I grew up on radio. I can remember having a spirited discussion with a classmate in the third grade about which New York AM DJ’s played the best music.

I discovered FM radio in 1968. At this time there was an FCC rule that stations couldn’t have the same programming on FM as they had on AM radio. So, since AM radios were ubiquitous – every car had one – they kept their top 40 pop music on the AM band. Until about 1966 FM was home mostly to classical music and middle of the road muzak like you would hear in doctors office waiting rooms.

One early pioneer of free form underground programming in New York was WBAI, Pacifica radio. Bob Dylan would occasionally drop by to converse with Bob Fass and even take phone calls. This was the station to listen to if you were active in counterculture politics and wanted to know where the next protest was going to be. However, WBAI was listener supported, so they could get away with this.

In 1966, WOR FM decided to try an experiment. AM DJ’s Murray the K (Kaufman), Scott Muni, Rosko, and Johnny Michaels would play songs that they thought had potential, rather than the top sellers. They were the first to play Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade of Pale, for example. Murray the K’s show was particularly successful (for FM) and was influential in introducing many rock artists who would not have been played on AM.

But soon, consultants were hired and they tried to censor what was played. First, Murray the K quit and then Rosko (who quit on the air, explaining his reasons for doing so) , and Scott Muni, and Johnny Michaels.

Both Rosko and Muni went to WNEW, where they decided to launch their own experiment. This is where I first heard the type of rock, folk, blues, and soul music that was not being played on mainstream radio.

While AM stations preferred two and a half minute songs ( so they could fit more commercials in) FM rock stations in 1968 would play In A Gadda Da Vida for 17 minutes. I always imagined that the DJ’s would go to the bathroom or out for pizza while this was playing.

Others soon followed WNEW. I also remember listening to Brother John on WABC FM (later known as WPLJ) as well as jazz station WRRV. WPLJ, like WNEW would carry live broadcasts of concerts, as well as live performances from recording studios. WPLJ was the source for Elton John’s live album 11-17-70. They also hosted the Allman Brothers live from A&R studios, while WNEW broadcast the closing of the Fillmore East and Bruce Springsteen at the Bottom Line.

WNEW FM had a good run. I remember when Abbey Road was released they played the entire album, only pausing between sides. Scott Muni would have many artists, such as John Lennon and the Grateful Dead, come on his show to hang out and DJ. Rosko would read politically charged poetry between songs. Jonathan Schwartz had impeccable taste in music – his father was a composer of Broadway and Film scores. And, of course, there was Allison Steele, for whom Jimi Hendrix wrote one of his last songs, Nightbird Flying.

This era of unscripted programming without playlists couldn’t last in a capitalist system. It is now relegated to college stations.

Below is my playlist for underground radio circa 1968 – 69. Of course I will randomize the order. These are songs that I remember hearing at the time and that I have copies of. You may, in hindsight see some omissions, for example, Led Zeppelin’s first album. Actually, this didn’t receive much airplay. Their reputation spread by live performance until the second album. Frank Zappa, likewise, wasn’t played on the radio, ironically, until one of his most salacious albums, Live From The Fillmore East was released. I also don’t have some albums from the era. Please, comment and let me know if you have any favorites that were left out.

1. Albert King – Blues Power
2. Aretha Franklin – Chain of Fools
3. Arlo Guthrie – Coming Into Los Angeles
4. The Beatles – Dear Prudence
5. The Beatles – When My Guitar Gently Weeps
6. The Beatles – Blackbird
7. The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
8. Blind Faith – Presence of the Lord
9. Blodwyn Pig – Dear Jill
10. Blodwyn Pig – Walk on the Water
11. Bob Dylan – Visions of Johanna
12. Bob Dylan – Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
13. Bob Dylan – Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
14. Buffalo Springfield – Mr. Soul
15. Buffalo Springfield – Rock and Roll Woman
16. Canned Heat – On the Road Again
17. Canned Heat – Going Up The Country
18. Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys – Track in A
19. Chuck Berry – Promised Land
20. Circus Maximus – Wind
21. Colosseum – Those About to Die
22. Cream – Spoonful
23. Cream – I’m So Glad
24. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Born on the Bayou
25. Crosby, Stills & Nash – Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
26. Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
27. Donovan – Season of the Witch
28. Donovan – Barabajagal
29. Dr. John – Mama Roux
30. Eric Anderson – Thirsty Boots
31. Fairport Convention – Who Knows Where the Time Goes
32. Fleetwood Mac – Oh Well
33. Freddie King – Going Down
34. Freddie King – Palace of the King
35. Grateful Dead – St. Stephen
36. Grateful Dead – China Cat Sunflower
37. Incredible String Band – First Girl I Loved
38. Jack Bruce – Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune
39. Jack Bruce – Theme for an Imaginary Western
40. Big Brother and the Holding Company – I Need A Man to Love
41. Big Brother and the Holding Company – Ball and Chain
42. Ike and Tina Turner – River Deep, Mountain High
43. J. J. Jackson – Tenement Halls
44. Janis Joplin – To Love Somebody
45. Jeff Beck Group – Rice Pudding
46. Jefferson Airplane – Won’t You Try/Saturday Afternoon
47. Jefferson Airplane – Good Shepherd
48. Jefferson Airplane – Hey Frederick
49. Jethro Tull – A New Day Yesterday
50. Jethro Tull – Serenade to a Cuckoo
51. Jimi Hendrix Experience – Bold As Love
52. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
53. Jimi Hendrix Experience – The Wind Cries Mary
54. Jimi Hendrix Experience – Red House
55. Jimmy Reed – Big Boss Man
56. Joe Cocker – Feelin’ Alright
57. Joe Cocker – With a Little Help From My Friends
58. John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band – Cold Turkey
59. John Mayall – The Laws Must Change
60. John Phillips – Mississippi
61. Johnny Winter – Highway 61 Revisited
62. Joni Mitchell – Chelsea Morning
63. King crimson – In The Court of the Crimson King
64. Laura Nyro – Eli’s Coming
65. Led Zeppelin – What Is And What Should Never Be
66. Led Zeppelin – Ramble On
67. Lee Michaels – Heighty Hi
68. Leonard Cohen – Suzanne
69. Leonard Cohen – Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye
70. Love – Alone Again Or
71. Love – You Set the Scene
72. Leslie West – Blood of the Sun
73. Leslie West – Dreams of Milk and Honey
74. Neil Young – Down by the River
75. Nina Simone – I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free
76. Otis Redding – Hard to Handle
77. Otis Redding – I Can’t Turn You Loose
78. Phil Ochs – Pleasures of the Harbor
79. Pink Floyd – The Nile Song
80. Procol Harum – A Salty Dog
81. Procol Harum – Juicy John Pink
82. Rhinoceros – That Time of the Year
83. Rhinoceros – Top of the Ladder
84. Richie Havens – No Opportunity Necessary, No experience Needed
85. Richie Havens – Just Like A Woman
86. Rod Stewart – Street Fighting Man
87. Santana – Soul Sacrifice
88. Simon & Garfunkel – America
89. Simon & Garfunkel – A Hazy Shade of Winter
90. Sly and the Family Stone – I Want to take You Higher
91. Taj Mahal – Take A Giant Step
92. Taj Mahal – Corinna
93. Terry Reid – Silver white Light
94. The Animals – Sky Pilot
95. The Band – The Weight
96. The Band – King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
97. The Blues Project – Flute Thing
98. The Byrds – You Ain’t Going Nowhere
99. The Byrds – I See You
100. The Byrds – Renaissance Fair
101. The Doors – Break on Through (To the Other Side)
102. The Doors – Love Me Two Times
103. The Flock – Clown
104. The Free Design – Kites Are Fun
105. The Moody Blues – Legend of a Mind
106. The Moody Blues – Ride My See-Saw
107. The Nice – She Belongs to Me
108. The Rolling Stones – Connection
109. The Rolling Stones – No expectations
110. The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter
111. The Who – Magic Bus
112. The Who – I Can See For Miles
113. The Who – I’m Free
114. The Who – We’re Not Gonna Take It
115. Them – Gloria
116. Them – Here Comes The Night
117. Tim Hardin – If I Were A Carpenter
118. Tim Hardin – Reason to Believe
119. Tom rush – No Regrets
120. Townes Van Zandt – None But The Rain
121. Traffic –  Pearly Queen
122. Traffic – Dear Mr. Fantasy
123. Van Morrison – T. B. Sheets