How many ways can you use ONE shotgun jingle? Listeners who remember the great 99X WXLO do remember… except for one several month period in 1972 when 98.7 FM morphed into WXLO from the old WOR-FM, WXLO used just ONE shotgun jingle… for about four years. Why change something if it works? The formula at 99X was simple, play the hits, let the jocks entertain, and have FUN. Certainly, no station was going to dethrone WABC in the Top 40 world, but 99X TRIED… and nearly succeeded in 1978. But this is all 99X lore that is evidenced by the many airchecks we have posted here about this great station.
What you’ll hear on this extremely tight scope, is an incredibly talented and excited Ron O’Brien, fresh out of Chicago’s WCFL and having a BALL! O’Brien passed on to that great transmitter in the sky on Sunday, April 27, 2008, but we remember a man who helped shape the face of Top 40 radio, and who belongs on a list of the biggest and best of the radio legends during the Top 40 era.
I Love 99xLO New York Radio City, The Big Ron O’Brien April 27 2008 She Passed Away Radio Died Spirit, He Was 56 Years Ago! Christopher Was Cry Is Died Ron O’Brien! We Want No Unscoped-Scoped WXLO-Fm Winter 1977! Thanks Christopher God Bless You Jesus Cross Fire Ron O’brien Died! Love Big Ron O’Brien!
Just a couple of corrections, this aircheck is probably from late October or early November 1974. Elton John had a major concert at Madison Square Garden around Thanksgiving of that year, and 99-X was all over that concert. Ron was gone from WXLO sometime in ’75, probably replaced by Steve Weed. Also, the shotgun jingle was gone by the fall of ’76.
Nick, You’re probably right about the year. When posting this I went by the year that the recording was labelled as. It happens every once in a while if I don’t pay close attention, but thanks to commenters like you these discrepancies don’t usually remain so for long.
Agreed about the shotgun jingle being gone by 1976 (four years). There was a time, in late Summer or early Fall ’79 when the station began to skew a bit more adult and got some 99-XLO jingles, but as I recall those were short lived
Listening to the music playlist all I can say is – WOW I was listening to a LOT of 99X at this time…I could almost hear the next song in my head before it came on!
Too bad this tape is SO tightly scoped…Big Ron is on the top of his game here.
RIP BRO’B.
WOW! Big Ron….99X….certainly defined fun Top 40 radio! Radio today is so vanilla and sedate today!
What is the exact date on this?
Beach Baby by First Class and My Melody of Love by Bobby Vinton (the record he supposedly tore up) were both hits in 1974. This means that this air check predates his brief stint at WCFL. BTW, i love his sly “mooning in the dance light” reference to “Dancing in the Moonlight!” He was a pro. Notice his dropping in “Jimmy Dean sausage” at various intervals?