1 of 1- Dale Patterson
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Question about CHUM in 1980
Got a e-mail asking about CHUM in 1980. I wonder if anyone here can answer it?
"I was in the military in August of 1980, and happened to be in Toronto for 3 nights between duty stations. I was listening to CHUM, CFTR, and whatever else caught my attention at the time.
Was there ever an explanation of why CHUM AM not only leaned toward straight rock and AOR, and pretty much jettisoned the softer hits, no matter how big they were, in 1979-80? I have been looking at the ARSA site and noticed how some of the monster artists (e.g. Air Supply) were missing altogether.*
What was the rationale? And, how were CHUM’s ratings vs CFTR’s at the time?
I never could understand CHUM AM’s strategy; they already had 104.5 FM doing pretty much the same thing."
By way of a reminder, here's Terry Steele on CHUM from July 1, 1980...
"Life without echo is really no life at all." - Dan Ingram
- Jody Thornton
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Re: Question about CHUM in 1980
I will also say that they tended to stick with LP versions through this era. Two exceptions stick out in my mind: Rapture from Blondie was a promo-only remix/edit used in the video version, and Highschool Confidential from Rough Trade was the radio edit on the promo 45-rpm disc. Everything else was straight off the LP.
Cheers,
Jody Thornton
- paterson1
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Re: Question about CHUM in 1980
As I recall, CHUM's playlist got heavier around July 1979 and continued until mid 1983. But even after this time they were usually quite a bit heavier than CFTR.
I know that Brady on TR had been beating Jay Nelson in the mornings from sometime in 1978. I did read though that CFTR never actually overtook CHUM in total numbers until sometime in 1983 or 84. And CHUM did take the morning crown back for rock stations when I believe Roger Ashby beat John Landecker on CFTR.
Maybe someone else has some memories or numbers to back any of this up?
Here is a CHUM composite from 1979 with highlights of their music and various jocks. The music is heavy for AM and not really top 40. CHUM for a time also played some album cuts, even some gold that normally wasn't heard on AM stations. Anyway this is an interesting clip, and includes a few screw ups from the jocks...
- Jody Thornton
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Re: Question about CHUM in 1980
paterson1 wrote:
CHUM for a time also played some album cuts, even some gold that normally wasn't heard on AM stations.
Like Robert Palmer's "Johnny and Mary" for example? I always though this was an FM hit-to-non-hit track, but perhaps I'm wrong. I know that CHUM played it. I also never heard Alan Parson's "Damned IF I Do" on any other AM station either.
Cheers,
Jody Thornton
- paterson1
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Re: Question about CHUM in 1980
That's right, and songs like Generals and Majors weren't the norm on AM radio. Here is CHUM top 100 of 1980.
And here is Billboards top 100 same year.