Top 40 Music on Compact Disc: Another AT40 question

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sriv94
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Posted: 18 October 2009 at 9:35pm \| IP Logged

Listening to AT40 on XM online, I'm hearing the 10/13/73 week (which also happens to be the week syndicated to radio this weekend). So I'm listening at #35 for Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross' "You're A Special Part Of Me," and what I heard was actually the B-side of that song ("I'm Falling In Love With You"). So what I'm wondering is whether the syndicated version also features that restoration error.

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maciav
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 6:08am \| IP Logged

The AT40 shows that Sirius/XM receives are the same as the versions Premiere Radio Networks receives. The shows are restored to the original show airings, errors and all.
However, as some of you have probably noticed, Premiere will edit out extras, theme music, etc in the iterests of fitting the show into three hours for the 70s version and four hours for the 80s version. However, these edits are relatively minor and do not greatly impact the integrity of the show. Sirius/XM, however, really does a hatchet job on the shows, basically editing out everything except Casey talking and the songs. The show lengths are greatly reduced on Sirius/XM. All in all, though, I will even take a highly edited show over no opportunity to hear these shows at all.

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sriv94
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 9:09am \| IP Logged

So what you're saying is that the original broadcast had the wrong record played?

Seems kind of odd.

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Hykker
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 9:30am \| IP Logged

AT 40 had a lot of filler in it like the long-distance dedication (Snuckles the dog anyone?), the #1 song 10 years ago, etc. I'm guessing these features were added when the show was lengthened in the 70s to accomodate the longer songs of the day, and were there to pad out the show when needed.
When the show itself is a 30+ year old flashback, these are a bit superfluous. Ideally, the show should run as originally produced, but if editing needs to be done, I'd guess this stuff would be the first to go.

I am surprised that a nationally-distributed, pre-produced show like this would accidentally play the wrong side of a song though. You'd think the production company would be able to get promo copies (which by this point were mostly double-A sided)!!

maciav
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 12:11pm \| IP Logged

sriv94 wrote:

So what you're saying is that the original broadcast had the wrong record played?

Seems kind of odd.

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Mike C. from PA

maciav
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 12:21pm \| IP Logged

Every now and then an AT40 show was produced with errors that slipped through the cracks (such as the wrong record being played, Casey naming the record incorrectly, etc.), and they went out to the radio stations this way afters the LPs were pressed. The errors on the 70s shows are described in the week-by-week summaries contained in the Battistini book.
Today, the shows are remastered as they originally aired. Therefore, the new shows on Premiere and Sirius/XM will have the same errors as the original versions. If the wrong record was originally played, you will hear it this way on the remastered/restored version on a Premiere affiliate or Sirius/XM.

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Mike C. from PA

eric_a
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 12:30pm \| IP Logged

maciav wrote:

Sirius/XM, however, really does a hatchet job on the shows, basically editing out everything except Casey talking and the songs. The show lengths are greatly reduced on Sirius/XM.

I understand why Premiere would cut some of those extra features (In fact, it looks like the shows were reformatted into 8 segments per hour, vs. 6 as originally aired in the '70s -- this seems to allow stations to drop some of the really forgotten songs.) But I've definitely heard long-distance dedications and "flashback" tracks on the satellite reruns.

I think the show lengths on Sirius/XM are shortened largely by removing the commercial breaks. Remember, the original shows - with commercial breaks/avails - were only 3 hours until ~1978, so removing the commercials, the 3-hour shows are <2:30, and 4-hour shows are only about 3:00-3:15 long. You can compare the Sirius/XM shows to the original cue sheets at charismusicgroup.com.

By the way, Sirius/XM's "80s on 8" channel has dropped AT40 in favor of a countdown produced by their own jocks, the old MTV VJs. The '70s shows are still on "70s on 7."

Edited by eric_a on 19 October 2009 at 12:32pm

bwolfe
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 1:32pm \| IP Logged

I'm disappointed that they've dropped the 80's version of AT40.
The original VJ's always sound like their phoning it in.
They sound so bored.
I hope they keep the 70's countdowns on the 70's channel.
That show reminds me of my youth when top 40 in the 70s was like going to a large buffet.
I do agree that Sirius does a hack job on the show.
I wish one time they would let the original jingle music run to the end.
Talk about errors, back in December during a 1972 show they played the wrong Rod Stewart song. Instead of "Angel" they played what I believe was the flip side.
A small amount of radio stations play the shows on weekends.
I'm not sure I would air it when some weeks there are
some extremely obscure songs on the show.
This past week's 1973 show had a ton of them.
The average listener would tune out.

For a short time they had Rick Dees on the 90's channel.

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AndrewChouffi
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 2:03pm \| IP Logged

To 'bwolfe':

While I won't argue your estimation that the "average listener would tune out", I am under the impression that people tune IN to the reruns of Casey to hear a snapshot of the way it really was.

Keep in mind that the "extremely obscure songs on the show" are only obscure because highly formatted terrestrial retro-radio ("Oldies", Jammin' Oldies, Classic Rock et al.) has forgotton them on purpose, therefore the average (younger) listener won't know them irrespective of their impact at the time or their sales.

Citing this past weekends AT-40 rerun, "Jesse" (Roberta Flack) is an incredible Janis Ian song, "Jimmy Loves Mary Anne (Looking Glass) was played heavily on TM's 'Stereo Rock' format, "Ecstacy" (Ohio Players) sold a ton of singles.

The classic American Top-40 shows keep some of these songs from being totally obliterated to the average oldies radio listener, and that's a good thing.

Andy

aaronk
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 2:44pm \| IP Logged

AndrewChouffi wrote:

highly formatted terrestrial retro-radio ("Oldies", Jammin' Oldies, Classic Rock et al.)

It amazes me that the "masses" opt to hear the same tired songs over and over. I enjoy listening to the radio, but there is not one station in Dallas that can hold my attention for more than 15 minutes. A song always comes on that I'm totally burned out on.

Hykker
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 4:57pm \| IP Logged

aaronk wrote:

You've gotta admit that we aren't exactly "typical" listeners. Many/most of us have music collections full of songs that most people (other than fellow music collectors) wouldn't know know or even like. Most people couldn't care less about the different mixes/edits/versions of hit songs that we debate here on a daily basis.

Those of us who've worked in radio are very aware that the songs we're really sick of are the same ones that our listeners can't get enough of. Music isn't a priority in their lives.

Edited by Hykker on 19 October 2009 at 4:59pm

bwolfe
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 5:29pm \| IP Logged

I totally understand everyone's opinion.
We're all correct in many ways.
The 70's AT40 shows air early Sunday morning and late Sunday nights in Cleveland.
Those timeslots were always used for specialty programming back in the day. (Dr. Demento, Comedy Hour, etc).
Looking Glass was played heavily in my local market so to me it was a bigger hit than its Billboard ranking.
Being in a business that continues to narrowcast as opposed to broadcast.
Thanks to Andrew for some honest food for thought.
Can't wait to hear what Casey's counting down this weekend.

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EdisonLite
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 6:26am \| IP Logged

Same here. I always look forward to the 4 AT40 shows every weekend - the XM ones and the syndicated ones (although sometimes there's overlap). Now that XM-Sirius has cancelled the AT40-80s, I'm toying with the idea of dropping the service. If they ever cancel the '70s show, I will do so in a heartbeat. XM has gone downhill so much since being taken over by Sirius. No more IT countdowns. No UPop International Pop channel anymore. It keeps getting worse and worse.

Yah Shure
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 9:22am \| IP Logged

EdisonLite wrote:

XM has gone downhill so much since being taken over by Sirius. No more IT countdowns. No UPop International Pop channel anymore. It keeps getting worse and worse.

Gordon, a few posters over on the xmfan decades board have begun to derisively refer to the service as "Sirius-FM," which - aside from the lack of commercials - is exactly what the music channels on satellite radio have become. As a result, I cancelled both of my XM accounts a week ago.

The good news is that I can now reacquaint myself with my own music collection, which pretty much took a back seat when I became an XM subscriber.

As far as the pruning that Sirius is doing with AT40, it's like the DVDs of WKRP In Cincinnati: yes, the shows are available again, but they're definitely not what you saw when they first aired on CBS. Part of what made AT40 so compelling was the anticipation generated by Casey's "coming up" teases. Those are being trimmed now.

Sirius' decision to drop XM's IT countdowns is perhaps the best illustration of the differences between the programming philosophies of the two former rivals. For the benefit of those here who weren't familiar with IT, picture every top-40 hit from the 1940s to today being played in one big 24/7 marathon session, lasting for weeks. Add to that the ability to have a real-time, running commentary with fellow subscribers on xmfan, and the experience was addicting, fun, educational and sleep-deprivational for everyone. IT was a reminder of how radio once used to excel at connecting with its audience. And it would be an absolute blast to be able to do something similar with the members of this community someday.

torcan
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 2:13pm \| IP Logged

Yah Shure wrote:

As far as the pruning that Sirius is doing with AT40, it's like the DVDs of WKRP In Cincinnati: yes, the shows are available again, but they're definitely not what you saw when they first aired on CBS. Part of what made AT40 so compelling was the anticipation generated by Casey's "coming up" teases. Those are being trimmed now.

Hmmm...that's too bad about dropping the '80s version. I heard this weekend's 10/13/1973 show (a local station has picked it up) and would love to hear some '80s shows. A couple of "coming ups" were included this past weekend. I also found it surprising that Casey stated what the No. 25 song would be while they were still in the 30s - I don't recall that happening in the shows I listened to originally.

As for the editing...is it too much to ask to leave things the way they were originally broadcast? :)

maciav
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 2:47pm \| IP Logged

EdisonLite wrote:

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maciav
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 2:58pm \| IP Logged

Gordon,
I tried to grab your previous post, but I think I hit the button incorrectly.
I am totally with you on your opinions about "IT" and SIRIUS/XM, and you bridged a couple of this thread's topics here. "IT" was awesome. I was glued to my XM radio for a month or two when it aired. When SIRIUS dropped it, listening to satellite radio was never the same for me - except for the old AT40 shows.
And this is where you bridged both of these topics: "IT" claimed to have every hit that ever charted, but of course, they didn't. They did not have some of the rare charting singles that collectors on this website may have in their collections and may be extremely difficult to obtain. Some of these include Bob Dylan's "George Jackson", Cliff DeYoung's "My Sweet Lady", Neighborhood's "Big Yellow Taxi", Wilton Place Street Band's "Disco Lucy", and Wing and a Prayer Fife & Drum Corp's "Baby Face". However, this is one of the neat things about having the old AT40 countdowns on satellite radio. Even if SIRIUS/XM doesn't have these songs in their archives, and even if I don't have some of these songs in my collection, I can still hear them on the old AT40 shows. SIRIUS/XM is on thin ice with me. If they drop the AT40 70s shows, I am dropping them.

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Paul C
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 3:01pm \| IP Logged

Yah Shure wrote:

For the benefit of those here who weren't familiar with IT, picture every top-40 hit from the 1940s to today being played in one big 24/7 marathon session, lasting for weeks.

Wow, that does sound interesting!

Since the first Billboard chart in July 1940, there have been a total of 13,606 Top 40 pop hits. According to the iTunes playlist in which I have every single one of them stored (all but five purchased lawfully), it would take 32 days to play them all. As I usually listen for about an hour or two a day, it takes about two years for me to go through them all.

EdisonLite
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Posted: 21 October 2009 at 8:20am \| IP Logged

<a few posters over on the xmfan decades board>

Can you provide a link for both the '70s and '80s channels chat boards?

<Sirius' decision to drop XM's IT countdowns is perhaps the best illustration of the differences between the programming philosophies of the two former rivals. For the benefit of those here who weren't familiar with IT, picture every top-40 hit from the 1940s to today being played in one big 24/7 marathon session, lasting for weeks.>

Since the Sirius buyout of XM and their decision to NOT re-air IT this past fall, I decided to make my own mini-IT. For all the songs in my mp3 player, I created a playlist that contained all the charted hits in chronological order by debut date from the oldest song in my player (1958) on through to the end of the '90s. Because it's my own mp3 player, this is obviously a subset of the IT countdown because it eliminates all the charted hits I don't ever want to hear. But (and this won't surprise Jim A.) I expanded my version to include not just the top 40 hits but all the top 100 hits in my player! Of course, the majority of the charted songs I like (probably 95%) turned out to be top 40 hits. It would take over a week to hear this playlist, if I listened for every waking minute of every day (which I usually don't have the time to do!) Right now, I've been listening and I'm up to 1978.

I used the actual IT countdown to discover some lower top 40 charting singles I never knew. Now that I know what I do and don't like of all top 40 hits, I've created my own personal ultimate IT marathon. Imagine if you could hear the IT marathon that deleted all the songs you don't like and only played the ones you do. That's what I created. At some point, I'd like to take a 4-day weekend and play a portion of this playlist for all waking hours (maybe I could hear a whole decade) but for now I'm playing it back in sections, as I have time to hear it.

<Add to that the ability to have a real-time, running commentary with fellow subscribers on xmfan, and the experience was addicting, fun, educational and sleep-deprivational for everyone.>

Yes, the real IT countdown was sleep-deprivational. (For 1970 to the mid 90s) I recorded all hours that I was sleeping through - and played them back after the IT countdown was over. This definitely took up a good month of my life - but how often does someone provide you with the opportunity to hear every top 40 hit EVER, in order?

<And it would be an absolute blast to be able to do something similar with the members of this community someday.>

Or at least we can create our own IT marathons! :)

Edited by EdisonLite on 21 October 2009 at 8:24am

EdisonLite
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Posted: 21 October 2009 at 8:27am \| IP Logged

Torcan writes:

<I also found it surprising that Casey stated what the No. 25 song would be while they were still in the 30s - I don't recall that happening in the shows I listened to originally. >

Yes, I found that odd as well and had never heard him do that during my original AT40 listening years (1977 onward). It was "Touch Me in the Morning". He was grouping some songs together (maybe making a statement like "There are 4 female solo songs on the chart this week" and then he listed them off including the #25 hit (while still in the mid 30s). You'd think he'd say "coming up later" about the Diana Ross song but he actually said "at #25..."

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