American Independent Radio

In 1971, legendary programmer Bill Drake commissioned a new set of jingles utilizing the Johnny Mann singers. Instrumental backing tracks were done in Detroit using the Motown session musicians who had appeared on countless hits. The set was marketed by Drake-Chenault's, 'American Independent Radio' ('AIR') division.

 

Drake - Double A Image Pack - Comparisons
Play	Year	Name	Run
	07/74	AIR - Drake 'Double A Image Pack' (originals)	:24
	10/74	AIR - Drake 'Double A Image Pack' (re-sings)	:16
	1979	Drake 'Double A Image Pack' (remixes)	1:43
	Hear the difference between the originals & the re-sings of the 'W'

 

The package was re-cut with new vocals in 1973 at PAMS of Dallas but retained the original backing instrumentation. Program Director, Harv Moore was never fully satisfied with the results of Series #42a and ordered this package in 1974. It was the last one he bought before leaving for WYSL in Buffalo early in 1975.

 

Drake - Double A Image Pack 1974 - Originals
Play	Year	Name	Run
	1A	Full Logo Fast	:03
	1D	Full Logo Edit	:03
	2A	Full Logo Long	:06
	3A	Full Logo Slow	:06
	4B	FM ID Voice Track with 'Stereo'	:05

 

As had been the case with the previous PAMS package, Harv had these jingles re-cut, with the only difference being how the 'W' was sung. In the initial attempt, three identical notes were sung to 'Dub-Bull-Yew'. The subsequent sing used three ascending notes instead.

Drake - Double A Image Pack 1974 - Resings
Play	Cut	Name	Run
	3A	Full Logo Slow	:07
	3B	Slow Voice Track	:04
	4B	FM ID Voice Track with 'Stereo'	:05

 

In 1979, the package was remixed yet again in the hope of putting it back into radio syndication. The original (three identical note 'W') cuts were used in the creation of the remixes. But by then, time had marched on and other producers, particularly JAM dominated the radio landscape. WPGC did not purchase the remixes and as such, they never aired. Listen to the cut by cut listing below.

 

Drake - Double A Image Pack 1979 - Remixes
Play	Cut	Name	Run
	1A	Full Logo Fast	:06
	1B	Fast Voice Track	:02
	1C	Fast Band Track	:06
	2A	Full Logo Long	:12
	2B	Long Voice Track	:03
	2C	Long Band Track	:12
	3A	Full Logo Slow	:10
	3B	Slow Voice Track	:04
	3C	Slow Band Track	:10
	4A	FM ID Full Mix	:12
	4B	FM ID Voice Track with 'Stereo'	:04
	4C	FM ID Band Track	:12

 

Thanks to Tracy Carman of the Media Preservation Foundation for the above!

Tracy writes:

The remixes were done by Tommy Loy. Tommy was a long time Dallas engineer who worked for TM, PAMS and everyone else. The original Drake multi-tracks and reduction reels made their way to Dallas sometime after the original company folded up operations in Los Angeles and was sold to Wagon Wheel in Arizona.

PAMS was doing resings over the original tracks and based on listening through the whole reel, I'd guess these resings (including those for WPGC) were being done on a 1/2" 4-track or 1" 8-track reduction reel. The original Motown track master is a 2" reel that now lives in my basement.

Based on the vocal group sound, I'd guess these were sung at PAMS, who had done resings over these tracks for KPOI / Honolulu and other stations in the 1973-to-1975 period. I'm guessing the vocals were just sitting on the reels since then.

The Drake tracks are the bastards of the industry. After being sung at PAMS, they were later sung at Otis Conner and TM Productions. Fortunately, I rescued the original multitracks before they got dumpstered. I don't HAVE the original reel they were mixed from nor do I have these as a full 44.1/16-bit file... just the .mp3 I found of Tony Griffin's from when he worked for Otis. At least these survived...!!!

 

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