On this day 23 years ago, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at KCOU's predecessor. KCOU had previously been KCCS. KCOU's files included the KCCS featured A, B, and C tracks from the week of November 15-21, 1972. I searched the station's library, pulled all of the LPs I could find with those cuts, and grouped them into sets. This was my playlist:
1. Living In The Past-Jethro Tull
(The most appropriate choice for a leadoff track, encapsulating the concept of "Kruzin' Music" and that day's show, in particular. The track sports some of the best flute playing and carefree vocals of any classic rock tune.)
2. Lies-J.J. Cale
3. Summer In The City-B.B. King
(King's bluesy cover of The Lovin' Spoonful's oldie contrasts the difference between Summer days and nights effectively, in an appropriately slower tempo.)
4. One Way Out-The Allman Brothers Band
(Talk about an intro primed to make the audience clap along...)
5. Stop And Start It All Again-Jonathan Edwards
6. I'll Tell The World About You-Joe Walsh
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7. Tomorrow's Dream-Black Sabbath
8. Good Time Sally-Rare Earth
9. I Wanna Be With You-The Raspberries
(One example of why The Raspberries are revered as a power pop group. The Sneetches and Shoes sing a great collaborative cover of it.)
10. Sea Cruise-Sha Na Na
11. Tragedy-Argent
(I'm surprised I haven't heard this recently on KSHE's Sunday morning "Klassics" show. There's strong guitar work, a groove that stays with you, and a vibe that had to have gone over well live.)
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12. Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu-Johnny Rivers
13. Angel-Rod Stewart
14. Sweet Surrender-Bread
15. Rocky Mountain High-John Denver
(Still one of Denver's most deservedly enduring hits. I wonder how many listeners were inspired to take guitar or voice lessons because of this song.)
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16. Dialogue-Chicago
(Captures the era in which it was recorded; the back-and-forth exchanges between Terry Kath and Peter Cetera make it one of their strongest hits. No one makes album rock like this today.)
17. You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio-Joni Mitchell
18. Jamestown Ferry-Doug Kershaw
19. Does Anybody Love You?-Cass Elliott
20. Tumbleweed-Joan Baez
(Vocally and instrumentally, "Tumbleweed" segues well with Jim Croce's "Time In A Bottle.")
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21. What Would The Children Think?-Rick Springfield
22. Long Dark Road-The Hollies
23. Walk On Water-Neil Diamond
24. Sitting-Cat Stevens
(From the "Catch Bull At Four" album; Stevens' vocal delivery became more gruff on this album but was no less effective. Also recommended: "Angelsea.")
25. One More Mile-Jose Feliciano
(A good of-its-time vocal and instrumental arrangement, fit for a road trip.)
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26. Lady Sings The Blues-Diana Ross
(A short a cappella prelude that you don't usually hear on the radio today; given that most of the other A, B, and C cuts on the list were album rock and singer-songwriter tunes, this tune stands out.)
27. Superstition-Stevie Wonder
("Superstition ain't the way," indeed. Still one of his best-written and performed tunes.)
28. Corner Of The Sky-The Jackson 5
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29. Your Mama Don't Dance-Loggins & Messina
(Not one of my favorite tunes of theirs...Oldies stations still play it, though, so apparently, it still has a following.)
30. Blind John-Mickey Hart
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31. And You And I-Yes
32. Dawn Of A New Day-Mom's Apple Pie
33. The Jean Genie-David Bowie
34. Lady In Love-Megan McDonough
(The guitar and vocals here would segue smoothly with Carrie Newcomer's "The Love Letter.")
35. Latin Bugaloo-Malo
(Ending on an energetic note with some good Latin jazz-rock...)
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--- indicates a station break between songs.
