Norm Nathan's Vault of Silliness - Ep 42

For Episode 42, Norm Nathan’s Vault of Silliness brings you a mish-mash of cuts. Many featuring Jack Harte’s traffic reports. They are entertaining, but it’s his commercial reads that provide the highlights.

The date on the tape is June 17^th, 1995. But there are definitely different dates sprinkled throughout.

As I said waaaaaay back in Episode 1 and what is listed here in the show’s description, “They will air as recorded, with the warmth an old, analog tape recording provides. Some with good ol’fashioned home editing of the play/pause button.” And that’s exactly what we have here!

There is some pre DBG banter (but no game) where Norm talks about the DBG and WBZ Halls of Fame. And don’t forget to visit the gift shop!

We hear a rebroadcast of the ‘Toilet Dedication”

A Johnny Cash Folgers Commercial!

And then there’s an interview with lounge singer Bud E. Love.

Bud E. Love had a very funny book out back then titled:

“You Ought to be Me: How to be a Lounge Singer and Live like One.”

At the time there were all these rules about playing music. The station no longer had a contract with ASCAP/BMI or some-such and we couldn’t play more than 30 seconds without being charged. Parodies and background music were probably exempt but management was afraid to even tread close to that groove.

Though there’s some choppy editing we do hear a few tunes and some great back and forth between Norm and the band.

We close with a something a little different.

Included on this tape were some recordings of a station in Worcester MA: WSRS. Matt Phipps, who also did traffic reports for WBZ among many other accomplishments in his career, was a part of their morning show. It was Christmas time and they had been talking about their favorite songs. Matt mentions the Drifters’ doo-wop version of White Christmas. The request is made for a doo-wop traffic report.

That request is granted, and you will find it here!