The Don Riley Collection

This somewhat generously ‘scoped aircheck of Super CFL and Superjock Larry Lujack from April 11, 1973 turns out to be one of the funniest we’ve heard, though it takes a while to get there. It includes selected segments from 3 until nearly 6PM, and it’s obvious why Big Ron O’Brien saved this one. Lujack is excellent, even when you think he’s finished being good, he gets better. Big Ron saved several Lujack airchecks. The others couldn’t possibly be as good as this one, could they?

This somewhat generously ‘scoped aircheck of Super CFL and Superjock Larry Lujack from April 11, 1973 turns out to be one of the funniest we’ve heard, though it takes a while to get there. It includes selected segments from 3 until nearly 6PM, and it’s obvious why Big Ron O’Brien saved this one. Lujack is excellent, even when you think he’s finished being good, he gets better. Big Ron saved several Lujack airchecks. The others couldn’t possibly be as good as this one, could they?

[Description by Uncle Ricky] “Baby” DJ Larry Lujack was once a fast-talking nighttime rock ‘n’ roll DJ, bored to tears with multitudes of Public Service Announcements in this hour and even hosting “voting” on an obscure title by what must have been a local group – there’s no other excuse. This exhibit is mostly unscoped, and some musical selections were restored. The original recording was a haphazardly-edited sample of Lujack’s 6-9 PM show on KJR. It sounds like a studio recording, probably from Monday, November 28, 1966. Large chunks of the program don’t exist, as you’ll notice from the time checks. In the restoration process, I tried to create a chronogically-correct and enjoyable feature from the available elements of the original show. And again, what is it with the Public Service Announcements? Did they just dump them all into Monday nights? Lujack rushes through them and he’s not reading for comprehension, he’s just reading them as fast as he can so he can check them off on the log. When you give away every record you play, and announce the winners, and claim to be all-request, and announce the requesters, a lot of local names get on the radio. Multiply this by night after night for some period of time, and you will understand one of the ways that KJR built a powerful community presence.

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Ron Riley writes: “Most of the WLS ‘checks that I have are (unfortunately) from my pre-taped Sunday night show, which I recorded at 7am each Thursday morning. The tapes were easily accessible as opposed to ordering up an aircheck, so that’s why I have them.” REELRADIO pays music licensing fees to present unedited music online. If you enjoy full-length airchecks like this one, your tax-deductible contribution to our operating fund will help keep this and other “unscoped” exhibits available. This aircheck, however, is from a Monday night – January 22, 1968, and with the exception of some drop-outs, (and the limitations of 1968 recording technology) the fidelity is outstanding. It’s very unusual to hear WLS prior to the audio chain (and 50KW of Amplitude Modulation.) This may be the Repository’s first WLS check “off the board”. There was little, if any, AGC or limiting on the original. (This exhibit, like all Repository exhibits, was lightly processed in real-time for levels and response consistency.) This was early in the “more music” phase of the WLS format. The PAMS acapellas were replaced later with different versions (the logo is reversed on these!) Bud Miller is heard on two WLS newscasts; John Shubeck and Don Gardner are featured with ABC Contemporary news. And Riley suggests that Paul Revere and the Raiders’ Too Much Talk (And Not Enough Action) sounds a whole lot like The Beatles’ Paperback Writer. A genuine treasure from 1968, excellently preserved for REELRADIO by The Ron Riley Collection!