Dennis Elsas on 102.7 WNEW-FM New York | 1978 (11:10)
Two classics are featured here. Dennis Elsas, who was an AOR jock at a few New York stations, spent most of his time at WNEW-FM. This MetroMedia station was, of course, the FM side to legendary standards station WNEW Eleven Three Oh, and over the course of 3 decades gained it’s own legendary status.
WNEW-FM gave up on Rock about 4 years ago, going first to ‘Hot Talk’, then flipping to Hot AC first as ‘Blink 102-7′, then to Mix - the format which remains as of this writing.
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dennis elsas originally started out as a weekend personality on wnew-fm and afterwards became their music director. one of the most significant and exciting momemts in radio history occurred in 1974 when john lennon appeared at the station and spent a couple of hours on the air with dennis. he read live spots on the air and premiered his new album at that time “walls and bridges. this was trully a monumental moment for dennis elsas and wnew fm because this station and its airstaff played every major rock artist way before any other station in its market. this station had credibility with the artists and its listening audience. dennis is very gifted when it comes to creating and crafting musical segues on the radio according to a common theme or some other common link he employs to connect the songs that he has chosen to play. in this particular aircheck of dennis elsas, you will get an idea of how incredibly ecclectic the musical selections were at that time. you will hear excerpts from boston, alan parsons, project, a deep cut from todd rundgren’s something anything collection and something from the pointer sisters. dennis elsas is currently doing afternoon drive on wfuv fm 90.7 public radio from fordham unniversity in new york.
Even though I’m young, 37. I miss WNEW very much. Pat StJohn, Dave Herman,
Scott Mueny,Carol MIller and Tony Pig will be in the back of mind for ever. To this day,I still think WNEW 102.7 fm was the best radio station in the world.The variety of music played by them was magical. I learned and experienced so many classic rock bands that otherwise, I would not have discovered if it weren’t for WNEW. One my wildest dreams is to someday see WNEW back in its full glory with the original format and with the DJs that made the station so special.
If you miss WNEW like I do, check out WFUV 90.7 FM, or WFUV.org. Dennis Elsas does the 2pm to 6pm shift. Alumni Vin Scelsa (Idiot’s Delight) and Pete Fornatale (Mixed Bag) also do their shows on the weekends as they did on ‘NEW. It’s a public radio station out of Fordham University that plays a great variety of some of the stuff you heard on WNEW, but a TON of new stuff from artists you never heard before. Check it out and enjoy!
I was a huge fan of the station for 31 years. In 1989 I participated in a radio contest in which I went to the station and listened to 24 hours of Barry Manilow records to win tickets to see the Who perform Tommy at Radio City Music Hall. I got to meet the DJ’s and sat 5th row left of center for the show. I did it on a dare…what is the most outrageous thing you would do for the tickets to see “Tommy.” I do miss the station and I miss the way they were able to capture the soundtrack of the 60’s and 70’s in the progressive rock fashion they were able. I really don’t think, in this age of such tight corporate ownership, you’ll ever see another station come along like that. Just as an update: Pat St. John is at Q104.3 in New York doing a Saturday morning show, Carol Miller does an overnight on Friday nights and Ralph Tortora, the last DJ to actually do a regularly scheduled music show there on 9/13/99 is also there.
I started listening to NEW in 1964 because i was getting tired of the AM format (Cousin Brucie; The Good Guys, etc. As soon as i heard Roscoe, I knew this was the station for me. I will always miss people like Roscoe, jonathen Strauss, Vince Scelsa, Allison Steele, etc. Wnew 102.7 NY will be sorely missed by me.
I was 15 when I started to listen to NEW around 1967. No other radio station came close to their format and playlist. Where else would you hear Clear Light, Lothar and The Hand People and The Illusion? I had met Vince Scelsa at a charity softball game back then and he was hilarious. Does anyone remember the NEW-FM calendars? Listeners were requested to send in their photos and maybe be selected for the centerfold. I was lucky to get picked 3 different years.
closest we can now get to the old NEW is on XM RADIO on Deep Tracks - can be hit or miss though
Hi.
I’m listening to “Dick” Neer (sorry, Richard)on the fan:a caller informs Richard about a new web site commemorating the greatest rock station ever..WNEW.IWondered why Mr. Neer was not privy to this great project. Water under the bridge!For whatever reason there may be,please get him involved.He is part of the class and free- form history that helped shape the greatest rock station ever.
Qiuck trivia question.Do you remember what the name of the un official anthem was nfor WNEW?
A song called “The Wind”by Circus Maximus.That is a great song,today.i HAVE SO MUCH MORE i’D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.WNEW has been a part of my life since my older sister introduced me to it in 1967.WNEW:Where rock lived…and will always be remembered.I only wish we could revive it.I’m willing to try,if you have any ideas let me know.
LONG LIVE FREE FORM RADIO!!!!
Ron C. S.I.N.Y.
Nothing like it. Scotty’s show on a rainy afternoon playing songs that just fit with his comments or Roscoe reciting stories about “when she puts her clothes on” or the three guys who won’t be coming back from Nam. You know these stories that he’d do. His friday night close of Lee Michaels sing along(Hiddy-Hi). Yeah you remember those. Allison with the flute opening and readings to join her night flight. No one talks about Zackerly(before he went to 95.5) he rocked them too. Or Johny Michaels in the morning if he was sober. All this with the war going on the draft looming and the tension in the air, you guys know what I mean. These were dangerous times for young men and women, the music was vital and alive. WNEW stepped out and distanced itself from top 40 bullshit to unreal jams presented by radio personalities that seem to turn ordinary radio into something different and interesting. Where has it all gone?
Kyran Brennan
Paso Robles,Ca.
WNEW-FM 102.7 was TRULY the greatest rock & roll station of our time, I’m 54 years old, I remember the John Lennon interview, I remember when someone wanted to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge, and the only person he wanted to talk to was Scott Muni, and Scott talked him out of doing it, and it was all captured LIVE ON THE AIR !!!!!
I can go on and on, but there isn’t enough time, the music was incredible and the on-air personality’s were one of a kind, Dave Herman, Pete Fornatale, Dennis Elsas, Scott Muni, The Night Bird Allison Steele, Jonathan Schwartz, Vin Scelsa, Tom Morrera, It’s a time and place that I miss very much.
All I can say is WNEW FM 102.7 Where Rock was born and used to live.
Thank goodness for Sirius. I can still here some of the NEW air personalities. Thats what they were and are. They were not DJ’s.
All the memories and live concert broadcasts. You don’t get much of that anymore.
Yeah, I remember. Jonathan reading a story about the picture on a cigarette package. Rosco offering a comment to use when attacked for something (”Yeah, you’re right. But I’m working on it”.). Late night craziness with Zacherly. Cheech and Chong reading the traffic report w/ Dave Herman. It doesn’t seem that long ago. But it does seem to be needed now.