The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / It's Been 60 Years Since This Iconic Format First Came On The Radio

**Posted by RadioActive** May 13, 2025 3:52 am

It's a station almost everybody knows, but only a few of us ever actually heard when it was on the air. It was "Boss Radio" and nobody did it better than 93 KHJ in Los Angeles. This month marks 60 years since the format first aired and there has been nothing quite like it on the medium since. It simply was amazing radio and while it's long gone, tapes of it live on all over the Internet.

Still, it wasn't love at first sound for everyone.

"The station was not immediately accepted by all. Many observers wrote it off completely … how could a 5000-watt station make a dent in the ratings against the well-established KFWB, let alone ratings leader KRLA? KHJ was a has-been “Middle of the Road” station for years, and the newest format would do nothing to change that fact, they said. Or worse."

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of ‘Boss Radio’ KHJ (930 AM)

**Posted by mace** May 13, 2025 6:52 am

The Johnny Mann Singers did the KHJ Jingles along with CKLW.

**Posted by deLaat** May 14, 2025 12:21 pm

As a listener, I loved it.

In the mid-sixties I was a teenager living in stodgy Ottawa where Lawrence Welk was consistently #1 on the Hit Parade. Our family went camping in Pinery Provincial Park where we could pick up the signal from Windsor's CKLW. I had never heard anything so good, or entertaining.

On-air talent was top notch, the sound was energetic... the commercials had imagination. I read somewhere that CK sped up their turntables 15% to add to the frenzy... (or perhaps the commercial time?)

Not a favorite of everyone but to me it was radio at its peak.

**Posted by RadioActive** May 20, 2025 6:26 am

Speaking of KHJ, someone has put up a database of the legendary station's playlists, including the Top 93 from 1965-1973, the Top 100 of the 60s, a list of more than 2,000 songs the Top 40 giant played during its existence, and even records that didn't chart on Boss Radio.

If you like charts, you'll probably like this.

93/KHJ Boss Radio Chart Data

**Posted by Shorty Wave** May 20, 2025 7:49 am

RadioActive wrote:
Speaking of KHJ, someone has put up a database of the legendary station's playlists, including the Top 93 from 1965-1973, the Top 100 of the 60s, a list of more than 2,000 songs the Top 40 giant played during its existence, and even records that didn't chart on Boss Radio.

If you like charts, you'll probably like this.

93/KHJ Boss Radio Chart Data

Love them! I noticed Focus charted in 1973 with “Hocus Pocus”. Remember them? They were Dutch and mostly instrumental, but fairly cool flute, seriously! Thanks for sharing RadioActive!

**Posted by Easily Amused** May 20, 2025 7:58 am

Shorty Wave wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
Speaking of KHJ, someone has put up a database of the legendary station's playlists, including the Top 93 from 1965-1973, the Top 100 of the 60s, a list of more than 2,000 songs the Top 40 giant played during its existence, and even records that didn't chart on Boss Radio.

If you like charts, you'll probably like this.

93/KHJ Boss Radio Chart Data

Love them! I noticed Focus charted in 1973 with “Hocus Pocus”. Remember them? They were Dutch and mostly instrumental, but fairly cool flute, seriously! Thanks for sharing RadioActive!

Focus several grades higher than Mouth and MacNeal. 🤨

Last edited by Easily Amused (May 20, 2025 7:59 am)

**Posted by mace** May 20, 2025 10:01 am

RadioActive wrote:
Speaking of KHJ, someone has put up a database of the legendary station's playlists, including the Top 93 from 1965-1973, the Top 100 of the 60s, a list of more than 2,000 songs the Top 40 giant played during its existence, and even records that didn't chart on Boss Radio.

If you like charts, you'll probably like this.

93/KHJ Boss Radio Chart Data

Something doesn't add up on the 1965 charts. Issue #1 is dated July 9. There are two songs listed as have been on the chart for 10 weeks which would have put the date around the first week of May. I think the switch to Boss Radio came in late April/early May.

**Posted by Fitz** May 20, 2025 9:07 pm

Nor a fan of the Boss radio concept. Much preferred the longer charts and playlists. Had a cursory look at the charts and was glad to find two singles on the chart that were not played in Toronto but were minor hits in the US.

Lyme and Cybelle- Follow Me Lyme was Warren Zevon. A great slice of folk-rock
The Deep Six - Rising Sun Another nice folk rock tune. The group appeared on American Bandstand and Where the Action Is.
Got to know both of these song from a Rhino Folk-Rock Nuggets comp that I bought in the mid 80's.

Last edited by Fitz (May 20, 2025 9:16 pm)