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Post by Max on Dec 14, 2005 17:30:14 GMT -5
Haven't listened to Weird Beard's special broadcast yet, but Dude's is wonderful.  It sounds like something that will be a Christmas tradition. This is almost like Earl Hamner narrating the Waltons. As a matter of fact, as I just typed that edit, I heard Earl Hamner's voice! Seems like some local stations should be picking this up. |
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Post by Max on Nov 25, 2006 10:35:55 GMT -5
With it being another Christmas season, I urge all visitors to listen to Dude Walker's Christmas Memories, which I could find at one time on this site, but can't now (help, John!). I think it may have been shuffled to another location from the airchecks page during the reorganization that was done here awhile back. Anyway, you can listen to it in eight part segments at www.goatley.com/highbaugh/dudechristmas.html, if you can't sit down and listen to it in its entirety. I guess this is proof that I had found it at one time on this site!  |
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Post by John Quincy on Nov 25, 2006 11:40:51 GMT -5
The link to the Christmas page was only available during last year's Christmas season. Now that the Christmas season is back (it must be because I've been playing nothing but Christmas music on my station for over a week), so is the link: 79waky.com/christmas.htm |
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Post by Travis on Nov 26, 2006 10:53:24 GMT -5
Dude Walker's Christmas Special was probably first heard on WAKY at some point within the 6 PM hour on Thursday, Christmas Eve, 1970. Dude mentions that Christmas is about 5 hours away and that he and his family are currently driving to Tennessee as they listen along with WAKY's listeners to this very broadcast.
Dude revisits the past, talks about the present Christmas (1970) and then speculates as to what Christmas may be like for him and his family 30 years into the future. Considering that those 30 years have passed, that future is now. It must be rather uncanny for Dude to hear this recording today and to be able to compare how Christmas actually progressed for him and his family over those 30 years.
To my knowledge, Dude Walker was the most spiritual of the WAKY jocks of the early '70s. His Christmas special is a must-hear; especially, if it happens to be Christmas Eve. Hearing specials like this made the holiday that much more special and I can recall actually hearing this broadcast along with the specials of Johnny Randolph, Chris Lundy, Gary Burbank and the Weird Beard (also available on this site) on that Christmas Eve of 1970. Download, enjoy and...
Have a Merry Christmas!
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Post by dudewalker1 on Nov 27, 2006 9:39:16 GMT -5
Travis, I want to thank you and Max for the kind words about my Christmas show in 1970. It is fun to listen to and see how my predictions came true. I have three sons and only one daughter and a grandson who I adore. As a kid we went to my grandmother's house and it was special. Now we are the grandparents and all the kids and my grandson come to our house for Christmas. Life is good. Thank all of you.
God bless and Merry Christmas to all,
Dude Walker
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Post by Travis on Dec 15, 2008 2:43:35 GMT -5
Christmas 2008
As I write, Christmas 2008 is approaching and time to give Dude Walker's Christmas Eve Special another listen. The program has been discussed throughout this thread and is a must-hear for any WAKY fan who listened during the '60s and '70s and remembers John W. "Dude" Walker (Help the Dude help Saint Jude). For best results, play the program around 6 PM on Christmas Eve and you'll not only hear how WAKY sounded at that time on Christmas Eve of 1970, but you'll more than likely feel the spirit as well.
Dude Walker's Christmas Special was just one of several heard on that particular Christmas Eve. I was actually listening to WAKY on that evening and heard specials from Christopher Lundy, Johnny Randolph, Gary Burbank and the Weird Beard. So far, only the specials from Dude Walker and the Weird Beard have surfaced. Weird's Christmas Special can also be heard on this site, but unlike Dude Walker's, his special centers around transcribed recordings of Christmas stories and music. But at least it's here.
38 years is a long time to remember anything in great detail, but I do remember that Christopher Lundy recorded his special with his daughter present. She was very, very young and while I can't recall ever hearing her name I do recall that he referred to her as Lay-Lay throughout his special. Also, I seem to recall that she could be heard in the background at times. Johnny Randolph also recorded a very personable Christmas Special. I recall at one point that he described being able to see into the other recording studio (production room) where Gary Burbank was also recording his Christmas Special. Johnny actually described Gary as being surrounded by stacks of paper, playing a guitar and singing into the microphone. That leads me to Gary's special which, of course, was Gary playing and singing novelty songs (that he no doubt wrote) as his Christmas Special. How I'd love for that recording to surface.
On that Christmas Eve of 1970, I heard these programs in bits & pieces due to Christmas activity in our home, so I'd love to be able to hear them in their entirety. At least I can hear Dude Walker's special in its entirety and I enjoy doing so every year. Give it a try. If you're going to be home this Christmas Eve, play the file around 6 PM and just go about doing whatever you're going to be doing. Listen as Dude Walker takes you into his past and, for him, present Christmas. He then projects what his Christmas may be like 30 years into the future (keep in mind he is now 38 years into that future). His children have grown, he has grandchildren and he and his wife, Cynthia, are still together for yet another Christmas.
Chances are, many people heard these specials while driving in their cars on that Christmas Eve, so it could be worthwhile for the new WAKY 103-5 to perhaps package this special for broadcast during the evening hours on Christmas Eve. The music heard on the special can be identified and replaced with good quality digital recordings in stereo. We have the technology and John Quincy (curator of this web site) has produced an actual demo of how Dude Walker's Christmas Special can sound when restored in this way. It may be a bit late to prepare such a special for this year, but there's always next year and it would certainly be nice to hear on WAKY 103-5 when the special goes into its 40th anniversary in 2010.
Just a thought. But regardless, I'll be playing the original on Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas.
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Post by Max on Dec 15, 2008 20:58:30 GMT -5
I'm with ya Travis in pulling out the old Dude Walker memories, carefully preserved on CD. Like I said either last year or maybe it was the year before-his story telling is reminiscent of Earl Hamner's from 'The Waltons'. Required listening for any self proclaimed fan of the Big 79  . |
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Post by John Quincy on Dec 19, 2008 17:01:30 GMT -5
Good news! I just heard from Les Cook at WAKY-FM and they're going to run a restored version of Dude Walker's Christmas Eve special. Les says it will air "On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at noon and 6 pm."
About the restoration: Whenever possible, CD versions of the original songs were used. When an original song couldn't be located, a substitution was made using another pre-1970 version of the song by another artist, or by a pre-1970 Christmas song with the same theme. Pops and clicks from the music Dude talked over were removed. No processing was added.
While some folks might think doing a restoration is like colorizing "It's A Wonderful Life" it was necessary to bring it up to 21st century FM standards, while still retaining all of the spirit and good will of the 1970 original version.
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Post by Travis on Dec 23, 2008 23:26:46 GMT -5
Les Cook was promoting the special during his show (which I'm able to hear via streaming audio) and it's good to know that the Dude Walker Christmas Eve Special will once again be heard on WAKY. And for the first time in 38 years, the special will be heard in beautiful living stereo. Dude hasn't been heard from as of late. Has anyone heard from him and/or wife Cynthia? By the way, while some may see John Quincy's restoration of Dude's Christmas Special as being similar to the colorization of "It's A Wonderful Life," I, personally, have no problem with it as long as Dude Walker's wonderful voice doesn't come across as having orange flesh tones.  Merry Christmas |
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Post by bruiser on Dec 24, 2008 22:35:04 GMT -5
I listened to that tonight.
Good job JQ.
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Post by Travis on Dec 25, 2008 2:59:20 GMT -5
Actually, it sounded too good. I'm thinking it may have been better to have aired the original monaural version as is. Les Cook could have switched off the stereo pilot, crank the compression up to at least 30 db and Johnny Randolph could have rolled off the low, low end. As a result, we'd have the original sound of WAKY once again. LOL!!
Pay no attention to me. I become a bit more facetious whenever I find myself working on Christmas (and at 3 o'clock in the morning).
Merry Christmas
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lcook
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by lcook on Dec 25, 2008 18:46:44 GMT -5
Hey Dude, Loved your Christmas special. Very nice writing, production, and that voice. WOW!!! It brought a tear to the old Cookmeister's eye. My wife Vickie loved it too. We send you and Cynthia wishes for a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! L
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Post by Travis on Dec 14, 2010 17:49:56 GMT -5
Always good to find that the link for Dude Walker's 1970 WAKY Christmas Special, and that of the Weird Beard, has been reactivated for our listening pleasure.
WAKY 103-5 will most likely air Dude Walker's special on Christmas Eve again this year and hopefully, for years to come.
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Post by dudewalker1 on Dec 18, 2010 17:14:35 GMT -5
I want to thank Steve Cook one of my favorite people for his kind words and I can always count on Travis for taking the time to write about my Christmas show. It is vey interesting to hear my thoughts about the future and now to know what the future held. Thanks again to you both and Merry Christmas.
Dude Walker
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Post by Max on Dec 21, 2010 1:47:12 GMT -5
I will definitely pull out my CD of Dude's Christmas show to play in my car this week...such a throwback to simpler times...and way to use actual records with faint pops and scratches, to make us feel like we are right in your living room, Dude...or is that your fireplace crackling? |
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Post by dudewalker1 on Dec 22, 2010 16:04:36 GMT -5
Merry Christmas to all the fans of WAKY and Max it is a treat to be able to call you friend. God Bless you all and may 2011 be the best year of your life.
Dude Walker and family
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Post by bruiser on Dec 26, 2010 17:09:24 GMT -5
Hpe you had a good Christmas Dude, and may the new year be a better year for everyone!
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Post by Max on Dec 10, 2011 8:53:54 GMT -5
Could it be time to listen to Dude Walker's Christmas, as it will no doubt go down in the annals of time as? I'm gonna listen today-DIG IT!
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It sounds like something that will be a Christmas tradition. This is almost like Earl Hamner narrating the Waltons. As a matter of fact, as I just typed that edit, I heard Earl Hamner's voice! Seems like some local stations should be picking this up. 
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