Category: New York Top 40 Radio

My twin sister Jean and I caught up with the “Paul is Dead” phenomenon when it was picked up by WKBW in Buffalo, NY. The rumor got traction when Roby Yonge on WABC (about which there is more here) in NYC got himself fired for promoting the idea that Paul McCartney had been killed.

The audio player below has an aircheck of Yonge from October 21, 1969. Part 1 starts with his first mention of the speculation that Paul McCartney was dead, and part 2 ends with the moment he was replaced on the air by Les Marchak.

Yonge, working the overnight shift, was fired for breaking format, as it’s called in the radio biz. But ‘KBW followed ABC’s lead by running with the story, presenting every single alleged clue, in a heavily-promoted special presentation. I didn’t believe it, but I learned a valuable lesson about how easily people can be misled into believing something that is completely untrue when conjecture is presented as fact.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/JAN07/pauldead.mp3,http://www.dograt.com/Audio/JAN07/pauldead2.mp3]

One of the clues was the infamous “turn me on dead man” that was heard when “Revolution 9” was played backwards. Here is the first minute of the track, presented backwards, followed by the opening seconds with George Martin and Apple Corps publicist Derek Taylor apparently having a disagreement.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/JAN07/Revolution9.mp3,http://www.dograt.com/Audio/JAN07/GeorgeMartin.mp3]

Here are links to all five parts of the previously-posted video history of New York Top 40 radio, along with some extras.  Don’t miss the jingles, taken from the original master tapes.

Sweet Talkin’ Guys 1. WINS 2. WINS vs. WMCA 3. WMCA vs. WABC 4. WABC 5. AM vs. FM Extras: • Cousin Brucie vs. HOA • Radio a Go-Go! • Scott Muni • WMCA Jingles • WABC Jingles • Cousin Brucie 10/14/06 Links: • WABC Music Radio 77 • WABC Saturday Night Oldies

Here’s the wrap-up, kids. The decline of Top 40 AM radio, and the rapid rise of Album Rock on FM; a trend that overwhelmed even the mighty WABC. Thanks for watching!
[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/NYDJ/NYDJ5.flv 400 300]

The video history of New York Rock and Roll radio continues with WABC’s rise and reign, and its effect on WMCA and WINS…
[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/NYDJ/NYDJ3.flv 400 300]