05/01/2026

This week the Friday Flashback song is one that became a number 1 hit in 1973 and it told a fictional story about a Southern Murder Ballad that never actually happened but was a relatable one about infidelity, corruption, injustice, wrong doing and had a dark twist with a familial bond.  Who could portray all of that into a 3 and half minute song?  Well that would be Bobby Russell who wrote the song for his then wife Vicki Lawrence to perform.  "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" came out in November of 1972 and by April of 1973 it peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, it reached #1 in Canada, #6 on the US Easy Listening chart, and #36 on the Hot Country Singles chart. It was a Southern Gothic Story we just couldn't get enough of through the 70's 80's and 90's...a great Classic Hit song we rarely hear on WVIN....great choice Dave!   "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence was certified gold, selling over one million copies worldwide, solidifying her career as a legendary television comedian, actress, and game show host.  Before the fame of this song... came her real claim to fame. In her senior year of high school, she entered the Miss Fireball of Inglewood California contest for the local firefighter's ball. A reporter for a local newspaper wrote a story about the contest and stated that Lawrence bore a striking resemblance to a young Carol Burnett. Lawrence wrote a letter to Carol, including the newspaper article with it. After receiving the letter, Burnett found Lawrence's father's name in the phone book, called him, and said she would go to see this "Miss Fireball contest". Lawrence ended up winning the contest and Burnett was called to the stage to crown her. Burnett was already looking for an actress to play her younger sister on her upcoming show and after a few months and auditions, Lawrence, aged 18 at the time, got the part.... and the rest is history.

Prepared by: Casandre Wilcox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-qK7oVXVRQ

04/24/2026​

Your Friday Flashback feature this week is a song that I chose which was originally written and recorded by Bob Dylan in August of 1964, so we are going way back!  By February of 65, Johnny Cash and June Carter released their own version of this song that soared to the #4 spot on Billboard's Hot Country Charts.  But neither of these artists are your Friday Flashback artists this week.... Do you know why? Well, because today is Tyrtle Beach Jump Day, that's why.  So I saw it fitting to bring you the July 1965 version of "It Ain't Me Babe"... by none other than the Turtles.  This was their debut single.   "It Ain't Me Babe" from the summer of 1965 reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box 100, as well as #7 on the Record World 100 Top Pops Chart... Now... Did you know that the members of this Los Angeles-based band were originally called the Crossfires and they had a whole different surf rock  sound.  They had graduated high school in 1965 and in the early summer that followed, a radio Disc jockey saw them performing their surf rock music at a Club in LA and contacted White Whale Records.  They were signed immediately. Now keep in mind that the band were huge fans of Bob Dylan, obviously using his song as their debut hit single, but also the Byrds and the Beatles.  So, they decided to change their sound to be more folk rock-influenced and needed a name to fit their sound....so they changed their name to The Tyrtles.  But not spelled with a U.... nope!  They originally spelled their name with a Y, just like we spell "Tyrtle" in Tyrtle Beach.  However, the spelling with a Y didn't last long, and they changed it to The Turtles with a U...

Prepared by: Casandre Wilcox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxQDsM3Wvh8

04/17/2026

A supremely talented musician who excelled as a songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist and often contributed to smash hit albums for Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles’...and is also Dave's choice for a Friday Flashback artist this week.  The song is one that's reminiscent of Roy Orbison and it blew up in 1979, hitting the Top 10 and bringing JD Souther’s music to the attention of people who might not have known his many impressive credits up until that point. Souther was a part of some of the biggest hits of the ‘70s... yet his solo success eluded him somehow... at least until “You’re Only Lonely” came along.  I was shocked when I learned who was singing the harmony vocals for this song! I thought it was members of the Beach Boys at first. See if you can guess who it is... 

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John David Souther, aka JD Souther was singing with three members of the Eagles, Frey, Felder and Henley, singing the harmonies on his biggest hit song, "You're Only Lonely".  It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and even reached #60 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles. Before his success really took off, Souther previously had a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle with the Eagles’ member Glenn Frey, after they met in LA in the late '60s.  He went on to write with the Eagles, co-wrote “Heartache Tonight” with Bob Seger, Frey and Don Henley and wrote songs with James Taylor as well as MANY more.  He was a  supremely talented musician and was inducted into the 2013 Songwriters Hall of Fame.  JD Souther is considered to be the principal architect of the Southern California sound.  He sadly passed away in September of 2024 but his music will live on.

Prepared by: Casandre Wilcox

www.youtube.com/watch?v=quglprlSQ8k&t=230s

04/10/2026

For this week's Friday Flashback selection, I chose a song my mama told me about, that proves how important, perceived, and influential music can be.  My mom told me she first heard this song when she was 9 or 10 years old, and it essentially served as the soundtrack for her young life.  She was in high school during the '70s and told me she was always picked on, called a square—or the lame one who never went to parties or did wild things. She feels this song contributed to her so-called squareness, but she's happy with the choices she made.  Good lessons were learned, even if it could be viewed as a fear of partying. So the song is "Mama Told Me," which Randy Newman originally wrote for Eric Burdon and the Animals in 1966. No one really knew that version until 3 Dog Night covered it in 1970. It was quite the party anthem in the 70's, I heard, contrary to my mother's beliefs because not everyone viewed this song as an anti-partying song.  Nonetheless, this song should bring back some memories for some people out in WVINLAND....so let's flashback on a Friday to 1970 with "Mama Told Me Not to Come" by 3 Dog Night.  

3 Dog Night, who derived their band name from a term used by Australian Aboriginals to describe a cold night requiring three dogs to stay warm...got the info out of a Magazine article. Even for a song with lyrics about NOT wanting to stay at a party "Mama Told Me Not to Come" is still a really fun and rockin' song.  I see how it could be a party Anthem. Shout out to my mom though and her squareness, for her suggestion for Friday Flashback! 3 Dog Night hit the number one spot with that song for two weeks in July 1970. In just 6 short years, from 69 to 75, they had 21 total Billboard top 40 hits, including two other number one hits. Another Classic band that made a huge impact on the music world and apparently some young lives as well. I'm not sure if there are any Tom Jones fans out there, but he also covered this song. It came out in 99, and was  another version of this really great song.  

Prepared by: Casandre Wilcox

YouTube Video Link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ1KBCSkH_Q