"The Powers & Swanson Thing" - probably the most popular morning show on AFN Bremerhaven ever!!! Story goes folks returning from nightshift set their alarm clocks just after two hours of sleep not to miss Powers & Swanson. Here we have two excerpts from June 1985. And the first one is the most legendary episode ever, when the daily morning polka got stucked. Listen back and enjoy with a bright smile...

AFN Bremerhaven:  Powers & Swanson (June 1985)

Wolfman Jack like he came over in the 70’s and 80’s in Germany, on the American Forces Network AFN weeknites from 9 to 10 pm, when his unforgettable voice ruled the airwaves among crackling thunder and Russian AM band jammings. Nevertheless, great shows in bad audio quality are always better than weak stuff in great audio, so we waited urgently each night to what The Wolfman would have in store for us. Here now for the very first time: his Airforce Show from OCT 1977 in best possible quality.

More Wolfman on AM radio here: https://vimeo.com/700736772

Wolfman Jack on AFN (October 1977)

A truly unique gem: Wolfman Jack celebrates his show #3.000 broadcasted on April 14, 1982 from 2 to 3 a.m. CEST, on the American Forces Network in Germany. Starting with a little birthday song, the Wolfman presents 55 minutes of the best music and announcements, and at the end introduces his team, who can also be heard for the first time for this special occasion. Radio source: FM transmitter in Garlstedt near Bremen, part of AFN Bremerhaven.

More Wolfman on the radio here: https://vimeo.com/700736772

Wolfman Jack /Show #3000 (1982-04-14)

Digging HiFi and working for thousands of productions in my life, I always pointed out the best possible sound. But in case of Wolfman Jack, one thing is for sure: the best feeling occurs by listening to him on AM mediumwave, on a transistor or valve radio like we used to in the 50s, 60s and 70s. That's most stunning and authentic. So here is the original "Wolfman Jack Sound" like it catched millions of listeners back then. Close your eyes, dive back into the soft sounding AM radio era and clap for The Wolfman!!!

More AM sound plus pictures here: https://vimeo.com/700736772

Wolfman Jack /original AM radio sound

In 1968, our band was called The Crew and I played the drums. We also performed tunes from John Mayall. That's when I "invented" recording stereo on two 1/4" track mono decks: tape was running from left to right, channel 1 being recorded on the left machine and channel 2 on the right. Microphones were two Sennheiser MD 421. Today  I'm able to correct the time-delay with digital tools down to 1 frame. These are probably the best sounding amateur live recordings worldwide from that period. Check out in mono, too: phase relation (azimuth) is 100% correct.

P.S.: THE CREW developed 1971 into "Grobschnitt". The rest of the story is known...

CREW BLUES SESSION: My Little Girl (John Mayall) 1968

Report about the Canadian troups in Westphalia and Radio CAE by Walter Fischer (WDR Studio Essen, from June 21st, 1970).

Report über die kanadischen Truppen in Westfalen und Radio CAE von Walter Fischer (WDR Studio Essen, vom 21. Juni 1970).

The History of Radio CAE, documentation, 50 min.:   https://youtu.be/BkuYEtXMcoI

WDR Radio: The Canadian Army in Germany 1953 - 1970

In the 70s and 80s, Air Force Sergant Bill Kenny was unique with his show Nightside on AFN. Playing progressive rock as well as experimental stuff, he also interviewed a lot of artists including German bands. On SEP 29, 1979 @ 11:00 pm Grobschnitt stumbled into the AFN Headquarters at Frankfurt Bertramstraße after an exhausting performance in the Stadthalle Offenbach. The gentlemen seemed a little charged up, as Bill noted, but that's precisely why it was an extremely lively interview.

AFN Frankfurt: Bill Kenny hosting Grobschnitt on Nightside (1979)

Bill Kenny, best known for his show "Nightside" on AFN Frankfurt, presents the top songs of 1982. The program ran for the last three hours on the last day of that year. At the end, around midnight, you can hear Roger Williams with a precise list of all AFN stations, followed by the American national anthem. A full three-hour flashback to the 80s, when AFN still provided Germany with the best of music.

AFN Frankfurt: The Rock 'n Roll Class of '82 with Bill Kenny

In 1983, radio legend Wolfman Jack returned for one night to the roots of his career. At radiostation XERF in Mexico just across the border from Del Rio, Texas where he started out in the 60s, he presented a single show again on the new restored 250.000 watts AM transmitter reaching as far as Canada, Australia, Israel and Europe. This is the original audio. If you wanna SEE him performing, click here:

https://youtu.be/LaZWYc21X_o

Wolfman Jack on XERF (1983)

Army Specialist Dave Paich hosting Saturday Session on May 18th, 1985 at AFN Bremerhaven, The Power Station. The show was broadcasted each saturday live from 10 to 12 am. Dave rides the airwaves on AM 1143 here with some really hot stuff...

AFN Bremerhaven: Dave Paich /Saturday Session (1985)

In summer 1997 I decided to write to Bob Kingsley about an incident related to ACC, AFN and my old van. After mailing out my letter, the next Saturday on Aug. 30th I drove to the closest AFN transmitter around to listen and record in best quality, hoping to be mentioned on the show. When it came to the ACC Mailbag and I suddenly heard Bob saying:  "A fellow from Germany has written to us..." my heart stood almost still and I got wet eyes. Two hours later I didn't really drive home, I floated with my tyres three feet above the pavement. This excerpt was taken from the CD Bob sent me together with the ACC t-shirt.

Check out more Bob Kingsley and Aaron Tippin here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmeeWgn6P3A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqluq1ORQPQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GckbfmlssIc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z400IDGM7Yg

ACC Top 40: Eroc Request (1997)

Half a decade ago and still going strong: The Saturday Show from March 25th, 1968, introcuded by Steve Cooper on BFBS, a station broadcasting in Germany since 75 years now. The show was aired each saturday from 10 to 12 am and was very popular among the German shadow audience. Recording: Schaub Lorenz SL-100 valve-tapedeck from Siemens H64 valve-radio tuned to 96.5 FM (transmitter Langenberg, 50.000 watts). Consider the cool lady at the very end...

BFBS Cologne: Steve Cooper /The Saturday Show (1968)

Jim Kirby back on the air with his complete afternoon-show on AFN Bremerhaven from June 15th, 1982. That was the day when the Falklands had surrendered to Great Britain as to be heard in the news after Jim's show at 5 and  6 pm CET. The 1st newscast came via satellite from the U.S. while the 2nd was read live on the air by Army Sgt. Bill Boyd. The sound: AM radio at it's best.
Sad news for the AFN Bremerhaven community: James Kirby passed away on Dec 15, 2022 - R.I.P. Jim, you're not forgotten...

AFN Bremerhaven: Jim Kirby (1982)

In the 60s Radio Luxembourg (aka: 208 /The Big Noise In Europe) started to broadcast on shortwave, too - at 6.091 kHz on the 49 meter-band, where the adjacent frequency of Bavarian Radio on 6.085 kHz always jammed with 6k audio interference and the atmosphere often caused fierce fadings. But many listeners loved that service taking their music station all across Europe into many vacationlands. Later some transistors offered special "Radio Luxembourg Buttons" selecting 6.091 kHz and suppressing the 6k audio a bit. This aircheck from 1967 was recorded with a valve radio without any filters and presents it like it was: a true listening adventure!

Radio Luxembourg: Adamo "Inch Allah"            (Original Shortwave Sound 1967)

Cindy Dall back on the air with her complete show from February 18th, 1983 on AFN Bremerhaven. Cindy presents three hours packed with the best music from the late 70s, early 80s and much more. At the top of the hours news feed from the U.S. via AFN Frankfurt. Aircheck recorded from AFN Bremerhaven 100 watts relais transmitter on FM 92.9, located in Garlstedt near Bremen.

AFN Bremerhaven: Cindy Dall (1983)

Tracy Thibeau of AFN Bremerhaven with his complete noon show from June 11th, 1985 playing a great variety of music. Special spotlight on his informations on how to put enfants to sleep (@ 11:30)and on the interview with legendary Metal act SLAYER(@ 26:50), talking about their gig in Bremen that night and the rest of their German tour. Both topics might not chime together quite well, but hosted by Tracy each one is a true pleasure.

AFN Bremerhaven: Tracy Thibeau /Noon Show (1985)

After more than 40 years of hosting Country Countdown, Bob Kingsley passed away on Oct. 17th, 2019. Listening to his voice was always like listening to a friend and he was on the air until the very end. As a tribute to him here's the 1st hour of his show from Aug. 30th, 1997 when he played my request. It's an original recording from the transmitter of AFN Europe located in Mönchengladbach, Germany, serving the Shape community in Belgium with 1000 watts on AM 1143. The radio tower is to be seen right side in the picture (thanks to Pattrick Breloehr for the photo). The request starts @ 49:22 and this aircheck is a good example how damn great AM radio can sound...

ACC Top 40: Eroc Request (1997) - compl. aircheck

Dave Paich back on the air again, hosting his show from June 2nd, 1986 (5 to 6 pm)on AFN Bremerhaven. Reception was possible in whole Northern Germany down to the Munsterland, in Denmark, in the Northern parts of The Netherlands and across the whole North Sea up to the Norwegian and British coast. The airwaves met the seawaves every day for the best variety of music and entertainment from "The Power Station" on AM 1143.

AFN Bremerhaven:  Dave Paich (1986-06-02)

Radio Luxembourg on shortwave @ 6.091 kHz (49 meters band), jammed by 6k audio interference from the adjacent frequency of Radio Bavaria on 5.085 kHz. In spite of that, the station was incredible popular by airing the actual hits throughout the whole day, resulting in squeaking out of millions of valve radios and transistors all over Europe and worldwide...

Radio Luxembourg: Michel Polnareff "Ta Ta Ta Ta"    (Original Shortwave Sound 1967)

October 18th, 1970 saw the final broadcast from Radio Canadian Army Europe in Werl, Germany in a special from 8 p.m. to midnight when the transmitter was stilled forever. October 18th, 2020 saw the premiere of a Radio CAE documentation (youtu.be/BkuYEtXMcoI) to celebrate this event after 50 years. Here are the first 90 minutes of the original FM from 1970 serving as source for the shortwave re-transmission in 2020. It's interesting to compare it directly with the SW aircheck above.

Radio CAE final broadcast /FM transmission 1970

Since the early 60's my life was music, recording studios and radio stations. And since the AM band was shut down in most parts of Europe, I think it's time now to remember and bring back a bit from those "Golden Days of Radio". Listen and enjoy!

On the air again...

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