I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. really easy to read and well written perfect for anyone interested in radio or just a good book. Highly recommend

Although I am not familiar with the author as a radio DJ, as a writer he is brilliant. A witty memoir about a time we all remember, definitely worth a read

I used to work in radio in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. It’s how I met my husband, who got his start in radio in the 1970’s. Every month or two, in non-Covid times, we get together with a group of deejays who I listened to growing up and they reminisce and I soak it all up. I’ve always loved the music of my brothers and sisters (who grew up in the 1970’s) as much as the music I grew up listening to in the 1980’s. So when I saw Radio Daze 1970-1976 (Amazon) offered by NetGalley and Cracker Box Publishing in exchange for an honest review, I decided to take another trip down memory lane.

I’m really not sure how to describe this book, because quite frankly, McKracken was a DJ, but writes about his life. He spends a lot of time writing about how horrible his mother was. Seriously, chapters devoted to it. So his home life wasn’t great, but it led to the perfect setup: a teacher discovering this class clown, who joked around to hide how horrible his home life was, and telling him he should try out for the school play. McKracken gets the part, hears the applause, and his life was changed. He suddenly had focus.

Mitch grew up in Memphis, and through a high school project that involved interviewing a successful person (he picked George Klein, the deejay that was one of Elvis Presley’s inner circle), he found a mentor. Klein and several other deejays took McKracken under their wings, helped him make an air-check reel (audition tape), and got a job working as a DJ not long after that.

You’d expect the book to be full of all the interesting things that happened while Mitch was a deejay, but instead we hear about his turbulent private life with a string of women, some real tragic stories, instead of his life behind the console. When he mentions well known or skilled musicians whom he met through his work as a deejay, he might share one anecdote and move on, or simply say “he was a great interview.” I’m not sure who his editor was, but I would have asked for more stories about radio, you know, like the title implies?

I ended up DNF about 80% through the book because I wasn’t going to get what I wanted out of the book. It’s not as if McKracken were some big name deejay, either. He’s just a guy who was a deejay for a couple of decades like my husband, and he wrote a book about his life, of which radio played a part. There’s only so much I could take of the failed romances and the hatred of his mother I could take. The fact that his shining moment of 1971-1976 was interviewing a Jim Morrison impersonator should tell it all.

Not at all what I was expecting. The title and description would lead you to believe this was a book about 1970’s free form radio. That made up a small portion of this book. It is actually a memoir that recounts in excruciating detail growing up in a dysfunctional family and having failed romances. The casual storytelling style would be more enduring if it wasn’t for the repetitive nature of the stories. How many times can you say how mean your mother was? Sorely in need of an editor. Not recommended

Radio Daze 1970-1976 is a coming of age memoir with funny, interesting, and sometimes tragic stories from a class clown turned into confident DJ and music promoter.
It was an easy and enjoyable read with a lot of heart.

3 Stars

I picked up this book because although I was born in the sixties, I became musically "aware" in the seventies, and I love that decade of music the most. I remember fondly listening to my favorite radio stations in the NYC/tri-state area, and my mom buying me my treasured first Sharp stereo with the neon blue radio station lighting. I also remember teaming up with my older brother to call evening DJ Alison Steele (The Nightbird), getting her on the phone and requesting a Black Sabbath song to be played- which she did.

I wasn't expecting this author to dwell so heavily on his truly vindictive and abusive mother at the beginning. It was so depressing that I probably would have stopped reading this if I hadn't been reviewing it. But I pressed on, reading about his lousy time at school, later to be redeemed by a singular teacher. This teacher managed to read and reach Mitch as no other had, and convinced him to try out for a part in a play. It was as if the angels sang, as MItch truly found something he was both good at and loved. It was the spark to his better life. Mitch began to do better in school, that being the leverage to allow him to keep appearing in those plays. A class assignment led him to interview George Klein, a famous Memphis DJ who was great friends with Elvis Presley. They hit it off, and George mentored Mitch in the business of working at a radio station.

From here the story transitioned to a beautiful young girl named Betsy that Mitch had a crush on, but led to a shocking and tragic end. Another relationship with a girl named Pat included an extremely sad and horrific story where she had a drug habit, and also got kidnapped and raped. Mitch also was victimized financially at a time when he was doing very well, which involved a music publication, Stax Records and some corrupt bank officials.

Mitch's hometown was Memphis and he often worked there, but as often happens in the radio broadcasting industry, you get fired and move around the country to get jobs at other radio stations. Through his various jobs, he was able to meet and sometimes interview musical celebrities such as Melissa Manchester, Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul McCartney and Alice Cooper.

I had "buyer's remorse" because I thought the book would concentrate more on the inner workings of radio stations, celebrating the great musical artists of the seventies, and be a really pleasant nostalgia trip. There were sporadic instances of this, but I was less interested in reading about this little known DJ (I've never heard of him) and his utterly depressing childhood and tragic/failed romantic relationships. The book ended rather abruptly stating that the story would pick up in a follow-up book called "Still Dazed, But Not Confused". Sorry, but I won't be reading that installment.

Thank you to the publisher BooksGoSocial for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

The best years of radio, in my opinion. Album oriented music of the best sort! It was fun reading about Mr. McCracken's experiences and what happened behind the scenes! I enjoyed his back stories of his life, too. It was a quick, entertaining read. My town lost really great radio by the late 1970's, early 80's. Sad. More dj's from the 60's and 70's should write their memoirs.

This was not at all what I expected. In many ways it was better!

The first 3rd talks about the author's childhood, youth, & and experiences with girls. I could really relate to much of what was written. And then the last 50-75% talks about his early experiences in the music business. I could also relate to parts; I was a college dj for 4 years, interviewed name artists, & eventually became a professional musician (the author chose to focus on radio & record promotion).

Hard to explain without getting more personal than I wish to here, but the author's experiences especially in the first part of the book really touched me.

The 2nd part was more what I expected when I chose to review the book. He worked for several radio stations & record companies & has some interesting stories to tell. Very easy, enjoyable, fast read. At the end of the book he states there is a part 2. I very much want to read that.

Great stuff for anyone interested in the music business 7 also for those interested in young love, heartbreak & dysfunctional families.

I love radio and the DJs and talkers who populate it. I am not familiar with Mitch McCracken and am not a big fan of rock and roll stations. Nonetheless, his book is captivating. The stories are great, moving, and powerful and really grabbed me. He kept me interested. The stories begin with his life and his parents and his loves and his disappointments and how he got into the radio business and some of the adventures. I don't envy him his life, it is very dramatic, and not an easy life, but his narrative did grab me and kept me tuned in. The book ends promising a sequel and I'm on board. So, sorry I don't know your voice, Mitch, but I love your stories, you are very captivating and, yes, I would agree, you were born to be in radio. And the Jim Morrison post death interview was quite the chapter.