Where Were You in ’72?

School was starting in August of 1972, and I was lumbering to the school bus in my new flare leg husky size school pants. The bus would take me to Ithaca and then right by my driveway back to Sextonville elementary. The radio was always on in the background, and I heard the latest songs and the news of the day including information about the Munich summer games and the upcoming presidential election. That fall our teacher held a mock election and Richard Nixon won by landslide over George McGovern (20-2). I was one of the two votes for the democrat. It wasn’t that I was politically aware or well informed. I always have had a soft spot for an underdog. It may have been an indication of what the elementary kids were hearing their parents talking about. My parents had been supporters of John Kennedy, and my dad thought Hubert Humphrey would have made a good president because of his work for farmers. The only other political topic in that third-grade classroom was who your desk buddy was. That was a great win for me because I was seated next to my first big crush. She probably did not look at it as big win, though. Our teacher would play records when we were working on projects. One of my favorites was the new album by Billy Thundercloud and the Chieftones. When they were not touring, they lived on a farm near Boaz. My uncle knew group member Jack and introduced him to me. This was like meeting Elvis for young farm boy Philip and I was amazed when Jack went to his car and brought me back an album.

The music during the last week of August in 1972 was amazing. It was the first time that I listened to the radio and wrote down the countdown of the Top 40 hits. To this day I know the words to almost all of them. Favorites include Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)-Looking Glass, Backstabbers-O’Jays, Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)-Hollies, School’s Out-Alice Cooper, Beautiful Sunday-Daniel Boone, How Do You Do-Mouth and MacNeal, Go All the Way-the Raspberries, Lean on Me-Bill Withers, and Too Late to Turn Back Now-Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose. Hearing a playlist like this takes me back to an amazing time to grow up. Come with me to my happy place this Saturday night during WRCO’s Those Were the Days radio show. I will spin for you all of the favorites from the first forty years of rock and roll between six and midnight.

It got pretty wild last week. Thanks to Todd and Kimmy Coppernoll for their contribution to G.R.A.C.E. and the guest d.j. appearance. We had a groom call during his wedding night. As much as I love radio, I would not have called a request show on my wedding night. To each their own! Let’s have another party Saturday night.

Phil