Big Jay Sorensen on the Time Machine: 66 WNBC New York: Summer 1988
Perhaps one of the most popular features of WNBC during its final years on the air was the Time Machine. Overnights & Weekends were definitely a special time, as WNBC recreated the sound of its 60s and 70s crosstown rival, WABC. In your humble webmaster’s opinion, WNBC actually did a better job with the old format than WABC did originally, if that’s even possible.
While an assortment of big named jocks like Dan Taylor were often a feature of the Time Machine, Big Jay Sorensen (who became legendary from this program!) is heard on this 11 minute scope of pure heaven. Included: a full newscast and a great Record Pig feature!
From the Aircheck Trader’s Board at our sister site, RadioInsight.com
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This is the way oldies radio SHOULD HAVE gone. The excitement of 1960’s top 40 radio was back at 66 wN…bc with The Time Machine.
The music was not chosen by consultants, ad lib lines were given, contests were played and excitement was there.
Jingles were plentiful. Commercial breaks never lasted six minutes. More like 2-3 minutes.
I listened most mornings while getting ready for work. I looked forward to starting my day with The Time Machine.
Steven Green
(Two time Record Pig winner…oink)
Thanks Steven for the kind words. I think that someone should have gone this route with Oldies presentation. XM’s 60’s channel comes close. Sirius (where I was for the first 3 years of 60’s Vibrations) didn’t…and I think it SHOULD have. I know that most Oldies programmers say that we live NOW and there should be a NOW kind of presentation. That’s fine, but perhaps SOME enterprising PD and GM would find it very interesting to do what we did (like XM is). Some stations have nothing to lose by trying it. I think that some AM station (or even a low rated FM) would be a perfect place to do it. But it MUST be done right. Listen to airchecks of Dan Taylor, Dale Parsons and me on WNBC. WE did it the right way. The music was really almost what we might call classic hits today. It rocked..but we played Motown and Soul too. Not too many ballads at all…ad the ‘verb and the jingles, and you got it. I haven’t heard this aircheck in years. It’s a hint of what I was doing every night on 66 WNBC in ‘87-’88.
Thanks to all who remember what I did there.
BE BIG!
Oh..and thanks to Matt for putting this up on his site. Very cool. Nice meeting you back in ‘04 for the WNBC/WYNY Reunion.
BE BIG!
Jay
Big Jay,
I loved listeing to you, Dan Taylor, & Bob James on the Time Machine back in 1987 & 1988. I was living then in Cherry Hill NJ, and WNBC came in very well. I truely miss radio like Thr Time Machine presented, as said before, “excitement”. I grew up listening to “Famous 56″ WFIL. THe Time Machine, and especially you, captured all of that. I haven’t heard a station come close since then. I do like what WABC is currently doing 6 - 10 pm on Saturday nights with Mark Simone, but it doesn’t compare to WNBC’s Time Machine.
Where are you now? I’d love to catch your show, whether it’s on line or on the air. I still live in South Jersey and would love to listen to you again.
By the way, was the answer to the Record Pig question Gordon Mcelendon? I’d love to know.
Please e mail me.
I am the moderator of the yahoo group “AMTOP40RADIO”. Steve Green is a member (what’s up Steve), and would love you to join in.
Sincerely,
Bill L
Sicklerville NJ
P.S. : I still bow when I hear “piggies” from the white album, because it will always remind me of “The King of Record Pigs” lol