Fm Socks
Description: WPLJ 95.5 FM became one of New York City’s defining rock radio stations after adopting its famous call letters and progressive rock format in 1971. Broadcasting from Manhattan, WPLJ helped shape the sound of FM radio during the '70s by introducing listeners to album-oriented rock, deeper cuts, and emerging artists that AM stations often ignored. The station’s call letters came from “White Port and Lemon Juice,” a blues song by The Four Deuces, reflecting the era’s free-form rock spirit. Over the decades, WPLJ evolved through rock, Top 40, and hot adult contemporary formats while becoming home to legendary New York radio personalities and morning shows, remaining a major presence on the city’s air waves until its final sign-off in 2019.
Description: In 1970, Barret Eugene Hansen created the Dr. Demento persona and show at KPPC-FM in Pasadena, California, playing novelty songs and unusual recordings, which was the beginning of his long-running career in comedy music broadcasting. The name "Dr. Demento" was inspired by a fellow DJ's comment after Hansen played a Nervous Norvus song, saying that Hansen must be "demented" to play such a terrible track, and the name stuck. What started as a rock oldies show evolved into an all-novelty music format due to positive listener response. 1970 through 1973 marked the pre-syndication era of the show, before its national reach began in 1974.
