Eric Thomas Checks In!!!

Eric Lensing, known as "Eric Thomas" checked in recently!  He sent in a concert ad for us to enjoy...here are the pictures he sent, then a little note from him at the end....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"To Bud S. – I found your site and scrolled around feeling a bit nostalgic and gratified someone is doing this. My on-air name on KAAY and several other LR stations from 1979-1986 was Eric Thomas, and I had a blast working on the Blowtorch of the South. No – it was more than that. It was an honor! I grew up in LR listening to KAAY and I have to say it was my most satisfying on-air experience (even though the glory years were in the rear view mirror at that point.)

Anyway, I have some old flyers, memos and program director notes from my time on Cottondale Lane if you think they would be worth scanning and sending. Let me know.

Oh yea, I saw on your site that several years ago there was a KAAY reunion with some old jocks. Sorry I missed that. I worked with Stuart and Jay back in the Multimedia days, and Tom at Magic 105.

Keep up the good work.

Eric"

I am very grateful to Eric for contacting us!  For those of you who may not know Eric, or would like a refresher, here is a link for his audio and other material:

http://mighty1090kaay.blogspot.com/search?q=Eric+Thomas

Thank you, Eric!  We are looking forward to hearing from you again soon!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The 30th Anniversary Reunion, Part 1

Folks, Barry Mac (Barry McCorkindale) has brought us an account of that evening, when numerous KAAY Greats (himself included!) gathered, with about 35 other folks in attendance.  I wish I could have been there....  Herewith, Barry Mac's account:

"

It was the 30th anniversary of "the day the music died," the last broadcasting day of the "old" KAAY, April 3rd, 1985.  We gathered at The Oyster Bar party room, just as we did two and a half years ago for the station's 50th anniversary birthday party.  A lot of the same suspects were in attendance this time around, including Arkansas broadcasting legends Bob Robbins, Sonny Martin, Clyde Clifford, and Charlie Scarbrough.  Also, long time political columnist/sports announcer/jack-of-all-trades Rex Nelson descended upon us, as he, Bob and Sonny, and Clyde all shared stories with us.  In between the stories shared by our speakers, I ran some old audio bits, including a number of news items and commercials, including a great 1974 "blooper" reel featuring Bob Robbins and Bill Edwards, as they tried about a dozen times to get through a script for voter registration.  But the highlight of the evening was long time station engineer Felix McDonald coming through the party room double doors.  One of his daughters had told me earlier in the week that they were going to try to get Felix to come out, but being that his health hasn't been very good the last few years, and the fact that he's 89 years old, I wasn't holding out too much hope.  But lo and behold, at approximately 7:45 in the evening, Felix, his wife, Oleta, and two of their daughters made their entrance.  And after they had a seat at one of the tables, it was about five minutes later, while Clyde Clifford was sharing some of his stories, that Felix stood up and kind of surveyed the crowd.  After about a minute, he and his cane started making their way around the room, occasionally leaning in to share words with the various people who caught his eye.  And it was about five minutes later that Bob Robbins up and grabbed the microphone to give Felix a rousing introduction, which brought the crowd of about 35 to their feet with an energetic round of applause.

The "Two Macs"!!! 

On display just inside the entrance to the party room were a number of items from many years ago, including an enlarged KAAY top 25 chart from August of 1976 (Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven" inhabited the #1 spot, by the way), as well as a picture of the late Governor Winthrop Rockefeller holding up a KAAY Arkansas Razorback-Texas Longhorn game day poster.

Much thanks to Virginia Boyd for accommodating us at the restaurant that she's owned for so many years.  It's really a perfect atmosphere for a gathering like ours.

I have to say that the only thing missing from this party was the presence of David B. Treadway, who, of course, was the program director those last few months before ownership transferred from Multimedia to Sudbrink Broadcasting.  And let me add, there will no consideration of any more KAAY gatherings unless David B. confirms he WILL be in attendance.  We had a great time without him, but we would've had a better time with him."

Thank you, Barry Mac!  The following are various pictures, thanks to Doug Virden, from the reunion.  Oh, here are a trio of clowns, showing off their "retro" flip phones, Gordon Stephan, Barry Mac and Charlie Scarbrough!

There were also various pictures of Doug with Clyde Clifford, Sonny Martin, Bob Robbins and sundry other items:

Folks, there are SO many pictures, this post will have to continue into several more parts!  Pleas stay tuned!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Marvin Vines' Business Card!

Tony Meyer found this in a briefcase Marvin Vines gave him... he and Doug Virden posted it on Facebook:

 

Thanks guys for sharing this!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Dan Goode (Tom Gallagher") Gone Into Eternity....

Folks, it was brought to my attention this morning (5/7/15) that Dan Goode, otherwise known as "Tom Gallagher" on KAAY, has passed away:

http://thecabin.net/obituaries/2015-05-06/dan-goode

Dan Goode 

Dan Goode, 63, of Conway passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

He was born March 9, 1952, to the late Marple J. Goode and Leva A. Goode.

He was a radio broadcaster under the name Tom Gallagher.

After retiring from radio, Dan began his second career as a truck driver.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Sheila Swan Goode; son, Brent Goode of Conway; two daughters, Courtney Goode Grady (David) and Ashley Goode, both of Conway; grandchildren, Chloe Goode, Drake Grady and Laney Ford; brothers-in-law, Greg Swan (Carol) of Texarkana, Ark. and Damon Swan (Loretta) of Tyler, Texas; and many other loving family members and friends.

Memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, 2015 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway, with Reverend Damon Swan officiating.

I had e-mailed Dan several times over the years, after his initial contact with us with no response.  I figured that, as with some, that he didn't want to "look back" any more.  Maybe someone can give some fond memories as to his time at KAAY.

Rest in peace, Dan....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)
 

The FINAL Beaker Street on KAAY - April 3, 1985

The Day The Music Died.  That phrase has been used to describe what happened to so many AM Rock stations that wound up dumping their cherished music formats during the 1980’s.  It was happening all over the country, even to big legendary stations like WABC/New York, WLS/Chicago, CKLW/Windsor-Detroit, KIMN/Denver -- stations that nobody thought would ever give up the music that made them great.  Sadly, it became KAAY’s turn to throw in the towel on April 3, 1985, when it capped several days of reminiscences about its legendary history with a final Beaker Street show, AND with Clyde Clifford, at the final hour before Midnight.

We are fortunate that this Blog has great accounts of that Final day from people who were there.  The first one is from Barry McCorkindale:

http://mighty1090kaay.blogspot.com/2010/04/last-day-last-hour-part-1-barry.html

And, from the final PD, David Treadway:

http://mighty1090kaay.blogspot.com/2010/04/last-day-last-hour-part-2-david-b.html

The last KAAY Beaker Street show featured many of the songs it helped to make famous back in the day:

Arthur Brown – Fire

Deep Water Reunion (with Barbara Raney) – Cindy’s Cryin

Allman Brothers Band – Revival

Quicksilver Messenger Service – Fresh Air

Leon Russell – Delta Lady

Jamie Brockett – Legend of the U.S.S. Titanic

Jefferson Airplane – Wooden Ships

Black Sabbath – The Wizard

Joni Mitchell – The Circle Game

Here is the aircheck of the final hour of that final day on KAAY.  Clyde Clifford gave tribute to his co-workers, his listeners, the music, and the grand old RCA 50,000-watt transmitter…..and “put the old girl down”:

(or download here)

This brings to a close our Beaker Street aircheck series, for now (until some “new” old tapes of the show re-surface, I got a feeling they’re still out there, somewhere).  We hope you have enjoyed this series as much as we have in putting it together. 

Next time:  The Reunion

Greg Barman

Barry Mac's Tin Can Alley To Air Twice A Weekend On KAAY!

Yes, thanks to Doug Virden, Tin Can Alley has expanded its hours to include a 2PM Sunday slot on KAAY!  Be sure to let Barry Mac know you're listening!  As always, you can listen to it here every week, as our very own computer guru and blog co-founder Dave Schmidt posts Tin Can Alley right here on The Mighty 1090 KAAY Blog!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Another 1977 Beaker Street Aircheck With Stuart (McRae)

This is the last aircheck we have, truly taken off the air via a radio, of Beaker Street, back in 1977, with Stuart (McRae).

Looking back, I remember having pulled that 1966 Dodge Coronet 440 up to the shop door where I worked, having it warming up those last few minutes before I punched out at 11PM, door open and KAAY blaring out of the four speakers...somehow, (I forgot), I plumbed the audio from the AM radio into my FM/8-track's audio chain.  When the time clock hit "11", I punched out, waved to my replacement and ran for the car, hearing the opening to Beaker Street.

Back then, gas was cheap, but we paid in pretty much real money.  Inflation had hit, we were getting less and paying more.  I remember I quit paying for Ethyl gasoline when it hit fifty cents per gallon...but, back then, I was in high cotton, taking home a $77 paycheck.  I dropped back to mid-grade, but I STILL drove 'way out of the way to listen to Beaker Street.

It was 19 miles from the gate of the business to my front gate...but I'd stretch an extra ten or more miles to it and, depending on the music, I'd either cruise, or I'd race...but it was all great.  I wish now, what with all the audio work I'd done then, that I'd have devised a way to tape off-the-air.  KAAY was coming in full strength, better than local radio stations, because of the huge radio antenna and in-line amplifier I had sucking that signal in!

Nonetheless, we are always looking for audio from the "glory days" of KAAY, from 1961-1985.  Now they're spreading God's glory and that is also a good thing- not airing that cop-killing, woman-degrading junk that some stations are airing...

When I graduated in 1977, I stayed out a year, healing from various sports injuries, taking a break and saving money for college.  When I entered college in 1978, I lost touch with KAAY and Beaker Street; I was working a full day shift, taking a full course load and clinical rotations at night- usually, I went straight home and when I got home, there wasn't much left of me to tune around, much less stay awake listening to radio.  Also, in those days, a new station had hit the FM airwaves, WZEW, who Stuart and Dick Downes had gone to work for- and I listened to them quite a bit...again, FM trumped AM....

So, enough of MY memories, let's end with Stuart and Beaker Street in 1977....


(or download here)
If there is ANYONE, ANYWHERE OUT THERE who has any more Beaker Street material to share, please contact me at the e-mail address below.  I'll be glad to pay for materials and postage, to be able to give YOU credit and post it here on the blog.  I am also desperately seeking audio of Don Payne on Beaker Street, who was the last deejay to head it up after Stuart McRae left.  Don Payne aired Beaker Street the last two or 2-1/2 weeks of its time in 1977, before "the suits" pulled the plug on April 3, 1977.

Thank you, dear visitor and friends of this blog- Greg, Dave S. and I certainly hope you enjoyed taking this historical walk down Beaker Street with us!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Beaker Street from 1977 with Stuart McRae

Just as we were approaching the end of our Beaker Street series, more surprises show up.  Like -- this aircheck from contributor Greg Mathieson, who had this show on cassette for years and has shared it with the Blog -- Thank you, Greg! 

It's from sometime in 1977 featuring Stuart McRae.  The aircheck is mostly untelescoped, tho it has a few breaks and sounds like it is a mix of several shows because the time checks are out of sequence.  It is DX reception on the skywave, location unknown, and the signal ranges from barely audible to loud and clear.  

The music lineup:  Pink Floyd, REO Speedwagon, Jeff Beck, Led Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac, Ambrosia, Kansas, Elton John, Deep Purple, and an unknown final track. 


(or download here)
Just as we thought -- there are still tapes of KAAY and Beaker Street out there, sitting in boxes in peoples' basements and attics, waiting to be discovered, dusted off and digitized! 

Greg Barman

Beaker Street & Beaker Theater - 4/13/71

Before we move on to the final airchecks in our Beaker Street series, we're going to take a step back for this aircheck because it contains a full Beaker Theater episode.

Beaker Theater ran at 2:00am right after Beaker Street, with double-features on the weekends.   A telescoped version of this aircheck has appeared earlier.  This recording with a full-length Beaker Theater is courtesy of Kenneth Hawkins, and we thank Kenneth very much for sharing it.   After 37 minutes of Beaker Street music, then Clyde's newscast, it's "The Geneva Mystery, Part 1" from the BBC on Beaker Theater.  From April 13, 1971:


(or download here)
Coming soon....the end of Beaker Street.  And, it's reappearance.


Greg Barman

1975 Beaker Street Aircheck

We'd posted this sometime in the past, but decided to add it to the line-up.  I can't remember if we'd ever found out who the DJ was... but, for historical reasons, here it is again:


(or download here)
Does anyone know who this is ?

We're getting close to the end....


Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

1974 Beaker Street With Tom Roberts

In this short intro to Beaker Street, you'll hear a change...no longer LIN Broadcasting.  Multimedia Inc. are the "suits" I mentioned before.  This show featured Tom Roberts.


(or download here)


Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

May 1975 Beaker Street with Ken Knight

Here is another aircheck of Beaker Street with one of the post-Clyde Clifford hosts -- Ken Knight.  Real name: Bill Jackson.   This was recorded off the skywave at my home in Evanston IL, just north of Chicago in May 1975.  It includes the intro for Beaker Theater, and a "Greetings to the great Southwest" ID.  Sorry for all the static, it must have been a stormy night!  

Note all the concert spots for venues as diverse as Minneapolis, Des Moines, Baton Route and Tulsa.  They all bought airtime to advertise their shows, knowing that Beaker Street and the 50,000-watt reach of KAAY was a great way to reach music fans beyond those cities.


(or download here)

Greg Barman

KAAY Off The Air Again

As reported by Doug Virden and others on the KAAY Facebook page, KAAY has been off the air again... I will investigate this further, as to the reason.  Looking back to my visit a few years ago, the transmitter site was in deplorable condition...the antenna system had just been repaired after copper thieves had vandalized it...but when Jerry Sims (God rest his soul), David B. Treadway and I were there, the transmitter was all the way DOWN...the Optimod on the back-up 5kw transmitter wouldn't even work, so we were probably preserved from any stray RF energy frying our brains any further while out on the field, looking for little Glaspie Dillard's grave.

Nonetheless, if you tune across 1090, it's not there; I'm also told that KARN, 920 AM, has also been off the air since February.  Is this a sign of the times that the owner (Cumulus) doesn't care, that they're just milking all the money they can out of these stations before they go dark?  I said it before and I'll say it again: when consolidation was allowed years ago, it was the death knell of radio as we knew it.  Of course, there have been other factors... but allowing huge conglomerate companies to monopolize the airwaves has KILLED radio....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

December 1974 Beaker Street with Ken Knight

Alas, after 1972 when Clyde Clifford left KAAY and Beaker Street, different people headed up Beaker Street, as "the suits" saw fit.  This aircheck was donated to A. J. by Greg Barman and features a "Ken Knight", who was Steve Morris' ("Steve Scott") friend Bill Jackson.


(or download here)
"GREETINGS, QSL'ERS!"

Thanks, Greg!

(Note -- this was reception of KAAY on the skywave in Evanston IL, just north of Chicago).

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Beaker Street with Don Marcus - February 1974

This is an untelescoped aircheck of the mysterious "Don Marcus", with the opening 44:11 of Beaker Street in February of 1974.  This aircheck is courtesy of former KAAY PD Wayne Moss, who has contributed many airchecks to the Blog.

According to Steve Morris ("Steve Scott", 1972-74): "Don Marcus was a bit strange (as we all were).  He was a very small guy with great long hair ala; 'Kenny G'.  When he moved to Tucson, I moved into his apartment out by the U of A @ L.R.  I inherited his telephone number, waterbed, furniture, etc.  (back then when ya moved to another radio station, you never took more than you could carry in the trunk of your car).  Of course he worked  from 11pm 'till 5am...By virtue of his shift, he very seldom appeared at any KAAY functions."

Steve also remembers that maybe Wayne Moss hired Don Marcus from Kansas City "or somewhere like that"...I called Wayne later and he didn't know very much about him, it had been so long. Wayne told me that Don had left for a very lucrative offer in Arizona while Wayne was on vacation; Don had told GM Pat Walsh that he couldn't pass on the offer and then left.

Steve also adds: "Don Marcus replaced O'Brian (Mike Verdicchio) on Beaker Street, O'Brian came downtown to do 8-11pm.  When Marcus departed for Tucson, Ariz., Wayne hired Ken Knight (Bill Jackson) from Joplin, Mo., to do Beaker Street.  Of course I took over 8-11pm from O'Brian when he left to go to KLZ-FM in Denver."

We have been unsuccessful trying to reach Don Marcus or to find out anything about his whereabouts after leaving KAAY.  If anybody knows more about him please let us know here at the Blog.

And now: "Greetings QSL'ers! This is KAAY Little Rock!"  Lou Reed, Suzie Quatro, Slade, Alice Cooper and more artists await your ear, as well as an ad for The Warehouse on February 21, 23, 24 and 25 with loads of artists - enjoy!



or download here


Bud S. & Greg B.

Lesley Turner, Daughter of Bill Summers, Needs Your Help!

I was just contacted by Lesley Turner, with the below message:

"My Dad, Bill Summers (Bill Stracner ), worked near and in the Little Rock market at: KBBA, KAAY, KXLR and KLRA. I am looking for air checks, articles, pictures and your memories of him at any station.  He was a DJ and a newsman. I have air checks for every where except KAAY. One of my earliest memories is sitting on top of the KAAY van during a Razorback Pep Rally. I need more memories. Please post responses here and Bud will get us in touch."

I e-mailed Lesley a link with everything we had on Bill, including air checks we have, but if there are any other things, I'd like to help her in her search.  Unfortunately, Bill died in 1981 under tragic circumstances.

Please help Lesley!!!!  Anyone?  Be sure to contact me ASAP, with the header on the e-mail as "Bill Summers", please.

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

KAAY's Bob Robbins & O'Brian on Beaker Street - October 3, 1973

This is Bob Robbins with KAAY's regular Top-40 format in its final half hour leading up to O'Brian with Beaker Street, on October 3, 1973.

You'll hear Bob promo Beaker Street and "some of that dope smokin' kind of music."  Then, "Impact", a short public-affairs break.  Finally, "Greetings Northern Mid America!" and Beaker Street rolls with O'Brian, starting off with music from the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, and War.

"O'Brian" was (and still is!) a friend of "Steve Scott" (Steve Morris) from that era and has been mentioned here before.  "O'Brian's" name is Mike Verdicchio, who now runs a number of very successful businesses today.

Thanks to KAAY's former PD Wayne Moss, for contributing this cassette aircheck to the Blog.


(or download here)
 Greg B & Bud S. 

Russell Wells' '72 Beaker Street

Russell Wells had originally donated this 1972 'scoped aircheck to A. J. Lindsey for his blog...we're bringing it back.

I'd LOVE to find all this music and meld it back into the 'scoped airchecks....


(or download here)
Thanks to Russell Wells, friend of this blog!



BudS. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Another Warehouse Ad

Back a few posts, (aircheck listed as August 14, 1971)  Clyde Clifford was running an ad for the above groups appearing at A Warehouse in New Orleans...the problem is, the ad was mentioned August 13th and 14th!  Nonetheless, here is a poster of the event, featuring Ten Years After and Edgar Winter's White Trash... enjoy!

Thanks to Bobby Wahl again for allowing us to bring these goodies to you!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

We Inturrupt This Series....

For a plea from Kenneth Hawkins:

Kenneth HawkinsFebruary 16, 2015 at 8:46 AM

Does anyone out there have any Beaker Street shows on tape or disc they can share with me? I have a whole bunch of B.S. shows on MP3 from 1970 to the very last show of 2011. I would particularly like some of those shows from the 60s if anyone has them? Let me know what you all have. THANKS!

 

KENNETH: get in touch with me A.S.A.P., lets see what you have... my e-mail address is: staceys4@hotmail.com

 

Bud

Beaker Street with Clyde Clifford - June 1-2 1972

It's Summer 1972, and here is Beaker Street on the skywave as received in Evanston, Illinois.  It brings back a lot of memories for me.

I grew up in Evanston (a northern suburb of Chicago), was an active DX-er, and I was fascinated by this powerful, exotic station from Arkansas that boomed in every night on 1090.   The signal was sometimes almost as strong as our local big city rockers, WLS and WCFL.  But Beaker Street sure didn’t sound like anything on the air on AM or FM in Chicago!  The underground rock music with the southern blues, folk and country influences, Clyde Clifford’s laidback style, the “Head” music bed under his raps – it was all such a strange, spooky, interesting mix.  I can’t count the number of nights I stayed up late to listen, keeping the volume low so as to not wake up anyone else in the house.  As a young man who was fascinated with radio and so eager to work in the business, Beaker Street and KAAY were radio magic to me. 

This is a full 3-hour show I taped the night of June 1-2, 1972, 11pm-2am, telescoping the aircheck along the way (sorry, there is no untelescoped version).  The signal fades up and down, but as you’ll hear it’s pretty good skip reception most of the time.  The aircheck ends with the intro to Beaker Theater and Clyde’s dry, funny description of what was to come.   

This show has been posted previously in two parts, but this is first time the entire show is posted in one single file.  Bud Stacey says this aircheck may well be the best and most representative of the original Beaker Street, and I agree.  The music is a rich mix of artists that includes:

Hour 1:  The Flock, McKendree Spring, Nick Drake, Eric Clapton, Grateful Dead, Robert Johnson, Leon Russell, Judy Collins.

Hour 2:  Hawkwind, Daddy Cool, Steppenwolf, Joyous Noise, Vigrass & Osborne, Bloodrock.

Hour 3:  Dust, Bloodrock, Arlo Guthrie, Foghat, The Chambers Brothers, Spooky Tooth, Mason Proffit. 

The commercials are great, too.  It amazes me how someone could to go to A Warehouse in New Orleans and hear such tremendous music for just $4! 

Listen to this show in a dark room or on a dark road at night to best capture the mood.   Thanks Clyde, for all the entertainment and music discovery you provided for us young people growing up in the Midwest. 

(or download here)

Greg Barman

Another Great Ad From Beaker Street

Something just occurred to me today...when I was listening to the January 1, 1972 aircheck, I thought about the ad where The Allman Brothers, Vince Vance & The Valients and REO Speedwagon played an encore concert that night, since so many people weren't able to make the concert New Year's Eve (12/31/71).  I thought of our friend Bobby Wahl and The Warehouse tribute site, wondering if there wasn't some more memorabilia there... lo and behold, there was a poster of the concert!

Bobby is constantly improving the site, so you MUST go there and check it out, if you haven't recently!  http://www.blackstrat.net/  Clyde Clifford ran these ads (and many more) well outside KAAY's local area, because the station's signal covered so much ground- it was like a worldwide shortwave station!  So many people flocked to The Warehouse, I believe, because of KAAY's/Clyde's airing the ads.

By gosh, here's another one:

The ad for the encore concert ran many times in the early A.M. hours of Beaker Street on this particular aircheck...remember hearing them in the post a few back?

From time to time, I'll sprinkle a bit of history here and there, hopefully for your enjoyment, to augment the experience of the airchecks!

Alas, I never made it to The Warehouse; I worked all the time I wasn't in school and college.  There was little time for play.  I was able to make concerts in Mobile, AL, Pensacola, FL and Gulfport, MS, because I could drive back home in a reasonable time and not lose too much sleep.  I regret that I never made it to New Orleans.

THANKS SO MUCH to Bobby Wahl, the master of The Warehouse tribute website!  Give it a visit and leave Bobby a note telling him you saw this here and how nice his site is looking- it just keeps getting better and better!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Clyde Clifford Interview about Beaker Street

This is a re-post of one of the few interviews that Clyde Clifford has given about KAAY and Beaker Street.

In 1995, Clyde Clifford did this phone interview with Jim Snowbarger, a self-described radio nut, electrical engineer, KAAY fan and internet radio producer/host in Marshalltown, Iowa.  Jim sent me a copy of the interview several years ago and gave his okay to pass it along to this blog.

The interview lasts about 29 minutes and Clyde talks about:  The beginnings of Beaker Street;  how the spooky background music bed came about; whether the KAAY transmitter site was haunted; the transmitter studio equipment; the last Beaker Street show on KAAY in 1985; his Beaker Street shows on FM in 1995; his day job at UALR; and why he's still unflappably happy.


(or download here)
Greg Barman

Beaker Street August 14, 1971

Here is another Beaker Street that Dave S. was able to glean from A.J.'s blog before the players broke...after Jethro Tull's "My God", notice the more familiar "Cannabis Sativa" background music?

The Dr. Pepper commercial harkens back to better times, in my opinion.  Music was MUSIC, not the synthesized versions we've gotten used to today.  I love the nuances of multiple voices and actual instruments!


(or download here)
I am grateful to Dave S. for his rescue efforts, and to Greg for helping repost everything here!

Do you like us bringing back these memories?  Please leave us some comments!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Beaker Street 4/13/1971 Part C

Here is Part C of April 13, 1971.  We hope you have enjoyed this series!


(or download here)
OK, more Beaker Street audio to follow!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Beaker Street 4/13/1971 Part B

Here is the 2nd portion of this aircheck...there may be some overlap from Part A.  Some great music- Clyde had such a great way of bringing diverse music together.


(or download here)
Part C to follow- don't touch that dial!  (Like I didn't think you would....)

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

We Inturrupt This Series For...

...goodies from Kevin Thornton!  Since we still have a little football season left, and because of the results of the latest Arkansas/Texas game, Kevin sent these bumper stickers along for us to enjoy!

As per his words: "Hey Bud, thought you and the readers of the Mighty 1090 blog would like these "Beat Texas" stickers from the radio station circa early 1980s(?). Kevin Thornton"

You betcha, Kevin!

 

 

Thanks, Kevin!!!  Any and all pictures, memorabilia, etc. is graciously accepted for addition to the blog for the enjoyment of all KAAY/Beaker Street fans!  Thank you, Kevin!  Bud S (staceys4@hotmail.com)

 

Beaker Street 4/13/1971 Part A

And we continue with Clyde Clifford and Beaker Street into 1971!  We thought it was high time (no pun intended!) that we brought back some post from A. J. Lindsey's blog (http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/).  When we got this blog going, I thought it was too early to reproduce any postings from A. J.'s blog, because it might produce boring repetition.  Now, seemingly, this blog is in the forefront and it has been several years since many of us found his blog- and it has been seven years for me personally, that I've contributed to it.

Thanks to computer guru and professor Dave Schmidt, and his love for the station, he was able to capture what we needed before the players "broke" on A. J.'s blog; there is still some active players there, but you have to dig for the link.  However, through Dave's computer knowhow and Greg Barman's audio and computer expertise, these recordings come back to life!

I cannot tell you how much I depend on these guys- they have been a Godsend to me and us KAAY/Beaker Street enthusiasts.  David B. Treadway (who I call "The Voice Of Arkansas") once said, that the guy behind the mic gets all the credit- or the blame- but it's the people in the background who are the real heroes...so thank you, Dave and Greg!

ONWARD!  The audio came to us in three parts, so we'll present them as such.  I forget the original presenter, so, if you recognize this, please leave us a comment- we are thankful for each and every aircheck and studio copy that comes our way!


(or download here)

Next, Part B!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

April 3, 1971 Beaker Street Mistakenly Marked "4/13/71"

I found another Beaker Street in the "A. J. archives" that Dave S. recovered...thought we'd share it with you!

This is mismarked "4/13/14", but is really from about April 3, 1971.  There was mention somewhere that there was a mismarked aircheck on the 13th- this must be it.  Greg Barman noticed that there was an Alice Cooper concert slated for April 10 advertised, so it couldn't be 4/13...and, a little over 22 minutes into the aircheck, it changed to a different show...so, we don't have a date for the ending part of this aircheck....


(or download here)
I don't know why, but I enjoy this particular aircheck...must be the music selections.

Thanks, Greg & Dave!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

New Year's Eve on Beaker Street! Dec 31, 1971 (into 1972) - Second Half + A telescoped version

This is the second half of the Beaker Street show from New Year's Eve 1971.   It's already past midnight and into 1972 on this aircheck, and Clyde Clifford is having a good time playing the tunes, talking with listeners hundreds of miles away, and enjoying some awfully good eggnog with strong nutmeg.   The aircheck is untelescoped with a few gaps here and there.

Parts 3 & 4 -- Discography:
The Guess Who - Friends of Mine
Iron Butterly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Deep Water Reunion - Cindy's Cryin'
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
Black Oak Arkansas - Lord Have Mercy On My Soul/When Electricity Came to Arkansas
REO Speedwagon - Gypsy Woman's Band
Grateful Dead - Uncle John's Band
The Incredible Broadside Brass Bed Band - The Great Grizzly Bear Hunt

Here are parts 3 and 4:

Part 3

(or download here)

Part 4

(or download here)

For those of you who are mainly interested in the programming elements, here's a telescoped version of the entire aircheck:


(or download here)
Happy New Year everybody! from The Mighty 1090 KAAY Blog.


Greg Barman

New Year's Eve on Beaker Street! Dec 31, 1971 - First Half

Here's some Beaker Street to help you get in the frame of mind for New Year's Eve.  It's a NYE Beaker Street show from December 31, 1971, going into the wee hours of Jan 1 1972.   I don't know who originally recorded this show, I got it from another collector with no additional information but it sounds like a local aircheck.  Thank you, whoever recorded this, it's a great show!   The aircheck is divided into 4 segments, covering most of the 3 hour show, and mostly untelescoped with a few gaps.

Doing the show as usual from the remote KAAY transmitter site, It sure sounds like Clyde Clifford is celebrating the New Year, and I mean something beyond a countdown to midnight and Auld Lang Syne!  Long songs are the norm on Beaker Street.  But this night Clyde is playing some VERY long songs, like Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", and "The Court of the Crimson King" by King Crimson.  Listen to Clyde and see what you think.

Parts 1 & 2 -- Discography:
Alice Cooper - Black Juju
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Black Oak Arkansas - Uncle Lijah
Love Sculpture - Mars/Sabre Dance
Grateful Dead - Truckin'
T. Rex - Bang a Gong
Unknown - Auld Lang Syne
Don Ellis - Pussy Wiggle Stomp
Pink Floyd - Careful With That Axe Eugene
The Guess Who - Friends of Mine

The spots include A Warehouse in New Orleans.  The Allman Brothers and REO Speedwagon were playing there that weekend and tickets were only 5 BUCKS -- wow!  Other advertisers are Floyd's Record Shop, Jefferson Manor Apartments, Coca-Cola and Stag Beer. 

Clyde mentions listeners in Wisconsin, Missouri and Louisiana, and we all know there were plenty more.  Imagine thousands of people celebrating New Year's in their own way, with Beaker Street blasting thru the skywaves and rocking out of radios all over the place to bring in 1972 !  

Here are the first two parts:
 
Part 1

(or download here)
Part 2

(or download here)

Greg Barman

KAAY DJ's Merry Xmas Message

A several of years ago, I had the great idea to get as many KAAY deejays to send in audio Christmas greetings; several were able to and Greg Barman mixed them with vintage KAAY Christmas audio spots.  We thought it would be appropriate that we bring it back!

Sadly, Jerry Sims, one of the "Sonny Martins", is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on in these and other recordings... so, please enjoy him and the other deejays in their holiday greetings to you all!  Roll it, Greg!


(or download here)
Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

JONNIE KING'S 2014 HOLIDAY FILM & DVD VIEWING LIST...

A Special "Hi" to all of our friends of  "The Mighty 1090/KAAY" !   For those of you who are new to our Blog, for almost every year since I started in Broadcasting I've created a Special Holiday Viewing List...and for 2014 I've expanded it !

It includes Movies, DVD's, Videos, and, some rare TV Episodes !  To see the COMPLETE list, simply Click-On the following Link and you're on your way:    http://www.jonnieking.net/gpage24.html

And, as that "Jolly Little Man In Red" says: "A Merry Christmas To All...Each And Everyone" !

Jonnie  www.jonnieking.net

                              

                                                               

KAAY Phil North on the weekend before Xmas 1970

"Phil North" (Eric Chase), because of his talents and voice, was said by one of The Greats to be "an amazing young man".  Many of us agree- he had "that voice"!  We pondered whether we had any more Christmas audio by any of the deejays of KAAY and I found this!  We'd posted it before, and agreed it was fitting that we bring it back...so enjoy!  This is from Saturday night, December 19, 1970:


(or download here)
I see Dave S. over there, dressed in his Santa suit and dark glasses, starting to sample the egg nog...I see Greg B. over there in HIS Santa suit, sampling the finger sandwiches...I'd better get MY suit on and dive into the goodies, too, before they're all gone...MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!!!!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Beaker Street April 3, 1971 Part 2

I've had to do some listening and investigative work to try and decipher some of A. J.'s notes on his recordings.  I believe this is Part Two of 4/3/71...


(or download here)
There may be one or two 'scoped areas in this recording.  Hey, how about those concert ticket prices?

Thanks, Greg!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Don Payne, Former KAAY Jock, Indiana Hall Of Fame

Don Payne, who passed away on this day in 2010, was the last deejay to air Beaker Street on KAAY, before "the suits" shut it down.  I have petitioned the Arkansas Broadcasters Assn. to do the same as the Indiana Broadcasters Assn. and induct him- so far, no response.

Don worked for KAAY and KLPO in Arkansas, and WZPL and WAZY in Indiana and was the Director of Engineering at WKRQ in Cincinnati, OH before coming back to Indianapolis, IN to be Chief Engineer for Radio One, for a TV station and four radio stations.

Don was also an Amateur radio operator, but we never got to speak over the air, due to his condition in his last days....

It is only fitting that we honor Don at this time, as we air Beaker Street airchecks.  I can hear his hearty laughter now, knowing he is in a better place.  Thank you, Don!

http://www.indianabroadcastpioneers.org/?q=hall-of-fame/william-don-payne

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Former KAAY News Director Ron Casteel, R.I.P.

Just got the word from Scott Charton early afternoon 12/9/14:

"Dear Bud,

Some sad news, the passing of former KAAY news director Ron Casteel, who also served as morning anchor in the early 1980's. Ron had been in declining health over the last two years. 

http://www.dulletrimble.com/mobile/obit.php?id=1459068&name=Ronald-Edward-Casteel&loca=Jefferson-City-MO

Scott Charton

Charton Communications

& Consulting"

 

Funeral services will be Friday, 11AM December 12, 2014 at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home...please see the link for more information.

 

Another Great, passed on into eternity.  Through Scott's information, I'd just found out Ron was also a Ham radio operator (N6CSS).  He was a very accomplished man; I will be trying to find the movie "Ground Zero" in which he starred.

 

Thanks to Scott Charton...see you later, Ron....

 

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

 

Beaker Street April 3, 1971 Part 1

In this version, I believe it is Tom Perryman's voice in the introduction.  Tom's voice was used for years at KAAY, who would sent a request to WAKY, Tom would record his voice on tape and send them to KAAY, who would then build on it and change it tremendously!

I've talked with Tom a few times and can recognize that voice today!  Tom mentioned that he was amazed at how KAAY would make his voice sound so much more effective with sound effects.  Tom's voice is STILL amazing today!

OK, I know, you want to get to the good stuff!  So here goes with Beaker Street from April 3, 1971:


(or download here)
Lately, as I drive to work in the pre-dawn times, I've been reliving memories of listening to Beaker Street while driving all those many years ago.  I am eternally thankful to those who thought to record all this audio we're able to share today!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Beaker Street Change, Part 2....

The other change that occurred on Beaker Street was that of the 17:52-length background music bed entitled "Cannabis Sativa" on the album called "Head"  This was an oddly other-world music bed played behind Clyde Clifford's voice to mask the huge fan noise from the transmitter only 10-12 feet away...and it was very effective!  As a young lad, it ran chills up & down my spine as I listened late at night....

It was recorded in 1970, under the Buddah Records label, at the Gold Star Studios in Hollywood (CA).  The artist was a Los Angeles-based electronic musician known variously as Nik Raicevic or Nik Pascal.  You may- or may not- be surprised to know that it was recorded using a Moog synthesizer!

This is another album I'd like to find, for historical value.

Side A, which Clyde used, held "Cannabis Sativa"  Side B held "Methedrine" and "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide".  This was definitely a "druggie" album...

The credits and notes are as follows from http://www.discogs.com/HEAD-HEAD/release/582895


Credits

• Artwork [Coloring Book Drawings] – Cathy Siracusa
• Engineer – Doc (14)
• Other [Credits Coloring Book] – Neil Bogart, Richard Robinson, Soulful Soozin
• Producer, Composed By, Photography By [Cover Photo] – Nik Raicevic
• Synthesizer [Moog] – 107-34-8933

Notes

Recorded at: Gold Star Studios in Hollywood.
Electronic Music from ART IN SPACE.The sound of numbers for soaking in soft dreams. Sweet moments and private notes making a rhyme into a habit. An album that creates the ultimate environment for the smoke generation.
Taste it.
Original released in 1968 as Numbers on Narco Records / Cat.# nr 101.
Comes with an 8 page coloring booklet

 I believe Greg B. had posted this before, but since we're going for the historical value of Beaker Street, we'll give you the audio again!  Hit it, Greg!



(or download here)
And so, we enter a new era of Beaker Street...thank you, Clyde, for being so innovative!  Please stay tuned....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

1962 KAAY Thanksgiving

Giving thanks, the KAAY way:



(or download here)

(or download here)
A. J. Lindsey thought one of the voices was that of John K. Anderson; he knew the other was George J. Jennings.  Can anyone substantiate this, please?  here's two links he had up on his blog, but the link within the link may not work:

http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-need-your-help.html

http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2008/12/finally-found-it.html

Thanks be to God for all we have...and, speaking for all here at The Mighty 1090 KAAY Blog, may you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

...And Then, Beaker Street Changed A Little...

Somewhere after the "Dreamscape" airchecks we've presented to you in 1970 and somewhere in 1971 (and maybe a little later?), there were some changes to Beaker Street...

One was the intro using the Moog synthesizer version of "House Of The Rising Sun"...the other was that the background music was changed to "Cannabis Sativa" from the "Head" album...both very interesting tunes!  Greg B. and I had been discussing bringing these back for your enjoyment...and I was able to find the Moog "House Of The Rising Sun" and download it from the web.

There are some interesting historical links about the Moog analog synthesizer on the web.  Dr. Robert A. Moog began in the 1950s selling theramin machines in kit form.  He later built and sold complex synthesizers under "R. A. Moog Co.", then "Moog Music" and later "Moog Electronics".  The first commercially-sold Moog synthesizer prototype was commissioned by the Alwin Nikolais Dance Theater of NY in 1964.

Jumping forward, on the DECCA label, Claude Denjean utilized the Moog to lay down tracks for numerous pop songs of the then era...the one we're concerned with, since it has a history with Beaker Street is "House of The Rising Sun"

I cannot remember the link where I found the music...and things change on the web almost daily, sometimes.  Nonetheless, I'd love to find this album and get it for my very own!

Now, for the moment you've been waiting for:  the song itself!  Hit it, Greg!


(or download here)
Stay tuned..."Head" is coming!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The Phone....

There's been some messages and inquiries about "the phone" on the desk where Clyde Clifford held sway over "Big Momma" as David B. Treadway calls the big 50,000-watt RCA transmitter out in Wrightsville, AR...and here's the phone on the desk, in the picture I took when I was THERE in April 2011....

Doug Virden noted, "Here is the story I got from Barry about the phone @ the transmitter building. It was still hooked up and working until around the mid to late 90's. Management realized they were paying a 20 something dollar a month lease to have a phone hooked up out there so management shut it off. This was before most everyone had cell phones. The reason the phone wasn't updated @ some point over the years probably because Felix McDonald wouldn't change it.

I believe that phone was the original one put in when KTHS moved to LR in the early 50's. That was the phone style in the 40's and through the 50's. I believe when 1090 changed to KAAY those phones were already phased out."

Thanks Doug, and thanks for those who left comments on Facebook regarding "the phone"!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

48 Years Ago: Beaker Street (Last :"Dream Sequence" Post)

From this legendary transmitter emanated some of the weirdest sounds ever imagined, behind a soft-spoken, slow-talking but purposeful voice, the opposite of the fast-talking deejays of the day...that of the legendary "Clyde Clifford".  This is the last of the series of the early shows that used the "dream sequence" music behind "Clyde's" voice.  If you notice, the audio is so clear, you can hear the LP "pop" on "Deep Purple's" album on the song "River Deep, Mountain High"....there is some tape degradation, but it is only somewhat noticeable.

KAAY's signal was SO powerful, it normally blanked out virtually any atmospheric noise; therefore, the listener could hear almost every nuance of the broadcast.  When I had the in-line antenna amplifier on my car radio, all four speakers blasted "Beaker Street's" audio out- it was almost like I was listening to a studio-quality copy!  Also, where I lived near Mobile, AL, I was in the center of the southeastern path of the station's figure-eight pattern.  There was no escaping it!!!!

Again, rescued from the broken players of A. J. Lindsey's blog by Dave S., we bring you one more of what I consider the "early Beaker Street" version.  Later, we will post some later versions, beginning in 1971, when "Clyde" utilized the 17-minute "Cannabis Sativa" from the "Head" album....

OK, looking over my shoulder, Greg is huddled down, with his hair tied back and Dave has his copy of The Little Barn's catalog...I guess we're all ready!  From July 3, 1970:


(or download here)
Hey, let me go get my big silver peace ring from Little Barn...hit it, Greg!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

"The Phone" At The Transmitter Site

There were some messages floating around about "the phone" out at the KAAY transmitter site...here's some information from Doug Virden:

"Doug Virden

Here is the story I got from Barry about the phone @ the transmitter building. It was still hooked up and working until around the mid to late 90's. Management realized they were paying a 20 something dollar a month lease to have a phone hooked up out there so management shut it off. This was before most everyone had cell phones. The reason the phone wasn't updated @ some point over the years probably because Felix McDonald wouldn't change it.

I believe that phone was the original one put in when KTHS moved to LR in the early 50's. That was the phone style in the 40's and through the 50's. I believe when 1090 changed to KAAY those phones were already phased out."

I snapped this photo while on my trip to Little Rock back in 2011 and it was posted here back then, as well.  I also have a phone like this in my possession, given to me by a dear friend.  When he gave it to me, it had been wired for present systems- and it still worked!

Thank you, Doug, for your comments!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)
 

48 Years Ago: Beaker Street (Continued)

This is a picture of Dale Seidenschwarz, a.k.a. "Clyde Clifford", in the studio of KAAY, not at the transmitter...when I was at the transmitter in 2011, this is what David B. Treadway, Jerry Sims and I found (but we didn't DARE touch anything):

I wish I'd had the presence of mind to clear it all off and had taken a better picture...but it was from this position that "Clyde" mixed and managed "Beaker Street"

We're celebrating the 48th anniversary of "Beaker Street" this month!  Again, we're bringing you another chunk of audio from the basic time period which still used the "dream sequence" music from the movie, "Charade"...enjoy!

Uh, oh, Dave S. has let his hair down and Greg B.'s glasses have slid down his nose...all in anticipation of this audio Dave rescued from A.J.'s blog before the players went kerplunk!


(or download here)
Hold on folks, there's more to some!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

48 Years Ago, November 1966...Beaker Street Happened...

...and the following continues!  Wow, who thought that a program, on a trial basis to fill up airspace, would become SO popular!  We don't have the exact date (I don't think anyone does), but the best recollection of all concerned was November 1966 when it all began.  One story has the idea being batted around at a party- and there are several...but, supposedly, upper-level management didn't think it would work.  It was wildly successful....

...so we thought we'd bring over some audio from the archives Dave S. saved from A. J. Lindsey's blog before the players died after A. J. passed away.  The audio hasn't been heard since, that we know of (unless one had the foresight to download it for themselves).

The versions you are about to hear (in several posts) are of when "Clyde Clifford" (Dale Seidenschwarz) utilized some background music from "the dream sequence" of the movie, "Charade".  I have downloaded and listened to the soundtrack from the movie and nowhere could I find that particular audio- nor has anyone else that I know of.  This "dream sequence" audio was played in the background to "hide" the fan noise of the 50,000-watt RCA transmitter only feet from "Clyde's" operating/control desk, well before he used Head's "Cannabis Sativa" in the early 1970s (and beyond).

I was there in 2011...and it was amazing to me, the genius of "Clyde", to be able to mask the fans only ten or so feet away.  The background music- both versions- were part of the allure of the show.  So, dear visitor, don your beads, get on your favorite sandals and tie-die T-shirt and let's go back a few years!  The versions we have are from 1970, but should be representative of those early days (daze?)...and if anyone has any audio from 1966 to 1970, we'd be glad to post it here, for everyone to enjoy!

I see Greg B. has his shades on and Dave S. has his hair pulled back in a ponytail already....


(or download here)
Happy 48th birthday, Beaker Street!  Thank you, "Clyde Clifford"!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)