World Exclusive! Ron O’Brien, 68 WRKO Boston | September 17, 1978

Big Ron OBrien
Big Ron O’Brien Sketch while at WPGC MorningsidStation: 680 WRKO (WNAC) Boston (Wikipedia) (WRKO Website)

Recording Date: 09.17.1978
Station: 680 WRKO (WNAC) Boston
Format: Top 40
Branded: 68 WRKO – Boston’s Concert Station; Boston’s Super Star Station
Featured Air Personality: Ron O’Brien (Real Name: Richard Walls; October 24, 1951 – April 27, 2008)
Contributor: Big Apple Airchecks
Total Time: 22:39
Aircheck #1,580

WRKO.. Yes, if I had to pick between loving and fist fights, I’d pick love every time!!…

Curator’s Notes:

There’s not much I can say to describe this aircheck. You really must listen for yourself.
This is probably the best that WRKO ever sounded as a Top 40 station. (All you current WRKO Talk listeners never heard what this station REALLY was like) WRKO simply COOKS! RKO General really knew how to program a tight radio station. And the jocks, all of them, were encouraged to be themselves and say what they wanted over record intros – listen to what Ron O’Brien does over the top of Steely Dan – “Jose”. What a treat! And Ron was only working the weekend shift – which meant more rock in rotation than during the week. Yes, Boston had WBCN and WCOZ… and suburban WAAF – and they really stole much of the station’s audience as FM rose to prominence in the period of 1978-1981 WRKO bailed out of it’s music format on 09.27.1981. A sad day for station loyalists.

 


Here are some other Big Ron O’Brien Airchecks that you may enjoy:

Big Ron O’Brien, 66 WNBC New York | February 2, 1982
Big Ron O’Brien on 102.7 KIIS-FM Los Angeles | March, 1983
Big Ron O’Brien, 1000 AM WCFL Chicago | October, 1973

Other WRKO Airchecks featured on this site:

J.J. Jeffrey/Chuck Knapp and the “Top 300 Best of All Time”, 68 WRKO Boston | October 20, 1967
Charlie Van Dyke, WRKO Boston | April 6, 1979
Johnny Dark, 68 WRKO Boston | 1975

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