Sometimes, I enjoy looking back at some of my historical photos, especially the ones that relate to the years I spent in radio. And whenever I do that, I always come back to several photos from the summer of 1974. This one shows the marquee of the Allen Theater in Cleveland, June 28, 1974. The quality isn't the greatest, but the historical significance is: it's when Rush played at the Allen Theater, and I first met them in person. John Rutsey was still their drummer at that time, and I've told the story of how shy the three guys in the band were. They were very appreciative that I had gotten them airplay at WMMS, and before their gig, their manager promised me they would never let me down. (And in all these years, they never have.)
A month later, John Rutsey was replaced by Neil Peart. If you're a Rush fan, you know the famous photo that commemorated their being signed to Mercury Records. It was probably taken in early August, if I had to guess.
You can see WMMS deejay Matt the Cat on the left, and on the right, program director John Gorman, along with Mercury Records local promoter Don George. And in the middle, those three serious-looking guys: Neil, Geddy, and Alex. No, they weren't angry or upset: they were tired, and still camera-shy. And there I was in the front, holding the Rush album (which I still have).
Perhaps, like me, you were a Rush fan right from their first album in 1974. Or perhaps you became a Rush fan years later. And perhaps, like my husband, you were never a Rush fan (he prefers country music) but you knew someone who was. My husband accompanied me to many of their concerts throughout the 1980s and beyond, and even he could not deny that these guys were dynamic performers, talented musicians, and really fun to watch.
I have many other photos from along the way: I saw Rush in lots of cities and we remained in touch over the decades. I'm still amazed that more than 50 years have passed since I first met the guys, and I'm equally amazed that we still keep in touch. But I wonder what memories you have of 1974: perhaps you associate it with politics: the Watergate Scandal, the resignation of Nixon, and the controversial pardon Gerald Ford gave him. Perhaps 1974 brings back memories of TV shows like "All in the Family" and "Happy Days," or movies like "Blazing Saddles" and "The Towering Inferno." Or maybe you remember big sports headlines like Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hitting his 715th career home run, and breaking Babe Ruth's record.
As for me, I will never be able to look back on 1974 without thinking of the first time I played "Working Man" in the spring of that year, never realizing what it would lead to. And of course, I will always remember meeting the guys in the band for the first time: they were so young, yet even then, I knew they had such great potential. In December of 1974, Rush played at the Agora, and they performed some of the new songs they were working on. They also kindly gave me a shout-out when they played "Working Man."
And there you are. It was 1974. I was 26 years old, a deejay and a music director at WMMS in Cleveland. And it was a year that would soon change my life. In fact, so many things have changed since then-- some good, some not so good. But the music remains, the friendships remain, and the memories remain too. And I'd be interested to know what you think of when you think of the year 1974. Feel free to let me know in the comments!
1974, huh? I was 8 and 9 that year. One of my strongest memories of '74 did indeed have something to do with a Canadian band, but it wasn't Rush.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that I had heard any Rush yet as my exposure to longer and wilder rock tracks was on those rare times I could sneak staying up late to listed to Clyde Clifford's "Beaker Street" program on KAAY (AM!) in Little Rock where I lived at the time. But, KAAY played a big role in this memory as well as, about a year later, began to plant the seed in my brain that maybe I could be a DJ, too.
In October, KAAY sponsored a Haunted House, and I along with my best friend were not only allowed to go, but would be able to do it by ourselves without a parent hovering over us. It felt so adult!
It was already dark as my father drove us down there, and KAAY was on the radio as usual. Then, something came on that just blew me away as it sounded so different from everything else...not in its content, but just the SOUND. I couldn't understand how something could sound so different. It really floored me, even at such a young age.
It's really a silly song when you think about it. It was "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Whatever Randy and the boys along with their engineer did on that one still grabs me to this day, and I still think about that first time I ever heard it on a night when I first tasted a little freedom and my friend and I laughed at all sorts of stuff until we were hoarse.
I still want you to write a book, the one we spoke about a few years ago. It would be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI spent that summer on log booms with a bunch of very sexist young men whose attitudes I did not understand, learning to be a log scaler. Of the 6 women who started the training, I was the only one who finished. I hung on because it was the easiest work I ever had and would pay $680/mo once I qualified. After 6 or so years, the males did drive me out. Eventually, I landed on my feet elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteGreat memories, Donna. I had finished 5th grade in the summer of '74, and thanks to my sister (four years older) I was already into rock music. That summer hanging out at the pool, I remember hearing a lot of "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "The Loco-Motion" by Grand Funk (my sister had that LP that came with the 3D glasses and the crazy 3D cover art). Steve Miller, Brownsville Station, Steely Dan, Elton John, Doobie Brothers,...those are the bands I remember from that summer the most.
ReplyDeleteBeing fortunate enough to be a musician as a kid, I have always loved music that is well-played, well-composed... I was and still am into all kinds of music. I just loved those summers of the seventies, hanging out with friends, listening to the Top-40 AM radio at the pool, and then AOR FM stations at night when I got a little older. The quality and diversity of the excellent music of that decade is still amazing to me.
It wouldn't be until three years later that a buddy I met in 8th grade said to me "Hey, have you heard these guys?" and put on "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" and I was blown away. I had not heard ANYTHING like that, and I was immediately captivated. From that point on, I became a life-long Rush fan, and I feel so fortunate to have been able to enjoy the thrill of waiting for their new records to come out, running to the music store and buying that new vinyl! My connection to Rush (and to great music in general) is very closely tied to radio and those summers of my youth, spent listening to our favorite deejays and eagerly waiting for that next favorite song to come on!