Super CFL Big 10 Radio Tribute

I grew up in the Chicago area during the prime days of Top40 Rock and Roll Radio. From 1966 to 1976 everyone listened to either "The Big 10" WCFL or "The Big 89" WLS. It was an all out radio war. To this day, people still ask "CFL or LS?" just like the "Pepsi or Coke?" question. In area High Schools occasional fights that would break out depending on your loyalty to either radio station. Silly, but true.

Over the coming Spring and Summer 2009 I will be assembling what I hope will be one of the greatest Super CFL Radio Tribute sites on the Net. If you have any Radio Memories I invite you to share them with us. PLEASE! If you have any stories, photos, audio clips, or any suggestions on what you would like to see on our site, contact us! Full credit/acknowledgements to original materials will be given.

This project is intended to honor ALL WCFL Alumni past and present. Oldieslist wants to thank them for all those great Chicago Radio Memories.

You can submit your Super CFL Memories here: Big10Radio.com or SuperCFL.net

Doo Wop Segment on CBS Sunday Morning Rescheduled

For those of us that were anxiously awaiting a special Doo Wop segment on CBS's Sunday Morning Show which was scheduled to air on Sunday, January 4, 2009, we were all disappointed when it didn't happen. We heard about this upcoming special on New Year's Day from Scott Shannon on The True Oldies Channel; also by an email from Terry Johnson's Flamingos site. We tuned in Sunday morning and although it was listed in the DirecTV channel guide, it didn't air.

That was the sad news. The GOOD news was waiting in the Oldieslist email Monday (1-5-2009) from Terry Johnson, who informed us that the Doo Wop show has been rescheduled. Thanks, Terry, for the great news! Here's that information from his email list:

CBS Sunday Morning Show to be rescheduled

Hi Friends! So... where was the Doo Wop segment we were all waiting for this morning on CBS-TV? Well, according to communication between the show's producers and the concert producers whose Beacon Theater event was filmed for the TV show back in June 2008, they are saving the segment to be used as the 'Cover Story' for an upcoming episode. The segment, as detailed below, we are told, will air in the near future and will be a spotlighted piece instead of crammed into the tail end of the episode that aired today, as was originally planned. Henry Farag, the producer of the Ultimate Doo -Wop show was informed late Saturday of the show being postponed and did not have adequate time to inform the artists. We will send another notice with the new airing date. Once again, thanks for your support. Our fans are the greatest! Doo-Wop It's a sound that was first popular before two-thirds of Americas were even born. So why do sold-out crowds of all ages turn out to hear music from the first era of rock and roll, music now known as "doo-wop"? Jeff Greenfield talks to the artists who have been playing those oldies but goodies for decades about its resurgence. Meanwhile, keep visiting www.myspace.com/terryjohnsonsflamingos or www.terryjohnsonsflamingos.com to stay in touch and see where we'll be appearing soon!

Fantastic! We will be watching when it does air and we will be sure to post that show information here on Oldieslist as well when it becomes available.

'Tis The Season...Again!

It is hard to believe another Holiday Season is here! Even though we have a bad economy I hope everyone will still find a way to make this Christmas a special time for family and loved ones.

At Oldieslist find your favorite Christmas Music sites by searching "Christmas" or "Christmas Music" on the site Search box (upper right hand column) on the Main Page. These are all excellent streaming sites. Unfortunately, many stations that were listed last year have gone away. I think the RIAA and the bad economy may have had something to do with it.

We have made WLIT 93.9 (our local on air station) the Official Christmas Music Station on Oldieslist. They will be broadcasting Christmas Music right up to Christmas day, then back to normal format the day after. Their streaming audio is great quality. Take a listen! We have it on all day!

As health permits, we will start making posts here a little more often. It's been a rough year but really looking forward to finishing this one and on to the next!

Have a GREAT Holiday Season!

Health Issues Again

Hello everyone. If you noticed things haven't been happening here on the Blog or on our Oldieslist for a while it is because some serious health issues have happened again. I have just arrived home from a 2 week stay in the Hospital, and will be having some ongoing treatments over the next few weeks in hopes to prepare for a final surgery to follow within the next six months.

Needless to say, my Oldieslist projects and maintenance will be slowed down for a while. We will try to work on it when we can to keep our mind busy during recuperation.

Thanks for your understanding,

Retromoose a.k.a Jim

Clark Weber and Neal Samors Rock and Roll Radio Book Signing

Oldieslist was there! Chicago Radio Legend Clark Weber and Neal Samors of Chicago's Books were at the Frugal Muse Books & Multimedia Superstore in Darien, Illinois to kick off the release of their new book "Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio The Fun Years: 1955-1975". It was a real pleasure to meet with Clark and Neal at their book signing event.

If you were a youngster in the 1960's and lived in the Chicago area, you grew up listening to some of the best DJ's of the era on WLS and WCFL. If you were not in the Chicago area, chances are you still heard Clark Weber, Dick Biondi, Art Roberts, Larry Lujack, Jim Stagg, Ron Brittain and many other talented DJ's in a "radio war" at night on these 50,000 watt AM "Clear Channel" stations. Yes, we heard these guys on our 6 and 8 Transistor Radios playing Rock and Roll Top 40 Hits just like the kids today listening to their MP3 Players. The BIG difference was, we had live radio personalities behind the music, that entertained us between songs and came out to visit us at Sock Hops to tell us their corny jokes. It was good, clean fun!

As I stood in line, I heard many stories and comments that brought back many memories. Whenever I visit an event that has a famous veteran WLS or WCFL DJ, I hear the "I grew up listening to you with my radio under my pillow!" or "you were my lifeline to home over the airwaves while I was away at college!" Our DJ's truly helped lay down the 'soundtrack's' of our lives!!!

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Clark and Neal's book. It is sure to bring back some great memories!

Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio

UPDATE!

Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio: The Fun Years, 1955-1975 is now available at Amazon, BN.com and Borders.com. Oldieslist supporter Neal Samors of CHICAGO'S BOOKS has been working with the legendary Clark Weber since last January on this memory packed book which has been released.

On Memorial Day (2008) it was announced on the WLS Big 89 Rewind by Tommy Edwards and Larry Lujack that Clark Weber was releasing the book which features some interesting stories about Ol' Uncle Lar and his Sidekick Lil' Tommy and other WLS DJ's in the Top40 Rock and Roll Era.

Neal has sent Oldieslist a copy of this fantastic book and it is very hard to put down. Indeed, it brings back some great memories of the WLS we grew up with. You'll love it! We give it the Oldieslist "Double Thumbs Up" rating. Thanks again Neal for another great book that "Keeps The Oldies Alive"!

The book includes a companion CD that is narrated by Clark Weber. It includes of clips of jingles and "air checks" of your favorite Dee Jays like Dick Biondi, Dex Card, Clark Weber, Ron Riley and many more. Thanks Clark and Neal for taking us on a great trip down Memory Lane!

Join Clark Weber and Neal Samors at these Book Signing Events:

Thursday, August 7, 7:30PM Barnes and Noble - Old Orchard, Skokie, IL

Saturday, August 9, 1-3PM Frugal Muse Books - Darien, IL

Thursday, August 14, 12:30PM Barnes and Noble - DePaul, State and Jackson, Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 23, 2-3PM Borders - Oak Park, IL

Saturday, September 27, 3PM Barnes and Noble - Webster Place, Chicago, IL

Saturday, October 4, 1PM Read Between The Lynes - Woodstock, IL

Saturday, October 11, 1PM Bookstall at Chestnut Court - Winnetka, IL

Tuesday, October 14, 7PM Glenview Public Library - Glenview, IL

Read more about Clark Weber by Chicago Sun Times Columnist Robert Feder.

WLS FM Rides The Airwaves Again!

It's Official! Chicago's True Oldies 94.7 (WZZN) is now 94.7 WLS-FM Chicago's True Oldies. It is still the same station you have been enjoying, but with a "blast from the past". At 12:00 am Thursday, June 26 the station signed on with all of their new (and old) WLS Jingles, Bumpers, and Shotguns to begin the broadcast day. If you were up late and listening you would have heard Chicago's Icon Dick Biondi kick off this momentous occasion.

Mentioned last Friday in Robert Feder 's Column in the Chicago Sun-Times the FCC granted permission to change the stations callsign from WZZN to WLS effective Thursday June 26, 2008. Citadel Broadcasting owns WLS AM Talk Radio and WLS FM. Let the good times Rock and Roll!

The WLS Big 89 Rewind Returns

The BIG 89 REWIND will return again this Memorial Day Weekend! WLS Newsradio format will be replaced with the WLS we knew from the 60's and 70's from 5 AM to Midnight Memorial Day. Last year was the first time the station switched from the News and Talk Radio Format on Memorial Day and was a smash success with listeners. Some of the personalities that participated last year are expected to return again for this 89 Rewind. WLS NewsTalk 890 has announced who will be participating on their web site. Click on the Big 89 Rewind above for details.

The last years 89 Rewind was released on CD and all proceeds went to Orchard Village a Chicago area non-profit organization for people with disabilities. They will likely do the same this year.