SOCK HOP SATURDAY NIGHT BLOG

It's Showtime! (#881)

2012-03-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

Sock Hop Saturday Night
Celebrating 17 Years On The Air

Saturday, March 3rd - Mark Edwards’ Sock Hop Saturday Night Program (#881) will be on the air tonight from 8pm to midnight (Eastern Time) on WLNG 92.1FM. A list of songs scheduled for the program may be viewed on the Sock Hop Playlist Page.(¹)

If you want to be a part of Mark's next program, head on over to the Sock Hop Saturday Night database of songs before the end of tonight's show, find the song you want, and submit your request on-line. Or you can call the toll free request line (1-866-833-5060) between 8:04pm and 11:56pm (Eastern Time) from anywhere in the continental USA.

Skype users can now call in their requests by using the video capable "Skype Request Line", 615-680-9500, during the program.

Not in the listening area? Catch the entire program on WLNG’s streaming audio. Come on over and join the fun!

(¹) Songs listed on the playlist may or may not be broadcast as published due to WLNG programming interruptions, last minute changes, positions of the Sun, Moon, Stars and various orbiting satellites, or at the discretion of Sock Hop Saturday Night Host and DJ, Mark Edwards.

March 3rd Playlist

2012-02-29T12:50:00.000-05:00

Sock Hop Saturday Night
Celebrating 17 Years On The Air

The playlist for program (#881) has been published and may be found on the Sock Hop Saturday Night website. Confirmations for website requests have been sent.

Not in the listening area? Catch the entire program on WLNG’s streaming audio. Come on over and join the fun!

Want to be a part of Mark's next program? Then head on over to the Sock Hop Saturday Night database of songs, find a song you want Mark to play, and submit your request on-line.

You can call the toll free request line (1-866-833-5060) between 8:04pm and 11:56pm (Eastern Time) from anywhere in the continental USA. Skype users can now call in their requests by using the video capable “Skype Request Line”, 615-680-9500, during the program.

(¹) Songs listed on the playlist may or may not be broadcast as published due to WLNG programming interruptions, last minute changes, positions of the Sun, Moon, Stars and various orbiting satellites, or at the discretion of Sock Hop Saturday Night Host and DJ, Mark Edwards.

Blues Singer Etta James Dies At 73

2012-01-20T15:52:00.000-05:00

Discovered By Johnny Otis

By Bill Trott & Alex Dobuzinskis
Reuters
Los Angeles
Fri Jan 20, 2012

Three-time Grammy winner singer Etta James, a pioneer of 1950s rhythm-and-blues and rock music known for her show-stopping hit "At Last," died on Friday from complications of leukemia, age 73.

James died at a hospital in Riverside, California, east of Los Angeles, said her manager and friend of some 30 years, Lupe De Leon. She would have turned 74 on Wednesday. "She passed away this morning. She was with her husband and her sons," said De Leon.

Full Article (Reuters)

Johnny Otis Dies At 90

2012-01-19T20:39:00.000-05:00

Writer of "Willie and the Hand Jive"

By Randy Lewis
Los Angeles Times
January 19, 2012

Johnny Otis, who is white, grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood and had a deep connection to black culture. He discovered Etta James and Little Richard.

Pioneering rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, drummer, bandleader and disc jockey Johnny Otis made the kind of conscious life choice early on that few people have the inclination, or circumstance, to carry out.

Full Article (LA Times)

Fred Milano Dies At Age 72 (Dion / Belmonts)

2012-01-05T10:20:00.000-05:00

"Tenor with Dion and the Belmonts"

Fred Milano, who made rock ‘n’ roll history on doo-wop hits with Dion and the Belmonts in the 1950’s and continued to perform while starting a late-in-life career with the New York City Department of Correction, has died. He was 72.

Milano died Sunday, three weeks after his lung cancer was diagnosed, said Warren Gradus, who joined the Belmonts in 1963. Milano lived in Massapequa, on Long Island, and died in a hospital, Gradus said.

Full Article (music.msn.com)

Barbara Orbison Dies At Age 60

2011-12-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

"Steward Of Orbison's Music"

Barbara Orbison, widow of rock n' roll pioneer Roy Orbison, died Tuesday on the 23rd anniversary of her husband's death, a family spokeswoman said. She was 60.

Barbara Orbison died from pancreatic cancer at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center surrounded by her sons, said publicist and family spokeswoman Sarah McMullen. Orbison had been hospitalized since May.

Full Article (Billboard.com)

Lee Pockriss Dies At Age 87

2011-11-19T11:44:00.001-05:00

Lee Pockriss, the songwriter behind "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" and "Catch A Falling Star", died on Friday, November 18th, at the age of 87. His wife Sonja said he died at home in Connecticut following a long illness.

Best known for his collaborations with Paul Vance, including the number one hit, "Itsy Bitsy ... Bikini", he also worked in musical theatre and television.

Full Article (BBC News)

Singer Gene McDaniels Dead At 76

2011-08-02T11:04:00.005-04:00

Saturday, July 30th 2011
David Hinckley - The New York Daily News

Singer Gene McDaniels, who reached the top three in 1961 with “A Hundred Pounds of Clay” and later rose to No. 1 when he wrote Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love,“ died Friday at his home in Maine. He was 76.

A soft-spoken man with a powerful voice, McDaniels scored eight other chart hits, including “Chip Chip,” “Point of No Return” and “Tower of Strength,” which featured one of the most memorable inhales in pop music history.

On Saturday, August 6th, 2011, Mark Edwards will be offering a Twin Spin feature in honor of Gene's contribution to the music industry.

Full Article (NY Daily News)

Another news ramble

2011-07-22T10:25:00.000-04:00

Modern journalism has taken a highly visible shift in how news stories are presented to the populace. For some viewers like myself, it isn't pleasant. I know I have rambled on about this before but every day I am reminded of how badly things have regressed.

As early as I can remember watching television news casts, the major players were anchors that delivered an aura of professionalism and intelligence. You had to decide which one you preferred, but they all had one solid purpose for their time on the air: to bring you the news.

Today the news is aimed more at providing entertainment than presenting news of any merit. The first example that comes to mind is the concept of "tag-team" news anchors, and the basic rule of thumb is, the smaller the market the worse it gets. You know the routine; read a line, stop, look sideways at the co-anchor (in feigned interest) who will continue with the next line, then the process repeats. Unnecessary. In Connecticut they've got Sonya Baghdady teamed up with whoever is available that day, and she pretty much adds zero credibility to the story at hand.

Speaking of hands, that's my second point. Can you imagine Walter Cronkite, or Huntley/Brinkley talks with their hands like it's part of their vocabulary? Today it's the most common crutch used by the overwhelming majority of not only news reporters, but all television performers. Watch your local news and guaranteed before the first 5 minutes has transpired, one of the studio or field reporters will be emphasizing their comments with the ever popular "two handed forward thrust on each word" method.

The stories themselves are so watered down as to offer the most miniscule information about an informative topic, because the news department had to make room for a story to run later about a woman who makes lawn ornaments from discarded Clorox bottles. This is news.

And of course there is just total incompetence. There are two cases I can point two from as recently as yesterday's news at 5PM. One came from an ABC station affiliate regarding the heatwave across the nation at this time. At the end he summarized by reminding us of the most important step to take during this time: "and be sure to (glug glug glug glug glug glug glug glug) drink plenty of water." I guess being able to understand the spoken words wasn't enough, we had to be enlightened with a demonstration.

The second incident actually had me yelling at the tube (a hold over term from my youth, sorry). A story was being presented about a truck that had rolled off a highway embankment just after the morning rush hour. The studio anchor was providing details while video from the scene of the accident was rolling. The final comments on the event were that the name of the driver hadn't been released yet and that "there were no reports of any injuries". At the time the anchor was speaking those exact words, the video was showing six emergency workers carrying the driver away from the wreck, wrapped in a blanket and securely strapped in a stretcher.

No reports of any injuries? I guess my sensibilities don't count either.

Rock Legend Carl Gardner, Lead Singer Of The Coasters, Dies At 83

2011-06-15T10:45:00.004-04:00

As the lead voice of the Coasters in the late 1950’s, Carl Gardner delivered some of early Rock ’N’ Roll’s most indelible lines.

It takes a microsecond for any fan to recognize “Yakety Yak,” where the first sound out of the grooves is Gardner’s voice barking, “Take out the papers and the trash / Or you don’t get no spending cash.”

Full Article (NY Daily News)

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD

2011-05-02T01:03:00.002-04:00

Today is certainly an historic day in the United States as the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden circulates around the globe, as certain as the events that transpired on September 11, 2001 brought this madman to the forefront of our national conscience. Images of destruction and carnage were broadcast live to a (mostly) angry and somber world. Our sorrow became a fierce resolve, and we vowed not only to never forget those that lost their lives, but to bring the perpetrators to justice no matter how long it took. Almost ten years have transpired but our vows have been fulfilled.

There is no doubt that each and every one of us remembers where we were and what we were doing as the day unfolded, and I would like to bring my story to your attention. The later events may sound like a fictional account, but I give you my word that these events happened just as described.

September 11 began no different than any other day. I arrived at work at my former radio station in Bridgeport, Connecticut shortly before 9AM. My office was right next to the news room and it was my usual routine to walk in and greet everyone. That day the newsroom floor was crowded with several people not from that department, intently watching a TV screen showing one of the World Trade Center towers billowing smoke through broken windows and a huge, gaping hole. I was quickly brought up to date that there were reports of an aircraft crashing into the building. My mind began to wander in an attempt to understand why. Could there have been a homing beacon out of whack and caused the pilot to stray from a correct approach to JFK or La Guardia? No, impossible. It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day. As I began to contemplate other possibilities the other tower was struck by the second aircraft. Now there was no doubt.

The day continued and brought more bad news with each passing hour. By the end of the work day I was awash in many different emotions, mostly sorrow and anger. Sorrow for the scores of innocent lives lost. Anger at the images from villages in the Middle East where streets were filled with joyous celebrants, dancing and cheering as images of the falling towers were replayed over and over for their amusement.

I began to think about what would I do with my show coming up on Saturday. Personally I felt that it would be disrespectful, to say the least, to just get on the air and go on with all the fun and music of the show as if nothing had happened. I also knew that I didn't want to cancel the program, knowing the ideal thought would be to remain steadfast and not let terrorism rule the day again. But what could I do that would show and command respect only 5 days after the attacks?

The next day I happened to read a reprinted message to the terrorists from a Mr. Leonard Pitts that originally appeared in the Miami Herald. It was entitled "We'll Go Forward From This Moment" and I immediately knew this was the answer. The message it gave was perfect, and I decided I would begin the show by acknowledging Mr Pitts and reading the article verbatim, followed by songs that had a patriotic feel to them.

So on Saturday, September 15th, that's exactly what I did. After I finished the text, the phones began to ring, thanking me for reading it and asking for copies. I felt I had done the right thing.

On Monday morning, I arrived at work and walked in through the main entrance rather than using the newsroom doors. Debbie, our receptionist, asked what I did Saturday night because the phone system and accompanying message recorders were jammed solid and knocked off-line, overloaded with requests from listeners for audio copies of my presentation. I explained the situation and handed her a printed copy of the Pitts article. As I walked back to my desk I now felt doubly sure that my efforts Saturday night were exactly what was called for and that my recitation of the Pitts article gave a huge boost to a vast audience beyond what normally listened to my program.

I wasn't at my desk for more than 15 minutes when my Program Director rang my phone and asked me to stop in his office for a moment. I got up immediately and walked down the hall, knowing exactly what was going to happen. He was going to thank me, congratulate me on a job well done, and compliment me on my thoughtful act of respect to the lives lost last week. I honestly didn't do it for thanks or any credit, but it was nice to know my efforts were appreciated.

My high spirits were soon dashed. Upon entering his office, he growled at me "who do you think you are by reading that message on your show?" It felt like a punch in the stomach. As my mind raced for an answer, he continued his verbal assault against my actions that night. "Where do you get off reading that? Why didn't you save it for the morning crew on the FM station? Why didn't you leave it for John LaBarca? How dare you try to do something like that?" Beyond those words I don't remember anything else. After he was done berating me, I dragged myself back to my desk and sat there for several minutes in disbelief. I know I contemplated quitting that morning but I can't recall what kept me from following up on that. But in all my years there that hammering had to be the worst experience I endured, although there were many others that came somewhat close.

It wasn't until a day or two later that I discovered what happened. Someone, who shall remain nameless, on our FM sister station heard me read the article, and then sought out a copy for the morning show team to read that Monday. The PD, who always listened to the FM station as he drove in, heard it on the way and called in to say what a great message, and how did they stumble upon? That Mark Edwards guy.

And the rest is history.

It should also be noted that on September 11, 2003 I was relieved of my job at the station because I "didn't look happy." Is it any wonder?

Randy Wood, Founder Of Dot Records, Dies At 94

2011-04-15T09:11:00.005-04:00

Randy Wood, who started out stocking records in a nook of his electrical appliance store before going on to found Dot Records, a label that found success in the 1950s recording white artists like Pat Boone singing black artists' rhythm-and-blues songs, died on Saturday at his home in the La Jolla section of San Diego. He was 94.

Full Article (NY Times)

Ferlin Husky Dies At 85

2011-03-17T20:48:00.009-04:00

Country Music Hall of Famer Ferlin Husky, the innovative recording artist whose 1957 smash "Gone" helped usher in the pop-leaning Nashville Sound era, died today at his daughter's home in Westmoreland. He was 85 and suffered from congestive heart failure.

Full Article (NY Times)

Christina A. Gorilla

2011-02-19T00:45:00.000-05:00

Although I, as predicted, didn't watch even a minute of the Superbowl, it didn't take long for the news to reach me about the spectacle that happened even before the game was underway. The presentation of our national anthem was a monumental train wreck thanks to the ego-driven performance by Christina A. Gorilla. The larger-than-life, obnoxious swamp sow was so wrapped up in trying to turn the song into HER song that she totally mangled the lyrics worse than a butcher who left his glasses home by mistake. Aside from it being embarrassing to watch, it was national disgrace.

Christina didn't just wander in off the streets. It's not like she's never heard the song before, or didn't have time to find out what the lyrics were. But apparently the idea of a little rehearsal never entered the space between her ears obviously occupied by Elmer's Glue. When questioned about it the following day, she made a passing comment to the effect of she was just lost in the moment and now I know why Whitney Houston used teleprompters. Wait a minute. Wasn't it Whitney Houston that was accused of lip-syncing the national anthem many years ago? Some character reference.

I get the distinct feeling that had Christina treated the song with the reverence and respect it deserves, and didn't try to make some kind of musical statement out of it, she probably wouldn't have punted the words and been made the laughing stock of the world that Sunday. Just think of what the international community was thinking when millions of people around the world witnessed the fiasco. I cringe at such thoughts.

Which brings me to my point. This isn't the first time I've spoken out against recording artists and singers altering the national anthem to make it sound like something it isn't, and I'm sure it won't be my last. If you can't sing the Star Spangled Banner with pride, dignity and a sense of gratitude, then please by all means, don't sing it. Leave it to someone who can. There is a lot to be said of respect, and the people that can spot the proper time and place to acknowledge it. I know there will never be a law, but there should be.

Now I'm sure that I'll hear from those who couldn't be more diametrically opposed. "It's Christina's (or anyone's) right to sing it the way she (they) want(s) to". That's entirely true, she does have that right. She also has the good common sense to know that she doesn't have to take a national treasure, flip it around and turn it into a personal showcase. It's not a matter of rights, it's a matter of knowing WHAT is right. Remember that word "respect".

My Executive Producer Larry O'Neill made a comment the following Monday that was exactly on the money. He suggested that an individual or a group from one of the United States military services branches should have performed the national anthem, ensuring a dignified and unmolested presentation. Larry made an excellent point and I agree totally. The Navy provided jets for a flyover, and that seemed to have gone over well with the crowd. Why not tie in the national anthem with the flyover at least?

The whole Superbowl circus lasts pretty much the entire day. Is it really too much to ask to have two minutes of that time used to present the national anthem in a dignified manner? Apparently Christina A. Gorilla thinks so, but what can you expect from someone who's toughest job of the day is to forget her lyrics.

The new definition of...

2011-02-06T14:24:00.000-05:00

Many people who are my age share a lot of common memories, and I'm sure this one is no exception. My father, and the fathers of many of my friends, always referred to the TV as the "idiot box". "Where's Mark?" "Watching the idiot box." Of course it was never the idiot box when my dad was watching football, but I can see his reasoning even with the double standard he applied. And it's much worse today. Even with countless additional channels, HDTV and, for the most part, the loss of an air signal which on some days may have been crapola, television is a huge garbage pit. But that's for another post.

Even with all the worthless values and attributes embodied in the current television industry and the programming they present, I personally think a new device has taken over the role of "idiot box", and that is the cell phone. Doesn't matter if it's a simple, featureless unit or the latest and greatest smart-phone to hit the streets. These small gizmo's have turned the American landscape into a quagmire of dazed, distracted and hopelessly addicted cretins, staggering around like a drunken sailor on shore leave in downtown San Fransisco. No matter where you go, someone either in front of you or near you is either gabbing loudly away or is in the middle of a texting frenzy....all the while oblivious to their surroundings, which includes you and I.

And I'm sorry if I say something that will come across as sexist, but I firmly believe that if it weren't for females, the cell phone industry would literally collapse. In the grocery store yesterday I decided to take an informal poll on my own. I counted 35 people using cell phones, of which 30 were female. At the mall I saw a woman getting a massage and texting while doing so. Plenty of them engage in conversations in the store, thinking that talking loudly makes up for a bad signal. When these women enter my comfort zone, I simply join the conversation as if they were talking to me. When they protest and ask what I am doing, I usually reply "well, you were talking so loud I just figured you were talking to me".

Walking into walls is truly one of the more comical outcomes of the distracted pedestrian and is one incident that literally makes me LOL. Good for 'em too. But sadly that's just one side of the coin. The other is that these dazed bozos get behind the wheel and continue to focus all their attention on the message at hand, and the task of driving is treated as a secondary nuisance.

It's a sad fact of our times that people have become so addicted to their phones that they become slaves to them. If you don't agree, try this. Pay close attention....go out of your way to do so....and see how many people are either texting or talking in the course of doing everyday things that don't require it. Shopping, pumping gas, getting a coffee, punching out at the time clock (no lie), anywhere. Even at the mall, in one of those kiosks in the center of the aisle, I peeked over the divider and saw a woman on the cell phone and using Facebook at the same time.

Speaking of Facebook, check out the posts by your friends. See how many make comments like "oh my God, my phone died! I'm lost!". If that's the case, I would hate to be around these folks when something of an honest earth shattering nature occurs.

And sadly, cell phones have also changed the way people behave in public. I'm not talking about the rude SOB's that have to use the phone in restaurants and movie theaters. I'm talking about the people of the ilk that watched Bill Nye the Science Guy collapse to the floor during a speech he was making at USC. Rather than call emergency services for the man, people picked up their cell phones to take pictures, all in the hopes of being the first to post a picture on Facebook. In today's society, this is all too typical.

I hear a lot of you saying "yeah, well what about YOU?" I have a cell phone for myself and one for my wife. I use the phone on occasion, although I keep it turned off about 50% of the time. My wife uses hers a lot more, to the tune of 5 to 10 times the amount of minutes. Neither of us text, but I do admit to sending about a dozen or so text messages in my lifetime. Two of them were to telemarketers telling them not to text me anymore. If it were not for the fact that the phone may wind up being used again in case of emergency, I really wouldn't have them at all. The sound quality is for crap anyway, and I prefer the solid connection and lack of digital delay using my trusty land-based phone. So I do not think I fit my own definition of a cell phone slave.

So next time you're in the store telling your friend on the phone "I'm so like, you know, just totally going enjoy that dinner, it sounds awesome", don't be surprised if I reply to you "just make sure to bring Tupperware so you can bring a few pounds home too".

Mark Edwards

Super Bowl

2011-02-05T14:33:00.000-05:00

The Super Bowl is finally here. And I really couldn't care. The last time I watched a full Super Bowl game was the one with the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction". And I missed that part of it because I was out of the room trying to get away from the so called music and antics on the screen.

It's not just football either. I've really given up on sports altogether, namely because of the change that turned professional sports into a free-for-all business. I look at it this way; here I am in life, trying my best to stay above the water line financially, and these pathetic thugs who participate in the events complain that they want more money because several million dollars a year isn't enough to play a game for a living. I say get a real job and find out what life is really like.

I used to love football too, as a youth. I remember when there was an NFL and an AFL, and you watched an AFL game only if there wasn't an NFL game in sight. I also remember watching the first two Super Bowl's, back when they weren't even called the Super Bowl. I was a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan back then, much to my fathers chagrin. Bart Starr, Carroll Dale, Elijah Pitts .... names I can remember off the top of my head. And of course, Vince Lombardi.

Then things began to change. I don't remember exactly when or why, but I know I didn't care for it much. Lots of show boating, self-centered celebratory rituals over simple plays, and the most annoying aspect that turned me away....dancing in the endzone. This is NOT professional, I'm sorry.

Now the Super Bowl frenzy has grown to such proportions that it spills over into the days before, especially Saturday. I tried to do a little bit of grocery shopping today, just to pick up a few things. You'd have thought the Russians were in New Jersey the way people jammed the stores, driving their carts even worse than their SUV's, which isn't saying much. Traffic woes too with all these hypnotized and dazed Super Bowl devotees, on sacred missions to buy 15 pounds worth of garbage food that will do an equal amount of damage to their wallets as to their arteries.

The Super Bowl has devolved into a media freak show, 180 degrees from the main purpose, to play a professional game. But since the day of the professional sportsman is long gone, I suppose it's OK to let this oversight pass (no pun intended). The pre-game shows will not start 30 minutes before the game. No, not an hour either. SEVERAL hours before, with non-stop, pathetic banter from sports casters whose favorite pastime is apparently to hear themselves talk.

Then there's "tailgating". Who on earth came up with this lame excuse of entertainment? "Hey, I got an idea. Let's drive to a parking lot, set up a grill, and have a picnic amongst all the parked cars." The American gene pool strikes again.

Now we get to the game and watch the same egotistical punks play the "it's all about me" game. It's no longer a team effort. The team merely serves to supply the uniform to wear and the logo to attach oneself to. Eight announcers are in the broadcast booth, and maybe one has a little bit of professional broadcasting savvy, and another 4 or 5 on the sidelines, including the little bit of fluff thrust upon the scene to satisfy the equal opportunity proponents.

Oh, don't forget the texting after every play now! At least the bozo's that can't keep their hands off their phones for more than seven seconds won't be on the road.

Half time brings no relief. Now we're presented, in a rushed, usually comical manner, a musical act that either most people have never heard of (or wish they didn't) or an aging, pitiful performer who shouldn't be on the stage in the first place. After their done we go back to the game for the rest of the showoff kings, and then another 3 hours of post game shows.

Meanwhile in the home city of the game victorious, diehard fans and followers turn over cars and set them on fire, loot stores and mug innocent passersby, throw rocks and bottles at police then claim police brutality when booked, all in the name of professional sportsmanship.

And then just think.....in 2 months I'll have to start hearing about the Yankees again.

Mark Edwards

NEWS FROM NETFLIX

2011-01-19T11:16:00.000-05:00

It's been a while now since I've decided to sound off about anything, and a parade of worthy topics has sailed by without prompting me to respond. Gas prices, Tuscon, health care, etc. A few even got me seated at the desk, ready to type my opinions, miserable as they may be. Yet I couldn't find the motivation to get past the log-in procedure.

Today is different. A friend on Facebook posted a message from Netflix that said the company was soon to be dropping DVD distribution/rental in favor of concentrating on their online streaming for instant viewing. Although this announcement was met with a great amount of disapproval from a vast pool of DVD supporters, the move was inevitable. The digital age is upon us, which means that nothing technological in nature will survive more than a couple years without being replaced by something "new and improved". I don't like Netflix's idea either.

I have to admit that in a few aspects of my personal life I am very fussy. Music of course, and movies. My wife and I haven't been to the movies in over three years, since our last five outings were nothing short of major disappointments, almost to the point of walking out. They were so bad I can't even recall the titles. Although Sue and I disagree somewhat on what kind of movies we would prefer, we do agree that quality should be utmost. In this digital age, making a film with a lot of digital effects is no longer even a minuscule consideration. It's like watching a U-Conn Ladies Huskies basketball game; you already know what's coming so why bother watching the same thing over and over again?

The Netflix move is obviously aimed at a target audience that isn't old enough to appreciate a quality film made before CGI. Netflix offers only a fraction of their DVD library for instant viewing, and of course the films the do offer, in general, would most likely be appeasing to an audience that prefers texting while driving rather than concern over anyone else's safety. It echoes the mindset of most radio station management types that I have worked for in Connecticut over the years; don't worry about offering a quality product, just offer a profitable product. In my opinion, there is simply no reason why both points can't be satisfied. Maybe in time Netflix will offer more but I doubt it. It's a sad fact that people like myself are old, and old people just don't count. "Double Indemnity? Never heard of it. Here, watch Dude Where's My Car instead". Some future to look forward to.

If you think I am kidding, here is a list I am going to create from 10 movies, just off the top of my head, that I would love to be able to watch instantly that I haven't see in some time. Without advance notification, let's see what Netflix says:

DOUBLE INDEMNITY: Not available for instant viewing
SORRY WRONG NUMBER: Same
THE FLIM FLAM MAN (George C. Scott): Not even listed
THE GUNS OF NAVARONE: Not available for instant viewing
SEVEN DAYS IN MAY: Not available for instant viewing
THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974 original): Not available for instant viewing
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY 1962: Not available for instant viewing
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY 1935: Not available for instant viewing
THE BOUNTY 1984 (Remake with Mel Gibson doing a lot of really annoying shouting and yelling): Of course, THIS is available
FAILSAFE: Not available for instant viewing

There you go. Right off the top of my head, all these films have to be watched from a DVD, except the George C. Scott film. None of them can be instantly viewed at this time.

Why? Because we have been off pimple cream for a few decades now, and we're a little more responsible with our spending habits. Simply put, we're old and we don't count.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T10:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!!!

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday of the year. It is a day of celebration of family, friends and all the blessings we take for granted the rest of the year. No gifts are expected---just a day to enjoy what we have.

I remember the first Thanksgiving we lived in Canada. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October but it is nothing like the American Thanksgiving. I was feeling homesick and was upset at missing my traditional Thanksgiving feast. My youngest sister and her family decided to drive from Boston to Toronto to be with us that year. We kept the kids out of school that day because we felt that the experience of family was more important than going to school on that particular day. We were renting a house at that time that had only a small working "galley" kitchen but we still managed to pull off quite a feast. After we had eaten and waddled around the block hoping to burn off some of those calories, we got the bright idea of making soup from the leftover turkey carcass. None of us had ever made soup before but it sounded like a good plan. We got a big pot, put the bones in some water and set to work. After a couple of hours, we tasted it and it was AWFUL. One person said "It needs this", another said "it needs that". We finally ended up calling a friend who made a lot of soups asking how to correct the mistakes. The more we tried to fix it, the worse it got and the more we laughed. We all ended up sitting on the floor with tears streaming down our faces because we were laughing so hard that we could no longer stand up. It was a time of family togetherness that I will never forget. Unfortunately, my sister died of breast cancer a few years later but those memories are forever engraved in my heart.
So, this Thanksgiving, gather your loved ones and enjoy. Give thanks for all that you have and create those memories that will last forever.

Now that Election Day is over

2010-11-03T01:15:00.008-04:00

During all the elections that I had voted on, I religiously stayed clear of casting my ballot along party lines. I had always felt that party affiliation was less important than the candidates views, opinions, background and finding realistic solutions to forward regarding topics that I felt were important. In short, I felt I should vote for the best candidate to do the job regardless of party.

That all changed once I got into radio. During my 13 years at WICC I had the opportunity to work as program producer on literally countless talk shows, hosted by a wide variety of folks where the amount of grey matter they possessed ranged from abundant to barely readable. Most fell somewhere in between, but those at the extremes were just that; extreme.

One such party went by the radio name of Ben Gorman. His "Flush Rush" campaign had all the sizzle of a damp firecracker, although several of his stunts garnered a lot of unwanted attention at the station and from area residents. The first tale took place on a July 4th weekend in the mid 1990's when several of his hired staff went about on a jolly mission in nearby Fairfield, Connecticut to anoint cars and telephone poles throughout the beach areas with his flyers, which featured a large drawing of an Elephant (read Republican) sitting inside a toilet. The Fairfield Police had little trouble verifying the culprits since the radio station's fax number was still on the photocopied flyers. I was at the studio when the call came in from Fairfield's finest. Later that day he supposedly hired an airplane to pull a banner along the coastline with the same "Flush Rush" slogan. Station management types weren't at all happy to have their highly regarded call letters placed on the same venue with a picture of a toilet. Perhaps a year later, Gorman was allegedly reported to have silently slipped away into the night after defaulting on his brokered charges for using the station airwaves.

The next memorable character was a full time employee who went by the moniker of Citizen Smith. A loudmouthed, opinionated and egotistical Democrat, he embodied a liberal's liberal talk show host. He hated practically everybody but himself, including all Republicans, a catalyst which served as the primary method of promoting himself. I know for a fact he didn't appreciate me as his producer as much as I loathed having to work with him and tolerate his complaints and personal insults in much the same way a person getting a root canal tolerates his dentist.

As the 2004 presidential election approached, Mr. Smith was hell bent on taking any shot possible at the Republican party and any member thereof while singing countless praises of anything Democrat. I would sit in the control room, forced to listen to the rantings and ravings, and wonder why I was sitting on the wrong side of the glass wall. His approach was verbally violent and he twisted words from callers faster than a New York street vendor can twist a pretzel. His relentless approach to talk radio left yours truly as the open target for the return salvos fired by the audience opposition, in endless succession. I caught a lot of flack, and most times Smith would just ignore the callers that did manage to control their anger long enough to be persuaded to be put on hold, lured with the promise of airtime and the chance to match wits. He would just leave them dangling on hold for what seemed like an eternity to the caller. Then they got further annoyed, hung up and called back. So guess who caught it twice? If they did get on the air eventually, Smith would somehow try to change the position of the challenge to make it sound as if the caller made some irrational outburst and Smith was there to settle the issue. To top it all off, the station's Program Director saw nothing wrong with all this.

One afternoon as the show began to rear its ugly head with his opening tirade against the GOP, he began to spout off facts and figures from the newspapers he had about some candidate and a local election. I cannot remember the pertinent facts of that race however, but what I do remember is that I also had copies of the same newspapers in my control room. While he spouted on trying to bait callers in to the show, I sat in the control room and read along with him as he sniveled and whined about the candidate and the party. That's when I began to take notice of the fact that he wasn't reading what was printed in the newspaper. I wouldn't go so far as to say he was making it up as he went along, but he came damn close. I would call it unlimited exuberant embellishment. You might call it lying. After about forty five seconds of this I turned in his direction with what must have been a clearly readable face that in amazement shouted to him right through the glass "what the hell are you talking about?" Of course, per the directives set in stone by the almighty programming genius down the hall, I was not allowed to speak on the air with Smith. So now I was being raked over the radio coals, called a few not so clever names, and told to pay attention to the phones and not what's being said. With zero chance to defend myself on the air I was left with hardly an alternative. However during the next commercial break I heard a lot worse, face to face, from Mr. Smith. Rest assured he got an earful from me in return. When WICC and I elected to part company later that year, Mr. Smith had to have been one happy camper. With a new producer (who stayed in contact with me and echoed all the same complaints as I had), he continued his merry way, speaking his opinionated mind and shooting off his mouth on a daily basis in ever growing carelessness. Eventually in 2004 he finally stepped over the line with one caller who, as a former station employee with a lot of pull, took great exception to a heated comment about her religious affiliation. The following day Smith was as unemployed as I had been the year prior.

The primary lesson this exercise in ulcers and stress had taught me was a way to see the underhanded and outright dishonest steps someone would take to forward their political beliefs in an attempt to sway others, unsuspecting and unsure. Although I can't say with 100% certainty that this ever happened with any other party's talk show host, I'm sure the possibility is real. But what I can say is that this did happen to me, and from that day forward I learned what I wanted to be....and that was NOT to be a Democrat.

You'll notice that I mentioned the call letters WICC. I did this intentionally so as to leave no mistake about which Mensa candidates hired the aforementioned Bozo while leaving other stations deservedly in the clear.

Mark Edwards

You tell US!

2010-10-22T08:32:00.001-04:00

Show # 1000 is rapidly approaching. Even though it's more than 3 years distant, time always seems to fly faster than one thinks. We here at SHSN have been thinking about that show for some time now. At least I have anyway. Personally I have felt for some time that some form of change needs to take place, although admittedly I'm not sure just which direction to take. Now you can help with the decision. I'm sure you've already noticed the poll here on the blog, over at the top of the right hand column. That poll has been programmed to end on June 20, 2014.....the day before the final show, so everyone has plenty of time to contribute to the total. Go ahead, add your vote.

Briefly, when I started the show back in 1994, I figured I'd be lucky to get a few months on the air. When the show took off I then surmised that I'd stay with it for a year or two, then maybe take it elsewhere or just bail out. Little did I know that I would stay on the air in Connecticut for 10 years and then start another long run at WLNG 92.1 FM. I never imagined the show would be as successful as it is, and have the dedicated, loyal following it now enjoys. I have said this many times and will continue to repeat it; the best thing to ever happen to the program was landing at America's original oldies station, WLNG in Sag Harbor, NY.

1000 shows and 20 years aren't in any way a record, but it does represent a milestone not only to reflect on where the show has been, but in which direction to steer it afterward.

Politically Correct?

2010-10-16T13:22:00.000-04:00

I found a song to use for tonight's DJ's choice that was used in Woody Allen's film "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" I remember seeing this film for the first time at the public library in Fairfield, Connecticut back in the mid 70's and laughing myself silly. I would scan TV Guide every week after that in case it was going to be televised on the air, and many times I was rewarded with a late night showing.

Then a few years ago I saw it on the schedule for TCM and decided to watch it again, figuring they would have obtained a relatively pristine copy that would make it worth watching all over again. And they did. Yes, the picture was great, but the audio was edited! In an effort to be more "politically correct" and not offend certain viewers, the semi-risque comments, previously deemed fully suitable for on-air broadcast on local stations, were watered down and cleaned up. It destroyed the film. The laughs were gone, and replaced by thoughts of "what is their problem?" I can't recall exactly which scenes were altered but I do remember noting that the original comments didn't warrant such action. If you like silly, screw ball comedy, and you never saw the original release of WUTL, you have missed a great opportunity. Thankfully I still have my original version on (oh my goodness) VHS.

What do YOU think about situations, comments and incidents either being turned or created to be "politically correct"? Take our survey at the top of the column on the right and let us know. Maybe it's just me.....maybe it's not.

New York Yankees and the attitude

2010-10-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

A friend recently posted a comment on Facebook suggesting that had George Steinbrenner still been alive, he would have apologized to the Yankees fans for a dismal season in 2010 and for not winning the division but only a wild card spot. If this were true, it would forever cement in my mind the notion that Yankees arrogance knows no bounds.

Apologize for not getting something that you weren't entitled to? Because someone else earned it? It's the baseball equivalent of saying "nobody else was supposed to get the title in the first place, only us". What an insult to the other team. The Yankees can certainly apologize for not playing as well as the other teams, but not to suggest that they were the intended recipients of the titles all along.

And that's what bothers me most about the team, the organization and the fans. The attitude. It begins at the start of each season and implies no other baseball team should be allowed to win. That, if the Yankees suffer a defeat, then something must be wrong. There is never a suggestion that the other team outplayed them, but rather there was a serious malady in the way the cards of life were dealt, and the fixed deck was unfixed. As if the Yankees are an industry standard; a benchmark; an FDA spec point in the process of manufacturing medical goods. They are not. If indeed this were the case, then MLB would start each season by giving the Yankees, and only the Yankees, a score card with all wins, zero losses, and award them all the titles right up to World Series champions right away. Then losses would be subtracted from the grand total as the season progressed. This would show all the other "lesser" teams what they have to do to take the coveted title wins away from the Yankees who have already won them all. In THAT fantasy based scenario, George Steinbrenner would have a right to apologize. But at the beginning of each season, every team starts off equally, with an equal amount of games needed to be won to attain their goal. That includes the New York Yankees, even though the team and their fans think differently, through eyes contemptuous of the rest of the mediocre and less divine inhabitants of the world.

My friend Robert is certainly entitled to his predictions, as I am to my opposite viewpoint, which is....you apologize for forgetting to pick up milk at the store. You apologize for unpleasant words said in haste. You don't apologize for not earning something you weren't entitled to.

Bob, I apologize.

General Johnson of the Showmen and Chairman of the Board

2010-10-14T20:57:00.000-04:00

General Norman Johnson of the Showmen and Chairman of the Board passed away October 13 at the young age of 67. Being a Virginia native, I have seen him in concert many times and he always held the audience in the palm of his hand. His charisma and distinctive signing voice were a real treat to witness.

Theme at 10 o'clock

2010-10-13T10:31:00.000-04:00

Ever notice that the 10-10:30 segment often includes a "theme"? Sometimes, it is obvious, other times a bit more challenging. See if you can figure out the theme for this Saturday....Warning: this is one of the "challenging" ones.

CHILE CELEBRATES WITH THE WORLD

2010-10-13T02:00:00.000-04:00

Finally a story of not only good news, but of unparalleled belief in never giving up hope, and never giving up on others. As this is being written, two of the 33 Chilean miners whose story has captivated an anxious world, have been rescued and pulled to the surface of the planet.

I'm sure you will either have read some of the details or have seen various media accounts of the rescue. However there is no sufficient measure for an outsider to fully appreciate the circumstances behind the amazing rescue, or the catastrophic conditions that the men endured. I have tried to imagine myself in those strange surroundings and readily admit I probably don't have a fraction of the intestinal fortitude that was needed to survive it all.

First, imagine being nearly one half mile under the earth at the time of the mine collapse. I wouldn't suppose to have passed more than an hour without believing the end was at hand. Trapped. No escape. Some limited emergency supplies in cramped quarters. Anyone else see a panic attack coming on? Now add the heat, humidity, lack of privacy, sheer boredom, no outside communications, and the list goes on. Now do this for seventeen days.

A tremendous ray of hope arrives in the form of a bore hole. A message is scribbled to those at the other end. Now an unbearable wait for a reply, which comes and says a rescue is on it's way, in a couple months. And now back to the old routine. But things are worse for some. There are various medical conditions, some pre-existing, some brought on by the prolonged exposure to the harsh conditions. Limited supplies of food and water are more easily tolerated by some. How can hope survive here?

Meanwhile on the surface, a method must be fashioned to reach these men over 2,000 feet below. Literally countless conditions, unforeseeable obstacles and engineering challenges to baffle the most brilliant of minds must be considered; all under the nose of worldwide media attention, the pressure of members of the families at each turn, and the ever constant ticking of the clock. Above, the race is on. Below, another unbearable wait begins.

After several weeks, the roof of the underground shelter shatters as the bore from above reaches the gloomy room. Inside, incredibly, confidence and morale is high. Soon the actual rescue will take place. Soon....after tests, reinforcements, and more tests. Finally it is time to ascend to the surface. Jammed into a capsule-shaped cage, no wider than four squares of the typical floor tile found in most department stores, shaped into a circle. There will be no room to move, none. Again, can you feel the panic attack? During the twenty minute lift, your mind races with thoughts. What joy to see my loved ones again! What if something goes wrong?

These scenarios are so vague in detail and limited in scope that it's impossible to know exactly what the miners are really experiencing. But suffice to say, it takes one hell of a human being to endure such an ordeal. Speaking for myself, I don't think I could have come close.

But they never gave up, neither the miners nor the rescuers. And that, above all else, is what in my opinion is the loudest and strongest lesson to be learned from this near-disaster in Chile. This is not only a technological triumph, but a triumph of the human spirit. To continue, persevere and to win, under the most challenging and near impossible conditions one could imagine, is a credit to the ingenuity of those who exacted the rescue, and to the determination of thirty three extraordinary men.

God bless them all.

The BLOG is back

2010-10-11T10:52:00.007-04:00

It's been some time since this blog has been accessed by the staff here at Sock Hop. Primarily it was created to help promote various ideas and special events associated with the weekly WLNG-FM radio program I produce. It will still serve to meet that goal. However in additional capacities it will serve as a mouthpiece for yours truly to spout off regarding a plethora of related and unrelated topics. Whatever happens to please me or displease me at the moment will more than likely be fodder for this forum.

I've decided to use this platform as it happens to be that Facebook offers a great deal less space to post such opinions. I also considered the impact on fans and friends who have me listed on their Facebook accounts but may not necessarily want to hear about my whining and complaining about topics near and dear to their hearts. The New York Yankees is a perfect example. So to keep the unwanted clutter from their desktops I have moved my comments of that nature to this page.

As always, the opinions expressed here are those of the blog owner (me) and do not necessarily represent those of Larry O'Neill, Rosemary Carlson or WLNG-FM or any of the staff or advertisers.

What's YOUR favorite oldie and why?

2009-02-19T06:44:00.003-05:00

For me it's tough to pick just one favorite. There are so many great songs out there selecting a single one really isn't possible. BUT, having said that, I would have to say (and have said this for years on the show) that ONE of my alltime favorites is Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite". Some critics have scoffed at this song, claiming it's too simple. But in my opinion they miss a combination of elements rarely found in other songs. Jackie's superb delivery, the big band backing, and the background singers that add a touch of doo wop to it. It's upbeat and powerful and fun to listen to. Who knows what it would have sounded like had Jackie not insisted that the song tempo be increased repeatedly? So, what's YOUR favorite?

WICC cuts corners again, with peoples lives

2009-02-08T10:16:00.009-05:00

It seems the old Fairfield Avenue Fun Factory has seen better days. On Friday, February 6, eight employees, including 4 of my long time friends, were given the boot.
It surprises me only mildly and serves to reassure me that the same parties are still in charge down there. Actually, "in command" is a better description. Although the station was slowly in decline when I arrived on the scene in 1991, the arrival of Cumulus marked the official death knell and began the process of hammering nails into the coffin.

With that arrival came an early morning meeting that we were "bought out again" and a big welcome aboard from the new corporate big-wigs. One of the things I vividly remember being said was, to the effect, that live and local programming is what makes broadcasting great and no changes will be made to alter that philosophy. Two weeks later the afternoon host was fired and replaced by the satellite talk show Neal Boortz. The new horizon was in full view.

Next came the removal of all assistants AND the General Manager, one Vince Cremona, who ran the station exceptionally well and treated his employees with the respect they deserve. That was all to end. After being removed from my Assistant Chief Engineers position, removed as webmaster, demoted to the lowest position on the staff, and suffering a 13% pay cut, I was dismissed because I didn't look happy. Can you say DUH? That was 2003.

Now it's 2009 and the same mis-managers who take joy in seeing dedicated employees take a hit did it again, only 8-fold. "Budget cuts" are the culprit. And supposedly the Bridgeport area economy can't support a full time local radio station. Who's fault is that? Management.

How can anyone expect a client to buy advertising on a station that has just about zero to recommend itself? The lack of quality programming falls right at the feet of the Director Of Programming. Making programming decisions allegedly based on the alignment of the stars and planets is hardly reliable, and over the years it seemed as if there was a contest going on to bring in the most unlistenable shows. Remember Citizen Smith? I had the most extreme displeasure of working with that arrogant, egotistical loudmouth as his producer....and those same attributes are the ones that got HIM fired. Someone didn't see this coming? I saw it the day I was introduced to him. The Director Of Programming saw him as the next station savior. Why does the station maintain the DOP in its employ? THAT responsibility falls at the feet of the General Manager. Between the two of these long time "professionals", they have failed miserably to keep the station vibrant and alive after nearly 6 years of trying. I can't even go into the subject of the station's GM. All I can say is that "people persons" they aren't, not by a long shot.

In my opinion it's now in the hands of Cumulus to assess the situation (good luck) and unload these two key figureheads who have failed hands-down at their respective and collective tasks. But I'm 100% sure both of them don't and won't see it that way. Their philosophy is when the station does well, it's because THEIR efforts brought success. When the numbers are down, it's always the fault of the airstaff.

Four of my friends are now jobless in an economy that has few prospects. My good friend Mike Colby has shown more dedication to that station than anyone else I can think of, and was just as instrumental in getting Sock Hop off the ground as Larry and Rosemary are now in keeping it on top.

To Mike, Anne, Tim and Michelle......I sincerely hope you all find the light at the end of tunnel quickly and that this unnecessary action brings forth the least amount of personal distress.

To Cumulus and WICC, why waste my breath?

THIS IS WHY W I C C MEANS "WHY I CAN'T COMMUNICATE"

Mike Colby
Anne Rondepierre
Tim Quinn
Michelle Roy