RE: Globe on John Garabedian

["Lou" <lspin@attbi.com>]

John H was definitely a creative programmer.  Yes, he played the hits.
But there was a lot of personality thrown in.  The DJs were allowed to
be candid about the music that the station was playing.  (i.e. John H
ripping the needle off a Carpenters record; Or playing audience cheers
every time the Partridge Family chimed into the chorus, "I think I love
you...")  The format was Top 40, but these guys were treating us
listeners like we were a more adult, FM-type audience.

During the John H regime, WMEX also did cool things like:  Took live
requests on rainy days for all songs about rain; Played the 'long
versions' and album cuts; Played two in a row without interruption
(Mixing/blending songs? Very FM!).  Meanwhile, WRKO was just playing
"The Hits."  It was all short-version, pitched-up, repetitive music.
There was no personality - except for Dale Dorman.

In my opinion, the first nail in the WMEX coffin was the summer 1971
debut of WVBF.  It was like WMEX music, but in stereo!  That same
summer, Bud Ballou moved from WMEX to WVBF.  And, in the fall, John H
was fired from 'MEX.

That same fall, WRKO caught onto the 'FM sound,' and got progressive
(slower talking DJs, long versions, two-in-a-row).  WMEX picked up DJs
like Jim Connors, Tom Allen and J. Michael Wilson.  And they jumped on
the Donny Osmond and Bay City Rollers bandwagon.  For this 15-year-old,
WMEX was going down the toilet - fast.

- Lou