QuickCheck: John “Records” Landecker, WLS Chicago | August, 1975

Another too short listen to Landecker, finds him reading off the names of people who will be going to eat dinner with the Osmonds and then see them in concert. Hard to believe Donny & Marie were ever a big deal (if today’s oldies stations are any guage), but JRL sure talks it up.

Listen for a great promo for the WLS Monster Bonanza as Bob Sirott produces this piece that shows WLS giving away a Mazda!

We have a similar aircheck here most likely from the same night. How’d that happen?

WLS Chicago: Big 89 Rewind ‘08: 9:30-10:30 AM Larry Lujack & Tommy Edwards

Lujack & Edwards make a great pair… were it not for retirement maybe we could get these two in syndication, no?

Listen for “Celebrity Worship”, Lujack’s “Commencement Address to America’s Youth”, news from Linda Marshall and Sports – including a long RANT about syndication in Sports Radio (taking direct aim at crosstown WMVP and ESPN) by Les Grobstein. This is another MUST LISTEN segment!

WLS Chicago: Big 89 Rewind ‘08 | May 26, 2008: 8-9:30 AM CST Chuck Knapp / Larry Lujack & Tommy Edwards

Its the last hour of the Chuck Knapp show featuring a touching tribute to fallen soldiers in Iraq, and out-of-format songs by Toby Keith & Carrie Underwood. Reading about this on the ‘chicagolandradioandmedia.com message board, there were many complaints from listeners who, apparently didn’t understand that, while this is a tribute to WLS’s musicradio legacy, its just as much a tribute to the PEOPLE who were on the air, and their skill as communicators. The Knapper did just as a WLS jock would have done in the Musicradio years, buck the format and communicate a relevant topic to his audience. After all, Memorial day IS the day we remember those who served and still serve our great nation.

It’s on to news, traffic and weather, then Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards’ first half hour – and they’re “just as lousy as the last time they were on the air”, at least jokingly according to one caller. Remember, after all those years (okay, ONE year since they returned in 07 for the first BIG 89 REWIND), these two were ‘Back in the Saddle Again…”.

John Records Landecker Returns to 89 WLS | March 13, 1986

“…Somebody thought it MIGHT be a good idea to present still another broadcast in the never-ending story of John Landecker and his job…”

Wow! Picking up right where he left off in 1981 is the one and only John Records Landecker, starting the show with the ‘family music hour’ – a fancy name for a bunch of Oldies (which WLS had begun to backslide into by this time). Sure, the Big 89 is still a rock station but there’s way more talk than music in this show. Landecker has a new feature just about mid-way through this aircheck – notes from the day’s WLS staff meeting, which, as JRL notes, was his first in almost 5 years. And his commentary from the staff meeting, wherin he comments on PD John Gerhon’s reminder of all air personalities’ FCC responsibilities as public trustees and the first line of public information… absolutely PRICELESS!

This is a long aircheck, it’s in AM Stereo, but the separation isn’t all that great – hi-fidelity nonetheless, and you’ll really love going back and reliving the end of the music era at WLS, that while sad, was still an exciting time in 1986, before the station sank down into oblivion within the next year.

Fred Winston, Dick Saint & Doug Dahlgren on 89 WLS Chicago | March 12, 1976

…There’ll be no high today, sorry…. I’m high… no no no… I’m kidding. I wish I was high… no haha just kidding…

If we had a ratings system, this would get four stars! Wait! Actually, we do! Try it.

This aircheck comes to us from Ira Menacker via Matt Seinberg. Thanks to both of them.

Now, the story behind the story… so to speak on this bitterly cold March day, is that Dick & Doug had been fired from crosstown rival WCFL. Many of you who come to this site probably already know the story, but for the benefit of those who don’t, here it is in a nutshell. WCFL was changing formats from Top 40 to Beautiful Music (Elevator music, Easy Listening… whatever label fit at the time). D&D were being blown out along with most of the staff, EXCEPT, Larry Lujack who would continue doing afternoon jock playing Chicago’s most beautiful music.

Apparently, the morning team was given an opportunity to do a ‘last show’. Well, they spoke a little too much about the impending format changes, and about mid-way through the show, management arrived and took all the microphones, and politely escorted the two out of the station!

What you hear on this aircheck is a hilarious morning show. Fred Winston invites Dick & Doug to appear on his show and what follows is anarchy. The duo even lock Winston out of the studio at one point!

This is what radio used to be like. Spontaneous and enormously funny! 37 years ago. Seems like yesterday.