Short Cuts: Radio, Up and Down the Dial...

Redartz:  A few days ago we discussed the classic sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati",  As is often the case, one post leads to another. I got to thinking about my favorite radio stations; the ones my stereo was always tuned to back in my hazy youth. I would listen to both AM and FM, and had several stations that I followed faithfully. The FM stations were mostly out of Indianapolis, and in the 70's WNAP was the station for current pop. If more 'heady' rock was called for, or the weekly visit with Dr. Demento, the choice was WFBQ. Oh, those Sunday nights; lying in my darkened bedroom next to the clock radio, listening to the Doctor. I still remember the commercials, too: especially the one for "Stone Balloon Records and Tapes".

As for AM, we had a local station WHUT that played the top forty, and was always blaring over the screaming kids on our school bus. However, my top station was WERK out of Muncie, Indiana: top forty during the week, on the weekends they carried an oldies program that played tons of classic 50's and 60's pop. That show doubtlessly encouraged my fondness for the music of those years (to the confusion of some of my friends, at the time). Best of all, though, WERK carried Casey Kasem's American Top 40 every Sunday. That was a 'never miss', while reading the Sunday paper and often a stack of comics. That was the best way for a kid to keep up with the current music scene, in those pre-internet days. 

Now, what were your favorites? Where did you set your car stereo presets to? Did you go local, or listen to more distant broadcasts? Share those call letters that still come to your mind, accompanied no doubt by an unforgettable jingle...