[78-L] Roger Williams

[Bill McClung]

The Roger Williams mention made me remember something that happened last
week that I was trying to forget.

This is a true story that happened last Monday.

I was working in Florida and was driving US 1 between Vero Beach and Fort
Lauderdale.  I had my radio on and came across FM 97.3 "Ocean" broadcast
from Vero Beach and was transported directly to 1975.  The dj played Bobby
Vinton, Jack Jones, Liza Minelli, Farrente & Teicher, a duet by Willie
Nelson and Diana Krall, Acker Bilk, the Fifth Dimension, and John Davidson.
OMG, the memories!!!!!!!!!!!

The first of two highlights came just before the 3 o'clock news (which I was
sure would be an up to the minute news flash on President Ford) when Roger
Williams, his piano, orchestra, and breathless chorus performed "Born
Free."  I hadn't really listened to this in close to thirty years and to my
ears it may be one of the worst popular songs ever made.  And I bought the
45 when it was new.  Amazingly bad.

The second highlight brought us back from the news and I marvelled at the
audience around me that this was intended to impress.  Barry Manalow's Coca
Cabana it all it's 1978 disco fever.  I don't know what (or how they could)
follow that because I lost the signal.  It was the closest I've come to a
Twilight Zone episode in a long, long time.