Another brilliant radio commercial from Dick Orkin and the Radio Ranch.

Lawn Boy (The Lawn Fairy)- Dick Orkin :60

Another brilliant radio commercial from Dick & Bert and the Radio Ranch. 1980s.

Shoney's - Dick Orkin and Bert Berdis :60

Another brilliant radio commercial from Dick Orkin and Bert Berdis at the Radio Ranch. Late 1970s.

A.O. Smith Data Systems - Dick & Bert :60

Dayton's Warehouse Sale (Mr. Shirley)- Dick & Bert :60

Just when I thought this week couldn't get any better, my old pal Scott Shannon talked about me on New York radio this morning! Incredible! I only wish I'd thought of the "Weather Walrus".

Scott Shannon & The Walrus on WCBS-FM 4-30-14

In the 1960s and early 70s, WMAK/Nashville got their national news from the Mutual Radio Network. Sometimes the local newsman on duty would want to use a single story, and it was useful to have ready-made custom "tags" of all the Mutual reporters saying the call letters to splice on at the end of the story, and make it seem like they were reporting from Washington exclusively for WMAK. So here they are... my favorite is the enthusiastic Jeffery Ford!

WMAK Mutual News Tags 1971

This is a cut from WMAK's Series 27 jingle package, created by PAMS of Dallas. Originally produced in 1964, Series 27, "The Jet Set",  aired on WMAK thru 1968.

WMAK Jingle - PAMS Series 27 (Fastest Thing)

A great jingle for WKDA/1240 in Nashville, circa 1966-67. From  PAMS Series 32b.

WKDA Jingle-'Good Guys' PAMS Series 32b

Another great jingle for WKDA/1240 in Nashville, circa 1966-67. From PAMS Series 32b.

WKDA Jingle-'Good Guy Hit #1' PAMS Series 32b

This is an audio tribute to Allen Dennis, beginning with WMAK/Nashville airchecks from Jan. 24, 1969, and the Spring of 1972, and ending with a piece recorded by Ray Stevens especially for Allen, although I have no idea if, when or how it was ever used.

Allen Dennis Tribute 3-16-12

WMAK's Russ Spooner would always play the Birthday Lady when appropriate. And sometimes when it wasn't.
The Birthday Lady was really 1960s novelty singing sensation, Mrs. Miller, who had a "hit" with her version of "Downtown", reaching #82 on Billboard's chart in April 1966.

Russ Spooner - Birthday Lady (Mrs. Miller)

In 1972-73, WMAK morning man Russ Spooner had an amazingly popular daily Public Service feature... zipping up the ladies before they headed out to work or simply began their day.

The voices were WMAK staff members, the music was a TM Phase II jingle package instrumental bed, and the zipper was a zipper.

Russ Spooner Zips Up The Ladies

A montage of 1300/WMAK Nashville jingles, from the 50s, 60's, 70s & 90's. Including: a scratchy jingle from Cummings Productions of New York, CRC of Dallas, PAMS of Dallas (always my favorite), TM Productions of Dallas, Atwood-Richards of New York, and finally a "Good Times and Great Oldies" jingle by Tony Griffin Productions for WMAK-FM/Oldies 96.3.

WMAK Jingle Composite

This is a fast-moving, jam-packed jingle composite I made a couple of years ago. It's over 23 minutes long, and contains lots of material from my own archives, as well as a few things I've found on the internet. 

Many of the tracks are Nashville-related, such as Cain Sloan's Christmas jingle, circa 1975, and the custom jingle PAMS created to welcome conventioneers to their hospitality suite at the Country Music Disc Jockey convention in Oct. 1972 ("Room 527, King of the Road... just ask for Fred Hardy").  You'll also hear some familiar voices: Dan Miller, Larry Lujack, Bluegrass legend John Hartford doing his parody of a WSM top-of-the-hour legal ID, Scotty Brink, John Leader, the great Dick Tufeld, and if you listen closely, you might hear former WMAK morning man Russ Spooner's imitation of Gomer Pyle.

I hope it brings back some really cool memories.

As always, all material belongs to the original copyright holders.

Mike Bohan's Jingle Jam 2010

Johnny Walker was a production room whiz, as this spot for "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" proves. Walker did it all himself, no doubt in the early morning hours after one of his 7-midnight shifts. He was incredibly creative... so much so, that this 60 second spot runs 1:04! It is from an aircheck of 1300/WMAK January 24, 1969. Walker would leave Nashville shortly thereafter, making room for Scott Shannon.

WMAK - Johnny Walker production - 'Crazy World of Arthur Brown' Spot

This is a customized version of the Grassroots 1971 hit, "Sooner or Later" for WMAK Nashville. The Grassroots had nothing to do with it... this was done by a third party company, and I'd guess the original artists, writers and producers weren't too thrilled by the alterations, but... it did get their song some valuable airplay, so they probably didn't complain too loudly.

There were five of these made for WMAK in 1971, and I'll post them all.

The thinking was, you hear the version with the radio station call letters a few times, and forever after, whenever you hear that song again (especially on the competing radio stations), your mind will plug in the station call letters by itself!.

It absolutely worked with me. I can never hear "Sooner or Later" and NOT think of the WMAK intro.

--Mike Bohan

(all rights reserved with the original copyright owner)

Sooner or Later (with WMAK Intro) - The Grassroots 1971

Funny radio spot for Gene Wilder's "Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother", recorded off the air from WLS's John "Records" Landecker program Dec. 23, 1975. I also included a couple of WLS jingles and a weather forecast!

Sherlock Holmes Brother Spot & John Landecker WLS 12-23-75

Every baby boomer is sure to remember this warm and wonderful theme from childhood. This is the full sing 60 second jingle that introduced Pillsbury's classic slogan, "Nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven, and Pillsbury says it best!" An advertising classic. By the way, I count 10 mentions of "oven" and only 4 "Pillsburys". Great example of strong brand association.

Pillsbury "Says It Best" Jingle 1950's & 60's

Pepsi "Come Alive!" 60 second radio jingle, Holiday version, circa 1965.

Pepsi-Come Alive! (Holiday Version)

Opryland 1977- Full Sing :60 Radio Jingle. I'm certain this was produced in Nashville, but I am not sure who the talent was. As I recall, the advertising agency of record was Eric Ericson & Associates of Nashville. Perhaps someone can fill me in on the details!

Opryland 1977- Full Sing :60 Radio Jingle

Opryland 1979- Full Sing :60 Radio Jingle. I believe this is the amazing Janie Fricke singing. As I recall, the advertising agency of record was Eric Ericson & Associates of Nashville.

Opryland 1979- Full Sing :60 Radio Jingle

This jingle was used to locally advertise the opening of Rivergate Mall in Goodlettsville in 1971.

Rivergate Mall 1971- Full Sing :30 Radio Jingle

Cain-Sloan - Holiday Radio Christmas 1975, :60 donut. This type of radio jingle is called a "donut" because it has a "hole in the middle" for the announcer to read his or her copy. Get it? I'd be willing to guess this was produced here in Nashville, but I don't know the specifics or the talent. I love the wonderful bell work, tho!

Cain-Sloan - Holiday Radio Christmas 1975

I previously posted the Cain-Sloan holiday jingle, and here is an example of it on the air. A Cain-Sloan Live Spot read by Pat Sajak on WSM-AM 12-23-1975

Cain-Sloan Live Spot read by Pat Sajak on WSM 12-23-1975

This starts with a WKDA jingle, then goes into a Cain-Sloan spot with a WKDA announcer reading the copy, then ends with the Cain-Sloan vocal. This comes from a WKDA Bill Berlin aircheck on Dec. 27, 1968, but I don't know who is voicing the commercial. As I recall, the first few lyrics of the jingle are "The greatest store of the central south, in Nashville, Tennessee..."

Cain-Sloan Jingle (from WKDA Bill Berlin Dec 27 1968)

A short 10 sec jingle from 1959 for RC Cola. It was included in a Ronn Terrell WKDA-Nashville aircheck from January 1960.

Royal Crown Cola 10sec Jingle 1959

Before she became a successful country recording artist, Janie sang tons of jingles... many for big-time national clients in the 1980's. This would probably be Janie Fricke's most famous commercial jingle: "Red Lobster for the Seafood Lover in You".

Red Lobster - Janie Fricke Jingle 30sec

This is a 1960s radio jingle reminding you, "It's time to turn!". From PAMS Series 27 Pre-Records.

Time To Turn So You Won't Burn!

WMAK - Arlen Miller (PAMS Series 31)

JAM Jingle Genius Jon Wolfert hosts a Sunday afternoon radio show on RewoundRadio.com. On 1-24-2021, he decided he would feature jingles from various 1240 stations ("1-24" plus a "0" = "1240". Yes, he's just that cool.) One of the featured stations was WKDA/1240 in Nashville, a powerhouse Top 40 station during the 1960s. It's a live radio show, and Jon encourages comments via Facebook. I occasionally chime in, as I did about Simon & Garfunkel's The Boxer, and, WKDA's PAMS Series 18 jingles.  --Mike Bohan

Mike Bohan

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