Rick Shaw & John MacFlannagan on 610 KFRC San Francisco | October 10, 1976 (13:36) Scoped
This aircheck is so good, I don’t know where to begin!
This is arguably one of the very best airchecks I’ve ever heard. If WABC New York is considered the greatest Top 40 station of all time, then 610 KFRC has to be the west coast’s answer to MusicRadio 77.
Actually, west coast Top 40 was significantly different than it’s east coast counterpart, so in this regard there’s really no comparison - and no equal. KFRC was, in it’s own way, really THE very best Top 40 in America. There was no echo, but they didn’t need it. The station engineers must have been geniouses - KFRC’s processing was so good that the music literally lept out of the speakers, but WITH NO DISTORTION!
Probably the best part of the KFRC sound was the jocks and incredible production. When you listen to this aircheck, remember, all this was done manually with no fancy computer toys. All the imaging was done with a reel of tape and a razor blade. These guys were the best in their trade - and it showed as KFRC was rewarded with the consistantly highest ratings in San Francisco… a feat accomplished by an AM station running only FIVE THOUSAND WATTS!!!
Enough of the technical stuff. The quality of this aircheck was so good that I didn’t do any processing at all. What you hear is what came off the tape - and folks, I’d argue that what comes out of your computer’s speakers sounds better than ANY AM station today
Now… enough talk. Just listen!
Click HERE to Listen!
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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I remember reading an Arbitron book in the 70’s and KFRC had a FIFTY PERCENT SHARE 12+!! That was an amazing feat! The station has some great talent through the years, including Dr. Don Rose, Charlie Van Dyke, Bobby Ocean, John MacFlanagan, Marvelous Mark, Rick Shaw and others. What a great station!
Yeah I believe you’re correct. When radio people tell me how great WABC or WLS was, I have to remind them that KFRC was probably pound-for-pound far better than either. And… KFRC did it without the fancy echo gimmicks, just by putting the best talent in the nation on and playing the hits.
Now you know why my ham radio callsign is K1FRC!
Steve…have to agree..KFRC was simply amazing and it’s the reason I’m in radio today. I had the good fortune of programming KWSS in San Jose from 86-89 when my midday guy was none other than my idol, John Mack Flanagan. John was in my opinion the best Top 40 afternoon guy ever! I hope you run across more KFRC and JMF airchecks!
The name is actually John Mack Flanagan — he was named after the movie cowboy John Mack Brown.
After learning of Dr. Don Rose’s passing last yesterday, I was out looking around on the web for stuff KFRC related. Oh man! This aircheck brings back memories! I was a junior in high school in Santa Rosa (50 miles north of SF) at the time this one was made. I’m in awe. What a wonderful trip down memory lane. Thanks so much!
73, (Yep, I’m a ham goober too!)
Ken N6MHG
Yep, I remember this VERY SHOW, driving to work at a Drive-in in Salinas, listening to my idol JMF with another Fantastic 610 promotion! In later years, my the my idol hooked up for visits at the big 610 and at KWSS in San “patyhose” Ay (trib to DDR). And glad to say both were a big influence in my radio career. Thanks for this memory!
Like every one above, I truely enjoyed the Big 610 KFRC. Living in Santa Cruz and in high school durring the time, I blasted the sounds that rocked the Montery Bay too and fro. I also had the time to listen to WLS and XROK-80 the next on my list of Top 10 radio. In any case, thank you all who had made KFRC what it was and will always be remembered to be. Sadly KFRC-610 am is no longer, but the memory lives on and on.
As also a fell ham radio gobber, and to Steve, I like your call sign.
Take care and keep the 610 in our thoughts
Mike W6WLS
I was 17 and remember winning a ski trip to Squaw Valley and sitting next to Rick Shaw on the bus. That was before the days of having to be 18 to do anything.(Long ass time ago. 24 years to be exAct.) holy mOly.
Plus!!!! what the heck happened to KSJO???????? Cali radio has gone to the perros..(dogs)
I can remember sitting in my HighSchool parking lot smoking a joint, listening to DDR….What a way to start a day…………..A Hooter and DDR
I was in the Navy in the late 60’s and was stationed aboard the USS Coral Sea, which was home based in the Bay Area. We spent the spring-summer of ‘68 in SF. KFRC was constantly played on the ship’s entertainment speakers so this check brings back great memories of the Big 610. I miss the great Drake jingles of that time though. This check sounds fabulous, was it recorded off the board?
Ah yes, Ive heard these formatics before.
When KING “The BIG 11″ in Seattle finally began to get some traction in the market, a fellow by the name of Andy Barber popped up on KING. Having heard KFRC while in San Fransisco, I wondered if ol’ Andy had done time there. KING was good, but the big 610 wrote the book. Too bad someone let the air out of the AM balloon before we could witness the next step. Now dont get me wrong, there’s not a thing wrong with FM stereo, but there is something about that fat AM signal, from far, far away. On a clear night, the skywave god would smile upon us.
This is a great, great, (c’mon…one more…) GREAT check. Thanks so much.