Bang on the Drum All Day - Todd Rundgren (1983) 9/6/21

Well, it's Labor Day, and in trying to decide which "Great Song of the '70s" to highlight, I decided to cheat and highlight a song from 1983.

Why? Because it fits a "Labor Day" theme (sort of)...but it also has special significance in Wisconsin. (Hopefully those who live elsewhere will still appreciate the TRUE STORY connected to today's choice.)

The year is 1985. I am working at WIXX in Green Bay, where in addition to being Creative Director, I am the part of the Fox Valley's #1 morning show: "Mr. Bill & Uncle Mike." Bill LuMaye was the host, and I was the sidekick.

Every Friday morning at 8:00, Mr. Bill would crank up the same "Great Song" to inspire everyone as they headed into the weekend.

This, we found out, included the Green Bay Packers.

One day, our Sports Director, Mark Daniels, came into the studio to tell us that the Packers always had us on in the locker room, and wide receiver James Lofton--who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003--not only loved the song, but thought it would be great way to get the team motivated! Could we make him a copy?

No problem! As soon as we got off the air, I put it on cassette, (Remember cassettes?!), and gave it to Mark, who gave it to James.

A few weeks later, I was watching the Packers on TV. They scored a touchdown, and the next thing I heard was "THE SONG."

And to this day. Todd Rundgren's "Bang on the Drum All Day" is played at every Packer home game. (That's the other reason I chose the song: the Packers' season begins in just a few days!)

Note: There are other versions on how the song became a Packer legend, but they're told mostly by people who either weren't there, are mis-remembering ...or making it up.

Note #2: The Bengals, Colts--and several college teams--have also used the song. It has become one the most recognizable sports themes of all time!

Note #3: Todd Rundgren produced it, sang it, and played ALL of the instruments on the song!

Note: #4: It was never a big radio hit. We played it at WIXX because it was a fun oldie to usher in the weekend. It peaked at #39 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart.

So have a "Great" Labor Day...and "Bang on the Drum All Day:" A "Great Song of 1983!" Thank you, James Lofton!