The golden tones of Johnny Donovan, who held the 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. shift weekdays on WABC back in the fall of 1977, open this aircheck.

Dan Ingram kicks off this Friday in September with a bit about “ways to getting even – number 99.” He tells of a guy who orders a contractor to fill up a neighbor’s convertible with cement to punish him for habitually parking in front of his driveway. Then the rumble of a heavy guitar intro comes in as if to darkly underscore the theme of revenge. It’s early 60’s “color radio” updated to the late 1970s, Ingram’s rich baritone gleefully painting word pictures over record intros, record outros, jingles, between (and within) commercials and wherever this maestro of clever mayhem decides to inject his bigger than life personality. The intro into a popular movie theme of the time also heard in this hour is classic Ingram.

Although revered throughout the industry for his impeccable timing, Ingram fouls a talk-up in this hour, starting a contest read over a too-short intro. Not sure if the engineer started the record too soon – or what, but Big Dan steps on some lyrics – and orders the record stopped. I have to say the error is covered pretty smoothly. What the hell, it was Friday.

Like many fans of classic top 40, I miss the pounding midrange of AM broadcasts that made pop, rock and soul hits sound so exciting. WABC’s processing especially, including its legendary reverb; seemed to charge the recordings with added emotional intensity.

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