Radio World has this story about a radio show that plays airchecks of radio shows.
'We had been discussing the idea of digging up some classic WFMU-related archives from DJs of the past,' said Music and Program Director Brian Turner. 'And the idea morphed into an overall spotlight on lost radio programs.'
Thus was born 'Archives for Aircheck,' a one-hour program heard each Thursday at 6 p.m. on WFMU.
Eclectic airchecks
One week you might hear the panic of Sept. 11, 2001 as newscasters scrambled to make sense of the terrorist attacks and resulting chaos. The following week the history of Memphis soul station WDIA(AM) might be featured, with a focus on how that station advanced the cause of black music and human rights.
Other programs have focused on classic top-40 jingles, a live call to a cop killer who was holding a hostage at a 7-11 store, and hillbilly tunes from 'The National Barn Dance,' an early country music show originally aired on WLS(AM), Chicago.
And on it goes, with a curious lack of consistency, part of the show's charm.
Turner was first captivated with airchecks when he heard a most unusual cassette from WFMU, even before he joined the station.
'I once heard this tape given out as a premium. It featured an Eskimo janitor who took over the airwaves of a striking CBC station, smoked weed on mic and sang along with a Rolling Stones song in his native Inuit language,' said Turner.
'That struck me as an incredible thing you don't normally hear on other programs that highlight radio history. Hence, when we talked about starting up this show the summer of 2002, I thought a particular focus should be less of the dry historical archival stuff and more on the eccentric personalities and out-of-the-norm moments of radio history.
'Once we aired a tape of a U.K. pirate DJ at sea who was broadcasting live when his ship was boarded and set on fire.'
Now go have a listen. The shows are at the Archives for Airchecks page
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