The Byrds – My Way is a first-hand description of the inner workings of the Byrds and Burrito Brothers and other entertainment events: written by James ‘Jimmi’ Seiter (Road Manager, production manager and much more for many bands and live events). It sets the record and previous assumptions straight as to what was really going on, from detailed personal, first-hand experience. He takes you on his journey which began in 1966. Click on the Picture for order info.
The CFNY clip has everything from Pink Floyd to Prince but the dominant strain of music is 80’s style New Wave.
The CHUM FM clips are from the Morning Mystery Oldie contest which was a long standing feature that started in 1986 and later changed it’s name to the Morning Mystery Hit to reflect changing demographics. The feature was put to rest about six or seven years ago. Not free form but fun.
Please also check out the Reiner Schwarz clip recently added to the Radio Corner and Benjy Karch added to the Radio Miscellany section. Other recent additions include The Free Form 45’s and Beach Boys webcasts found below. Next webcast will be a feature on Folk and Country-Rock
Next show planned is Free Form 45’s featuring deep cut singles from various artists but I do plan more Beach Boys episodes in the future and here’s a tease below
***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.
This clip begins with the group called The The and the track “Perfect on WUWU 107.7 FM. After that there is some dial twisting including a bit of Daddy Cool on CFNY at 12:53. You will hear a bit of the syndicated program Rockline with Bob Cockburn at 13:55 and at 17:20 a DJ from WCMF, Rochester proclaims “history in the making” by having played the first compact laser disc ( Phil Collin’s Face Value album). This part of the clip is possibly from around September 1982 based on a mention of Billy Joel’s Nylon Curtain as a new release and the introduction of CD’s as a commercial product.
Starting at 17:52 we hear Ron Brushal on CFNY with an interesting mix of music including The Wall of Voodoo’s cover of “Ring of Fire”, Peter Gabriel and Jimmy Pursey with Animals Have More Fun, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel and more.
***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.
Drum machines and synths and a techno vibe was dominant at CFNY during this period but as you will hear on this clip the station could be still be counted on for variety. You will hear Jim Reid play Marvin Gaye and Bebop Deluxe who are thought of as a new wave band but they actually predated the new wave and released their first album in 1974. I always thought of their earlier work as the thinking man’s Queen.
Jim Reid may have been the DJ with the longest tenure at NY during the “Spirit of Radio” era. His set is followed by James Scott another stalwart of the Spirit. We get to hear James play Chris de Burgh, “Oh Superman” by Laurie Anderson and even some mid 60’s Bob Dylan. interesting listening and a free form ethos still apparent at the station.
Listen near the very end for an AD by Ivor Hamilton for his import show.
Quality is poor particularly on the first half compounded by the fact that the Bebop Deluxe tune uses the phasing effect.
***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.
Jim Santella could be called the Dean of all Buffalo DJ’s from the free form era and beyond. He started his professional career at Buffalo’s first free form called WYSL. That station changed it’s called letters to WPHD and Santella also made the transition. He later moved to 97 Rock where he stayed for many years. More recently he had a blues show on public WBFO and has since retired.
This clip finds him firmly in new wave land on WUWU FM ( June 1983) playing tracks by Q-Field, The Talking Heads and more. Some jazz by Jean Luc Ponty for a change of pace. My favorite musical selection on the clip is “Church of The Poison Mind” by Culture club which finds Boy George in full Motown mode.
An interesting commercial with Jeff Gordon for a WUWU party plays during the first break.
There’s around the dial twisting starting at the 47:00 minute mark you can hear Rick Ringer on CHUM FM announcing his last set. Yes this was the time when they actually played Quiet Riot. You can also hear James Scott on CFNY announcing an interview with Kajagoogoo by The Live Earl Jive later that day. Unfortunately I did not stay on any one station for too long during the dial changes, save for a classical station near the end. Quality is so so on the clip and falters badly at the end as the tape rolls off the reel. Highlighting the ephemera of the listening experience.
The clip ends where it began in “the belly of the beast” with Jim Santella. That phrase, used by Santella in his ID’s, quite aptly described the format and vibe at WUWU FM and I hope you enjoy this clip from one of the legendary broadcasters from Western New York.
***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.
This is an intriguing clip that provides a picture of the rock radio dial in western New York during the summer of 1982.
Things get started with selections played on the Import/Export show on WCMF FM – Rochester, New York with Unkle Roger hosting. Alternative rock and some of it never played in Toronto (cuts by The Dream Syndicate, Fleshtones, The Cramps and Chesterfield Kings). CFNY was not big on this type of garage rock but WCMF’s Import Export and WUWU gave well deserved exposure to the genre.
You also hear a bit of mainstream AOR by way of WCMF and 97 Rock from Buffalo All of the tracks are recorded off the radio but the announcements for some are missing unfortunately,
The best part of the clip is near the end when we hear Jeff Gordon on WUWU playing a comedy cut by George Carlin and a special dance mix of Our House by Madness called Madhouse. Creative programming could still be heard in some quarters in 1982 and Jeff Gordon’s segment is a great example.
Listen also for a syndicated segment from Pete Fornatale of WNEW FM. He was one of the legendary free form Jocks and in later years hosted the “Mixed Bag” program on WNEW and WFUV.
This audio program details the answers to last week’s quiz plus the winner is announced. There’s also eight more short clips at the end of the program. Get the artists and connections and you might win a copy of the Rolling Stones “Their Satanic Majesty’s Request” with the original 3 D cover. Vinyl is not in great shape but the cover is swell.
Yes I’m trying to emulate the free form programming of days gone by.
First person to email me at javedjafri@rogers.com with the correct answers will win the album. Good luck !
During the 60’s top 40 stations had some great jingles to ID their stations and these were a key part of a stations’s brand image.
WUWU FM in 1982 was definitely not top 40 but they were looking to build an audience, Their playlist during the day included some mainstream acts as you hear Gary Storm announce that he just played Rush and the Headpins. I think they had realized that you cannot build a station just with alternative artists so they would try to woo ( or would that be woo woo) the listeners with a few known commodities and then introduce them to some amazing alternative music as you hear on this clip with an unusual rendition of “Whole Lotta Love”. The clip is from September 1982.
Listen at the beginning to two ID’s. The station was different sometimes way out there and these ID’s are among the best that I have heard. They were longer than the usual but I believe they were a very effective tease to listen to the station. They were not recorded on the same show as the rest of the clip and you will find them interspersed between parts of several tracks. I have also placed a contemporary ID from 97 Rock so you can compare what a more mainstream station was doing. I love how one ID segues into”Princess of the Universe” by Todd Rundgren. Total Rock’n Roll !
Gary Storm I believe was doing day time and not his Oil of Dog all night extravaganza See the Oil of Dog Corner on this web site for more on that. Also note that you can hear the infamous Bob Allen on this clip promoting his talk show the Town Crier which he also presented at WBUF earlier. Yes the man who took the station hostage during it’s last day with this format.
When David Letterman began his late night show he was truly groundbreaking. The irreverent segments such as “stupid pet tricks and “Larry Bud Melman” etc were pushing the envelope of the usually staid and old school world of TV talk shows. He may have lost some of his edge over the years and who would not after all that time.
The one area where he’s remained a pioneer is in showcasing musical acts which have retained their “indie” cred and credo and which have not received much exposure elsewhere on commercial radio or television.
Groups such as Wilco, The Jayhawks and Dr. Dog have all been able to showcase their talent and gain a national foothold thanks to Dave.
Enjoy this clip by Dr Dog. Not from Letterman but a great slice of indie Americana nevertheless. Steven Colbert please follow the leader !