Here’s another in a former series from Steve McVie. Hot Hits! CHR formatted WCAU-FM 98-Now. It’s Philly Top 40 at its best. Another Mike Josephs’ formatted station.
Hot Hits! WCAU-FM “98-Now” | 1983 Scoped
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Awsome aircheck! This collection totally eptiomizes what 80s radio was all about, GREAT TIMES! It also pays homeage to when Top 40/CHR was real format with real artist and not the excuse for a format it is today with fake groups ie:Back Street Boys, Brittney Spears, and all these black rappers trying to sugar coat their rap as ‘hip hop’. God it would be great to have a retro format that sounded and operated like WACU.
One question though. In the aircheck, right after they announce the 10,000 dollar winner, the narrorator comes on over a song, what is it’s title? That song sounds great! It starts at 16:01 and runs unitl about 16:30.
Brady, Glenn Kalina here. I was the swing jock originally and became the noon -3 jock replacing Bob Garret in 82. I was also the only Music Director during the entire CAU FM run and also became A.P.D. I was the narrator on the piece. The music you asked about is somethinbg we just found in the production studio and used a 30 second clip of it. No idea who the artist or song is unfortunately.
Glad you enjoyed! It was a truly memorable time in my life.
Glenn Kalina
What a fantastic aircheck. Obviously at that time, the format war was on in Philadelphia.
I have always been a fan of hot hits. I became aware of Terry (Motor Mouth) Young because of it. I was blown away after the first time I heard him.
I wonder if a similar approach to what existed in the 80s on WCAU FM would work today with a bigger playlist?
Without question WCAU was THE best station. Growning up in Philly listening
to that one station is the reason why I’ve been in radio for the past 19 years.
Glenn, Rich, Billy, Terry, and Bill where amazing too listen to, and the music was just as amazing.
I have to comment on Brads comments concerning today’s music. I feel bad you are so negitive on the music of today. There where many bad songs back in the 80’s just as there are today.. As for the “Black” reference, please remember there would never have been “Rock & Roll” with out the “BLACK” influence!!!
No color lines, just good music!!!
Jammer Naylor,
After several months away from this site I return to see many comments. In regards to yours, my criticisims reflect directly on what I’ve heard/seen/wittnesed on top 40 radio of present times.
On the black influence, of course, where would rock be without greats such as BB King, Chuck Berry, and Mr. James Brown. What I’m illustrating is not a a race issue. It is the sad state of of present day top 40 radio. When it comes to black artist on top 40 here do you hear Brown, Berry or any other great black musician producing something that can truly be called music. nope, just rappers with there derogatory and poorly synthized ‘music‘ , none of which shows any apparent respect for the above mentioned greats.
Glenn,
It’s fantasic to hear from somebody that was so envolved in an outstanding radio enviorment such as WACU! It’s truly sad they don’t make them like that anymore…
Thanks for letting us know your out there and sharing your electrifying memories of this stellar station!
Sorry I’m so late to this party, but WOW!! What an unbelievable aircheck. Without question, it was the Hot Hits format and the precision of the Scott Walker’s, Glenn Kalina’s and Terry Young’s that fueled my passion for radio. I was in elementary school growing up in Philly and Sicklerville, NJ when ‘CAU flipped format to Hot Hits and exploded. Glenn, thanks for the memories, man…for real! And for carrying some of that fire over to the Q.
Great site. …Urgent: Does anyone know where or how I could find a copy of the WCAU fm-98 playlists from 1976 through 1981. The years of the disco and contemporary jazz music formats??? Thank You.
is there anyway to get any of the CAU-FM jingles. purchased Z100’s from Jam a few years ago. specifically looking for Philly Forecast 1,2,and 3 with no voice overs. aircheck took me back many years thanks.
Just found this web site and it brings back so many great memories. My 20 years in Philly were the greatest days of my life. Right now I’m back with CBS in Detroit. So far we’ve made a lot of changes and we’re in the process of creating another great top 40 sounding station. We play the hits of the 60′, 70’s and 80’s. Give it a listen at womc.com. Right now we’re looking for an afternoon drive talent who is a great up sounding CHR jock. Thanks again for the memories.
Glenn:
You replaced Bob Garrett in 1983—not 1982, Mike Kelly came from chicago to replace you on swing left in sept 1984 to WLS in chicago(wondering about his whereabouts)
WCAU FM was a fun station to listen to, I enjoyed those top40 days alot from sept 22 1981-november 9 1987.
Hi Everyone,
Found this site when i was searching Terry Young. The aircheck was fantastic! All of you jocks from Hot Hits were the soundtrack of my youth and a lot of my inspiration for what I do today. I have an Internet Radio Station and also a talk radio show.
I used to tape a lot of you to listen over and over again. Shamefully those tapes are gone. Terry and Glenn both took phone requests from me from time to time. I never forgot any of you and listening to these airchecks has sent me flying backwards in time.
Thank You ALL for your time during my youth in the suburbs of Philly. Feel free to contact me if you’d like. I would be honored if Terry or Glenn would do an interview for my talk show.
Joel Michalec, Owner
WBTM Radio
http://www.WBTM.info
Wow I listened to WCAU here in the burbs outside Philly. You guys came to our school *Tinicum* and played our teachers in a basketball game..good times!
The music played on 98 CAU FM truly was the B E S T. And let’s not forget the live Saturday Night Party Live @ PULSATIONS NIGHT CLUB. WOW what a great time to live in the Tri-State area. Radio was awesome. Lots of competition, many many format changes. Mostly for the better. What other city at that time could you travel to and hear just about every genre Rock, Modern, Oldies, Country, Soul, Pop, Soft Rock.. C’mon. WCAU FM most certainly put a huge spark into the market. Alot of stations were very aware of the numbers WCAU was getting, and got their own act together.
As I stated before, what a great time to live in the Tri-State area.