Welcome to The Stereo Closet

The purpose of this blog is to capture and reflect on a five-semester period from 1981 to 1983 when I ran the music at the TKE house at 222 W. Cooper, Maryville, MO 64468.

I also talk about my time when I came back to the 'Ville fall of 1985 and what I did with music. In addition, I want to list songs I should have played and reflect on songs I wish I could have played that were released after I left.   Songs that I know would have rocked the house.

The stereo equipment was literally in a narrow closet conveniently located a step away from the bar, dance floor and women's restroom...hence "stereo closet".

Posts will appear in chronological order but that's just how a blog is set up to work.  I can "label" (categorize) posts by a name or topic and that is how I see the blog being used.  To find categories, look at the menu ("File Cabinet") on the right.  So for example if you want to see posts related to "1981", then click on that and see them.  At any time, you can click at the top of the page and go back "home".  If you are in a label/category and get to the bottom of the page, look for "Older Posts" and you can continue until there are no more posts for that category.  Then move on to something else.

You should be able to leave comments and certainly comments or memories can be sent to me at alanrandrew@msn.com and I can add them to the "mix".



I still have the boombox.

Frater Memories

A few shout-outs from fraters over the years (thankful for Facebook)...

MTV (I want my...)

MTV (Music Television) launched on August 1, 1981.  This played a huge part in what music people were exposed to and liked.  Bands were seen here that weren't on the radio.  It not only exposed us to new music but probably let me get away with songs that I couldn't otherwise.

The "Triple Play"

There was more than one "Triple Play".  Not everyone was aware it was called this.  And those aware would probably remember different songs being part of it.

Let's Groove

Let's Get Physical
Superfreak

I believe this was the first one.

The idea of putting three strong songs together seemed pretty simple but you had to have the songs to do it.

I remember when Mark Rinker and I did a Phi Sig dance in Kansas City in 1983 (photo below).  Rink let me play songs as I saw fit and dropped in a triple play.  One of the partiers commented something like "wow, three in a row".

I used this concept later when I was doing dances.

The Formula
1. Song 1  INVITE
2. Song 2  REWARD
3. Song 3  SURPRISE

The idea was for the first song to Invite people.  The second song was to Reward people for dancing and the third song was to Surprise them with yet another song they wanted to dance to.  After three songs, they were probably done and it was time to switch gears.

Here is one I used well into the night when I did weddings:

1. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

2. Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf

3. All Right Now - Free

"Mixtape"

That's a term I've heard more lately.  Variations on spellings.  This is essentially all that I was doing.  But I never called it that I don't remember that term back then.

I called them Party Tapes.  And I knew 12 or 13 songs could fit on a side so basically I need 25 songs to cover 90 minutes.  And I used crossfades and segues so they truly were "mixed" tapes.  I certainly could not have done what I did without access to studios at the campus radio station and all of the new music coming in.

7 to 7

Not much more needs to be said if you were there.

I finally got rid of the yellow poster that we had up at the part with the schedule.  We wanted to make sure people knew what was coming music-wise.

Here are my notes for the schedule....

2.0

Not my grade point average...although close.  This was my coming back to school in the fall of 1985 and re-inventing myself as a different type of "music man"/DJ.  I was out of school for three semesters.  While I was out I kept up with music and I'm sure made notes out of habit classifying songs as "dance", "slow" and "pre-party".

I had no expectation of stepping back in and manning the post.  I purchased my first stereo system that summer and never imagined I would be using that equipment to make money.

I came back to campus in the fall of '85.  I ended up doing music for different sorority parties and some TKE events offsite including RCB in '86.  I also provided music for an All-Greek party in some metal building.  I still made the cassettes and ended up making copies to give the house (gave to Kris Greiner).  I don't think I ever went active so I could not be at the parties.  I remember setting up outside in front of Roberta Hall at night for something.  I even got paid to come to someone's house/apartment to play tunes from my ghetto blaster.  This is when Cameo's "Word Up" was big.

I did some part-time DJ work at Yesterday's which was run by frater Andy Espey.  I got the gig because my new neighbor (Cliff Crisanti) was working there as a DJ.  This would have been summer of '86 into fall of '86.

Did some TKE party at Shady Lady.  Blew something in my system.  Over heated.  Started using a fan after that.  I remember Todd Goforth and maybe Randy Wolf coming to my rescue.

There must have been a second party I did there because I borrowed some Bose speakers.  I remember testing my sound with a cassette of the Doc Severinsen Big Band.

That might have been the party that I borrowed the speakers...were they Bose?  I remember I had the Doc Severinsen Big Band Cassette and was testing with that.

James Brown Living in America and me walking through the crowd with the mic calling out towns and cities.

This can also be the place for my greek and sorority stuff.

I left school for good in December 1986. 

TKE WEDDINGS I DID THE MUSIC FOR

KEVIN SMITH

I provided music for Kevin Smith's wedding.  It was out of town and if I recall in Nebraska?  I had $40 in my pocket was driving.  I got a flat tire.  I opened my trunk and was reminded I was not carrying a spare.  I was close to a service station...maybe 1/2 a mile.  I drove on the flat to the station.  I told the guy I've got $40 in my pocket but I was on my way to a wedding and would get paid and could come back and provide the rest.  The bill was about $42 and he let me go for the $40!  That would be enough of a story but when I got there, I realized most of the tapes I made in preparation somehow we recorded either too fast or too slow.  Thankfully announcements and fun and games went long and I didn't have to play as long and I did bring the polka!

DALE CARSTENS

I provided music for Dale Carstens wedding in August of 1986.  I remember playing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" without thinking about it until it hit me during the song.  No one said anything.

MARK WITTHAR

I provided music at Mark Witthar's wedding in Des Moines August 13, 1988.

MY OWN (in a way)

I got married in 1994 and did make tapes to give the DJ we hired.  This was very hard for me as you can imagine but he did use many of the tapes I made and certainly made sure to play certain songs.  I made his life easier I'm sure.

I declined doing music for Joe Saubers, Bill Adams and David Carlisle.  I wanted to be able to enjoy myself.