Dick Bartley's Classic Hits was based upon two previous oldies programs Bartley hosted, the countdown series Classic Countdown (previously known as American Gold) and the live request series Rock and Roll's Greatest Hits.
[2] Though Bartley had hosted Rock & Roll's Greatest Hits since 1980 (a show that would be carried under various titles nationwide beginning in 1982, first with an earlier version of United Stations, then through the original Westwood One beginning in 1985), it was not until June 8, 1991, when he joined ABC Radio Networks, that he launched a countdown show.
Differences between American Gold and the Classic Countdown were as follows: In 2017, the new Classic Hits program used the American Gold format, only this time focusing on music of the 1970s and 1980s (with increasing early 1990s music included by the late 2010s).
The Classic Countdown focused on the 20 biggest hits of the current month from a particular year in the past.
As with American Gold's countdowns of past years, Bartley would announce headlines, pop culture trends (such as styles, popular movies and TV shows, etc.)
In addition to this national show, a local Sunday Night Countdown aired for several years on WCBS-FM.