Customer Reviews

The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ben Fong Torres' love and admiration for the early days of Top 40 radio shows through in this book. He has crafted a wonderful history of how Top 40 began, features on numerous radio personalities (among them Tom Donahue, B Mitch Reed, Robert W Morgan, The Real Don Steele, Alan Freed, Dick Biondi, the list goes on and on). And the CD included with the book featuring airchecks of some of these amazing personalities is wild. Hearing DJ's like Gary Owens, B Mitch Reed, Casey Kasem or Tom Donahue in their early days is a hoot.

If the book has a West Coast slant on personalities, perhaps that's only because Torres grew up in the Bay Area. However, he does not give short shrift to anyone. He also goes into great detail about the people who helped create this format: Chuck Blore of "Color Radio" fame, Bill Drake and Ron Jacobs of "Boss Radio" fame, Gordon McLendon and Tod Storz, among others. It's ironic in a way that Torres' claim to fame came later as first a journalist for Rolling Stone and as a DJ on KSAN in San Francisco (one of those "underground" FM stations that loved to poke fun at the Top 40 stations).

The book traces the beginnings, development, and "growing pains" of this format. How at one time it was hip, then became "square" when the underground FM stations hit the airwaves, and how it now seems to have emerged again. And funny how the underground stations developed as a kind of "antidote" to very restrictive Top 40 formats, just as the Top 40 stations developed as something different to the standard fare of that time.

Amazing stories abound in this book, and being an ex DJ myself I could relate to them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I agree with another reviewer that this book is must reading for any past or present DJ, or any student of the media.

As an alumnus of a McLendon station, KELP, El Paso, Ben's book brought back the memories of decades past. Seriously researched and accurate, this is THE book of what TOP 40 was, who invented it, why it was a huge success and what happened to the stations and people who were involved. A "must read" for anyone who ever worked in radio or has an interest in the media. Also, it's great fun!

A great look back at the roots of contemporary radio. Well written and very authentic. Fun reading for anyone who loved 50's and 60's radio. Unlike alot of radio books that whine about commerciality or become absorbed in technical data, this book never travels far from the magic of Top 40. I think Ben Fong-Torres under stated a few stations, but that's a characteristic of Top 40.....whatever YOU listened to was the best.

A great start on the history of Top 40 Radio, but gives surprising short shrift to WABC New York, and other East Coast/Mid West stations. It's understandable with Fong-Torres' Bay Area roots. But don't get me wrtong, if you love radio, you'll LOVE this book; it's wonderful!

Rob Hummel 98 KSLQ St. Louis ALUMNI 1976-78

Just finished this book. Having grown up in LA in the sixties this book took me back to all those great radio days! There is LOTS of great stuff in here! Ben did an excellent job of talking to all the shakers and movers of the golden days of radio. I found it hard to put it down and a great inspiration to create fun radio again for the new century! When I find a book that's this great I can't wait to tell everyone I know! Thanks, Ben. It's awesome!!!!!

Ben Fong-Torres has written a solid book on the history of Top 40 Radio in "The Hits Just Keep On Coming." It was an enjoyable read to this long-time student of contemporary radio. Alas, at times the book focuses more on the stars of the business, giving it almost a People magazine feel. But that doesn't spoil the story here.

In fact, perhaps because the title promises so much, I was surprised to find the book a bit on the thin side. At some 272 pages, I was left was the feeling of having gotten a small taste of a wonderful dessert. You too, may find yourself wanting more of Fong-Torres' solid writing and in particular, his analysis of the rise, fall and resurrection of this sound that a generation grew up with.

There are a few nits to pick: more than just publicity pictures of faces would have been nice and towards the end of the book there are a few errors in details (A K in call letters for a NYC station, when it should be a W) but all in all to use the jargon of the business it covers, this book is definitely a "Hitbound."

Who knows? If this one's a hit, maybe Ben Fong-Torres has more material for a volume 2!

Chances are, if you grew up in the '60s and '70s you spent alot of time listening to the radio. In every major city across the USA and in most towns with any sort of population, Top 40 radio was bringing us the best that Rock N Roll had to offer. Fong-Torres' book provides a deep, rich insight into not only who those magic momement makers were...but how the radio industry as a whole came to Top 40 dominated. This book is rich in historical detail, without boring the reader. Just scanning the through index at the back of the book is enough to bring back a flood of a thousand moments spent tuned in to your favorite transistor or table radio. The Hits Keep On Coming is easily one of the best contemporary books written about modern radio and the people who made listening so magical. It's well written, filled with tremendously interesting sidebar material and comes complete with a year-by-year listing of top hits through the decades. If there were one thing I wish the book had more of...it would be more photographs of the music makers (djs) and their radio studios. Perhaps this is a possibility for a "new and expanded edition in the future). If you're a radio fan, American history buff, Rock N Roll collector, this is one book you should definately make sure you own. Opening up the pages of "The Hits Keep On Coming" should instantly bring back to your mind a million memories and the hits that were the soundtrack of our lives.

Ok, so I'm the party pooper here, but I'm not enjoying this book (still reading). What bother me about it is it's tunnel-vision focus on DJs (names, dates, station IDs etc.) while zilch on the music (how tunes were selected, politics, label preferences, payola, etc.). I'm personally curious why Top 40 has changed from period to period and how decisions were made behind the scenes out of hearing range of the listening audience. Telling us things like "Bill Balance, who had been at KFWB for three years when Blore blasted in to install the Top 40 format in late 1957" doesn't even pretend to discuss the kind of details I'm interested in. The publishers would have been more truthful if they'd named the book something like "The People Who Played the Hits." Also disappointing to me because I've read many Fong-Torres articles over the years that I've thoroughly enjoyed. If I change my mind as I read on, I'll revise or append this review.

As a young boy I would sit in my mom's car and listen to wonderful radio stations like WLS, WNOE, and 50,000 watt KOMA. I was fortunate enough to have a 15 year long career in radio including KOMA. My shift allowed me to be heard in 22 states and 3 countries. Ben Fong-Torres recaptures the magic and excitement of AM radio and Boss Jocks of the sixties. Anyone who loved radio before it became sterile and humorless will love reliving those crazy days when d.j.s were more important than the music.

My only regret is that his focus seems to be on east and west coast radio stations and misses some of the fun that was on the air in the mid-west. A good trip down memory lane and a look behind the scenes for those who never had the honor of being behind a microphone.

Ben Fong-Torres has done radio nuts a huge favor! Not only does he help trace the advent of one of the most powerful, compelling and creative radio formats ever devised. He also provides the reader with a journey into a universe containing a million memories. What I particularly enjoyed about the book was not only did it help me learn more about Top 40 Radio in general, I also got to learn more about the radio legends I've grown up listening to. If you ever spent an afternoon or evening listening to your favorite Rock N Roll Top 40 Radio station, Fong-Torres book, The Hits Keep On Coming is a book you'll definately want to own and read again and again.