@mofimadness +1 for Casey Kasem's American Top 40. It was a "must listen" in the 1970s and 80s. He had an excellent voice for radio, clear, crisp, intelligible, with a great tone. Very much missed.
FM Radio, anyone?
I was a kid in the 70s. I remember listening to Detroit Tiger baseball on WJR AM 760 on summer evenings - the voice was Ernie Harwell. And I remember listening to music on our local FM stations, and FM sounded so much better than AM (well, of course it did!).
I remember the glow of the dial on higher end FM tuners, or on receivers. We had a Pioneer that was nice. But a neighbor had a beautiful Marantz with the heavy horizontal tuning dial. Today I own a Model 19 and a 2215b.
So, today I also own a McIntosh MR87 and I plan to showcase it in a whole house audio rack, with a rooftop antenna for the best possible reception. I also have a Magnum Dynalab MD-108 and I’m not sure where to put it, but it sure is pretty!
Yeah, I know, the SQ is crap compared to just about anything else these days. And radio stations just aren’t as good as they used to be, or as I choose to remember them (the exception being WXRT in Chicago). But I cannot let go! Anyone else?
- ...
- 55 posts total
@joeycastillo I definitely had equipment envy for the neighbor's Marantz which fueled my adult obsession! And today I have a Realistic STA-78 currently serving as shelf art, but I may find a place for it in a guest bedroom - still looks cool with the black faceplate and amber glow to the dial. |
Without the radio in all our youths there would be no musically knowledgable public.For all the worthless garbage that has filled the airwaves since Marconis invention inspite of it all I can verify that all my initial interest in music and susequent musical training and the incalculable pleasure of discovery has come from that little crystal box under my pillow as a child and now as a tuner in a stereo system.I bow to the radio as gateway to a Universe FM and AM I sing your body electric. |
I’ve been a fan of radio forever, and I have a simple Rotel analog tuner that has served me well since the early 90’s. Some really nice receivers in the 70’s and 80’s that had great tuners . . . a Kenwood comes to mind, built like a tank - wish I had kept it actually. Rabbit ear antenna off an old Sony tube tv works just fine and I have some decent College stations in the area as well as a classical and an alternative station from Vermont that comes in great despite being 75 miles away. I love not knowing what will be played next, which adds to the entertainment value and prevents boredom and monotony. People have no idea what they’re missing by dismissing radio/FM radio as a viable source - one that has stood the test of time and is still one of the very few things on this planet that is still free. I will always have an FM tuner as long as I’m still kicking, and am not deaf. Before TV, most of which is comprized of programming that appeals to the less intellectual among us, radio ruled the world and was the prominent, preeminent form of entertainment that captivated and entertained people the world over. A good FM signal on a decent audio system sounds sublime, and I still dig it after all these years! |
- 55 posts total