Boss Angeles

You missed the point. The writer talked about the nostalgic, non-creative quality of oldies radio, and indeed the stations are basically alike. And boring!

But as Ian Whitcomb demonstrates on KPCC-FM, oldies radio doesn’t have to be a rehash of the same old crap. Ian and his guests play alternate takes of old hits, live recordings from the ‘50s and ‘60s and rare cuts by oldies stars that didn’t make the Top 40.

Recently, for instance, listeners were treated to an entire 1963 Beatles recording session--in stereo!--that included several takes of “I Saw Her Standing There” that were more exciting than the released version, plus studio talk. Now that’s what oldies radio ought to be.

JEFF RILEY

Hollywood