That's Why God Made The Radio - On The Radio!

[guitarfool2002]

It happened today, one of those random moments of listening to the radio when a good song sounds even better. A beautiful spring afternoon, sunny, no clouds in the sky, mid-60's with a nice breeze, windows down in the Chevy, listening to WXPN (also streaming online at http://www.xpn.org/ ). During a block of four songs, following M Ward and the Ramones, it started up, that familiar sound, and it sounded beautiful. I automatically reached over and turned it up - loud. TWGMTR is a great radio song, it sounds full and well-produced, the mix cut right through the car speakers, the harmonies were terrific, the guitars can each be heard yet sound like an ensemble or a horn section similar to the Summer Days era. It was great, and sounded great in the car on such a nice day. The DJ even got in a plug for the new album, mentioned the original members by name, and advertised their summer concert in Philly. Good stuff.

I think the element of randomness is what radio is all about, with no advance notice or no way to program what we will hear or have available to hear, like an iPod, playlist, or anything else. It hit me that the sentiment of the song fell right into place with the way I heard it today, and in that way the song became even better, at least in my mind. The same thing hit me a few years ago when a random broadcast of the BWPS "Heroes" was played during another beautiful afternoon drive on the same station - the music sounded more alive and more in-the-moment, and for that reason I probably enjoy radio as my prime way of hearing music above anything else. You're not expecting it, you're not holding a remote control or a device to control your listening experience, it just *happens*. And when it syncs up with a beautiful day like today, it just feels good above anything else to be in the moment and soak it in. I hope that kind of radio experience never fades away in favor of whatever else some are predicting will replace broadcast radio.

Check out WXPN, it is a great radio station that is listener-supported and which features music not heard on other outlets. They were also staging a music film festival this weekend featuring all music-related films, including "The Wrecking Crew". I wish I could have attended.

The Beach Boys have a knack for making records that sound great in the car, and it was nice to see that continue in 2012 with a new single.

[STE]

Did you throw up when you first TWGMTR on the radio?

[guitarfool2002]

Did you throw up when you first TWGMTR on the radio?

No.

[Rocker]

Great. I've heard from three different people who heard it on german radio. I haven't had a chance yet to hear it. Hope that will change

[Cabinessenceking]

Did you throw up when you first TWGMTR on the radio?

Watch out! we got a TWGMTR hater over here.

[STE]

No no, it's a reference to the BB first hearing Surfin' on the radio...   come on guys!   




PS: I do not like TWGMTR

[guitarfool2002]

No no, it's a reference to the BB first hearing Surfin' on the radio...   come on guys!   




PS: I do not like TWGMTR

 

I have to say it had more of an impact today on the radio than it did hearing it online/Youtube/etc. It did sound better, honest! I wasn't that personally connected to the song to have the "Surfin" reaction, but if I had been drinking something I may have done a spit-take all over the wheel.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

We do all tend to listen with very critical ears. Hearing something on the radio, in context, so to speak, allows you to step back from it.

It's a good song.

[slickman9696]

I just heard it today on 101.1 in NYC. Chills man to hear a new Beach Boys song on today's radio. Made my day...besides it being my birthday!!!

[Mike Lovechild]

This is great news,  has anybody in UK or Ireland heard it on the radio?

[Rocker]

I just heard it today on 101.1 in NYC. Chills man to hear a new Beach Boys song on today's radio. Made my day...besides it being my birthday!!!

Happy birthday then !

[MyGlove]

It's on their youtube page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGke6pnT1d0

[guitarfool2002]

It's on their youtube page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGke6pnT1d0

Before I post what I was going to say originally in response, please explain what you're getting at by posting this. Because on the surface it sure made me feel like sh*t for even bothering to write that about the radio. And I hope that wasn't the intent!

[Mikie]

Somebody requested "Fun, Fun, Fun" on the Sirius XM 60's channel today. "Cousin Brucie" was the DJ and and was talking about "That's Why God Made The Radio" with his program director on the show. He said that he was going to play the new single later on in the day, but I had stuff to do and didn't get a chance to see if he played it. He probably did.

[guitarfool2002]

Somebody requested "Fun, Fun, Fun" on the Sirius XM 60's channel today. "Cousin Brucie" was the DJ and and was talking about "That's Why God Made The Radio" with his program director on the show. He said that he was going to play the new single later on in the day, but I had stuff to do and didn't get a chance to see if he played it. He probably did.

Cousin Brucie Morrow, wow he's still on the air! I don't have Sirius so I didn't know he had a show. Damn, he's been broadcasting for decades. That's cool he played the record.

I did read that an affiliate to New York's WCBS 101.1 in Arizona played it, and one listener of that station posted some negative comments about playing a "new" song in an oldies format, besides comments on the song. I thought that was unnecessary, but I guess some folks stick hard and fast to their "oldies" format.

[Micha]

Here's for the Germans:

http://www.hr-online.de/website/radio/hr1/index.jsp?rubrik=67307&key=standard_document_44599285

[MyGlove]

It's on their youtube page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGke6pnT1d0

Before I post what I was going to say originally in response, please explain what you're getting at by posting this. Because on the surface it sure made me feel like sh*t for even bothering to write that about the radio. And I hope that wasn't the intent!

Whoa Whoa. My bad, man. That was not the intent at all. I just figured since we were talking about it, that I'd post it for people who wanted to here it that maybe don't get the chance to listen to the radio. I'm sorry. Definitely didn't mean to offend.

[Tony S]

Heard it just before 1:00pm on CBS FM 101.1 oldies station in NYC. Pat St. John the DJ did a real nice informational piece on it; he was very excited and said he thought it was a great tune. It was played as a part of his "rarities" show.

[Lowbacca]

Here's for the Germans:

http://www.hr-online.de/website/radio/hr1/index.jsp?rubrik=67307&key=standard_document_44599285

Good promotion with a lot of hype!   But the guy can't be that much of a fan stating that [paraphrasing] the Beach Boys did it all themselves on the new single, in contrast to their first recordings which just featured their vocals and had studio musicians on all the instrumental parts [/paraphrasing]. Will that myth ever die out?  

[absinthe_boy]

This is great news,  has anybody in UK or Ireland heard it on the radio?

I haven't heard it in the UK, I would assume BBC Radio 2 is the most obvious station. Our car radio is usually tuned to it, but to be honest I've been away from home all weekend and nowhere near a radio so it could easily have flown under my personal radar.

Brian usually gets some airplay on Radio 2 whenever he has a new album out. They had a couple of tracks from Gershwin and Disney on their playlist for a week or two.

I just checked and it's not on BBC Radio 2's playlist for this week.

[Micha]

Here's for the Germans:

http://www.hr-online.de/website/radio/hr1/index.jsp?rubrik=67307&key=standard_document_44599285

Good promotion with a lot of hype!   But the guy can't be that much of a fan stating that [paraphrasing] the Beach Boys did it all themselves on the new single, in contrast to their first recordings which just featured their vocals and had studio musicians on all the instrumental parts [/paraphrasing]. Will that myth ever die out?  

Especially because it's basically the other way round.

[Lowbacca]

Here's for the Germans:

http://www.hr-online.de/website/radio/hr1/index.jsp?rubrik=67307&key=standard_document_44599285

Good promotion with a lot of hype!   But the guy can't be that much of a fan stating that [paraphrasing] the Beach Boys did it all themselves on the new single, in contrast to their first recordings which just featured their vocals and had studio musicians on all the instrumental parts [/paraphrasing]. Will that myth ever die out?  

Especially because it's basically the other way round.

Yap. Maybe he based his information on the DOA2012 video, where Al and Dave can bee seen playing their instruments. But obviously most of the instrumentation on TWGMTR wasn't recorded by Beach Boys.

[Micha]

Here's for the Germans:

http://www.hr-online.de/website/radio/hr1/index.jsp?rubrik=67307&key=standard_document_44599285

Good promotion with a lot of hype!   But the guy can't be that much of a fan stating that [paraphrasing] the Beach Boys did it all themselves on the new single, in contrast to their first recordings which just featured their vocals and had studio musicians on all the instrumental parts [/paraphrasing]. Will that myth ever die out?  

Especially because it's basically the other way round.

Yap. Maybe he based his information on the DOA2012 video, where Al and Dave can bee seen playing their instruments. But obviously most of the instrumentation on TWGMTR wasn't recorded by Beach Boys.

Bruce once was quoted that there were to be no "guest musicians" on the new album, maybe that's what the radio guy got wrong. That of course only means that there's no Eric Clapton and no Roger McGuinn on there.

[lance]

Unfortunately, I have doubts that the myth will ever die. Look at the Hoffman board and you will find that myth repeated time and time again on various BB threads, and the disbelief when people are set right  there is discouraging. Many people plainly can't deal with that myth being taken down, maybe because it somehow upsets some sort of hierarchial vision of sixties music or something.

[bossaroo]

it's #63 on Amazon's Top 100 Rock Downloads