Turn Back the Clock
Volume 5
Considered by some to be the first oldies radio program, Turn Back the Clock ran on Armed Forces Radio from 1955 to 1962. Helmed by Andy and Virginia Mansfield, the program introduced several innovations that later shows of this type would copy and evolve. The first aspect of the program that set a tone yet to be heard on radio was its basic format, that of playing songs recorded in the past, some as far back as the era of cylinders instead of vinyl. This gave Turn Back the Clock an even more unique tone than today’s oldies shows tend to have. Music had changed and grown so dramatically by the time this program aired that listeners truly were hearing songs from another era.
Another characteristic of the program that later oldies hosts would emulate literally related to the show’s title. Equally hosts of the show, Andy Mansfield, at least according to his own words ending the program, acted as the curator of the old songs and Virginia made sure new music was played, especially new versions of Andy’s choices. Normally, a song would play that was a more recent recording of an old song and then, after it ended and Virginia talked about the artist and how great the tune was, Andy would ‘turn back the clock’ and play a version of the song closer to its original debut, and many times the first recording of the song. Andy talked about the song about to play, a ‘tick tock’ would begin, blending in and eventually fading as the song played. This compare and contrast component of the show is probably its strongest aspect and most appealing characteristic. Even for modern listeners, hearing songs written seventy to even a hundred or more years ago as they were originally performed and then by artists that some may even recognize from their own youth today is a unique experience.
Radio Archives proudly presents twenty episodes of this pioneering program restored to sparkling audio quality in Turn Back the Clock Volume 5.
Here is the complete content of this ten-hour collection:
#1402 Younger Than Springtime
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1406 I've Got You Under My Skin
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1407 Sweet Georgia Brown
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1423 Should I
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1424 All By Myself
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1428 It's A Good Day
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1429 Dancing In The Dark
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1431 Old Man Mose
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1432 Learn To Croon
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1433 East of the Sun
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1434 When My Baby Smiles At Me
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1438 Fare Thee Honey, Fare Thee Well
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1439 It's Bad For Me
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1453 Saber Dance
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1454 Yes Sir, That's My Baby
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1491 Swanee
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1492 The Happy Bachelor
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1493 Hello, Young Lovers
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1494 Younger Than Springtime
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
#1496 Goodnight Sweetheart
1960 - 25:00 - AFRS, No commercials
