***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.
The last post on the site, David Pritchard on CHUM FM from 1971, was a great example of experimental FM underground radio. This air check from Chicago station WXFM is in a somewhat similar vein. During the time of this air check, WXFM was a multi format station and the program Triad Radio aired during weekday evenings from 8 to midnight. The show was on the station from 1969 to 1977 and featured a lot of experimental and progressive rock, particularly of the European variety. Mr Pritchard and Gary Storm’s Oil of Dog (also featured on this site) highlighted some of the same on their programs.
There are other air checks from Triad radio available on the web but this is one of the longer ones and it’s a gem featuring a number of commercial breaks with some very interesting ads and other content.
The name of the host was Saul Smaizys and he took the program to other stations after the show ended on WXFM.. Here’s Facebook link for the program: Triad Radio
Thanks so much for posting this. Triad was my mainstay listening experience when I was in my youth, and in many ways formed my musical interests thereafter. Great to hear this again.
First track is “Big Swifty” by Zappa
First track is actually “Wakajawaka” by Frank Zappa. The LP this track is from also has “Big Swifty” on it, however.
I founded the Wednesday night blues show on Triad which was later hosted by Amy “Atomic Mama” O’Neal. I was working at Jazz Record Mart/Delmark Records when the Triad guys came in trying to sell advertising. I talked them in to a blues show and talked my boss, Bob Koester, into sponsoring it. I did the show until I founded Alligator Records in 1971 and for a while after. Alligator became my life’s work. The station had a strong signal and the Triad guys let me program the show as I wanted.
Bruce honor to have you comment here. Have read about Alligator records over the years. Important label!
Man we need a resurrection of this format and station music by todays stations is horrible to say the least, to have experienced music and lived it those times was cool to the hilt. They say never look back but i will a much better world of peace and love with great music on triad.
AMEN BROTHER!!!
Absolutely! I’m right there with you. I used to listen to TRIAD in Chicago in the 70’s. A highlight of my youth, right up there with Amazingrace Coffeehouse in Evanston
I spent 1971 working 12 hour nights, and the lab rocked each night first with Saul and Triad and then with the (nascent WXRT) rock program from midnight to dawn featuring Mitch Michaels and AOR.
Chicago FM radio was great in those days.
Listened to you more than a bit, Mr Iglauer, and have more than a few Alligators in my collection. Thanks.
Miss TRIAD so very much…
What was the background story when Triad went punk around 1977?
I host a program similar to Triad on WRRG-FM from Triton College. Details below if you’d like to tune in:
Classical Rock
WRRG-FM 88.9FM
Thursdays 7:00-10:00pm
Streaming at: http://www.radio.net and http://www.tunein.com (search-> wrrg)
Studio line: (708) 583-3110
Fantastic! I listened to Triad on WXFM and may well have listened to this broadcast in ’72. So wonderful to stumble across this.
THIS … IS TRIAD
Lived in Chicago 1971-72, ran into Triad Radio by accident. What a sweet find that was!