The Tom Corbett Collection

 

Tom Corbett Boss-Jockin' at WAGO, Ball State University, 1967
Tom Corbett Boss-Jockin' at WAGO, Ball State University, 1967 Corbett and Kirby, 1975
Corbett and Kirby, 1975

In Vibra-Sonic Recordings' Nerve Center, 1999
In Vibra-Sonic Recordings' Nerve Center, 1999

 Tom Corbett writes:"My family headed the Edsel hardtop out west in '63, and along the way I noticed the station ID jingles on KXOK, WHB and KIMN were the same as my hometown station in Indianapolis, Lucky 13, WIFE. That's all it took.

I started collecting ID jingles at Ball State University while working at campus station WAGO BossRadio 57. After graduation, I had the opportunity to produce TM's Phase II in Dallas for Top 40 WHUT, Anderson, Indiana, where I was PD and morning jock. Returned wide-eyed from Dallas thinking on-air work wasn't for me anymore and started a jingle company in Indianapolis, Corbett-Kirby Corporation, with college buddy Mike Kirby in 1972. We produced thousands of commercial jingles for clients nationwide including a 65-episode radio series, The Adventures of Captain Clifford Swish and Wongo, the Norwegian Scab Camel, written by David Letterman.

I was recruited by TM Productions in 1977 to direct a television ID division. Left TM (and the industry) in 1984 to become national sales manager for Alcoa's fiber optic division. Today, I own a custom commercial cabinet business in Nashville, CORBETTWORKS. I still avidly collect ID jingles and have a lot of fun in my spare time with the downstairs project studio, Vibra-Sonic Recordings, where 'The Wollensaks make the difference.'"

The Repository thanks Tom Corbett for sharing!

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Vibra-Sonic Recordings Presents VibraSampler Two (0:29:59)

Although not exactly politically correct, VibraSampler Two does hit the mark for diversity by saluting no less than 28 ID jingle producers from the years 1954-1979. The best, the worst, they’re all here, and hopefully, your favorite cut is too.

Enjoy!

Special thanks to the following, whose collections I faithfully raped, pilfered and pillaged:

Tim Arnold
Mike Bohan
Wayne Campbell
Steve Chapple
Mark Goodman
Ken Justiss
Dave Letterman
Dave Nichols
John Pizzi
Thom Price
Don Worsham, and especially
Arnold Zlotnik

VibraSampler Two was digitally edited with Sonic Foundry’s SOUND FORGE 5.0. AMPEX AG-440 tape machines were used for analog transfers and phase correction. Copyright ownership belongs to the respective producers. This feature is not for sale and any commercial use is strictly prohibited.

VibraSampler Two

1. KQV PAMS Solid Rock II
2. WSAL CORBETT-KIRBY Series C
3. fast basic (clear) TM Phase II
4. WWSW ERIC SIDAY custom
5. WNIX PAMS custom (for David Frye’s Radio Free Nixon)
6. WCFL TM Plays The Hits
7. CKOC CRC 26
8. WMBG PAMS grid
9. WING PAMS 33
10. KEEL TOTALSOUND Moove
11. WNUE SUNDANCE Back To Basics
12. WKYC MARK CENTURY Young Americans
13. WKGN PAMS 33
14. KQV-FM PAMS custom
15. KENR TM Sound America
16. BBC 1 PAMS custom
17. WNBC HELLER custom
18. WLS-FM JAM FM
19. KIMN TM Pacific & Southern
20. WILS GWINSOUND Segue
21. WBT PAMS custom (1970)
22. WGOW PAMS Right Now (KB’71)
23. WNDE PAMS custom
24. WINZ TM Beat Goes On
25. WISE PAMS grid
26. WKIX PAMS 18
27. WDOT CRC 47
28. WMCA BLORE custom
29. KGB JOHNNY MANN aca
30. KPOI DRAKE Double A (PAMS vocals)
31. KFSO/KYA-FM TM KFSO’78
32. WTTO PAMS grid
33. WMYQ TM Shockwave
34. WFAA TM Good Feelings II
35. WDGY CRC 9
36. KFJZ PAMS grid
37. WIOO PEPPER-TANNER Fun One
38. drop PEPPER-TANNER Fun One
39. WEAM PAMS 33
40. WROR DRAKE Hit Parade
41. WIBC JINGLE MILL aca (1957)
42. WSIX GWIN Music City
43. WCFL TM Shockwave
44. WQAM PAMS grid
45. WIXY SPOT aca
46. WGAR PAMS 37
47. KIOA PAMS 32
48. WAXC PAMS 42
49. WEEO TM Focus’74
50. KTAC PAPA Comin’ Home
51. KRLD PAMS custom
52. WSAI news open/close; voice of Ron Brittain; PAMS 27
53. WIXY PEPPER-TANNER Now Sound “A”
54. CKLW DRAKE 2
55. KFWD PAMS custom
56. WOAI TM Propellants
57. WMEX PAMS 20
58. WGR TM Transitions
59. WIVC PAMS ABC Love
60. WZZZ TM Happy Day (JINGLE MILL sales pitch inserted)
61. WCPO JINGLE MILL Sound Of The ’60’s
62. WIND HELLER custom
63. GroupW news open (H. Mancini); WFI sound byte
64. WFIL PAMS 33
65. KONO CRC 3
66. KONO TANNER Super O
67. KXOK PAMS grid
68. KTLK ATWOOD RICHARDS Comin’ On Strong
69. KOY ALAN CHILCOAT aca
70. KOY E.Y.E. custom
71. WTUE PAMS Solid Rock II
72. WIFE PAMS 35
73. WDEE HELLER custom
74. WKDA PAMS 16
75. WKDA PAMS 29
76. WSM TM Penetrators
77. WLGM TANNER Big D
78. WGOL TM Stereo Rock series #4
79. WOAI PAMS grid
80. WRKR PARMASOUND aca
81. WJW HELLER custom
82. KHJ CRC 8
83. KHJ TM You
84. WSAI TOM MERRIMAN, INC. custom (pre-TM)
85. KSD TANNER Spirit
86. WRC PAMS custom
87. WHUT ROSS ROY Light, Bright, Always Right
88. KJR PAMS 26
89. WERK PAMS grid
90. Letterman aircheck WAGO, Ball State University
91. WJNL TM Where Your Friends Are
92. WBZ PAMS 26
93. WEEI HELLER custom
94. WEEI-FM PAMS custom
95. KBOA CORBETT-KIRBY Series A (Drake promo inserted)
96. WMAK CRC 25
97. WMAK PAMS 26d
98. WMAK ATWOOD RICHARDS aca
99. WXLO JOHNNY MANN aca
100. WHAM AUDIO PRODUCERS 4
101. WSGN PAMS 34c
102. KROY TANNER Shotgun Heaven
103. WFUN TM Where Your Friends Are
104. KILT Jethro Tull promo Bill Young, producer
105. KILT TM Synergy
106. WWRL TM Beat Goes On
107. WMEE DRAKE 2
108. WAKY PAMS grid
109. KTNT QUALITY JINGLE COMPANY OF TEXAS
110. WPTR SPOT That Man
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David Letterman, WAGO Muncie Indiana 1969 (0:05:36)

… . . . Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m not gonna take any more of these crank phone calls . . . …

David Letterman (Late Night with David Letterman, The Late Show with David Letterman) is heard in this segment edited from the 11PM -12 Midnight hour on April 1, 1969. WAGO was a carrier-current station at Ball State University.

The voice of Lyla Whip is Letterman’s former wife, Michelle, who he calls at their apartment. The Pixie was a sleazy 24-hour diner in Muncie that provided an ample supply of grease after a night of drinking and was also frequented by colorful locals. The top-of-hour ID is voiced by Don Worsham of the Media Preservation Foundation.

(This aircheck is excerpted from Vibra Sampler One (below).
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Vibra-Sonic Recordings Presents VibraSampler One (0:30:03)

… Thursday …

Here’s thirty minutes of non-stop ID jingle action covering the years 1957 – 1993. VibraSampler One was created not only to salute the legendary PAMS organization, but showcase other producers who also made a significant contribution to the golden years of Top 40 radio. Included is the (previously featured) aircheck of a younger Dave Letterman having some fun on the phone at Ball State University carrier current station WAGO.

Special thanks for contributions from: Mark Allen, Mike Bohan, Steve Geisler, Ken Justiss, Mike Kirby, Dave Letterman, Graham Newton, Bob Piper (deceased), John Pizzi, Wally Wawro and Don Worsham.

Comments, requests and trades are always welcome, and I would appreciate help with identification of cuts marked with an asterisk (*). Enjoy!

Intro: Mark Allen
WRMX JAM Stay Cool
KONO PAMS grid
WHB PAMS 27
WQXI TM Alternative
KWK CRC 12
WHUT ROSS ROY Mastertone
WKDA PAMS 40
WKIX PAMS custom aca
KSEL Gwin 5
KLIF TM custom aca
WCFL TM Shockwave
WLS PAMS 18
WCFL BLORE Encore
Tues Wx PAMS Solid Rock pre-record
WCBS-FM BLORE custom
WIFE PAMS 27
WISH CRC 8
WDRC PAMS 27
WKDA PAMS 18
WHAT PAMS 28
WIXY SPOT 38
WNAP SPOT 38
WNAP PAMS Bandapella
97.5 GRIFFIN Oldies Radio
WCAU-FM PAMS Gold Mine
WFIL PAMS Philadelphia Story
WPEN JAM Back Seat Music
WIBC JINGLE MILL custom
WIBC HELLER custom
WIBG PAMS 28
WERK PAMS grid
WWDC STACHEON Superstar
WWDB PEPPER Pastels
KDKA TM Design 72
KDKA TM Phase II/custom brass
WEAM PAMS custom aca
WKLO DRAKE Series 2
WOLF GWIN 15
WCAO PEPPER Swingle
WFIL PAMS 34
WPOP PAMS 17
WINZ GWIN Seasonals
KFRC DRAKE custom
WMAK CRC Holiday Pack
WIBG CRC 5
WEAM PAMS 33
KING DRAKE Series 2
WIRE FUTURESONIC Sing Along
KOMA PAMS 25
WOWO PAMS custom
WOWO TM Phase II/custom brass
WMAK PAMS 27
WKRC AUDIO PRODUCERS 5
WIL PAMS Crusin’ (resing)
WTIC TM Someplace Special
WIFE PAMS 35
KLIF FUTURESONIC Kwik IDees
KLIF TM Plays The Hits
WAYS PAMS 15
KDWB TM custom
WINZ PAMS grid
WMID PAMS 41
WSAI PAMS 29
KXEN FUTURESONIC Soft Sell
BBC TM You Are The Words
D.L. sig JAM custom
David Letterman Aircheck, 1969
(wx) PAMS 30
PAMS 31
WERK PAMS 31
KDKA TM custom (Pirates)
WHBU PEPPER Reachin’ Out
WNOW PAMS 43
*WWCW PAMS KIIS custom
WKBW CRC 47
WNDE JAM custom
WCBM TM Phase II
WLCY PAMS 27
WLW PAMS 41
*WWDC PAMS *
WHB PAMS 26
WING PAMS 33
KFRC MANN custom 10/75
KYA PAMS 32
KOA JAM custom
WCHV PAMS Regalogos
RADIO NORD HENRY FOX custom
WOOD TM Good Feelings II
WLAC PAMS 41
WSM TM Sound Of Chicago
KVIL CRC 33
WOND PAMS 27
WNTC PAMS Gold Mine
WISH PAMS 15
KJR PAMS 26
WHBQ DRAKE Series 2
WHBQ PAMS 30
KXOK PAMS 26
Close: MUTEL scoring library

 

Vibra-Sonic Recordings present VibraSampler One Honey, I finished Vibra Sample One last night! Swell, let

Ed Richards WIBG Philadelphia 1971 (0:14:07)

… That’s Lemon-Freshened Three Dog Nite …
[by contributor Tom Corbett] Ed Richards This is a 1971 aircheck of Morning Mouth Ed Richards at WIBG, Philadelphia. His roots were at CKLW, but he polished his act and became one of the early “shock jocks” in Philly (although tame by today’s standards!) A classic performance. [Ed Richards (Ralph W. Wright, Jr.) passed away September 13, 2004. He was also known as Mike Rivers at CKLW.]

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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!

Board of NCBHP
North Carolina Broadcast History Project