Max Kinkel, WCBS-FM 101.1 New York | September 7, 1993

101.1 FM New York WCBS-FM CBSFM Bill Brown Bag Golden 101
WCBS-FM Logo, original Oldies format circa 1999

Matt Seinberg’s “Big Apple Airchecks” (//bigappleairchecks.com)
Well over 20 years ago, and it feels like yesterday, WCBS-FM was considered the most listened to Oldies Station in America! The good thing about this recording is – well, everything! But in particular, aside from “Super” Max Kinkel and his quick wit & charming personality, we get to hear TWO full newscasts. The first one occurs about 18 minutes in, and it’s the World and National headlines (at the top of the 5:00 hour) with CBS Network News. The second is a local news report at the end of this aircheck, which runs just over 38 minutes, scoped.

The audio quality of this tape is superb! A couple of records (and you can really tell that this is vynl, or vynl recorded onto magnetic tape cartridges) have a bit of distortion, the kind that record collectors and old time disc jockeys will be able to tell right off, that have been played so much that the grooves are slightly worn out. That’s one of the charms of hearing this broadcast again.

A sign of the times for those of you who were computer hobbyists – and in 1993, that’s really what personal computing was all about, playing games in DOS and finding out what the new programs were that ran in the new Windows 3.1 Operating System. Win 3.1!! WOW! If you remember actually using that version of Windows doesn’t make you feel old, few things will!

I loved hearing this aircheck while editing. The music is mainly 50s-70s fare, although I did hear a couple of 80s stiffs (Huey Lewis & The News – “The Power of Love” was still a fresh song in 1993). Listen for a couple of mentions of Morning Mayor Harry Harrison coming up soon, and even one for Ron Lundy’s midday program! This truly is the WCBS-FM that everyone LOVES to remember! You will, too!



Aircheck #1,374 since May 2, 2002!

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