CHUM FM and David Pritchard from March 1970 just updated to Kal’s Corner
All posts by javedjafri@rogers.com
Mix 99.9 Toronto Halloween Montage and More
Trick or Treat
A Halloween treat on the first clip by way of Mix 99.9 from around 2000. Mix at this time was rather unique in that it was a hybrid of Triple A, Rock/Alternative and Hot AC ( POP). You will hear that somewhat in the first clip.
The second clip also features the Mix as well as other Toronto and area stations from the late 90’s and 2000.
The third clip has content from AM top 40 station CFTR from 1990 and a small snip from Magic 102.5 from Buffalo. Most of the DJ’s are not ID’d and the trick is to Identify them.
I did not edit in Moxy Fruvous’ Video Bargainville and the mention of “Roger” into the clip. That track is on the same tape as the the content on which the CHUM FM morning team of Roger, Rick and Marilyn are mentioned. My guess is that the track was played on MIx 99.9 and just coincidentally after the CHUM FM mention of Roger.
Gord Johnson CHUM FM Jan 1986
***A note to air check traders. Please do not record these air checks and try and trade. I have the original tapes many of which I recorded myself and thus the authenticity can not be in doubt and can be easily traced.
Gord Johnson is the DJ on this long air check from CHUM FM from January 1986.
CHUM FM at this time still went by “The Rock of Toronto” but had started to lean in a softer direction. This was a 60’s weekend and some excellent music was played. Roger Ashby who had switched from CHUM AM to FM the previous September can be heard on a commercial and Gord James is the announcer on a Beatles and also Woodstock segment.
The air check also includes TV themes and segments on special events from the 1960’s. There is a cart error which results in the Friends of Distinction being played on just one channel and this was probably the last time that Country Joe and The Fish were played on the station and one of the few times when a certain expletive is heard.
The recording is from one reel to reel tape and I still have almost an hour to upload in the future. All of it fit into one tape as it was recorded in slow speed which does impact the fidelity but over-all the sound has held up well.
WGLD FM Chicago – Progressive and Oldies 1971 & 1973
WGLD FM in Oak Park, Illinois switched to a full time progressive rock format in January 1970. Terry Hemmert who had a long career at WXRT began her professional career at the station. The first clip above features Digby Welsh from Feb 6, 1971, during the station’s progressive era.
WGLD switched to oldies and the second clip is from the oldies era and features Ross Brooks from Oct 25, 1973. A relatively early example of the oldies format on the radio.
These excellent examples of Chicago radio from the early 1970’s were contributed to the site by Tom Konard.
The Mix Tape
Pictured up the cassette deck pictured below at a flea market. I believe the deck is old stock new. Have recorded some vinyl from the cassette era to inaugurate the machine . All material is taken from 45 RPM singles. Most from the 1980’s with some 1970’s. Much of the music would be considered alternative/new wave back in the day but there are also some pop/rock hits or near hits.
Track list includes
Perfect – The The, Sign of The Times – The Belle Stars, Man Who Sold The World – David Bowie, Generals and Majors – XTC, When I Dream – The Teardrop Explodes, Found Out Too Late – 999, Mr Pharmacist – The Fall, Balloon Man – Robyn Hitchcock, International Jet Set – The Specials, The Lunatics- Fun Boy Three, Electricity – Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, Tornado – Teenage Head, Hazy Shade of Winter – The Bangles, Sunday Girl – Blondie, Head Over Heels – The Go Go’s, I Wish – Stevie Wonder, Soviet Jewellery – BB Gabor
FM Ads, Breaks and ID’s from Conventional to Kooky to Deranged
A collection of commercials, station ID’s and Breaks on FM radio that range from 1967 to 1985.
Below is a list of what you will hear. A sometimes bizarre collection of antiques and curios some of which I have never posted to the site before including the segment from Scott Muni on WNEW speaking live with a bank hostage taker.
- Canadian Electronics AD CHUM FM 1975
- El Mocambo AD CHUM FM 1975
- WBUF FM ID 1975
- Sly Stone AD WVBF FM 1973
- Ad for Exorcist
- Fritz The Cat Ad – WNEW FM 1974
- Charles Laquidara Turing Stereo Light off and then on WBCN FM 1971
- WBCN FM AD Break interspersed with Firesign Theatre
- David Marsden CFNY FM 1985
- John Donabie CHUM FM 1973
- 7 UP ads CHNS AM 1967
- WMMR FM ads for Beach Boys 1972
- WCMF FM ID and AD interspersed with Firesign Theatre 1972
- WKNR FM Janis Joplin AD 1969
- Jeff Gordon WUWU FM 1982
- KSAN FM ID 1974
- KNUS FM ID 1969
- Bruce Springsteen concert break Richard Neer WNEW FM 1975
- Scott Muni speaks live with bank hostage taker WNEW FM 1975
- Russ Gibb and AD WKNR FM 1969
- Pete and Geets CFNY FM 1982
- Bizarre Ad Break on WZIR FM 1981
- Ads on WMMR FM for Trenton Times and Murray McLaughlin WMMR FM 1973
- Stereo King AD on CHUM FM 1975
- Ad for Reach for the Sky by Cowboy WBCN FM 1971
- Ad for Carol King Album WVBF FM
- Ad for Music City WBCN FM 1973
- Ad for Jefferson Airplane Bark album KPPC FM 1971
- Ad for Andorra Fashions CHUM FM 1970
Bruce Heyding CFNY FM June 1, 1980 & Radio Fragments from the 70’s & 80’s
The first clip features Bruce Heyding on CFNY from June 1980. He was the music director at CFNY and made the transition from the David Pritchard era to the David Marsden era at NY. In fact I have a recording of him with David Pritchard on the first day that CFNY increased their power and could be heard all over Toronto.
He is hosting the import show and playing the new Kevin Ayers album. Ayers was one of the founders of the Canterbury prog rock band the Soft Machine. What I always remember about Heyding’s Import Show is the fact that he once played the prog rock band Grobshnitt and the times he played Hawkwind and related bands.
You will also hear the Late Night Andre on the first break and Brad McNally on the second break.
The second clip features the Unknown DJ on WUWU FM from 1982. I recently found this on my prerecorded reel to reel copy of the Rolling Stones Through the Past Darkly. I taped it at the blank part at the end of the tape and probably had not heard it since I recorded it but the Unknown DJ sounds like I remember him.
The third clip is from an eight track tape recorded in 1974 and consists of a snippets from WPDH FM and WGRQ FM Buffalo. Rufus Coyote can be heard briefly on WGRQ . There’s also some dial twisting and I hear what sounds like Brian Master on CHUM FM for a split second. The tape did have content from CHUM FM but unfortunately no DJ’s and so I did not include it except for a brief segment featuring Hawkwind at the very beginning which perhaps David Marsden played on CHUM FM.
The fourth clip is really short and also taken from an 8 track tape and has what sounds like Rock 102 from Buffalo and 1050 CHUM from 1980.
The final clip is taken from a cassette of Rock 102 from 1984 and is mostly music and it’s great hearing the Style Council played on a top 40 station. The only announcer heard is at the end where they speak about the fact that they have laid off the compression in processing the station audio.
WXRT FM Chicago 1975-78
Early air checks of WXRT are rare. The first clip above features snippets from the station recorded between 1975-8. Not a full air check but interesting nevertheless. The station began as a part time progressive station in 1973. You will hear some of the music heard on prog stations during this time and also the intro from a Santana concert simulcast on WXRT and channel 11.
The quality of the tape is not the best and I played it through my AM stereo transmitter and received on a Sony Radio.
The second clip has a very short segment from WSDM FM Chicago from perhaps 1976.
Q 107 FM Via AM Stereo & More
Had uploaded parts of a 1982 tape, from Q 107 FM Toronto, a few years ago and here’s a segment of that tape tape played through my home use AM stereo C-Quam transmitter. The station was having a double shot weekend and you will hear some great selections by the Who, Steppenwolf, the Doors and more. The DJ is Eric Westin I believe.
The second clip features the progressive pop rock period Beach Boys and the final clip highlights the Grateful Dead. Both of these clips also played through the AM stereo transmitter.
Brian Master CHFI FM via AM Stereo & More
I have obtained a very low power’d AM C-Quam stereo transmitter for home use and I have taken a cassette recording of Brian Master on CHFI FM from the 1990’s and run that through the transmitter. The show was Saturday Night Oldies.
The idea was to experience AM stereo as there are very few radio stations still using the technology and none in this area ( Toronto).
I have also included one other clip from an oldies CD so you can hear what these hits would have sounded like on AM radio if stereo was available at the time.
