Maureen Carney listened to Bob Lobel's inaugural broadcast as an oldies jock on WODS this morning:

... Karen Blake kept referring to him as the "guest host". They're still playing music and taking calls but that needs to be worked out a little smoother. No sooner does a caller get on the air then they have to go to a commercial break. Lobel seemed (at least to me) a little ill at ease, which is to be expected. It's been 30 years since he's done a daily radio show, and we all know he's not a morning person. ...

The Herald reports Oldies 103.3 is replacing Dale Dorman with Bob Lobel. Bob Lobel? Yes, Bob Lobel. He'll be hosting what the station describes as a "very fresh" drivetime show with Karen Blake. No word if it's all talk or if we'll get to hear Lobel introduce the music you grew up with.

Oh yeah, it's Veterans Day, so what better time for Oldies 103 to go all Christmas all the time?

Christmas music, as repeated endlessly until the end of time by stations such as Oldies 103 and, of course, retailers all over, is driving Jesse Noyes insane. Won't you help? Or at least tell him whether he's the only person who feels that way?

Hit the pre-set for Oldies 103 this morning. Instead of Martha Ray and the Vandellas or Dale Dorman, I got Bing Crosby crooning about Christmas.

GAH! It's not even Thanksgiving, people.

Yechristian relays the news that oldies DJ Austin of Boston (WODS and WROR) died over the weekend:

... I once asked him if he were working at a radio station in Poughkeepsie, what would he call himself? He simply giggled back. ...

His real name: Malcolm Soll. WROR reports a scholarship fund has been set up for his youngest son.

It's not even Thanksgiving, and already WODS has gone over to its all-Christmas playlist (including the Village People singing some Christmas song to the music of "YMCA").

Jody: It's too soon!

Michael: We're not nearly ready for this. Still, he says he's grateful, because it reminds him he'll be spending Christmas far away:

... They don't play The Little Drummer Boy or White Christmas or the Chipmunk Song up in the Peruvian Andes. ...

If you want the WODS of old, and you're south of JP and aren't driving on 128, you should be able to pick up B 101 (actually, more like B 101.5) out of Providence. Meanwhile, could somebody tell our neighbors that Nov. 16 is really just a tad early to be turning on their Christmas lights?

Karen Blake, late of Star 93.7, is back on the air, on Oldies 103, 2-6 p.m.