Jonathan Gilbert joined WHFS 102.3 in the early 1970s. Beginning as an engineer, he quickly moved into full-time on-air work as Weasel. His distinctive voice and delivery and his legendary knowledge of -- and passion for -- all things musical made him one of the most recognizable and enduring members of the Einstein WHFS lineup. Weasel stayed with WHFS through the Einstein Days, the Duchossis Days, and into the new Millennium. On January 1, 2000, as he signed off of his part in the Top 99.1 of 1999, he noted that he had now worked with WHFS in four decades: the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. By then the station was in decline, as its present owners tried to monetize it, gradually discarding the things that made WHFS the radio treasure it once had been. In 2003, feeling that the fun was gone, Weasel left WHFS for good. In 2005, 99.1 stopped being WHFS. After a few format changes, 99.1 has emerged as an all-news station, WNEW -- itself a recycling of another famous call sign that had once been synonymous with progressive music in New York City.
Since 2011, Weasel has made his radio home at WTMD 89.7 in Towson, MD. WTMD is the voice of Towson University and the most-listened-to NPR affiliate in Maryland. Branding themselves as "Radio for Music People," they are a strong advocate for and supporter of independent music in Baltimore, MD. A non-commercial station, they depend on listener support for a large part of their funding. This blogger proudly supports WTMD with his pledge dollars, and he urges you to do likewise. For three hours every Friday night, Jonathan Gilbert hosts Weasel's Wild Weekend, a variety show with a weekly theme, everything from songs about smiles to commemorations of important days such as the Day the Music Died, when we lost Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper on February 3, 1959. And on the Friday before New Year's Day he does his Party Music program. As I listened to it, I realized that I had the answer to the question I posed on the Top 99 Party Songs of the Millennium post: What would that program sound like fifteen years on? It would be none other than Weasel's Wildest Weekend of them All: the New Year's Eve Party Program!
Weasel's Wild Weekend Party Set 2014 -- 1.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Party Set 2014 -- 2.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Party Set 2014 -- 3.mp3
Update ... Well I'll be damned ... someone actually likes this Weasel's Wild Weekend thing. I got a request for the Baseball's Opening Day program from April 10, 2015, which I actually did manage to catch on my digital recorder. Here it is ... but you gotta promise ... if you download these recordings and enjoy our Weasel, Pledge WTMD. Become an encore club member. Radio stations don't last forever, and your pledge can help to keep Weasel on the air at WTMD ... not a promo roll ... just saying.
Weasel's Wild Weekend Baseball's Opening Day -- 1.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Baseball's Opening Day -- 2.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Baseball's Opening Day -- 3.mp3
Halloween Update: It seems that All Hallows Eve is one of Weasel's most auspicious days. To this day he devoted two whole episodes in 2014. The only other event that received such lavish treatment was Christmas. The Halloween program is divided into the Treats episode and the Tricks Episode. Each is presented in three segments of about an hour each. Here they are.
Weasel's Wild Weekend Halloween Treats 1.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Halloween Treats 2.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Halloween Treats 3.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Halloween Tricks 1.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Halloween Tricks 2.mp3
Weasel's Wild Weekend Halloween Tricks 3.mp3
Feast Your Ears ... --jkw
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteHaven't visited your blog in sometime now. I will go get this downloaded...sounds like a good show for sure! I recently bought an old Yamaha receiver that actually pulls in WTMD. I have to listen in mono, but it's worth it. No doubt the best station by far in the DMV!
Thanks for the heads up!
Jim
Nice post! Just makes you want to squeeze the Wease. :)
ReplyDeleteQuestion: can you change "The WHFS 102.3 (Feast Your Ears) Retrospective Page" to "The WHFS 102.3 (Feast Your Ears) Documentary Film Page" ? It would help us as the Kickstarter is going up soon for the film. Either way.....Thank You for adding us to your blog!!
Done. Glad to be of assistance. I appreciate all the photos and stories ... they bring back fond memories, both of listening to HFS and also of the college radio station work I did at WCWM-FM (it was 89.1 back then).
DeleteThank you! I listened to this today and felt like I'd gone back ~30 years.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last hour he played 4 songs from his classic party weekend set...
Beastie Boyz - Fight For Your Right
The Flirts - We Just Wanna Dance
Dave Edmunds - Here Comes the Weekend
Joe King Carrasco - Party Weekend
It probably changed some over the years, but weren't there more songs part of that set, like I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones?
how can I get the Baseball Special he is playing tonight- 4/10 ?
ReplyDeletethis is great!!! I'd love to save this!!!
You're in luck ... I just happened to catch this one as well. Download them, share them with your friends, and consider making a pledge of support. Feast Your Ears ...
DeleteWill someone release any and all live recordings from any root boy slim shows recorded before 1978 asap? Will someone get the book tommy ruger - the drummer for rb slim- wrote about the band published asap?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for a newer song (2012 song) that a lot of people know that I can make a parody of! Thanks
ReplyDeleteNext Step Parody
Anyone know where I can find playlists for Weasel's Wild Weekend (on WTMD)? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI second this request. Plus is there a possibility of WTMD making and offering Podcasts of his shows.
ReplyDeleteIt's a College radio station and preserving his shows would has real historical and educational value. There's no one like him. Weasel and his mind are a treasure that should be preserved.