WIOQ PROGRESSIVE ROCK YEARS

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

Would anybody know the exact dates when WIOQ was Progressive Rock?

Thanks

T.J.

 

[deepstblu]

Hey Guys:

Would anybody know the exact dates when WIOQ was Progressive Rock?

That might be kind of hard to pin down because, as I remember it, they changed the music but didn't change much of anything else--I think most of the jocks stayed, and they were already using that music clip in their legal ID that was their trademark all the way until the oldies move in '87. They had evolved from the soft Popular 102 approach into a sort of rock AC, and I think that sometime in early 1975 they just changed the music mix to progressive rock without much ceremony. They were carrying Philadelphia Firebirds minor league hockey at the time; the games moved to WRCP-FM when the playoffs came around.

 

[Steve_Green]

I know I won't be contributing much for a timeline, TJ, but for what it's worth .....

I'd been working AoR and envisioning it as a permanent fountain-of-youth as a career, as well as driving to Fairless Hills from out of state to visit my Folks. Perhaps because I'm ambidexterous ; perhaps because I could multi-task pretty well : I made it a point to monitor the three Philly AoR stations. I was always looking for an undeniable 'hook' song or two, suitable for the times, to carry back to my real job.

I know WIOQ was a bona-fide 'city' station, but their approach appealed to me because the perception of their sound was a lot closer to the suburbs than that of the moiling Center City 'actives' of WYSP and WMMR. WIOQ neither shoved their presence down your throat nor did they require an elitist hand-stamp. As a result, on those visits to the Folks, I spent more time listening to WIOQ for guidance and music ideas than to WYSP and WMMR (WPLJ and WNEW-FM WIOQ was a very comfortable listen, much like WPLR New Haven, and WDRC-FM Hartford, and WDHA Dover NJ.

So the most vivid song or image that I have of the station would have been of summer 1974, when they played 'Mr. Kingdom' by The Electric Light Orchestra -- the flipside of 'Can't Get It Out Of My Head'.

 

[HGN2001]

I can tell you that in March of 1974, WIOQ was still in the morphing stage, heading harder with each passing week. It was still basically a pop station, playing stuff off of the Billboard charts, but had begun shying away from the softer stuff. The huge hit "Please Mr. Postman" by The Carpenters would have been a staple of the softer sound of a year prior, but the song was only put in rotation to air at dead times of the clock.

The station in 1974 was automated for the music, with live jocks appearing occasionally during the drive times, but voice-tracked the rest of the time. Roy Laurence and Bill Fantini handled the voice-tracking. The music piece referred to that was used for the ID bed through the progressive years got its start in the rotation of recorded IDs that began around this time. They'd been using a jingle package from Tempo 2 in Dallas and phased it out as the jingles began to sound too soft in comparison to the new, harder songs.

The music piece was "Intergalactic Trot" by Robert Mason on the STARDRIVE album. I've placed the entire piece straight from the LP on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4662BbL_RSs

By mid-1975, the automation was turned off, live jocks were hired 24/7, and the progressive era eased its way in. Starting somewhat formatted, the format gradually eased up to pure AOR where the jocks played pretty much whatever they wanted. The on-air line-up included Bill Paul overnights, Jim Harlan morning drive, Bill Fantini middays, Alex Demers PM drive, and John Harvey nighttimes. When Jim Harlan ultimately left, Harvey moved into the mornings and began his run as "Harvey in the Morning."

The station had a small but very loyal following, never managing to slay the big boys on the block, YSP and MMR.

 

[stevations]

I liked their Best of Progress Rock weekends which they numbered. (Example...Your listening to the best of progessive rock volume 6) They had them every few months and played some unusual stuff but each hour had a theme and they told you what the themes would be for the whole weekend so you could get your tape recorder ready.

 

[amfmsw]

wow, those names. what happened to bill fantini? alex, i know, is advising some stations (i refuse to insult anyone with the moniker 'consultant').

one of their better features was a cute play on words: LP on Q (cue), where they would play an entire album, one side at a time, uninterrupted. perfect to record in stereo.

"Tonight's LP on Q is Chicago Transit Authority. Cut 1, "Introduction" on Side 1 of 4 begins in 5 seconds"...

 

[HGN2001]

Don't know what happened to my original post, but it seems to have been deleted. I can't believe it would be because of the YouTube link. Oh well.

I heard Bill Fantini on the radio yesterday doing an update for the Wall Street Journal Report in a top-of-hour news break on a talk station. I know he worked for ABC Radio News for a time.

Anyone remember News Blimps?

 

[nitetalker]

I used to love that WIOQ sounder. There's a download link for the sounder on the WXPN site: http://xpn.org/blogs/885mmmm/2007/08/31/helen-leichts-most-memorable-moments/

It's not playing for me now. I think it may be blocked at my current location. It has worked for me in the past.

The entire synth track from which the sounder was excerpted is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4662BbL_RSs

 

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

I have a feeling I narrowed it down of when WIOQ went to Adult Rock.

Here are three billboard articles:

Oct 25 1980 WIOQ morning guy introducing the pointer sisters http://books.google.com/books?id=5C...d=0CEgQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=wioq 1975&f=false

Nov 1, 1980 WIOQ playing "YES" http://books.google.com/books?id=Zi...ved=0CD4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=wioq 1975&f=false

Here is another article from 1982 http://books.google.com/books?id=hy...d=0CC0Q6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=wioq 1975&f=false

It seemed to be around OCT or NOV 1980 that WIOQ went Adult Rock.
T.J.