This must have been a fierce competition for these three FM Top 40 stations in the Boston Market during the 1970's. If my memory serves correctly, WVBF (formerly WKOX-FM) came first around 1970 and then WBZ-FM came next at the end of 1971. Then WCGY signed on in the year 1974. I think WVBF evolved into the AC pattern by 1981 and then WBZ-FM followed next later that year. WCGY gave the battle around the year 1983. Does anyone have the exact history behind these three stations as well as all the memories and music of these three stations? You can now reply and get down to the specifics. Thank you one and all!
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WCGY vs. WVBF vs. WBZ-FM
- Thread starter JonathanGabel
- Start date
Can't recall the actual timeline but all three of the stations you mentioned were originally simulcasts of their AM's. WKOX was a full service MOR in Framingham. Their FM was the first to split programming and become WVBF (105.7, named for Virginia B. Fairbanks), which was top 40 "Electronic Mama," later F-105 and eventually flipped to AC then later country and now WROR. 93.7 was WCCM-FM in Lawrence. When that FM split they became WCGY (named for Cheryl Gowdy) "The Rock Garden," later oldies and now Mike FM. WBZ-FM was the last holdout of the bunch. That didn't separate until the mid-70's and it was mainly an automated station at the time although it is best remembered for having Ken and Clark on the air live at some point. WBZ-FM was bought by Greater Media and became Magic 106 around 1980. KISS 108 incidentally was the FM of WHIL in Medford. It was beautiful music for most of the 70's and dumped that for disco around '78 (what a shocker that must have been for the beautiful music listeners!) Top 40 came later as the disco era fizzled out.
As for the AM's, my favorite top 40 was always WMEX 1510. In 1967 WNAC (680) became WRKO and although Wimmex held its own for a few more years, their ongoing signal problems couldn't stack up against RKO's blowtorch. Eventually the demise of top 40 AM would come about anyhow and that brings us back to the FM's. WVBF actually took a couple of WMEX's jocks, namely Ron Robin and Bud Ballou so I think by then (1972-3) most of MEX's listeners had migrated somewhere else.
As far as the music goes, I recall that WVBF was more progressive, as in they featured several album tracks during the course of the hour and weeded out anything too "bubble gum." Their jocks were given more leeway to talk and develop personalities on the air. WCGY ran Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on Sunday nights. BZ-FM was a non-stop loop of the hits. And their automation had frequent glitches. I remember hearing Creedence Clearwater's Someday Never Comes play over and over for at least half an hour before someone caught it!
As for the AM's, my favorite top 40 was always WMEX 1510. In 1967 WNAC (680) became WRKO and although Wimmex held its own for a few more years, their ongoing signal problems couldn't stack up against RKO's blowtorch. Eventually the demise of top 40 AM would come about anyhow and that brings us back to the FM's. WVBF actually took a couple of WMEX's jocks, namely Ron Robin and Bud Ballou so I think by then (1972-3) most of MEX's listeners had migrated somewhere else.
As far as the music goes, I recall that WVBF was more progressive, as in they featured several album tracks during the course of the hour and weeded out anything too "bubble gum." Their jocks were given more leeway to talk and develop personalities on the air. WCGY ran Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on Sunday nights. BZ-FM was a non-stop loop of the hits. And their automation had frequent glitches. I remember hearing Creedence Clearwater's Someday Never Comes play over and over for at least half an hour before someone caught it!
WBZ-FM the third one!
In the late 1960's through 12/30/71, WBZ-FM (106.7) was pretty much a loss-leader for Westinghouse. The idea was to run the FM as cheaply as possible and to separate the programming from the AM side due to the FCC requirements. It also basically took one FM frequency out of contention. WBZ-FM simulcasted from WBZ (AM) from 6:00 AM through 9:00 AM. After 9:00 AM, WBZ-FM ran cheap tapes of classical or jazz music until 9:00 PM. Then at 9:00 PM, they simulcasted Jerry Williams until midnight. On 12/30/71 (at 5:00 PM), after 8 hours silence in order to install new Stereo equipment, WBZ-FM signed-on as a Stereo rock station. The new automated voice of WBZ-FM was Clark Schmidt, welcoming listeners to the new WBZ-FM, "Stereo 106.7, all hits... all the time". The automation for WBZ-FM was called "BoZo". It wasn't a very good unit. It had a tendency to fail. But then again, Westinghouse really put no effort into the FM. Surprisingly, WBZ-FM was getting quite a response. Teens flocked over to 106.7 in droves. WBZ Radio didn't expect such a response. Word has it that Westinghouse felt that the FM was beginning to take some listeners away from WBZ-AM. So, in the summer of 1975, everyone involved with WBZ-FM (Clark, Ken Shelton and others) were laid off. At the same time, most of the 'BZ-FM'ers joined WCOZ 94.5 of which Clark created a new "modified progressive rock" format. The only voice on WBZ-FM from that time on for nearly 4 years was Dave Maynard's voicer "It's the most music anywhere, Rockin' Stereo 106.7, WBZ-FM Boston". By 1979, WBZ-FM was on the block and would be for nearly 2 years until Greater Media bought the station in 1981 (now WMJX).
In the late 1960's through 12/30/71, WBZ-FM (106.7) was pretty much a loss-leader for Westinghouse. The idea was to run the FM as cheaply as possible and to separate the programming from the AM side due to the FCC requirements. It also basically took one FM frequency out of contention. WBZ-FM simulcasted from WBZ (AM) from 6:00 AM through 9:00 AM. After 9:00 AM, WBZ-FM ran cheap tapes of classical or jazz music until 9:00 PM. Then at 9:00 PM, they simulcasted Jerry Williams until midnight. On 12/30/71 (at 5:00 PM), after 8 hours silence in order to install new Stereo equipment, WBZ-FM signed-on as a Stereo rock station. The new automated voice of WBZ-FM was Clark Schmidt, welcoming listeners to the new WBZ-FM, "Stereo 106.7, all hits... all the time". The automation for WBZ-FM was called "BoZo". It wasn't a very good unit. It had a tendency to fail. But then again, Westinghouse really put no effort into the FM. Surprisingly, WBZ-FM was getting quite a response. Teens flocked over to 106.7 in droves. WBZ Radio didn't expect such a response. Word has it that Westinghouse felt that the FM was beginning to take some listeners away from WBZ-AM. So, in the summer of 1975, everyone involved with WBZ-FM (Clark, Ken Shelton and others) were laid off. At the same time, most of the 'BZ-FM'ers joined WCOZ 94.5 of which Clark created a new "modified progressive rock" format. The only voice on WBZ-FM from that time on for nearly 4 years was Dave Maynard's voicer "It's the most music anywhere, Rockin' Stereo 106.7, WBZ-FM Boston". By 1979, WBZ-FM was on the block and would be for nearly 2 years until Greater Media bought the station in 1981 (now WMJX).
Well, like I said I wasn't quite sure of the timeline. But I do know WKOX-FM became WVBF sometime in July 1971 because I had gone to California for three weeks that July and when I came back to Boston they had the new calls. They were playing rock/top 40 for some time prior to the call letter change.
103.3 was WEEI-FM. They were the first "soft rock" station. Or at least the first to use that term. They ran an ad in the Globe that said they played "Sgt. Pepper but not General Chaos!"
103.3 was WEEI-FM. They were the first "soft rock" station. Or at least the first to use that term. They ran an ad in the Globe that said they played "Sgt. Pepper but not General Chaos!"
1968 - I am in the 7th grade (my hometown, on the South Shore) walking around with my transistor
radio (if my radio has 9 transistors, and your's only has 8, then mine must be better!) pressed to my ear,
listening to powerhouse top-30 WRKO. Every week it is a very big
deal to go to the local record store, to pick up that week's countdown. The first 45rpm singles
I buy with my own money - Sunshine of Your Love by Cream and You Keep Me Hangin' On
by Vanilla Fudge (I never knew it was a Supremes cover, until years later!) Lots of
jingles, fast paced, processed to the max - but the music, overall, is great!
1970 - I come home from my freshman year of high school to listen to the afternoon
countdown show on a great new thing called FM radio - WKOX (when not watching
the Three Stooges on the Frito Sports Club on TV38!)
1976 - I am at WBZ-FM, as a summer intern from UMass/Amherst. Worked with "Ed" McMann
(then a high school kid), Vinnie Perruzi, and Mauzy Stafford (and her brother Marty). On the July 4
countdown of the top 76 of all time, some kid calls in and votes for Boogie, Oogie, Oogie.
I am mortified that music has come to this point. The automation system (called Bozo -
I was on that show when I was 7!) consists of an IGM deal with approximately
100 slots for tape carts (10 1/2 minutes' of tape on each, with as many cuts by the same
artist that could fit on each one, with a cue tone recorded on the end to fire off the next cart).
I make it a point to always throw in some Moody Blues carts on my way
out the door. The system runs on cardboard batch cards (!) with a couple of half-track
reels of "emergency" content (Beatles music/generic PSA's/ID's).As the card get worn, or the holes tear, bizarre things can happen. The union master control operators at WBZ-AM are responsible for the FM, and really just don't care about it, at all...A few years later I heard that it had been sold, and my reaction was "HUH???????"
radio (if my radio has 9 transistors, and your's only has 8, then mine must be better!) pressed to my ear,
listening to powerhouse top-30 WRKO. Every week it is a very big
deal to go to the local record store, to pick up that week's countdown. The first 45rpm singles
I buy with my own money - Sunshine of Your Love by Cream and You Keep Me Hangin' On
by Vanilla Fudge (I never knew it was a Supremes cover, until years later!) Lots of
jingles, fast paced, processed to the max - but the music, overall, is great!
1970 - I come home from my freshman year of high school to listen to the afternoon
countdown show on a great new thing called FM radio - WKOX (when not watching
the Three Stooges on the Frito Sports Club on TV38!)
1976 - I am at WBZ-FM, as a summer intern from UMass/Amherst. Worked with "Ed" McMann
(then a high school kid), Vinnie Perruzi, and Mauzy Stafford (and her brother Marty). On the July 4
countdown of the top 76 of all time, some kid calls in and votes for Boogie, Oogie, Oogie.
I am mortified that music has come to this point. The automation system (called Bozo -
I was on that show when I was 7!) consists of an IGM deal with approximately
100 slots for tape carts (10 1/2 minutes' of tape on each, with as many cuts by the same
artist that could fit on each one, with a cue tone recorded on the end to fire off the next cart).
I make it a point to always throw in some Moody Blues carts on my way
out the door. The system runs on cardboard batch cards (!) with a couple of half-track
reels of "emergency" content (Beatles music/generic PSA's/ID's).As the card get worn, or the holes tear, bizarre things can happen. The union master control operators at WBZ-AM are responsible for the FM, and really just don't care about it, at all...A few years later I heard that it had been sold, and my reaction was "HUH???????"
I think I remember when WCGY was the Rock Garden; Top 40 or AC, playing a couple songs and then a pre-recorded announcer would come on: "The Beatles. Magical Mystery Tour. Before that, Elton John. Daniel. The Rock Garden
FM 94, WCGY"
They later went to oldies as Blue Suede Radio in the early 80s (when I was working for Bldg 19 in Lynn; was piped
in over speakers) and then eventually became harder rock/classic rock, etc.
http://bostonradio.org/stations/1919
This page mentions the "Stereo Rock" automation service, starting in 1974: "The 'Rock Garden' played a repeating cycle of two current rock songs followed by two oldies, with minimal announcing." It goes on to mention the switch to
oldies in the early 80s; I was at Bldg 19 from 1981-85, sounds about then.
FM 94, WCGY"
They later went to oldies as Blue Suede Radio in the early 80s (when I was working for Bldg 19 in Lynn; was piped
in over speakers) and then eventually became harder rock/classic rock, etc.
http://bostonradio.org/stations/1919
This page mentions the "Stereo Rock" automation service, starting in 1974: "The 'Rock Garden' played a repeating cycle of two current rock songs followed by two oldies, with minimal announcing." It goes on to mention the switch to
oldies in the early 80s; I was at Bldg 19 from 1981-85, sounds about then.
When the FCC requirement came down that AM/FM combos had to eliminate simulcasting, a lot of stations with limited financial means just bought automation systems and ran the FM with lots of music. This was in the early to mid 70's. WCGY and WBZ-FM are both examples. Others I remember were WAQY in Springfield (Wacky 102) and WFMP in Fitchburg (M 104.) Keep in mind that many if not most of these FM's weren't considered particularly important to their owners. They were always sort of a weak stepchild to their well established AM's. So there wound up being a tendancy for these stations to promote themselves as being heavily music oriented as if that was somehow being done for the listener's benefit, when the reality was they just didn't have the resources to pay another airstaff and handn't yet figured out how to sell spots on these relatively unknown stations. Gradually though as FM became the dominant band for music stations the tables turned and all those old equipments racks of automated cart decks and antiquated computer controllers got disassembled and put out to pasture.
I will admit to having worked for one such station and I clearly recall the myriad of technical problems with our automation. In retrospect it is nothing short of halarious. Some of my best recollections are of a cart carousel spinning around, getting hung up and spots getting missed, reel to reel tape spooling off on the floor in a big pile and reel to reel tapes of music actually rewinding over the air... complete with that little beep in between each song!
Ahh, the memories!
I will admit to having worked for one such station and I clearly recall the myriad of technical problems with our automation. In retrospect it is nothing short of halarious. Some of my best recollections are of a cart carousel spinning around, getting hung up and spots getting missed, reel to reel tape spooling off on the floor in a big pile and reel to reel tapes of music actually rewinding over the air... complete with that little beep in between each song!
Ahh, the memories!
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