AM Radio by Everclear

Album: Songs From An American Movie, Vol. 1 (2000)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song is a celebration of a time when radio stations were not strictly formatted. Before FM, there were fewer stations and they played many types of music.
This was inspired by lead singer Art Alexakis' childhood growing up in a black neighborhood. He was exposed to black and white music because the AM stations played it all.
The video is a tribute to '70s pop culture. It features the band in scenes from The Brady Bunch, as a Mr. Potato Head doll, and as members of KISS. They spent about $250,000 for the rights to use the images.
The video originally contained a scene where Alexakis burst through a wall as the Kool-Aid man. It was cut when the Kool-Aid people decided not to let them use it.
This samples "Mr. Big Stuff" a 1970 hit by Jean Knight which was a staple on AM Radio.
The vocals are processed to sound like they would be coming from an AM radio station. With limited bandwidth, AM radio doesn't transmit a lot of bass.

Comments: 5

Clarke from Pittsburgh, PaThe radio sample at the beginning comes from KHJ in Los Angeles, a prominent (and dominant) AM Top 40 station from the mid-1960's to the mid-1970's.
Bev from Lees Summit, MoYes, Stephanie, I was around then and FM radio did exist in the 70s. When I was in junior high I remember listening to FM stations play entire albums by groups like Blue Oyster Cult and a comedy troup called Firesign Theater. I also remember on the AM stations hearing people like Judy Collins, Al Green, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Neil Young all played one after the other. I wish more stations would be willing to just play what they like now instead of having to follow a format.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScIf I remember correctly, I read that FM stations ixisted in the 1970's. They were more progressive then, and called AOR or Album Oriented Rock stations. My facts are correct, aren't they? I wasn't around then.
Johnny from Los Angeles, CaNice usage of Mr. Big Stuff, I heard AM Radio before that.
Ty from Niagara Falls, CanadaI enjoy this song, it's very upbeat and takes you back to a simpler time. Makes me think of the movie Dazed & Confused too

see more comments

More Songfacts:

You're BeautifulJames Blunt

The James Blunt song "You're Beautiful" is not romantic: it's a about a creepy subway encounter with an ex.

Island GirlElton John

Elton John's #1 hit "Island Girl" is about a prostitute.

Eternal FlameBangles

The Bangles song "Eternal Flame" was inspired by a display at Graceland that honored Elvis Presley.

Fight SongRachel Platten

Rachel Platten refused to talk politics when her "Fight Song" became the anthem for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, a decision she came to regret.