Featured News Talent
68 WRKO “Blooper Tape, circa 1968-73
For you radio people, how many of you remember sitting down at a staff meeting or a holiday party at some restaurant, and the GM or PD pulled out this tape of bloopers, things nobody was EVER supposed to hear? How many of you can relate to someone producing the master production reel with 500 pieces of splice tape on it and a recording or two of one of the airstaff trying to get a production piece right while a little frustrated… or in the case of after hours production, a little inebriated? Well, there’s nothing quite THAT shocking on this tape, but to hear well known WRKO jocks making ANY mistakes is shocking in itself. Hand here it is, thanks to Contributor Steve Bleecker, the unofficial bloopers tape from WRKO, from sometime around 1968 or so, up to perhaps, 1974? Someone o...
Big Ron O’Brien, Willie B & Tom Murphy; 68 WRKO Boston | November 30, 1978
Six O’Clock on your cruise through the ozone with Big Ron O’Brien… Curator’s Notes: A full, daytime scope of WRKO and a few of its iconic personalities are featured here in late 1978. It opens with Big Ron O’Brien, then Willie B., and finally Tom Murphy. In the case of Tom Murphy, this is only the second aircheck featuring him, and listening as I edited the audio, I could swear that this was Harry Nelson! As some would say, however, it’s all in the signal processing. You’ll laugh, listening to Ron O’Brien try to pronounce words in this aircheck where Ron’s having a bit of trouble with his tongue this day! Aside from that, this aircheck roars past at the speed of light! This is a super-tight Top 40 format, true to RKO General form, and t...
George Crawford, 1310 WGH Norfolk VA | August 19, 1977
…unusual fact from Crawford’s Almanac Curator’s Notes: Recorded only a few days after the death of Elvis Presley, here’s an aircheck that will evoke strong memories as the Summertime season grinds to a close. The weather in Norfolk is cooler and less humid this day. “The World of Star Trek” contest is still underway and YOU could win! Take note of the high commercial load. There is only one period where there were two songs played back to back, every other song played is followed by a few commericals. Speaking of commercials, perhaps you’ll remember these national brand names: Exxon gasoline, LaChoy Soy Sauce, 7-Eleven and more! There are plenty of creative LOCAL ads for Tidewater area businesses. Listen for a full newscast read by Ira Hall,...
Sample Morning Show, KOGO Radio 60 San Diego | 1978
Date of Recording: Unknown Station: 600 KOGO San Diego Branded “KOGO Radio 60” Featured Personality: Bill Moffitt; News: Ken Grau Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Airchexx Entry: 1,549 J.T. on the slide on K O G O.. Curator’s Notes: I’m not sure what to make of this. Late 70s soft AC or Middle of the Road (MOR) format with a lot of commercials. We never hear the jock’s name but somebody knows. This sounds like a competent station but I know the San Diego market well enough to know there were some powerhouse stations in town, not to mention the FM stations were becoming Giant, legendary stations. How well it rated in this 1977-78 timeframe I do not know, but there’s a line in Wikipedia where someone wrote, The Shadacks (Ed and his nephew Tom) took over KO...
New England Sampler #2 – Composite: 68 WRKO Boston | March 31, 1980
Date of Recording: 03.31.1980 Station: 680 WRKO Boston Format: Top 40 Featured Air Talent: Various. See Description below. Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks Total Time: 6:06 Post Date: 11.30.2017 Airchexx Entry: 1,528 … Presenting Elton John at the Music Hall… This has not been posted elsewhere so THANKS to our contributor! Curator’s Notes: Audio: This came in with very poor audio consistent with a cassette tape that’s had much of it’s oxide coating worn off. Muddy and bottom-heavy (sound wise), I had to do a lot of digital doctoring to make this listenable. It is now, but it’s not quite WRKO… It’s a bit muddy, even after my cleanup efforts. Other than that, this is a GREAT representation of RKO General’s flagship radio station.
Charlie Van Dyke, WRKO Boston | April 6, 1979
Date of Recording: 04.06.1979 Station: 680 WRKO (WNAC) Boston, Massachusetts, USA Format: Top 40 Featured Air Talent: Charlie Van Dyke (jock), Ed Walsh (News), Bill Rossi (Sports), Jordan Rich (Weather) Contributor: Bob Gilmore Date of Posting: 09.18.2017 Total Time: 28:24 (Telescoped) Airchexx Entry: 1,511 … WRKO at Seven Forty-Two. Got Tom Kasano on the phone… thanks for listening and try to stay awake! Curator’s Notes: One of the big movies featured during this time is The Deer Hunter. It’s uncharacteristicly cold for April 6th, temperatures dropping into the 30s, and WRKO is still doing a traditional Top 40 format. That would change in about a year. Who in the world would figure that this cast of misfit radio pros would all go on to legendary status? One could a...
