You are not signed in. Sign in.

List Books: Buy books on ListBooks.org

The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Tops 40 Radio » (BOOK & CD)

Book cover image of The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Tops 40 Radio by Ben Fong-Torres

Authors: Ben Fong-Torres
ISBN-13: 9780879306649, ISBN-10: 0879306645
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Leonard, Hal Corporation
Date Published: October 2001
Edition: BOOK & CD

Find Best Prices for This Book »

Author Biography: Ben Fong-Torres

Book Synopsis

This lively blast from the past peels back the many layers of the Top 40 phenomenon: the DJs, fans, singles, jingles, dedications, contests, requests and more. The book features interviews with such renowned radio personalities and programmers as Casey Kasem, Dick Clark, Wolfman Jack, "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, Gary Owens and many others, and includes an exclusive CD with "airchecks" - rare recordings from 16 legendary DJs on actual Top 40 broadcasts - so that readers can hear the crazed, creative and compelling voices that made Top 40 so memorable. Also includes lots of fantastic black-and-white photos to help readers put faces to the voices they know so well, a bibliography and index, and a special Top of the Pops section featuring the Number One records of Top 40 radio from 1957 through 1997 as calculated by the staff of Gavin.

Table of Contents

Preface: In the Still of the Night4
Acknowledgments: This Is Dedicated ...8
Introduction: Radio Ga Ga11
1Video Killed the Radio Star15
2The First Time ...19
3The King of the Old Moondoggers31
4The Founding Daddy-os37
5The Good Guys47
6Bill Gavin: Let's Work Together59
7Hey, Mr. Deejay, I: The Initial Buzz65
8You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio81
9Busted93
10Hey, Mr. Deejay, II: I'm Sorry117
11Listen to the Music127
12Hey, Mr. Deejay, III: East Side, West Side133
13Hit Me With Your Best Shot147
14Big Boss Man167
15British Radio: Sink the Pirates193
16FM (No Static At All)199
17Just Running Scared211
18Video Killed the Radio Star (Reprise)223
19Different Strokes ...245
Top of the Pops252
Bibliography264
Index268
Credits271

Subjects