Going through the archives of donated materials, I seem to have forgotten about this one.
Who remembers this re-incarnation of WCFL as a contemporary music station? Apparently, according to WCFL Chicago Radio Timeline**(see note below), WCFL returned from MUZAK land, first as an All-News station in 1978-79, then flipped to an Adult Contemporary format in 1980. Who knew? Well, by 1981, then owner Mutual Broadcasting decided to add some popular personalities… Winston being one, Gary Gears another… and voila! WCFL was back, although quite a bit more subdued than the previous Top 40 years.
This is kinda funny, Winston is still a wisecracker, and someone calls in to say they are recording this for posterity, Winston fires back, ‘what, are you crazy? Trying to blackmail me or something hahaha‘
We’re lucky this survived all these years. Its from a time when WCFL tried a last ditch effort as a music station before going religious, then the huge days as WLUP-AM. Now, be forewarned. This took a lot of processing and sounds kinda wierd, since it was apparently an AM Stereo recording – from one of the early attempts at it like Khan, Hazeltine or something, and while there’s stereo separation in parts of this 30-plus minute aircheck, the receiver used in recording made it sound a bit grainy and there wasn’t much bass. That’s fixed here but it ain’t perfect so if it sounds funny, its not your computer! It would have helped if the person who originally digitized this had used a higher bit rate, but we can only use what’s available.
** The WCFL Chicago Timeline has apparently disappeared and in its place is we found a site with a trojan infection, which is why we removed the link to it. For your protection we strongly advise listeners to NOT search for any links to the WCFL Chicago Timeline.
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Thanks for posting this. Mutual put a lot of money into this AC/oldies format in a last-ditch effort to revive ‘CFL. Though it wasn’t a commercial success, it was awfully fun radio while it lasted. In addition to Fred, they brought over PD Dave Martin and jocks Dean Richards and Bob Kraft from WFYR. Jhani Kaye was at ‘CFL during this era, too.
It’s interesting to hear Jim Bohannan (a holdover from the old news/talk format) as Fred’s sidekick in this aircheck. Also, Fred is still getting comfortable with the format. At 6:00, he forgets to do the ID (“AM 1000, WCFL, Mutual Radio for Chicago.”) leading into the network news.
Oh, come on, someone rated this aircheck a 1 ????? Well I added a 5 to the mix, and take that! Come on, it’s Slick Daddy Fred!
Used to love to hear him driving to school in the mornings in SOUTH CAROLINA! Was hooked on the Big 89, in all dayparts in the ’70s. Best staff/jocks ever! Great to hear these guys/gals on the ‘net’ now, and love the WLS Big 89 Rewinds.
Radio is dead! They’re firing jocks left and right and going to this stupid Jack Radio or Steve FM with automated smart-ass one liners that is just putrid! I can’t listen to it.
Happy Holidays!
i loved to hear fred winston since i found him at wing in dayton., ohio.he has the best voice coupled with quick wit !!!!i wonder where he4 is now?
Yes on January 25, 2009…Radio is dead.
I remember listening to Fred on the way to work each day during that era. Fred was riding that fine line of quick wit and insanity like Johnathan Winters. Laughing to myself to tears many times.
I was glad to hear “Fill in Fred” on several stations over the last few years. (on WLS 94.7 most recently) If only briefly, he still has that great wit and brought back those smiles.