Recall the good old days of Top 40 radio by listening to these airchecks

The glory years of Top 40 radio are fading into yesteryear, but memories of that era can still be recalled and refreshed by listening to airchecks.

 

So just what are airchecks? They are, in general, demonstration recordings often designed to reflect the talent of a radio announcer or disc jockey, and they usually include not only what the DJ said at the time but also what else was on the air (commercials, jingles and newscasts, etc.) at the time the recording was made.

 

* DEANE JOHNSON (DJ, KOMA, 1520, OKLAHOMA CITY): A lengthy aircheck features a March 30, 1965 segment with DJ/program director Johnson at the microphone. It provides a great sample of KOMA's programming, which was heard in many states -- especially throughout the West -- via its powerful 50,000-watt signal. To recall the great sound of a true Top 40 powerhouse, click here. And to hear Johnson, after he left KOMA to take a position at WTIX in New Orleans, click here.

 

* WABC (770-AM, NEW YORK CITY): This Web site contains a wealth of airchecks from 1961 through 1982. Featured disc jockeys include Dan Ingram, Bob "Bob-a-Loo" Lewis, Cousin' Brucie (Bruce Morrow), Herb Oscar Anderson, Scott Muni and many more. For the link, click here.

 

* WLS (890-AM, CHICAGO): This site details much information about the station that became "The Rock of Chicago" on May 2, 1960. Included are pictures, historical information and voice clips of such air personalities as Gene Taylor, Larry Lujack and Dick Biondi. To view the site, click here.

 

* KLIF (1190-AM, DALLAS): This Web site contains everything you'd ever want to know about the station that dominated the Dallas-Fort Worth market for many years. Supplementing the photos and station history, there are places to click and hear some of the notable DJs, along with jingles and newscasts. To reach the site, click here.

 

* CKLW (800-AM, DETROIT AREA): Everything you might want to know about the 50,000-watt blowtorch called "The Big 8" with transmitter in Windsor, Ontario. The site includes jingles, news intros, brief DJ airchecks and audio segments about the history of the legendary station. To view it, click here.

 

* WQAM (560-AM, MIAMI): A series of airchecks from the '60s includes program segments from Rick Shaw, Roby Yonge, Jim Dunlap and others. The listing concludes with a link to the 1980 announcement that the station was switching to a C&W format. To view and listen, click here.

 

* KRLA (1110-AM, Los Angeles): To access a site that features such notable DJs as Dick Biondi (in 1965, after he left Chicago's WLS), Bob Eubanks and Casey Kasem, click here.

 

* KAAY (1090-AM, Little Rock): This Internet location features more than 100 verious airchecks, including DJs Wayne Moss and Buddy Carr, along with clips of Clyde Clifford's classic Beaker Street program and a COMEX (Communications Exchange) newscast. To visit it, click here.

 

 

* GREATEST DEE JAYS: A comprehensive location that provides complete, inside stories -- with sound, pictures and videos -- for a number of famous DJs, including Rick Shaw (WQAM, Miami), Paul Berlin (KNUZ, Houston), Gary Owens (KFWB and KMPC, Los Angeles), plus tributes to Dick Clark, George Carlin and Wolfman Jack. To check it out, click here.

 

* AIRCHEXX.COM: Here, you can search for airchecks, and you can select them from more than 100 regions and from hundreds of air personalities. But be forewarned that you may find yourself wanting to listen for hours and hours. To call it up, click here.