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Paul Haney
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| Posted: 26 February 2024 at 1:33pm | IP Logged
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But it wasn't JUST in Boston. Here are some other actual printed radio survey numbers from around the country...
#11 at KDWB in Minneapolis
#2 at KEWB in San Francisco
#5 at KYA in San Francisco
#3 at KFWB in Los Angeles
#6 at KILT in Houston
#3 at KRUX in Phoenix
#1 at KTLN in Denver
#5 at WLS in Chicago
There are plenty of others, this is just a sample.
Now, we can always debate as to the merit of those radio station surveys, but those are some pretty big Top 40 stations at the time.
60+ years after the fact, all we have to go on is those surveys (and the write-ups in the trade papers) and it's clear to me that "The Astronaut" was
getting significant airplay, regardless of its unusual length.
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eriejwg
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| Posted: 27 February 2024 at 5:18pm | IP Logged
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Would this be one of those situations where it was on their
survey but they really didn't play it (I think Doug has
mentioned WLS had certain songs on listed on their surveys
but the songs never aired.)
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Paul Haney
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| Posted: 28 February 2024 at 4:45am | IP Logged
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IMO, the fact that some stations may have reported songs that they didn't actually air has been blown way out of proportion. Did it ever happen?
Of course it did, but for the most part I think the people who put together those surveys were sincere. I know that Bill Gavin would drop a Top
40 reporter if he found out they weren't being truthful to him about what they were actually playing. Since we can't travel back in time and
listen to what was being played (airchecks help somewhat, but they are spotty for the early 1960s), then we must rely on the printed surveys and
what the trades were reporting. The fact that Bill Gavin actually had "The Astronaut" listed at #1 in the nation leads me to believe that the
record was getting significant airplay. I think I've made a pretty strong case for it. If you want to believe otherwise, then there's nothing
more to say about it from my end.
Edited by Paul Haney on 28 February 2024 at 4:47am
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CountryPD
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| Posted: 28 February 2024 at 6:12am | IP Logged
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It's clear that a significant number of stations played that
recording but it's possible that they may have played just one
side of that record. Because most stations played music from
turntables in 1961, DJ's would have to pause to flip the 45 over
or segue to a 2nd copy of the 45 cued up on another turntable.
Both scenarios seems unlikely to me.
Broadcast tape cartridges were becoming common in many
control rooms so it's possible that some stations may have
spliced both sides together like the 45prof did for his excellent
composite YouTube version. But the 8+ minute duration makes
that too seem unlikely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YXKL86H6kU
I wondered if Kapp may have released a DJ promo 45 with an
edited version or a composite version that combined content
from both sides. But it appears that the promo 45 is the same as
the commercial 45. The promo copy does list the running
time on both sides of the label [A 4:31/ B: 3:39]
https://www.discogs.com/release/5668599-Jose-Jimenez-The-
Astronaut
Edited by CountryPD on 28 February 2024 at 6:14am
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Paul Haney
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| Posted: 28 February 2024 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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It's also possible that stations could have played it directly from the album. Guess we'll never know for certain.
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vanmeter
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| Posted: 28 February 2024 at 9:18am | IP Logged
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I'm sure in another 50 years there'll be people scrutinizing the charts of our lives and saying, "Did anybody actually PLAY 'Stand By Me' in 1986? It doesn't sound anything like Madonna!" And they damn sure did!
Edited by vanmeter on 28 February 2024 at 9:18am
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PopArchivist
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| Posted: 29 February 2024 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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CountryPD wrote:
It's clear that a significant number of stations played that
recording but it's possible that they may have played just one
side of that record. Because most stations played music from
turntables in 1961, DJ's would have to pause to flip the 45 over
or segue to a 2nd copy of the 45 cued up on another turntable.
Both scenarios seems unlikely to me.
Broadcast tape cartridges were becoming common in many
control rooms so it's possible that some stations may have
spliced both sides together like the 45prof did for his excellent
composite YouTube version. But the 8+ minute duration makes
that too seem unlikely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YXKL86H6kU
I wondered if Kapp may have released a DJ promo 45 with an
edited version or a composite version that combined content
from both sides. But it appears that the promo 45 is the same as
the commercial 45. The promo copy does list the running
time on both sides of the label [A 4:31/ B: 3:39]
https://www.discogs.com/release/5668599-Jose-Jimenez-The-
Astronaut |
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I generally believe Paul Haney and Whitburn on this one, if they say it was played as side A and B, then that's what it is. I wasn't around in 1961 to hear it so I have to go with what Whitburn says since he lived in that era.
There was a track in 1955 I believe was almost 6 minutes and Whitburn confirmed at the time, through Paul Haney that the entire 45 was played. It does happen, just not often.
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"I'm a pop archivist, not a chart philosopher, I seek to listen, observe and document the chart position of music."
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: Jose Jimenez - The Astronaut (live)
