 2SM
1970's
The 1970’s is without doubt the decade that 2SM
became one of this country’s best known, most promotionally active
and innovative radio stations. Muir and his team successfully
transplanted the American style of Real More Music radio into
Sydney putting it into an Australian context. With the most stringent
format rules applying to music flow, commercial content, what
the jocks said and the placement of jingles, 2SM redefined the
whole premise of a music based radio station. And how about that
reverb…..phew, what a sound ! |
 2SM
IN THE 80'S
"The Rock of the 80’s" format which aired through
1984/85 showed SM putting up a big fight back into double figures
briefly.
You gotta wonder how that stuff would gone on FM ?
|
 2UW
IN THE 1970's
By mid 1970, nearly all the "11-10 Men" including
Austin, Baby John Burgess, Donnie Sutherland, John Thompson; Rod
Christopher, John Melouney and Gary Stewart had either resigned
or were sacked, one was even lost at sea. That was Tony McLaren
back in 1967.
A new, more adult 2UW arrived for the 1970's this time headed
by none other than John Laws in mornings.
While 2SM captured the younger audience for the seventies, 2UW
chipped away with a somewhat more restrained contemporary sound.
Lot's of oldies too! Remember "Sam Galea Gold" at night. 2UW along
with Brisbane counterpart 4BC, later launched themselves as "Funtastic
Radio". Malcolm T. Elliott was popular throughout this period
on breakfast. |
 This
is one of my favorite images
At the beginning of the 80's 2UW was looking again
at the younger end however, this was short lived. Just before
Christmas 1980 U.S. programming consultant Todd Wallace arrived
at 365 Kent St to help launch the "NEW" 2UW.Nothing like the one
in the 60's but rather successful just the same.
Throughout the 80's UW evolved into "The Amazing AM"; "Hit Radio
11"; Better Music"; "Classic Hits" and who could forget the biggie
in 1984 - "Magic 11". A complete revamping of the station which
brought all kinds of interesting reaction which we won't go into
here. (One trivia morsel worthy of note was when Management brought
in pop vocalist Glenn Shorrock ex LRB to co-compare the Breakfast
session with Ron E Sparx). |
 2MMM
THE PIONEERS OF FM ROCK
Commercial FM in Sydney got off to a delayed start. There I was
one Friday afternoon in July of 1980 with 2 recorders set to capture
those opening moments of 2DAY and 2MMM. I forget how long, (weeks?)
before everything got sorted out on the tower. Eventually, it
was on a Sunday afternoon as I recall when both FM'ers casually
crept on air.
MMM's birthing was quite memorable. There was the owner, the big
kid let loose in the toy store, Rod Muir blasting out your radio
in left and right. Not quite as hyped up as he was in days of
old, (circa '65 as a 2SM Good Guy). In fact, he couldn't help
himself from referring to the old station. Upon back announcing
"Stairway To Heaven" - rarely, if ever heard on radio at that
time - Muir said "There you go 2SM, betcha can't make it sound
as good as that!".......words to that effect, in a tone of voice
signifying a vertical middle finger pointed directly towards North
Sydney. And with that they were on their way with Muir at the
helm for the next so many years. Yes, a sailing reference there.
Rod was doing a lot of stuff with boats back then.
The original promo line for MMM was a tasteful little groove.
A 60 second chunky guitar solo based on an excerpt of Mike Batt's
Tarot Suite. The vocal went - "Triple M, FM, Stereo, Radio, Because
Your Ears Have Brains". See it/hear it below (Titled Dr Dan #3).
One wag was heard to mutter - Because Your Ears Have Wax!
 The
early sound of MMM was mostly rock inspired while 2DAY was softer
and more "West Coast". On both stations the jocks were pretty
laid back giving them a big point of difference to the AM's of
the day. Ratings were a bit thin on the ground as well.
After a few years of finding themselves, MMM began to consolidate
and developed a neat music positioner which would be their calling
card for most of the 1980's "Triple M Triples Your Music" Almost
like the days of "More Music" when just a few words said it all.
Sorry, my cynicism is showing. |
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