Today through Sunday, many concertgoers will reminisce about their experiences at Woodstock 50 years ago. I suspect I've spoken to at least one person, however, who won't look back fondly at that time.
At this time in 1995, I was on the air at KNJZ. Near the end of its run, the smooth jazz station experimented with a new sound, adding album rock tracks to its playlist. I heard from one listener on the request line who was incensed about hearing "Wooden Ships" by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
"This is supposed to be the jazz station!" he exclaimed. "Why don't you all play some jazz? What are you doing, playing this Crosby, Stills & Nash?! I'm not no hippie!"
As much as I like Crosby, Stills & Nash and the message about war's consequences in "Wooden Ships," I couldn't argue with the caller. When you bill yourself as a smooth jazz station, "Wooden Ships" and Crosby, Stills & Nash don't fit that description.
Maybe if we'd billed ourselves as "smooth jazz--and more..."
