Here are Parts 1 and 2 of the 4-part aircheck of the December 31, 1971, broadcast of Beaker Street with Clyde Clifford. As Greg Barman stated in
his earlier post:
This is New Year's Eve, Beaker Street style, starting 11pm Friday, December 31, 1971, and going into the wee hours of January 1, 1972. I got this aircheck from another collector several years ago. From the lack of fading it sounds like it was taped off KAAY's local signal, but I don't know who originally taped it. It is mostly untelescoped, with just a few gaps here and there and parts of some songs left out due to distortions in audio quality. But overall the quality is quite good. The aircheck is divided into four audio files and they cover most of the 3 hour show.
It sure sounds like Clyde Clifford is celebrating the New Year at the transmitter site, and I mean something beyond the countdown to midnight and Auld Lang Syne. Long songs are the norm with Beaker Street's progressive rock format, of course. But this night Clyde is playing some VERY long songs, like Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", "The Court of the Crimson King" by King Crimson, and a long unidentified Dixieland-style jam after midnight. Was there a party going on? Listen carefully and you can hear the clues. Clyde says he is drinking "a little eggnog", with no nog in it, sorry, but with some "awful strong nutmeg". OK.....
You will also hear some Black Oak Arkansas, Jethro Tull, Alice Cooper, Grateful Dead, Love Sculpture, Guess Who, and Deep Water Reunion's "Cindy's Cryin' ", a Beaker Street classic. The spots include A Warehouse in New Orleans. The Allman Brothers and REO Speedwagon were playing there that weekend and tickets were only 5 bucks --- wow! Other advertisers are Floyd's Record Shop, Jefferson Manor Apartments, Coca-Cola and Stag Beer.
Clyde mentioned listeners in Wisconsin, Missouri and Louisiana, and we all know there were plenty more. Imagine thousands of people celebrating New Year's in their own way, with Beaker Street blasting thru the skywaves and rocking out of radios all over the place to bring in 1972!
Parts 3 and 4 to follow.... Thanks, Greg!
The "long unidentified Dixieland-style jam after midnight" was "Pussy Wiggle Stomp" by Don Ellis, from his "At Fillmore" album.
ReplyDelete....and the unidentified 6:10 minute instrumental track which follows Don Ellis is "Careful with that ax Eugene" by Pink Floyd from their 'Umagumma' LP...where are Parts 3 and 4 ??
DeleteI just listened to Clyde count down for New Years 1972, I remember listening to it live. At the time I was in Muscatine, Iowa.... What a FLASHBACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteParts 3 and 4 pleeeeeease. Thank-you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteYES! Parts 3 & 4 PLEASE. TIA!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the saxophone solo introduction to the Beaker Street show, from early KAAY 1090 AM days? Does anyone remember what it was or who played it?
ReplyDeletetom
You may be hearing the end of "If 6 Were 9" by Jimi Hendrix. It does resemble some jazz sax but is actually Hendrix's guitar feedback!
DeleteIt might have been a version of Bill Black's "Night Train"
DeleteThanks for sharing this post. I would like to read such type post in future also.
ReplyDeleteWow...just stumbled across this site. spent my teenage years and early 20's living in Cawker City KS and listening to Beaker Street. Religiously. What a treat to hear again.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, Kay double-A, Y.. the mighty ten ninety. My buddy Jerry and I used to sit in a boat in the middle of the Lake of the Ozarks, AT NIGHT (with no lights... morons), listening to KAAY's Bleaker Street. Cheap wine, and good times. Too cool for school.
ReplyDeleteremember listening to KAAY and WBT in Havana Cuba during the mid 70s,yeah pure rock music,.good memories specialy Beaker Street was funny during the day only south Fl radio Stations then by night KAAY from a very distant place that was an oasis,,god bless those times and god bless KAAY.
ReplyDeleteI was 2 weeks shy of 17 when this aired. I spent many nights in Wausau Wis. getting toasted with Clyde
ReplyDeleteI remember how difficult it was to receive KAAY in Havana in the early 70's.It was forbidden to listen to american broadcasting stations, but my elder brother and I found always a way in the night with earphones and a huge Russian built Cosmos radio to catch Beaker Street, underground music from Little Rock, Arkansas. I still remember the voice of Clyde Clifford and the psychodelic sound effects of the broadcast. Still bearing in mind after more than for decades. Thank you KAAY!
ReplyDeleteSo fortunate to have two underground FM stations in Milwaukee-late 60's early 70's, but few cars had Fm radios then- enter KAAY. Many late nights driving around listening to Clyde.Nothing like Beaker Street in the Wisconsin north woods camping,sittin' around the fire and diggin' the spacy sounds. Al;ways got a big kick when he played "India" by the Corporation, a popular Milwaukee band
ReplyDeleteMy God! I actually remember where I was on New Year's Eve, 1971! Of course I had Clyde Clifford on the AM after 11 PM in NE Wisconsin. As I go through my vinyl collection I have fond memories of KAAY and its influence, as in my Black Oak Arkansas, Jamie Buffet, Dr. John and many other artists that I would not have known of if it wasn't for Beaker Street. Thank You for the great blast from the past recording.
ReplyDeleteJust found this!! I remember listening on New Years Eve while me and my buddiy's we're riding around drinking Schlitz..what a night ..what memories down in a little place called Pine in louisiana
ReplyDeleteYea I know what you all mean beeker street was better than any other classic rock or rock radio station there was . A lot of my favorite bands I owe to beeker street . And a lot of those bands I saw in concert before they got known . And in my opinion the late 60s Ana all of the 70s had the best music with the everyone doing the boogie brought to us by mr John lee hooker . It was a fun era that I am happy and proud to had been a part of . All of you that remember beeker street know what I mean love you all. . Rock and roll ( ed
ReplyDelete