Radio Jive - The New Spirit of Radio

For awhile now, I have lamented the fact that FM radio in the Toronto area has denigrated to bland, generic pap, typically segregated per genre, and as per the CRTC, and (in the U.S.) FAA guidelines.

Feeling particularly blessed to have lived through what I consider a particularly creative period of local radio, from the 60's to the early 90's, I realize that I now have the power through this blog to perpetuate the creativity of that era.

When FM radio was in it's infancy, as the high quality signal alternative to AM, programming was quite often left up to the imagination and whim of the DJ. I fondly recall listening to Larry Green, David Marsden, and (the late) David Pritchard on CHUM-FM. I can even recall Larry playing Weather Report's "Birdland" back to back with The Beatles from Sgt. Pepper! That was the first time I had heard Weather Report!

As the decade progressed, modern radio, it seems, did not keep up the creative pace. News of pirate radio stations off the coast of the UK, filtered back to Canada. A true alternative was creeping into the subculture of radio. DJ's and radio personnel not happy with the changes happening vainly tried keeping that "spirit" alive.

This, of course, brings me to the launch of CFNY-FM, a small local station destined to bring the "Spirit of Radio" to Toronto listeners, or whomever could pick up their low powered signal. Fans exchanged antenna configurations, hoping to boost the signal into their home and car. I'm sure the same scenario was being played out in cities across North America during this time. An underground movement that was a step up from freeform college radio, but with the same attitude.

CFNY became "the little station that could", ignoring playlists, and creating their own. Keeping their ear to the ground in the local music scene, they helped launch many a struggling musician's career. Keeping up with the music scenes in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and across the pond in the UK, they were responsible for bringing New Wave and Punk to local airwaves, bands that are now regularly playlisted on Adult Contemporary stations. As they slowly gained popularity, so did the strength of their broadcast signal. Soon it was "cool" to listen to CFNY.

Power trio, Rush, a band whose music was usually relegated to Toronto's Classic Rock station, Q107, honored the station with it's song, "The Spirit of Radio".

Eventually, the station was swallowed up by big corporate radio, and the inevitable programming changes slowly began to happen. Today, the station is a mere ghost of it's former self. Despite the return of respected Program Director Alan Cross, there was no real perceived changes happening. I'm sure his powers are limited. But, the "spirit" of that old programming lives on, as fan websites such as The Spirit of Radio celebrate the station, the staff, and the sound that was. A forum even exists for fans to discuss everything from finding rare songs from the station's old playlist to finding current listening alternatives.

One such alternative has been from the mind of one of CFNY's originals, David Marsden, who carries the torch on Thursday and Friday nights on his show, The Marsden Theatre, on The Rock 94.9. Like most FM stations, you can listen via a live stream on the net.

Which brings me to Radio Jive, the creative output of CFNY's other madman of the airwaves, the Live Earl Jive (pictured above, from the archives of spiritofradio.ca). Thanks to modern technology, and the "anyone can start up their own radio station" ideology, Earl has rekindled the Spirit over the freedom of the internet. A modern form of pirate radio, he can now give us a taste of what CFNY could have become, not to mention memories of his show back in the 80's. His programming choices of genre-blending tracks from Sinatra to Stockhausen, Abba to ABC, and Beatles to beat, interspersed with tongue-in-cheek satirical "news" headlines from the funny people at The Onion, make for a totally eclectic mix. It certainly is a welcome relief from what passes as modern music on radio today.

So if you long for more diverse programming while working away in that office cubicle, or at home with friends, tune in. You'll find yourself coming back again and again, waiting and wondering what he'll play next.

Now, if I could only figure out how to hear Radio Jive streaming through my car radio.....