Top 40 AM radio of the 1970's

[1960'sTVfan]

Living in Chicago in the 1970's, I was a regular listener of top 40 AM radio stations WLS and WCFL. I used to look forward to Friday's when the next weekly surveys came out. I was always eager to see where my favorite songs ranked. I wish I had hung on to those old surveys, but Oldiesloon is a great website where those surveys are now posted. During the middle part of the decade, WLS shortened their survey to a top 30 or 25. WCFL was always top 40, until the station changed format and discontinued being a top 40 station at the tail end of 1975. After WCFL made the format change, WLS then increased their weekly survey to a top 45.

I have a nice collection of those 45 RPM records, all my favorite radio hits from the 70's. Years ago, I recorded the songs on to cassettes, then when CD's came out, I transferred the music on the cassettes to CD's. The main collection has 25 CD's with 300 songs total, then I have another 5 CD's with 60 additional songs, I call those the bonus tracks. I listen to the CD's often, I'll never get tired of those songs.

The 70's was a great decade for top 40 music, many good songs on the charts in those days, especially the middle part of the decade 1973 to 76.

Anyone else have thoughts on the subject? Let's discuss.

[Bonniegirl]

I love 60's and 70's music. And the top 40 music from back than!

Very cool about the CD's you made. I never made any but I have quite a few almost ALL my CD's are music from the 60
s and 70's! Esp. I love the assorted singer or groups on one CD!

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I love 60's and 70's music. And the top 40 music from back than!

Very cool about the CD's you made. I never made any but I have quite a few almost ALL my CD's are music from the 60
s and 70's! Esp. I love the assorted singer or groups on one CD!

I listened to WLS more than WCFL, although CFL was more diverse with their surveys and play list and they would play songs that you wouldn't hear on WLS. Some of the DJ's who worked for WLS were: Fred Winston, Tommy Edwards, Yvonne Daniels, Bob Sirott, and Steve King. My favorite one was John (Records) Landecker, I used to listen to his show all the time. I miss those days, they were fun and happy times. Larry Lujack worked as DJ for both WLS and WCFL. Sadly, Mr. Lujack passed away fairly recently, in December 2013. If I recall correctly, Wolfman Jack was a DJ for WLS also at some point in the 70's.

I think I did a superb job with the song selection for my 70's hits collection. There are a few good songs I didn't include, but I had to draw the line somewhere. The songs are recorded in chronological order, the first two CD's in the main collection have songs from 1970, the next two CD's have songs from 1971, and so on to the last CD, disc 25, which has songs from 1979. Then I also have five additional CD's with the bonus tracks, those songs are recorded in chronological order also. The collection is a nice trip through the era of 70's hit music.

[biffbronson]

I used to listen to WLS every day between around 1975 and 1980 because I could catch it easily over in Indiana. Animal Stories! I remember for the Pointer Sisters song "Fire," they always dubbed in "you turn on WLS" for "you turn on the radio."

Most of my favorite music is from the late '60s through the '70s, along with some early '80s. Rock, folk, country, R & B, I like it all. From Glen Campbell to Led Zeppelin and everything in between.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

The 70's was a great decade for top 40 music, many good songs on the charts in those days, especially the middle part of the decade 1973 to 76.

Oh my....The 70s were beautiful!!!!

I remember listening to WLS @ night,etc.......... I got a fantastic plastic card and still remember my #: 5354767


I MI$$ THE GOOD DAYS!!!!!!!!!!