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REEL TOP 40 RADIO REPOSITORY

Picture of Rob Frankel at his college radio station
Rob Frankel at WOCR, SUNY College at Oswego, N.Y. 1975

Picture of Rob and his children on his 50th birthday
Rob with his kids,
Alyssa and Jason

The Rob Frankel Collection

Rob Frankel discovered radio in late 1965 when a friend turned him onto the sound of the WMCA Good Guys. Listening to WMCA (and later WABC, WWRL, WNEW-FM, and others) provided him not only with great entertainment, but also a direction in life.

After being bitten by the radio bug, Rob briefly aspired to be an air talent, but soon realized that his real talents lie in production and programming. Opting to go the network / syndication route (therefore bypassing the nomadic existence of the local radio jock or PD), he worked as a producer/engineer for the Progressive Radio Network's "NewsBlimp", and as Head Producer for Drake-Chenault's 48 hour fantasy concert, "SatCon 1". Rob's connections at Drake led him back home to New York, and he spent the next eight and a half years working as a producer / engineer for the legendary RKO Radio Networks (which evolved into United Stations, Unistar, and ultimately ended up as a part of Westwood One).

In 1989, Rob left the network, and moved into his present job when he joined Radio Today Entertainment as one of the producers of "Flashback!" (on air since 1987) and "The Live Show" (for which he won a gold medal at the 1993 International Radio Festival).

In 1998, Radio Today was bought by, and ultimately absorbed into the ABC Radio Networks. Parent company Disney spun off the radio division to Citadel Broadcasting in 2007, and the radio networks became known as Cumulus Media Networks in 2011. Rob was the Senior Producer for Cumulus Media Networks' New York production team. From 2000 through 2009, Rob was also Co-Producer and Tape Restorian for WABC Radio's annual "WABC Rewound" special, a look back at the station's history as a Top 40 icon, told entirely through vintage airchecks. Since 2012, Rob has been Co-Producer of "Time Warp with Bill St. James", a 4-hour weekly classic rock series distributed by United Stations Radio Networks. He also freelances as a Master Control engineer for New York Public Radio, and is available for other audio projects as well.

After all these years, Rob still loves working in the medium, and is still a fan of classic rock 'n' roll radio. He has been recording, collecting, and restoring classic radio airchecks since the 1960's, and is proud to share some of his best here on REELRADIO.

The Repository thanks Rob Frankel for sharing!

[Descriptions by Rob Frankel and Uncle Ricky]

G2/5.0 compatible TOP STREAM 32 Kbps (10 Khz)
Montage: WMCA New York, NY 1963-1970 (48:50)

. . . We sing in the only key we know - WMCA-flat . . .

[By Rob Frankel]

This is a collage I produced back in the mid-seventies, utilizing almost every WMCA aircheck in my collection at that time. Over the years, I've added "new" material that I've acquired through trades.

This collage includes almost every air talent that passed through the station during the Good Guy I, Metheny, and Good Guy II eras, ending with the final minutes of the music format.

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G2/5.0 compatible TOP STREAM 32 Kbps (10 Khz)
B. Mitchel Reed, Final Show, WMCA NY March 20, 1965 (01:07:40)

play  This Exhibit 'SCOPED (30:15)

SCOPEDIf all you want is the jings and the jock and the news and the spots, this version's for you!
. . . Mama, come and get your baby boy - the leader's first name is Burton . . .
Picture of BMR with KFWB microphone
B. Mitchel Reed, prior to joining WMCA. The inscription reads, "Never be in need, with B. Mitchel Reed". (Courtesy Ben Fong-Torres.)

[By Rob Frankel]
This aircheck was given to me by Gary Liebisch, who recorded it himself. I've done some minor restoration work, but it is mostly intact.

[By Uncle Ricky]
In the early years of the Top40 format, B. Mitchell Reed was one of the few jocks to have been successful on both the East and West Coast. A native of Brooklyn and one of the original Swingin' Gentlemen at Chuck Blore's Color Radio KFWB in 1957, Reed returned to New York to become a WMCA Good Guy in 1963. His motivation was to unseat Murray The K on WINS. BMR felt that Murray hadn't earned the position replacing Alan Freed. Mission accomplished, he returned to KFWB and when they dropped their music format, B. Mitchel Reed became a pioneer in the emerging Album Rock format. B. Mitchell Reed passed away in Los Angeles on March 16, 1983 at the age of 56, of heart disease.

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G2/5.0 compatible TOP STREAM 44 Kbps (15 Khz)
Jack Spector, WMCA New York, NY September 10, 1965 (RESTORED) (01:01:41)

. . . It gets better, it picks up a little bit . . .

play  This Exhibit 'SCOPED (29:06)

SCOPEDEven though the music restoration is flawless and sounds great, if you just don't want the music, this version's for you!

[By Rob Frankel]

Peter Kanze gave me this board-quality 'scoped aircheck of Jack Spector on WMCA, from Friday, September 10, 1965.

The music has been fully restored, by yours truly.

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G2/5.0 compatible TOP STREAM 44 Kbps (15 Khz)
Frankie Crocker, WMCA New York, NY February 11, 1970 (RESTORED) (58:40)

. . . May each of you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live . . .

Picture of Frankie Crocker
Frankie Crocker (Courtesy Ben Fong-Torres.)

play  This Exhibit 'SCOPED (14:24)

SCOPEDIf you don't want to hear the music, this version's for you!
[By Rob Frankel]
Frankie Crocker was WMCA's last great evening talent, and a black radio pioneer (WBLS, KUTE.)

This newly-restored aircheck was given to me back in 1970 by my good friend Mark Briskie, who made the original recording.

[By Uncle Ricky]
Frankie Crocker told Ben Fong-Torres that because he was "into the clubs", he was playing disco music on WBLS years before it became a full-time format on WKTU. Crocker passed away from pancreatic cancer on October 21, 2000. He was 63.

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G2/5.0 compatible TOP STREAM 44 Kbps (15 Khz)
Composite, WABC New York, NY, Spring 1972 (RESTORED) (57:11)

. . . Remember that record? Then you is old . . .

play  This Exhibit 'SCOPED (08:27)

SCOPEDEven though the music restoration is flawless and sounds great, if you just don't want the music, this version's for you!
[By Rob Frankel]

The WABC Spring 1972 Station Composite came from board-quality 'scopes that I restored for WABC Rewound.

Since WABC's legendary reverb was added at the transmitter (and not on the board), I added it to these restorations to better approximate the on-air sound of the station.

Featured (in order of appearance): Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram, Cousin Brucie, Chuck Leonard, Jay Reynolds, and Frank Kingston Smith.

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G2/5.0 compatible TOP STREAM 32 Kbps (10 Khz)
Robert W. Morgan, KMPC Los Angeles, August 6, 1979 (50:41)
Play Scoped This Exhibit 'SCOPED (37:13)

UNSCOPED

'SCOPED

. . . weekends were made for Michelob, And weekday mornings were made for Robert W. Morgan . . .

[By Uncle Ricky with notes from Rob Frankel]

This recording was re-processed in 2017, and it now includes some tunes on Robert W.'s first morgan on KMPC, in addition to a newly 'scoped version, and mobile versions of both. It includes most of the first hour, and then cuts to the last few minutes of the last hour. Splatter aside, there's a Michelob spot customized for Robert W. near the end. How often have you heard that?

This is an aircheck of a radio show for radio people, as Robert W. Morgan explains how he got the most desired radio job in the country after the retirement of Dick Whittinghill. Morgan carefully constructs his first morning show on Gene Autry's KMPC with jingles from The Saugus Jingle Swap and Pizzaria, and a closing gag from a jingle demo.

Listen to the exceptional team of KMPC professionals that are featured on this exhibit! THIS was a "morning team". And, if you need any more information about this aircheck - We're in the parking lot. Or in Saugus, trading jingles...

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G2/5.0 compatible STEREO TOP STREAM 64 Kbps (14 Khz STEREO)
Beaver Cleaver, KHTZ-FM Los Angeles August 12, 1979 (46:08)

. . . Janice, of Sherman Oaks, is taping my show, even as I speak. She's gonna use it against me, years later . . .

play  This Exhibit 'SCOPED (05:37)

SCOPEDIf you just don't want the music, this version's for you, in the same hi-fi bandwidth!
[By Uncle Ricky with notes from Rob Frankel]

On a Broadband connection, this exhibit should sound very, VERY good. 46 minutes of Emmy-Award Winner Beaver Cleaver (aka: Ken Levine) on 97 KHTZ-FM in Los Angeles. Even Kiss was making Disco. The Beaver does it in stereo, and Earth is singing the lead for After The Love Is Gone. There's an obvious edit or two, but otherwise, this one is very smooth from top to bottom.

We note that Beaver's time at KHTZ-FM is not included with his bio in L.A. Radio People, so maybe he never really worked there, at all, or maybe this radio station was never rockin' out with free-form professional deejays AND these formula CHR hits in 1979. CAUTION! Includes DISCO tunes. Somethin' you wanna hear? Leave it to Beaver...

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Additional Exhibits from The Rob Frankel Collection
Dan Ingram 1960 WIL St. Louis Composite
Dan Ingram, WABC New York, 1963
Bob Lewis, WABC New York, February 7, 1964
Bob Lewis, WABC New York, March 1965 (RESTORED)
Dick Summer, WBZ Boston, MA. May 6, 1964
Murray The K, Mad Daddy, WINS New York, October 1964
Herb Oscar Anderson, WABC New York, November 10, 1965
WMCA New York 1965 Composite (RESTORED)
Dan Ingram, WABC New York March 25, 1966 (RESTORED)
Dan Ingram, WABC New York June 25, 1966 (RESTORED)
Murray The K, WOR-FM New York, October 8, 1966 Pt. 1 (RESTORED)
Murray The K, WOR-FM New York, October 8, 1966 Pt. 2 (RESTORED)
Murray The K, WOR-FM New York, October 8, 1966 Pt. 3 (RESTORED)
Murray The K, Brian Epstein, WOR-FM New York, March 1967
Dean Anthony, WMCA New York, NY July 15, 1967 Pt.1 (RESTORED)
Dean Anthony, WMCA New York, NY July 15, 1967 Pt.2 (RESTORED)
Dave Vieser, WGBB Long Island, NY July 17, 1967
Charlie Greer, Dan Ingram, WABC NY August 5, 1967 Pt. 1
Dan Ingram, WABC NY August 5, 1967 Pt. 2
Cousin Brucie, Chuck Leonard, Charlie Greer, WABC Top 100 of 1967 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, WKYC Cleveland OH September 1967
Peter Huntington May, KIKX Tucson, AZ January 30 1968
Roby Yonge, WABC New York 1968-02-13
Jim Edwards, CKLW Detroit, February 26, 1968
Jeffrey Troy, WWRL New York, April 21, 1968
Roby Yonge, WABC New York September 4, 1968
Cousin Brucie, WABC New York, NY, November 5, 1968
Chuck Leonard, WABC-FM NY November 26, 1968
Roby Yonge, WQAM Miami FL January 7, 1969
Charlie Greer, WABC New York, January 11, 1969
Jack Spector, WNBC New York, NY July 5, 1969
Bill Beamish, Ed Baer, Dean Anthony, WMCA NY 1969,1970
Jim Nettleton, WABC New York, October 4, 1969 (RESTORED)
Sunny Jim Kelsey, WOL Washington DC, October 10, 1970
Jack Armstrong, Last Show WPOP Hartford, CT. 1970, Pt. 1 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, Last Show WPOP Hartford, CT. 1970, Pt. 2 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, Last Show WPOP Hartford, CT. 1970, Pt. 3 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, Last Show WPOP Hartford, CT. 1970, Pt. 4 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, KTLK Denver, CO. 1970 Pt. 1 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, KTLK Denver, CO. 1970 Pt. 2 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, KTLK Denver, CO. 1970 Pt. 3 (RESTORED)
Steve Clark, Gus Gossert, WCBS-FM NY, April 9, 1970
Gus Gossert, WCBS-FM New York, May 12, 1970 Part One
Gus Gossert, WCBS-FM New York, May 12, 1970 Part Two
J. Michael Wilson, CHUM Toronto, June 9,1970
Steve O'Shea, WCBS-FM New York, June 28-29, 1970
Steve O'Shea, WCBS-FM New York, June 28-29, 1970
Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram, WABC NY October 14, 1970
Jimmy King, WOR-FM to WXLO, New York, October 23,1972
Bill Brown, Bobby Wayne, WCBS-FM NY October 20, 1970
Gary Stevens aka Captain Secret, KRIZ Phoenix, 1971
Don Imus, WNBC New York, NY December 2, 1971 Pt.1
Dick Birch, WCBS-FM New York, NY July 12, 1971 Pt.1
Dick Birch, WCBS-FM New York, NY July 12, 1971 Pt.2
Buffalo Dick Birch, WCBS-FM New York, NY July 12, 1971 Pt. 3
Les Turpin, WCBS-FM July 12, 1971 Pt.1
Bill Brown, WCBS-FM New York, NY July 12, 1971
Bill Brown, WCBS-FM New York, NY July 12, 1971, Pt. 2
Bill Brown, WCBS-FM New York, NY July 12, 1971, Pt. 3
Bobby Wizard Wayne, WCBS-FM New York July 12, 1971 Pt.1 (RESTORED)
Bobby Wizard Wayne, WCBS-FM New York July 12, 1971 Pt.2 (RESTORED)
Bobby Wizard Wayne, WCBS-FM New York July 12, 1971 Pt.3 (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, WKBW Buffalo, November 1971, Part One (RESTORED)
Jack Armstrong, WKBW Buffalo, November 1971, Part Two (RESTORED)
Murray The K, WNBC New York, July 1, 1972 Pt.1
Murray The K, WNBC New York, July 1, 1972 Pt.2
Bob Dayton, WPIX-FM New York, July 27, 1972
Hank Spann, WWRL New York, May 1973
Composite, WABC New York, February 1973
Jack Armstrong, 13Q WJAS, Pittsburgh, PA. March 14, 1973
Dr. Don Rose, WFIL Philadelphia PA. October 6, 1973
Dan Ingram, WABC New York, October 1973
Big Wilson, WNBC New York, March 15, 1974
George Michael, WFIL Philadelphia, April 1974
George Michael, WABC New York, December 19, 1974
Wolfman Jack, WNBC New York, June 28, 1974
Howard Hoffman, WALL Middletown NY, March 1975
Harry Harrison, WABC New York, December 31, 1975 Pt.1
Harry Harrison, WABC New York, December 31, 1975 Pt.2
Beaver Cleaver, KFMB-FM San Diego, CA. June 20, 1976 Pt.1
Gerry Bledsoe, WWRL New York, NY January 1, 1977 Part One
Gerry Bledsoe, WWRL New York, NY January 1, 1977 Part Two
Shadoe Stevens, KROQ Los Angeles December 1977
Jimmy Rabbitt, KROQ Los Angeles, December 24, 1977
The Real Don Steele, MG Kelly, KTNQ Ten-Q LA March 18 1978 (RESTORED)
MG Kelly, KTNQ Ten-Q Los Angeles March 18 1978
Jack Armstong, M.G. Kelly, KTNQ Los Angles August 1978
The Last Day of TenQ, Los Angeles, July 31, 1979, Pt. 0
The Last Day of TenQ, Los Angeles, July 31, 1979, Pt. 1
The Last Day of TenQ, Los Angeles, July 31, 1979, Pt. 2
The Last Day of TenQ, Los Angeles, July 31, 1979, Pt. 3
Dan Ingram, Last PM Drive Show, WABC New York May 7, 1982
Jackson Armstrong, KKHR Los Angeles, July 31 1984
Jackson Armstrong, KKHR Los Angeles, July 1 1985
Bill Brown, 20th Anniversary Show, WCBS-FM New York, October 20, 1989
The Real Don Steele, KRTH Los Angeles, August 21, 1992
The Real Don Steele, KRTH Los Angeles, August 14, 1996
Flashback! ABC Radio Networks September 1998
Pete Fornatale, WFUV-FM New York, NY January 26, 2002
Mark Simeone, Allan Sniffen, Dan Ingram, WABC Rewound 2007
Dan Ingram Demo for Radio Hall of Fame Induction Committee, 2007
Rob Frankel Presents Cruisin' 63 (B. Mitchell Reed, WMCA New York)

The Rob Frankel Collection has been part of REELRADIO since February 6, 2005
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