From After a nice run, WIFI-92 was a failing top 40 radio station in 1982. So….in early 1983, the station called in consultant Rick Carroll who had transformed Los Angeles’ KROQ into a Southern California ratings success.
With much fanfare and press coverage, Carroll attempted to replicate his “Rock of the 80’s” New Wave format in Philadelphia by dramatically changing the station’s sound and bringing in DJs such as Mel Toxic and Lee Paris. The station was referred to as “I-92.”
On-Air DJ’s
- The Radio Radical ( Tim Dougherty )
- Bill ‘E’ ( Mike Brophy )
- Mo-Hawk ( Andre Gardner )
- Mel Toxic ( Mel Taylor / John Jurgaitis )
- Lee Paris ( Lee Salmons )
- Cathy Cummings
Here are some of the songs we played ALOT at I-92
- Is there Something I Should Know?- Duran Duran
- Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
- Every Breath You Take – Police
- In A Big Country – Big Country
- Church of the Poison Mind – Culture Club
- Let’s Dance – David Bowie
- Mad World – Tears for Fears
- Major Tom (Coming Home) – Peter Schilling
- Union of the Snake – Duran Duran
- I Confess – English Beat
- Do You Really Want to Hurt me? – Culture Club
- Modern Love – David Bowie
- Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
- New Year’s Day U2
- Our House – Madness
- I’ll Tumble 4 Ya – Culture Club
- King of Pain – Police
- Jeopardy – Greg Kihn Band
- One Thing Leads to Another – Fixx
- 99 Luft Balloons – Nena
- Make A Circuit With Me – Polecats
- Swear – Tim Scott
- Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
- Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
- Pale Shelter – Tears for Fears
- Save it for Later – English Beat
- She Blinded Me with Science – Thomas Dolby
- Living on the Ceiling – Blancmange
- Miss Me Blind – Culture Club
- Gigolo – Barbie & the Kens
- Talking in Your Sleep – Romantics
- The One Thing – INXS
- The Lovecats – Cure
- Cool Places – Sparks and Jane Wiedlin
- China – Red Rockers
- Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) – Icicle Works
- Whammy Kiss – B-52’S
- Saved by Zero – Fixx
- Synchronicity – Police
- Change – Tears for Fears
- Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
- Let’s Go to Bed – Cure
- Lifeline – Spandau Ballet
- The Reflex – Duran Duran
- Blue Monday – New Order
- Shiny Shiny – Haysi Fantayzee
- The Politics of Dancing – Reflex
- Lies – Thompson Twins
- China Girl – David Bowie
- Legal Tender – B-52’s
- Radio Waves – OMD
- Send Me An Angel – Real Life
- Radio Free Europe – REM
- Der Kommisar – Falco
- Let Me Go – Heaven 17
- Dr. Detroit – Devo
- It’s A Mug’s Game- Soft Cell
- Love My Way – Psychedelic Furs
- Doot Door – Freur
- Wishing (I Had A Photograph of You) – A Flock of Seagulls
- White Lines – Grandmaster Flash
- Buffalo Gals – Malcolm Mclaren
- Oblivious – Aztec Camera
- All You Ever Think About is Sex – Sparks
- Nowhere Girl – B Movie
- Shock the Monkey – Peter Gabriel
- Young Guns (Go for It) – Wham!
- Communication – Spandau Ballet
- This is Not a Love Song – PIL
- Too Shy – Kajagoogoo
- Telephone Operator – Pete Shelley
- (Keep Feeling) Fascination – Human League
- Red Skies – Fixx
- Just Got Lucky – Jo-Boxers
Was the best station ever in Philly.
The only time I ever listen to the radio religiously. Short lived. I lived in New Jersey and this station had a weak signal for me but I loved it.
Having successfully transformed a 200 watt mono community radio station (WCSD = we can’t stop drinking) in the basement of a suburban Philly Police Station from the brink of a 4th impending Bankruptcy – couldn’t pay their utility bills – to self sufficient for 20+ years via an upgraded music catalogue & heavy rotation of way cool lo-cal music acts, 1-92 in 1983 had been the only radio station in the nation worth working for. At least in terms of as a replacement for my career in medicine. Had a burgeoning family with an impending divorce & my hot rod & a paid-off cash split level to navigate as well. LA was not a choice. By the time I put a tidy CV and suitable Air Check together – BOOM! As Lee Paris had been wont to say before his untimely 1986 suicide, “We put the dinosaurs to shame, baby!”
I remember this station…I-92 was a bit refreshing. I was already listening to “new music” on college radio (WXPN, WKDU, WTSR) but was frustrated by the weak signals. I-92 came in pretty clear where I was in South Jersey. I remember having a crush on Cathy Cummings even though I had never seen her! She sure sounded pretty though. Eh…the teenage years. Anyone know what became of her?
I’m feeling like I’m remembering this right: sitting in my mother’s Buick, 14 years old, in line at the drive through lane of Downingtown National Bank on Route 100 in Lionville, listening to some top 40 nonsense on 92.5 fm and all of a sudden Devo came on. And the. Devo again. Like four or five songs in a row? Kicked in the fucking head.
I grew up in the Washington D,C area and had just moved back from living in the Boston area for three years so l had plenty of exposure to progressive radio. I landed a job in southern N.J in May of 83 this was one of the best if not the best radio stations l had ever heard…….and then it was gone……….
I was already listening to college radio stations by the time I92 aired. WXPN, WKDU, WTSR, and WPRB, were all great back then. I especially liked Lee Paris and Cathy Cummings. The best thing was that I92 had a stronger signal than the college stations. Once I nearly missed the bus to school because the dj played a live version of “Down In The Park” by Gary Numan. And whatever happened to Cathy Cummings? I had a crush on her back then and didn’t even know what she looked like!
Anyway, I joined the Army Reserves and left for basic training in July of 83. By the time I graduated, i92 was gone.