The Production Room Collection

Four Teen Kay [By Uncle Ricky] We have an aircheck of a few of these jingles in use at KQV , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in 1974. I know we bought cuts from this package and used them on the air at WJAR in Providence with J-A-R substituted for Four-Teen-Kay , and that couldn’t have been later than 1974, so, this must be a 1974 PAMS demo from about that time. Included in the PAMS tape box with this recording is a business card from the late Fred Hardy , my favorite jingle salesman. This was a very powerful-sounding package, at the time, with extraordinary performances. Some of the acapella work (7-voice?) is the very best PAMS sound. This demo includes a full line-up of pseudo-DJs, including Joe Happy , Sterling Quality , Larry Speedway , Bobby Bubble , Jeremiah Black , and Lenny Limbo . This was intended to be a complete on-air production package, with exciting new electronic news and traffic sounders, and a combination of speech, instrumental and vocal representations of your SIGNATURE. And that’s the way it was, back when radio stations were not afraid to sing their name.
picture of PAMS box says Imagineered By PAMS
How many jingles should a station have? [By Uncle Ricky] This is a composite demo of PAMS Series 49A (for WLS /Chicago) and 49B (for WGAR /Cleveland.) Named The Modulators , and produced in 1977, it was originally a WLS custom series, and also holds the distinction of being the last PAMS “numbered” series. The orginal PAMS went out of business in 1978. There’s a string of jock jingles for WLS, helping place the time these were used, demonstrations of the jingles “in use”, and a typical PAMS lecture on how the jingles should be presented. Not surprisingly, PAMS recommended that jingles should be used before music, between music, and between commercials — the more the better! There’s a lot of stuff about “modules” and smooth flow, starter modulators, and how some are static in smooth structure. I guess it was rocket science. The important thing is how they sound on the air, and we’ve all heard sufficient WLS with these jingles to know they were powerful and memorable. And, there’s a wonderfully funky version of the famous “Copyright” jingle on the end.
East of Midnight [By Uncle Ricky] This is a composite of PAMS jingles for WABY in Albany, New York, sourced from a reference dub of the session in the early ’70s. Most of this composite features The Philadelphia Story package, originally recorded for WFIL in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The second part of this composite features acapellas, some featuring a guitar “slide” effect, similar to what was in use at WLS /Chicago in 1969. The composite concludes with electronic news signatures.
WBBQ Tiger Radio [By Uncle Ricky] This composite was created from a reference dub of jingles produced by PAMS for WBBQ in Augusta, Georgia. This station was a Southeastern Top 40 legend, and they could afford the best. These reference tapes make an exuberant and sparkling tribute to two of the very best PAMS series. First, there is Series 34-C, with the stock “music power” lyric. Then, it’s Series 27 ( Jet Set ) re-lyriced to use the Music Power moniker. These two series worked very well together and both featured strong vocal groups. It’s a terrific presentation of some of the most familiar Top 40 jingles with a “new” logo. It’s WBBQ, Tiger Radio . The earliest these jingles could have been produced would have been 1967 1964. WBBQ paid for these, but we don’t know when. There’s a lineup of DJ shouts, but half of those are like Fakebook accounts, and there were several very stable employees at that radio station, back in the day. In any event, many will remember these classic jingles from a bunch of other stations. They are bright and happy!
No we never goof up our bration steaks [By Uncle Ricky] This sparkling composite of original PAMS jingles was customized for WKBW , Buffalo, New York. Featured are cuts from Series 22, 23, 26 and 28. Series 22 and 23 were originally created, at the same time, for WKBW, and boasted a 45-piece string section. Portions of the tracks for the series were recorded in Mexico! Concluding the Series 22/23 composite is a full “city jingle” for Buffalo, The Queen City of The Lakes .
Music comes here to play [By Uncle Ricky] Here’s a fresh Composite of PAMS Series 37 Jingles, re-mixed for WFIL Philadelphia, simply some of the BEST Top 40 jingles of all time, for one of the greatest Top 40 stations ever. The vocal group on these jingles is All Male, and the genius and perfect blend of this PAMS group is also one of the BEST, ever. There’s some serious testosterone here!
Isn’t it time your station showed them who’s boss? [By Uncle Ricky] The package is called Retaliate , a TM demo featuring cuts for WAVA in Washington, D.C., and B-96 in Chicago. OK, the singers are real people (aren’t they?) but I wonder if there are any other warm-blooded musicians elsewhere on this demo, I mean, other than a keyboardist or two. It sounds like it was all played on a synthesizer. These jingles would work well with 1980’s CHR. It was produced in 1988.
B-96! [By Uncle Ricky] This clever production for TM Productions demonstrates AirPower (1983), a contemporary logo package for WBBM-FM ( B-96 , Chicago). Many hit music stations had abandoned jingles altogether in 1983. These jingles were designed to provide a quick blend into the music.
Rocket Radio! [By Uncle Ricky] One of the most popular PAMS packages of all time, Series 29 , the Go-Go series was created after the hugely successful Jet Set , Series 27. And, like Series 27, it featured Gleni Rutherford Tai and her angelic high scat backgrounds mixed with brass and fast rhythmic accompaniment to the all-male vocal group. While the appeal now is mostly nostalgic, these jingles are still powerful, uplifting and delightful to hear in 2013. And, this composite of Series 29 jingles has been customized for WSAI in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the height of their Top 40 dominance. The logo is custom, the lyrics are custom, and it’s all about Rocket Radio , including a cut for Space Age News !

Welcome to the new ReelRadio!

This site is now operated by the North Carolina Broadcast History Museum. 

We want to thank the board of ReelRadio, Inc. for their stewardship since the passing of the founder Richard Irwin in 2018.  It has not been easy and they have maintained the exhibits for future generations to enjoy.

I met Richard Irwin, aka Uncle Ricky, when we were freshmen at East Carolina University.  We both had worked at local stations in our hometowns.  No one was more passionate about radio, especially Top 40 radio, than my friend Richard. 

Our goals with this site are to preserve the exhibits and make them available free of charge for people to enjoy.  Over time, we hope to add some airchecks to the site.  This will not happen immediately.  Time and resources will determine the future of new exhibits. 

Many thanks to the web folks at the Beasley Media Group for countless hours of work.  Again thanks to the board members of ReelRadio, Inc. for their faith in us. 

Richard Irwin’s hope was that his site would live on long after his passing. He said, “I hope REELRADIO will survive as my contribution to the ‘radio business’. The business is allowed to forget me, but the business should never forget the great era of radio that we celebrate here”.

We remember Richard and we thank him. If you enjoy this new site, we would appreciate a contribution. We hope you enjoy the new ReelRadio!

Carl Davis
Trustee
North Carolina Broadcast History Museum