Airchexx.com

More proof that FM radio in the 80s was unique and alive… here’s a look at two Pittsburgh FM stations – no two stations could be more different than these, WAMO 106.7 (Urban) and 100.7 “Double X” WXXP (Alternative).

This starts out with an unidentified female DJ and moves on to Derrick Allen on WAMO. Then over to crosstown WXXP with Paul Kramer.

WAMO continues as of this writing with an Urban format, WXXP has been gone since 1988 (you can read an archived article from the Daily Collegian dated 9/6/88 here.)

While the audio is perfectly normal for a typical Oldies outlet in the Steel City, there’s some mystique surrounding a radio station which has no logo that Google can find, our source tape is from a donator who specifically asked not to be identified, and there’s no date printed on the recording. We hear Bumper Morgan once, Lonnie Davis once, and a promo for Bill Worthington, but otherwise this is a rather ho-hum run of the mill Oldies station. The AM side of this aircheck is on 970 and now apparently is doing some other format, the FM is 94.5 and is still doing oldies… well, Classic Hits today.

Well, here’s something different. Definitely NOT top 40, not progressive or AOR, its something called “Modern Music”, a program which, I guess, aims to be an anti-something (society, commercial, establishment, etc.). Given what pop and rock music sounded like (not to mention disco) in 1979, it certainly achieves its goal of being different. Anyone remember this program?

WYEP is Public Radio is it not?

Who is WT?

Listening to this you’ll NEVER believe that it’s your LEEEEEEEeeeeeeaaader! from KB and elsewhere! Jack Armstrong has to be one of the most versatile jaws in radio, and to be working for Westinghouse Broadcasting…. who woulda thunk?

You’ll never believe this until you hear it. This is the MOR KDKA which was more soft and old sounding than it’s Boston counterpart WBZ 1030 was in ’75. But, it’s a special aircheck for a number of reasons, a subdued Armstrong is one, and the fact that this is really the first real KDKA aircheck we have on the site.

Yet another from Robyn Watts’ huge collection includes this generous dose of CHR from the Steel City. This is another one of those stations that’s apparently been gone for quite a number of years (which is why a google image search turns up nothing). Still, a great sounding late-80s version CHR station that really made it’s mark on Pittsburgh.

Suzy Waud… love that voice! Can one of our visitors tell us if she is the same as the female jock on our WLS AM/FM composite elsewhere on this site? We’d sure love to know! Be sure to leave a comment below.

Oh yes, this is short, but if you go back 16 years, believe it or not… hip hop was in it’s infancy, and very much mixed in with mainstream R&B. And, this is what it sounded like…

We’ve had this aircheck sitting in the shack for over a year now waiting for a good time to post… well, with the 8th anniversary of this show about a month away, now seems right.

Listen now to Stoney Richards and Banana Don Jefferson’s morning show – they went out with a bang. Another great aircheck of a market we sure need more airchecks from – Pittsburgh!

In honor of those who serve, Oldies station WWSW decided to give Vietnam Vets a chance to become DJs for a day. This is the result. Pretty cool, considering stations don’t usually take a chance like this in putting non-professionals on the air (although I might argue that some of today’s voice-tracked folks sound that way).

Anyway, while we’re celebrating Memorial Day with WABC Rewound, here’s something from a different part of the country.

Click HERE to Listen!

This is an interesting aircheck for a couple of reasons. First, you hear a 1980s version of the station in it’s Oldies incarnation, then it moves on to 1969 back to it’s days as a Country station.

For the jingle freaks, check out the female ‘Weep for Joy!’ cut… never heard anything like it.

From what I can gather doing a little research, WEEP began as a Top 40 station in 1961 after having been news for 7 months. They did Top 40 till 1965, then flipped to Country as you hear on this ‘check from 1969.

I can’t find any information as to when this became an Oldies station, or what the current format is – but I’d bet it’s now News Talk.

Click HERE to Listen!