WHPK celebrates 50 years with first CD

Called "100 Watts: Songs From WHPK's Pure Hype," the compact disc features a compilation of live performances by Chicago bands recorded in the station during WHPK's "Pure Hype" show between April 1994 and October 1995.

" 'Pure Hype' gives Chicago bands a place to perform and to talk about what's on their minds," according to the CD's liner notes. " 'Pure Hype' seeks to convey to listeners a sense of the variety of styles of rock in Chicago."

"100 Watts: Songs From WHPK's Pure Hype" is available for $5 at the WHPK offices in Reynolds Club.

To celebrate the CD release, WHPK will host two concerts in March.

On Friday, March 1, in the Reynolds Club second-floor coffee shop, WHPK will present six of the bands featured on "100 Watts":

_ The Handsome Family

_ Prichard

_ Toulouse

_ Dingle

_ Alkaloid

_ Velour Motel. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $3, and the concert is open to the public. On Friday, March 8, at the Empty Bottle, 1005 N. Western Ave., WHPK will present six more bands featured on the "100 Watts" CD:

_ Drag King

_ The Hideaways

_ The John Huss Moderate Combo

_ Tart

_ The Goblins

_ Galaxy of Mailbox Whores.

The concert will begin at 10 p.m. Admission is $5; those attending must be 21 or over. While about 40 percent of WHPK's funding comes from student activity fees, the rest comes from quarterly $10 membership dues and such fundraising activities as the yearly listener "beg-a-thons," sales of logo-emblazoned T-shirts and special events such as the concert and the sale of the "100 Watts" CD.

"It's a good investment," said station manager Ed Reno.

For more information on the CD or the concerts, call WHPK at 702-8289.