GREETINGS FELLOW COLLECTORS OF GREAT MUSIC AND RARE CLASSIC RADIO SHOWS!  PLEASE DON'T FORGET MY SPECIAL OFFER OF A TWENTY PERCENT DISCOUNT WHEN YOU BUY FIVE ITEMS OR MORE AT ONE TIME FROM MY STORE.  IT IS THE LEAST I CAN DO FOR ALL MY FRIENDS WHO, LIKE I , ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GREAT DEAL

AND IF YOU LIKE THE  CLASSICS IN ROCK ALONG WITH GREAT COMMENTARY AND UNIQUE INTERVIEWS, YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!

PLEASE READ ON FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THIS SHOW AND THE SERIES FROM WHICH IT COMES AND THEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT RADIO SHOWS I WILL PRESENT RADIO SHOWS 101, MY OWN HUMBLE EXPLANATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RADIO SHOWS AND HOW I CAME TO FIND THEM.

First let's talk about this great series, THE CLASSICS HOSTED BY STEVE DOWNES

THE CLASSICS was a TWO hour weekly show that aired on the UNITED STATIONS RADIO NETWORKS.

  It comes on 2 cds in pristine condition.  The cds are in beautiful like new condition. 

This is a very rare series and one of the best ever to air with classic rock as a theme.

THE CLASSICS series first aired on cd,unlike many series that had their origins on lp or reel to reel tape.

The show first aired as a special time limited series commemorating the end of the 20th century, in 1999 and was called ROCK OF THE CENTURY.

THOSE FIRST YEARS WEEKLY SHOWS WERE HOSTED BY EDDIE WEBB AND WERE PRODUCED BY DENNY SUMACH PRODUCTIONS FOR UNITED STATIONS.

THE SHOW AIRED WEEKLY ON UNITED STATIONS FOR TWO HOURS A SHOW.

IT BECAME SO POPULAR THAT AT THE TURN OF THE NEW CENTURY IT WAS CONTINUED AND RENAMED THE CLASSICS.

EDDIE WEBB HOSTED THE FIRST SEVERAL SHOWS OF THIS NEW SERIES BUT WAS SOON REPLACED BY STEVE DOWNES WHO HOSTED THE SHOW THROUGHOUT THE REST OF ITS HISTORY ON CD THROUGH 2009 AND SINCE, BY DIGITAL DOWNLOAD TO STATIONS ONLY.

STEVE DOWNES IS BASED IN CHICAGO ON WDRV AND FOR YOU GAMERS, IS ALSO THE VOICE OF MASTER CHIEF IN HALO.

EACH SHOW HAD A SPECIFIC THEME FOR THE ENTIRE TWO HOURS. 

 AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SHOW THERE WAS A THREE OR FOUR MINUTE INTRODUCTION BY STEVE DOWNES ABOUT THE THEME ALONG WITH SEVERAL INTERVIEW CLIPS AND SONG MONTAGES.  THERE WERE MANY INTERVIEWS THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

THE THEME OF THE SHOW WAS EITHER AN ARTIST OR A GROUP IN WHICH CASE THE ENTIRE TWO HOURS IS DEVOTED TO THAT THEME, 

OR IF IT WAS A DIFFERENT THEME FOR EXAMPLE A PARTICULAR YEAR TRIBUTE, MANY SETS OF UP TO 20 MINUTES OR LONGER, WOULD BE DEVOTED TO A SINGLE ARTIST OR GROUP WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SHOW THEME ALONG WITH INTERVIEWS AND STEVE'S COMMENTARY

  This show aired on JANUARY 8, 2005 and is show #05-02

   THE TITLE OF THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL IS: 

THE FIFTH ANNUAL CLSSIC ROCK AWARDS NOMINEES SHOW

NOTE THAT EACH SET CONTAINS MULTIPLE IN DEPTH FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS

Show contents can be seen on the pictured cue sheets and are in excellent condition.

  SO HERE ARE THE BIG QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT RADIO SHOWS:

  FIRST,WHAT IS A RADIO SHOW? 

 WHY COLLECT THEM?  

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? 

 Well, those are good questions, especially if you have never known of them.  

Radio Shows are syndicated productions by one of several large and small distributors who supply broadcast product to radio stations normally during weekends when the usual air personalities have a break.  

Many air on Saturday or Sunday afternoons or evenings or less frequently during late night segments.

  They often feature some of the best known voices for their genre from across the country thus the Dick Clark's and Casey Kasem's and Rick Dees and Dick Bartley and so many others.  

People collect them for various reasons. 

 Some just collect the series because they like it and want them all.  

Some collect their favorite artists or genre of music.  Rather than an album by the artist or a compilation bought at Wal Mart or downloaded through iTunes or wherever, they have a unique presentation of their favorite artist or music not available anywhere else and always with dj comments which were very entertaining. 

 Some collect interviews with their favorite artists as most shows had interview segments. 

 Some collect commercials especially old car commercials but certainly not limited to only those. 

 AND, these shows are in limited quantity. 

 They were pressed just for syndicated stations in the United States.

  Many have just a few still in circulation.  

Some of the more popular shows may have as few as a couple hundred of each week's show pressed but think about it.  A couple hundred for some 200 million Americans and millions of overseas collectors who look for unique presentations of their favorite artists or form of music is about as rare as rare can be. 

This show itself was only ever sent to the top 175 Metro markets. Smaller markets had to take the satellite feed once it became available.  So at the very most there were only 175 copies of each show EVER.   How do you compute rareness.  175 copies for the whole United States market and 25 years ago or more means that could possibly not be ANY more of these shows and at the very most there are 175 .       How many survived as did the ones I have is anyone's guess. 

This is because most stations just threw these away after network broadcast since they could not be aired again because of the dated commercial content and most stations had limited storage space. (Believe me I know;  I was a dj for many years at one such station!) 

 So it is likely that very few still exist and they are increasingly hard to find.  

They were first distributed on reel to reel tape if the show goes back that far into the 60's, then later on lp, later on CD and even later (after 2000 for most shows) on CDR.  Now they are not available at all to collectors since they are distributed by digital download much like you get your music from iTunes. 

These shows become rarer and rarer every day because the people who buy them hold on to them. 

 The shows that you get now and hold on to will never decrease in value and only increase.  

 I have prided myself since the start to provide the best and fairest cost with a  guarantee that you will be happy or I refund your money.  I sell them for near what I bought them for.  I give volume discounts and discount postage always.  As the postal service increases their rates, my shipping rates over the years have decreased.

  And, I have one of the biggest radio show libraries in the world consisting of over fifteen thousand unique shows, so many that I don't even know all that I have and am sometimes amazed when I go to look for one show and find another that I did not realize I had. 

 Finally, it is Americana at its best. 

 Whether the show be from the 60's or 2000's, rock, countdown, oldies, country, classical, religious, jazz or big band, it is unique and home grown.

  And you just can't find them anywhere. 

 Even record stores that still exist will rarely have any.   Radio shows are wonderful representations of the real golden age of music radio. 

 And every  one you buy is  an original, not a copy, not a remake - all are limited editions in the hundreds at most and most, like this special show,  much less.  Once you get hooked, like me, it is a love affair for life!  Welcome to the Club! 

 Remember, when you buy this show, not only will you own the tunes but also interspersed between songs is fascinating commentary and many in depth interviews.  

Also, keep in mind that this and all the oldies shows are not just about the music - the music can be found anywhere.  It is the mixture of great music and great announcing that makes it so entertaining. 

 As well, it is a piece of radio history.  You just aren't going to find these shows anymore.  Think of what they will be worth over the  years!  (IF you wanted to sell.)   I can tell you, having accumulated the bulk of my collection up to 30 years ago that if I was starting out today, I never could have built my collection prices have gotten so high

 I am selling to share with other music lovers what I was able to get at a reasonable price; in fact, believe it or not, I paid a lot more than you will for most of these shows than you will.  

   As always, I charge only shipping on the first show you buy for US buyers  and for my international friends,  so the more you buy the more money you will save. 

 Good Luck and God Bless You.