In a couple of threads here we've been touching on long-distance nighttime reception in the 1960s heyday of top 40 on AM radio. So it got me thinking. Assuming there was one, what was your favorite non-local nighttime station that you used regularly listen to? Top 40 or otherwise.
For me in high school here in northwest suburban Chicago, it was top 40 on WBZ and KAAY. Two usually reliable signals. If I was a little was away from home, and out from under WBBM's splatter, I could add WABC to the list.
Later in college in Iowa. it was usually KOMA at night. WLS and KIOA (Des Moines) were both more than 100 miles away, but prone to frequent fading. KAAY had the best top 40 night signal. But as I posted in the other thread, when I got to my school, KAAY had paid religion starting at 9 or 10 pm followed by Clyde Clifford's Beaker Street. I liked Beaker Street, but I liked top 40 better. Secondary "go-tos" were WABC and Wolfman Jack on XERF.
Sidebar point. Also in the other thread, someone made a good observation regarding "KOMA vs. WLS". The point was that WLS sounded like the big city, KOMA was more typical top 40 that you could hear anywhere. Fair enough. But KOMA struck me has having less clutter and a more energetic presentation. They also had some excellent talent going through there....Charlie Tuna and Larry Lujack being a couple of examples. I also liked KOMA's weekend format of alternating currents and oldies. So despite WLS being my hometown connection, I personally liked KOMA. Not to say that one was better than the other. Both achieved "legendary" status. Just a matter of individual taste.
For me in high school here in northwest suburban Chicago, it was top 40 on WBZ and KAAY. Two usually reliable signals. If I was a little was away from home, and out from under WBBM's splatter, I could add WABC to the list.
Later in college in Iowa. it was usually KOMA at night. WLS and KIOA (Des Moines) were both more than 100 miles away, but prone to frequent fading. KAAY had the best top 40 night signal. But as I posted in the other thread, when I got to my school, KAAY had paid religion starting at 9 or 10 pm followed by Clyde Clifford's Beaker Street. I liked Beaker Street, but I liked top 40 better. Secondary "go-tos" were WABC and Wolfman Jack on XERF.
Sidebar point. Also in the other thread, someone made a good observation regarding "KOMA vs. WLS". The point was that WLS sounded like the big city, KOMA was more typical top 40 that you could hear anywhere. Fair enough. But KOMA struck me has having less clutter and a more energetic presentation. They also had some excellent talent going through there....Charlie Tuna and Larry Lujack being a couple of examples. I also liked KOMA's weekend format of alternating currents and oldies. So despite WLS being my hometown connection, I personally liked KOMA. Not to say that one was better than the other. Both achieved "legendary" status. Just a matter of individual taste.
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