I really love that old Philadelphia stuff. I grew up in the middle of nowhere in upstate New York hearing a lot of Styx and Blue Oyster Cult on the radio. A few times a year we’d drive down to New Jersey to visit my grandfather and for the last hour of the trip we’d pick up a great Philly station (this was before my parents became NPR-only people). I could never figure out why they didn’t play this stuff back in Syracuse on 93Q and Rock 107.
It makes me sad that Kenny Gamble became a Bush crony.
The Republic of Stupidity
Oh yeah… Middle of Nowhere… know it well… right down the road from North Bumfuck… heh… I grew up in upstate too, midway between Rochester & Syracuse, in the Finger Lakes region.
I used to call it the American Outback.
Or on an extra bad day… Deliverance Country™
***sound of lone banjo in the distance…***
Dah-dah-dah dat-dah…
Dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah…
gbear
Fresh Air ran some old interviews with Pendegrass this evening. At one point, Terrry Gross asked him a question about what it was like in the days when he was a sex god and people were throwing themselves at his feet. He took a little umbrage at the question and basically responded that he still was a sex god with people throwing themselves at his feet. You could tell that Terry was stifling a ‘Yeah….right’. It was rather funny in an awkward kind of way.
NovShmozKaPop
Bye Teddy – he was responsible for some really fine soul music and I loved the gospel influence; I was just listening to I Am Truly Blessed a few days ago. He didn’t let the accident stop him – there was less diaphragm support but he could still really sing.
burnspbesq
@The Republic of Stupidity:
There were good radio stations in Albany (Q104) and Utica (WOUR), so you must have been either farther west or farther north.
burnspbesq
My favorite HMBN track. A total showcase for Teddy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mmg64x-te8
Martin
The mom of one of my childhood friends was a regular fixture on Bandstand in the early years. She remembers when Dick Clark came on to host the show and when it went national.
His mom instantly became much cooler the day I learned that.
There was an old Philadelphia sound way before Teddy P.
Yutsano
@ DougJ:
I beg to differ good sir. The middle of Nowhere is in northwestern Arizona almost halfway between Las Vegas and Phoenix.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_there_a_town_called_Nowhere_in_Arizona
Okay, so this says that the town is actually called Nothing. But my old roommate from college who was from Phoenix says they always called it Nowhere.
Yutsano
Word Press ate my comment. FYWP. Now I’m moody and don’t feel like re-posting.
Something Fabulous
Dougj, have you put up this clip before? Because I feel I have said: “GOOD LORD! THE OUTFITS!!! WTF!?” before…
RIP, teddy p.
Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MAeHROEKvw
DougJ
Dougj, have you put up this clip before?
Nope.
Spork
DougJ, would you start a WoW account and join the BJ guild just so I can chat w/ you? I have the strange feeling you would be interesting (and entertaining) as hell to debate w/.
DougJ
What is a WoW account?
Spork
World Of Warcraft, if you didn’t already know, probably too much of a time investment to do quickly. Anyway, I’m just lit up and wanted to chit chat with someone that had a clue. Alcoholics read this blog too, ya know. Also. Too.
freelancer
@Spork:
It’s okay, I think you might like to know that alcoholics post at this blog too.
Spork
Hmm. Makes me think, since I’m all loaded, and don’t really want a lot of my commentary recorded for posterity, would be be nice if we had a chat app. I know they exist, is it difficult to integrate one? Then again, would get a lot of ignorance if it was unfiltered, is it more trouble than it’s worth?
AnotherBruce
@Something Fabulous: I’m old enough to tell you, that’s what it was like in the early 70’s. Have you ever seen some of Bowie’s apparel, or any of the glammers from that era? Roxy Music, for instance had an unearthly look in those days. There was a lot of glitter and color back then.
I kind of miss it. performers are rather slovenly with their dress these days. Especially for alt and college rock, I think it would behoove today’s bands to dress up like psychotic daisies once in awhile. Get inappropriate and destroy an instrument or something.
Blue Raven
@AnotherBruce:
Lady Gaga is trying her damndest, but she’s only one woman.
Billy K
As a Doo-Wopper, I’m touched by the fact Teddy began his career as a drummer for The Cadillacs. That ALONE would put him in the hall of fame for me.
Rest in Peace, Sir.
Glocksman
Add me to the list of dissatisfied customers of terrestrial radio
XM radio is worth the money despite Mel’s attempting to ruin some of the channels by adding DJ’s who yammer on after starting the music.
Around here all of the FM land stations are either top 40, classic rock, modern country, religious, or easy listening.
If I didn’t have the 40’s on 4, Willie’s Place and Bluesville on long drives, I’d go f’ing crazy.
asiangrrlMN
That version is MUCH better than the Simply Red version. R.I.P., Teddy.
Glocksman
@Blue Raven:
I don’t follow today’s music and had no idea who she was until yesterday.
I was at a friend’s house and his wife had
OrcaOprah on the teevee, and Lady Gaga was being interviewed.My first thought was that she’d be really pretty if she’d give up the faux punk look.
My second was that I’m getting really old if I don’t care for good looking women with attitude and strange hairstyles.
Glocksman
@The Republic of Stupidity:
Heh…North Bumfuck is 6 miles SE of Evansville, IN.
All kidding aside, there are times that I wonder if I’m the only sane person in town after I consider the venality of our local Democratic leaders, the corruption and obvious self interest of our local Republicans, and the fucking insanity of the teabaggers and anti abortion crowd.
IOW, what’s a Roosevelt union man Democrat to do?
Riggsveda
“(this was before my parents became NPR-only people)”
Sounds like you had the same parents as my daughter.
The Grand Panjandrum
RIP Teddy.
@asiangrrlMN: Mick Hucknall did a respectable job, but he is no match for Teddy’s baritone.
polyorchnid octopunch
Yeah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkdvWwY2yhs
You grew up not that far away from where I am (and from)… Kingston, Ontario.
Oh yeah, and just because:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSJV1ioORNY
I miss vinyl.
ellie
I was fortunate to grow up 60 miles south of Detroit, so we were able to hear great radio all of the time.
drew42
Don’t forget Pink Floyd! In the 80’s/90’s Syracuse had about two dozen classic rock radio stations, and at any given moment half of them were playing Pink Floyd’s “Money.”
doo-DOO-duh-doo-doo-doo-doo-dooo-doo-DOO-duh-doo-doo-doo-doo-dooo-doo-
Fluffy Pink Duck
Cor I used to listen to those stations when I lived near Syracuse in the Mid 80’s. Yeah they were mainly shit.
Ahh Teddy what a sweet voice.
Music wise I don’t listen to it on the radio that much, cos I prefer speech radio. BBC Radio 6 and Radio 5 Live. Radio 1 I’m too old for and Radio 2 I’m mostly too young for. The Beeb does have a good digital station in Radio 6 though.
Squarepeg
Teddy was one of the kings of baby-making music. “turn off the lights” “close the door”, etc. If you want to get the drawers, fellas…play some Teddy P.
scarshapedstar
The villagers called her Quicklime Girl…
polyorchnid octopunch
Tyranny and Mutation… doesn’t that sound like that last decade or what?
scarshapedstar
@polyorchnid octopunch:
Talk about a band before their time.
Ann
DougJ – Awesome post! I grew up outside of Philadelphia and always felt blessed by artists like this — on the radio and in concert. Thanks
Pug
Some great tunes came out of Philly in those days. I always liked Harold Melvin’s “Wake Up Everybody”.
The girls loved Teddy. RIP Teddy.
Bill jones
I think we know now where Janet Jackson got the inspiration for her Wardrobe malfunction.