I still listen to that music, with an iPhone playlist devoted to "KCGL Back in the Day". It features Gene Loves Jezebel, lots of ska, the Dead Milkmen, Duran Duran, and Depeche Mode/Yaz/Erasure/Alison Moyet, Echo & the Bunnymen and others. The fact that I am still listening to this music almost 30 years later says something. I can still name my favorite DJ's-Paul Santini and Biff Raff-even though the station has been defunct since 1986.
By the time I got to college, I knew I wanted to DJ, and actually derived my playlists much the same way they did. Basically, there wasn't a formula and if it sounded good back to back, it was an added bonus.
Back in the day, I was known for my mix tapes. If you got a tape from me, that was super special. I had a bit of social awkwardness around guys when I was younger, so it was a way to tell a dude I liked them. I put a lot of effort into them, with the right balance of sass and sweet; angelic and anarchy; sexy and innocent.
As I got older, I discovered WXPN, public radio from Philadelphia. In terms of the type of music played, it's close to my heart with eclectic playlists (Lucinda Williams to Husker Du? Yes please!). It helped foster a fierce musical independence for me, and set the bar high. Thanks to modern technology, despite being 1300 miles away, with my WXPN app I can listen all day if I want.
In between, I've accumulated a vast music collection. It continues to today; still downloading after all these years. I still make mixes, although for the most part they are for the little man and myself (the big man likes radio; he doesn't listen to music on his iPhone nor does he listen to CDs. Over the air cheesy radio). My son is skewing more to my taste in music, which my makes my heart sing.
I am not impressed with local radio in Sioux Falls. For one thing, I am a musical snob. I won't deny that. Pop music and rap are for workouts mainly. The rock station really isn't my cup of tea, and let's face it I still skew to the left of the dial.
People say your musical taste is set in your teenage years, and that's true. KCGL ruined radio for me. For that, a great big thank you.
I've loved this song for nearly 30 years, thank you KCGL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ySdAsoMILk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
