(admittedly a classic "blog title" this time, in case anyone out there happens to Google the topic for reference)
If you're a fan of 80's music, you must be glad when your local station (be it rock, alternative, or pop) takes a couple hours off from the normal routine and reaches back into the archives for some classic new wave tracks. It's not quite the same as listening to XM's All 80's on 8, or New Wave Rock on 33. Just due to the constant volume of 80's those stations play they inevitably mix in lame Mike and the Mechanics (unless you dig their only track) alongside Depeche Mode. No, when your local stations take a break, they go for a purpose. Whether for a theme, artist tribute, or kick-ass mix. And that's when your love turns to fascination. Which, thanks to technology, can be streamed from some of the best sources worldwide to anywhere you want to jam.
The following are just a select smattering of programs that I elect to indulge for their continued quality:
New Wave Wednesday 7-9AM (WBER Rochester): Host Jenny wakes you early with some familiar and some obscure tracks, paired nicely with her personal experiences from that decade. She usually selects a general theme (recent ones being "life" and "eyes"), then selects great songs from that era that encompass or literally include those terms. It's always nice when somebody is equally or more amped up about a tune then you are, and her broad knowledge and fascination from that era ensures you will normally hear 1 or 2 tunes for the first time, usually great ones. Admittedly, though, she strays a little outside the exact 80's era. But this is viewed as an objective benefit to the show (and the listeners) since who says great, nostalgic music has to be perfectly normalized across a 10 year span as long as it captures the right vibe?
Save the Wave Mix Thursday 7-9AM (local time)(C89.5 FM Seattle): DJ Trent Von mashes 2 hours of great music, some that you could never imagine tapping your foot to. Fortunately, since this level of production requires upfront effort, the original mixes (of which there are several) are generally recorded and available for distribution, most easily by donating to the high school run (yes, high school) public station during their fundraising campaigns. Which, if you do, they normally keep the music playing up to an extra hour after the normal time slot (9AM west coast, or 12 PM east coast). This also as a tribute to the wide audience pledging support specifically for the show.
Prehistoric X Sunday 8-11AM (105.9 WXDX Pittsburgh): The only program of the bunch that is based on a commercial station, replete with ads (by comparison only, there really aren't too many commercials on a Sunday morning). Whip is the usual host and he picks an artist to feature for the duration of the show, playing some known and some deep tracks from popular acts like The Police, Squeeze, or even Bob Marley. Of course, he also mixes in other great tunes in between the featured artist, and includes great up-to-date facts about the bands, the lead singers, and when and where they might even be playing next (if still playing). It's great to focus on a specific artist, especially amongst other classic acts of the era, and Whip also throws in his personal memories from time-to-time, hardly shedding any light on his age.
Well, those are my favorites, discovered partly by residence, vacation, and internet searching. And you should by now expect to simply be able to search any of the call letters and find a free, live stream for listening online. Which you can. Enjoy.
