Here’s a scope of Channel 95 from 1964. DJ Mike Phillips went on to greatness at KFRC San Francisco, but here he is in Seattle, working his trade at KJR. This aircheck features the early 60’s sound of Top 40 radio, complete with early PAMS Jingles (the WABC “Chime Time” version is used here). I should remember the cut number, but I’m having a memory block here tonight.
Once again, the audio quality is fantastic. I am beginning to suspect that whomever provided this cassette to me had a vynl copy of these airchecks. There’s very little tape noise and this sounds, literally, just as it did when it came out someone’s AM radio speaker. Someone, after listening to this, pen a letter to a few broadcast engineers and ask them why even on talk stations, why the frequency response at those stations here in 2004 is so poor as compared with 40+ years ago. I know the answer, but I’ll let some BE give us his opinion.
If you’re old enough to remember this era of KJR, you’ll certainly enjoy this trip down memory lane!
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Listen how slick Mike was when he started the bobby goldsboro record on the wrong speed. Without missing a beat, he speeds it up to 45. He nails every post!
This aircheck was most likely taken straight from the board by management or the talent themselves.
Mike Phillips was a great talent from the gitgo. He was part of such a talented airstaff with Lan Roberts, Larry Lujack, Dick Curtis, Tom Murphy, and I guess Pat O’Day. (I’m no judge of his talents)
As program director, it’s hard to describe how proud I will always be of that KJR team.
Pat,
I grew up listening to you and everybody on KJR.
But how could you forget Jerry Kaye???!!!
I came to this site to hear the 9/11 five year tribute, but a further search found one of the great airchecks from one of the great 60’s Top-40’s, KJR Seattle. I was too young to remember this era, but it is fascinating and not surprising how KJR dominated Seattle in the 1960’s. Especially liked the uptempo, positive vibe of this aircheck, production elements and all. “Sea-level temperature” was accurate, as the studios were exactly located at sea-level on Harbor Island. While this era was just pre-Beatles, and soon after JFK, it is a jewel of that unique time in our history. Within a few years, Drake-syle stations would take over,(KING-AM tried in the early 70’s) but KJR would have none of it. And KJR never really went that direction, even through the 70’s. Seattle listeners were the lucky recepients of this “personality” style for years to come.
Still have my Phil Specter Christmas album Mike gave at a Grange hall dance on Bainbridge Island in early sixties. The Ronnettes singing jingle bells, etc. KJR was the greatest. Also remember the summer Pat Oday got all the guys out to the Lake to broadcast the Gold Cup hydro race. Wish I had a tape of that. World Famous was in the turn and said he couldn’t see anything and it was loud. Also, for some reason remember sitting in traffic on 23rd ave heading back to the U district from Seattle U. WFTM played Time is Tight by Booker T. and the MG’s. Whenever I hear that song I think of that one moment. Always great to wake up to Lan in the mornings. During college, I worked Saturday night cleaning a grocery store. The store was empty of course, so I would tape the PA mike open and stick it next to my transister radio and blast “Big Jim Martin” all night throughout the store as I swept, mopped, and waxed. Where is he now, I know he was from Everett as he mentioned on the air in the early hours.
Somewhere, buried deep within my sock drawer,in an old cigar box, is a red, hardball sized window sticker that says ‘KOL 1300′, several newspaper clippings of the KJR Fab 50 music survey, and a little piece of green cloth that says, “Little green thing”. Oh yeh…it also had a duck on it.
From the mind of Lan Roberts came incredible weirdness, and a streak of creativity that compelled people to tune in each morning, day after day. In my early teens I viewed the world through the eyes of a morning jock at channel 95. I guess that pretty much explains my warped personality, eh? I loved that radio station, and I miss it so much. Change is not always for the good, and the state of todays radio bares that out. Thanks so much for the look back.
How well I remember Lannie doing “Breakfast Pig” in the morning as I made the 30 mile drive to my first real job back in 1965. And “Thought For the Day” was great, too, always ending with, “Eewww, think about it!”
Pat & Grannie got me home in the afternoon. 19 years old, driving a new Mustang, life was GOOD!
I went to a couple concerts put on by Pat O’Day and Dick Curtis, the 1964 Summer Spectacular and The Beachboys Jan & Dean concerts. I have both programs with Roy Orbison, Peter & Gordon, Johnny Rivers and Terry Stafford signing the
Spectacular program on their pictures, and have wondered for a long time, if they are of any value. Anybody know of collectors for this kinda stuff. I also have several of the mini Fillmore posters. Thanks
I just read your comments and observations about what led you to create this website. I agree with you.
I grew up listening to all kinds of radio. I started when i was five listening to Murray the K and Cousin Brucie and my interest and enthusiasm for radio flurished. I couldn’t get enough of it. This led to my involvement in it.
Today I’m not involved other than doing a show twice a month on a non commercial station in Connecticut. This keeps my hand in the business although due to the bad decisions that continue to be made, i don’t want to work in it full time.
When I realized I didn’t want to work in radio, it was very sad. As my best friend who until recently owned a radio station put it: I didn’t leave radio. Radio left me. I think this is true for so many of us.
Thank you for a great tribute site to a time when radio was fun, creative and exciting to listen to.