HEY, WHERE’S MY COMMENTS?! WE GOT ISSUES. YET NO CLEAR ANSWERS

To some who may have already noticed, for several week now, after WordPress automatically upgraded to WordPress 5.5 sometime on August 22, no longer are any of your comments you posted on this site — past or present — are currently visible below their respective posts at this time, as they all were before.

Accordingly, WordPress Level 2 techs spent many hour on this website yesterday (and I was on the phone with Bluhost last night for over 4 hours) in their attempts in trying to fix the problem. For the most part the site was pretty much in disarray yesterday. We also temporarily lost every one of our much needed 17 WordPress plug-ins we use to help construct, navigate the site and its appearance on a daily basis. Without them, essentially, you cannot operate the website, or any website for that matter.

The’ Comments’ issues, unfortunately, has not, as of yet, been corrected nor has been resolved. But the comments each of you posted are still archived on the site, we just can’t read them at this time on Motor City Radio Flashbacks, as before, prior the upgrade. You will note in the image (one example below) there is still a “comments” count number indicated (i.e. 113) but no 113 comments to show!

Late last night, we heard from WordPress:

I completely understand that you are still experiencing issues with comments not showing on the posts on the website after upgrading WordPress. I am sorry to hear that you have been having difficulties with this. I will definitely look into this issue. Thank you for providing screenshots. I have checked your account and was able to replicate the comments issue from our end. I also see that currently you are having WordPress version 5.5.1 for the website. Reviewing the website admin dashboard, it seems you are already having all comments listing. It seems the issue is with the theme Daily font you have installed for the website not supporting change in default comment type in the database since WordPress 5.5 upgrade. Updating theme to default theme seems to be loading the comments properly on the posts. You can check the following link to know more about it:

https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comments-not-showing-in-posts-after-wordpress-5-5-update/

This link is significant because Motor City Radio Flashbacks is not the only website having experienced, or currently experiencing the missing “comments” problem! The link indicates others are experiencing the same “comments’ issue we now have, after the 5.5 upgrade on their WordPress websites as well.

So here is where we currently stand.

The WordPress tech recommended using another “theme” template (ours is Daily Post) or reverting our Daily Post theme to default. Since I am not clear even as having understood their recommendation nor as to how in following, I am not willing to take that one chance — it may be I could lose everything we’ve done in the past eight years to where the website is today, archives, posts, etc., I won’t go there.

As to an optional switch to a different theme at this time, in 2013 we tried that. Twice.

They are not all the same, functions were different in appearance of our posts as well. And so we went back to our initial Daily Post theme, and we’ve been happy with what we have here, ever since.

Not sure if the “comments” will return soon. But I suggest you can still post your comments (I can read them in the site’s dashboard) — despite they are not currently visible — they will be automatically archived, once having been approved. Thus far, we have well-over 2,000 of your comments here. Including several more having been added to date — as recently as yesterday — right here on Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

Aside of all this, as of late last evening and as of today, Motor City City Radio Flashbacks is up and running normally. As before.

Again, WordPress is fully aware of this particular problem, having outlined. It is our hope the WordPress team will find a viable fix and visibly “restore” every single one of your comments, you posted on the site, from past to date.

We sincerely appreciate and enjoy reading every single one of your comments. In the meantime, please stay safe, enjoy your Labor Day Monday!

MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

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NEW! WKNR KEENER 13 ON THE RADIO: MAC OWENS

**WKNR RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WKNR-AM 1310 * 1970 * MAC OWENS**

MAC OWENS WKNR aircheck date: MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1970

— SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT —

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to our newest website contributor, Peter Faulkner, of Calgary, Alberta, for recently donating this WKNR-AM radio aircheck (he personally recorded in 1970) with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

**THE PETER FAULKNER COLLECTION**

THIS WEEK IN AMERICA! BILLBOARD HOT 100: 09/10/66

**BILLBOARD HOT 100** (*week-ending*) September 10, 1966

BILLBOARD HOT 100 TABULATED BY RECORDS RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY

BILLBOARD HOT 100 SEPTEMBER 4-10, 1966

** A MCRFB VIEWING TIP **

ON YOUR PC?To fully appreciate this Billboard Hot 100 September 10, 1966 chart feature click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap on above Billboard chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” chart across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

A BILLBOARD CLASSIC ’45 AD FLASHBACK! 09/04/1965

THE BROTHERS FOUR on COLUMBIA RECORDS

—1965—

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ON YOUR PC? Click on ad image 2x for largest detailed size.

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over Billboard ad image. Open to second window. “Stretch” across your device screen to magnify for larger print view.

The above Billboard ad was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

A BILLBOARD CLASSIC ’45 AD FLASHBACK! 09/04/1965

THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL on KAMA SUTRA RECORDS

—1965—

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ON YOUR PC? Click on ad image 2x for largest detailed size.

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over Billboard ad image. Open to second window. “Stretch” across your device screen to magnify for larger print view.

The above Billboard ad was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

DETROIT’S TOP 40 BEST SELLERS: THIS WEEK! 09/04/1965

BILLBOARD 1965 TOP SELLERS IN TOP MARKETS

—DETROIT—

Week Ending September 4, 1965

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THIS (Detroit) CHART IS BASED upon territorial sales of the Top 40 single records as reported by retail stores in 15 top markets, respectively. This chart applies to the Detroit market.

Total markets including Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; New Orleans; New York; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland; Detroit; Los Angeles; Miami; San Francisco; Seattle; St. Louis; Washington.

** A MCRFB VIEWING TIP **

ON YOUR PC? To fully appreciate this Billboard Detroit top-selling singles chart from this week in 1965, click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap on image. Open to second window. “Stretch” chart image across your device screen to magnify for larger print view.

NEW! BIG 8 CKLW ON THE RADIO: JOHNNY WILLIAMS

**CKLW RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**CKLW-AM 800 * 1973 * JOHNNY WILLIAMS**

NEW! JOHNNY WILLIAMS CKLW aircheck date: FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1973

— SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT —

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to our latest website contributor, Christopher Bigaoulette, of Norman, Oklahoma, for recently donating this 1973 CKLW aircheck with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

**THE CHRISTOPHER BIGAOULETTE COLLECTION**

— IN MEMORY —

Johnny Williams passed away on April 16, 2020

560 ‘HONEY RADIO’! JAM PRODUCTION SERIES: WHND

**WHND ‘JAM’ Jingle Pak on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WHND-AM * 1982 * ALL OLDIES**

**CLASSIC ‘JAM’ HONEYRADIO WHND JINGLES**

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This 1982 “All Oldies” jingles pak was the second set of jingles launched by JAM Productions (Dallas) for WHND 560 AM. The first JAM ‘Back Seat Music’ jingle package, first introduced on Honey Radio when the station went with live DJs in 1980, can be heard on this site, HERE

CHANGES BIG NAMES POLICY: MOTOWN GOES OUTSIDE TO GET TALENT . . . SEPTEMBER 4, 1965

From the MCRFB NEWS archives: 1965

Motown Records Expands Into Big Name Artists Repertoire; Finds UK Expansion Abroad

DETROIT — The Tamla-Motown organization recently reversed its general policy of creating its own big names and has been adding standard acts to its roster, including Billy Eckstine, Tony Martin and Connie Haines. Other big names – most of whom haven’t had hit records in some time – are expected to be added to the fold.

Taking care of Motown business. Smokey Robinson and Barney Ales circa 1965.

“One of the reasons these artists haven’t had hit product lately, “Vice-President and Sales Manager Barney Ales said, “is that they haven’t been recorded with an appeal to the record-buying public. We want to give them our sound.”

The “Detroit Sound” has been tremendously successful; the firm’s batting average is the envy of the record industry. As of this week, President Berry Gordy Jr. can point to 9 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart (another just dropped off last week) and four of these were in the top 20. Two weeks ago, the firm had 12 singles on the chart. The label also now has seven LP’s in the top of the chart. “Where Did Our Love Go,” by the Supremes, has been on the LP chart 51 weeks.

What makes all of this fantastic, however, is that the firm released very few singles so far this year – only 32, according to Phil Jones, marketing and research director. “Five of these records were million-sellers,” he said. “Ninety per cent hit the charts.”

Five singles turned out by Gordy reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. These included three by the Supremes, one by the Four Tops and one by the Temptations. Jones said that “I Can’t Help Myself” by the Four Tops sold a million and a half records. “But we have 10 or 12 artists that constantly have hits,” Jones said. “I feel we’ve made more artists than any other label.”

It was felt that with the present splurge of signings, which included Jack Soo, the Lewis Sisters and Barbara McNair, the firm was branching into more album product. Jones said that Tamla-Motown first intended to give these new signings a hit single. “They seem to be able to sell albums better that way.

“We’ve been putting out a limited number of albums -12 or so this year. Out of that, 10 have been on the charts and seven are still on,” Jones said. “All of these albums have proper timing – the artists are hot. I don’t consider it any sense to turn out catalog product; it’s too difficult to compete with the budget lines.

“What we’re doing is signing people with talent that will fit in with material we’ve already got on hand. Our success can be attributed in part to the great producers we have working for us. For instance, the songwriting and producing team of Brian Holland, Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier have turned out six or seven releases this year, of which four have reached the No. 1 position on the chart and two or three reached the top 10.”

Smokey Robinson, the lead singer with the Miracles, also writes and produces, and Jones said that product director (and Motown producer, songwriter) Mickey Stevenson “has also come up with quite a few hits.”

The label recently expanded overseas, and Jones and Ales left Sunday (Aug. 23) to meet with EMI officials in England to discuss establishing closer ties and more effective marketing for the label. “What we hope to do,” Jones said, “is make all of our artists as successful in England as the Supremes are there.” END

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Information and news source: Billboard; September 4, 1965

MOTOWN MONDAYS! MOTOWN ON CBS’ ED SULLIVAN

THE MOTOWN SOUND

— The Ed Sullivan Show —

The entire Ed Sullivan Show catalogue hits the streaming platforms!

On June 12, came exciting news Universal Music Enterprises and Sofa Entertainment brokered a deal to license and make available the entire Ed Sullivan video performances from the Sofa library, who acquired the entire catalogue in 1990. UME will make available the entire catalogue for public streaming in restored, digitized form, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Since its premiere launch on June 12, more videos have been added on the official Ed Sullivan You Tube channel, many having highlighted the Motown sound. As was reported, it will take three years to upload the more than 10,000 performances which aired Sunday evenings on CBS-TV from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971.

The host of the show, Ed Sullivan, passed away on October 13, 1974. He was 73.

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For more info on this story, go HERE.

THE ED SULLIVAN MOTOWN CLASSICS!

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NEW! On this ‘Motown’ Monday we are featuring three classic Motown video performances from the Ed Sullivan Show:

The Supremes (1970), The Temptations (1967), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1968)

MORE Ed Sullivan Motown performances will be forthcoming on Motor City Radio Flashbacks!