ALL AMERICAN SPECIAL JULY 4, 2008
A Special Commemorating American Freedom
In celebration of the 4th of July in its 107th week on the air, War Eagle 70s presented its All American Special in recognition of the 232nd anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. The Special presented 1970s hits by American music artists (including a special musical tour around the Southeastern Conference), highlights of the American Bicentennial, new inductions into the War Eagle 70s Hall of Fame and a special patriotic tribute led by the late Ray Charles.
ALL AMERICAN SPECIAL PLAYLIST
As is the custom for the Extra and Weekend shows, the music presented came from the personal collection of the host/producer of the show and master of this website. All the Seventies' hits presented reflected the diversity of American music, as well as the geographical and socioeconomic diversity of our nation.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL- SUNDAY, JULY 4, 1976 (set to "The National Emblem March")
July 4, 1976 was marked by rain, thunderstorms and high winds in the W.E.G.L. 91.1 listening area. The storms knocked down trees and limbs. One huge tree fell on a house at the corner of Gay and Woodfield. Some sections of Auburn lost power for several hours.
Auburn's Bicentennial Celebration had to be scaled down and postponed until the following day. But during its celebration, the Auburn American Field Service gave away a Bicentennial quilt of 104 red, white and blue squares to the Alton Little family of Auburn. (The host/producer wonders if they still have it) The fireworks show drew its biggest crowd ever at Duck Samford Stadium at that time. Meanwhile amidst the storms, Opelika presented a Bicentennial pageant called "We the People" featuring several well known local celebrities portraying Presidents and First Ladies, westward settlers, slaves et al. Someone even portrayed Francis Scott Key, who composed our national anthem "The Star Spangled Banner." State Senator Bo Tolbert of Opelika buried a Bicentennial time capsule at Spring Villa in Opelika. (The capsule will be unburied in 2076.) A parade stretched across Columbus and Phenix City. Phenix City unveiled its Phoenix Bird. A Bicentennial pageant took place at Fort Benning before anywhere from 8 to 10 thousand people.
The First Two Hours (7 to 9 p.m.)
We Are Family- Sister Sledge 1979 (This disco anthem by the beautiful Black sisters from Philadelphia was in the Billboard Top 40 during the 4th of July 1979 after hitting #1 soul/disco and #2 pop.)
Born To Run-Bruce Springsteen 1975 (the breakthrough by the Asbury Park, New Jersey native that got him on the covers of Time and Newsweek)
Doin' It To Death-Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s 1973 (#1 R&B record during the 4th of July 1973 by James Brown's backup band. The late Godfather of Soul was born in Barnwell S.C. and raised in Georgia, mainly Toccoa and Augusta)
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down-Joan Baez 1971 (one of several Civil War songs on the special, written by Robbie Robertson of The Band. Miss Baez, born of Mexican and British parents in Staten Island NY, has been one of the leading activists in American popular music.)
Rock 'n' Roll Music- The Beach Boys 1976 (The legendary California sound makers remade this hit by St. Louis native and rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry.)
If I Can't Have You-Yvonne Elliman 1978 (the #1 single by the Honolulu native from Saturday Night Fever)
Living for the City-Stevie Wonder 1973-1974 (from the album Innervisions, recorded during the creative period of this Saginaw, Michigan native who's still working on his new CD with a U.A.B. music professor as his director)
Sweet Home Alabama-Lynyrd Skynyrd 1974 (the unofficial Alabama state song by the Jacksonville, Florida-based Southern Rock group)
Midnight Train To Georgia-Gladys Knight and the Pips 1973 (the #1 single by the Atlanta family group headed by a lady who is now a Mormon and co-owner of Chicken & Waffles in metropolitan Atlanta)
Black Magic Woman-Santana 1970-1971 (by the San Francisco group who combined Latin music with rock)
Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")-Bill Conti 1977 (the #1 single during the 4th of July 1977 by the L.S.U. graduate, from the first of several movies about Sylvester Stallone's "Italian Stallion" boxer Rocky Balboa from Philadelphia)
T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)-M.F.S.B. featuring The Three Degrees 1974 (the #1 single used as one of the early Soul Train themes, from the sound brought to American music by Minister Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff)
It's Too Late-Carole King 1971 (the #1 single during the 4th of July 1971 from the classic album Tapestry, which helped usher in the singer-songwriter era of the early Seventies)
Bad Girls-Donna Summer 1979 (the title cut from the concept album by the Boston native LaDonna Gaines, whose current CD Crayons was in the Top 10 on the 4th of July 2008)
More Than A Feeling-Boston 1976-1977 (the arena rock classic by the group named after the home of the Tea Party, the current Winnersville U.S.A., and the city that many consider the ultimate college town)
Rainy Days and Mondays-The Carpenters 1971 (the last song in the New England "triple shot" by the Connecticut brother and sister whose music is surprisingly adored by a lot of young hard rockers)
Sister Golden Hair-America 1975 (the second #1 single of the 1970s by three gentlemen who met on American military bases overseas)
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL (Sunday, July 4, 1976)*
The Love You Save-The Jackson Five 1970 (the #1 single on the 4th of July 1970 by the brothers from Gary, Indiana led by Michael)
Billy, Don't Be A Hero-Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods 1974 (this #1 single was the second of several Civil War songs on the special, by the Cincinnati group featured on many of Dick Clark's TV shows)
I'm Every Woman-Chaka Khan 1978-1979 (the breakthrough solo hit by the Chicago soul diva Yvette Marie Stevens, and one of several women's liberation anthems of the 1970s. Whitney Houston remade it for her starring role in The Bodyguard in the 1990s.)
Feelin' Stronger Every Day-Chicago 1973 (by the jazz rockers named after the Windy City or the City of Big Shoulders, the home of two first-place Major League Baseball teams on the 4th of July 2008)
Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)-Waylon Jennings 1977 (the #1 country single of 1977 and Billboard Top 40 by the late king of outlaw country music, with help from his surviving buddy Willie Nelson. Luckenbach is located in the Texas Hill Country.)
Rocky Mountain High-John Denver 1973 (the unofficial Colorado state song by the late Roswell, New Mexico native Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.)
Lean On Me-Bill Withers 1972 (the #1 single by the Slab Fork, West Virginia native who turned 70 years old on the 4th of July 2008)
WAR EAGLE 70s HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS- Broadcast pioneers Tom Joyner & Casey Kasem and the Tuskegee Airmen*
Back in the U.S.A.-Linda Ronstadt 1978 (the multiracial lady from a Tucson, Arizona ranching family who got kicked out of a 2004 engagement because of her criticism of the Bush Administration and the war in Iraq. During the Seventies, she dated former California Governor and later Presidential candidate and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown.)
Sweet and Innocent-Donny Osmond 1971 (the breakthrough solo hit by the leader of the Ogden, Utah family. This was recorded at the Muscle Shoals Studios. Before going on tour with sister Marie and his brothers in Scotland, he was caught lying from a lie detector test on The Insider.)
Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree-Tony Orlando and Dawn 1973 (the #1 single of 1973 that was presented as a commeration song after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks)
WAR EAGLE 70s HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS (set to "Pomp and Circumstance")
By the authority vested in him by W.E.G.L. 91.1 staff and management, the Auburn University Board of Trustees and the Federal Communications Commission, and under the recommendation of the Herbert Walter Denmark Jr. Institute for Advanced Liberal to Moderate Studies, the host/producer/webmaster inducted these people with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities thereunto appertaining.
The first inductee is Tuskegee native and Tuskegee University graduate who hosts The Tom Joyner Morning Show- Tom Joyner himself. He was recently inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta. He has received other honors for keeping old-time Black radio intact, using the medium to inspire, encourage and challenge his audience to make the communities around them better. He has championed voter registration and voter participation, raised money through his Tom Joyner Foundation to send youngsters to Tuskegee and other historically Black colleges and universities, and encouraged people to live healthier lives through his "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" every September. Mr. Joyner was an original member of the Commodores but left before they hit it big. He eventually hit it big on his own, starting his radio broadcasting career in Montgomery and other places, making it to Chicago for the Johnson Publishing Company's W.J.P.C. He became the famous Fly Jock in the 1980s, hosting a morning show in Dallas and an afternoon show in Chicago. He has been on T.V., hosting the Ebony/Jet Showcase and his own variety show a couple of years ago. An all-around good guy.
The second inductee launched his American Top 40 countdown show 38 years ago on the 4th of July 1970. Casey Kasem co-created, co-produced and hosted American Top 40 during two separate runs (from the beginning until August 1988 and again from March 1998 until the 2003 year end countdown). The Detroit native has been in broadcasting in various forms since the 1950s, including providing voiceovers for NBC and Heinz ketchup, guest starring on shows, and being the voice of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoons. He has promoted vegetarian diets, is very careful of what and who he endorses, and is proud of his Lebanese Druze heritage. The host/producer/webmaster listened to his American Top 40 religiously from the Bicentennial Year through the late 1980s. He still has tapes of some of his shows.
The last set of inductees served honorably during World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen were based right here in the W.E.G.L. 91.1 listening area with their base at Moton Field, which is now a National Historic Site. 992 pilots received training for the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group from 1940 to 1946. 445 got deployment, 150 of them died fighting for their country and the cause of freedom despite discrimination and racism they would face even after World War II. They flew over 200 missions and lost no more than 25 bombers to enemy attacks. Several of them are still alive- some flew to Iraq in 2005 to speak to fighter pilots. They were honored during Tuskegee Founders Day in 2006. They received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. They have been the subject of several movies and documentaries, including the HBO movie starring Laurence Fishburne among others in 1995. George Lucas is working on his own movie about the Airmen to be entitled Red Tails for release as early as next year. The Tuskegee Airmen paved the way for all of us to show pride and fighting spirit in our nation.
The Final Hour (A Special Tour Of The Southeastern Conference)
SALUTE TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY- Love Will Keep Us Together-The Captain and Tennille 1975 (Toni Tennille, the Montgomery native who graduated from Auburn in 1962, got together with her husband The Captain Daryl Dragon to get the #1 single of 1975, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield.)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT TUSCALOOSA- Don't Knock My Love (Part 1)-Wilson Pickett 1971 (one of several 1970s hits by the late Montgomery soul music star, presented on the special tongue-in-cheek in recognition of Head Football Coach Nick Saban's quest to change his image via his scholarship contributions)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA- Shake Your Booty-K.C. and The Sunshine Band 1976 (the Hialeah disco group led by Harry Wayne Casey. Quarterback Tim Tebow must have shaken his booty a lot after winnig the Heisman last season. But you also have noticed that the glow of their basketball and football championships is gone. So the Gator Nation isn't shaking as much booty lately.)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (the host/producer's undergraduate alma mater)- Rock Lobster-The B52s 1979 (The new wave group gave their first concert at a Valentines' Day party in Athens, Georgia in 1975, four years before this single and self-titled album were released on Sire/Warner Brothers. The host is still a proud member of the Bulldog Nation, and don't you forget it!)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA- Heard It In A Love Song-The Marshall Tucker Band 1977 (The Spartanburg, South Carolina group included their only Billboard Top 40 hit in the album Carolina Dreams. The band still tours despite the loss of three original members.)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE IN KNOXVILLE- I'll Take You There-The Staple Singers 1972 (One of Mr. Herb's Favorite Hits of the 1970s was recorded at the Muscle Shoals Studios on Stax Records, the label based in Memphis, home to Graceland and a lot of Big Orange fans- not to mention the NCAA Division I men's basketball 2008 runnerups from the University of Memphis.)
SALUTE TO VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY- Jolene-Dolly Parton 1974 (One of Nashville's biggest stars was born in Sevierville in east Tennessee. This was one of her 26 #1 country singles.)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI (OLE MISS)- An American Trilogy-Elvis Presley 1972 ("The King of Rock and Roll" from Tupelo recorded this Anthony Newbury composition- which featured "Dixie," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and an African American spiritual "All My Trials"- live in concert. Ole Miss in Oxford is the home of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture.)
SALUTE TO MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY- The Thrill Is Gone-B.B. King 1970 (The King of the Blues from Itta Bena in the Mississippi Delta, who might be a closet Mississippi State football fan because of the hard work and presence of Head Coach Sylvester Croom)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE- Rhinestone Cowboy-Glen Campbell 1975 (This across-the-board #1 is one of the signature hits by the native of Delight in southwest Arkansas, close to President Clinton's hometown of Hope. Of course, Fayetteville is in northwest Arkansas.)
SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY- Kiss You All Over-Exile 1978 (the breakthrough hit by the Richmond KY group who went country in the 1980s. Happy Gilmore fans will remember that this song was featured in that movie.)
SALUTE TO LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY and AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL COLLEGE (the official name for L.S.U.)- Lady Marmalade-LaBelle 1975 (The famous French-speaking #1 single by Patti LaBelle's group was one of two 1970s hits backed up by the New Orleans R&B group The Meters. The other was Dr. John's 1973 selection "Right Place, Wrong Time." I betcha L.S.U. sports fans have been partying to this song since their BCS title, women's track and field title and College World Series appearance.)
SPECIAL PATRIOTIC TRIBUTE (RAY CHARLES' RECORDING OF "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL")
The host/webmaster/producer dedicated this show and this song to them and countless others. The tribute will be led by a man who died a very proud American in 2004 even though he faced discrimination, blindness and other things including his own vices. But just the fact that a lot of people paid tribute to him after he died is a testimony as to his influence on American music and culture. The War Eagle 70s All American Special concluded with Brother Ray (the late great Ray Charles from Albany, Georgia) and his 1972 rendition of "America the Beautiful."
