The Best Radio Station in the U.S. (World?)

There probably aren't too many people who care about what the best radio station is anymore, aside from a handful of radio nerds.

But I am pretty sure what is the best radio station in the U.S.  It's a station on Eastern Long Island called WLNG.

Now I should qualify "best radio station" by saying this is an Oldies station.

WLNG is a station stuck in a time warp.  Since 1963, it hasn't changed its format, nor its sound.  It still has its jocks talking in AM-ish reverb echo.  The jingles are straight out of the 1960s.  There are hourly news breaks.  If you've ever heard a tape of a radio station from the 60s, it sounds exactly like that.

What makes the station great?  Two things. One is they let the jocks pick the songs. This is basically unheard of today, where most radio stations are carefully programmed, with the songs test-marketed, selected by computer, and tightly controlled.

The second and probably most important factor is the sheer NUMBER of songs.  A typical station like LA rock outlet KLOS plays about 400 to 600 songs.  Listen with any regularity, and you'll soon have heard them all.   Many, many times.  Plus, many other stations are playing those same songs, and have been for years.

The WLNG playlist is estimated at over 10,000.  And their definition of oldies is VERY wide.  A WLNG jock could easily play a Tennessee Ernie Ford tune from 1955, followed by a disco track from 1978, rounded out by a U2 song from 1987.  (Though most of the music, wisely, is from the late 50s through 70s.)

During the day, you can get a bit swamped with commercials, stock reports, and announcements about lost dogs and pancake breakfasts.  But in the evenings and on weekends, the music dominates.  You are pretty much guaranteed to get what in radio is called an "oh wow" moment.  (Meaning you say, "oh wow, haven't heard that in awhile.")   And you will also probably hear a song you've never heard in your life.  (And sometimes you are thankful about that!)  But the jocks are smart: they mix the nuggets up well with some familiar songs.

Should we also mention they are clearly playing vinyl 45s much of the time?

You can even email in a request which they will actually play.

Luckily we can all enjoy WLNG on the internet: no need to move to the Hamptons.

Here is a sample hour of WLNG:

Johnny Tillotson - Talk Back Trembling Lips (1963)

Randy Newman - Short People (1977)

Bobby Vee - Sharing You (1962)

Gary Lewis - Count Me In (1965)

Ringo Starr - It Don’t Come Easy (1971)

Barry Mann - Who Put the Bomp (1961)

John Lennon - Imagine (1971)
Stevie Wonder - Livin’ for the City (1973)

Hollywood Argyles - Alley Oop (1960)

Righteous Brothers - Soul and Inspiration (1966)

Bobby Darin - Things (1962)
Billy Ocean - Loverboy (1982)

Inez Foxx with Charlie Fox - Mockingbird (1963)

Andrea True Connection - More More More (1977)

Billy Joe Royal - Cherry Hill Park (1969)

Frankie Avalon - Gingerbread (1958)

Lou Christie - Lightning Strikes (1966)

Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night (1974)
Chordettes - Never On Sunday (1960)
Frank Sinatra - Softly As I Leave You (1964)