Producer's Tea Party
Question of the Week: What store do you miss the most?
Laura: Fashion Bug
Before Torrid, before Maurices... there was Fashion Bug. It was the place to spend an afternoon window shopping, pretending I had a paycheck bigger than my reality. And let's be honest—I still miss those jeans. They just fit differently, and somehow every trip felt like you were about to discover the greatest clearance rack in history.
Bobby: Tower Records
For Bobby, this one is personal. His first introduction to Tower Records actually came from Xanadu, where Michael Beck's character, Sonny Malone, worked as a replication artist, turning album covers into the giant promotional displays outside record stores. Growing up in Booneville, there wasn't a local record store, so crate digging meant making a trip to the city.
When Tower Records opened in Fort Smith, it was a game changer. They stocked picture discs, imports, and albums that weren't just whatever happened to be on the radio. It became the place to hunt for music you couldn't find anywhere else. And after Flash Gordon became the very first movie Bobby ever saw in a theater, Tower Records was the only place he could find the soundtrack to bring that experience home.
Renee: Toys "R" Us
"I used to love going there as a kid and playing with all the toys. I don't wanna grow up..."
Let's be honest... walking through those automatic doors felt like entering another world. Even if you left empty-handed, you still got to spend an hour convincing yourself you absolutely needed that one toy.
Spill the Tea: What store do you miss the most? Was it a record store, toy store, mall staple, or somewhere only your hometown remembers? Let us know—we're always up for a little nostalgia.
Trivia about the King of Chaos
So in this newsletter- We’ve hinted at two of the first three movies Bobby saw in theaters…
Can you guess the third?
If you’ve been around long enough, this won’t be a hard guess."
The Producer's BlackList
The songs Bobby can't legally play on the Rock King Radio Show... but Laura can still introduce you to every week.
Welcome to The Producer's BlackList—your backstage pass to the tracks that never make it onto the air. Whether they're forgotten album cuts, too explicit for broadcast, too long for the clock, or just don't fit the radio format, these are the songs every rock fan deserves to hear.
This Week's BlackList Pick
Accept – "Balls to the Wall" (50th Anniversary Edition)
To celebrate one of heavy metal's most iconic anthems, Accept has unleashed a special 50th Anniversary edition of "Balls to the Wall." This powerhouse version features an all-star lineup: Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Matthias Jabs (Scorpions), Rex Brown (Pantera), and Jason Bowld (Bullet for My Valentine), breathing new life into the classic while honoring everything that made the original legendary.
It's loud. It's heavy. It's packed with guitar firepower. And while you won't hear it blasting through the speakers during the Rock King Radio Show, it's exactly the kind of song that belongs on every rock fan's playlist.
Because sometimes the best songs are the ones radio can't play.
Balls to the Wall (feat. Rob Halford, Matthias Jabs, Rex Brown, Jason Bowld) - song and lyrics by Accept, Rob Halford, Matthias Jabs, Rex Brown, Jason Bowld | Spotify
No one tell him this is here- I’ll never hear the end of it.
You ever notice there are just some people who can walk into a room and the entire atmosphere changes?
Bobby's one of those people.
He's got this weird combination of Sonny Malone from Xanadu—the guy who somehow stumbles into adventure without trying—and Prince, who could walk into a room wearing literally anything and somehow convince everyone it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen. Bobby has that same "main character" energy. He can turn a trip to the gas station into a story, a trip to Walmart into a social event, and a five-minute errand into an hour-long conversation because apparently everyone knows him... or at least feels like they should.
The man can create fun out of thin air.
He can also create chaos out of absolutely nothing.
It's honestly impressive.
I've watched him unintentionally start conversations with complete strangers, somehow become everyone's favorite person in the room, and then wander off while I'm left wondering how we now have three new friends, a random invitation to a concert, and somehow volunteered to have a meeting with something next week.
Meanwhile, I'm standing there clutching my G-Fuel like an emotional support beverage, wondering if it's too late to pretend I don't know him.
He's the kind of person who makes people laugh without trying, makes awkward situations disappear, and reminds everyone around him that life's a lot more fun when you stop taking everything so seriously.
...He's also the reason he can't make a "quick stop" anywhere.
So here's to our resident walking concert, professional storyteller, and certified chaos magnet. The world needs people who bring a little extra energy into it.
I just wish they'd occasionally bring a watch.
-Laura
