Posted by Mike Riccio on July 26, 2007 at 11:35:25:
I'm just loving the music selection and variety I'm hearing at various times of the day on the new CBS-FM. It seems that the programming department is doing a nice job of blending in the right song mix from the targeted decades (60's - 80's) and I've been surprised at some of the songs that have been played that I otherwise might not have expected to hear.
Whether they're featured with a "specialty" tag (like "Hall of Fame") or not, the fact is that they ARE being played. And the result is a terrific blend of music.
It balances off the onslaught of Billy Joel, Eagles, Elton John, Bob Seger, etc. that I was afraid would be the staple of the new format.
Instead, in addition to the "staples", we get songs like:
Walking in Rhythm, Pretty Little Angel Eyes, Ruby Baby, Henry VIII, Alley Oop, Sky High, Jimmy Mack and Nowhere to Run, Crazy (Patsy Cline!), Goldfinger, Cast Your Faith to the Wind, Walk Don't Run, Land of 1000 Dances, etc.
800 plus songs on the playlist and growing.
Sure there are some anomolies (like why "Turn Down Day" by the Cyrkle is played and NOT "Red Rubber Ball", and the CBS-FM version of "Where's Waldo", currently titled "Where's 'Be My Baby'"?
But I'm sure these, and others, are being worked into the mix and CBS-FM will continue to surprise us in the weeks to come.
I'm thrilled that the station has not abandoned strictly "oldies" type songs like the above and others that you would NEVER hear on an adult-contemp station. Call it "greatest hits of the 60's, 70's, and 80's" or WHATEVER, this station represents the evolution of today's oldies station.
As for the 50's stuff, yes there will be some of that tossed in under various guises, I'm sure.
But for the hard-core oldies fan, I believe going to CBS-FM for heavy 50's music is equivalent to turning on WPLJ and expecting to hear classical music.
If I want to listen to classical, I'll listen to a cd for a bit and then switch back to whatever station I'm then in the mood for.
It's the same with 50's heavy-duty oldies. I like hearing the 50's music CBS is sprinkling in, but if once in while I'm in the mood for "Once in a While", for example, I pull out my cd and listen...for awhile. Then it's back to the radio.
I DO hope the station continues to blend in the 50's/early 60's stuff that works and fits their format, but the product they've put together and the "work in progress" sounds pretty darn good so far.
Mike Riccio