding him the moist savory chicken in the foil pouches.

"He started to look weak and then he stopped eating. Rocky was drinking water but nothing else. Then he had diarrhea and was very lethargic. The poor little guy was only 10 ounces - this happened so quickly. On February 9th we rushed him to the veterinary ER clinic.

They admitted him immediately and put him on an IV and ran all kinds of tests. He died the next morning - there was nothing they could do. My kids, all of us, were devastated. We only had him a few weeks but that was enough for the children to fall in love with him. A few days after he died I heard about the recall and went online to read more about it. He had all the symptoms; I saw the link to the brands involved and there it was - Eukanuba was one of them!

I have been trying to call the 800 number for Menu Foods but it is impossible to get through to them. I hope we can get compensation for some of the expenses. Rocky was $850 and the vet bills were another $800. The children are devastated and I hope there will be a law suit against Menu Foods. We have two other dogs but Rocky was the baby - our dogs are members of the family. They go everywhere with us.

As well, when Rocky died we had food left over and the other dogs ate it - I am keeping an eye on them and hopefully they will be okay. I don't have the packages but I did the keep the receipt.

"On March 17, 2007 the FDA announced a recall of Pet Foods manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc. At that time they reported ten deaths - one dog and nine cats. They didn't count Rocky.

Early Bee Gees from 1967 "I Can't See Nobody"

2007-03-19T23:26:00.000-05:00

I've had this tune in my head for days after finding it on YouTube. It really brought back some memories for me. Here's the story:

Almost every Saturday back in the mid to late 60's I would meet up with my grade school friend Bill and go to the shopping center to get the WLS (The Big 89) and WCFL (SuperCFL/AM 1000) music charts. We were always on a mission to get 45's that were marked down each week. Bill and I would always find something interesting and usually come home with 7 or 8 45's each week regularly.

Bill and I had a method, we cross checked the WCFL and WLS charts each week and knew that any song that dropped below the Top 10 would be marked down ASAP. The real bargains were the ones that dipped below the #40 mark. That explains why I listened to a lot of "oddball stuff". Bill and I would spend almost an hour sifting through the bargain bins first at the Sears record department, then off to the Kresge's next door to go through their records as well. We also ate lunch at Kresge's while we compared our prized 45's.

We did a lot of record swapping, Bill had a huge Beatles collection and I had Dave Clark Five, New Colony Six, Ides of March, American Breed, Shadows of Knight, Castaways, and Troggs. Between us, we always had plenty of 45's to keep us busy from 1964 to about 1968.

There was this one single that was really marked down. I would say it was less than a quarter, I really can't remember exactly. It was The Bee Gees (1967) "To Love Somebody" on the A side, and "I Can't See Nobody" on the B side. I actually liked the B side better than the well known A side. It was on the "Atco" label.

Here's label information I found on the net for this single released in 1967. UK: Polydor 56178 AUS: Spin EK-1891 USA/CA: Atco 45-6503

Roy Orbison U.S.A. Stamp Petition

2007-03-19T12:50:00.000-05:00

Here is something really great you can do to honor this Rock and Roll Legend. It only takes a few mouse clicks and less than a minute to do. Please go to the Petition Online site and sign the petition for Roy to have a commemorative stamp honoring him for his achievements.

Shake It Up Baby! Twist and Shout! Salt-N-Pepa Style!

2007-03-10T13:54:00.000-06:00

I am a real Oldies lover, and very resistant to today's music scene but after stopping by JonyB's and Sandi's Rockin the Oldies I saw this AOL Video on their Main Page... Do you want to be really entertained for a little over 4 minutes??? Check out this version of Twist and Shout done by Salt-N-Pepa. Really fun and done well even if there is a little rap going on. "Everything old is new again..." and I think this proves it. Also, please stop by JonyB's fantastic site and tell them Oldieslist sent you! Lot's of neat stuff there!

Save Internet Radio! IMPORTANT!

2007-03-05T15:04:00.000-06:00

"They", are at it again folks! This time it is the Copyright Royalty Board raising royalty rates for Internet Radio Stations. On Friday March 2nd, 2007 they introduced new rates that would be RETROACTIVE all the way back to January, 2006. This is absurd and makes absolutely no sense. THEY are messing with your freedom and your music, please visit Save Net Radio and send a letter to your Representatives today.

The American Breed - Bend Me Shape Me

2007-03-02T11:57:00.000-06:00

We all know this one. It is what I call a "Top 40 Oldies Anthem". How many times have you cranked up the volume in the car and played drums to this tune on the steering wheel? I don't think there is an Oldies lover out there that doesn't like this song.

I couldn't resist posting this early Oldies video from American Bandstand, and here's why. First, I remember watching this in front of my black and white TV after literally running home from school as I did so many times to catch the show. You never really knew what group Dick Clark would feature on his show. Second, I knew this group as they were from the Chicago area where I grew up and played several High School sock hops and local teenage venues like "The Blue Village" in suburban Westmont Illinois. (lots of Chicago and local bands played there) So, I was a very excited 14 year old when I saw them on American Bandstand.

The thing I never cared for on Bandstand was the lip syncing and fake instrument playing. I always thought it was so "cheesy". Check out the "air drums" in this clip. A signature Dick Clark production for sure! Bandstand usually showcased the actual released hit or played a studio produced variation for the groups appearing on the show. Looking back, those Bandstand days were like our kids MTV of the 80's.

Back to the music...Bend Me Shape Me by The American Breed still makes me pound out the beat every time I hear it. Yes, even if it is only "Air Drums".

Ringo Starr quits The Roundheads

2007-02-25T15:46:00.000-06:00

I read the news today at ITV Entertainment. To my shock and dismay, I discovered Ringo quit the group he co-founded with Mark Hudson. Ringo and his Roundheads had been playing several cozy venues since 1998 when he teamed up with Hudson. Out of this venture was the release of "Choose Love" which came out in June 2005.

My lovely wife, Margaret, had entered a promotion at WXRT radio and won a pair of tickets! We went to see Ringo and The Roundheads with Guest Colin Hay (lead singer for 80's group Men at Work) at The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois. WTTW (Chicago's PBS station) was recording this live performance for their Soundstage Series that would air later that year in August, 2005. We were part of that supercharged audience that hot Summer evening by the lake. It was an extraordinary, once in a lifetime event.

A great review by another audience member Mark Drobnick sums up the experience that night much better than I, you can find that article here. I have not been able to find the reason Ringo parted ways with his Roundheads, I guess this is what shocked me when I saw the ITV news. It also may be part of the reason PBS did not release the DVD of the Soundstage performance. PBS did air the live event several months later in August 2005 which I was able to record on Tivo. Absolutely a memorable moment! There is a rumor on the Internet that the audio portion will be released as a LIVE performance on CD sometime in the Spring of 2007.

"Before it's too late"

2007-02-12T10:53:00.000-06:00

We have all heard this..."You better hurry up before it's too late". After hearing about Frankie Laine this past week, I realized that maybe a different view on things is in order. (hey, 93 was a great life) I have always leaned toward the procrastination side of life saying things like, "Don't worry I'll get there, we've got plenty of time." Well folks, if your a Baby Boomer and your toting an ARRP card, you better see if that card will get you a Seniors discount at Ticketmaster. You need to book Tickets to see your favorite Oldies Groups now!

My good friend Michael Godin Host of the Treasure Island Oldies Show said to me in a recent email " My Blog is looking like an Obituary column". It seems that we are losing the musical talent our generation loved to listen to at an accelerated rate. The news seems to share the report of famous demises on a monthly basis. Take a look at Michael's Blog and you will quickly realize "You better hurry up!"

It is just a fact of life, everything will change no matter what. There still is time to see some fantastic acts we grew up with and starting real soon, I'll be adding links to great events or promoter sites over the next few weeks. "Time is NOT on our side" anymore. Please get out there and support the artists whose music we listened to through the decades. Buy a ticket, sit back and take a trip back to your youth!

Singer Frankie Laine dies at age 93

2007-02-07T15:28:00.000-06:00

Singer Frankie Laine famous for "Mule Train", "Cool Water", and "Moonlight Gambler" died from complications for recent hip replacement surgery. If you were old enough to remember the TV Series "Rawhide", you heard his booming voice. He sang the popular TV shows theme.

Photo from LA Times which has a nice article on Frankie. Click Here.

Memories Are Made Of This...

2007-02-05T13:23:00.000-06:00

When I was around 10 or 11 years old, my mother would turn on her radio in the kitchen and sing along with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, what I considered "Square" or "Goofy" music. I would run upstairs to my room, put my radio on as loud as I could and listen to the Beatles or The Dave Clark 5. Music that I could relate to, nothing that was sung by people over 30 or 40 years of age.

But then, as I approached the age of 30 or so, I kept on listening to the same "Old" music in the same fashion my Mom did. The odd thing was that I was also enjoying the SAME music my Mom enjoyed along with MY Oldies! Imagine that...some Beatles, Elvis, Dave Clark 5, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and.....Dean Martin! Why Dino? Well, I guess because he was "kinda" cool, for an Old Guy...

While looking around You Tube, I found one of my FAVORITE Dino tunes. Here it is... Please Enjoy!

Logitech "Squeezebox" Media System

2007-01-29T23:23:00.000-06:00

Your gadget loving Webmaster has been waiting for a "Tivo" like device that will, record, "Time Shift" (whatever favorite buzzword...) audio / video and distribute it over your home network. I want to be able to access this device and program it from any PC anywhere. It also should be reasonably priced.

Have you noticed AV products that use the Internet get over hyped and usually have "shortcomings" that clean your pocketbook and leave you frustrated? I'm not particularly fond of my Tivo anymore. (lifetime subscriber with a Series2 and no where to go coming February 2009) I was very dissatisfied with my Linksys Media Adapter and "EarthTuner" back a few years ago. I wasted a good deal of money on these items and vowed never again. But wait, there's more!

Logitech recently acquired a company called SlimDevices last October (2006) and with it comes the technology of "Squeezbox". I'm keeping an eye on this one. It seems to do everything I would like it to, but it is a bit pricey. ($249) They have the right idea, but need to get the bugs out and a more affordable price.

"Mama's got a Squeezebox she wears on her chest And when Daddy comes home He never gets no rest 'Cause she's playing all night..." The Who

Keep an eye on Logitech, I like a lot of their products and I am sure it will be a great product soon.

Oldieslist Member Features

2007-01-29T21:44:00.000-06:00

I would like to remind visitors "Membership has it's privileges" at Oldieslist. Sign-up is easy and we do not sell, spam or use any information for any other purpose other than to upgrade "Guest" accounts to Regular Membership. Members can then rate links, report dead links, Broadcasters "Format Changes", and submit reviews on your favorite sites. It also allows Members to forward links to others and to save your favorites to your account like bookmarks.

Oldieslist Members can help us by submitting links and help us weed out dead links and sites that do not fit our format. We can always use the help! Please sign up as a Member and tell your Friends about Oldieslist!

Oldies Site Owners! Sign up so you can edit your listings! If you are already listed in our database sign up as a Member and "claim" your link by sending us a request from our Contact The Webmaster form at the bottom of our pages.

Help keep the Oldies alive and Rock On!

Question Mark and The Mysterian's House Burns Down!

2007-01-16T21:36:00.000-06:00

Rock and Roll Legend (?) Question Mark (remember "96 Tears") house burned down January 9, 2007 in Vienna Township, Michigan and he is asking for your help!

Let's see if we can help, please spread the word!

Here is the story from ABC12.com By Cathy Shafran :

VIENNA TOWNSHIP (WJRT) - (01/13/07)--A Michigan rock and roll legend is sifting through the remains of his Vienna Township home this weekend after a fire destroyed more than 40 years of music history. For four decades now, he's gone by the name Question Mark and was the frontman for the band Question Mark and the Mysterians.

The group is best known for their song "96 Tears", a garage rock classic recorded in 1966 that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100

When his Clio area home went up in flames this week, most of the mementos went up with the house -- including the gold record for "96 Tears".

'Q' has been scouring the debris with his longtime manager Luverne Thompson, and his wife Joy ever since dawn broke on the overnight fire.

But while the memorabilia it important, he is desperately searching for the remains of four of his seven Yorkies that he was unable to save from the burning structure.

'Q' says he has no insurance and he's not sure how to recover documentation on some of his lost musical accomplishments, such as the gold record and the BMI award for his three-millionth air play.

He's asking anyone with Question Mark memories to contact him on his MYSPACE page, or write him at his post office box:

Question Mark and the Mysterians

P.O. Box 96

Clio, Mi 48420

The Legends of Doo Wop

2007-01-12T17:49:00.000-06:00

I never laughed so hard...You have got to see this! A very well produced and hilarious video "about two men who claim to have been the "hit factor" behind some of the biggest names in rock and roll history.". I just had to post it. Enjoy!

ATTENTION! Many people have been coming here to view this video "Documentary"...This is just for FUN. Please do not take it seriously!!! It is a "Spoof", but indeed very funny!

Help! Oldies Jukeboxes

2006-12-25T11:36:00.000-06:00

When we changed server providers and site upgrades a while back, we lost a lot of really cool Oldies Jukeboxes. One in particular was from a fellow in Turkey (not certain, it may have been in Ankara) who had a excellent one with all files in RealMedia. The site was in English. I would be very grateful if somebody had some information on this site. It is possible that the site shut down, but from what I remember, so much work went into it (over 1500 songs) I do not think they would just totally walk away. If anyone knows or remembers such a site, please contact us!

Dick Biondi 15th Annual Toy Drive at Yorktown Center

2006-12-11T11:00:00.000-06:00

The 15th Annual Dick Biondi Toy Drive at Yorktown Center in Lombard, IL. was a success collecting over 15,400 toys and over $8000 in cash donations for the Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN).

Dick has been doing this Labor of Love since 2000 at Yorktown Center (this is his 15th Annual Toy Drive) broadcasting LIVE for 32 straight hours over a 2 day period. (Friday, December 8, 2006, 10am to Saturday, December 9, 2006, 6pm).

Dick hosted this event while many Special Guests dropped by offering Holiday Donations of toys and/or cash. The audience was abuzz, welcoming our beloved Chicago Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DJ back to the airwaves on WZZN 94.7, Chicago's True Oldies. There was a long line of well-wishers at all times waiting to speak to Dick and get a signed retro-photo of the legendary DJ.

A Special Thank-You to John Gallagher General Manager of WZZN for giving Chicago's Oldies Listeners the best Christmas Present ever by putting Dick Biondi back on the air and giving him the creative freedom to do what he does best. Also, for jumping in and supporting Dick with his annual TOY DRIVE within such a short time frame.

Here are some pictures from the event at our Kodak Gallery , also take a listen to Jim Peterik and The Ides of March on stage with Dick Biondi performing his Christmas Song "Sharing Christmas", written especially for the event.

Reminder! Dick Biondi 15th Annual Toy Drive

2006-12-02T17:23:00.000-06:00

We know JACK! And I don't think he will be attending Dick Biondi's 15 th Annual Toy Drive at Yorktown Center in Lombard Illinois this year. Too bad... I do know if YOU attend and bring a new unwrapped non-violent toy or make a cash donation you will make a lot of little girls and boys very happy. PLEASE tell everyone you know to come out for this very special and worthwhile cause. This is a labor of love for Dick, let's all pitch in and make this the best Toy Drive ever!

If you are not in the Chicago area, you can still help by making your donation to this very worthy cause by contacting UCAN Chicago or WZZN 94.7 Chicago's True Oldies. The Toy Drive starts Friday December 8 at 10:00 am and ends Saturday evening December 9 at 6:00pm.

Oldieslist will be in attendance both Friday and Saturday for this event. See you there!

Get Ready for Christmas Music!

2006-11-25T18:10:00.000-06:00

On Sky.FM

Hello and Ho Ho Ho!

Christmas is coming (and so is New Years) so let's get in the mood! Oldieslist will be putting up links to all your favorite Christmas music in the next few days. For starters...Get in the mood with SKY.FM's Christmas Channel.

Use the Oldieslist Search for "Christmas" and you will get the sites playing Christmas Music.

Stay Tuned!

The Beatles Love CD Released!

2006-11-17T18:03:00.000-06:00

"The Beatles Love" (© Cirque Apple Creation Partnership) has been released and should be available at your favorite CD outlet shortly. This is a digitally remastered CD in Dolby 5.1 Surround and features 26 classic Beatles hits from their original master tapes. The musical soundscape was created exclusivly for the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil. The new mixes are by the Beatles original producer, George Martin. Look for Oldies Stations (check out Dennis Mitchell's Breakfast with The Beatles) playing cuts of the release over the next few weeks. Surf links in our Oldieslist Directory and let us know what you think. Released just in time for the Holidays ahead! Availibility should be at most outlets by November 21, 2006. I will be reviewing this CD shortly and will update this section of our Blog.

Purchase the Beatles Love CD from Amazon.com through our site and show your support for Oldieslist!

Dick Biondi Annual Toy Drive December 8th and 9th!

2006-11-14T22:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, Virginia...There is a Santa Claus...WZZN 94.7 Chicago's True Oldies Station will present Dick Biondi's 15th Annual Toy Drive at Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard IL December 8 & 9

Dick will be broadcasting for 32 hours starting at 10:00 AM Friday to 6:00PM Saturday evening. There will be MANY surprise guests coming out to keep Dick company so make plans to attend this very worthy cause.

Sponsored by UCAN Chicago

Please bring a brand new unwrapped toy for children and young teens.

Listen every night to Dick Biondi on WZZN 94.7 True Oldies Monday through Friday 9pm to midnight for more details! Please spread the word and let's make this the best Toy Drive ever!

Christmas is Coming!

2006-11-08T14:38:00.000-06:00

Maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself, but I see some radio stations, stores, and Internet Sites are already preparing for the Christmas Holiday Season. So, I would like to be one of the first sites to tell you about our friend and Oldieslist Member Paul Evans new CD release for the Holidays. Stop by Paul's site and listen to his MP3 file of:

Written by Paul Evans and Paul Parnes

Performed by

PAUL EVANS

Dick Biondi Returns to the Airwaves!

2006-11-02T15:51:00.000-06:00

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DJ Dick Biondi returns to the airwaves on 94.7 Chicago's True Oldies Channel on Monday November 6, 2006! Announced today by John Records Landecker as he signed on his afternoon drive time show 3pm to 7pm. (John is also a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DJ)

Dick Biondi was cut from WJMK 104.3 after the station switched to the "Jack FM" format and automated their online Oldies format on July 12, 2006. Chicago's True Oldies 94.7 is picking up where WJMK left off, and we are sure they are going to be a success with Oldies staff now including these two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

A big "Thank-You" to all that wrote in and supported Dick. It seems to have paid off well! We are 'True'-ly excited that Dick will be back where he belongs, at a microphone and in a Chicago studio!

Read the November 2, 2006 Chicago Sun-Times Column by Robert Feder on Dick Biondi here.

Sites with really bad advertising...

2006-10-31T17:48:00.000-06:00

I mentioned this once before, as we re-add sites back into the database we are also revisiting just to check links. We find that Oldies Sites that were once very pleasant to visit now have LOTS of really BAD advertising. These sites I believe are making terrible mistakes by using pop-ups and pop-unders (you know the really nasty ones) because they just drive visitors away.

So, I will not be adding sites that have switched marketing practices. Also, please tell us if you find a site that possibly I have missed that you find annoying. It is also going to take longer to add to the database. Hang in there! I am sure we'll find many more sites to replace the ones we omit.

Oldieslist Search Feature

2006-10-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

Our Search Feature on Oldieslist is fast and effective. Reason? Because most of our site links have good descriptions and keywords when entered into the database. You'll come up with great results every time. Find all your Oldies related sites in one place easily on Oldieslist.

You'll find most searches will come up relevant with only one or two words. We are not getting any younger, so we make it run on the least amount of brain power! ;)

If your over 40 you'll remember what Mikey said, "Try it! You'll like it."...

if you can't remember Mikey...oh well...

WZZN 94.7 Chicago's True Oldies Channel brings John Records Landecker back to the air waves!

2006-10-16T17:13:00.000-05:00

NEWSFLASH! As of today (Monday, October 16, 2006) "The Legendary" Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DJ John Records Landecker started as the afternoon on-air personality at True Oldies 94.7 WZZN-Chicago. He sounded very happy and excited as he told the listeners that he has a new home at WZZN. We are thrilled to hear him with his quick wit and commentary back on Chicago's air waves. Welcome back John! (hey John, do you still have that snazzy "Records" tee shirt?)

It is only wishful thinking that WZZN would pick up the other legendary Chicago personalities left behind by WJMK's switch to the "Jack FM" format, especially our dear friend, Dick Biondi! We would LOVE to hear Dick's voice along with Greg Brown, and Fred Winston on our radio be it in the car or on the computer! We miss these talented guys that have made Chicago Oldies Radio a truly memorable experience for such a long time.

Dick Biondi was responsible for keeping us "Old Folks" staying up late and giving us those"bags" under our eyes! Dick, we need you buddy! WZZN, you must understand Dick Biondi, Greg Brown, Fred Winston and John Records Landecker have a devoted following. We, in Chicago, feel a special kinship to these personalities.

No word as of yet on the whereabouts of Dick, Fred, or Greg who also would be a tremendous ratings boost for WZZN. Stay tuned to Oldieslist!

Free TV...What a concept! Life BEFORE Cable.

2006-10-15T15:14:00.000-05:00

If you are over 30, you just might remember life without Cable or Satellite TV. I remember "Over The Air" TV where you had to have an antenna on your roof and only had access to a handful of channels with bad reception. If you got up early in the morning (at sunrise) you would see a "Test Pattern" or possibly a American Flag flying with the National Anthem playing to start a broadcast day. Back then we were limited to 12 hours, maybe 18 hours of programming a day depending on which network.

We used to have portable TVs that had "Rabbit Ear" antennas upon which we sometimes placed "Reynolds Aluminum Foil" or whatever extra loose metal we could find and clip on to the antenna to improve reception. Snow, static, ghosts and constant fading of the picture and, oh yeah, monophonic audio. Constant problems with reception were the norm. There were no MP3 players, DVD's or VCR's. Can you remember those days?

I remember watching The Beatles appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in black and white! We didn't own a color TV until almost 15 years later! Imagine that!!! We would get up early on Saturday mornings to watch the "kid friendly, violence free" cartoons such as Mighty Mouse and Dudley Do Right.

Then, after years of enduring crummy FREE reception, someone got the idea of putting a amplified quality signal through a coax cable and delivering it to your door for a "Modest" fee. We got hooked, then came BIG satellite receivers, encrypted signals, DirectTV, Dish Network, and don't forget "Video Rentals", VHS or DVDs! We had all become "Video Junkies", but remember, it all started by buying a TV and hooking it up to an outside antenna.

Last year, after figuring out over a 10 year period of time, we spent over $5000.00 just for the privilege of watching TV. Imagine that! I thought about it long and hard. All those channels, and nothing to watch! You know the routine, channel surfing and it all starts to look the same. Nowhere to go, and you end up watching "Network TV".

Well, it has been a year since we "cut the cord", more precisely, the "Cable". (actually DirecTV) and started surfing regular old FREE "over the air TV". I figured the 50 bucks a month would pay for a HDTV (with an over the air tuner) over time, and it almost has! The point? Well, it's like going back to a more simpler time, just like the Oldies. Tune in...Turn off! (the cable that is)
And now... I am going to dump some popcorn into a pan and shake it over a flame on the gas stove, drizzle some melted butter grab a Coca-cola and tune into my local PBS station and watch a Doo Wop special!!!

Oldies Radio Sites with annoying marketing tactics.

2006-10-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

We believe that when visiting Oldies Radio streaming audio sites that you shouldn't be prevented getting to your audio by being required entering a user name and password. While we understand the reason is mainly for marketing and tracking users for bandwidth usage, we just feel there are other unobtrusive ways to do these things. I feel it is wrong to annoy potential site visitors and listeners especially when the Oldies market is getting thin.

So, as I check through listings and future Oldie additions to our directory, I will be eliminating sites that "over market". I realize we all have to pay the bills and I certainly am not opposed to marketing on ones site, I do object to sites that try to collect too much information or lots of "redirects" to unscrupulous 3rd party sites.

I see a lot of on air and Internet Broadcasters streaming online asking for usernames, passwords, and asking visitors to fill out surveys when they used to have very easy access. I always felt that if you are streaming audio, use your broadcast to do your advertising and your web site to complement your station. The last thing visitors want is to be annoyed, or have their email addresses sold or be redirected to sites that do this and potentially more by infecting your computer with spyware through nasty scripts.

If you have visited sites through Oldieslist and encountered such annoyances, PLEASE let us know! We will remove such sites from the directory. I have already found sites that were once very nice places to visit that have changed very dramatically and no longer represent that "Good Time Oldies" appeal.

Check out: Geezer Music Club

2006-10-07T23:53:00.000-05:00

The Moose has been "On the loose..." trolling the Blogs in search of worthy links for your entertainment. I stumbled upon "The Big Geez" and his very informative Blog the Geezer Music Club. Perfect for all of us oldsters. A nice range of music memories for all. If your over 40, your going to like this site, if your younger...it's a history lesson!

"A place for SEASONED music lovers to gather" ...GMC

Sign up as a Member of Oldieslist!

2006-10-07T15:43:00.000-05:00

Membership has its privileges! By signing up as a Oldieslist Member you will be able to vote on your favorite links, add links, post comments and enjoy other site features. We DO NOT sell or use any of your information for purposes other than activating site features.

By participating you will be doing your part in helping us "Keep the Oldies alive". When you post comments, vote, or add links to our site, you make it more interesting and help drive traffic to your favorite Oldies. These days, (with changing Radio Formats) you know how important it can be.
So please, sign up today and have fun!

Great Streaming Oldies: Sky.FM

2006-10-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

Want to hear some great streaming Oldies? Sure you do! You must visit Sky.FM and tune in to their fantastic Oldies, 70s, and 80s. So good in fact, I have added the 96k MP3 Oldies Stream to our Oldieslist Quick Links.

The quality of their streaming audio is excellent and very stable. 96k MP3 is an excellent choice for your listening experience, but for lower bandwidth users try aacPlus (WinAmp supported) or Windows Media 32k.

We like their other streaming music genres also, but these Oldies streams are great and we hope they will stay!

We need your help!

2006-10-03T22:51:00.000-05:00

We are planning to implement new features on Oldieslist. If you have any ideas for site improvements please contact us at webmaster@oldieslist.com . Also, we would appreciate telling others about our site. If you have a Oldies related web site, please contact us and let us know about your site.

Welcome to the Oldieslist Blog!

2006-10-02T14:23:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

We have decided to add a Blog edition to our Oldieslist.com web site. We hope by doing this it will encourage more people to get involved with "Keeping the Oldies alive".

Oldieslist.com has been online since June 2005 with the hopes of creating a quality resource to help you find Oldies Music and related sites. If you haven't been there yet, please take a look around at and I am sure you'll see what we are trying to accomplish.

I hope to post Oldies News items of interest here and with a little help from visitors be able to collect photos, audio and just about anything else related from the 50's through the 80's. So don't be shy, please participate!

I would also like to take this time to personally thank some very important people in my life that have been supportive and helped me get started with Oldieslist. They are: My lovely wife, Margaret (Peg), that has always amazes me and puts up with me every day. My good friends Michael Godin, (Treasure Island Oldies) Red Robinson, (CISL-Red Rock Diner) and Dick Biondi who have provided a wealth of information and given me words of encouragement through personal health problems. Paul Evans, Toby Walker (soulwalking), and Brian's DooWop Fixx for sending lots of web traffic! Bob Sirott for your "stamp of approval" and Richard Butler for your support!