Musings On WAKY Back In Louisville

[mikegriffin]

John Quincy started the WAKY rememberence site two or three years ago now. People hadn't thought much about WAKY for years except perhaps privately late at night with the lights down and then maybe a tear in the eye as they lamented the course radio had taken.

Then came the site and the media coverage and the WAKY reunions. People who had their private memories now brought them out to share. Max was inspired to create a webradio tribute. And now the folks at WASE have brought the call letters back to the Louisville Market.

Whatever reasons the folks at WASE had for changing to WAKY, my money says if JQ had not done the tribute site, we wouldn't be listening to WAKY tonight in Louisville, KY.

Thanks again John.

[Max]

Hear, hear...hear, hear...

Well said, Michael.

[John Quincy]

Thanks so much Mike! You've been a great friend not only to me personally, but to 79WAKY.com by donating time, tapes and treasure to "the cause". 79WAKY.com and 1080WKLO.com -- and the two reunions -- wouldn't have been nearly as good as they are/were without your efforts.

[Max]

mikegriffin said:

Whatever reasons the folks at WASE had for changing to WAKY...

I think if you look at repeated Arbitron results, you'll get a big part of your answer. The effect of the image change may not be seen for 3-6 months, but for them to overtake WRKA, I would they would have to physically move to Louisville. But that in itself remains to be seen.

[1240WINN]

I've listened to the new WAKY for several hours, and I like the song selection . It is a little farther reaching than the Motown/Beatles dominated playlist of a certain oldies station in Louisville and actually plays some stuff from the late 50's and early 60's.

However, I've heard a few things that are a little newer than I would expect from an oldies station (e.g., "You Got It" by Roy Orbison).

The jingles are pretty nice. They are definitely inspired by original WAKY jingles, and there are times when "103.5" doesn't fit the music. But all in all, they are enjoyable.

And the liners from past WAKY air personalities have been great.

And, John, let me add my thanks for starting the 79waky website (and 1080wklo and lkyradio). Most of WAKY's heyday was before I listened to radio extensively, so I have learned a lot from the airchecks and surveys. I agree wholeheartedly that your website renewed interest in WAKY to the point that it was commercially viable for a local station to have an oldies station with those magical call letters.

I only hope that the new WAKY will continue to honor the music and tradition of the mighty 790.

[Max]

1240winn said:

However, I've heard a few things that are a little newer than I would expect from an oldies station (e.g., "You Got It" by Roy Orbison).

I noticed over the years that both WASE and WIEL during her 'Oldies 1400' years played "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger (1979) alot, which was really out of their oldies format which, until recently, was defined for us as the 60's and extreme early 70's. Maybe WRKA played it, too. I could never understand why that was, other than it was due to the title of the song.

[John Quincy]

When "You Got It" by Roy Orbison was a current, the oldies station in Charleston played it two or three times a day. Seemed weird, but I guess some consultant somewhere thought it would fit, since most oldies stations are dying for something fresh that's still an oldie. (WAKY, of course, was gone by the time "You Got It" came out.)

I'm guessing "Old Time Rock And Roll" by Bob Seger got played on oldies stations because of the lyrics -- and it must have tested well with Oldies listeners. Whenever I play the song at mobile DJ gigs I get more positive response from people who seem more like Oldies fans than Classic Rock P-1s.

[bytranscription]

Discovered the new WAKY saturday and about wrecked my car thank goodness i didnt or i would have had to have taken WTMT Mark the spark andersons advice and went to franks body and paint shop 2986 wilson ave lol

The sad part of it all is WAKY in the eighties could have fliped floped its Top 40 format to WVEZ FM and guess what it could have beated the sucky top tracks format of KJ 100. I used to find it funny when Funkytown Celebration were number one hits they only got played on the new years countdown which was syndicated. Those songs were no nos on WKJJ.
Instead of growing up and going AC WAKY should have maintained top 40 and flipped floped WAKY 790 to 106.9 and evolved to CHR and like WAPE FM Jacksonville FL would be the in station for CHR listeners
I hope Bill Walters and staff will also remember WAKY played Disco I can remember hearing Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang on the Big 79 as well as YMCA , Good Times By Chic and Best of My Love by Emotion and hopefuly as the old old oldies die and the oldies format evolves WAKY 103.5 will see fit to play When Doves Cry , Duran Duran and some early eighties stuff as well

Too bad Bill Walters dosent buy 790 from Clear Channel then we could have two WAKY's may sound crazy but if it worked for WAPE FM stranger things could happen

[Travis]

Suddenly, without warning, Travis raised his head and said...

WAKY was a phenomenon whose time came, went and in all likelihood will never come again. It was a different time and mindset in those days; especially, in the car, where just about the only source of entertainment was that in-dash AM radio. It's such a different world today. Still, with so many "boomers" on the loose, it's certainly interesting as the folks at WAKY 103.5 attempt to recreate the magic and excitement of the original Big 79.

If they do it right, I might be tempted to move back to Louisville and take part in it all by getting my foot in the door of WAKY 103.5 and hanging out in the studios all night. It'll be just like old times at the Big 79.

But still, times have changed and Les Cook might actually do a better job of keeping me out of the building than Johnny Randolph did. (*ph-NoRk*)

Gotta run. It's 3:30 AM and time for lunch. (just nevermind)

Travis

[John Quincy]

Gosh, it's good to see Travis posting again.

We missed you!

[Max]

According to a website I ran across, the new station could very well be, as Ben said, in Indiana, meaning they could have put a transmitter maybe in Southern Indiana. Decide for yourself:

www.freewebs.com/novellware/article_pamsjingleshelprebornanfmlegend.htm