When Dan Mason returned as President of CBS Radio in the Spring of 2007, the first thing he did was make it clear that many of the blunders of the past few years needed to be fixed. The “Free-FM” brand was slowly dissolved, leading to the return of K-Rock. San Francisco’s KFRC was relaunched on a new frequency just a few months after that station had dropped its heritage format. All that remained was dealing with that pesky Jack in New York.
On July 12, 2007 at appropriately 1:01pm, Jack shifted over to 101.1’s HD-2 signal and made way for the return of a slightly modified WCBS-FM. Dan Taylor and Bob Shannon were brought back, but were joined by newcomers Broadway Bill Lee, Joe Causi and more 80’s music.
Note: This is quite long, running at almost 27 minutes, but well worth it. Features the end of Jack, complete CBS-FM musical timeline and the first few jock breaks.
andrea d. wiener
WOW! – this is GREAT!!
andrea
henry
Yeah! I’m not even an oldies fan … but this sign on gives me hope! Radio has a future!
Phil Zupalot
Welcome back WCBS! Oldies radio was greatly missed in New York!
I’m 30 something and I love WCBS!
Thanks also for bringing back radio personalities! Much apreciated!
Niko
I can’t help but listen again to this clip… and supposedly I’m not to appreciate the “greatest hits” they play? I’m just eighteen and I’m falling in love all over again.
And I don’t live in New York at that… nor in the US! Half the world away, I must say.
Amen to WCBS-FM. Listening online every time I get to now.
Mark David
It is indeed great to hear that this New York institution is back on the air after having being “Jacked” for 2 long years. Welcome back, WCBS. I may be in Montreal, Canada, but I’ve been a fan all the while. To mark this joyous occasion, I have prepared a short poem. Enjoy!
‘Twas the day of June 3rd,
And all through the station
Everyone in attendance
Was in a state of elation.
Mickey Dolenz was celebrating
His 100th show
But right after that,
Who knew where he’d go?
Everything was normal
Until 4 PM
Bill Brown made an announcement
That signaled the end.
“Rescue me!” he proclaimed
In an alarmed-sounding tone
And right after that,
He was left all alone.
A meeting was held,
And all were told
Of something unexpected
That was about to unfold.
They were changing the format
After thirty-three years
It was this that attributed
To everyone’s fears.
“Why are you doing this?” was the question
That hung in the air
But the all-powerful GM,
He just didn’t care.
The format flip
Was a business decision
And just after that,
They made the incision.
At 4 they went jockless
For the next half an hour
While the new format
Was gaining its power.
4:30 PM
Brought about some stunting
While at Yankee Stadium
The home team was bunting.
At 5 PM the last
Legal ID was played
And then to rest
CBS-FM was laid.
What happened next
Occurred with a crack
Because 101’s new format
Was something called Jack.
The fan base was seething
With anger and rage
Why was this Jack thing invading
The CBS stage?
The hatred was evident
From the loyal fan base
This sudden change in formats
Was a serious case.
Even New York’s mayor,
Mr. Michael Bloomberg
Detested this change
And made himself heard.
The Jack staff ignored
The public’s reaction
They kept playing variety hits
Without the slightest distraction.
Jack FM was formatted
Just like those iPods
But all of the CBS DJs
Were now without jobs.
“Change is good,”
The Jack staff said
But NYC needed Jack
Like a hole in the head.
The Jack format continued
For two long years
They played lots of music
But no Britney Spears.
New Yorkers needed
Their classic hits fix
And then, one fine day,
They changed the mix.
CBS Radio
Got a new GM
Who promised to put an end
To all the mayhem.
He finally decided,
After 769 long days
That 101 FM and Jack
Would have to part ways.
In 2007,
On the 12th of July
Everyone gathered
To bid Jack goodbye.
It all occurred
At 1:01 PM
CBS-FM was back
On the air once again.
CBS Radio had realized
Their errors of the past
And this time, they hoped
The oldies would last.
Yes, the oldies were back
And the air was alive
With some great classic hits
From ’64 to ’85.
All were rejoicing
And who could blame them?
Their station had returned
Right there and then.
It was indeed great
To have WCBS back
And the airstaff did say,
“Hit the road, Jack!”
The celebrations continued
Without further ado
Whilst Jack FM was jettisoned
To HD2.
And all around the room
The champagne did pour
Because the format called Jack
Had been shown the door.
WCBS-FM
Is here to stay
And all the best classic hits
They’ll continue to play.
There’s a lesson to be learned
From this situation
Don’t mess with great things;
It causes irritation.
And now I can say
Without any fright
Happy listening to all;
We’ve won the good fight!
WELCOME BACK, WCBS!!!
Mike D.
It’s great that cbs-fm,is back in NYC,with the great music again!You were definitely missed! It’s also nice to hear the familiar dj’s,Dan Taylor& Bob Shanon,as well as Broadway Bill Lee,and Joe Causi too!
Jim C.
Awesome transition. Was it a coincidence that Jack FM played “Don’t dream it’s over” as their last song (and is there any reason that song shouldn’t be played on the “new” WCBS)?
Now we just need the real WNEW to be resurrected. I think 102.7 has undergone about 47 format changes since dropping the classic AOR format.
Albert
The Poem has said much
with all things that became such,
But in a way it seemed so astray
though we all prayed, we new,
that CBS FM would come
home one day.
Stefin Gullo
I couldn`t be happier.I`ve been a fan since the 70`s when I lived in Flatbush,Brooklyn.I moved to Florida & couldn`t get you.Came here to Georgia & finally found you guys on the net.I feel like I`ve been vaccinated with a phonograph needle.Being from Brooklyn,I`m used to the original “Doo Wop” music.Where can I replace my 20 plus year Tee Shirt from CBS-FM.Mr Jeff Mazzei helped me replace my ol` CBS coffee mug.I`d like to buy a new CBS-FM Tee Shirt.Hope you can help me.Welcome back,not just here but now all over the world.If we could make it to the moon,I knew we`d here CBS-FM again.Everyone that I`ve turned onto CBS thinks you`re the best oldies station out there.Thanks guys & STAY PUT this time.CIAO
Terry
Welcome Back wcbs 101.1
You have been missed.
I have been a fan since the 70’s.
When you left the airwaves, I left too.
Now your back…….me too!
Now bring back the 50’s and I will really be happy.
Terry, Jr
There’s this old saying that for every action there’s a REaction. Well, from what I understand, the public outcry and outrage of New Yorkers caused the ratings for Jack FM to plummet!! I know know how they do it but they’ve done it and now WCBS FM is BACK!!! I’m not a New Yorker and I was late about the news but I’m GLAD that CBS FM is back!!! I’m crying tears of joy just writting this!! Now if only WJMK in Chicago switches back to the olides format once again, then I’LL be happy!!
Andy
The music on Jack FM isn’t that bad…I listen online and am still impressed at how much of their playlist mirrors my own tastes. I loved the old CBS-FM too, but a lot of people forget that they dropped their 50s music long before the days of Jack, and now some of them are complaining that there’s no 50s music on the new reconstituted CBS-FM. To those talking about the death of Jack…Jack’s not dead at all…just moved to their HD channel and is completely accessible on the Internet. The format is alive and thriving in many other markets, many of the stations have personalities too, but Jack is, and always was, about the music. There’s room for both stations, and in New York…they figured out how to accomplish that.
tyrone thompson
oh what a time new yorkers had! i’m glad it’s back, with those amazing jam jingles to match! if only we’ve got this for KCBS FM, The oldies format! yeah! KCBS FM, “oldies 93” ruled!
Chowchillah
Here’s the old 101.1 Jack FM website that someone obviously forgot to take down after the transition.
//www.ilikejack.com/pages/23528.php
Welcome back CBS-FM.