Some airchecks of WACKY 102 FM with Glen Fm Stevens ,Ken Gilbert and Jim Kayes

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Glen Stevens WAQY Springfield, MA 1980. (20:11) Glen did overnights, and then middays at WAQY during the "WACKY 1-OH-2" days of the station, before they went AOR (now Classic Rock). Glen had a smooth and youthful delivery that was perfect for a station like WAQY, and he still sounds the same on 5150fm.com where you check out his WACKY 102 reenactment twice weekly. Thanks to Glen Stevens for this great aircheck that brought back lots of memories. Listen to a dial up version of this aircheck here. Download this aircheck as an mp3 file by RIGHT CLICKING HERE
http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/jkwaqy80HA.mp3

[Guylaine]

Glen Stevens WAQY Springfield, MA 1980. (20:11) Glen did overnights, and then middays at WAQY during the "WACKY 1-OH-2" days of the station, before they went AOR (now Classic Rock). Glen had a smooth and youthful delivery that was perfect for a station like WAQY, and he still sounds the same on 5150fm.com where you check out his WACKY 102 reenactment twice weekly. Thanks to Glen Stevens for this great aircheck that brought back lots of memories. Listen to a dial up version of this aircheck here. Download this aircheck as an mp3 file by RIGHT CLICKING HERE. http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/gswaqy80.mp3

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Jim Kaye WAQY Springfield MA 1979. (10:31) Here's a great gift for those nostalgic for the days when WAQY was Top 40. Jim was the night star of "WACKY 102 FM" - upbeat, personable - just a lot of fun to listen to. Thanks to WAQY's former staffer Glen Stevens for this aircheck he pulled off the WAQY skimmer machine! Download this file as an mp3 by right clicking here. http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/jkwaqy79.mp3

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Ken Gilbert WDRC-FM Hartford 1982. (6:06) I don't know about you but I don't know when 'DRC-FM sounded like this... Top 40... and it's obvious that the tape is not one contiguous period of time, but still this is a great aircheck of Ken on DRC-FM before they were an oldies station. Thanks to Ken Gilbert for this aircheck/audition tape/whatever! http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/kgwdrc81.wax

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Ken Gilbert WAQY Springfield MA 1980. Our second aircheck of Gilbert on the old WACKY-102, now known as Classic Rock “Rock 102”. Gilbert plays it straight on this aircheck, that features talk in an out of all commercial breaks, and famous WACKY shout. From my personal collection. http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/kgaqy802.ram

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Alan Freed WINS New York 3/5/55. (26:24) It’s just remarkable to hear this aircheck of Freed. The original recording on this one is noted as being made on a wire recorder, and sounds like it was made with a microphone. Freed made his debut on WINS only six months earlier, and made HUGE splash playing music by mostly black artists wherever he went including Akron and Cleveland, OH. At the time of this aircheck, had just come off a successful rock and roll show in New York in January. The aircheck is full of mailed in and telegrammed dedications to listening teenagers who are now undoubtedly now in their 60’s. Freed’s much imitated cries of “Oh!” and “Ho” are heard throughout, and note how Freed gives title, artist, and record label for each selection. Interesting that Freed rarely said the call letters… I only count three times on this aircheck! Freed was nothing short of a pioneering talent, a person who loved being on the air and loved the music he played. My greatest thanks to "Big Tuna" Jim Kaye for these airchecks of "Mr. Rock and Roll"! http://www.northeastairchecks.com/checks/afwins55.ram

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Alan Freed WABC New York 11/5/59. (16:43) “Easy Listening” WABC(?) hired Freed immediately after his contact expired with WINS in the spring of 1958. Not only do you get to hear a much subdued Freed on this aircheck, but some WABC jingles, commercials (live and recorded), Freed’s characteristic pounding on the table to the beat of the music, and the requests and dedications. Freed obviously used a speaker in the studio instead of headphones, which was common in those days. There was also an obvious reverb control that he could turn off and on for emphasis. Freed was fired from WABC about two weeks after the date on this aircheck, after refusing to sign a statement stating that he never accepted payola. Thus began Freed’s downward slide. As much as Dick Clark came out the darling of the 1950’s payola scandals, Freed sadly became the “poster child”, and after working in Los Angeles and Miami, died in January of 1965 at the age of 43 of gastrointestinal bleeding and cirrhosis of the liver, related to apparent excessive drinking. There’s tons of information about Freed at www.alanfreed.com. Unfortunately, this aircheck is partially riddled with what sounds like tape print through (of perhaps another aircheck backwards) through part of the middle of the tape. Thanks again "Big Tuna" Jim Kaye for these outstanding pieces of rock and roll history http://www.northeastairchecks.com/checks/afwabc59.ram

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Ken Gilbert WAQY Springfield MA 1979. (2:47) Gilbert did afternoon drive on WACKY102 for a couple years, and also went on to work at WDRC Hartford and the country station in Bloomfield CT on 1550 whose old call letters escape me now. Gilbert had a habit of making obscure references to… well, whatever he was referring to. Gilbert later went back to his native Vermont. Allan Camp, PD and morning talent at WRCH Hartford sent this one to me, saying “I had one of those Sanyo car radios that had a cassette record function. I was driving from Springfield Vermont to Springfield Mass to be interviewed for a job at WKZE on Cape Cod when I caught this one.” Thanks Allan… this brought back some memories! http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/kgwaqy79.ram

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Jim Kaye on WAQY Springfield in 1981 - His Last Show (Part One). As part of our "Trilogy" in memory of "WACKY 102", here's Jim ("The Big Tuna") Kaye with lots of people in the studio (including me) for his last show. You'll hear a break I did on that last day first, then the Tuna. As I recall, Jim was disappointed with this last show, as he really didn't get to make it all his own - but if you listen to this - it's all him. He went out with his usual collection of oldies, and of course, a lot of class. Steve Sawyer (a major WACKY fan) contributed this one. http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/Laswak1.ram

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Jim Kaye on WAQY Springfield in 1981 - His Last Show (Part Two). Featuring the last 45 minutes of WACKY 102, Ken Barlow, and some highlights of the automated WACKY from the early 70's. More great stuff from Steve Sawyer... my thanks Steve! http://northeastairchecks.com/checks/Jkaqy81b.ram

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http://www.zshare.net/audio/58214010cc8e7e4e/

Glen FM Stevens and Ken Gilbert at WACKY 102 FM in the 80's

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