***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.
In April 1969 ABC started the mostly automated Love format on it’s seven stations. Brother John Rydgren did many of the voice overs. The brother was an ordained minister and he interspersed his shows with poetry and spiritual readings.
This was generally a more commercial variety of progressive FM rock. The format lasted for a short period and was heard on FM stations from New York to Los Angeles. This particular broadcast was taped off KABC Los Angeles in August 1969 and it includes Brother John, a newscast and a segment about Carole King by Howard Smith. Quality is not great and the tape is in mono.
Interesting to note that the group Bread who later became soft rock staples have the last track on the air check. ABC FM must have liked the first Bread album because there is another air check on the net at reelradio from WLS FM where the group and album are featured.
I’m just curios – how do you not want people to copy these? I’m not interest in doing so, but since the programs are technically not yours how do you adhere to that “rule”?
You are correct I did not create the recordings but I did tape them or they are on unique tapes that I own. What has upset me is that I have seen sites selling recordings that I taped and have made available on the site for free.
Are the recordings you own considered “full length shows” of Brother John Rydgren, or simply sound bytes of partial songs and public service announcements? I have heard a few before from other sources, and they have been very disappointing. For many years, I have been looking for some un-cut versions that are a realistic version of the programming back in 1969.
This is the only one that I have. Was on a reel to reel tape.
I have a full KABC reel to reel tape recorded in 1969, it’s a continuous recording. Any idea of the value?
upload it for all to hear, no need for greed
Thanks so much for this posting. Growing up in Metro NYC, I listened to WABC-AM a lot (like a lot of the kids), but preferred WMCA-AM. But MCA’s transmitter must’ve been further away.
Anyway, then I heard about WABC-FM, & I was hooked right away!
Br. John was an immediate favorite. I really liked how he’d string maybe 3 songs together for a cool medley. I liked one the most: it started with “Morning, Girl” (Neon Philharmonic), the a piece by Lee Michaels (cannot recall the title), & finished with Hendrix’s “Burning of the Midnight Vamp.”
Nobody else was doing that stuff, as far as I could tell, & it was all so different from the AM side!
I was surprised to learn that Br. John was an actual minister & that he died so young….both of which I learned in an e-exchang with Pat St. John (who sent some time at ABC-FM.).
Thanks again for helping tie some loose ends from long ago.
I enjoyed listening to brother John. I have the ultimate rock concert on reel to reel which they broadcast. The music was unlike anything else on fm radio at the time. I discovered the neon philharmonic and lee Michaels and many other artists. I recall them playing mason Williams just before the top of the hour and the song was baroque a nova
NORM M NIGHT TAUGH ME MUSIC ROOTS TO HARD THANKS MR MUSIC
Listened to the oasis of Brother John “Hour of Love” from Dexheim, Germany in 1969-70. Many nights of calm and reflection.
I have a transcription of The Mechanical Man” that he read over AFM. I can’t seem to locate the author of the work. It is interesting, as it was the last broadcast I taped. The next time I tuned in I found a biography of “Vinegar” Joe Stillwell replacing the good brother.