Category: Flashbacks
WNIC SPECIAL PRESENTATION: THE LEE ALAN NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY!
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This WNIC recording, having been long-held as part of our Detroit radio collection, essentially was found incomplete in its recorded form. And while the recording’s quality varies, nevertheless its contents is worthy, in my view, for posting today as our featured presentation on this New Year’s Eve, 2021.
The WNIC broadcast was recorded on two 100 minute cassette tapes. In the process of enhancing the audio, I removed, having edited in part, about a half hour of the recording found in the b-side of tape one. This was due to excessive ‘wow and flutter’ having been picked up during the recording process. Also, it bears noting the official ‘countdown to 1983’ (in-studio with Lee Alan) was not found in the recordings as well. What we do have is what you will be listening to today.
Nevertheless, this was a special WNIC New Year’s Eve presentation. The broadcast was taped by our friend Greg Innis. He has kept them in his personal Detroit radio airchecks collection for the past thirty-nine years. As you listen, you will immediately note it is chock-full of listener call-in’s, great memories, stories and sounds, having shared with a large WNIC audience by The Horn on New Year’s Eve night, December 31, 1982.
Lastly, in commemoration of this featured presentation, I also added extensively more to Lee Alan’s exclusive feature (he shared for the broadcast) of Chuck Berry’s live performance at the Walled Lake Casino near the end of the recording.
Enjoy. Lee Alan’s New Year’s Eve Party on WNIC. Happy New Year!
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A special THANK YOU to senior site contributor Greg Innis of Livonia, MI., for having provided this featured WNIC audio gem for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks aircheck repository.
THE ’67 KEENER KEYMEN OF MUSIC! ‘A WISH’ FOR THE NEW YEAR
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A special thank you to Keener legend Bob Green (Bob Green Productions) of Houston, Texas, for contributing this WKNR December 1967 audio memory with Motor City Radio Flashbacks ?
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Recording audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
THIS WEEK, 1964: THE HOTTEST RECORD SINGLE IN THE U.S.A.!
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ELEVEN WEEKS overall on the singles pop charts, “I Feel Fine” by the Beatles peaked this week at #1 (3 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Beginning December 20 through week ending, January 9, 1965. (Source: Billboard Pop Annual)
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For our previous Billboard 1964 Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE
This record finalizes the 1964 Number One singles — 23 total — according to the Joel Whitburn’s Billboard Pop Annual.
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THE BIG 8: MOTOR CITY BIG 30 RECORDS! DECEMBER 19, 1967
“The listing of records herein is the opinion of CKLW based on its survey of record sales, listener requests and CKLW’s judgement of the record’s appeal.”
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The above CKLW chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
— A MCRFB VIEWING TIP —
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over CKLW chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
ON YOUR PC? Click on all chart images 2x for largest print view.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
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A sincere, thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.
Above CKLW music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
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WJR: BEGINS TODAY! JIM HAMPTON’S ‘AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS’
STARTS TODAY! 3:00 P.M., CHRISTMAS EVE through 12 M. CHRISTMAS DAY
33 CONTINUOUS HOURS of CHRISTMAS MUSIC and MEMORIES
wjr.com (or on the radio app) audacy.com
A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 02 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!
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“Little Altar Boy” was written in 1961 and first recorded that year by vocalist Vic Dana for his album This Is Vic Dana. Released as a single, it reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In an introspective moment, Dana performs this quiet song in the 1962 musical-comedy film Don’t Knock the Twist.
The single was released on the Dolton label, making its debut on December 27, 1961 and stayed on the Billboard charts for 8 weeks. Little Altar Boy was re-released on December 17, 1965, having peaked #13 and stayed on Billboard that year for three weeks.
The song was also recorded by Andy Williams on his 1965 album Merry Christmas, by Glen Campbell on his 1968 album That Christmas Feeling, and by Jack Jones on his 1969 album A Jack Jones Christmas.
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Sources: Wikipedia; Billboard’s Christmas in the Charts 1920-2004
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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #03 GO HERE
DAVE PRINCE. ‘ONE SOLITARY LIFE’ . . . DECEMBER 1962
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Conceived, created, produced, and narrated by Dave Prince
Recording audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 03 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!
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“The Christmas Song” (commonly subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” or, as it was originally subtitled, “Merry Christmas to You“) is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé.
The contemporary Holiday classic was included as a late-1968 album entry covered by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ for their ‘Christmas Album’, as it was titled. It was the group’s eleventh release. The LP edition of the album was issued twice. The song was listed as track four on the A-Side of the LP. It was also the B-side to their released Christmas single, “My Favorite Things“.
The single was released on December 7, 1968, according to Billboard. The Christmas Song peaked at #1 and stayed on top of the Christmas charts for 3 weeks.
Collaborating with Alpert in the production was his usual cadre of musicians: Nick Ceroli (drums/percussion), Bob Edmondson (trombone), Tonni Kalash (trumpet), Lou Pagani (keyboards), John Pisano (guitars/mandolin) and Pat Senatore (bass). Perennial sideman, Julius Wechter, appears on marimba and percussion. Alpert provides lead vocals on “The Christmas Song” and “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle,” and there are also appearances by a studio choir and string instruments, arranged by Shorty Rogers.
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Sources: Wikipedia; Billboard’s Christmas in the Charts 1920-2004
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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #04 GO HERE
