Ive spent the past two weeks reading legendary radio DJ John Records Landeckers biography - Records Truly is my Middle Name (amzn.to/1xrptUx). Growing up in the 70s, my evenings were spent ignoring homework and listening to Chicago’s WLS 890. Many of my grade school classmates at St. Philip Lutheran had the WLS-University book covers folded neatly around our text books. On weekends we rode our bikes to the record store (now, sadly long gone and forgotten by many) for the just released weekly WLS MusicRadio Survey, and usually bought a new 45 (note: a Chicago teenager buying a 45 has a much different meaning now-a-days). Landeckers nightly radio show on The Big 89 was MAD Magazine meets Theater of the Mind; the political satire, song parodies and lampooning local and national figures was spot-on hilarious! His classic Boogie Check and the Can I get a Witness News segments along with the signature comic, anti-establishment, mock-serious delivery and improvised come-backs helped to mold the sense of humor I carry with me to this day. Please mail your complaints to Mr. Landecker. Reading this book is quite the walk down memory lane if you grew-up in 1970s/1980s Chicago. Youll remember the names and events - especially if you are a Chicago radio geek, as I am. The WLS 890 legacy carries an incredible amount of sentimental value, much like Detroit/Windsors CKLW-AM 800 - fondly remembered by many former listeners who keep the torch forever burning on the internet and through documentary films like Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8. (amzn.to/14lhwFH) I travel extensively (witness relocation program) and when I meet former Chicagoans of a certain age, we all happily recall those teenage nights laughing and listening to John Records Landecker. They dont make em like that anymore. (with the obvious exception of Mr. Dick Biondi!)
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 23:31:31 +0000
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