I haven't read the reviews lately, but wow, I'm blown away by some of these recent 5 star reviews...
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Behind the Scenes Look at the Heyday of Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Radio October 16, 2014
By Jade Blackmore
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
As a kid in Chicago in the early 1970s, I listened to Larry Lujack and his Cheap Trashy Showbiz Report, Klunk Letter of the Day, and sourpuss meanderings. In college in the early '80s, the irreverent banter of Steve Dahl and Garry Meier kept me entertained between classes. During high school in the mid '70s, my radio go-to guy was John Records Landecker, of "Boogie Check" fame.
In Landecker's autobiography, Records Truly is My Middle Name, (Eckhartz Press) Landecker explains that, yes, Records is his real middle name, not a stage moniker. He even includes a photo of his selective service card in the book to prove it. John's mother, Marjorie Records married sociology professor Werner Landecker, so yes, his mother's maiden name truly was Records, and John incorporated that in his on-air persona. Of course, it sounded too good to be true and many fans, myself include, surmised it was a stage name.
When your Mom's maiden name is Records, a career in radio is your destiny. Landecker's first radio gig, in Flint, Michigan in 1965 on a station that required all DJs to use the last name Jones on-air. Naturally, John chose the name Dow Jones. He made his major market debut at WBIG in Philadelphia from the late `60s to the early `70s, with fellow DJs Jerry Blavat (The Geator with the Heater), Hy Lit and Joe Niagara.
Landecker begins each chapter with a round-up of the top events of each decade, setting the backdrop for the revelations to follow. The book is an engaging read that isn't just for radio buffs. It's a roller coaster ride through the prime decades of rock 'n' roll, told from the POV of someone who was well-known enough to glimpse the inner workings of rock's hedonistic years, but down to earth enough to retain a realistic attitude for most of the ride..
Landecker's autobiography entertaining is just as much fun when he focuses on his personal life as when he writes about his radio shenanigans.
Many times, readers of pop culture autobiographies complain about the author including too many personal anecdotes that aren't as interesting as events in the author's professional life. Landecker's life out of the broadcast booth is just as interesting to read as his DJ exploits.''John's father Werner Landecker, was the last German Jew to earn a law degree in Germany before World War II. Werner immigrated to the Untried States and married Indiana farmgirl and 4H winner Marjorie Records. The story of how, they met, stopped at an intersection in separate cars, is a cute meet worthy of a remake novel. Werner and Marjorie married, and their first child John was born on March 28, 1947. Landecker's childhood and adolescence mirrored that of your typical Baby Boomer He writes about playing football in high school, being in class when a student-teacher tearfully announced President Kennedy's assassination. Other, less serious, rites of passage included discovering that the lyrics to Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen were dirty, (The lyrics weren't actually dirty. It was an urban legend), and watching the Beatles - and Mitzi Gaynor in a low cut dress - on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. As the book moves on, we learn about Landecker's tumultuous second marriage to a hellion named Paula and his financial victimization at the hands of a once-trusted manager.
Landecker's halcyon years at WLS in Chicago from 1972 to 1981. During his signature bit, The Boogie Check, he fielded calls from listeners unafraid to be goofy. Landecker outdid them at their own game with glib comments. Spinning "Seasons in the Sun", "Eres Tu" and other cheesy Top 40 songs would bore anyone, so the DJs had to be wacky to keep listeners interested - and keep themselves from falling asleep! Personality based radio flourished at this time, featuring bits that entertained in a wink-wink-nudge-nudge way; shock jocks had yet to take over the airwaves. Landecker's fellow DJs at WLS included Larry Lujack, Fred Winston and Bob Sirott.
Landecker recorded two comedy singles, 'Make a Date with the Watergate" and "Press My Conference", poking fun at President Nixon and the Watergate scandal. "Make a Date" was a parody of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side". Despite being big hits with listeners, the songs were temporarily shelved when an ABC affiliate in Florida, up for license renewal, freaked out over their (relatively innocuous by today's standards) content.
During Landecker's tenure at WLS, other highlights included a personal appearance with John Travolta (then a teen idol as Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter) at a suburban Chicago shopping mall. The promo drew 30,000 screaming teenage girls. I remember hearing the broadcast live that night. It sounded like a 747 taking off. Many of the bands of the time stopped by, co-hosting and commenting on records, and Landecker premiered Lady by Styx on his show, the song that propelled the band to stardom.
Like many other DJs and musicians, Landecker fell prey to rock `n" roll excess. He woke up one day on a flight over the Grand Canyon with no recollection of how he got there. His drinking escalated to the point where he drank vodka openly in the studio. He divorced his first wife (his high school sweetheart), married a trophy wife, then a much younger woman before marrying his fourth wife and soulmate Nika.
After leaving Chicago for a gig in Toronto,(followed by an unsuccessful return to Chicago radio) Landecker hit rock bottom with alcohol and drugs. After conquering his demons, he reemerged on Chicago radio, settling in with a well-received shows on WJMK, a band and a syndicated show called "Into the 70s" for TKO Networks. He is currently broadcasting on WLS-FM (Chicago's Classic Hits) weeknights from 8pm to 11pm.
"Records Truly is My Middle Name" is sure to stir great memories for Chicago radio fans who grew up in the 1970s, or any Baby Boomer who grew up on AM radio.
5.0 out of 5 stars John Landecker truly tells the truth about radio. December 20, 2014
By Terri Killen
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This book is truly the truth about the radio business. If you've ever wondered what it's like working in radio..Landecker will tell you....the good, the bad, and the butt ugly. Sex, Drugs, Rock N Roll, and the lying, backstabbing radio world. The life and times of a major market DJ. He's lucky to be alive. I listened to him on WLS AM in '72 when I was 15 living in VA. The BS in the Radio business he describes will blow your mind. I know, I went through it as a writer and on air talent in the smaller markets like Jax, FL and Roanoke, VA. The whole time I was reading this book I was saying to myself ..OMG this happend to John too! WTF I can't believe this .. He had to go to Canada for a gig. You will learn that Radio does not value talent. Not even John....considered one of the most creative people in the business. John Landecker's problem was.. he didn't have the big ego most Radio types have. Nor was he carrying around a knife ready to backstab his best friend and kick him or HER TO THE CURB. John is an entertainer with a human touch. A rare find in radio. I think he missed his calling to do stand up comedy. (He can now be heard on WLS FM nightly..and through the magic of the internet.)
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