This Site Primarily Contains a Collection of Airchecks of Numerous Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Radio Stations, Some Recorded Off The Air by Rick Burnett and Many Others Recorded or Provided by Other Contributors to This Site (see footnote at bottom). The Contribution of Recordings and Materials are Greatly Appreciated and Have Made this Site a Bookmark for Those Interested in Radio From this Era. Explore the many recordings on this site by using the menu at the left side of the screen. Should you have material to contribute, Please Email: Rick1031(at)HotMail.com Note: Substitute @ for the "(at)" when typing email address
News Blasts From the Past - Paul Harvey 1966 KRSI
These clips were recorded off the air by Mike Cunningham (former KTCR-FM Operations Manager) using a Webcor reel to reel and a microphone, rather than a direct input.
This will bring back memories of Vietnam and you will hear Paul's commentary on the lack of respect for the USA (even in 1966). I guess we seem to have the same news stories on war and the USA's problem today.
Contributed by Mike Cunningham of Lacrosse, former KTCR-FM Operations Manager. See his other contributions on the Cunningham page
KRSI-AM 950 Before Request Radio Terry Tersari - November 22nd, 1967
You will notice the old KRSI Channel 95 Jingles sound a bit like the KDWB Channel 63 jingles. No requests being taken on the Terry Tersari show. News and some commercials are left in. In one commercial, you can buy a thermometer that is guaranteed to provide accurate readings up to 120 degrees and down to 60 below. Just send one dollar to KRSI 4500 Excelsior Blvd. At about 11:40 into the recording you will hear Terry accidentally kill the instrumental "Alfie." Later Terry turns over KRSI to the program "Back to The Bible."
Contributed by Jim du Bois, formerly at WDGY and KTCR, currently CEO and President of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association. You can listen to other du Bois material at the Jim du Bois Contributions Page on this site.
KRSI-AM Production Room Out-Takes with Tom Wynn and Ralph Jon Fritz The Famous J. A. Gerber Jeweler Spot Out-Takes
Tom hired Ralph Jon Fritz at KRSI and on this production room tape they try had to complete a J. A. Gerber spot prior to taking off for lunch. They realize how ridicules it sound to be portraying a teenager in need of J. A. Gerber's Teen Credit Program. After many attempts, they finally get it done. I understand this tape has been floating around Brown Institute (College) for a number of years. Thanks to Adobe Audtion 3 there are tones inserted to partially cover up some colorful words.
Contributed by Tom Wynn, of KFGO in Fargo ND., formerly of WDGY, KRSI, WLOL and others. (Posted 12-23-07)
KRSI-FM - 1973 - During Identity Crisis - Was it KQRSI?
John Fineberg shared some 1972-73 airchecks from KRSI. He worked there after the old request radio format days, when the station was beginning to compete for the fiercely loyal progressive radio fans of KQRS. John was hired away from KQ, where worked weekends and filled in for vacationing full-time staff. He was deeply committed to KQ, but accepted the offer in order to go full-time.
John emails the following comments and provides his perspective on that time:
"After just six months of part-time announcing on KQRS in 1972, Tac Hammer offered me a full-time job at KRSI. Though I was flattered, I really didn't want it. But even my KQ boss, Alan Stone, thought I should take the offer, saying it was a good career opportunity for me. Resigning KQ was the most difficult decision of my life (up to that point). I agonized over it! After all, KQ was the very best station I had ever heard in the entire country. I'd grown up on its music. And, in my own mind, I was already best friends with all of the announcers there before I ever met them in the flesh.On the positive side, going full-time, I really started to grow professionally very quickly.
I also got to work with two of my closest friends, John Pete (who'd left KQ himself for a better opportunity at KRSI) and Susan Bradley (who I'd known and dated in college). And, because of them (plus my hiring), it looked like KRSI was really going to take off and become a serious player in progressive radio.During that period, the two stations remained true competitors, keeping programming secrets from each other. But the other reality was that we were all really close friends outside of work. Sometimes I referred to us as "KQRSI."
It was quite incestuous, and we were having a great time socializing together.On the down side, there was a hesitation at KRSI to take the full leap into risky, creative radio. Tac, who came from Top-40 radio, would take two steps forward in the progressive direction, then three steps back into his comfort zone. The record library paled in comparison to KQ's, and the approved playlist was horribly restrictive. And, staff wise, we had half the day sounding one way, with booming Top-40 jocks, and half the day sounding laid back and conversational. Who were we, really? Some hybrid between KDWB and KQRS? It was hard to say. Out of frustration, one by one, the progressive team (those of us who considered ourselves to be "radio announcers," not "DJs") left KRSI. John was hired back at KQ. Then Susan Bradley followed him, shortly thereafter. I tried to get hired back, myself, but I'd burned my bridges with Dick Poe, the general manager. So I simply quit (and went off to travel throughAsiaby bus for half a year). Except for four horrible days on a radio station that claimed to be progressive inLincoln,NE, (plus four years volunteering on KFAI, Fresh Air Radio), I never went back into radio. I had gotten spoiled. I'd worked on the very best station there was, and everything else paled in comparison.
I was a purist and couldn't deal with how commercial radio had become.But, like most of us from that period in radio history, I'd still love the opportunity to do free-form radio again somewhere. How fabulous it would be to have the freedom to play rock, jazz, blues, folk, country, East Indian and comedy all within the same show, like we did back then."
_____________________________________ Thanks John for sending the aircheck and especially for sending your comments and your perspective on progressive radio of that time. Rick B.
"KRSI Airstaff, early 1969." This photo is taken from the KRSI Request Album, a 1969 double-LP compilation of oldies. Anthony Gee is Tony Coloff. Tony left KRSI in 1970 for KQAD/Luverne, and he eventually established and operated his own station in Forest City, Iowa, where he has been for years. Jimmy Reed left KRSI for WDGY in September, 1969. Denny "All Night" Long did evenings at KRSI before joining WCCO in 1971. Rick Easton was the overnighter before heading to KFYR/Bismarck in 1970 for a daylight-hours shift. Dale Weber of course left in 1969 for WDGY, where he convinced Jimmy Reed to join him. And Tac had been at WEBC/Duluth and KDWB before joining KRSI, eventually leaving for KQRS and WLOL.
"KRSI 'Insider' ad, Feb 1972." Ad featured in Connie Hechter's "Insider" magazine, showing how KRSI had evolved from the oldies-but-goodies days of Request Radio. I corrected some of the mispellings.
"KRSI Request Radio sticker, 1968." Jim Larkin ("Bob Christie") gave me a handful of these bumper stickers, one of which had been slapped on the studio fire extinguisher at 4500 Excelsior Blvd."
KRSI Staff Photos with General Manager. Contributed by John Pratt 12-6-07. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
KRSI Request Radio Promo. Contributed by John Pratt 12-6-07. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
KRSI Bumper Sticker. Contributed by John Pratt 12-6-07. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
KFMX Bumper Sticker - John Pratt Scan
John Pratt states: "KFMX sticker, circa 1974." I'd forgotten that I even had this one, which probably came from a visit in 1974."
KFMX Bumper Sticker From the '70's. Contributed by John Pratt 12-06-07. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
News Blasts From the Past - Paul Harvey 1966 KRSI
These clips were recorded off the air by Mike Cunningham (former KTCR-FM Operations Manager) using a Webcor reel to reel and a microphone, rather than a direct input.
This will bring back memories of Vietnam and you will hear Paul's commentary on the lack of respect for the USA (even in 1966). I guess we seem to have the same news stories on war and the USA's problem today.
Contributed by Mike Cunningham of Lacrosse, former KTCR-FM Operations Manager. See his other contributions on the Cunningham page
Remember automated radio? Was it suppose to replace live DJ? Maybe that was voice tracking. You will hear mellow music, jingles and that's about it. Oh wait, this is a live weather forecast (or is it Memorex).
Tape provided by Al Arneson, a/k/a Big Al Davis on U-100.
Rare Tac Hammer aircheck just in from my storage locker. The 3M 290 tape I (Rick Burnett) used to record this off the air has held up well. I stored the tape in a sealed plastic wrapping and this may have help its preservation. I am sure I recorded this and never listened to it again until now.
Tac Hammer Recoded December 1973 (7:23) There is some electronic noise briefly. Tac informs us we are listening to "Stereo 10-4." Tac also tell us Adam North will be coming in at 3 PM. There is also a newscast from the American FM Radio News network. The story of the day is the energy crises and the possibility of turning off certain freeway lights.
This seem to be a strange schedule for the day. It appears everyone is filling in for someone else.
KRSI-FM Adam North December 1973 - Same Day as Above (1:18)
This is a short clip and I wish I had more.
KRSI-FM Brad LaMay December 1973 - Same Day as Above (2:56)
This was recorded on a Saturday, but that as much as I know.
(Recorded off the air by Rick Burnett)
KFMX-FM Al Malmberg Recorded March 9th, 1974 (14:36)
If I remember correctly, Al once worked at KTCR-FM around 1970-71. This was recorded just before noon on a Saturday. Al also refers to himself on the air as Allen Peter Malmberg and as "Malm in the morning." Until finding this in storage and posting it here, I have not listened to this tape since I recorded it.
(Recorded off the air by Rick Burnett)
The airchecks on this not for profit web site were recorded off the air. The recordings on this site provide historical examples of Twin Cities radio and are intended for purposes of archival preservation and for research. Additionally, the recordings can be used by vision impaired visitors to get an audio perspective of radio history. These recordings are not intended to by used by others for commercial purposes.
Some of the airchecks are off reel to reel tapes that were recorded off the air by the web site creator. In May 2006 the recordings started to be converted to MP3 and shared here. In addition to this web site creator's recorded aircheck collection, there are also many airchecks that were recorded and submitted by friends and acquaintances, or contributed by other collectors. Sources are cited, if known. The contributed recordings from friends and contributors of both airchecks and other material are greatly appreciated. Without their help, the site would have many less pages of radio history. The recordings of the contributors to this web site who recorded them off the air may show up on other sites. This site does not charge any fees to listen to the posted recordings. The purpose of this site is to provide radio history and intended for purposes of archival preservation and research.
Windows Media Player works well to play these MP3 files, and depending on your internet settings, will start streaming the file once the link is clicked, Some files are large and may take time to open. Should you have any aircheck of Twin Cities radio stations, let me know and I may be able to include them at this site. Contact me at Rick(at)HotMail.com --- NOTE Replace "(at)" with @ when typing email address
