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Format timeline XETRA 690

What formats have been programmed on XETRA 690 since the beautiful music format of the mid-seventies and what were their dates? Thanks!
 
> What formats have been programmed on XETRA 690 since the
> beautiful music format of the mid-seventies and what were
> their dates? Thanks!

Since there aren't that many formats to list, let's be complete. Up until 1962, 690 was XEAK and playing top-40 as "The Mighty 690". They then became "XTRA News" for several years before going beautiful music near the end of the 1960s.

They went back to being "The Mighty 690" in 1978 (and forced San Diego's KGB to drop top-40 in 1982) before becoming "XTRA Gold" in 1984. They segued to talk in 1988, became "XTRA Sports" in 1990, and then "Fabulous 690" this year.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
690 was top 40 XEAK from April 1957 to 1961.

They became XETRA with all news on May 6, 1961. Became beautiful music on April 2, 1968. Top 40 returned on September 19, 1980.


--Brian Craig
 
> They became XETRA with all news on May 6, 1961. Became
> beautiful music on April 2, 1968. Top 40 returned on
> September 19, 1980.
>
>
> --Brian Craig
>

When I heard them in the 80s, I thought they were a great
Top 40 station, even though they were still on AM. I
noticed when walking around Tijuana, many radios had
The Mighty 690 playing.

Because they were licensed to Mexico, they didn't have
to do any news, not even in morning drive. It was all
music, every hour, with very good DJs and not too many
spots per hour. And they never used call letters; it
was always The Mighty 690. Only the legal I.D. in
Spanish, played between two spots, gave away their
Mexican identity (and having to air La Hora Nacional
every Sunday at 10pm).

They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
think it's a local station. Even when they did contests,
where you had to send in a post card, they listed their
address as "The Mighty 690, Box xxx, Southern California,
9xxxx." That's right, no city. They figured if the
contestant got the zip code right, it would get to their
mail box.



Gregg
[email protected]
 
I've transformed many a Post with this information!

Recently after being proven wrong about one of the Mighty 690 Jocks, Jim Richards, I decided to contacted him. What a great guy, he's now a consultant, and had fond memories of the early 80's Mighty days. My favorite member of the ‘Collective’, similar to the “Borg” on Star Trek was Michael Boss. In fact Sean Ross from Edison Media Research had just included the Mighty 690 in an article he wrote. Seems that Sean was really hip to the Mighty 690, as well as everything else that is Radio! The 690 Jocks were Robotic,like Automatons. Somewhat like fine Surgeons of the Air, cutting & slicing their way into the flow of XETRA. Sounds strange for a Station that only executed Liner Cards, and played about 47 Songs. God I miss my Mighty 690!



> When I heard them in the 80s, I thought they were a great
> Top 40 station, even though they were still on AM. I
> noticed when walking around Tijuana, many radios had
> The Mighty 690 playing.
>
> Because they were licensed to Mexico, they didn't have
> to do any news, not even in morning drive. It was all
> music, every hour, with very good DJs and not too many
> spots per hour. And they never used call letters; it
> was always The Mighty 690. Only the legal I.D. in
> Spanish, played between two spots, gave away their
> Mexican identity (and having to air La Hora Nacional
> every Sunday at 10pm).
> They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> think it's a local station. Even when they did contests,
> where you had to send in a post card, they listed their
> address as "The Mighty 690, Box xxx, Southern California,
> 9xxxx." That's right, no city. They figured if the
> contestant got the zip code right, it would get to their
> mail box.
 
Re: I've transformed many a Post with this information!

> Recently after being proven wrong about one of the Mighty
> 690 Jocks, Jim Richards, I decided to contacted him. What a
> great guy, he's now a consultant, and had fond memories of
> the early 80's Mighty days. My favorite member of the
> ‘Collective’, similar to the “Borg” on Star Trek was Michael
> Boss. In fact Sean Ross from Edison Media Research had just
> included the Mighty 690 in an article he wrote. Seems that
> Sean was really hip to the Mighty 690, as well as everything
> else that is Radio! The 690 Jocks were Robotic,like
> Automatons. Somewhat like fine Surgeons of the Air, cutting
> & slicing their way into the flow of XETRA. Sounds strange
> for a Station that only executed Liner Cards, and played
> about 47 Songs. God I miss my Mighty 690!
>
>
>
> > When I heard them in the 80s, I thought they were a great
> > Top 40 station, even though they were still on AM. I
> > noticed when walking around Tijuana, many radios had
> > The Mighty 690 playing.
> >
> > Because they were licensed to Mexico, they didn't have
> > to do any news, not even in morning drive. It was all
> > music, every hour, with very good DJs and not too many
> > spots per hour. And they never used call letters; it
> > was always The Mighty 690. Only the legal I.D. in
> > Spanish, played between two spots, gave away their
> > Mexican identity (and having to air La Hora Nacional
> > every Sunday at 10pm).
> > They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> > words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> > think it's a local station. Even when they did contests,
> > where you had to send in a post card, they listed their
> > address as "The Mighty 690, Box xxx, Southern California,
> > 9xxxx." That's right, no city. They figured if the
> > contestant got the zip code right, it would get to their
> > mail box.
>

Why are you using the word "only" and liner cards in one sentance. My best friend was one of the jocks at the Mighty 690 and he wasn't reading just liner cards there in 1983. And they certainly were playing many more than 47 songs...

My friend was even put up briefly in a Tijuana apartment so he and his wife didn't have to cross the border all the time. They did get a kind-of fast-track way of crossing the border eventually. He once almost drove off the road during a rain storm on the dirt road - to the transmitter/studio - which had sheer drop-offs - in Rosarito Beach.
 
> They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> think it's a local station.

Not true. One of their top of the hour (non-legal) "i.d.'s" was walked up to a sing "The Mighty 690 Los Angeles". It was rotated with the Southern Calfornia sing.

Also, San Diego was mentioned in some weather forcasts.

I have airchecks of both.
 
Because...

In early 83 I went to work for KIIS, and really didn't get a chance to hear them anymore. Yes, you mentioned the Mighty 690 expanded their On Air presentation during the final Months. My life however was really consumed with the "ROQ of the 80's" during that time period. And as you know, when you become involved with a Station like KIIS & KPRZ, you start listening to your new Friends. Heck, Gary Owens talked about me every Morning, and Big Ron would play every single Drop I handed him. Again Glenn, why not share some of your Mighty690 and KIIS Airchecks with Uncle Rickey, or anybody?. I get the feeling you don't play well with others :)

Scott
 
I'm with the other guy...

Even though you have the proof, Greg and I just remember "Southern California". Never heard a "Mighty 690 Los Angeles Jingle". In fact, Greg and I just remember that "Shotgun" Jingle!

> > They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> > words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> > think it's a local station.
>
> Not true. One of their top of the hour (non-legal) "i.d.'s"
> was walked up to a sing "The Mighty 690 Los Angeles". It was
> rotated with the Southern Calfornia sing.
>
> Also, San Diego was mentioned in some weather forcasts.
>
> I have airchecks of both.
>
 
Re: I'm with the other guy...and you are both wrong

> Even though you have the proof, Greg and I just remember
> "Southern California". Never heard a "Mighty 690 Los Angeles
> Jingle". In fact, Greg and I just remember that "Shotgun"
> Jingle!
>
> > > They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> > > words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> > > think it's a local station.
> >
> > Not true. One of their top of the hour (non-legal)
> "i.d.'s"
> > was walked up to a sing "The Mighty 690 Los Angeles". It
> was
> > rotated with the Southern Calfornia sing.
> >
> > Also, San Diego was mentioned in some weather forcasts.
> >
> > I have airchecks of both.
> >
>

If you want to keep posting and being wrong, that is not my problem. But you are wrong. Just as you were about the Jim Richards.
 
Re: Because...

> In early 83 I went to work for KIIS, and really didn't get a
> chance to hear them anymore. Yes, you mentioned the Mighty
> 690 expanded their On Air presentation during the final
> Months. My life however was really consumed with the "ROQ of
> the 80's" during that time period. And as you know, when you
> become involved with a Station like KIIS & KPRZ, you start
> listening to your new Friends. Heck, Gary Owens talked about
> me every Morning, and Big Ron would play every single Drop I
> handed him. Again Glenn, why not share some of your
> Mighty690 and KIIS Airchecks with Uncle Rickey, or anybody?.
> I get the feeling you don't play well with others :)
>
> Scott
>

Big Ron and I have worked together. While he was at KIIS, I visited him all the time at 6255 Sunset. Ron always liked young men coming up. I was his immediate boss once briefly. In 1991, he wanted me to be his assistant p.d. at KEZY-FM if he got the p.d. gig (which he did not but he had a great presentation).

The Mighty 690 jock I mentioned was an on air talent at KIIS.

One day I MIGHT share my airchecks. Honestly, I wouldn't even know how to upload them.

I have unscoped the debut of K-West 106 (as a CHR), KKHR, FM 92 The Beat, Pirate Radio - among others. I also have some of Rick Dees first morning show on KIIS and extensive London and Engleman airchecks (Little Timmie Sullivan, Vice President and General Manager K-West 106 bits are great) all among 100's of hours of L.A. airchecks dating back to the 1970's that I personally airchecked and have only been played to very few radio "friends" over the years (one of my favs remains Frazer Smith at KLOS on an April Fools Day doing the Mighty MUTT, KMUT..knocking KMET). Even before I knew what I was doing, airchecking a certain L.A. p.d. when he was a top San Diego jock and p.d. helped land me my first radio gig. Playing his aircheck out loud when he was a guest speaker in a class that (the late) Mark Blinoff taught at UCLA must have stroked his ego (and I wasn't doing it intentionally)...and he offered me my first radio job a month or so later.
 
Hot Stuff!

In the case of Uncle Rickey's Site, he wont accept anything uploaded, not even an MP3. Just a plain Cassette, or open Reel tape, etc... However Uploading is as easy as Downloading, including a Sound File Attachment in an Email. There is hope yet!

> I have unscoped the debut of K-West 106 (as a CHR), KKHR, FM
> 92 The Beat, Pirate Radio - among others. I also have some
> of Rick Dees first morning show on KIIS and extensive London
> and Engleman airchecks (Little Timmie Sullivan, Vice
> President and General Manager K-West 106 bits are great) all
> among 100's of hours of L.A. airchecks dating back to the
> 1970's that I personally airchecked and have only been
> played to very few radio "friends" over the years (one of my
> favs remains Frazer Smith at KLOS on an April Fools Day
> doing the Mighty MUTT, KMUT..knocking KMET). Even before I
> knew what I was doing, airchecking a certain L.A. p.d. when
> he was a top San Diego jock and p.d. helped land me my first
> radio gig. Playing his aircheck out loud when he was a guest
> speaker in a class that (the late) Mark Blinoff taught at
> UCLA must have stroked his ego (and I wasn't doing it
> intentionally)...and he offered me my first radio job a
> month or so later.
>
 
The Other Guy & I

>But you are wrong<
No, it's more like you have educated us, that's what this is all about. If someone shares a memory, and it's from a different time frame, it doesn't mean they're wrong, unless they call you wrong. Do you recall the approximate Month in 83 when the Liner Presentation was dropped for a more Personality Driven Mighty 690? Also the same question about the Los Angeles Jingle? I'm sure your Tapes would tell the entire story!
 
Re: The Other Guy & I

> >But you are wrong<
> No, it's more like you have educated us, that's what this is
> all about. If someone shares a memory, and it's from a
> different time frame, it doesn't mean they're wrong, unless
> they call you wrong.

You know, I'm getting tired of this "I have to prove you wrong" business as well. I've had people correct me on things my faulty memory remembered incorrectly, and if the correction is made gracefully, it can be accepted gracefully.

Glenn, do you have some hidden bitterness that causes you to be so hostile over something so non-earthshaking? I can give you Dr. Laura's number if it will help ...
<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
Re: The Other Guy & I

> > >But you are wrong<
> > No, it's more like you have educated us, that's what this
> is
> > all about. If someone shares a memory, and it's from a
> > different time frame, it doesn't mean they're wrong,
> unless
> > they call you wrong.
>
> You know, I'm getting tired of this "I have to prove you
> wrong" business as well. I've had people correct me on
> things my faulty memory remembered incorrectly, and if the
> correction is made gracefully, it can be accepted
> gracefully.
>
> Glenn, do you have some hidden bitterness that causes you to
> be so hostile over something so non-earthshaking? I can
> give you Dr. Laura's number if it will help ...
>
My original reply wasn't correcting him anyway. It didn't need a reply. Maybe he should have asked Jim Richards if I was correct before posting "I'm With The Other Guy" as his header.

If you want to know my demeanor, think of John Kobylt or Jim Cramer.
 
Re: The Other Guy & I

> My original reply wasn't correcting him anyway. It didn't
> need a reply. Maybe he should have asked Jim Richards if I
> was correct before posting "I'm With The Other Guy" as his
> header.
>
> If you want to know my demeanor, think of John Kobylt or Jim
> Cramer.

I can only suggest that if a reply is made to somethinmg that didn't need a reply, perhaps you should have left well enough alone.

I am trying very, very hard to keep you here, unlike your previous incarnations.
Work with me here, okay?
<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
> > They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> > words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> > think it's a local station.
>
> Not true. One of their top of the hour (non-legal) "i.d.'s"
> was walked up to a sing "The Mighty 690 Los Angeles". It was
> rotated with the Southern Calfornia sing.
>
> Also, San Diego was mentioned in some weather forcasts.
>
> I have airchecks of both.
>

Have you considered sharing them with reelradio.com? I wish I could hear some Mighty 690 again. I loved it.

I'd also like to hear some 1190 KEZY from any of their formats: top-40, "kick ass" and "12."

I remember Mighty 690 vans being parked in the same lot as KWST/KMGG and KIQQ (6430 Sunset???). Did they have studios there?

Richard
 
> > They never refered to San Diego. They always used the
> > words "Southern California" so LA-area listeners would
> > think it's a local station.
>

Have you considered sharing them with reelradio.com? I wish I could hear some Mighty 690 again. I loved it.

I'd also like to hear some 1190 KEZY from any of their formats: top-40, "kick ass" and "12."

I remember Mighty 690 vans being parked in the same lot as KWST/KMGG and KIQQ (6430 Sunset???). Did they have studios there?

Richard
6430, the Jolly Roger/CNN Building had tons of Stations and media companies. Unistar and KJOI were there as well. At some point in the 80s the Mighty 690 maintained studios in Burbank. We need more airchecks, Glenn had a bunch but really was a terrible person and didn't want to share~
 
690 was top 40 XEAK from April 1957 to 1961.

They became XETRA with all news on May 6, 1961. Became beautiful music on April 2, 1968. Top 40 returned on September 19, 1980.

--Brian Craig

IIRC, "XTRA News" threw in the towel about the same time KFWB flipped from Top 40 to all news. XETRA was a low-budget "rip and read" service, and really couldn't compete with a Westinghouse all news station with major resources, not to mention KNX, which was also evolving gradually into mostly news.

RE: being a "local" station, I recall that in the Wolfman Jack days, XERB would run the Spanish language top-of -the-hour ID, then in English, say "XERB, the Mighty 1090, over Los Angeles."
 
RE: being a "local" station, I recall that in the Wolfman Jack days, XERB would run the Spanish language top-of -the-hour ID, then in English, say "XERB, the Mighty 1090, over Los Angeles."

And during much of the Wolfman era, XERB (XEPRS) was Spanish language in the daytime; they had studios and management offices at different times above the El Capitan theater and in the "high rise" at Sunset and Vine, and nearly all clients were in LA and Orange counties.
 
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