Jay Doiron's Blog

Testimony

I was 11 years old in 1984. I started listening to the radio mostly favorite 98.5 WROR. They played Madonna, Billy Ocean, Billy Idol, Billy Joel, Prince, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Huey Lewis & the News, Dire Strait, Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, Foreigner, Michael Jackson, Wham, George Michael (Wham), Corey Hart, David Lee Roth and more. I happened to listen to 98.5 WROR whole day in one week during recess from my old school. While my recess after lunch break, I talked with young girls my age all about these singers and my favorite radio station.

History

Timeline & Key Changes

• WROR origins: In January 1969, WRKO-FM changed its call letters to WROR and shifted to “Stereo 98.5, WROR,” adopting an automated mix of current hits + oldies through Drake‐Chenault’s “Hit Parade ’69.” (bostonradio.org)
• Oldies focus (early 1970s–late ’70s): WROR ran mostly oldies, branding itself as “Solid Gold Rock & Roll,” “Nostalgia 98,” “Golden Great 98,” etc. Early on, they still played a new song or two each hour; in 1973 they dropped Drake‐Chenault formats and went fully live with oldies. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Late ’70s to early ’80s shift: By around 1978, the station was moving toward a “gold‐based AC” (adult contemporary) format—essentially putting more recent hits into the mix while still keeping strong oldies presence. The branding became “The Great 98” then “98-and-a-half.” (en.wikipedia.org)

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Format & Music in the 1980s

Throughout the ’80s, WROR blended several elements:

• Gold‐based AC / Oldies with currents: Many older hits (especially from the 1960s), but also played 1970s songs regularly. They added one or two current chart hits per hour. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Weekend oldies staple: Weekends were heavier on classic oldies—especially 1960s tracks, sometimes including “pre-1964 oldies.” Weekday programming was more mixed. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Late ’80s modernization: In 1987–1988, they made some shifts toward more “bright adult contemporary” style—shortening the oldies focus, dropping almost all the very early (pre-1964) songs, adding more songs from the ’70s and ’80s. (en.wikipedia.org)

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Branding, Identity & Key On-Air Moves

• Slogans and jingles: Their campaign “I’d Rather Be In Boston / With W-R-O-R” was prominent from 1979. Branding like “98-and-a-half” was used. (bostonradio.org)
• Legal/control changes: In 1981, RKO General (owner of WROR) had to sell off many of its broadcast properties after FCC issues. Though ownership and license status moved, the format held relatively steady until 1991. (bostonradio.org)
• Experimentation: For a few months in late 1987/early 1988, WROR ran a smooth jazz/new-age show in the evening—one of their occasional side formats. (en.wikipedia.org)

Audio

Lyric

Verse 1
Saturdays at sunrise, dialing through the dial
Found you on 98.5, classic rock and style
Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood, disco lights that burned so bright
Synth beats, guitar solos, dancing through the night  

Pre-Chorus
Every song a memory carved in grooves of vinyl blue
From the alley of the 70s to the neon 80s hue  

Chorus
Oh, 98.5 WROR Radio FM
You played our hearts like a needle on a gem
Though today you hum at 105-point-7
The soul’s still spinning, still sending pieces of heaven  

Verse 2
Broadcasts in ’85, when the airwaves lit the sky
We’d ride in old Chevys, windows down, our voices raised high
Queen and Bowie, the Clash and Prince, echoing through the streets
Every jingle in between, every beat that made us leap  

Pre-Chorus
We held onto that signal strong, it's more than sound, it’s where we belong  

Chorus
Oh, 98.5 WROR Radio FM
You played our hearts like a needle on a gem
Though today you hum at 105-point-7
The soul’s still spinning, still sending pieces of heaven  

Bridge
When the dial shifted, we didn’t drop the love
From the past to the present, you still fit like a glove
From disco balls to power chords, from cassette tapes to CDs
You’re the soundtrack in our minds, the wind in car windows and memories  

Verse 3
Morning light with your soft rock, an anthem in the breaking dawn
Evening comes with your heavy beats, and the moon keeps playing on
No matter what the number is, or where the tuning lands
We’re forever caught in your static, wrapped up in your hands  

Chorus (2×)
Oh, 98.5 WROR Radio FM
You played our hearts like a needle on a gem
Though today you hum at 105-point-7
The soul’s still spinning, still sending pieces of heaven  

Outro
Fade out the latest hits, bring back the vinyl spin
98.5 in ’85, but the magic’s still within
105-point-7, WROR, forever you’ll resound
You’re the voice of days gone by, and you never let us down 

Change

I found out 98.5 WROR was gone for several years until year past 2000’s, I found 105.7 WROR (They moved).