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Year 4, Day 3.
I'm celebrating the third anniversary of my "Great Songs of the '70s" blog by revisiting some of the songs I first highlighted in back in the beginning. Today, I'm updating my post from 11/10/19.
But before I get started, I want to mention that radio programming is very much different than it was back in the '70s--as you might imagine.
In particular, I want to point out how song selection has veered sharply away from DJ's and Program Directors choosing what was played based on "feel," personal taste, and listener requests. At least for the most part.
Today, although there might still be "some feel" and taste to it, the vast majority of music choices are made through demographic research and focus groups.
This, in part, is why music these days seems more "homogenized." In other words--it all sounds similar, designed especially to be "okay" for the masses .
Or maybe it's just me being a grumpy ex DJ. :-x
On the other hand, "Great Music" was definitely more varied in the '70s. Pop, Soul, Disco, Hard Rock, Country, Reggae, Middle of the Road ballads from the era of Sinatra and Perry Como--you might hear examples of ALL of these genres on the radio during one HOUR.
All of this ranting brings me to today's "Great Song of 1972:" "Down By the Lazy River by The Osmonds. Yes, the Osmonds.
This was before they became "Donny-centric," when Alan, Merrill, Jay, and Wayne led the group. Alan and Wayne wrote this, and the energy cannot be denied. Check out the choreography---it may be cheesy...but it's a lot of fun. Donny is in the mix, of course, but this is a full Osmond Brother experience! And radio listeners ate it up, requesting it -- and other Osmond songs -- repeatedly -- every hour of every day.
"Down by the Lazy River" was a worldwide hit, reaching #4 in the U.S. and #1 in The Netherlands and Canada!
Today, however, the song is almost never heard on the radio. Why? Research and Focus Groups.
According to sources, almost ALL of the Osmond song catalog has tested poorly in recent years, with "Down By the Lazy River" testing the poorest of all. Hogwash.
Makes you wonder if any of these focus groups include those of us who lived through the era and/or love "Great Songs of the '70s."
Click and enjoy what it was like to listen to the radio in 1972! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfZPp3IF7os
Now, click and find out how the crowd reacts to the Brothers (and Marie) singing the song at their 50th Reunion concert... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IjLn8hBL3U THERE...is you focus group!
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