Dear Ms. Alterman: In a recent column you wrote about a really groovy radio station in San Francisco, KMPX. You said you thought Detroit needs that kind of station - I agree!

I'm tired of radio stations that play the same songs over and over ... The stations seem to want all the songs they play to sound just alike, and last about 50 seconds so they'll have more time for advertisements and the disc jockey's remarks ...

Linda Ferguson
Harper Woods

By Loraine Alterman
Free Press Teen Writer

Well, Linda, if you were fiddling with the FM radio dial on Saturday, maybe you hit upon 99.5 and heard Arlo Guthrie singing.

And you probably said to youself, "I must be dreaming. Some of the grooviest today music on Detroit radio. Not Bobby Vinton's "Please Love Me Forever" for the umpteenth time."

Those sounds of artists like Arlo Guthrie, the Siegel-Schwall Blues Band or Joni Mitchell taped at the Living End weren't just a good dream. They were part of a new program every Saturday from 6-8 p.m. on WABX-FM called "Troubador" emceed by ABX station manager John Small who is turned on and tuned into the creative sounds of pop.

At the age of 30, John is supposed to be lost to what's happening today, according to the latest teenybop propaganda. He doesn't wear beads or pass out flowers and his hair doesn't cascade down his back.

In short, to those hung up on outward appearances John may look conservative. But mentally the man is together and he thinks creative pop music needs exposure.

As John says, "No one else wants to just let loose and program music like this in Detroit. It's difficult for record distributors and artists to get this played. Other cities have matured, and it's about time Detroit did the same."

In the past, WABX has been a good music station meaning an abundance of Andy Williams, Ray Conniff Singers, Henry Mancini and albums like that. This is fine for those who like it, but there are already too many good music stations in town. Of course, WABX also has had Jim Rockwell's jazz program all along and to me that was the only bright spot in their broadcast day.

Now, though, John is putting WABX on an exciting new track, but whether he increases his programming of creative pop is up to you: He wants to know if this is what you want to hear.

So if you're tired of the same old top 40 radio diet and want to hear the likes of The Cream, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Phil Ochs, or Joan Baez on radio write to John at WABX, 3307 David Stott Building, Detroit, 48226.

Listen, too, this Saturday, from 6-8 p.m. to hear The Misty Wizards, Ted Lucas and Dick Keelan, taped at the Living End.

Yes, Linda Ferguson, there is something you and everyone else who wants to hear the cream of the pop can do.