The massive amount of music and music-related information on the web provides countless hours of enjoyment for music nerds like me. But nevertheless, I still have a strong affinity for public and college radio stations. Here in New York — 90.7 WFUV (Fordham University), 88.3 WBGO (Jazz 88) 89.1 WFDU (Fairleigh Dickinson University) are all top-notch. And it’s always fun to dial in a local public station on the “left side of the dial” when driving in less familiar territories. For me, it’s the combination of funky personalities and unusual tracks that I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out. Hearing a song that’s totally unfamiliar, and striking…and just hoping that the DJ announces the name and artist before I reach my destination.
This happened recently when I was tuned in to WFDU during a short weekend drive. The song starts with a fairly cheesy bass line/finger snap thing right out of the early 70s — very Isaac Hayes. And then a bolt of horns, a deep white guy soul voice, and chorus of backup singers…with the sugary, preachy-inspirational chorus:
REACH OUT YOUR HAND,
to the one you love,
and the one you love is always close at hand,
to hold you day and night and be your guiding light
Ugh. Well, anyway, it worked. I cranked it up immediately, danced and sang in the driver’s seat for three minutes, nineteen seconds. And then the DJ announced it was Reach Out Your Hand by The Brotherhood of Man, an extremely popular British act from the late 60′s and 70′s who I knew nothing about other than knowing the name. The DJ, who was clearly a baby boomer, essentially said he never liked the group, suggesting that he thought they were on the soul-less side of things but that this song was an exception. Having since purchased one of their most popular albums, United We Stand (which includes a Reach Out Your Hand as a bonus track), I have to say I agree. Overall, this is not my thing. But this song is a BLAST. And I probably would have never heard it. Crank it up on your next drive…and support your local public radio stations!
And for know particular reason, other than it’s got something to do with “hot August sun” and “a good, good night on the radio” and I am digging this New Jersey band…here’s Radio, by The Roadside Graves Radio
