WCFL Radio - Aircheck 1

This Aircheck is from 1975 and WCFL was a rock station in Chicago. Dick Shannon started working at WCFL in 1972 doing the 2 to 6am overnight shift. Dick was there until 1976.

WCFL officially began broadcasting on December 4, 1925.
The first WCFL transmitter stood on Chicago's Navy Pier (then called Municipal Pier) the Federation was able to lease the pier's North Tower for 10 years at $1 per year and its willingness to make WCFL available for city broadcasts.

The station carried general entertainment over the decades but by the late 1950s WCFL evolved into a popular music station, which had banned all Elvis Presley records from its playlist in late November 1957.

On March 15, 1976, after two years of falling ratings, WCFL abruptly dropped its Top 40 format in favor of The World's Most Beautiful Music, leaving WLS once again as Chicago's only AM Top 40 station. Station management released all disc jockeys who did not have "no cut" clauses in their contracts with the official explanation of the format change as "being more in keeping with the labor movement". Larry Lujack, still under contract with the station, stayed on at WCFL playing easy listening music until moving back to WLS in September 1976. This format won few listeners from FM beautiful music stations such as WLOO, and by 1978 had been replaced by a gold-based adult contemporary format.

[calcrappie]

12 year old kid in Minneapolis back in the 1970's listening to NHL night games on am KOMO, WBZ, WCCO, KDKA etc. Could never find the Blackhawks broadcast but SUPER CFL filled the bill. Great rock station!

[douglaslippertindy]

CFL kept my company for many, many nights during my adolescence. We could receive the signal loud and clear after sunset in Gaylord, Michigan. Love these radio checks.

[scottbailey]

In my opinion, this is the best Top 40/Rock mix of music for the era. Of course I was only a 11 year old kid when this show was on CFL. I still can't understand why their ratings dropped so bad, as I was told?

[douglasm.]

I knew Dick Shannon when he was at Super CFL, and for about a decaded thereafter. Besides being an immensely talented Top 40 air talent, he was (is) also a brilliant man. And one of the nicest people I've ever met in radio -- and I've met and worked with hundreds.

[Rick]

how I remember WCFL AM 1000. back in the day !!! love this old radio stuff !!! :)

[scottbailey]

Is this the same "Dick Shannon" that I think worked in the Nashville, Tennessee Market at WLAC, WMAK,  and WSM in the 70's? I can't remember. In my 50s now, my mind goes blank!

[kellyanastasia]

Really good sounding jock. Reminds me a bit of Jeff Davis from WLS. Super CFL had a great run there for a time. Chicago in the 70s I think was the best radio market in the country. Thanks for posting!