Big Apple Airchecks
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...
“Wes in the Morning” – WHLI 1100 AM Hempstead, NY | Winter, 1976
Today, this station is one of the few remaining AM music stations...
Composite, 98.7 WXLO New York | 1976
“Ok, folks… everybody… take off your clothes and LETS GO!“ Curator’s Notes: This is a FUN aircheck! No reverb, the tape was a bit muddy especially the first few minutes, but you’ll laugh through much of this six minutes of RKO General heaven! Be sure to listen carefully, because this literally FLIES by! I’m a bit confused as to the exact date. This sounds very much like 1976 by the music, but it could be early 1977, based upon the air staff. Someone out there knows. Click the following links to hear more from the 99X Jocks! Heard in order: Glenn Morgan Terry Nelson Steve “Smokin'” Weed Paulie Bobby Messina Dick Sloan This aircheck brought to you courtesy of the Big Apple Airchecks Collection – without which we’d have a subst...
Ron O’Brien, WOKY Milwaukee | March 26, 1976
Station: 920 WOKY Milwaukee (Wikipedia) (Website) Format: Top 40 Branded: “Woky“, “The Mighty 92” Ownership: (Then) – Bartell (Now) – iHeartRadio Featured Air Personality: Big Ron O’Brien Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Airchexx #1609 WOKY, Great sinalong record that’s the Bellamy Brothers... Voluntary Subscription Options Yearly Subscription : $80.00 USD – yearlyMonthly : $10.00 USD – monthlyWeekly : $3.00 USD – weekly Curator’s Notes: Remembering the legacy that was Big Ron on the radio, here’s one that goes back to the early part of Ron’s career. It’s also our first post highlighting Top 40 legend WOKY! Here are some other Big Ron O’Brien Airchexx that you may enjoy!: Ron O’Brien, WC...
Jim Collins & “The Time Machine”, 66 WNBC New York | November 29, 1987
Date of Recording: 11.29.1987 Station: 660 WNBC New York (W2XY/WBAY/WEAF/WRCA/WNBC) Format: Full-Service Gold-Based Adult Contemporary Branding: “Sixty-Six W NNNNNNNN BC“ Featured Air Personality: Jim Collins (WPGC/WNBC/others) Contributor: Frank Davis Total Time: 22:22 (Telescoped) Airchexx Entry: 1,542 WNBC Burnin’ up in a heatwave of hot STEAMING Rock N Roll!… Curator’s Notes: Pre-dated in the New York area ONLY by 101.1 WCBS-FM, this was simply the best Oldies show on the air at that time. The whole idea was to re-create the 1960s sound of 77 WABC, and, right down to the PAMS jingle re-sings, this show accomplished that goal! Most of you will probably agree. These Oldies really SOUND better in Mono, anyway!
Allen Beebe, KLDE ‘Oldies 94.5’ Houston
Station: 94.5 KLDE (KBTZ/KARO/KLEF) Houston Format: Oldies Branded: “Good Times, Great Oldies” Ownership: AMFM, Incorporated Featured Air Personality: Allen Beebe (KNOE AM-FM/KMJC/WNBC/KNOX/KODE/KGBC/KNFX/WEZB) Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks “I am Beebe…“ Voluntary Subscription Options Yearly Subscription : $80.00 USD – yearlyMonthly : $10.00 USD – monthlyWeekly : $3.00 USD – weekly Curator’s Notes: Over the years, airchexx has acquired a number of great airchecks featuring the talents of Allen Beebe. From markets like New Orleans to New York City to Houston, Beebe has been heard in a diverse mix of radio stations. Here, the station known as “Good Times, Great Oldies”, KLDE is featured at a spot in history which is just pr...
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 WPGC Files – Part 3. Lee Logan. January, 1979
Station: 95.5 WPGC Morningside Md (Washington DC) //1580 WPGC Washington (Wikipedia) (WPGC Tribute Site) Format: Top 40 Branded: “Music Radio” Featured Air Personality: Lee Logan Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Total Time: 5:09 Aircheck #1,592 You’re dealing with a sick man here… Curator’s Notes: This aircheck could serve as a clinic on how to do nighttime Top 40 radio! Really, I wish there was more of this but it runs only 5 mintues scoped. Lots of disco music was played here, but showing that this was a TRUE Top 40 station, Boston and the Rolling Stones make their appearances in this short clip. And… it wouldn’t be 1979 if the Bee Gees weren’t all over the radio!
The WPGC Files – Part 2. Dan Mason, December 23, 1978
Station: 95.5 WPGC Morningside Md (Washington DC) //1580 WPGC Washington (Wikipedia) (WPGC Tribute Site) Format: Top 40 Branded: “Music Radio” Featured Air Personality: Dan Mason Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Total Time: 5:27 Aircheck #1,590 WPGC FM and AM Morningside. Hello! Just after 12 noon with Dan Mason and a Blues Brothers album on the way, hang on. (Bee Gees music) This has, actually, posted elsewhere, but as part of our WPGC series, it’s important that we hit ALL the highlights of this radio station which employed so many talented individuals. Dan Mason, of course, would become Program Director of WPGC shortly after his 1978 arrival, and moved right up the executive ladder from there. His entire career is on public display at many places on the web, including the N...
The WPGC Files – Part 1. Steve Michaels, Autumn 1978
Station: 95.5 WPGC Morningside Md (Washington DC) //1580 WPGC Washington (Wkikipedia) (WPGC Tribute Site) Format: Top 40 Branded: “Music Radio” Featured Air Personality: Steve Michaels Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Total Time: :52 Aircheck #1,589 …Just tell me WPGC is your FAVORITE radio station! Curator’s Notes: The first of a long series of WPGC airchecks is also the SHORTEST aircheck posted in a long while. At just under a minute long, this shouldn’t take up too much of your time. Steve Michaels was, according to the WPGC Tribute Site, the late evening jock. He sounds better than most prime time jocks today do!
Dan Ingram on “Channel 77” WABC New York (January 25/March 22, 1966)
Station: 770 WABC (WJZ) New York (Wikipedia) (WABC Website) (WABC Tribute Website) Format: Top 40 Branded: “The All-Americans” Ownership: The American Broadcasting Company Featured Air Personality: Dan Ingram (Wikipedia) (Dan Ingram interview with Allan Sniffen at Musicradio77.com) Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Total Time: 10:26 Curator’s Notes: This aircheck is a bit confusing. Actually three different ‘checks on one tape, this starts with the beginning of the famous New York City blackout – Dan Ingram mentioning the electricity ‘slowing down’. Really just a clip, before it moves on to January 25, and then March 22 of 1968. Notice the majority of this recording lacks WABC’s reverb. Most likely either recorded directly off the board or fro...
Dan Ingram, 77 WABC New York | July 22, 1967
Sure, this is a post update, but there’s really nothing better than hearing MusicRadio 77 from its best-loved era, with it’s best-loved jock! This begins at the tail end of WABC News, then its right back into a fast-paced format full of Beach Boys, Rolling Stones and Beatles! It’s also a blistering hot July afternoon and New Yorkers are trying to cool off any way they can. Note how clean and crisp this recording is. It came to airchexx by way of Big Apple Airchecks and this proves that the aircheck sharing partnership we have with Matt Seinberg’s hobby site is not only valuable, but providing our listeners with the highest quality airchecks, comparable with the original master copies being donated to us by the jocks themselves! IF YOU ENJOY THIS AIRCHECK, PLEASE CON...
