Abubilla Music

A very important date for Radio!

Written by Jimmy

Fact:  On this day, in 1896, Popov made the first radio signal transmission in history, between buildings of a campus in St Petersburg.    The year before, he had sorted out a radio receiver and on May 7, 1895 made it public – the Russians refer to May 7th now as ‘Radio Day.’

Fact:   On May 13, 1976, I listened to the Radio, WPGC to be exact, and called in to two separate contests and in the same day, won tickets to see Paul McCartney and the Wings in their Wings over America concert.  And to see the Eagles, with Linda Ronstadt, Joe Walsh, Jackson Browne and Dan Fogleberg for a Jerry Brown benefit concert (he was running against Jimmy Carter for the democratic nomination).  The Benefit Concert was on May 14 and the Wings Concert on May 16.   That’s a lot of good music for a 15 year old in one weekend.    At the end of the Blog, I’ve listed the concerts held that year (oh, the power of the internet).

Confession:  At the time I was quite made because my friend, Kevin, won the ‘Great Chicago Giveaway’ the same weekend that included every Chicago album and a Chicago belt buckle.  I ENVEYED him.  Goodness.  I can’t imagine Kevin is sitting right now with his belt buckle listening to EVERY Chicago album, but I’m writing right now about my very nice weekend of music.    Joe Walsh hadn’t yet joined the Eagles so was a solo performer.  Linda Ronstadt at that point was the sexiest woman alive.   And for all of you, in tribute to the radio which was very kind to me, were the top 6 songs of the weekend. Pretty nice for a 15 year old.   Enjoy:

1. Rocky Mountain Way,  Joe Walsh.  introduced with the line, “If I knew I were going to have to play this thing for the rest of my life I would haven’t written a better song.”

2.  Jackson Browne, Doctor my Eyes:   In a later concert at Merryweather Post Pavillion, Jackson Browne introduced Cocaine, with the following story, “I’m not endorsing drugs or anything, but I have a drug story, about driving and about Pot.  To be clear kids, they don’t go together.  But, I was in Topanga Canyon with some friends and well, we got pretty high.  And we had the munchies.  And I was elected to drive to the store, which was about 9 miles away down the canyon.  It was a beautiful night, and I had a convertible so I didn’t mind.  And I decided to fly!  I was driving down the canyon roads as fast as I could, with breeze flowing through my hair.  it must have been the pot, but I was able to handle every curve beautifully, moving faster and yet safer than I ever have.  I was leaning into curves, trees were blurring and I couldn’t believe my speed.  And sure enough, when I looked in the rear view mirror there was a cop on my tail.  He probably had been there a while, chasing me down the mountain. Frankly,  I don’t know how he kept up.  I gradually lowered my speed and pulled over.  The cop came up to me and said, “Son, do you have any idea how fast you were going?  And did you really not see me follow you for the last two miles?”  I said, “No officer, I was too busy staying on the road.  I must have been going 80…”  And he replied, “Son, you’ve been going 12 miles an hour for the 25 minutes.”   So much for pot and driving.”

 3.  Linda Ronstadt:  Blue Bayou. 

4. The Eagles:  Take It Easy.  This is how they did it on the night, with Linda and Jackson and Joe piling in…

5.  Wings, Band on the Run.  I loved Paul and Linda’s relationship, especially that he let her perform with Wings for years.  She wasn’t that good, but that’s love (Rumour has it he turned her mic down and piano off, however!) .  This is same concert tour, but the Seattle venue.

6. Yesterday, acoustic 1976, Wings over America Tour:

Addendum:   Here was the line up for the Capital Centre that year: