Automated oldies formats of the 1960s and 1970s

[Johnf]

(I put this message on the board devoted to 1950-60s oldies radio and realized it should probably go here too)

At age 51, I am old enough to remember when Drake-Chenault had its automated "Hit Parade" format on hundreds of radio stations from coast to coast in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  I always thought that was a terrific format, and I wish we had it today (Maybe I'm weird, but I always preferred automated stuff which just gave the music, to the ongoing yak-yak of DJ chatter between songs).

I grew up in Seattle, and heard "Hit Parade" as a kid on both KIRO-FM 100.7 in Seattle and KFKF-FM 92.5 in Bellevue.  KFKF also later carried Drake-Chenault's "Solid Gold" automated format.

I have been pleased to find a few GREAT audio samples of Hit Parade on the Web, One is at www.bossradioforever.com/hitparade68.mp3.  Another is at www.reelradio.com/gifts/dcdemos.html
What memories!

But I am wondering if anyone is also familiar with another automated format of the 1970s that was called "Olde Golde."  It was produced by a company called Draper-Blore (I assume that is longtime broadcast consultant Chuck Blore).  I also enjoyed that format, which I heard on KISM-FM 92.9 in Bellingham, Wash.   All I can find out about it on the web is that it also was carried on WDZ in Decatur, Ill., and WBNQ in Bloomington, Ill.

I would love to hear some old airchecks with that format.   Anyone know where some might be circulating?

John Fortmeyer
Newberg, Oregon

[Oldbones]

But I am wondering if anyone is also familiar with another automated format of the 1970s that was called "Olde Golde."  It was produced by a company called Draper-Blore (I assume that is longtime broadcast consultant Chuck Blore).  I also enjoyed that format, which I heard on KISM-FM 92.9 in Bellingham, Wash.   All I can find out about it on the web is that it also was carried on WDZ in Decatur, Ill., and WBNQ in Bloomington, Ill.

Is this the one that featured 2 songs cold-segued, then back-announced "That was 'You Light Up My Life' by Debbie Boone, before that Ted Nugent with 'Cat Scratch Fever'"?  I always thought that was a TM production.  Didn't KISM run Drake's Hitparade just before they went AOR in the mid 70s?

[Johnf]

KISM may have switched to Hit Parade eventually.  I don't know. But I have a VERY clear recollection of them running Olde Golde initially.

[Johnf]

Eureka!  Today I actually found an Olde Golde aircheck -- after months of searching.  What memories!

It is at http://airchexx.com/other/assorted-airchecks/old-gold-2-upper-midwest-sampler-1971#comment-7523

But if there are any others out there, I'd appreciate knowing!

[Peter Q. George (K1XRB)]

Is this the one that featured 2 songs cold-segued, then back-announced "That was 'You Light Up My Life' by Debbie Boone, before that Ted Nugent with 'Cat Scratch Fever'"?  I always thought that was a TM production.  Didn't KISM run Drake's Hitparade just before they went AOR in the mid 70s?

The format you're refering to was TM's "Stereo Rock", which generally played two currents, a quick jingle, and two oldies or recurrents.  For example "......The Rolling Stones, "Miss You" and before that "Hot Child In The City", Nick Gilder".....(Jingle)"Ninety-four.....(bling, bling, bling) W-C-G-Y" ...... then two older songs...... then the voice-over to the break "Stereo 94, The Rock Garden.....24 hours a day, WCGY!".  I've heard the TM "Stereo Rock" on countless stations back in the late 1970's like WCGY/93.7 Lawrence-Boston, MA (now WMKK), WGFM/99.5 Schenectady (now WRVE) and WKFM/104.7 Fulton-Syracuse, NY.  During E-skip conditions chances are you'd hear at least one of two TM "Stereo Rock" formatted stations, mainly from the midwest..   

[hammondo]

That's better. One of the stations I owned ran D/C Stereo Rock. I have a few hundred 10 inch reels,

[Peter Q. George (K1XRB)]

That's better. One of the stations I owned ran D/C Stereo Rock. I have a few hundred 10 inch reels,

One station I worked at (WCAV/97.7 Brockton, MA ....now WKAF) ran a format called "The Love Rock".  It was pretty bad. It lasted about a year or so until they switched to a homegrown oldies/Top-40 format.  Then 50% Top-40 (days), 50% album rock (nights).  It didn't go over well.  So, they opted to Country.

I didn't know that Drake/Chenault also had a format called "Stereo Rock".  I thought they basically had "Hit Parade", "Solid Gold Rock and Roll", The "Contempo" series and D/C Country.  But, it's been a while.  But I do remember the TM "Stereo Rock" quite well.  The TM format continued for many years into the 1980's.  I recall hearing it on WSTW/93.7 in Wilmington, DE, while I was driving through the area in the early 1980's.  Same voice-over guy, same jingles with different call-letters.  Considering the technology at the time (very mechanical and tape driven), it was amazing that somehow it all worked!  Today, an off-the-shelf computer with software can do all that and more!  How times have changed!

Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts

[dgendvil]

I would like to hear some of those automated oldies airchecks from the 70's unscoped, on tape. Could you try to post one?

[FightingIrish]

I would like to hear some of those automated oldies airchecks from the 70's unscoped, on tape. Could you try to post one?

radiotapes.com has a recording of KEEY/Minneapolis doing "Hit Parade '71":

http://www.radiotapes.com/NewPage.html

Near the top.

[Johnf]

Here is Drake-Chenault's Classic Gold format from a Portland, Oregon AM station, KLSC 1410, in 1975...


http://www.divshare.com/download/1770166-2ef