Radio Stations on Records

In the record store, I often find myself drawn to old LPs with a radio handle fading on the sleeve. Something about that makes me see it as a stamp of approval. Somewhere, some DJ liked it enough to add it into their community's library of sound. Or maybe it was a favor for a friend. At the community radio in my home town they had a box up front with CDs of musical acts that they weren't really into - so to me it's a good sign it's been marked.

Of course when I did student radio, playing LPs was more of a novelty than anything. I would bring in a flash drive full of... uh.. legally downloaded tunes. But there was an automation program - Big John - that was an archive of music picked out over the years by different classes. It was another stamp of approval - digitally.

If you ever want to go down a fun rabbit hole of websites, you should look into the history of radio handles of certain stations. You may find- as I did - a storied history, DIY spirit, flyers, and a loving archive - that leaves you with more appreciation for the place you are.