I live in Seattle now, and we have a great dance music station associated with one of the local high school’s called C89.5 that has “Save the Wave” on thursday mornings. My wife and I were listening this morning and “Would I Lie To You” by the Eurythmics came on and I was trying to remember my first impression of them. I know the first song I heard was Sweet Dreams, and I didn’t have MTV, so I’m sure it must have been on the radio, but I couldn’t remember the name of the station until Google led me here.

I remember going to the station once, I think we were going to get some concert or promotional posters. I remember going to some restaurant where they were recording a breakfast interview with “The Bobs” (probably the first and last time I’ve heard of them). I knew Barb Guy from before the station went on the air because she worked at Smokey’s Records near my house, where I spent wayy too much time reading Billboard Magazine and agonizing over what album or pin-on button to spend my meager allowance and paper route earnings on. I thought it was awesome that she was on commercial radio. I remember seeing REM and the Cure at the fairgrounds colosseum (with its horrible acoustics). I remember the first time I heard “Blister in the Sun,” I was in the car with my mother and brother, going to get ice cream at Baskin Robin’s on 21st S. I LOVED it, my mother hated it.

Does anyone remember the new wave/modern music station that came before KCGL? I think they played the format for most, if not all their, on-air time. I was listening to it in Jr High, which would have been… 1982 or 1983, I guess. They also got switched to another format, and it was a huge bummer. I don’t know if any of the same people were involved with KCGL.

I’m also curious if

When the owners switched the station to Jesus radio, it left a gaping hole, like a close friend had suddenly died. None of the other stations that later tried to copy the format were ever satisfying. They lacked the edge and the weirdness. They lacked the depth of KCGL’s library of music. They all felt like they were trying to cash in on the KCGL demographic by playing the few new wave bands that had landed on a major label. Sure KJQ would play New Order or the Cure, but never Jonathan Richman or Trio. Thanks KCGL, and thanks Laura Moncur for this trip down memory lane.

Peace – Dave