Image source: http://www.piedmontbrothersband.com/media/audiogallery/radio/wumb.jpg
View the Google cached version here.
Notice the changes in the first lines, from "Highway 61 Revisited brings back the spirit of the Sixties when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves..." to "Highway 61 Revisited brings back the spirit of the Sixties and Seventies when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves..."
Opening up the show's mission statement allowed the possibility of playing folk-based pop.
Since WUMB went pop/AAA some two years ago, one of the few remaining programs worth listening to had been, now was, Barnes Newbury's "Highway 61 Revisited".
Barnes did not do his show yesterday morning and the substitute host, music director John Laurenti did not mention he was filling in, which is not only common broadcast radio practice, it is common courtesy. In fact, at the time of the broadcast the show's webpage carried Mr. Laurenti's, not Barnes' photograph. Something was afoot.
At the show's conclusion a prediction was posted to NEFolknRoots: "Highway 61 Revisited as we knew it since 2000 is gone. I hope I am proven wrong."
Capture of "Highway 61 Revisited" 'program description as it appeared Saturday morning:
Notice the "This week: John Laurenti", unusual practice for a substitute host.
ANNOUNCERSHighway 61 Revisited brings back the spirit of the Sixties when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves.
The show, which debuted in the summer of 2000, includes classic folk music and a smattering of classic rock from that era, including "hits" and less-familiar tracks from groups such as the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield.
The singer/songwriter genre is defined by such diverse artists from Jackson Browne to Gordon Lightfoot. Less-remembered lights such as P.F. Sloan and Tim Buckley are also tapped for the influence they left behind. We also includes folk and folk-rock from outside the US with gems from Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, to name but two.
Finally, the program also showcases covers of the music from that era by contemporary and local artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, and Patty Larkin. And, of course, there is always plenty of music from the master himself, Bob Dylan!
Saturday's show consisted mostly of horrible pop covers of horrible 70's/80's pop songs. What these songs had to do with "...the spirit of the Sixties when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves" resides only in the mind of a music director trained in AAA/pop radio.
| 1:58 AM | Bee Gees | |
| Marley Purt Drive (from Bee Gees) | ||
| 11:43 AM | Alanis Morrissette | |
| Let's Do It(Let;s Fall In Love) (from The Collection) | ||
| 11:35 AM | Rachel Sage | |
| Fame (from Delancey St) | ||
| 11:19 AM | Tori Amos | |
| I'm On Fire (from VH1 Crossroads) | ||
| 10:55 AM | Warren Zevon | |
| Exciteable Boy (from Live) | ||
| 10:47 AM | The Infamous String Dusters | |
| In God's Country (from Things That Fly) | ||
| 10:45 AM | Aslan | |
| New years Day (from Even Better Than The Real Things) | ||
| 10:26 AM | Brandi Carlile | |
| All You Need Is Love (from XOBC-EP) | ||
| 10:26 AM | The Hollies | |
| 4th Of July, Asbury Park(Sandy) (from Epic Anthology) | ||
| 10:11 AM | Bruce Springsteen | |
| Rosalita (from Live) | ||
| 10:04 AM | Bruce Springsteen | |
| Turn, Turn, Turn (from Magic Tour Highlights) | ||
| 9:31 AM | Carole King | |
| Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Some Kind Of W (from Carnegie Hall Concert) | ||
| 9:03 AM | Heart | |
| Ring Them Bells (from Essential Heart) | ||
| 8:48 AM | Tift Merritt | |
| Danny's Song (from See You On The Moon) | ||
| 8:42 AM | Dire Straits | |
| I Think I Love You Too Much (from Knebworth Concert) | ||
| 8:37 AM | Backyard Tire Fire | |
| Brady (from Good To Be) | ||
| 8:34 AM | David Bowie | |
| Port Of Amsterdam (from Pin-ups) | ||
| 8:24 AM | Chrissie Hynde | |
| My Father (from Born To The Breed) | ||
| 8:17 AM | Blue Rodeo | |
| To Love Somebody (from Gr. Hits) |
NEFolknRoots was updated later yesterday evening and this morning with additional program information. It turned out, as suspected, that Barnes' show had indeed reached the end of the highway.
Well, look at what is on the WUMB home page .....
4.24.10 | Changes with Highway 61 Revisited
After more than nine years as host of Highway 61 Revisited, we're sorry to announce that Barnes Newberry has decided to leave. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. We're currently exploring options about what to do now on Saturday mornings from 8:00am-Noon, and we'd love to hear from our listeners. If you have any thoughts about the future of our Saturday morning programming, please write to us at wumb@umb.edu.
I have my suspicions why Highway 61 Revisited has ended but do not wish to speculate in public. But I will say happy trails, Barnes, your program will be missed and look forward to hearing you on another station.
&
How quickly do they go into the memory hole.
During yesterday's broadcast and before his "resignation" was announced on the main page, Barnes' image was removed from the "Highway 61 Revisited" program description.
Today, in the "announcers" list, his name remains with the others'
Bob Cannon
Gail Gilmore
Meg Griffin
John Laurenti
Jay Moberg
Barnes Newberry
Albert O
Joan Orr
Dave Palmater
Marcia Palmater
Dick Pleasants
Sandy Sheehan
Dana Westover
....but the hyperlink leads to this image/page
Highway 61 Revisited brings back the spirit of the Sixties when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves.
The show, which debuted in the summer of 2000, includes classic folk music and a smattering of classic rock from that era, including "hits" and less-familiar tracks from groups such as the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield.
The singer/songwriter genre is defined by such diverse artists from Jackson Browne to Gordon Lightfoot. Less-remembered lights such as P.F. Sloan and Tim Buckley are also tapped for the influence they left behind. We also includes folk and folk-rock from outside the US with gems from Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, to name but two.
Finally, the program also showcases covers of the music from that era by contemporary and local artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, and Patty Larkin. And, of course, there is always plenty of music from the master himself, Bob Dylan!
...and some few hours later "Barnes Newbury" was replaced with "Highway 61 Revisited"
Gail Gilmore
Meg Griffin
John Laurenti
Jay Moberg
Highway 61 Revisited
Albert O
Joan Orr
Dave Palmater
Marcia Palmater
Dick Pleasants
Sandy Sheehan
Dana Westover
We have seen this immediate "scrubbing" before, to wit when Brian Quinn was "laid off " last November.
Fare thee well, Barnes, you produced and hosted a quality program that did not fit WUMB's AAA/pop format. I am sure we'll hear you again very soon on a station that appreciates your talents.
Related posts
From WUMB:
WUMB Radio - Press
"Our station has tried so hard to keep this going," said Barnes Newberry, whose WUMB show, "Highway 61 Revisited" features Bob Dylan and the Byrds. ...
www.wumb.org/about/press.php - Cached - Similar
www.wumb.org/about/press.php - Cached - Similar
From this blog:
Nov 12, 2009
This past Tuesday, Brian Quinn, WUMB program director for 20 years, posted to NortheastFolknRoots he had been "laid off". I have extracted several press releases going back over the years relevant to Brian's work at WUMB, mostly before ...
Nov 07, 2009
Received 10/11 from Brian Quinn: "Brian Quinn WUMB's Program Director for 20 plus years has been laid off" Read Brian's post at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/message/8608. What the hell is going on with Boston folk ...
Jan 02, 2009
WUMB certainly was not the only radio station in the area playing folk music, what set it apart was that it played more hours per week than any other station, and veterans Marilyn Rae Beyer, Brian Quinn, Dave Palmeter, Dick Pleasants ...
Oct 28, 2008
Quinn Administration, 03, 0054A 100 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125-3393 p. 617-287-6800. 5. And since WUMB is operating outside the community interest, file a complaint with the FCC! FCC.gov > CGB > Filing a Complaint > Form 2000 ...
http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/
===================
Updated 4/26.
If WUMB management is sincere in its feelings related to the departure of Barnes Newbury and call for listener input how to program Saturday mornings, why was the announcement...
removed?
===============
Updated 5/7/10
WUMB's website has been edited, here is new Highway 61 Revisited program description - short version
....and the new Highway 61 Revisited program description - long version.
Here is the Barnes Newbury-era program description:
===================
Updated 4/26.
If WUMB management is sincere in its feelings related to the departure of Barnes Newbury and call for listener input how to program Saturday mornings, why was the announcement...
4.24.10 | Changes with Highway 61 Revisited
After more than nine years as host of Highway 61 Revisited, we're sorry to announce that Barnes Newberry has decided to leave. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. We're currently exploring options about what to do now on Saturday mornings from 8:00am-Noon, and we'd love to hear from our listeners. If you have any thoughts about the future of our Saturday morning programming, please write to us at wumb@umb.edu.
removed?
===============
Updated 5/7/10
WUMB's website has been edited, here is new Highway 61 Revisited program description - short version
Highway 61 Revisited
Hosted by Albert O this week
Saturday 8:00 am
Highway 61 Revisited is a fond look back at the classic folk and folk rock of the 60's and 70's that defined a generation, with contemporary artists contributing to the spirit of that era.
Program Web Site
....and the new Highway 61 Revisited program description - long version.
ANNOUNCERSHighway 61 Revisited brings back the spirit of the Sixties and Seventies when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves.
The show includes classic folk music and a smattering of classic rock from that era, including "hits" and less-familiar tracks from groups such as the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield.
The singer/songwriter genre is defined by such diverse artists from Jackson Browne to Gordon Lightfoot. Less-remembered lights such as P.F. Sloan and Tim Buckley are also tapped for the influence they left behind. We also includes folk and folk-rock from outside the US with gems from Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, to name but two.
Finally, the program also showcases covers of the music from that era by contemporary and local artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, and Patty Larkin. And, of course, there is always plenty of music from the master himself, Bob Dylan!
Here is the Barnes Newbury-era program description:
10 comments:
Spoke to Pat Monteith on April 26. She defensively insisted that Barnes had not been fired (which I believe-he was doing a lot of uncharacteristic sniping on his last few shows), but seemed more distressed by the loss of his personal music collection than his vast store of personal knowledge.
I also challenged her about Brian Quinn. Pat built this station (granted, with Brian and others) so it's hard to cast her as the devil, but it sure is hard to understand why she would dismantle her own legacy. She seems to think that this is really what the listeners want.
Having Albert O take over Highway 61 was probably the best possible option, but there is little hope for UMB as long as Laurenti is running the programming.
Huge loss for the station and the listeners. Agreed that Barnes' personal collection was a key draw for this program and the gems he knew about and had access to were unparalleled. His personality was also so welcoming, and his appreciation for the music he programmed so obvious, that any successor will seem flat in comparison. But it's hard to believe that this was strictly a "you don't fit with our format" issue since the weekend programming is varied anyway. One thinks something else was afoot. And hopes that there is a place in the communications universe where he will find a home that enables him to keep on keepin' on.
Barnes lost his music collection?? Fire? Flood? Theft?
Doug,
On 4/24 the WUMB website carried these words " 4.24.10 | Changes with Highway 61 Revisited
After more than nine years as host of Highway 61 Revisited, we're sorry to announce that Barnes Newberry has decided to leave. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. We're currently exploring options about what to do now on Saturday mornings from 8:00am-Noon, and we'd love to hear from our listeners. If you have any thoughts about the future of our Saturday morning programming, please write to us at wumb@umb.edu." (Scroll up to see the rich text image). They were taken down in a day or so.
We suspect otherwise, but as this is a personnel matter nobody is talking publicly.
I wrote to Barnes and he replied minutes ago. His music collection has gone nowhere. It's intact and he has it. His reason for leaving WUMB was due to differences with management.
Doug,
You misread my comment (under "Spoo" name). Barnes's music collection was lost TO WUMB. Pat seemed more perturbed by the fact that his replacement would not have his collection than by losing him. Yes, it was obvious that his departure was due to differences with (mis)management. John Laurenti is a fool.
Barry - Yes, I did misinterpret. Sorry and thanks.
My best friend lost his entire LP collection, and many of his CD's, in the March floods around greater Boston, and I guess I'm rather fixated on that.
Another hour of 60's folk/folk-rock lost at WUMB.
Ran into a former WUMB program host (not Barnes) last night, I shared with him this "news"
http://www.wumb.org/programs/thisweek.php
Saturday August 28, 2010
Highway 61 Revisited 8:00 am
an hour long retrospective featuring Steve Winwood at 11:00 a.m.
I saw it as a further moving away from the last vestiges of 60's folk and folk rock programming. Being insightful, H/She had two observations:
1. S/He thought "management" wanting to do a Beatles special during a part of Barnes' time slot and his pushing back may have been one of the contributing factors that lead to his being run out of dodge on a rail.
2. Albert O is in a weaker position than Barnes and cannot afford to "push back".
Received from Barnes 5/12/11:
Barnes Newberry back on-air!
RADIO NEWS! Thrilled to announce I will be on-air again very soon with my new show My Back Pages on mvyradio (mvyradio.com). Great station, fine music choices and terrific staff! Show will be Saturdays, 8 am -12 noon, available online only. All shows will be archived. Start date to be announced shortly. Please spread the word. If you were a fan of my old Highway 61 Revisited program, this will be right down your alley!
From Barnes Newberry 5/20"
“Okay folks, looks like it is ON tomorrow at 8 am for the debut of My Back Pages with Barnes Newberry. Please join us online at mvyradio.com to pre-celebrate the 70th birthday of His Bobness! Thanks for all your early good wishes (to us both!) and of course, a big thanks to MVY.”
WAY TO GO, BARNES!
Post a Comment