Due to the large size of some of the MP3 audio files, the recordings are best played using a high speed connection and Windows Media® Player, though other players also work well.

We are always looking for good quality historical recordings (audio and video) of Twin Cities radio stations. We accept various types of audio formats (CD, cassette, reel-to-reel, etc.). If you send us an original tape, we will carefully transfer it to a digital format and promptly return it to you along with a CD copy. If you have recordings you would like to share, please contact us.   

COMING SOON: KSTP-AM Don Vogel and Turi Ryder (1992), Hot Rockin' KJJO-FM (1988), more of KSJN-FM from 1973, a recently discovered interview with former WCCO Radio General Managers Larry Haeg Sr. and Earl Gammons about the early years at WLAG-AM / WCCO-AM, a 100+ page master's thesis on the history of WDGY Radio (written in 1970), more WDGY-AM music surveys, and more airchecks from WWTC-AM's The Golden Rock including BJ Crocker, Alan Freed and more. Check back soon for these and more.

5/9/2008  KMFY-AM (980) - Start of new format (1984) 2 MB

5/9/2008  KDWB-AM (630) - 60's At Lunch (1984) 1 MB (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)

5/8/2008  KQRS-FM (92.5) Cat and Kincaid (Tom Barnard and Mesa Kincaid) (1983) 23MB (provided by Retro Radio Rangers)

5/7/2008  Ballot Box Radio (Unlicensed) (95.7) - (1997) Part 1 9 MB - Part 2 19 MB

5/6/2008  WCCO-AM (830) - Charlie Boone interviews Ron Magers - (1983) 19 MB

5/5/2008  KEGE-FM (93.7) - The Edge - Andy Savage - (1995) 15 MB (provided by Retro Radio Rangers)

5/4/2008  Coverage of the death of John Lennon on KQRS-FM, NBC Radio's The Source, WWTC-AM, Mutual News, WCCO-FM, KDWB-FM, KSTP-FM, WLOL-FM and KCLD-FM - Part 1 25 MB - Part 2 25 MB. Airchecks begins the evening of his death (12/8/1980) and continues for the next few days. Thanks to Stuart Held for many of the airchecks.

5/3/2008  WYOO-FM (U100) (101.3) - More airchecks from the station's final day of broadcasting (September 15, 1976): Pat McKay (5-8 PM) 23 MB  -  Jo Jo Gunne (8-10 PM) 11 MB

5/2/2008  KSJN-FM (91.1) - (1973) - "Minnesota Educational Radio" with start of coverage of the Senate Watergate Hearings. 2 MB (provided by Stuart Held)

5/2/2008  WCCO-AM (830) - CBS Newsmark: World News Roundup 50th Anniversary (1988) 20 MB

4/30/08   WDGY-AM (630) - Automated country music format (1992) 10 MB (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)

4/30/08   WLOL-FM (99.5) - John Hines and Huey Lewis and the news (1982) 5 MB (provided by Jay Philpott & anonymous redandnater.com contributor)

SPECIAL POPULAR POSTINGS:

MONTAGE MANIA:  (provided by Jay Philpott)

WLS started this "artform" in the 70's by airing a recap of the past years hits every New Year's Eve at midnight, adding another minute or so each year to represent each "old year." I caught onto this trend and was inspired by it in 1975. Here are a couple of versions of the WLS Montage.  The first is an actual aircheck of fairly good quality...but so what if there are imperfections in the signal or the recording - that's the way we heard it!  WLS MONTAGE (air 55-84)21 MB

This version is a complete and absolutely faithful stereo rebuild of the original montage, produced by Scott Childers

(www.scottchilders.com):  WLS STEREO REBUILD 26 MB

This final version is my production.  I began it in 1979 while I was working at KFMX-FM, as a way to commemorate the passing of the 70s decade.  For New Year's Eve 1980 leading into 1981, I added the new 1980 segment and retro-expanded the montage to 1964...the beginning of contemporary music with the Beatles Era. When I started at WLOL-FM in the summer of '80, I brought it with me and we played it every New Year's Eve at midnight, following each year's "Hot Hits Countdown."  I also added 1981, 1982 and 1983. Following my late 1984 departure from WLOL-FM, Gregg Swedberg and his staff continued the tradition of adding to and airing the montage through 1990. From that point, I informally kept up with the montage here and there, even though it didn't have a home for a New Year's Eve airing. The last few years of this piece contain montage elements produced by Scott Childers. I am particularly flattered that Ron "Boogiemonster" Gerber used this montage as a premium to attract pledges to KFAI-FM through his "Crap From The Past" show each Friday night. I'm told it helped him obtain record donations! PHILPOTT'S MONTAGE 50 MB

WCCO-AM (830) - WCCO Radio coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (11/22/1963) - Part 1 18 MB - Part 2 19 MB. This dramatic aircheck is now complete with unscoped coverage beginning with WCCO Radio reading reports from the news wires that the President had been shot, CBS Radio "Net Alert" bulletin, back to WCCO Radio followed by CBS Radio coverage through the announcement that President Kennedy had died, which followed with a playing of The Star-Spangled Banner. Thanks to Todd Kosovich for providing the complete CBS Radio News segment.