[BC] "Underground" (WAS: La st Sta nds)

[Dan Kelley]

>and anything else you might like to throw in at the
>time....say like....the sounds of the ocean.

Shifting the topic a wee bit to the sounds of the
ocean.
 
Back in the 70s, in the Chicago suburbs, 92.7 in 
Arlington Heights was relaunched as WWMM - targeted at
suburbsn housewifes.  

Basically an AC, the station featured a sex talk show 
in the middays (IIRC, hosted by a jock with a British 
accent) - and then late at night starting at 10 or 11pm, 
it would be nothing but the sounds of the ocean all night long.
(introduced with a somewhat Ken Nordine-like voice that said
"now on WM radio, its time to make love."  

I believe it was from the old "Environments" series of
albums.  No spots, just IDs.  Around 4am, it would switch
from the sounds of the surf to birds chirping - again, from
the Environments albums.

I believe they had it all recorded on reel to reel and just
played alternate copies of the sounds segued on their Schaefer
automation.  I want to say this was the Schaefer 800 series
complete with the dreaded "spotter reels" - certainly fun to
watch them look for a spot. (or was it 8000? - certainly older 
than the 903)

I recall meeting their Chief Engineer - who worked all night
as the operator on duty - and he said he'd go through the entire
station at the beginning of his shift and turn down every monitor
he could find to protect his sanity...

I think the whole format lasted six months.  A noble 70s 
experiment...

dan in lansing