Alison Steele, “The New Groove” – 102.7 WNEW-FM New York | February 11, 1969

“You need a nice, hot, cup of coffee

 

 

Curator’s Notes:

Perhaps the only thing that would make this absolutely perfect, as airchecks go, would be if it was unscoped. Technically, I could probably get away with that, since songs recorded before 1972 don’t require royalty payments. One day I’ll investigate that. Meantime, listen to the jock known affectionately as “The Night Bird”. Alison Steele is on the air on a cold Winter night where the mayor has issued a state of emergency because of a Winter storm that blew through.

What you will NOT hear in this recording is anything that remotely resembles a hit song, or even a song you’d hear on a Classic Rock station. Much of her music selection is Jazz, Jazz-Rock Fusion and some album tracks which some of you might find familiar if you happen to own one of these albums. I think the only familiar artist I heard was Donovan. And, I mean, while its scoped, you hear things you’d never hear on commercial radio. Something that sounded Scottish… well you just have to listen.

Confirming the date, is a full newscast simulcast with WNEW 1130 at 2:00 am featuring Dave Marish as the news anchor. This is at about the ten minute mark in the aircheck.

The one thing I took away from this aircheck is Alison Steele’s ability to paint a picture. She is heard reading a live spot for a place called “Cerebrum”, and I swear, she was painting a picture of the club so well I could imagine walking into this place. Such are the best communicators, able to verbally describe something in such vivid detail as to enable the listener to place his or herself into that situation.

I think that you will absolutely LOVE this slice of radio history!

Aircheck Courtesy of Big Apple Airchecks!