Chicago
Airchexx Presents: WLS Big 89 Rewind 2007A – Larry Lujack & Tommy Edwards
All files associated with the Big 89 Rewind were donated by former Mgr Kipper McGee, whose idea it was to do a reunion of the old 1970s airstaff in the first place! As Kipper and I exchanged emails regarding this event, he mentioned possibly asking other WLS personalities who were there if they would like to write a few words about their experience. As of this writing, we haven’t heard from any of them. Sadly, Larry Lujack is no longer with us to share his memories. Superjock passed away on December 18, 2013 at his home in New Mexico. Tommy Edwards is still around and perhaps we will hear from Little Tommy very soon. The way this is presented is by year, in scoped out sections. Here in section 1A, you’ll hear Ol’ Uncle Lar and Li’l Tommy’s three hour show, condense...
Airchexx Presents: The WLS Big 89 Rewind 2007 & 2008 – Looking Back at the MusicRadio Years, Part 2
“Here’s a Dropbox link to the WLS REWIND stuff. Feel free to use any part(s) of it which may service your purposes…. THANK YOU for all the hard work and sharing your curation with us fellow radio geeks! Here at Airchexx, it’s Memorial Day EVERY DAY! We look back and present to you radio exactly how it was as it was originally broadcast. Our esteemed Contributor naturally kept all the masters from the WLS Big 89 Rewind from both years that it aired. In upcoming presentations, you are going to hear the entire program – every hour – as it originally aired in both 2007 and 2008! You will also be treated to some of the comments of those who were there in person! Here in part 2, this is the second segment of “WLS, the Music Radio years” narrated by...
Airchexx Presents: The WLS Big 89 Rewind 2007 & 2008 – Looking Back at the MusicRadio Years, Part 1
This series is lovingly presented thanks to the generocity of Contributor Kipper McGee, whose idea it was to host these Memorial Day specials for both 2007 and 2008. In coming segments, you will get to read how this came to be, and what it felt like to be there, in the presence of such legendary personalities such as John Records Landecker, Fred Winston, and so many others who made WLS Music Radio 89 the legendary powerhouse that influenced others to become air talent and programmers all over North America! Now, on with the show! This, and Part 2, comprise what I’d call the Prologue of this entire series. Called “WLS – The MusicRadio Years”, each 30 minute segment is an overview of the evolution of WLS from its humble beginnings in 1960 to it’s transition to T...
Art Roberts, 101.1 WKQX Chicago | 1979
Lets see what mischief we can find to get you into… Curator’s Notes: First off, I hope you enjoy the new format. Less clutter, more airchexx!! Just the way we like em. Second, who doesn’t think Art Roberts possesses the voice of GOD on this aircheck? Without a doubt, Art sounds perfect for this NBC O%O Adult Contemporary station. You gotta go WAY back now, to 1979. Was it really THAT long ago? The hits of the day include “So Into You”, “Love Is Fine”, “Angel Baby”, “After the Love is Gone” and more. Telescoped out for legal reasons, of course. But this surely WILL bring back some wonderful memories! Contributor: Tom Lacko (from a LONG time ago!) #1615
Dick Biondi on The Big 10 – WCFL Chicago (January 3, 1969) – Part 2
Station: 1000 WCFL (WLUP/WMVP) Chicago (Wikipedia) (WMVP Website) Format: Top 40 Branded: “Big 10“; “Radio 10” Ownership: The Chicago Federation of Labor Featured Air Personality: Dick Biondi Contributor: Anonymous Total Time: 16:59 Aircheck #1,588 From San Francisco California they came – The Jefferson Airplane Curator’s Notes: Part two begins with a full newscast from Bill Reese. Listen for several stories of historical significance – Teddy Kennedy won the Democratic Primary, for one. Reese reads the news and there are stories from reporters in the field. He also reads a quick sports update and the weather before throwing it back to Dick Biondi.. A few minutes later in this scope, there’s another full newscast, this time anchored by Bob Hag...
Dick Biondi on The Big 10 – WCFL Chicago (January 3, 1969) – Part 1
Station: 1000 WCFL (WLUP/WMVP) Chicago (Wikipedia) (WMVP Website) Format: Top 40 Branded: “Big 10“; “Radio 10” Ownership: The Chicago Federation of Labor Featured Air Personality: Dick Biondi Contributor: Anonymous Total Time: 13:41 (Telescoped) Aircheck #1,587 Here comes some bubblegum music… everyone start chewing now! Curator’s Notes This is a clear, yet somewhat grainy aircheck we received on cassette. It sounds like a second-generation recording, however it’s certainly good enough for listener enjoyment. Some notes here, but not enough to be a spoiler – Biondi sounds a bit out of place… think about his then-recent stint as one of the original WLS Top 40 jocks, and his “On Top of a Pizza” song.. his style of presentation...
Bill Bailey, 89 WLS Chicago – 1973
Recording Date: 1973 (corrected) Station: 890 WLS Chicago (Wikipedia) (Tribute Site) (Current Website) Currently Broadcasts in C-Quam AM-Stereo. Formerly tried broadcasting in IBOC HD from 2008-2013 but abanodoned it due to interference problems. You can listen live to their current News/Talk format HERE. Format: Top 40 Branded: “The Rock of Chicago” Ownership: (then) The American Broadcasting Company (now) Cumulus Media Featured Air Personality: Bill Bailey (WWDJ/WLS/WLHT/WHYI/WDRQ) Contributor: Sandy Bailey (Widow) Associated Air Talent: Larry Lujack, Joel Sebastian, Ron Riley, John Records Landecker, Jeff Davis, Fred Winston, others Total Time: 2:05 Aircheck #1,589 A lot of perspiration went down on the court… Curator’s Notes: One of the shortest airchecks on our...
Ron O’Brien, WCFL Chicago, Part 2 | 1973
Recording Date: 1973 (Exact Date Unknown) Station: 1000 WCFL (WLUP) (WMVP) Chicago (Wikipedia) (WMVP Website) Branded: “The Voice of Labor” Ownership: Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL Union) (Website) Featured Air Personality: Ron O’Brien (Richard Wallis 10.24.1951 – 04.27.2008) (KBAB/WCFL/WXLO/WRKO/WNBC/KIIS-FM/WPGC/WYXR/WOGL (Wikipedia) Contributor: David Hudach Total Time: 13:05 (Telescoped) Segments: Part 1 | Part 2 Description by David Hudach: I have a 27 minute compilation aircheck of Big Ron O’Brien from the 70’s. Early 70’s and then later when CFL was running The Last Contest. Myself and friends were from Struthers, Ohio at the time and loved Big Ron. We were involved in our high school FM radio station and aspired to be big city radio jock...
Ron O’Brien, WCFL Chicago, Part 1 | 1973
Recording Date: 1973 (Exact Date Unknown) Station: 1000 WCFL (WLUP) (WMVP) Chicago (Wikipedia) (WMVP Website) Branded: “The Voice of Labor” Ownership: Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL Union) (Website) Featured Air Personality: Ron O’Brien (Richard Wallis 10.24.1951 – 04.27.2008) (KBAB/WCFL/WXLO/WRKO/WNBC/KIIS-FM/WPGC/WYXR/WOGL (Wikipedia) Contributor: David Hudach Segments: Part 1 | Part 2 7 O’clock at the Voice of Labor! Curator’s Notes: There are three breaks in this 15 minute tape, each one appears to be a different broadcast day. Our contributor wrote: I have a 27 minute compilation aircheck of Big Ron O’Brien from the 70′s. Early 70′s and then later when CFL was running The Last Contest. Myself and friends were from Struthers, Ohio at the time and l...
WLS 25th Anniversary Broadcast | April 08, 1985
Recording Date: 04.08.1985 Station: 890 WLS Chicago (Wikipedia) (Website) Format: Top 40 Ownership: (Then) The American Broadcasting Company/Cap Cities / (Now) Cumulus Broadcasting Branded: “The Rock of Chicago” Featured Air Personality: Various Contributor: Michael J. DeLaRosa Original Post Date: 12.29.2009 Original Notes: Available in parts elsewhere, the complete, unedited broadcast as heard on WLS 890 Chicago as recorded by new contributor Michael J. DeLaRosa. He writes: Hope you are able to use this. I cannot believe we are coming up on the 25th of the 25th. I recorded this as it aired at 6:00pm April 8, 1985. I have heard similar pieces voiced by Jeff Davis and played at various WLS parties…but this is the original voiced by Tommy Edwards. Running over an hour in le...
Bill Bailey, 970 WWDJ Hackensack NJ | 1971
Date of Recording: 1971 (Exact Date Unknown) Station: 970 WWDJ Hackensack NJ Format: (This aircheck) Top 40; (Now) Conservative Talk Radio (WNYM) (Wikipedia) (Website) Featured Air Personality: Bill Bailey (WWDJ/WLHT/WDRQ/WLS/others) Contributor: Sandy Bailey Associated Air Talent: Larry Lujack, Joel Sebastian, Ron Riley, John Records Landecker, Jeff Davis, Fred Winston, others Total Time: 5:08 Dean used to be a dentist before he got into radio… Curator’s Notes: From the master reel (shown above right), Bill Bailey rocks the tri-state on 97/WWDJ, the station which inspired the NINE! parody so many years later.
Bill Bailey, 890 WLS Chicago | 1972
Recording Date: 1972 (Exact Date Unknown) Station: 890 WLS Chicago Format: Top 40 Branding: “The Big 89“, “The Rock of Chicago” Ownership: The American Broadcasting Company; (Today) Cumulus Featured Air Personality: Bill Bailey (WWDJ/WLHT/WDRQ/WLS/others) Contributor: Sandy Bailey Associated Air Talent: Larry Lujack, Joel Sebastian, Ron Riley, John Records Landecker, Jeff Davis, Fred Winston, others Total Time: 4:06 (Telescoped) You’re so vain, you went and named an album after yourself.. Curator’s Notes: What can a mere disc jockey such as myself write about perhaps the most awesome, legendary Top 40 radio station in all of the storied history of AM radio, and not be redundant? Probably nothing, which is why this will be short. Donated to this website b...
