RE: The Americans

["Hakim Madjid" <HMadjid@mindspring.com>]

Richard Chonak wrote:

>Here's a bit of trivia: On 2/9/74, Sinclair's commentary "The Americans"
>hit #24 _and_ #4 of the Billboard Top 100 chart simultaneously, in two
>recorded versions.

>Up in New Hampshire, I heard the piece when Casey Kasem played it on his
>"American Top 40" show in early 1974.  However, Kasem only aired the
>higher-ranked version voiced by Byron McGregor, and I suppose there are
>probably many people who, like me, remember Sinclair's salute but have
>never heard Sinclair deliver it.

http://www.oldradioshows.com/at40/020974.html
--RC

Yup I remember the same here in Boston back then (I grew up in these parts),
'The Americans'  climbing the charts, in the Byron McGregor version. I too
remember Casey Casem playing it. Also many other DJ's and even talk show
hosts would play the McGregor version.

Back then, of course, we were nearing  the end of the Vietnam
debacle/nightmare and Watergate with Nixon resigning eventually. 'The
Americans' seems to resurface during times of crisis. I remember hearing it
on the radio during the Gulf War, for instance.

Anyhow I thought it still appropriate for right now.


73, de Hakim (N1ZFF)