Airchexx.com » Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh FMs - A tale of Contrasts | 1980s

Steve West — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:20:22 +0000

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.)

Pittsburgh FMs – A tale of Contrasts | 1980s is a post from: Airchexx.com

Hy Lit, 104.5 WSNI Philadelphia | May 18, 1985

Steve West — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:20:32 +0000

The late, legendary Hy Lit is featured in this Saturday night oldies show hosted by him. Notables: WSNI is an AC formatted station that does Oldies during weekends. Listen carefully to the (brief) glimpses of music and you’ll know instantly that Lit brought in RECORDS for this event… some scratches come through.!

Probably best known for his time at WIBG, Hy Lit passed away in 2007 after 3 decades in radio.

Hy Lit, 104.5 WSNI Philadelphia | May 18, 1985 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Lonnie Davis, Bumper Morgan & Ray Davis, WWSW 3WS AM/FM Pittsburgh

Steve West — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:00:49 +0000

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.

Lonnie Davis, Bumper Morgan & Ray Davis, WWSW 3WS AM/FM Pittsburgh is a post from: Airchexx.com

"WT" With Modern Music, 91.3 WYEP Pittsburgh | July 12, 1979

Steve West — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:30:53 +0000

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?

“WT” With Modern Music, 91.3 WYEP Pittsburgh | July 12, 1979 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Jackson Armstrong on KDKA Pittsburgh | October 12, 1975

Steve West — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 05:14:52 +0000

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.

Jackson Armstrong on KDKA Pittsburgh | October 12, 1975 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Suzy Waud on Energy 105 WNRJ Pittsburgh | October 27, 1989

Steve West — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 15:43:41 +0000

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.

Total Time: 6:24 | Stereo

Suzy Waud on Energy 105 WNRJ Pittsburgh | October 27, 1989 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Paul Kramer on Mix Jamz 100.7 WMXP Pittsburgh | April 11, 1990

Steve West — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 08:20:44 +0000

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…

Total Time: 3:33 | Stereo

Paul Kramer on Mix Jamz 100.7 WMXP Pittsburgh | April 11, 1990 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Banana Don's Final Show on 100.7 WZPT Pittsburgh | January 31, 1997

Steve West — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 05:00:55 +0000

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!

The logo represents WZPT as it is today – HotAC. But in ‘97, this was a “Classic Hits” station.

Total Time: 1:09:53 | Format: Real Audio G2 | Monaural

Banana Don’s Final Show on 100.7 WZPT Pittsburgh | January 31, 1997 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Memorial Day Special - Vietnam Veterans guest DJ on WWSW "3WS" Pittsburgh | May 29, 1995

Steve West — Wed, 25 May 2005 13:59:35 +0000

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!

Memorial Day Special – Vietnam Veterans guest DJ on WWSW “3WS” Pittsburgh | May 29, 1995 is a post from: Airchexx.com

WEEP 1080 Pittsburgh Composite

Steve West — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 15:22:47 +0000

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!

WEEP 1080 Pittsburgh Composite is a post from: Airchexx.com