| The term, "oldies," refers to both popular music | | | | baroque pop, soul music, Motown, and bubblegum |
| from the 1950s-1970s and the radio format that | | | | pop. Oldies music also overlaps with classic rock |
| specializes in this type of music. "Golden oldies" | | | | which focuses on the rock music of the late |
| usually refers to oldies music exclusively from the | | | | 1960s and 1970s as well as newer music in a |
| 1950s-early 1960s. Oldies songs are typically from | | | | similar style.The phrase, "oldies but goodies," was |
| the R&B, pop and rock music genres but may | | | | first coined in 1957 by renowned deejay Art |
| also include country, movie soundtrack, novelty, | | | | Laboe who, at around that time, used to get |
| and other types of popular music played on the | | | | frequent requests from his listeners for songs |
| radio from around 1950-on. Pop music genres that | | | | from the early 1950s. A central figure in L.A. radio |
| had their heyday before the 1950s (e.g., ragtime, | | | | for over half a century, Laboe was the first |
| big band) are generally considered "too old" to be | | | | deejay to play rock and roll on the West Coast |
| included in the oldies radio format. Oldies music | | | | and one of the first to play black and white |
| radio stations, which typically feature bands and | | | | artists on the same show. In 1959, he put |
| artists such as (to name a few) Elvis Presley, Bill | | | | together the first LP to feature (mostly older) |
| Haley, Little Richard, Pat Boone, Sam Cooke, the | | | | songs by different artists. This immensely popular |
| Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, the | | | | compilation album, entitled "Oldies But Goodies," |
| Rascals, the Association, the Temptations, the | | | | stayed on Billboard's Top 100 LP's chart for over |
| Who, Elton John, and Fleetwood Mac, cover a | | | | three years and has, to date, spawned some 14 |
| wide variety of styles including early rock and roll, | | | | sequels. (Click here for a recent interview with |
| rockabilly, doo-wop, surf rock, girl groups, the | | | | Art Laboe. |
| British Invasion, folk rock, psychedelic rock, | | | | |