Albany Radio-August, 1980

[TimeTraveler]

88.3-WVCR College
89.1-WMHT Classical
90.3-WAMC Classical/Jazz/NPR
91.5-WRPI College/Progressive
92.3-WFLY Top 40
95.5-WROW elevator music
99.5-WGFM Top 40 (automated)
100.9-WWOM A/C
101.9-WJIV bible thumper
103.1-WHRL elevator music "Whirl"
103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock "Q-104"
106.5-WHSH elevator music "Wish"

590-WROW elevator music
810-WGY Full service-A/C
980-WTRY Top 40
1240-WWWD Top 40/Oldies
1300-WQBK Talk
1330-WHAZ bible thumper
1400-WABY Country
1460-WOKO Country
1540-WPTR A/C

 

[Oldbones]

> 103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock "Q-104"

Isn't 1980 a bit late for "progressive rock"? Don't even think I heard the term much after the mid-70s, much less any stations using that approach. Were they still semi-freeform or had they transitioned into more of a garden variety AOR?

 

[TimeTraveler]

Albany Radio-August, 1980 (correction)

88.3-WVCR College
89.1-WMHT Classical
90.3-WAMC Classical/Jazz/NPR
91.5-WRPI College/Progressive
92.3-WFLY Top 40
95.5-WROW elevator music
99.5-WGFM Top 40 (automated)
100.9-WWOM A/C
101.9-WJIV bible thumper
103.1-WHRL elevator music "Whirl"
103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock "Q-104"
106.5-WHSH elevator music "Wish"
107.7-WGNA Country

590-WROW elevator music
810-WGY Full service-A/C
980-WTRY Top 40
1240-WWWD Top 40/Oldies
1300-WQBK Talk
1330-WHAZ bible thumper
1400-WABY Country
1460-WOKO Country
1540-WPTR A/C

 

[TimeTraveler]

> > 103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock "Q-104"
>
> Isn't 1980 a bit late for "progressive rock"? Don't even
> think I heard the term much after the mid-70s, much less any
> stations using that approach. Were they still semi-freeform
> or had they transitioned into more of a garden variety AOR?


1980 was late for "progressive rock", but Q-104 was an exception to the rule.
The fact, that they had no competition, until WPYX appeared in September, 1980,
certainly helped maintain the format, which was pretty much "free form".
They maintained their "progressive rock" format, until early 1984, when it flipped to kind of a "Rock/AC" format for a few years, until going "Classic Rock", in 1987. They had the widest playlist, that I have ever heard on any commercial rock station,
anywhere, with DJs that really knew the music.

 

[martyn]

I think by 'progressive rock' (aka 'prog rock'), they mean the stuff played by the virtuoso musicians coming out of the late 60's and into the 70's like Yes, King Crimson, ELP, etc.. That music fell out favor with the public for the most part after disco and punk/new wave hit. Not that those type of bands ever really went away (Asia anyone?).
I think Q-104 was 'progressive' because, in addition to playing FM rock stuff, they also played a lot of rock coming out of the punk and new wave underground like the Police, Elvis Costello, Pretenders, etc.
Anyone who was there have any thoughts on the whole 'progressive rock' question?
Aren't labels fun?


> > > 103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock "Q-104"
> >
> > Isn't 1980 a bit late for "progressive rock"? Don't even
> > think I heard the term much after the mid-70s, much less
> any
> > stations using that approach. Were they still
> semi-freeform
> > or had they transitioned into more of a garden variety
> AOR?
>
>
> 1980 was late for "progressive rock", but Q-104 was an
> exception to the rule.
> The fact, that they had no competition, until WPYX appeared
> in September, 1980,
> certainly helped maintain the format, which was pretty much
> "free form".
> They maintained their "progressive rock" format, until early
> 1984, when it flipped to kind of a "Rock/AC" format for a
> few years, until going "Classic Rock", in 1987. They had the
> widest playlist, that I have ever heard on any commercial
> rock station,
> anywhere, with DJs that really knew the music.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
"Low frequencies - the preferred weapon of mass destruction"</P>

 

[JohnMolori]

103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock "Q-104"

It was an amazing station back then. Adventurous like college radio, but cohesive like carefully programmed commercial radio.

I remember hearing Q104 in 1980 and being blown away.

 

[4dude]

Oh how i mi$$ that dial plan!!!!!!!!

103.1 was one of the BEST easy listening stations in the area! (Along with 102.3 & 95.5/590)


What happend to the good days??

 

[Channel Surf]

103.1 was one of the BEST easy listening stations in the area!

It does seem kind of amazing that Channel 103.1-WHRL was easy listening/elevator music for many years, from the 60s well into the later 80s. It was around 1988 that they went to a New Age music format, followed by Smooth Jazz around 1992. WHRL didn't start to rock until late 1999. Prior to the 90s, the 103.1 signal was also very inferior to what it is now. WHRL is also one of only a very few of the local FM stations to retain its original call letters.

 

[4dude]

Yes its been through 3 different owners since the 80s and i am also amazed @ that!

 

[heyitsrick]

Re: 103.9-WQBK Progressive Rock \

It was an amazing station back then. Adventurous like college radio, but cohesive like carefully programmed commercial radio.

I remember hearing Q104 in 1980 and being blown away.

I was working at WPDH during those days, and always enjoyed listening to QBK when I was in signal range. They had a much lower power out than PYX-106 did, as I recall. I think in many ways QBK and PDH were similar as far as airplay and music libraries went.

For those that remember him, Lin Brehmer has done quite well with himself. Lin was a former jock at QBK (and music director, as I recall). He's now in Chicago: http://www.93xrt.com/pages/65455.php

 

[Towerclimber31]

Wasn't WGFM Rock-99 at this time? I don't remember is being automated.

WHSH was awesome too. They were crystal clear beautiful music... I never knew what the MPX button on my soundesign stereo system was for.

WHRL signal was pretty good north. Used to listen to it at the ski chalet in Johnsburg, Warren County. Probably a good 85 miles from the stick.

 

[Time Traveler]

Wasn't WGFM Rock-99 at this time? I don't remember is being automated.

Rock 99 started as an automated Top 40 rock station in 1973. I don't believe that they went live until 1981 when they flipped to a/c as "99 The Lite".

WHSH was awesome too. They were crystal clear beautiful music... I never knew what the MPX button on my soundesign stereo system was for.

106.5-WHSH/WPYX has always been one of the best FM signals in the market!

WHRL signal was pretty good north. Used to listen to it at the ski chalet in Johnsburg, Warren County. Probably a good 85 miles from the stick.

Just a couple of weeks ago I was on the Northway exactly 100 miles north of Albany and WHRL was coming in fairly decently. They have an amazing signal particularly to the north for a Class A.

 

[rickkelly]

Getting back to WQBK, back in the early 70's they played Standards. Then, they started playing Progressive Rock at night, and eventually the format took over the entire way. They marketed themselves as "Progressive 104", but their audio was very compressed, earning the name by some of "Compressive 104". John Cooper was the PD, as I recall, before he went to WPYX.

-Rick Kelly

 

[Time Traveler]

Getting back to WQBK, back in the early 70's they played Standards. Then, they started playing Progressive Rock at night, and eventually the format took over the entire way. They marketed themselves as "Progressive 104", but their audio was very compressed, earning the name by some of "Compressive 104". John Cooper was the PD, as I recall, before he went to WPYX.
-Rick Kelly

WQBK-FM signed on 12/1/72 simulcasting what would be considered a standards format from WQBK-AM 1300, which was a daytimer in those days, and they continued to broadcast it through the evening. The night time progressive rock format kicked in Labor day weekend, 1974, and it became full time progressive rock in August, 1975. The original PD was Jack Hopke. Brian Lehrer and Ellen McKinnon were a couple of the origninal DJs at the time. John Cooper joined the air staff around 1977, and replaced Jack Hopke as PD in 1979.