I just recently got this e-mail from you a couple days ago:
Will;How do you pick the Oh Wows for Bob to play? God Bless Dr Johnny P LoveTrain

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on this, but I had to think this over. First of all, me and many of us here are quite a bit older than you are, and have been listening to the radio for quite some time, and therefore have acquired a lot of music knowledge over the years. And quite a few of my friends and family members have told me that I have a pretty good memory, and perhaps this is true. But Johnny, I must admit, for you still being in college, I think you're starting to acquire a lot of knowledge yourself!!

Anyway, I started listening to the radio when I was about nine years old, and back when I started listening, in my area there wasn't any such thing as "oldies" radio. But the pop stations I listened to would just play the pop songs as well as some oldies songs on the side. Honestly, I really don't remember a great plethora of oldies stations coming into fruition until the '80's -- for whatever reason. But anyway, I do remember many of the songs that I put on the "oh wow" playlists from when I was much younger -- and quite often I haven't heard them at all since I was younger.

I used to collect quite a few records, 8-track tapes (remember them), and cassettes back when I was in grade school, jr. high, and high school, and many of the songs were from greatest hit compilations from various artists. And many of the songs may be quality songs that may not have charted very high -- for whatever reason. And my older sisters had quite a few albums that I've gotten ideas from as well. For example, I've always been a big David Essex fan, and I have every one of his albums. And except for the hit, "Rock On," David never really did have much success in the U.S. But he had a HUGE amount of success in Europe and other countries, and the song in which I included in this week's oh wows, "Gonna Make You a Star," never even charted in this country on the Billboard or Cash Box charts! But it was #1 in many countries back in '74. And it's always been a big favourite of mine, and I'm really surprised that Bob was able to find that song, since it's so obscure here!!

Also, when I was in the USAF in Iceland around 1984, there was a syndicated oldies show called "The Jim Pewter Show," on Armed Forces Radio, in which I had recorded many of his programs and have gotten some very good ideas from.

Also, I listen regularly to Bob's various programs every week like you do, as well as the archived programs when I can, and get ideas for songs from them. Also, when I can, I diligently search the Cash Box charts from 1956 - 1980 for some ideas, and right now I'm on 1964; but this is the second time I've been through these.

Also Johnny, I listen to a couple oldies stations here in town whenever I'm driving, and one of them really does a good job of playing some quality songs that haven't been played over and over to death -- like so many oldies stations do across the country -- and I get some ideas from these stations. Also, whenever I'm not listening to Bob's programs, then I listen to 50's and 60's stations on XM radio at home, since it's part of DirecTV now -- and I get a lot of good ideas from these stations as well. So in a nutshell, this is pretty much what I do.

But anyway, Dr. Johnny P., I wish you the best of luck with your radio show, and I'll continue to listen when I can!!!

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