***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.
Part two of the Detroit AM and FM double shot.
The first clip from “underground” WKNR FM from April 1969, begins with Detroit beat poetry and includes some great music and wonderful ads. The long track played by Procol Harum “In Held Twas In I” was a staple on free form FM and nice to revisit that memory.
The second DJ heard on the clip is Uncle Russ Gibb. He was the owner of the Grande Ballroom in Detroit and responsible for putting a lot of Michigan bands on the map. He also brought in out of town acts such as CCR and The Who, In fact the Who first played Tommy in the states at the Grande and he speaks about that. I believe he took a call on air that started the whole “Paul Is Dead” phenomena. That’s not on this clip.
Russ Gibb also was an investor in Creem magazine- a businessman and broadcaster who liked to speak about his business philosophy on air. A Detroit legend. This clip includes an interview with John Fogerty by Mr Gibb starting at 137:16 on the first clip. CCR was appearing that night at the Grande.
The second clip continues the 1968 countdown and includes songs 77 to 66 on Keener 13 or WKNR AM from December 1968. The DJ is Dan Henderson. A journey back in time when it was fun to listen to Top 40 radio.
Look out for more of the Keener 13 countdown as well as more from WKNR FM.
Audio Note: The original tapes from WKNR are recorded on slow speed reel to reel and the tapes are rather delicate and mono. I transferred them to faster speed reel to reel and have used the latter for the digital transfer and for the WKNR AM the best quality was achieved with a dis- balance in volume between the two channels.
Wow… I just listened to 3 1/2 hours of WKNR-FM from 1969… That was awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this!
When I was a kid growing up in Detroit, I often listened to Keener 13 on my AM-only transistor radio… I was too young to realize what I was missing on the FM airwaves. WKNR-FM sounds like it was quintessential freeform radio.
The quick snippet of Brother John Rydgren was tantalizing. Do you have any recordings of ABC-FM’s ‘Love’ programming?
I do have a bit more of Brother John on the Love format from KABC from 1969 Here:
Brother John KABC FM 1969
Glad you liked the WKNR FM uploads. Stay tuned for more to come!
I just wanted to thank you for sharing all these air checks. I’ve been working through them over the past few months when time allows. It’s downright lovely they still exist and that you’re willing to put all the hard work in to share them.
Thanks!!!
In a way, I hope John Fogerty never hears this tape. It’s fascinating to hear Russ Gibbs talk about Zaentz’s reputation and Fogerty defending him in a way.
Do you know what song that is behind the guy talking at the beginning of the WKNR-FM part? If this helps, the guy seems to be reading “Hunger and Hurricanes” from “The Way of The Wolf” by Martin Bell.