C.R.M. Audio Page
Audio clips of classic Chicago radio!
(And sometimes, even classic Chicago TV audio...)
Airchecks, funny bits, vintage moments, songs, jingles, rarities, and so much more!
CHECK BACK OFTEN! New audio clips will be added approximately once or twice each week!
Please note: The audio quality has been improved as much as possible, but overall quality will vary from recording to recording. Some older recordings may contain weaker audio, minor tape hiss, or even vinyl record snaps & pops.
Chicagoland Radio & Media makes no ownership or copyright claims on any of the audio recordings below. Recordings are posted here for entertainment, historical, and educational purposes only.
Do you have some classic Chicago-related audio that you would like to share with others here? Please email and let us know!
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Published on Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:03
Here is an ad for the Old Chicago indoor amusement park that aired on WMET-FM in 1977, featuring the announcing of WMET's Mike O'Brien. (Running time: 0:30)
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Published on Monday, 20 September 2010 08:59
He is the Cool Gent. He is the Mayor of Bronzeville. He is the King. He is the smoothest man on the airwaves. He is... the one & only Herb Kent. Here is a nice long aircheck from April 7th, 1970 of Herb Kent doing his thing on WVON-AM. The music is trimmed down, but some of the classic 1970's commercials are left intact, as is Jim Maloney's newscasts. Most of all, you hear Mr. Kent. Enjoy! (Running time: 21:33)
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Published on Wednesday, 15 September 2010 15:02
A few years ago, WILV-FM was branded for a while as "Chicago's Feel Good Music - 100.3 LoveFM." Here are samples of a handful of jingles that were played on WILV in 2006. Also heard is the voice of Midday personality Mark Sullivan, who sadly passed away in December of 2007 at the age of 40. (Running time: 2:59)
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Published on Monday, 13 September 2010 13:16
Back when 95.5 FM was a Chicago rock & roll station going by the call letters of WDHF-FM, they had a high-energy evening DJ named Jim Channell, but radio listeners only knew him just by the nickname "Capt. Whammo." Here is a compilation of a few "Capt. Whammo" airchecks from 1975 on 'DHF. (Running time: 11:41)
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Published on Saturday, 11 September 2010 00:02
Today is 9/11, but instead of dwelling on the tragic events of 9/11/01, today's audio clip goes back to a happier time six years earlier to 9/11/05. On this day in 1995, Q101's midday personality Samantha James was doing her usual Noon hour show "Q101s Retro Flashback Lunch," where Sam would play requests for the best alternative 80's songs. Here is the entire one hour show -- minus the commercials and with the songs trimmed down to a few seconds each. (Running Time: 6:47)
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Published on Thursday, 09 September 2010 11:47
Here is an aircheck of the overnight personality on "the new WLS," Bob Hale and his "East of Midnight" show from June 8, 1960. (Running time: 10:06)
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Published on Tuesday, 07 September 2010 00:25
In the late 90's, Dave McBride was the newsman on The Steve Dahl Show on WCKG-FM. McBride would crack up listeners (and Dahl himself) with his daily "Dave's Raves." This CRM Audio Page will now occasionally post up some of those absolutely brilliant, 3 or 4 minute long, stream of consciousness rants about a given subject. Here is one of those raves now, where a job opening at Chicago's NPR station has him comically considering making a move over there. (Running time: 3:24)
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Published on Saturday, 04 September 2010 12:31
Time to go way back... all the way back August 5, 1955! This audio clip features the "Old Swingmaster" himself, Al Benson, as he does his red-hot swing show on WGES-AM on a Friday morning in the heat of summer. A pioneer in his day, Al Benson has been referred to as the "Godfather of Black Radio in Chicago." (Running time: 9:40)
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Published on Friday, 03 September 2010 01:00
With Lin Brehmer set to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th Inning Stretch during the Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field
today, it seems like a good time to present some audio of another time the XRT morning host publicly sang in Chicago... In the Spring of 1998, Cheap Trick gave Chicago fans a special present in the form of a four-night stand at Metro, where they would perform their first four albums in their entirety. The final night, which was May 3, 1998, they performed their album "Heaven Tonight." Their song "On The Radio" has a bridge where a fast talkin' 60's style DJ does a rap. For this night and this rare performance, the band asked WXRT's Lin Brehmer to handle the DJ's part. Of course, Brehmer did an excellent job as you will hear below. The version below can only be found here and varies slightly from the version released on WXRT's "OnXRT Vol. 4" CD, in that it is a few seconds longer. It also has Rick Neilsen, Cheap Trick's guitarist and the songwriter of "On The Radio" thanking Brehmer at the end, calling him a "brave man from Chicago." (Running time: 4:56)
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Published on Wednesday, 01 September 2010 22:34
An unsung hero in radio, as well as a dying breed, is the overnight jock. The DJ who works overnights and who is able to build up a big audience makes for a great lead-in for the morning show. One of the best overnight DJs Chicago had was the late Allan Stagg. Stagg was a true artist who used the radio waves as his canvas. He created an overnight show called "Sanctuary." This was much more than just a classic rock program. Stagg interwove movie clips, TV show clips, sound effects, bizarre audio drop-ins, his naturally deep voice and his unnaturally twisted sense of humor to create a unique radio listening experience -- one that had not been heard since the progressive rock radio days of late 60's FM radio. His "Sanctuary" show had a large & loyal following. Here now is a sample of one of his overnight shows, taken from February 17, 1999 on WXCD-FM (now WLS-FM). As with most airchecks, the commercials have been edited out and the music has been trimmed or completely edited out. What is left is Stagg's artwork. Turn off the lights, kick back, space out, and enjoy. (Running time: 9:47)
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Published on Monday, 30 August 2010 09:30
From March through November 1995, WLUP-FM had an exciting new evening program, "The Liz Wilde Show." The show had replaced the Wendy Snyder/Tony Fitzpatrick show (and was later replaced itself by the Wendy Snyder/Bill Leff show). In the short time she was on Chicago's airwaves, Liz Wilde made quite a splash. Here now is an audio collection of Liz Wilde's program from 1995, including some clips of a WFLD-TV news piece on her arrival to the Loop radio station. (Running time: 8:30)
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Published on Saturday, 28 August 2010 14:09
Once again, it is time for another adventure of "Chickenman," Dick Orkin's popular "Batman" parody from WCFL-AM from 1966. Here is the story of how the police commissioner contacts the crime fighter when the need arises. (Running time: 2:46)
