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| The familiar logo of popular Calgary radio station AM 106 in the 1980s. Source: https://forum.calgarypuck.com/ showthread.php?t=143255 (May be subject to copyright) |
With two really good pop and rock music radio stations in Lethbridge, often my ghetto blaster or car radio found itself tuned to a station broadcast from Calgary, and often the reception wasn’t very good.
But it had some compelling features that made me and some of my friends want to keep tuning in.
It was called AM 106, sounding more like an FM station, although it was 1060 on the AM dial.
Tuning in
To be honest, I am not sure why I tuned in to AM 106 for the first time. I knew I had heard about it from somewhere, likely someone at school or maybe one of my music-savvy cousins, because I did not find it by accident I don’t think. However, it was so close to 1090 CHEC on the dial, maybe I did find it by accident.
To be honest, I am not sure why I tuned in to AM 106 for the first time. I knew I had heard about it from somewhere, likely someone at school or maybe one of my music-savvy cousins, because I did not find it by accident I don’t think. However, it was so close to 1090 CHEC on the dial, maybe I did find it by accident.
Whatever the origin, once I found it, there was a lot to keep me coming back.
Playing the hits
AM 106 had a couple features I just loved – the Top 6 at 6 and its sibling the Top 10 at 10. They were both countdowns based on the number of votes each song received through the station’s “hitlines”. That meant people had to phone in to register votes, which is really impressive because back in the ‘80s, the only phones were land lines. People did not have phones with them 24/7 like now, they had to seek them out to make a call.
AM 106 had a couple features I just loved – the Top 6 at 6 and its sibling the Top 10 at 10. They were both countdowns based on the number of votes each song received through the station’s “hitlines”. That meant people had to phone in to register votes, which is really impressive because back in the ‘80s, the only phones were land lines. People did not have phones with them 24/7 like now, they had to seek them out to make a call.
What I and a couple of my friends really liked was, if you wanted to know the name of a song or you wanted to tape it off the radio, the Top 6 at 6 and the Top 10 at 10 were guaranteed spots to hear those songs.
A good example was back in 1986 when I was working with my buddy Mat and some other friends cleaning out some chicken coops. There was a ghetto blaster playing, and I heard a song that sounded like new Chicago. It couldn’t be that sound tough, because their lead singer, Peter Cetera, had left. After the song ended, I waited for the deejay to say who sang it but, as was often the case, he didn’t.
So that night, I tuned in the Top 10 at 10 and heard the song again – plus an explanation. The song was “The Glory of Love”, the first solo release for – Peter Cetera.
Thank you AM 106.
Showdown
Another feature was “Showdown” where two songs went head to head. One was the “Champion” because it had earned the most votes on the day’s “Hitlines” the day before. The other was the “Challenger”, which was a new song trying to de-throne the “Champion”. To do that, all it needed to do was get more votes than the champion. If the champion kept winning night after night, it was retired after a certain number of nights, I want to say five for a complete week.
Another feature was “Showdown” where two songs went head to head. One was the “Champion” because it had earned the most votes on the day’s “Hitlines” the day before. The other was the “Challenger”, which was a new song trying to de-throne the “Champion”. To do that, all it needed to do was get more votes than the champion. If the champion kept winning night after night, it was retired after a certain number of nights, I want to say five for a complete week.
It was a good way to hear brand new releases.
“Showdown” was much like what TSN does with its “One-V-one” highlight of the night.
Win a prize
AM 106 also had the “Designated hit”. The station would announce a particular song as the “Designated hit”. When it played, the first person who heard it and called it in won a prize. It engaged listeners and was another reason to tune in.
AM 106 also had the “Designated hit”. The station would announce a particular song as the “Designated hit”. When it played, the first person who heard it and called it in won a prize. It engaged listeners and was another reason to tune in.
Voices of radio
Through the magic of the Internet, I re-discovered another vital part of AM 106’s appeal – the deejays. There were two in particular who came to mind – Rick Sadler and Glen Slingerland. Sadler is still in Calgary while Slingerland has been in BC this century.
Through the magic of the Internet, I re-discovered another vital part of AM 106’s appeal – the deejays. There were two in particular who came to mind – Rick Sadler and Glen Slingerland. Sadler is still in Calgary while Slingerland has been in BC this century.
However, I was able to find some recordings of both Sadler and Slingerland, and others, and it took me right back to the 1980s.
Here are some links:
Rick Sadler: 1988 – https://soundcloud.com/westernbroadcasters/rick-sadler-am-106-april-14-1988
Parting thoughts
I keep thinking AM 106 had to have something different if me and so many others were willing to brave static and poor reception to listen to it.
I keep thinking AM 106 had to have something different if me and so many others were willing to brave static and poor reception to listen to it.
Getting a chance to listen to some snippets of it online reminded me that AM 106 just had something different. It had this unique sound. Maybe it was the deejays and the Top 10 at 10, or just the music.
Whatever it was, AM 106 left an indelible impression on my musical memories of the 1980s.
