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Seems I’m the token Yank in this AlbumZone lot,
and I couldn’t be more pleased! I’m fascinated that so many of my
fellow Zoners have listed their first rock’n’roll records, and
amongst mine, a gift from my Mom and Dad, who always encouraged my
radio proclivities, was Bill Haley & the Comets’ 'See You Later
Alligator'.
This, of course, pre-dated the efforts of one of
my radio mentors, the long-lamented Allan Freed who had gotten his
career off to a roaring start at WAKR in Akron, Ohio. Whether or not
I thought I was following in Freed’s footsteps, I wound up receiving
my 4-year Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Broadcasting at the
neighbouring Kent State University. My college radio antics led me
through a variety of less-than-legal 'Part 15'
broadcasting endeavours in my home state of New Jersey and on the
very edge of the Kent State campus where I encouraged my fellow TKE
fraternity brothers to hurl mediumwave invective across East Main
Street whenever the University sought to increase fees or reduce
toilet paper allocation in the dorms.
I found my efforts in the field bringing me back
to New Jersey (NJ) and even New York City as an ABC radio network
engineer. I did the proverbial NJ radio circuit being heard through
10 different Stations until WRAN, where I met Carla Sullivan who
finally became Mrs. Phoenix in that wonderful year of 1980.
In the late ‘1990s, I was still an avid shortwave
listener when I caught Johnny Reece and James Barclay doing a Merlin
Network One show on the BBC transmitters. My immediate reaction was
that the Beeb had finally found its way into real 20th century radio
in spite of themselves, and I phoned JR from our front porch to tell
him so. We found ourselves to be kindred radio spirits. I discovered
that there was something
missing in my life, so off went an audiocassette 'audition' to North
London and I became part of the AlbumZone family where I remain to
this day.
I am greatly indebted to radio for allowing
myself to become acquainted with greats of the 20th century. One of
my earliest encounters of note was backstage at Kent State with
Louie Armstrong and Ray Charles. In another interview, I believe I
even had the good fortune to help guide the great Cheech & Chong
when they were planning their next record album and I lobbied
enthusiastically for another 'Ralph & Herbie'
doggy-style routine that miraculously appeared in their next vinyl
outing.
The business permitted me to meet and interview
Paul and Linda McCartney as well as Denny Laine on their first
British Wings tour at Oxford in 1973. The same year, I was
befriended by a great musician, composer, producer, vocalist and
engineer who would become a mentor for me and my entire working
life. It was the remarkable Norman Hurricane Smith. Need I remind
you that he was the Beatles’ engineer and
de facto 2nd producer for their entire Abbey Road output from 1962
up to and including 1965’s Rubber Soul ? He also hired and
produced a little psychedelic pickup band at EMI that you may know
called Pink Floyd. It is dwelling on Norman, on 'Pops' Armstrong and
on the great Brother Ray Charles that tells me how long I have hung
around in this business and how often it paid me handsomely in
something other than folding money.
And, the same may be said
of AlbumZone. I firmly believe that terrestrial radio has run off
the rails and needs a little prompting. That’s why we do Album Zone
for you, our audience, and just to show ‘em all how it should be
done.
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