I, like much of Portland/Metro, am saddened by the end of A to Z. As I said a few days into the marathon, I couldn't tear myself away from my radio, desk or car, for the last two weeks for fear of missing some obscure song that I didn't even know I loved and missed.
I am sending you a short list of songs that I humbly request that you add to our regular play list. I know that we are consistently asking our listeners what they like and don't like about the station and our music. I know we take all of that into consideration when we decide what to play and how often we play it.
So please consider this the Amy Linford One-Person Listener Advisory Board.
These are all great songs and I would like to hear them more often please.
1. "Cry Baby" by Janis Joplin. When Shannon played this at exactly 4:50ish pm on the first Wednesday of the marathon, I believe he said that hearing this song gave him an "ear-gasm." I agree. I would like to hear this at least once a week.
2. "Cover of the Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook. I grew up listening to this album with my parents. Why my parents thought that was appropriate, I'm not sure, but I know the album forwards and backwards and if I can't hear "Sylvia's Mother" or "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball," I will settle for "Cover of the Rolling Stone" maybe once every two weeks?
3. Anything by the Animals. Just more often please.
4. As my sister, April, pointed out, we seem to have ten thousand Beatles songs in our library. I believe we play an amazing variety. If I had to choose one that I wanted to hear more often, it would be "She's Leaving Home." Could you do that for me please? Even if most listeners don't want to hear it? Maybe just as a special favor to me? How about just once every two and a half weeks?
5. In reference to my own personal life, I would like to request "I need a Lover" by John Mellencamp. Or John Cougar. You know, the kind 'That Won't Drive Me Crazy?" This may not be a gigantic hit for the Coug, but I sure like it and I think alot of people can relate.
6. I would like to hear "The Weight" or "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band. How about every two weeks and six hours?
7. "White Rabbit" may be my most favorite song of all time. I think I heard it first when I was around 6 years old. I would stand next to our upright piano, the record player perched atop, and listen to the song over and over. I had to climb up on a dining room chair to reach the needle, which I consistently scraped across the record, trying to find and play only "White Rabbit" over and over. Twice a week would totally work for me. Catch me in a karaoke bar and nine times out of ten, I'm singing "White Rabbit."
8. And finally, you mentioned to me that the song you liked hearing during A to Z was "Jungleland" by Bruce. I very much like "I'm On Fire." I often wake up feeling like a freight train is running through the middle of my head as well. I bet you do too, Mr. B.
I would also like these songs to play specifically between the hours of 9am and 5pm, when I am most likely to be driving or sitting at my desk.
Notice that I am extremely happy with the number of Tom Petty songs I hear. He is my favorite and I am pleased with the variety of songs in rotation by my idol. Please continue on this same course.
I am also quite pleased with the number of AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger and The Who songs I enjoy each day.
I was going to send you a short list of songs I hope to never hear again in my life on KGON ("Missing You" by John Waite), but decided I should stick to the positive.
But a funny thing happened this Tuesday after Shannon played the last song in the library around 4pm. I drove home that night with dread in my heart, wondering how I would survive without A to Z. And magically, the same amazingly great classic rock songs that we've always played continued to play on KGON. I was not bored. I was not disappointed. I was actually thrilled. Still the same great music, the same great classic rock songs that have made us the number one station in Portland for, 30 years or something.
People, don't be frightened by the end of A to Z. It's going to be ok! We will make it until next year when we do the exact same thing all over again!
Oh, Mr. Burns, I also wanted to mention that last Thursday night, when you snuck into the office around 9pm to check on everyone involved in our Buzz 24-hour CCA marathon, that your two small white dogs were very cute. It was especially cute the way you told them to 'be nice!' each time they barked at a stranger. Oh, and you are quite handsome without your glasses, disguised under that ball cap.
