Los Angeles
93 KHJ – “The End” – | January 31, 1986
Dave Sebastian has asked me to announce that I am not running the board… Please scroll down to read an important message Curator’s Notes: I’ve been hanging on to this classic for something like 14 years. Donated to us in the early days of Airchexx by Big Apple Airchecks, this aircheck illustrates perhaps the best format change ever recorded! Apparently, the two-year-old “Car Radio” format of recurrent hits and recent oldies just wasn’t selling well, nor was it affecting ratings as owner RKO General had hoped. In fact, apparently, the results were downright dismal (despite the fact that, especially by today’s standards, the format kicked serious ace in the sound department!). RKO’s idea was to blow the whole station up, and install the KRTH ca...
“Position 93” Sampler, KHJ Los Angeles | Early 1978
“Position 93, your California JAM Station…” Please scroll down and read an important message Curator’s Notes: Contributor Mike Donovan sent this in about 7 years ago, but it’s as relevant now as it was then. Legendary Top 40 station 93 KHJ still had it’s array of 1970s high-powered jocks, but “The New Sound of KHJ” was trying to compete with L.A. area FM stations and their more music, less talk approaches (specifically, the two major Album Rockers that gained much of the AM audience by 1978), and unfortunately, those now legendary personalities were muted, for the most part; relegated to liner cards and a format that restricted as to when they could speak at all. Just like today, right (speaks volumes as to where the business was headed even ...
The Rick Dees Morning Show, 102.7 KIIS Los Angeles | April, 1988
(Willard) “Hey man Mr. Helicopter how ya doin'” The man of a million voices is heard this particular morning in 1988 in an absolutely PRISTINE recording donated by our fashionably fabulous Robyn Watts, from California Aircheck, which gave us permission many years ago to post their recordings (hey, we had to get permission… it’s the only way to go!). And, please. Visit California Aircheck (just click the link). Tell George Junak that Airchexx sent you! Now, on to this recording. Like the KUBE aircheck we just put up, this is a *tad* on the fast side, but nowhere near as bad. Close to normal. It’s a very high fidelity recording from a tape that has held up well, over two moves from your webmaster, and who knows what/where from our contributor. And why am I not d...
Lee Sherwood, 93 KHJ Los Angeles | January 23, 1981
Station: 93 KHJ Los Angeles (Wikipedia) Format: Country Branded: “The New 93 KHJ” Featured Air Personality: Lee Sherwood Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Total Time: 34:48 Aircheck #1,595 I mentioned a few moments ago that Humphrey Bogart was born on this day... Curator’s Notes: Fans of “Boss Radio” will surely be disappointed with this, COUNTRY aircheck of KHJ. There is a bit of history mentioned on the news (read by Lee Marshall) with the story of the Iranian Hostages being released this particular day. That day in history, “Gone With The Wind” was released. Country or not, I *LIKE* Lee Sherwood. Great pipes, knowledgeable and topical, Lee puts on a good morning show. Better, in my humble opinion, than a lot of modern radio people. If you enjoy t...
The Real Don Steele, 101.1 KRTH Los Angeles | August, 1993
Station: 101.1 KRTH (KHJ-FM) Los Angeles (Wikipedia) (Website) Format: Oldies Branded: “K-Earth 101“; “Southern California’s Greatest Hits” Featured Air Personality: The Real Don Steele (Donald Steele Revert; April 1, 1936 – August 5, 1997) (KBUC/KEPR/KIMA/KXLY/KOIL/KISN/KEWB/KHJ/KHJ-TV/KIQQ/KRLA/KCBS-FM/KRTH) (Wikipedia) Contributor: Robyn Watts Total Time: 9:44 Aircheck #1,594 Tina Geldado is Alive, ALIVE! Curator’s Notes: The “Boss” era is definitely alive in this sunny California Aircheck presentation of a Fractious Friday on K-Earth 101! The Real Don Steele is captured, doing what he does best, and that’s entertaining Southern California the same way he did on KHJ, only on both sides of your ears in glorious stereo! I remember fin...
Mark & Brian Interview Pete Townshend – 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles | August, 1993
Station: 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles (Wikipedia) (Website) Format: Album Oriented Rock/Classic Rock Branded: “The Rock of Southern California” Featured Air Personalities: Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps, Pete Townshend Contributor: Robyn Watts Total Time: 13:13 Aircheck #1,593 “You really have to be fit to do Rock & Roll“ Curator’s Notes: This is less of a jock oriented aircheck than a great interview with The Who frontman Pete Townshend. Pete talks about his career, his love for theater and how that intertwines with his rock opera “Tommy”. It’s an interesting listen for fans of the band. This interview was in conjunction with a station sponsored concert where local musicians could play along with Townshend. I can’t find details of the ev...
Dr. John Leader, 93/KHJ Los Angeles | July 1, 1977
First published on this website eight years ago. An original recording obtained by contributor Daniel Coulombe, here’s the great Dr. John Leader… on KHJ! 1977 was still a good Top 40 year for the AM band, and KHJ was still in contention, even if K100 was the hot FM at the time, and with KTNQ was about to hit… Leader was also heard at WQXI Atlanta (See graphic) and KSTP in the Twin Cities, but surely never better than here on KHJ!
“The Breakfast Bunch” – Charlie Tuna @93.1 KODJ Los Angeles | March 7, 1991
Date of Recording: 03.07.1991 Station: 93.1 KODJ (KNX-FM/KCBS) Los Angeles Format: Oldies Branded: “Oldies 93” Contributor: Russ Horton Featured Air Personality: Charlie Tuna (04.18.1944 – 02.19.2016) (Wikipedia) Total Time: 25:00 (Telescoped) “Hey, did you know this is national procrastination day? (caller:) I’ll call you back This is Aircheck #1,559 Curator’s Notes The Russ Horton collection is now filling up with gems acquired from north of the border! Here’s the late Charlie Tuna featured on what was “Oldies 93”, a format/station sandwiched between the old KNX-FM and KCBS-FM. As you listen, notice the format… the music is ALL 1950s and early 1960s! Oldies the way it was originally formatted! Tuna here is part of the morning...
Wink Martindale, 980 KFWB Los Angeles | June 2, 1965
Date of Recording: 06.02.1965 Station: 980 KFWB Los Angeles Format: Top 40 Featured Air Personality: Wink Martindale (WHBQ, KFWB) Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Post Date: 12.03.2017 Airchexx Entry: 1,530 The KFWB Principal of the Year contest has just two weeks to go!… Curator’s Notes: If you thought Wink Martindale seemed a little ‘stiff’ on the WHBQ “Saturday Morning Dance Party” from 1956, here’s a different side of Wink. Martindale is doing the morning show on KFWB and this is a music intensive show with a very upbeat presentation! The “Principal of the Year” contest is in full swing. Is there a station doing a similar promotion today, in the U.S. or Canada? Also, this comes with an obligatory PARENTAL ADVISORY for advertisements...
The Real Don Steele, 93/KHJ Los Angeles | January 8, 1970
Date of Recording: 01.08.1970 Station: 930 KHJ Los Angeles Format: Drake Top 40 Featured Air Personality: The Real Don Steele (Donald Steele Revert April 1, 1936 – August 5, 1997) Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Date of Posting: 11/18/17 Airchexx Entry: 1,524 Sockin’ it to ya! Three Oh Nine with the Real Don Steel and Johnny Nash! Curator’s Notes: There are those in this audience who know the Real Don Steel Personally…. or at least did while he graced our radios with his presence. Here’s a typical RDS show scoped down from 35 minutes unscoped to keep us legal. Comments: Please, reply to this post below!
Robert W. Morgan, 93 KHJ Los Angeles | August 8, 1970, Part 1
Date of Recording: 08.08.1970 Station: 930 KHJ Los Angeles Format: Top 40 Featured Air Personality: Robert W. Morgan Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Post Date: 11/10/2017 Airchexx Entry: 1,524 Curator’s Notes: The evolution of radio, television and now the internet as means of mass communications often reminds us of how rapid the general public embraces new technology. Consider that from the time KHJ debuted it’s now legendary Top 40 format until roughly 1971, KHJ was the single most listened to radio station in Southern California. Fast forward just nine years, and ratings were so low (impacted by FM) that the station changed to Country, then to Oldies, and by 1986, disappeared altogether. FM radio was king in Los Ange...
Hollywood Hamilton, 102.7 KIIS-FM Los Angeles | October 1989
Date of Recording: 10.xx.1989 Station: 102.7 KIIS-FM Los Angeles, California, USA // Branded as 102-7 Kiss-FM Format: CHR Featured Air Personality: Sean “Hollywood” Hamilton (WHTZ/KIIS-FM/WKTU/KBIG, others) Contributor: Anonymous Original Post Date: 10.14.2010 Airchexx Entry: 877 Curator’s Notes: Sean (his real name) Hollywood Hamilton is one of America’s most talented and highest rated radio personalities, according to ratings company Nielson. He performs as host of two national syndicated countdowns each week (The Remix Top 30 Countdown and the Weekend Top 30, both syndicated by iHeart Media) in addition to performing his current radio program on 103.5 WKTU New York City. This aircheck represents Hamilton at a point where his career had just taken off. His faceboo...
