Rick Kaempfer worked for The Loop from 1987-1993, served as the executive producer for the John Records Landecker show on WJMK from 1993-2003, and returned to The Loop in 2004 to produce Spike, Dobie & Max. That was his last radio job. Since then, Rick has become a writer, author, and publisher. In October of 2004, Kaempfer co-wrote (with John Swanson) The Radio Producer’s Handbook (Allworth Press), a textbook about how to produce a radio show. At one point, it was being used as a textbook in 65 universities across the country. Rick has since written seven additional books, including... Read More
The Loop Files: An Oral History of the Most Outrageous Radio Station Ever
November 16, 2023
Trade paperback
Available now!
$30.00
For that period of time when all the stars aligned, when rock and roll and comedy and radio were all simultaneously kings, when the 1927 Yankees of Radio all gathered in the same hallway at the same time, the Loop created something that will never be forgotten. That story is told in the pages of this book by the people who were there.
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Rick Kaempfer
Author
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Some of you know this story from the outside listening in, while the rest of us lived this story from the inside listening out. I just received my copy of “The Loop Files,” lovingly cobbled together by Rick Kaempfer who lived this story as well. The pictures alone are worth the price of admission. If you listened to The Loop in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, here’s all that happened in the hallways and behind closed doors of Chicago’s most notorious radio station, The Loop FM 98 and it’s bratty sister station, AM 1000. Bravo Rick!
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Hats off to Rick Kaempfer for this authoritative and eminently readable oral history of the Chicago radio juggernaut known as The Loop. It’s a masterful account of the magic, mischief, and mayhem that captivated our town for two decades — as told by those who made it all happen. If you loved The Loop, you’ll love this book. I highly recommend it.
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I worked at the Loop during some of the years Rick has written about. I always tell people that Chicago Radio in the 80’s & 90’s was a bit out of control. “Hard to explain unless you were there.” Rick’s book is as close as it gets to telling the story. (And, the stories he didn’t/wouldn’t/couldn’t tell!) I smiled and laughed a lot. I learned a lot! And, I shook my head a lot at the culture of manic energy, talent, ego, money, and pure Rock & Roll decadence that we all lived in. It was our “normal.” It was not normal. But, it was indeed entertaining and a rare era in Radio history. I feel fortunate to have been part of the chaos and the creativity. It was fun to go back in time and be among all those people again. Thanks for the memories, Rick.
Summary
For that period of time when all the stars aligned, when rock and roll and comedy and radio were all simultaneously kings (1977-1998), when the 1927 Yankees of Radio all gathered in the same hallway at the same time, the Loop created something that will never be forgotten.
Author Rick Kaempfer has gathered all the people who worked there to tell the story of that great radio station, in their own words. Among the people quoted in the book…Lee Abrams, Sparky Anderson, Vince Argento, Robin Baumgarten, Doug Bensing, Dave Benson, Jay Blackburn, Matt Bisbee, Danny Bonaduce, Jonathon Brandmeier, Jessie Bullett, Chet Coppock, Bob Coburn, Steve Cochran, Phil Collins, Alan Cox, Steve Dahl, Sky Daniels, Jimmy de Castro, Scott Dirks, Lise Dominique, Tony Fitzpatrick, Cindy Gatziolis, Mark Giangreco, Terry Gibson, Arsenio Hall, Patti Haze, Bob Heymann, Bill Holub, Jeff Hoover, Tom Hoyt, Dorothy Humphrey, Rick Kaempfer, Leslie Keiling, Artie Kennedy, Buzz Kilman, Rick Kogan, John Landecker, Jack Landreth, Stan Lawrence, Bill Leff, Carla Leonardo, Dave Logan, Spike Manton, Kevin Matthews, Scott May, Jimmy Mac McInerney, Dan McNeil, Garry Meier, Mitch Michaels, Walter Michka, Jim Modelski, Pugs Moran, Graham Nash, Paul Natkin, Tom O’Toole, Jimmy Page, David Perlmutter, Reed Pence, Jim Peterik, John Platt, Mitch Rosen, Tim Sabean, Neil Sant, Roman Sawczak, Eddie Schwartz, Jeff Schwartz, Steve Seaver, Seka, Tom Serritella, Lorelei Shark, Jack Silver, Marc Silverman, Bob Sirott, Bobby Skafish, Wendy Snyder, Greg Solk, Ringo Starr, Cheryl Raye Stout, Bob Stroud, Brendan Sullivan, John Swany Swanson, Chuck Swirsky, Harry Teinowitz, Tom Thayer, Ed Tyll, Mike Veeck, Kathy Voltmer, Larry Wert, Oprah Winfrey, Jim Wiser, Laura Witek, and Bruce Wolf.
Great stories about a truly great radio station.
And over 200 incredible photos like these…
