So I'm listening to Wolfman Jack on the radio....

Cafe Society
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Well, not really. I’m listening to an old aircheck of the Wolfman, when he made a guest appearance on 1050 CHUM Toronto, back in 1976. But, oddly enough, I remember listening into Wolfman’s broadcast that night (CHUM plugged his guest appearance heavily, and his visit to Toronto, after his appearance in American Graffiti, was eagerly anticipated), and while the aircheck is not the entire show, it’s definitely a trip down memory lane.

If you first got into music back in the 60s and 70s, you were probably plugged into your local Top 40 station, which was invariably on the AM dial. You remember the wild DJs with silly names who talked over the beginning and end of every song, the cheesy jingles, the contests that jammed telephone systems (“Our tenth caller will win tickets to the Rolling Stones…”), the one hit wonders, and endless ads for zit cream.

Times sure have changed, and I don’t think you hear anything like what radio used to be. Now, music is on the FM dial where it is clearer and AM is the home of talk radio. And DJs have toned things down from what they used to do.

But I stumbled across this site, which has airchecks from those old Top 40 AM days. Like I said, it was a trip down memory lane. Have a listen; maybe you’ll find something you’ll remember too. Most of them are Canadian, but there are a number of American airchecks also. Anyway, thought I’d share, if anyone is interested.

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Thanks for the tip. Strangely enough, my wife and I watched American Graffiti earlier this evening. His scenes are some of the most poignant in the whole movie.

I remember picking up the Wolfman on XERB, Tijuana way up here in northern Oregon, just across the river from Washington.

And in my youth, I was one of those rock 'n roll wannabees, DJ’ing for small market stations. Airchecks are hugely fun for us boomer geezers, and I appreciate a source for Canadian versions.

Mostly I remember picking up CKLW, which delivered a pretty good signal in our area.

Thanks again

Hometownboy

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Wolfman Jack says someone’s at the front door, baby!