Musicradio WABC Pictures of the Week for June, 2012

Week of  June 5, 2012:

Alan Freed

Alan Freed at WABC
June, 1958

Alan Freed isn't usually thought of as a "WABC DJ" because he was at WABC prior to it officially evolving into a full time Top 40 radio station.
But, Freed was at WABC from June 2, 1958 until November 21, 1959.
It was a tumultuous time for him and for the station as the Payola controversy was in full swing.

In fact, it was Freed's refusal to sign an ABC demanded affidavit that he deny any involvement
with "accepting gratuities in connection with music promotion" that resulted in his dismissal.

Here is a brief aircheck of Alan Freed on WABC
November 5, 1959

         
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Week of June 12, 2012: 

The Album Cover From Napoleon XIV
(1966)

The Napoleon XIV WABC Story
In 1966 recording engineer Jerry Samuels came up with a wacky song
about a fellow going "utterly mad" and being taken away to the "Funny Farm".
It was titled "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa!"
and it reached as high as  #3 on WABC:

               
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The problem was that the song resulted in protests from
mental health professionals as well as women's groups who thought
Napoleon was ranting against his estranged wife calling her a "mangy mutt".

WABC, ever mindful of its license and overall image in the community,
removed the record from airplay just as it reached
its peak of #3 during the week of July 19, 1966.

Even though the song was never again played on WABC,
the station did acknowledge its survey position in subsequent
weeks during Cousin Brucie's Top Twenty  Countdown on Tuesday evenings.
It should be noted that WABC was not the only station to pull the song.
Cross town rival WMCA did likewise as did many other stations.

Prior to all the protests, Samuels cut some tailored promos for WABC.
The only one of these that I know of that actually aired is the first one from this set:

              
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Of course, by today's standards, the 1966 fuss over this song seems ridiculous.
Song parodies of today go a whole lot further than this did.
However, in today's ever changing landscape over what
is and is not "acceptable", the history of Napoleon XIV on WABC is interesting.

Week of June 19, 2012:

A WABC DJ Format Sheet
(April, 1975)

(click on the image to enlarge)

If you were a DJ at WABC in April, 1975 sitting in front of the WABC microphone,
this is the format sheet that you would follow as to what songs to play when.

Week of June 26, 2012:

Bruce Morrow Promotional Profile
(1963)

Cousin Bruce on WABC in 1963

           
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