Free Form Index

The day I walked into WBCN-FM Boston for the first time in August 1970 there was an argument already in progress.

A part owner, the man who had the transformative idea to take a struggling classical music station and pursue a youthful audience via an air staff of their peers playing a wide variety of music from a really big library including multiple genres, had broken an unwritten rule... He had called a DJ while on air to complain about a lengthly drum solo.

A more senior DJ, and self-styled arbiter of taste, had complained about the hot-lining incident as an infringement of freedom to select and sequence music of their choice, saying they needed to be able to create an atmosphere for the audience to "get high & mellow out."

The General Manager, not the offending caller by the way, responded that the station needed to be "more than just a soundtrack for your friends' drug abuse."

As the new guy, and a neutral party, I was asked to weigh in.

Although I could understand the objection, I agreed with the GM.

The DJ immediately wrote me off as a major asshole.

But as someone whose family was involved with the film industry over multiple generations, I knew both the show and business parts had to work well to succeed... A druggy image would be limiting for both.

Although I freely admit I didn't know enough music to be on the air then and there, I was fascinated by the idea of a real live person with access to that really big library selecting and sequencing the music to present a more personal, less random program... Open to the possibility you might like to discover something you may not have heard before as part of an enjoyable context.

The mixes linked at right and described below offer a contemporary experience in the spirit of what Free Form FM radio was in the past.

001 Bob Seger Mainstreet Night Moves (1976) Roxy Music More Than This Avalon (1982) Be Bop Deluxe Life In The Air Age Sunburst Finish (1976) David Bowie Modern Love Modern Love (1983)	002 The Byrds Eight Miles High Fifth Dimension (1966) The Plimsouls A Million Miles Away One Night In America (1982) R.E.M. The One I Love Document (1987) Tom Petty American Girl Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976)
003 Chalk FarM Lie On Lie Notwithstanding (1996) The Police When The World Is Running Down Zenyatta Modatta (1980) Bonnie Rait Love Letter Nick of Time (1989) Rush Time Stand Still Hold Your Fire (1987)	004 Peter Gabriel Red Rain So (1986) Radiohead Pyramid Song Amnesiac (2001) Crosby & Nash Naked In The Rain Wind On The Water (1975) Jimi Hendrix Little Wing Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
005 Little Feat Spanish Moon (live) Waiting For Columbus (1978) Allen Toussaint Yes We Can Can Our New Orleans (2005) John Hiatt Blue Telescope Perfectly Good Guitar (1993) Eric Clapton Bad Love Journeyman (1989)	006 Toad The Wet Sprocket Fly From Heaven Dulcinea (1994) Jackopierce Summer's Gone Summer's Gone (2008) Ataris The Boys of Summer So Long Astoria (2003) East Village Opera Co. La Habanera (Carmen) East Village Opera Co. (2005)
007 Keb' Mo' Every Morning Keb' Mo' (1994) Pearl Jam Yellow Ledbetter Jeremy [Maxi Single] (1992) Stevie Ray Vaughan Honey Bee Couldn't Stand The Weather (1984) B.B. King Bad Case Of Love Blues on the Bayou (1998)	008 Dishwalla Counting Blue Cars Counting Blue Cars [EP](1996) Seal Fast Changes Seal (1994) Steely Dan Black Cow Aja (1977)
009 Shawn Colvin Sunny Came Home A Few Small Repairs (1996) Neil Young Old Man Harvest (1972) I Mother Earth So Gently We Go Earth Sky & Everything In Between (1993) Simon & Garfunkle America Bookends (1968)	010 The Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever Magical Mystery Tour [US] (1967) Alanis Morrissette All I Really Want Jagged Little Pill (1995) Beck Loser Mellow Gold (1994) Michael Franti & Spearhead What I Got Tribute To Sublime (2005)
011 Mick Jagger Memo From Turner Performance [OST](1970) Gregg Allmam Midnight Rider Laid Back (1973) Molly Hatchet Dreams I'll Never See Molly Hatchet (1978)	012 Marvin Gaye What's Going On What's Going On (1971) The Commodores Night Shift Night Shift (1985) Jackie Wilson Higher & Higher (1967) Brunswick R&B Singles 1966-1975 Van Morrison Jackie Wilson Said Saint Dominic's Preview (1972)
013 Led Zeppelin Hey Hey, What Can I Do Box Set #1 (1990) Steve Miller Band Living In the U.S.A. Sailor (1968) U2 Desire [Hollywood Mix] 12" UK Single (1988)	014 Earth, Wind & Fire Mega Mix 2000 Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Volume 1 (1989) Blood, Sweat & Tears Smiling Phases Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969)
015 Rolling Stones Bitch Sticky Fingers (1971) Santana Everybody's Everything Santana (1971) Jack Johnson Upside Down Curious George [OST](2006) Melodians Rivers Of Babylon The Harder They Come [OST](1972)	016 3 Doors Down Away From The Sun Away From The Sun (2002) Alice In Chains No Excuses Nothing Safe (1999) The Who Eminence Front It's Hard (1982)
017 Jeff Beck w/ Rod Stewart People Get Ready Flash (1985) Rickie Lee Jones Rodeo Girl Flying Cowboys (1989) Elton John Levon Madman Across the Water (1971)	018 Allman Brothers Stormy Monday At the Fillmore East (1971) Matchbox Twenty Push Yourself or Someone Like You (1996)
019 Colbie Caillat I Won't Breakthrough (2009) Don Henley The End of the Innocence The End of the Innocence (1989) 311 Love Song 50 First Dates [OST](2004)	020 The Smithereens Time Won't Let Me Blown To Smithereens (1995) Foo Fighters Learn To Fly There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1999) George Harrison Beware Of Darkness All Things Must Pass (1970) Soweto Gospel Choir Asimbonanga/Biko The Sounds Of Soweto Gospel Choir (2009)
021 Boston We're Ready Third Stage (1986) The Byrds Dolphin's Smile The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968) The Strawbs Round And Round Hero And Heroine (1974) Steve Miller Band Space Cowboy Brave New World (1969)	022 Dean Seltzer Lady Luck Lady Luck (2009) Van Halen Dancing In The Street Diver Down (1982) Rolling Stones Can't You Hear Me Knocking Sticky Fingers (1971)
023 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody A Night At The Opera (1975) Meat Loaf I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell (1993) The Tubes Don't Touch Me There Young and Rich (1976)	024 INXS I Need You Tonight Kick (1987) Billy Idol White Wedding (Part 1) Billy Idol (1982) Goo Goo Dolls Long Way Down A Boy Named Goo (1995) Mitch Ryder Devil With A Blue Dress (1966) Rhino Hi Five (2006)