This Site Primarily Contains a Collection of Airchecks of Numerous Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Radio Stations, Some Recorded Off The Air by Rick Burnett and Many Others Recorded or Provided by Other Contributors to This Site (see footnote at bottom). The Contribution of Recordings and Materials are Greatly Appreciated and Have Made this Site a Bookmark for Those Interested in Radio From this Era. Explore the many recordings on this site by using the menu at the left side of the screen. Should you have material to contribute, Please Email: Rick1031(at)HotMail.com Note: Substitute @ for the "(at)" when typing email address
The Billings Gazette - October 12th, 1930
This goes back further than the 70's. Radio was different back in 1930. I found an old book that bound some of the Billings Gazette newspapers from October 1930 while waiting for my car to be washed in Palm Springs CA. It look like it was from an library and was in poor condition. To my surprise, when flipping through it, I came across this old story on KSTP.
KSTP-AM Machine Gun Kelly
This Mahine Gun Kelly aircheck was record by Al Arneson. Machine Gun Kelly is woring on the top 150 countdown on this Newsyears recording
Contribued by Al Arneson, Minneapolis. Formerley of KSTP-AM and U-100
KSTP-AM Hines + Bush in the Morning - John Hines & Charlie Bush August 1978
This one starts with Hines and Bush discussing the weather. later Charlie Bush does his famous rhyming News leading off with the story about the "Pope Pickers' the day Pope Paul VI died. In a later newscast Charlie tell us about a guy who is selling plans to build coffins for the "do-it-yourself" people. Plans are sold for $2.75.
Contributed by Mike Cunningham of La Crosse, former KTCR-FM Operations Manager. (Posted 12-15-07)
KSTP - Morning show with John Hines and Charlie Bush - December 21, 1976
This was sent to me by Dan (last name withheld). He was a big fan of Hines and Bush and went to Brown Institute in 1974. He cannot remember who give him this aircheck. He recalls he got it about 30 years ago.
A Day in the Life of a Twin Cities Radio Station; Composites February-March 1979 KSTP-AM Al has apparently cleaned out his storage locker and just sent me a number of station composites he recorded off the air and compiled from 1979 and a few airchecks from 1977. I will post more at time allows, so check back. Anyone who has an interest in 1970 radio, has to appreciate the forethought Al Arneson had to record and save these tapes.
15/KSTP-AM John Hines/Charlie Bush 5-9 AM Len Russell 9-12 Noon Mike McNeill 12-3 PM Doug Silver 3-7 PM Greg Austin 7-12 Midnight Jim Summers 12-5 AM
Recorded and contributed by Al Arneson, formerly at KSTP-AM and U-100. (Posted 11-17-07)
KDWB - KQRS - KSTP Composite Recorded October 1978 (left below photo)
You will hear the unknown person who recorded this tune up and down the dial and not stop long in one place. You will here: Ed O'Brian - on KD Tac Hammer - on KQ Bob Lange - on KD Doug Silver - on KSTP Michael Christian - on KD Smokin Joe Hagger - on KD Jeff Pigeion - on KSTP Mike Beech - on KD
Mixed in you will also hear various KQ DJ that I do not recognize and they never say there name. Let me know if you recognize any Rick1031@hotmail.com
On 9-8-07 I heard from Jay Philpott by email within hours of posting this new material. He stated:
"I taped all of the airchecks on the KD-KQ-KS Composite, The "Tale of Twin Cities composite and the Twin Cities at Night feature. I may have done the CCO morning show from '80 and the WWTC recording, but I can't be certain as I can't correlate those airchecks to anything in my collection. But it probably WAS me, since I was at my peak in taping the market from 1976 to about 1982 or so. I was an aircheck taping nut as a teenager. I went to high school at Armstrong ('78), and worked in the promo department at KSTP 1977-78, then at KTWN-AM Anoka in 1979, and KFMX/KRSI 1979-80 before landing at WLOL for 4 incredible years 1980-84. Some of these airchecks were taped on my good home stereo, and some were taped with a portable rig I put together so I could record at work.
It was a kick hearing these things after they've spent many years traveling the collector circuit -- I remember trading with Matt Seinberg almost 30 years ago, which is how he got them in the first place!!
Here's some fill-in info on the KD-KQ-KS composite
After Tac Hammer, there is a brief Hines & Bush segment you didn't credit
After Bob Lange, the jock is Alan Stone of KQRS
After Michael Christian is Mike McNeal of KSTP
Then, Hal Hoover of KQRS
For some reason I edited in that brief thing where Larry Lujack says "turn this sucker over". That was from his narration of an American Air Chexx issue, where he told listeners that side one was ending and there was more on side two. It makes no sense being on the Twin Cities tape, really...but I always thought it was funny.
Later on the tape, there are more KQRS segments featuring: Nancy Rosen, Benjie McHie and then Greg Austin (Ausham) of KSTP, Marc Elliott of KDWB and back to KSTP for Jim Summers.
OK, now about the "Tale Of Twin Cities" production. I was the Minneapolis/St. Paul contributor and editor for the Aircheck Factory from 1977 to 1980. I wrote a monthly column about the market in his newsletter, and I taped all of those stations, and gave Tom Konard at ACF all the background he needed to write the narration which was done by Michael Black of KONO/San Antonio. While you did in fact acquire the recordings from Matt at BAAC, you should probably credit the original source and note it was produced by "Tom Konard's Aircheck Factory".
I LOVE what you do with this site, and I've also been in touch with radiotapes.com to compliment him on his work."
I appreciate the help Jay has provided to fill in some of the blanks, provide corrections and provide some behind the scenes information on the recordings. I am sure we are all grateful to Jay Philpott for saving our Twin Cities radio history by recording all the airchecks he did in the 70's.
Acquired from Aircheck collector and contributor Matt Seinberg of Big Apple Airchecks www.BigAppleAirchecks.com Jay Philpott originally recorded this KDWB-KQRS-KSTP composite. Jay currently (9-9-07) works in St. Louis at 106.5 "The Arch" doing weekends and has work for a number of Twin Cities radio stations.
JAY PHILPOTT is a 25 year broadcast veteran. Jay's radio work has spanned many formats and eras in the world of contemporary music. He is a fan of all types of music and an expert at pop and rock music. Jay is a published author and recently released "Ain't Misbehavin', Just Conclavin" - a 30 year history of the Conclave Learning Conference, a major American music industry seminar held each year in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jay's Twin Cities radio experience includes WLOL and KFMX.
This was Chuck Knapp's 2nd show on KSTP-AM. You will hear him promote a Billy Graham rally (was this the beginning of his transition to Christian radio station KTIS?). This is followed by an uncut GAF commercial by Henry Fonda. The station was promoting that it played more music per hour than any station in the Twin Cities. I guess Stanley Hubbard had the deep pockets to forgo advertising. There is also an uncut Ford commercial touting Ford as the car of the year, ending with the tag line: The closer you look, the better we look. Chuck does a live spot for Red Owl Super Market, pushing nectarines. This spot is followed by an Ozark Airline Strike apology. Scroll down to this page to access to a 28 minute clip of Chuck Knapp from the summer of '73. Chuck told me he took the job at KSTP-AM and left Chicago because he wanted to do a morning show and did not think he would have a chance to do that if he stayed in Chicago.
As reported in the April 7th, 2007 Minnesota Christian Chronical
"In related news, former KTIS morning team Chuck Knapp and John Engen are back on the air together on BOB 106.1 FM, a local country station, from 5:30 to 9 a.m. Knapp said the station is owned by two Christians who “enjoy hearing me weave in and out of country music with the Lord’s healing truth.” Knapp said the BOB FM group currently runs seven stations in Africa, playing Christian music where they are allowed. The group hopes to build 30 stations in Africa and reach 100 million people."
You can catch up with Chuck at www.bob106radio.com/cgi-bin/d/main/personalities.htm Charlie Bush was a long-time newscaster for KSTP-AM. Knapp was teamed up with Bush for the morning show. This newscast demonstrates Charlie's ability to slightly re-write the news to add some rhyming phrases. This made the bland news a little more interesting and entertaining. Bush had the respect of Chuck Knapp. Chuck told me he thought Charlie Bush reminded him of Jonathan Winters. I do not think Knapp heard this style of newscast in Chicago at WLS. Chuck recently told me that when Charlie was at home sick with cancer before he died, the KSTP-AM alumni of John Hines, Tom Barnard and himselp use to visit Charlie and share old humorous radio stories and had a good laugh. Chuck also mentioned that Charlie's wife has all of them do the eulogy at Charlie's funeral.
(From the Rick Burnett Collection - unknown source)
I was recently surprised when I came across some old reel to reel recordings I made of Chuck Knapp and Charlie Bush. I was working at KTCR-FM at this time in my life and I recorded this on my TEAC 1230 off a Pioneer high end tuner when I (Rick Burnett) lived in an apartment complex in Bloomington. The apartment was located only about a half mile from the nine WDGY antennas near 100th and Bloomington Freeway (I-35). The antennas are now gone, but back then they caused me a lot of problems with interference and on certain parts of this recording you will hear it faintly in the background during quite spots. I hope you have broadband since this is a large file. The music is scoped out, the commercials and news are left in and provide a little historical perspective of the times.
Chuck Knapp came to KSTP-AM on July 10, 1973 and had been doing the morning show for about 10 months when this recording was made. He sounds comfortable and witty. Charlie Bush was doing the rhyming newscasts. The first few on this are not as typical as the newscast near the middle and end of this aircheck. Check the newscast around the 32 minute mark for some very classic Charlie Bush rhyming news. "Knapp in the Morning" is encouraging us to get up because this is the most beautiful day of the year so far. He reads a letter from a listener about prices going up and he joke that not all prices are going up and wants to introduce the listener to his boss.
During the first newscast you will hear about QE 2 passengers being rescued off of Bermuda and you will hear Charlie stumble a bit on one story; stating he needs new lips. Bush also tells us about Patty Hearst stating that she was now joining her captors. At the end of this newscast there is banter between Knapp and Bush.
Some of the commercials you will hear include a 1974 Dodge Monaco spot, Alex Dryer doing a F&M (Farmers & Mechanics) Bank spot, a couple of 1st National Bank of St. Paul Red Carpet Card spots done in the style of May West and Humphrey Bogart. This is a Yamaha Bike spot with the jingle "Won't You Fly Me Away"
At the end of the song "Let It Ride" you will hear Chuck take a shower and sign a bit with the song. Later he put on some foam shave and takes care of his whiskers.
(Recorded off the air by Rick Burnett)
KSTP Studios on border between St. Paul and Minneapolis
The music is edited out on this Chuck Knapp clip, but most of the commercials are left in, for a walk down history lane.
(From the Rick Burnett Collection - unknown source)
Tom Jones Program Director - April 5, 1973 (2:11) a/ka Jim Channel and Captain Whammo
This was a short clip that was at the end of the Chuck Knapp aircheck above. Scroll down this page for a longer aircheck of his entire 3 hour show in early 1974.
Tom starts out by telling us that in the next 60 minutes, there will be 53 minutes of music. That's why they were "The Music Station." The format called for the DJ to start with "15 KSTP" when they opend the mic. As Captain Whammo in Chicago, Jim was voted oe of the top 4 DJ's in 1975. Until recently I did not remember much about Tom Jones (Jim Channell). However in August 2007 I received an email from Jim and also talked to him on the phone. You can see what Jim is currently up to on the web site: WWW.PRAISEFM.COM You can see a recent photo of Jim at: www.praisefm.com/jim.asp
Jim sent me he following Email (shared here wih permission):
I WAS 'TOM JONES'...ACTUALLY MY REAL NAME IS JIM CHANNELL...AND I WAS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF KSTP..DIRECTING FROM 13TH TO 2ND IN EVERY RATING BOOK I WAS P.D....WHEN KENT BURKHART FOUND OUT AFTER OVER A YEAR THAT WE DID NOT DO IT HIS WAY...HE FIRED ME AND I WENT TO CHICAGO AS CAPT. WHAMMO AND WAS VOTED ONE OF THE TOP-4 D.J.S IN AMERICA IN 1975....PROOF POSITIVE THAT KENT'S WAY WAS BAD...AFTER I LEFT THEY NEVER FINISHED 2ND AGAIN.....
KSTP started it new format in early fall of 1973. Jim was the reason the station ended up number 2 next to WCCO-AM, although KSTP-AM was number one in certain age groups. Jim assembled the initial staff, including Chuck Knapp, Machinegun Kelly, Steve Hatley, and later Andy Barber.
Kent Burkhart was hired by the Hubbard's to consult on the new station format and music selection. Burkhart's music was not as up-tempo as Jim wanted. Since Burkhart was living out of state, the tapes that were sent to Burkhart were recorded for two hours at a certain time. At the time the tapes were recorded the music was more mellow. However, Burkhart came to town unannounced and found out what Jim was doing. A month later, Jim left and went to Chicago for a part-time gig that later worked out to be a full-time position and became know as Captain Whammo. In 1978 he left broadcasting and then taught broadcasting for two years. Jim then went on to work in Christian Radio and currently works in Naples, Florida. His Christian Countdown show is heard on 157 stations.
Jim was gracious to spend some time on the phone with me and to share airchecks from his next job after KSTP-AM as Captain Whammo in Chicago and an audio story of his radio career, including his transition to Christian Radio.
Recent photos of Jim Channell (formerley Tom Jones PD of KSTP-AM). Jim does a morning show on a Naples Christian Station and a weekly 1-hour program of the top contemporyay Christian Hits of the past 26 years, which is heard on 157 stations.
KSTP-AM Tom Jones - Steve Shannon Early 1974 - Greg Borrell August 8th, 1976
This is the whole Tom Jones (Jim Channell) show. Tom (Jim) was the PD and responsible for playing better music than the consultant from afar wanted him to program. However, the music and the DJ's took the station to number 2 in 100 days.
The recording of Tom Jones stat with a brief intro from Chuck Knapp. After Jones is done, Steve Shannon takes over at 12 Noon on this Tuesday.
Greg Borrell did over nights in 1976.
Acquired from Aircheck collector and contributor Matt Seinberg of Big Apple Airchecks www.BigAppleAirchecks.com
KSTP-FM Jim Brunett - January 3, 1981 I received this in the mail from Phillip Wagner. Phil writes in an email (which explanins the short times on the clip):
"I recorded LPs onto tape in the early 80's so I could listen in the car. So that I didn't have dead space on the tapes, I connected to the FM radio and filled in the rest of the tapes with usually top 40 music. That is where I got the airchecks."
Thanks for sending this Phillip. Contributed by Phillip Wagner of Minneapolis (posted 11-22-07)
KSTP-AM 15 KSTP "Big" Al Arneson December 21st, 1973
This is another Tape I recently found and converted to MP3. I originally recorded this of the air after I got home from my evening shift at KTCR-FM. Unfortunately, the AM radio quality was lacking. You can hear this tape fine, but there is a faint AM squeal in the background.
This is typical Al. What is not typical is the use of his real name. He later when by Big Al Davis here and at U-100. There are additional aircheck of him both at KSTP as Davis and at U-100 at RadioTapes. Com
Al had his own unlicensed pirate FM station in Edina when he was in high school. An aircheck of him at this station is on this site on the Pirate Radio Page
Recorded off the air by Rick Burnett
KMGK 108 FM Jason Williams January 16-1984 KSTP-FM Jim Brunett January 3, 1981 WCCO-FM Pat O'Neill Early 980
I received this in the mail from Phillip Wagner. Phil writes in an email (which explanins the short times on the clip):
"I recorded LPs onto tape in the early 80's so I could listen in the car. So that I didn't have dead space on the tapes, I connected to the FM radio and filled in the rest of the tapes with usually top 40 music. That is where I got the airchecks."
Check out the WCCO aircheck. At the beginning, you will here the famous "That's Easy to Remember" KDWB tag when mentioning 103 FM. The "63" part is edited out but it sound like the same voice. Go to the KDWB Page on this site for the "63" story as told by Chuck Blore. CLICK HERE
Also note the IBM commercial for its new PC computer "now under $13,500." Looks like computers have come a long way since the IBM 5120 was introduced in early 1980.
Thanks for sending this Phillip. Contributed by Phillip Wagner of Minneapolis (posted 11-22-07)
The airchecks on this not for profit web site were recorded off the air. The recordings on this site provide historical examples of Twin Cities radio and are intended for purposes of archival preservation and for research. Additionally, the recordings can be used by vision impaired visitors to get an audio perspective of radio history. These recordings are not intended to by used by others for commercial purposes.
Some of the airchecks are off reel to reel tapes that were recorded off the air by the web site creator. In May 2006 the recordings started to be converted to MP3 and shared here. In addition to this web site creator's recorded aircheck collection, there are also many airchecks that were recorded and submitted by friends and acquaintances, or contributed by other collectors. Sources are cited, if known. The contributed recordings from friends and contributors of both airchecks and other material are greatly appreciated. Without their help, the site would have many less pages of radio history. The recordings of the contributors to this web site who recorded them off the air may show up on other sites. This site does not charge any fees to listen to the posted recordings. The purpose of this site is to provide radio history and intended for purposes of archival preservation and research.
Windows Media Player works well to play these MP3 files, and depending on your internet settings, will start streaming the file once the link is clicked, Some files are large and may take time to open. Should you have any aircheck of Twin Cities radio stations, let me know and I may be able to include them at this site. Contact me at Rick(at)HotMail.com --- NOTE Replace "(at)" with @ when typing email address
