WWSH-FM: Christmas 1974
December 17, 2007 – 11:32 pmStarting with this post, I’m going to start uploading these files to my hosting account in an attempt to get better response for visitors. Over time, I’ll transition some of the old posts over here, too. If my bandwidth starts going nuts, though, I’ll probably head back to DivShare with the files.
This will be the sole Christmas-themed post on Normal Bias this year.
This tape is one that I grew up listening to every year at Christmas. My parents never purchased much music, so this recording they made from the radio (WWSH-FM in Philadelphia — couldn’t find any information about it online (was looking under the wrong call letters)… anyone in the audience know what frequency they broadcast on?) in 1974 was what got rotation every year in our house. In fact, it still does. Even though the music is generally pretty basic background orchestral Christmas music, there’s still something about it I love. The memories it evokes, I guess.
My favorite part, for sure, comes on side 2 at 10 minutes in. There’s a radio ad for Disney on Parade ’74 at the Spectrum (tickets available at all Ticketron locations!) followed by a news broadcast by DJ Ted Sawyer (the same guy listed here?). The news items are kind of interesting, particularly the first one about domestic spying.
The radio broadcast ends on side 3 at about the 10 minute marker. At 10:48 begins a recording of a school holiday concert. This could have been mine or my sister’s from either elementary or middle school, which would place it somewhere between 1985 and 1993. I’d bet somewhere in the late 80s/early 90s during my middle school years (the playing sounds too advanced to be elementary school). Will anyone listen this far? Probably not. But I’m posting it anyway.
The radio recording is a normal bias dub from an original normal bias cassette, but it still sounds halfway decent since there’s no static.
Back later in the week with a few more hip-hop posts.
(edited to correct the call letters – see comments)
5 Responses to “WWSH-FM: Christmas 1974”
Google WWSH-FM, you may find some of the answers you’re looking for.
Love the blog BTW, that old Jersey stuff is nice.
By Plexxxx on Dec 28, 2007
I am almost 100% positive that WWSH was at 106.1
Around the same time was WJBR in Wilmington Delware at 99.5 I believe.
By Bob Richards on May 29, 2008
here is a link to a wikopedia page with some history for you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WISX
thanks for the WWSH memories
By B Pizzini on Dec 25, 2008
Great recordings. Here is another link to some history of WWSH. Please note Ted’s name is spelled “Sohier”
http://www.phillyradioarchives.com/philadelphia_radio_history_wisx.asp
By Alan on Apr 24, 2010
Really appreciate this a lot! I was only 4 then, and remember my childhood well. My Mom & Dad enjoyed WWSH a lot, and 36 years later I’m happy to find something aired from it that takes me back to the best years of my life.
By Danny Boy on Jun 7, 2010