Top 40 Radio Back in the Day, circa 1985

[radiorama1]

I'm sort of surprised the WROR calls were brought back on 105.7 myself. While they had longevity in the market, there really wasn't much of an "image" attached to them. Oldies, various flavors of AC, a brief stab at CHR then back to various flavors of AC. I certainly wouldn't call them "heritage" calls like WBZ, WRKO, WBCN, etc.

I recall that, after a few mediocre years, WROR made a big splash from about 1973 through 1975 as Boston's first full-power, full-time Oldies station during the '50s/early '60s nostalgia wave, following the popularity of "American Graffiti" and "Happy Days".

Then, when they tried to go AC, CHR, etc... later on, everyone was still expecting the "Golden Great 98". It wasn't until they finally made the full flip, with new call letters and branding, to current Hot AC as "Mix" that the station finally shed its leftover oldies image, and built itself a whole new younger demo.

I remember after ROR's failed attempt at full-fleged Top 40 back in the early 80's, they began to lean very heavily towards Light/Soft AC and even Oldies (And I'm talkin' 50 & 60's)...

I recall hearing "The Big Hurt" by Toni _________ (forget her last name), a 50's hit, during Joe And Andy I would like to say around 1986 or so.

 

[Retro]

Yeah, 1983 where they did a CHR/Urban Blend, and yet a little new wave thrown in there for good measure too! I guess to position themselves between WHTT and Kiss 108 at the time. Then Labor Day weekend they became the thing of the past...

Later in 1985, they tried to reposition themselves again by adding Dr. Ruth and Dr. Demento on Sunday nights also. Interesting when Dr. Demento's only known appearance in Boston was on WROR. That Sunday he did 2 hours live and then after that the regular syndicated show as well.

3 songs were contributed to the his collection from WROR's staff too: The Tourist Rap, which used the music to The Rappin' Duke. Whatever Happened To New York, New York? using Frank Sinatra's tune. And finally (and my personal favorite) We Don't Need Another Soda, which Al Matthews did and was a parody of Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero and a rip on the soda wars at the time.

 

[radiorama1]

Yeah, 1983 where they did a CHR/Urban Blend, and yet a little new wave thrown in there for good measure too! I guess to position themselves between WHTT and Kiss 108 at the time. Then Labor Day weekend they became the thing of the past...

Later in 1985, they tried to reposition themselves again by adding Dr. Ruth and Dr. Demento on Sunday nights also. Interesting when Dr. Demento's only known appearance in Boston was on WROR. That Sunday he did 2 hours live and then after that the regular syndicated show as well.

3 songs were contributed to the his collection from WROR's staff too: The Tourist Rap, which used the music to The Rappin' Duke. Whatever Happened To New York, New York? using Frank Sinatra's tune. And finally (and my personal favorite) We Don't Need Another Soda, which Al Matthews did and was a parody of Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero and a rip on the soda wars at the time.

I remember his live Boston show! I believe it was on the weekend of his 25th anniversary on the airwaves! I used to have the FULL aircheck on those cheap Radio Shack cassette tapes (the ones with the shiny red packaging)... I broke the golden rule when it came to aircheckin' back in those days--- if you want to archive something, DO NOT record it onto Radio Shack or Memorex tapes.

(Didn't WZLX pick up Dr. Demento for a short time after ROR flipped to Mix? I could be mistaken...)

Back then I also remember ROR had their reverb cranked into OVERDRIVE... What WAS it with reverb back in those days anyway? IIRC I think WROR, WHTT, WVBF, and I believe even WHDH (850 AM) ALL had noticeable reverb in their processing.

 

[radiorama1]

Oh, and I also remember Demento and Ruth back-to-back... now there was a radio odd-couple if I ever saw one!

 

[Retro]

I still have a couple of his shows on tape from that era. Yeah the reverb was a bit much! Also, didn't they play the show too slow also? It was kinda annoying!

I do not know when 'ROR dropped Dr. Demento as I had lost interest in the show after only a few months.

Yes WZLX did pick him up for awhile too, then Westwood One cancelled his show. I do believe that 'ZLX did carry his show again for a short while when "On The Air" Network picked him up instead.

His show is still syndicated, but like the Lost 45's, he is a mainstay in his base of L.A. instead. Of course the Lost 45's is no longer syndicated, but I digress.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

I recall hearing "The Big Hurt" by Toni _________ (forget her last name), a 50's hit, during Joe And Andy I would like to say around 1986 or so.

"The Big Hurt" by "Miss" Toni Fisher. A Billboard #3 pop hit in January, 1960. It's still in rotation on WJIB, and heard occasionally on the oldies shows on WATD.

The song is said to be the first record ever to use "phasing" as a production effect. The story I heard was that an engineer allegedly decided to master the song with "phasing" to make an otherwise average pop vocal tune into something a little "different" and more ear-catching at the time, since practically no one had heard "phasing" yet in 1959. The effect may have helped the songs success at the time.

Back then I also remember ROR had their reverb cranked into OVERDRIVE... What WAS it with reverb back in those days anyway? IIRC I think WROR, WHTT, WVBF, and I believe even WHDH (850 AM) ALL had noticeable reverb in their processing.

Greater Media's 1150 WMEX also often had the reverb cranked during its Oldies stint from 1985-1989.

 

[Oldbones]

Interesting when Dr. Demento's only known appearance in Boston was on WROR. That Sunday he did 2 hours live and then after that the regular syndicated show as well.

Didn't WCOZ carry the good doctor in the late 70s/early 80s?

 

[Garrett]

This is a thread hijack, TAKE THIS THREAD TO BERMUDA! ;D

Ok, steering this thing back...
Yeah, I thought I heard some reverb on WROR for the 32 seconds that they were Top 40. Man, that was sooo short. The thing is, I remember the "OH NO, it's ROR! Nobody plays more HITS..." spots. But when I turned them on, the music selection was horrible. Yeah, I guess it was Top 40, but lots of old music, seemed like too few currents, none of the hotter stuff that Kiss, Z94 or WHTT played. Officially they flipped to sorta Hot AC, but in truth, I wonder if there was really much difference between one and the other for WROR?

I also don't count Mix98.5 as having anything to do with WROR. Same frequency, a few of the same people at first but completely different station, (based on the airchecks I was getting). To me Mix98.5 is really just Z94 continued. Yeah, officially it was Hot AC, but I would argue that Hot AC is really just another version of CHR.

Even based on the switch aircheck I heard from WROR to Mix, Mix sounded a lot like WZOU, even using the same Jingles. The only difference was the Motown stuff, which didn't stick around for very long. Even today, I like to think that most markets still have 2 Top 40s: The Mainstream CHR, and the one calling itslef "Hot AC." In Boston, there is Kiss, and there's Mix. Similar Demos, very similar music. If you compare then to now, similar situation, except both playlists divert a little, and it seems like it's Kiss that has the tight rotation now.

Thread back on course... I think?

 

[Retro]

Interesting when Dr. Demento's only known appearance in Boston was on WROR. That Sunday he did 2 hours live and then after that the regular syndicated show as well.

Didn't WCOZ carry the good doctor in the late 70s/early 80s?

I first caught his show back in 1981 on WCOZ. It might have been carried before then as I was only 10 or 11 at the time. In mid 1983 they dropped the show, along with other changes happening at the station also.

 

[Retro]

This is a thread hijack, TAKE THIS THREAD TO BERMUDA! ;D

Ok, steering this thing back...
Yeah, I thought I heard some reverb on WROR for the 32 seconds that they were Top 40. Man, that was sooo short. The thing is, I remember the "OH NO, it's ROR! Nobody plays more HITS..." spots. But when I turned them on, the music selection was horrible. Yeah, I guess it was Top 40, but lots of old music, seemed like too few currents, none of the hotter stuff that Kiss, Z94 or WHTT played. Officially they flipped to sorta Hot AC, but in truth, I wonder if there was really much difference between one and the other for WROR?

Yes, there was a definite difference. Now I actually liked the music mix of WROR. The were playing such songs as "Is There Something I Should Know?"-Duran Duran, Memory-Manage, the 12" of Our House-Madness, Putting On The Ritz-Taco, Flashdance, What I Feeling-Irene Cara, Space Cowboy-Johnzon Crew, Candy Girl (Short version)-New Edition, etc. I have a cassette of "Mighty Mike" Osbourne doing the All Request Friday Night.

I also don't count Mix98.5 as having anything to do with WROR. Same frequency, a few of the same people at first but completely different station, (based on the airchecks I was getting). To me Mix98.5 is really just Z94 continued. Yeah, officially it was Hot AC, but I would argue that Hot AC is really just another version of CHR.

They were very different back in the day also.

Even based on the switch aircheck I heard from WROR to Mix, Mix sounded a lot like WZOU, even using the same Jingles. The only difference was the Motown stuff, which didn't stick around for very long. Even today, I like to think that most markets still have 2 Top 40s: The Mainstream CHR, and the one calling itslef "Hot AC." In Boston, there is Kiss, and there's Mix. Similar Demos, very similar music. If you compare then to now, similar situation, except both playlists divert a little, and it seems like it's Kiss that has the tight rotation now.

Thread back on course... I think?

I heard the airchecks for the 2 stations, and based on the airchecks, you are correct, however anyone who actually listened to both of those stations back in the day like I did knows better.

 

[radiorama1]

This is a thread hijack, TAKE THIS THREAD TO BERMUDA! ;D

I also don't count Mix98.5 as having anything to do with WROR. Same frequency, a few of the same people at first but completely different station, (based on the airchecks I was getting). To me Mix98.5 is really just Z94 continued. Yeah, officially it was Hot AC, but I would argue that Hot AC is really just another version of CHR.

Even based on the switch aircheck I heard from WROR to Mix, Mix sounded a lot like WZOU, even using the same Jingles. The only difference was the Motown stuff, which didn't stick around for very long. Even today, I like to think that most markets still have 2 Top 40s: The Mainstream CHR, and the one calling itslef "Hot AC." In Boston, there is Kiss, and there's Mix. Similar Demos, very similar music. If you compare then to now, similar situation, except both playlists divert a little, and it seems like it's Kiss that has the tight rotation now.

How very different Mix 98.5's playlist was at its launch then it is now!

At the beginning, Mix leaned VERY HEAVILY on pop/light ac acts such as Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion... played AC acts from the 70's/80's such as The Pointer Sisters, Kool & The Gang, Boz Scaggs... and the Motown! IIRC Mix was inserting "Motown In The Mix" (that's exactly how they branded it) 2-3 times AN HOUR.

Now I consider Mix 98.5's format to be very close to full-fledged CHR.

 

[radiorama1]

Even based on the switch aircheck I heard from WROR to Mix, Mix sounded a lot like WZOU, even using the same Jingles. The only difference was the Motown stuff, which didn't stick around for very long. Even today, I like to think that most markets still have 2 Top 40s: The Mainstream CHR, and the one calling itslef "Hot AC." In Boston, there is Kiss, and there's Mix. Similar Demos, very similar music. If you compare then to now, similar situation, except both playlists divert a little, and it seems like it's Kiss that has the tight rotation now.

Thread back on course... I think?

I heard the airchecks for the 2 stations, and based on the airchecks, you are correct, however anyone who actually listened to both of those stations back in the day like I did knows better.

How very true!

 

[Retro]

I remember when Mix decided that they weren't going to only be a oldies like station when they decided to add "I've Been Thinking About You"-London Beat. It all just moved forward from there. ;D

 

[Retro]

This is a thread hijack, TAKE THIS THREAD TO BERMUDA! ;D

I also don't count Mix98.5 as having anything to do with WROR. Same frequency, a few of the same people at first but completely different station, (based on the airchecks I was getting). To me Mix98.5 is really just Z94 continued. Yeah, officially it was Hot AC, but I would argue that Hot AC is really just another version of CHR.

Even based on the switch aircheck I heard from WROR to Mix, Mix sounded a lot like WZOU, even using the same Jingles. The only difference was the Motown stuff, which didn't stick around for very long. Even today, I like to think that most markets still have 2 Top 40s: The Mainstream CHR, and the one calling itslef "Hot AC." In Boston, there is Kiss, and there's Mix. Similar Demos, very similar music. If you compare then to now, similar situation, except both playlists divert a little, and it seems like it's Kiss that has the tight rotation now.

How very different Mix 98.5's playlist was at its launch then it is now!

At the beginning, Mix leaned VERY HEAVILY on pop/light ac acts such as Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion... played AC acts from the 70's/80's such as The Pointer Sisters, Kool & The Gang, Boz Scaggs... and the Motown! IIRC Mix was inserting "Motown In The Mix" (that's exactly how they branded it) 2-3 times AN HOUR.

Now I consider Mix 98.5's format to be very close to full-fledged CHR.

They played a lot of Rhythmic type stuff too: Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Chaka Kahn, just to name a few.

 

[radiorama1]

This is a thread hijack, TAKE THIS THREAD TO BERMUDA! ;D

I also don't count Mix98.5 as having anything to do with WROR. Same frequency, a few of the same people at first but completely different station, (based on the airchecks I was getting). To me Mix98.5 is really just Z94 continued. Yeah, officially it was Hot AC, but I would argue that Hot AC is really just another version of CHR.

Even based on the switch aircheck I heard from WROR to Mix, Mix sounded a lot like WZOU, even using the same Jingles. The only difference was the Motown stuff, which didn't stick around for very long. Even today, I like to think that most markets still have 2 Top 40s: The Mainstream CHR, and the one calling itslef "Hot AC." In Boston, there is Kiss, and there's Mix. Similar Demos, very similar music. If you compare then to now, similar situation, except both playlists divert a little, and it seems like it's Kiss that has the tight rotation now.

How very different Mix 98.5's playlist was at its launch then it is now!

At the beginning, Mix leaned VERY HEAVILY on pop/light ac acts such as Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion... played AC acts from the 70's/80's such as The Pointer Sisters, Kool & The Gang, Boz Scaggs... and the Motown! IIRC Mix was inserting "Motown In The Mix" (that's exactly how they branded it) 2-3 times AN HOUR.

Now I consider Mix 98.5's format to be very close to full-fledged CHR.

They played a lot of Rhythmic type stuff too: Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Chaka Kahn, just to name a few.

Yep, and a few I also forgot to mention: Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Breathe, Billy Joel...

And I completely forgot about that London Beat record Retro... they were ALL OVER THAT when it came out!

 

[Retro]

Yeah, it was the first "new" record that they played after the format flip.

 

[Oldbones]

How very different Mix 98.5's playlist was at its launch then it is now!

Or for that matter, what they sounded like 10 years ago...very alternative-leaning, almost no pop or rhythmic stuff at all.

 

[Retro]

Mix was technically Modern AC at the time. The official years being from 1996 to the end of 1999. Kiss was largely all Modern too for the most part also.

 

[mcmannors]

(I remember one of my favorite nighttime jocks of the 80's, Alex Stone, being replaced by the AWFUL Tony "Wild Child" _________ (can't remember his last name) after they made the switch from "Hitradio" to "Power"...

Tony "Wild Child" Hamilton is probably who you're thinking of. He's the brother of Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, currently at WKTU/New York and formerly at Z-100/New York and KIIS-FM/Los Angeles. I didn't even know "Wild Child" worked in Boston. He worked at Z-95 in Milwaukee in 1984, then went on to WBBM-FM in Chicago for a time. I lost track of him after that, until he re-surfaced as a part timer at Z-100 in New York around 1987. I lost track of him after that.

Both brothers worked at the old "Y-107" (WMJY) in Long Branch, New Jersey back around 1981-82. "Hollywood" then went on to Q-105 in Tampa before being hired by Scott Shannon again to do late nights at Z-100.

BTW, I found an old publicity photo of Wild Child from his Milwaukee days:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r117/mcmannors/wildchildprofile001.jpg

 

[radiorama1]

(I remember one of my favorite nighttime jocks of the 80's, Alex Stone, being replaced by the AWFUL Tony "Wild Child" _________ (can't remember his last name) after they made the switch from "Hitradio" to "Power"...

Tony "Wild Child" Hamilton is probably who you're thinking of. He's the brother of Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, currently at WKTU/New York and formerly at Z-100/New York and KIIS-FM/Los Angeles. I didn't even know "Wild Child" worked in Boston. He worked at Z-95 in Milwaukee in 1984, then went on to WBBM-FM in Chicago for a time. I lost track of him after that, until he re-surfaced as a part timer at Z-100 in New York around 1987. I lost track of him after that.

Both brothers worked at the old "Y-107" (WMJY) in Long Branch, New Jersey back around 1981-82. "Hollywood" then went on to Q-105 in Tampa before being hired by Scott Shannon again to do late nights at Z-100.

BTW, I found an old publicity photo of Wild Child from his Milwaukee days:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r117/mcmannors/wildchildprofile001.jpg

Haha, if you looked up "80's Top 40 Jock" in an encyclopedia, I'm sure you would see those pics! ;D

GREAT find, Wayne! 8)