Do you know this image? It’s the cover of a sadly neglected album by Daryl Hall & John Oates…the image is iconic and the music is as well…time to celebrate songs about the radio!
This classic radio with all the stations “around the dial” is something many of us grew up with, and bands like Journey celebrated!
“Raised On Radio” is their terrific ode to AM radio…here are some of the lyrics:
“Mister D.J. make a dedication
Cause I’m All Shook Up over Peggy Sue
I’m Mister Blue
The hits keep rockin’ station to station
In the Midnight Hour in the Sea of Love
My Turtle Dove
When I Found my Thrill, On Blue Berry Hill
We wrote Love Letters in the Sand
Be Bop Bop a Lu La
She Loves Me Tender
Jungle Lion Sleeps Tonight
We’re all raised on
(Radio, radio)
I want my radio
(Radio, radio)
Yeah, radio-ohh-uohh-uohh-uohh
(Radio, radio)
Come on!”
Here is the band performing the song live with a very energetic lead vocal by Steve Perry!
As for Daryl Hall and John Oates, their ode to the radio wasn’t a hit, but it’s really catchy!
“Portable Radio”
Look at their lyrics, a love letter to AM/FM radio:
“Take your pick of the modulation
Like a kid in a candy store
It’s a hand-carry situation
Made for lying on the beach
Or dancin’ in the streets
You got your pertinent information
Or you can tune in to hear the scores
There’s a power in a million stations
You can’t ignore
Radio
crank up the power
Radio
rock it for hours and hours
Radio
play it soft and low
Viva la Portable Radio
turn up the power all night!”
As it was 1979, this disco-influenced song did NOT do well, but if you get past the retro lead-in, it’s a catchy pop snack from the best-selling duo of the 80’s!
I have shared many of the duo’s greatest album tracks, and you can see them all by clicking on my story here – with a bonus live version of “Out Of Touch” as well!
“On the Radio” by Donna Summer
A love letter read on the air by a DJ forms the basis for this terrific song:
“If you think that love isn’t found on the radio
Then tune right in, you may find the love you lost
‘Cause now I’m sitting here with the man I sent away long ago
It sounded really loud, he said it really loud
On the radio, whoa-oh-oh-oh
On the radio, whoa-oh-oh-oh
On the radio, whoa-oh-oh-oh
On the radio, whoa-oh-oh-oh
On the radio…”
Here is an amazing live version!
“FM (No Static At All)” is a song that the band Steely Dan wrote for a movie of the same name…here’s a live version:
I shared the story of Steely Dan when I shared the sad news that co-founder Walter Becker had died several years ago…in this story, Donald Fagan, the other half of the duo, tells how they came up with the idea for “F.M.” – click to read it and more about the band:
“Radio Gaga” by Queen
What an anthem! This song reminds everyone, in the age of music videos, that radio is still as powerful as always:
Y”ou had your time, you had the power
You’ve yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo
Radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio, what’s new?
Radio, someone still loves you”
Why was Freddie Mercury one of the greatest showmen of all time?
This live performance of the song at Live Aid will show you:
WOW! Freddie Mercury was mesmerizing…next up, a classic take on radio from a classic band:
“That’s Why God Made The Radio”
This was the opening track and title of the last Beach Boys album ever…
Tuning in the latest star
From the dashboard of my car
Cruisin’ at 7, push button heaven
Capturing memories from afar
In my car
[Chorus]
That’s why god made the radio
So tune right in everywhere you go
He waved his hand, gave us rock’n’roll
The soundtrack of falling in love
(Fallin’ in love, oh)
That’s why god made the radio…”
Here is a video of the song:
I love that Brian Wilson paid homage to the car radio…the last song on the album is a gorgeous ballad that seems to say goodbye forever…here’s the video for “Summer’s Gone” plus an all-star tribute to the band’s legendary song “God Only Knows”:
“Around The Dial”
This classic British band released this great rock song about a missing DJ…
“I’ve been around the dial so many times,
But you’re not there.
Somebody tells me that you’ve been taken off the air.
Well, you were my favorite D.J.,
Since I can’t remember when.
You always played the best records,
You never followed any trend.
F.M., A.M. where are you?
You gotta be out there somewhere on the dial.
On the dial…”
Here’s a great live version – prepare to be rocked!
“The Last DJ”
Tom Petty also wrote a song about DJ’s…in this case it was the title of an album that looked at corporate greed and the end of the era of radio personalities…
“The last DJ
Well you can’t turn him into a company man
You can’t turn him into a whore
And the boys upstairs just don’t understand anymore
Well the top brass don’t like him talking so much,
And he won’t play what they say to play
And he don’t want to change what don’t need to change
There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?”
Here’s a great live version…
We lost an Icon when Petty died a few years ago…here is what I posted about him and his death:
I am looking at music through a variety of lenses, including an obvious one:
The “Rock ‘n’ Roll” Filter!
Yes, I shared seven songs that use that phrase as part of their title…see who’s rocking out here:
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Leave a comment and let me know your favorite radio songs– and if like this story, please share on social media!
Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
Lots of great memories of waiting for a favorite song to come on the radio. Though nothing beats finding the exact music we’re looking for in seconds today, I’m nostalgic for those days.
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My sister and I used to call in and request a song and wait hours for it to come on! Since we had nothing else to do it was our entertainment!
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I can so relate. “We’re giving this record away to the seventh caller.” I think this was before speed dial. 😊
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Freddie Mercury was an incredible performer and singer. A shame how he died. The song I remember best about radios is Video killed the radio star.
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Robbie I chose not to include that on purpose as it was about how video was ending radio’s reign and I hated that idea! Thanks for commenting as always!
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Yes, I thought that was why you didn’t include it. I like it very much but I never listened to the radio. We never had a TV until I was much older so I only read and listed to records.
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Thank you for this trip down the memory lane.
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The first three weren’t to my taste but the rest are all fantastic. Some others for your collection:
Song On The Radio, by Al Stewart.
Radio Free Europe, by R.E.M.
Radio Radio, by Elvis Costello and the Attractions.
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Great additions – I love that Al Stewart song, can’t believe I forgot it!
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Happy to have given you the reminder 😊
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That’s a great theme, John. From that list, Donna Summer is actually my favourite. That was the only .45 of hers I ever bought, and it showcased her talents well.
On the same theme, I can offer this track.
I’m Lester the Nightfly
Hello Baton Rouge
Won’t you turn your radio down
Respect the seven second delay we use
So you say there’s a race
Of men in the trees
You’re for tough legislation
Thanks for calling
I wait all night
For calls like these
An independent station
WJAZ
With jazz and conversation
From the foot of Mt. Belzoni
Sweet music
Tonight the night is mine
Late line ’til the sun
Comes through the skylight
I’ve got plenty of java
And Chesterfield Kings
But I feel like crying
I wish I had a heart like ice
Heart like ice
If you want your honey
To look super swell
You must spring
For that little blue jar
Patton’s Kiss And Tell
Kiss And Tell
An independent station
WJAZ
With jazz and conversation
From the foot of Mt. Belzoni
Sweet music
Tonight the night is mine
Late line ’til the sun
Comes through the skylight
You’d never believe it
But once there was a time
When love was in my life
I sometimes wonder
What happened to that flame
The answer’s still the same
It was you, it was you
Tonight you’re still on my mind
An independent station
WJAZ
With jazz and conversation
From the foot of Mt. Belzoni
Sweet music
Tonight the night is mine
Late line ’til the sun
Comes through the skylight
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes Pete, that is a great addition to the list! I love this song!
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I loved listening to my radio late at night, the only time I could pick up the New York station with Cousin Brucie.
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I love that!
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😀
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KiNkS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ThAnKs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I love them – so under-rated and “Around The Dial” is a great song – the album “Stormy Sky” is a masterwork….thanks for the comment, always great to hear from you!
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