Stereo version below. Above is in mono:
This air check was kindly donated to the site by Ted McConville. Ted is originally from New York but grew up in Australia and now resides in Seattle. He came for a visit to Toronto with his family in 1967 because his mother had relatives in the area. His parents returned to Australia but he stayed back and worked and lived in Toronto until 1978, working in film production. First at CFTO television and then the CTV network.
He recorded this during the Mariposa weekend likely on July 25 and 26, 1970. He made the recording on the TEAC reel to reel deck pictured below below the CHUM FM jocks.
A big thanks to Ted for providing this quality recording from CHUM FM during it’s free form heyday.
The first DJ on the clip appears to be Steve Harris and the second is Walter Michaels who ID’s himself at around 01:35:55. The music is wonderfully eclectic with a number of Mariposa friendly folk acts like Ramblin’ Jack Elliot in the mix.
Addendum: I was very happy to receive an email from Steve Harris who is the first DJ on this air check and he had noticed that the speed was a bit fast on the recording. I noticed that as well when the AD for Warner Brothers near the beginning started. Steve fixed the glitch and sent me the updated version which I have now uploaded. Many thanks to him for the correction and input.
Below is part of the email that Steve sent to me and also a picture of the CHUM FM on air staff from the era. Click on Image to see a larger view:
Javed:
I was absolutely thrilled to get a note from Benjy Karch, who was the most excellent music director at CHUM-FM in 1970, telling me to check out the CHUM-FM air check from July 25, 1970.
That was a weekend I remember well. It was special like every other weekend on CHUM-FM in those days. We had a magic crew of talent with a passion to create, communicate, and collaborate.
On that Saturday, after my show, I went over to Toronto Island and joined the rest of our team – Reiner, Benjy, Dave, Geets, Pete, Larry, Walter, and Tim, all of whom were there when not on the air.
On one day I met James Taylor and Joni Mitchell and had good chats with both of them. What a thrill it was – they were so gracious and kind hearted, not to mention immensely talented.
It was such a pleasure to hear our air check from that day. I do remember it, and it brings such wonderful loving feelings from a time long ago.
Thank you for posting this and keeping our precious magic radio station on the air.
The personnel list above should actually read from left to right. Technically the front three staff are Peter Griffin, Larry Green and Benjy Karch. Click on image for a larger view.
