Classic Hits Removed From PC Airplay

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

What are some songs that were once released as 45rpm singles, but are now not acceptable to play on the radio airways?

Two that spring to mind immediately are:

ZZ TOP -- "Arrested For Driving While Blind"

JOHN LENNON -- "Woman Is The Nigger Of The World"

It's probably been more than 20 years since I've heard either song played on the radio. Lennon's song was last heard on the days following his assassination. ZZ Tops minor hit fell out of favor as MADD became more prominent.

Others?

Hank · 01 Dec 2004

The Crystals' "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)" immediately springs to mind.

Hank · 01 Dec 2004

Blackstar wrote:

ZZ TOP -- "Arrested For Driving While Blind"

ZZ Tops minor hit fell out of favor as MADD became more prominent.

Interestingly, Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime" has escaped unscathed, despite its advice to "Have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find."

Glenn S. · 30 Oct 2006

Was the Lennon song really much of a hit? I know it was released as a single but I don't recall ever hearing it on the radio.

Jimbo · 19 Jul 2006

It never hit the Hot 100, but after Columbine and a rash of other school shootings, Julie Brown's novelty song "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" just doesn't seem all that funny anymore.

Weird Al's Christmas novelty song "Christmas at Ground Zero" took on a dark subtext after 9/11. Rhino even pulled it from the line-up of their Big 80s Christmas CD.

And I'd bet oldies stations don't play Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzalez" or Ray Stevens' "Ahab the Arab" much anymore, what with their broad stereotypes.

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

A couple more that I hadn't heard in a couple of decades:

RANDY NEWMAN -- "Short People"

(don't know the band from disco era) -- "(Push, Push) In The Bush"

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

Glenn S. wrote:

Was the Lennon song really much of a hit? I know it was released as a single but I don't recall ever hearing it on the radio.

It was on Lennon's "Shaved Fish" (basically a greatest hits album). Occassionally it was played on the radio throughout the 1970s and heavily on the days following his death (the rock stations became all Beatles / Lennon 24-hours a day for a few days). I don't know if the single ever ranked in the Top 100 or not.

EDITED TO ADD: The single reached #57 on the Hot 100 chart.

Kid Bailey · 16 Jul 2006

Jimbo wrote:

Dunno for sure, but I'd bet oldies stations don't play Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzalez" or Ray Stevens' "Ahab the Arab" much anymore, what with their broad stereotypes.

The same might apply to Johhny Preston's "Running Bear" and The Jimmy Castor Bunch's "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You", although neither is really specifically negative.

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

When is the last time you heard:

BOB DYLAN -- "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"

BREWER AND SHIPLEY -- "One Toke Over the Line"

or

THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- "Casey Jones"

on the radio?

I found some info on songs I can't recall:

THE STANDELLS -- "Try It"

PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS -- "Give Ireland Back To The Irish"

Here are a couple others:

Quote:

In March 1971, many US radio stations and high schools ban "D.O.A." by the Texas band, Bloodrock. The song told the story of a dying teen involved in car crash (some say a plane crash). Despite a lack of air-play, the single still reached #36 on the Billboard chart.

Songwriter Rupert Holmes set out to write a song that would get banned from radio airplay and thus gain attention for a group he wanted to promote, The Buoys. The result was "Timothy", a tune about three boys trapped in a mine, one of whom was cannibalized. The song received limited airplay until program directors started listening to the lyrics. Some removed it from their playlists, while others added it. As the record started to gain notoriety, it shot up the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #17. Holmes plan had worked to perfection.

Federico · 12 Jul 2006

Blackstar wrote:

When is the last time you heard:

THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- "Casey Jones"

on the radio?

One of the guys in the Dead (I think it's Hunter) tells a story about going to a radio station for promo duty some time in the early 70s and being show a copy of Workingman's Dead with a nail scratch across the length of Casey Jones in order to deter the rogue DJ.

Zane · 05 Aug 2006

I never hear Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" anymore.........I'm sure that's partly due to the fact that almost every station in my area has switched to country :hulk2:

Hank · 01 Dec 2004

Blackstar wrote:

When is the last time you heard:

BOB DYLAN -- "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"

BREWER AND SHIPLEY -- "One Toke Over the Line"

or

THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- "Casey Jones"

on the radio?

I hear all of those fairly frequently on the oldies station here in Seattle (KBSG 97.3FM). Probably hear Truckin' more than Casey Jones, but both have the same drug references.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26169

I still rememebr the good 'ol days of Metal when there were Metal shows on the radio (both local and syndicated) and WASP's juvenile cult classic "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)" actually got airplay, at least here on 94.1 WYSP FM in Philly. It was always after 12am when it got played, but you'll not be hearing that one any time soon on the radio. The again, I stopped listening to the radio in 2000, so who knows?

Uncle Twitchy · **Joined:** 28 Nov 2006 **Posts:** 30520

Hank wrote:

Blackstar wrote:

When is the last time you heard:

BOB DYLAN -- "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"

BREWER AND SHIPLEY -- "One Toke Over the Line"

or

THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- "Casey Jones"

on the radio?

I hear all of those fairly frequently on the oldies station here in Seattle (KBSG 97.3FM). Probably hear Truckin' more than Casey Jones, but both have the same drug references.

Yeah, I hear all of those frequently on the classic rock and oldies stations here in west central Illinois.

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

Uncle Twitchy wrote:

Yeah, I hear all of those frequently on the classic rock and oldies stations here in west central Illinois.

I listen to the radio while at work. Flipping between three stations that play classic songs from the 60s through the 80s. None of them play the 3 songs listed. The only Grateful Dead song any of the three stations will play is "Touch of Gray".

For some reason, all three stations have Don McLean's "American Pie" on HEAVY rotation (at least once every 8 hours). You'd figure program directors for oldies stations would seek to broaden the selections played by various artists. :shrug:

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

Zane wrote:

I never hear Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" anymore.........I'm sure that's partly due to the fact that almost every station in my area has switched to country

I heard it just last night. I still cringe a little bit with "... and the colored girls sing" part. :ohyes:

Uncle Twitchy · **Joined:** 28 Nov 2006 **Posts:** 30520

Zane wrote:

I never hear Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" anymore...

Again, same stations as above, and I hear that one fairly regularly.

Jeff Leventhal · 12 Jan 2007

Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" plays on my local radio virtually every day. It's not that I hate that song, but I wish they would try playing ANYTHING ELSE by Reed.

Federico · 12 Jul 2006

Jeff Leventhal wrote:

Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" plays on my local radio virtually every day. It's not that I hate that song, but I wish they would try playing ANYTHING ELSE by Reed.

A little Metal Machine Music maybe?

Glenn S. · 30 Oct 2006

I have to admit I cringed a bit the last time I heard Rod Stewart's "Every Picture Tells A Story," where he sings the praises of a "slit-eyed" woman. I hardly ever listen to the radio these days, so I don't know if they still play it or not. No great loss if they don't, in my opinion. It's never been one of my favorite Stewart tracks anyway.

Blackstar · 01 Jan 2007

On JACK-FM, they played Nickelback's "Rockstar" in the early morning hours (around 4am) and removed every use of the word "drug". :ohno:

Jeff Leventhal · 12 Jan 2007

Federico wrote:

Jeff Leventhal wrote:

Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" plays on my local radio virtually every day. It's not that I hate that song, but I wish they would try playing ANYTHING ELSE by Reed.

A little Metal Machine Music maybe?

I must admit that I've never heard "Metal Machine Music", although I wouldn't mind having a go at it. However, I've heard that Reed went out of his way to make this as abrasive as possible (perhaps a reaction to what he felt was the "overly commercial" "Walk on the Wild Side."?

Classic Hits Removed From PC Airplay

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