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Records Truly Is My Middle Name
When you’re born with the middle name “Records”, your destiny has been chosen for you. John Records Landecker fulfilled his destiny by becoming one of the most respected disc jockeys in radio history.
In Landecker’s incredible 40-plus year major market radio career, he lived an amazing life. His former long-time producer, author Rick Kaempfer, has managed to pull those stories out of him in the pages of “Records Truly Is My Middle Name.” Whether the stories are about the behind the scenes world of Top 40 Radio’s heyday, or Landecker’s colorful encounters with worldwide celebrities like George Harrison, Mel Brooks, Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, George Carlin, and countless others, Landecker recounts his tales with refreshing honesty and humor.
Landecker and Kaempfer produced this memoir as they once did their radio show together. The book is packed with the stories behind Landecker’s most famous bits and songs, timeless photographs, John’s personal memories of important Baby Boomer milestones, and additional stories from over thirty guest stars (like fellow radio legends Bob Sirott, Jonathon Brandmeier, Don Wade, Fred Winston, Joey Reynolds and more).
In Landecker’s incredible 40-plus year major market radio career, he lived an amazing life. His former long-time producer, author Rick Kaempfer, has managed to pull those stories out of him in the pages of “Records Truly Is My Middle Name.” Whether the stories are about the behind the scenes world of Top 40 Radio’s heyday, or Landecker’s colorful encounters with worldwide celebrities like George Harrison, Mel Brooks, Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, George Carlin, and countless others, Landecker recounts his tales with refreshing honesty and humor.
Landecker and Kaempfer produced this memoir as they once did their radio show together. The book is packed with the stories behind Landecker’s most famous bits and songs, timeless photographs, John’s personal memories of important Baby Boomer milestones, and additional stories from over thirty guest stars (like fellow radio legends Bob Sirott, Jonathon Brandmeier, Don Wade, Fred Winston, Joey Reynolds and more).
315 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2013
6 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 2, 2013
Radio fans and students alike need to read this book: Records Truly Is My Middle Name by John Landecker and Rick Kaempfer.
I got my copy last night and read through the whole thing. John is one of the legends of Chicago broadcasting that I was fortunate enough to work with, and I learned more than a few things from this book.
It's rare that we can benefit from the experience and wisdom of our career role models, and John's book provides - interwoven with stories both hilarious and touching - insight into what motivates talent to excel, re-invent themselves, and grow.
The next generation of broadcasters/webcasters/podcasters/whatever "casters" they are, who didn't grow up with the transistor radio under the pillow like we did, can learn a lot.
I got my copy last night and read through the whole thing. John is one of the legends of Chicago broadcasting that I was fortunate enough to work with, and I learned more than a few things from this book.
It's rare that we can benefit from the experience and wisdom of our career role models, and John's book provides - interwoven with stories both hilarious and touching - insight into what motivates talent to excel, re-invent themselves, and grow.
The next generation of broadcasters/webcasters/podcasters/whatever "casters" they are, who didn't grow up with the transistor radio under the pillow like we did, can learn a lot.
April 1, 2013
For anyone who grew up in Chicago, you heard John Records Landecker on the radio. Even if you didn't, after reading this memoir, you'll wish you had. "Records Truly Is My Middle Name" is just like Landecker's various radio shows: often funny, sometimes serious, always entertaining, and uniquely John Records Landecker.
April 1, 2013
Records Truly Is My Middle Name is like John Records Landecker himself: intelligent, honest, and funnier than a one-legged man with a rubber crutch in an ass-kicking contest on a frozen pond.
I first started listening to John Landecker as a pimple-faced, angst-ridden adolescent in Dubuque, Iowa. It was around 1975, I just started junior high, and I was looking around the radio for some music that didn't suck. Came across this station in the middle of the dial playing music better than the local fare. I heard some ads letting me know this was out of the big city, Chicago, then, through the static, I heard what sounded like kids my age chanting about...boobies?! Right then I was hooked. Then the DJ took calls from kids in rapid succession. Later I realized I had just lost my Boogie Check cherry. For the entirety of my teen years, John Landecker and WLS were an indispensable part.
While reading the book, I was struck by how John's life is the quintessential baby boomer's life. His father is a German Jew who was the last Jew to get a law degree in Berlin and makes it to America to raise a family in America's postwar optimism. John recalls being in school when JFK is killed, he watches the Beatles on Ed Sullivan (remembering Mitzi Gaynor's cleavage sweat)and even ends up marrying the granddaughter of Senator McCarthy's nemesis, Joseph N. Welch. And of course, he falls in love with rock and roll. Each chapter of the book begins with the significant historical and cultural events of that particular era which not only give the book a nostalgic flavor but also give a context to make it a baby-boomer's life story.
My favorite part of the book is John's first tour with WLS since that was the time I got to know him through the radio. The behind-the-scenes stories of the all-star on-air talent off the air (that's awkward) are hilarious. I can just hear Larry Lujack growling,"...you Phil-a-del-phia f**k!" My favorite story is the story of a foosball game between Elton John and Hugh Hefner at the Chicago Playboy mansion in which John served as play-by-play announcer. "Elton, you came from behind to win," said John. "I usually do," said Sir Elton.
Being the quintessential baby boomer story, the optimistic halcyon days give way to darker days for Landecker as he journeys from station to station, not finding the success he had with WLS in the '70's. The second half of the book finds John in what he describes as his darkest days, finding his career and family harmed by the excesses his alcohol and drug use brought, which he freely discusses. To John's credit, he doesn't use his book to settle scores or make excuses but takes responsibility for his failings. And again, to his credit, he puts away the drugs and booze, settles down with his soul mate, Nika, and enjoys rebirth at WJMK and currently on WLS-FM, in the time slot of his glory days,6PM to 10 PM, spinning (or whatever a jock does with music in the digital era) classic '70's and '80's hits.
Aside the larger context of John's story being the quintessential story of his generation, for me it is a story of coming back home. I started listening to John at the beginning of my teen years. Through my teen years, I listened to him nightly, cheered by his jokes, the music and the double entendres of which JRL was the all time master. I loved Boogie Check, Can I get a Witness News, Americana Panorama and John's general bemusement at the goofiness in the world. I graduated from high school when John left WLS in 1981, and like John I went out in the world, occasionally stumbled but eventually found my way back home. And thanks to the internet I have rediscovered John Records Landecker every weeknight from 6PM to 10PM. Coming back home.
A story John tells about his father seems to sum up the book. In Werner Landecker's student days he visited a library run by Nazis. Why would he do that, since as a Jew, he wasn't allowed to study there, John asks. Mr Landecker replied, "I wanted to see what it felt like." John says this describes his father perfectly. It also describes Werner Landecker's son perfectly. John takes us on a ride through his life and let's us know what it felt like. Fun, exciting, sometimes bumpy, but all in all, one hell of a ride. Thanks John for taking us along.
I first started listening to John Landecker as a pimple-faced, angst-ridden adolescent in Dubuque, Iowa. It was around 1975, I just started junior high, and I was looking around the radio for some music that didn't suck. Came across this station in the middle of the dial playing music better than the local fare. I heard some ads letting me know this was out of the big city, Chicago, then, through the static, I heard what sounded like kids my age chanting about...boobies?! Right then I was hooked. Then the DJ took calls from kids in rapid succession. Later I realized I had just lost my Boogie Check cherry. For the entirety of my teen years, John Landecker and WLS were an indispensable part.
While reading the book, I was struck by how John's life is the quintessential baby boomer's life. His father is a German Jew who was the last Jew to get a law degree in Berlin and makes it to America to raise a family in America's postwar optimism. John recalls being in school when JFK is killed, he watches the Beatles on Ed Sullivan (remembering Mitzi Gaynor's cleavage sweat)and even ends up marrying the granddaughter of Senator McCarthy's nemesis, Joseph N. Welch. And of course, he falls in love with rock and roll. Each chapter of the book begins with the significant historical and cultural events of that particular era which not only give the book a nostalgic flavor but also give a context to make it a baby-boomer's life story.
My favorite part of the book is John's first tour with WLS since that was the time I got to know him through the radio. The behind-the-scenes stories of the all-star on-air talent off the air (that's awkward) are hilarious. I can just hear Larry Lujack growling,"...you Phil-a-del-phia f**k!" My favorite story is the story of a foosball game between Elton John and Hugh Hefner at the Chicago Playboy mansion in which John served as play-by-play announcer. "Elton, you came from behind to win," said John. "I usually do," said Sir Elton.
Being the quintessential baby boomer story, the optimistic halcyon days give way to darker days for Landecker as he journeys from station to station, not finding the success he had with WLS in the '70's. The second half of the book finds John in what he describes as his darkest days, finding his career and family harmed by the excesses his alcohol and drug use brought, which he freely discusses. To John's credit, he doesn't use his book to settle scores or make excuses but takes responsibility for his failings. And again, to his credit, he puts away the drugs and booze, settles down with his soul mate, Nika, and enjoys rebirth at WJMK and currently on WLS-FM, in the time slot of his glory days,6PM to 10 PM, spinning (or whatever a jock does with music in the digital era) classic '70's and '80's hits.
Aside the larger context of John's story being the quintessential story of his generation, for me it is a story of coming back home. I started listening to John at the beginning of my teen years. Through my teen years, I listened to him nightly, cheered by his jokes, the music and the double entendres of which JRL was the all time master. I loved Boogie Check, Can I get a Witness News, Americana Panorama and John's general bemusement at the goofiness in the world. I graduated from high school when John left WLS in 1981, and like John I went out in the world, occasionally stumbled but eventually found my way back home. And thanks to the internet I have rediscovered John Records Landecker every weeknight from 6PM to 10PM. Coming back home.
A story John tells about his father seems to sum up the book. In Werner Landecker's student days he visited a library run by Nazis. Why would he do that, since as a Jew, he wasn't allowed to study there, John asks. Mr Landecker replied, "I wanted to see what it felt like." John says this describes his father perfectly. It also describes Werner Landecker's son perfectly. John takes us on a ride through his life and let's us know what it felt like. Fun, exciting, sometimes bumpy, but all in all, one hell of a ride. Thanks John for taking us along.
January 18, 2023
When this book came out, the author did a book event at the public library where I was director. We set up lights and speakers and played music. He said nobody had done that for any book event for him. It was so much fun. We are so lucky in Chicago to have great radio, especially in the 70s, 80s, 90s... Boogie Check was everything to teens in the 70s. I really enjoyed the stories in this book. If you grew up in the Chicago area, you will like this book. Even if you didn't, you'll get a kick out of his stories because you'll recognize the musicians he interviewed and the national events he discusses.
December 23, 2018
A comfortable read
I enjoyed this first person look at the life of John Records Landecker. If you grew up listening to him, I think you’ll hear his voice in your head reading this to you just like I did—that’s a bonus that should be printed on the book’s dust jacket ;)
I enjoyed this first person look at the life of John Records Landecker. If you grew up listening to him, I think you’ll hear his voice in your head reading this to you just like I did—that’s a bonus that should be printed on the book’s dust jacket ;)
August 11, 2019
Outstanding book for other midwestern kids that used to listen to this man on WLS at night, or are simply radio buffs. There is little doubt that Mr. J “Records” Landecker is the reason I went into radio broadcasting.
June 1, 2018
Interesting for anyone who ever listened to 89 WLS!
March 13, 2020
Quick read.
Great stories. It brought back lots of memories from growing up in the 1950s and listening to Chicago radio stations.
Great stories. It brought back lots of memories from growing up in the 1950s and listening to Chicago radio stations.
August 2, 2015
Records Truly Is My Middle Name by John Landecker and Rick Kaempfer published by Eckhartz Press is so sizzling HOT you will need oven mitts to handle this book! Take a walk on radio's wild side and revel in the scintillating, spicy, juicy stories of radio's hey-day, told as only a living legend, and his intrepid trail-blazing producer can tell it! This book is literally a Chicago radio and music time machine! Records Truly Is My Middle Name transports the reader to a simpler, yet far more exciting and invigorating place and time, allowing one to revel in the magical glory days of music-radio, while indulging in the wildly fascinating true story of one of the coolest, hippest and nicest guys to ever rule the airwaves - John Records Landecker. As always, the creative team at Eckhartz Press pulled out the stops and did a first-rate job packaging this book with an aesthetically pleasing full-color front and back cover, housing an impressive interior lay-out design that enhances the photos and text! Get yourself a case load of this book at Amazon or Eckhartz Press. These books make great gifts for every music-lover you know!
April 14, 2014
This was an interesting book. Funny, irreverent, and surprisingly honestly written, exposing warts and all...
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I loved listening to WLS, WCFL, and all those other radio stations on my transister radio in my bedroom under the covers. Mr. Landecker's career has taken him from Chicago to other locations around the US (and Canada) and back again. He is very candid about his life experiences (with drugs and alcohol), and those wild days of a music DJ. Having listened to John recently at WGN, I am glad for his current maturity and talent.
A must read for anyone who grew up in the Chicagoland area in the 60's, 70's and beyond. You will recognize the personalities and events. Enjoy.
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I loved listening to WLS, WCFL, and all those other radio stations on my transister radio in my bedroom under the covers. Mr. Landecker's career has taken him from Chicago to other locations around the US (and Canada) and back again. He is very candid about his life experiences (with drugs and alcohol), and those wild days of a music DJ. Having listened to John recently at WGN, I am glad for his current maturity and talent.
A must read for anyone who grew up in the Chicagoland area in the 60's, 70's and beyond. You will recognize the personalities and events. Enjoy.
Read
December 15, 2013This work had much potential for being interesting, and bringing back fond memories of listening to AM radio as a kid. Unfortunately, it had so many typos and grammatical errors that I could no longer even skim it. Quit around p.30.
May 18, 2013
Not necessarily a literary work of art, but a wonderful trip through special memories having grown up and lived in the Chicagoland and northwest Indiana area.
May 28, 2014
It's a history of Chicago radio and thanks to john for the reminder
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews