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A Hippie van with an FM stereo radio...

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Never heard of "It’s A Beautiful Day" and the song "White Bird"? Well, here's why...

It was timing. It was because "It's A Beautiful Day" came out right when so many "underground" bands were making songs that lasted longer than 10 minutes. The FCC had regulations on AM radio that required all stations to give their call sign and frequency every 10 minutes whereas amateur radio operators were only required to give their call signs hourly.

So the popular AM stations started opening FM "sister stations" and those 'underground-type' songs started moving to FM where the FCC didn't have the same restrictions in place. That meant that the new longer songs could be played in their entirety without interruptions. And they could be broadcasted and received in stereo. The AM stations still operated but mostly for pop music and popular talk shows.

Now, back then most car radios built before '67 and most transistor radios only had access to the AM band and some of the cars had 4-track tape players (mono), but the home stereos and some transistor and expensive car radios could receive FM and play 8-track tapes in stereo.

So when "It's A Beautiful Day" came out in '69 on FM, if you didn't have a newer car, you probably didn't have a stereo radio yet and therefore, you simply missed them. However, within a very few years FM became the home for rock and pop music while AM became filled with talk shows. And the new cars came equipped with AM-FM radios and cassette players.

Plus, at that time there was just so much competition and so many great stations from which to choose. This created what turned out to be a great (but short-lived) time in the history of American radio. They played pop and rock music on the majority of both AM and FM stations at the same time. As if that wasn't enough, there were also the legendary talents of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jimmy Morrison, and the underground music of Iron Butterfly, Rare Earth, Steppenwolf, The Chambers Brothers, Donovan and many more.

And what do these hit groups have in common? Groups and singers including The Rolling Stones (Honky Tonk Woman), The Beatles (Something/Come Together/Get Back), Sly and The Family Stone (Hot Fun In the Summertime/Everyday People), Tommy James and The Shondells (Crimson and Clover/Crystal Blue Persuasion), Three Dog Night (One/Easy to be Hard), The Cowsills, Elvis, Credence, The Youngbloods, Marvin Gaye, Neil Diamond, Blood Sweet and Tears, Friends of Distinction, The Isley Brothers, The Guess Who, Jackie DeShannon, The Grass Roots, Spiral Staircase, Bob Dylan, Edwin Starr, The Turtles, Gary Puckett, Paul Revere, The Box Tops, and so many others. Even Bobby Sherman and The Archies all had #1 Hits in 1969!

So when I said it was just a case of poor timing for a new group like “It’s a Beautiful Day” to debut, you can see why. And they weren’t the only band to get passed by, and for the same reasons. Blodwyn Pig (Mick Abrahams formally of Jethro Tull), Blue Cheer and others were, too.

I hope you enjoyed this. And that is one "Boss" looking van, huh?
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  1. Dilubreuer0:10
  2. ekopug10:11
  3. Robbos0:12
  4. MNBrown0:13
  5. Hismorts0:13
  6. Ianto0:14
  7. miritzi0:15
  8. kos510:16
  9. baderinwa0:16
  10. Jyj0:16

Comments

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Hismorts

Joe, I did, too. Hard to say where they'd a been if this song had come out 2 years earlier, the same time as "White Rabbit" did. And Jimmy Morrison's "Light My Fire", Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth", The Stones, The Young Rascals, The Hollies, The Beatles, The Turtles... Such a great time for music.

Good to see you and I hope you enjoyed this.

wjl1015

I love that song and still have the LP!

Hismorts

Aww... heck!

bevpuzzler8

@Hismorts
You are such a nice guy. Thank you. 5-22-2022

Hismorts

@bevpuzzler8

Here's an old puzzle I posted back in 2017 of a "hippie van" just for you, bev!

Hismorts

Lunie, it's definitely a VW but I don't know which model. I'll accept Combi if you say it is!! These paint jobs were very common in SoCal from 1967 through the early 70's.

Dilubreuer

Volkswagen Combi?

gardening205

Awesome van.....very groove looking...love it....tfsxxhugsxx Erika

LibR1

I would paint mine like this also with no regard to the Viet Nam era - as I have said, my uncle was stationed there three times. I have met guys in the past who came back all messed up, not just because of being there but because of what they came back to.

The music and other "stuff" of the era was awesome though, and I was a youngin' when it was going on, well most of it! I was growing up through the last of it . . . FLOWER POWER!

pasta

Hugs to you and your friend, dear Brightie.☺♥☺

jals

Take care of yourself, Brighty! What a dear you are to help your friend!!

xoxo

spaklies

Hugs to everyone - sorry have not been on much - been he;ping a friend through a crisis xx hugs and hope you all have a lovely weekend xx god bless ♥♥♥

Hismorts

OandA, A great flower power song! It reminds of the Jim Carrey scene in Dumb and Dumber... What a dumb movie... but I watched it a dozen times.

sparklightie, Thank you and thank you! You are still my favorite flower in all the garden!! ~

Libby! Hi there. I would paint my VW micro bus too. A lot like this one because I think it looks "fab"!

Pasta, You are right on about the church key! You are so smart!

Maggs, That is a song I haven't heard in almost 60 years! What a blast from the past. I think I was 3 or 4 but I still remember hearing it. But I didn't remember the words! Thanks for the smile!

jals

Donna,
Loved that song. I knew she could make me happy! :-)
And the Cowsils. Talk about memory lane.

wjl1015

You have a good weekend as well my friend!!

sparklightie

Oh my goodness i love the puzzle

sparklightie

Like your avatar dear bob

sparklightie

Ha ha xx thx for the giggles xxx never heard of it either. Wishing you all a fantastic weekend

mackabroin

this is kind of off/topic......but I like your av john.......it is very "boyish"...cute

wjl1015

At least I got a laugh out of you!! :))
My work here is done!
Off to bed with me Good Night all!!

wjl1015

Wasn't that song written about an acid trip? lol

LibR1

There is actually a group of people here who all own the old VW Vans like this (without the paint). Seeing this, if I had one, it would have to be painted!

pasta

It is used to open a flat top beer can. They look simailar to large old fashion keys monks used to look the church and there beer. Bobbie's digest version.

MaggieMay_MMM

Oh, Bobbie ~ now don't ask me why certain words make me think of silly things; but, do you remember that song that goes something like: "I went to the animal fair; the beasts and birds were there. The old racoon by the light of the moon was combing his auburn hair. The monkey he got drunk, fell into the elephant's trunk...The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees -- and what became of the monk, the monk, the monkey!" Now I just wrote that from memory, so it might not be exact. My kids would laugh every time I sang it to them. They loved the ending. "Sing it AGAIN, mom!!"

Good times... (You shouldn't have said "monks" lol)...

MaggieMay_MMM

Now I HAVE to know, Bobbie. I suppose I could do an online search, but I don't wanna!!!

pasta

Has something to do with monks and beer, and the key to the church, hahaa, I think I'm close☺☺☺

jals

John,
You're invisible. You did it!!
This calls for cake!

MaggieMay_MMM

Bob (cute little one there, aww) - Anyway, we also used what you're referring to as a "church key", but our local community store had one of those contraptions where you're supposed to put the money in, then slide the soda bottle over and up and out it would come--SO...we would just use the bottle opener to pop off the tops (no twist-offs in those days), stick a straw in, and ... well, you know the rest. Bad Maggie, bad, lol!!

P.S. Why is it called a "church key" in the first place? (Just being Maggie, lol)

MaggieMay_MMM

John ~ Guess you had a bit too much of the bud back in those days! Explains a lot...

jals

yep, different strokes Mags!

Hismorts

ehes4160, You are welcome and I'm glad you made it! And that you do remember the song. A lot don't. Well, thanks for the comment and sharing that! ~ Bob

Hismorts

It was a really confusing time, too. With the draft and the war and Johnson sending more and more kids overseas, Bobby and MLK and Kent State, there was some bad news back then, too. Time Magazine once called Haight Ashbury, located in central San Francisco "... the birthplace of America's counter-culture, the Haight was Ground Zero during the summer of 1967, a.k.a. The Summer of Love, baby." That was the "Peace" movement. And the time of Scott Mc Kenzie's 1967 song lyrics "If your going to San Francisco be sure to wear a flower in your hair..."

Lyn, I'm glad to bring back those memories for you, too! It' must have really been something to be there then. ~

wjl1015

What a great time to be in that area!!

TX94

Neat story, Bob. But...this pic sooo reminds me of a time of transition -when the 'flower children' started moving into San Francisco in the early 60's. The year I coincidently decided to move back home to Monterey! ; )))

Hismorts

John I had a '70 Honda and I tied into the left and right speaker wires and ran new wires to the underside of the dash, installed a headphone female plug onto the dash and wired it up so I could plug my headphones right into the dashboard. But it was illegal to drive while wearing headphones (I think it still is) and they were big and hard to hide from the police. Cool to have when going through the desert and since gas was only a quarter a gallon, I did that a lot.

And Dave... you just dated yourself, my friend. My mom had an old Chrysler with that big gaudy box under the dash that played 45's. But back then I also opened soda with a church key, went steady by giving a St. Christopher on a chain and went on a date to the malt shoppe.

rswestley

I can do ya one better, Joe. I found the speaker wires for my car, spliced a switch into them and then installed a headphone jack so I could switch off the speakers and vibrate my brain with the headphones. It was so nice to drown out annoying noises like pedestrians screaming, police car sirens and girlfriends pleading for me to slow down. Ah.... those were the days...

djp

How about a 45 RPM car player ??? Then the newer ones could stack about 6 - 10 and play each in turn. Even a car record player for 78s. Way before 8 tracks . . . .

pasta

My sisters first car had an 8 track, drove around listening to Grease. :-)) heehehee

Hismorts

Boy Maggs, talk about coincidence! I'm glad you all found this interesting. I was afraid it was getting a little wordy. Joe, I had a cassette with wires coming out of it that would plug into a FM radio and play though my car speakers.

Jason, These paint jobs became pretty popular in the late 60's when everybody was protesting the Vietnam War. People were burning their draft cards, women were burning their bras, they were marching everywhere, having sit-ins to obstruct whatever they wanted to obstruct, people were even chaining themselves to things. Most preached 'Peace" and others shouted "Burn, Baby Burn". The late 60's was a pretty rowdy time.

Bobbie, Howdy! Glad you liked it!!

MaggieMay_MMM

Joe ~ my first bf had an 8 track in his car! Wow, we've come a long way (I suppose)...

pasta

Great info and puzzle, loved it. Thanks for the tag☺☺☺

wjl1015

I had an FM cartridge that I could use in my 8 track player!! :))

MaggieMay_MMM

Well, Judy, clearly it's not for everyone. Thank goodness for "different strokes" right?

jals

You're right, Maggie
This was a great write up. I can see you being a hippie too. Not me. Not the least little bit hippy. lol

irisriver

Lots of good vibes here! Grins!☺

MaggieMay_MMM

Hi Small R! Great write-up. At least now I know why I'd never heard of White Bird. This is a beautiful song...too bad all those other awesome performers came on the scene (ya, right!)... The only one I don't know is Edwin Starr (?)!

Remember how we were in sync the other day with McGraw? Well, yesterday when I was searching out pics to publish, I came across, yup, a hippie van much like this one, sitting there on some lawn. I almost copied it but, for some reason, I decided not to (which is weird because I love these vans)!

Got a ride in one once back in the day when we girls were not supposed to be hitchhiking to the beach because no one was going to take us. We walked as far as we could, but it was hot ~~ and WE were HOT, so up pulls this hippie van. "Hey girls!" Now how dangerous could a couple of guys in a van like this be?! Good times! Thanks for the great memories. I still get the urge to live in a commune...Truth!

jasonchung

Thank you Bob.

Whoever owns this van must have a lot of second looks. Peace.

Hismorts

Hi Jeanette! Oh, to be young again! I don't know why I'm so attracted to that time, the 60's especially, but I believe it might be what Neil Simon said in his well-written book "Biloxi Blues"-- "Because we were young".

jals

lol Dave!

djp

Dave has left the stage . . . .

jals

lol Bob!
That would have really confused him.

It's just so funny to see the R, think Robin, and then see Hismorts right beside it.
I'll eventually get used to it and then you can change it. ;-)
Right. Now back to watching Hoarders.

Hismorts

You make me smile, Judy. Bummer about having to go back and get your cup. But here's a thought... If the dentist asks what you're doing back there, just tell him you're getting a second opinion and then ask him for some pain killers. Then grab your cup and run for the door. He won't know what to think!

And I guess I'm really making news here about using Robin's 'R' too. Not trying to confuse you but I am trying to help Robin get the avatar she likes. Hopefully, she gets back here in a bit so I can go back to my old self. After all, I like being Dave, uh...Bob... whoever. (smiles)

jals

I am laughing my head off at all of this.
First of all, I have to admit I had never heard White Bird. Knew nothing about it. Listening to it now and it is really the hippy sound. Perfect.

Why is Dave/Bob using Robin's R and confusing the heck out of me? LOL

and I can so sympathize with John, for calling Bob Dave, and laughing at Bob calling himself Dave.

Thanks for the laughs. I just had to go chase down my travel mug that I left at my dentist appointment the other day. So you can see how my brain works. And if I'm talking to someone and have to dig for a word, whatever I'm looking at comes out of my mouth. Hubby is used to it but I get strange looks from other people.

nette10

Cool post Bob, thanks for the tag... ah youth, the sixties... so fleeting!

mackabroin

great van bob........I travelled the states in a vw van..it was only plain blue......but I had a great time for about a year or so.....but I didn't hear this song......LOL....sorry bob

Hismorts

Yes Bev! That's the one! If you didn't see the post about "White bird" here it is just for you...

http://www.jigidi.com/jigsaw-puzzle/93YC4LSP/A-white-bird-in-a-almost-golden-cage

Hismorts

aberardi24, yes they did play "blocks". Uninterrupted sets of music for a predetermined number of songs or minutes, especially at night on the FM band. But also during the lunch hour and at other times. They really were the days!

Hey John! What's shakin'? You don't have to tell me about being old, I understand... really. And I was going to tell you... uh... hmmm? Oops! Well, I guess I wasn't. (smiles) ~ Dave. I mean Bob!

rswestley

Sorry Bob! I had just finished writing a comment to Dave and since my mind tends to lag several minutes behind... well, you know how it is dealing with old people :-) I didn't realize you had posted the puzzle the other day... another fascinating story! Thanks again!!

(just playin' leaf frog with my buddy Bob :-)

Hismorts

LOL John! "... Dave?... Dave's not here!.... No, man. I'm Dave... ... Knock Knock Knock... Who is it?... It's Dave... Dave?... Yeah man, Dave!... Dave?... Right man!... Dave's not here!..."

You'd be amazed at how many people have never heard this song. Even here in Cali. They love it when they hear it but just never knew it was even out there. Well, anyway, Glad you liked it, Rocky. ~

And this one I posted the other day and I'm sure you will enjoy it! Absolutely!

http://www.jigidi.com/jigsaw-puzzle/93YC4LSP/A-white-bird-in-a-almost-golden-cage

aberardi24

Thanks for the tag, Hismorts. I remember "White Bird", and all the groups you mentioned. Those were the days - when radio stations played all genre of music on the same station. We had a few here in the Western New York region that played rock, pop, jazz, classical, soul, blues, etc. - they just played in "blocks".

bevpuzzler8

White bird
In a golden cage
On a winter's day
In the rain
White bird
In a golden cage
Alone
White bird must fly
Or she will die
White bird must fly
Or she will die
White bird must fly
Or she will die


Last few lines of White Bird.
Yes, Bob I did enjoy the story and thank you. Bev.

rswestley

Really?? There were people that never heard of "White Bird"?? For me, that was a song that exemplified the "hippie" movement! When I made my song list of hippie music, that was the opening song... I loved it! Very interesting comments Bob, but I will need to reread as there is so much interesting information I couldn't digest it all in one pass. THANKS for posting this!! But I didn't see the link to "White Bird" so here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cin0QzuEss

Thanks again Dave - Great info!!

Hismorts

@wjl1015 @PuzzleG @jyl @jasonchung @cojac500 @aberardi24 @morris186 @PutterDutt @MaggieMay_MMM @liz_F @spaklies @pasta @Isaly @mackabroin @CJ45 @irisriver @djp @Jumble @rswestley @bevpuzzler8 @minipooh4u @RiverCity7 @kbolsta @LibR1 @jeribar8 @Hismorts @CECE1974 @tere_a1 @jals @DixieGal @oldandancient
@tea @twistinNturnin @ehes4160 @nette10 @teamac @klocowolf @TX94 @brightspark @gardening205 @InConcert35 @manicpuzzler

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