Radio Moments - Clips

It's often said, with a sneer, that when an invasion happens, the new arrivals do not hurry to take over the poster sites. No. They head for the radio station. In 1982 as the Argentian forces arrived on our remote Falkland Islands, off the radio station, they went. The Falklands Islands Broadcasting Service announcer, Patrick Watts, dealt with the challenge with immaculate professionalism, and, well, Britishness.

"I was a revolting child!", confesses Dale.

He was one of the many presenters who left the training ground of the United Biscuits Network into the first clutch of colourful commercial radio stations, as he explains here to Malcolm Mortimer, as part of a Radio Trent early 80s programme called 'Mortimer's Hole'. Nottingham folk will understand the programme title better than Londoners. Thanks to Malcolm for the audio.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending 3rd April 2015, as heard at the end of the week's RadioTalk podcast from Radio Today.

In March 2004. Chris Tarrant presented his final breakfast show on 95.8 Capital FM after 17 years and 4425 shows.

On LBC, in advance of the 2015 TV leaders' debate, Alistair muses on how Labour leader, Ed Miliband, came across on radio in the Absolute Geoff Lloyd chat. Even when filmed, Alistair observes it was still 'radio'. Echoes of the famous Nixon TV/radio comparison.

Influenced by the stations in America, where he spent some time, London's Roger Scott was to inherit powerful music radio influences from the country's mature radio market. Those influences were eventually to be shaped into the Roger Scott who ruled Capital Radio in its early days. Enjoy here his debut show on WPPR in 1966

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending 27th March 2015, as heard at the end of the week's RadioTalk podcast from Radio Today.

When you’re 19, work in a bank and there are only 19 commercial radio stations to apply to, a real radio gig is a bit of a dream. Your teachers always thought so; and your parents probably quietly think so. I thought so too.

So, after a few demos were received unfavourably, I churned out this one in the middle of the night, having sneaked in to my hospital radio station.

It got me three frightening interviews: Radio 210; Beacon; and Trent. I can barely recognise the high voice, but I guess those stations saw something in it. Looking back, it was quite a production job, tape loops and layering using a Ferrograph and a Revox. I slid it in a DYMOed cardboard tape box along with a cheap blue ‘business card’ and posted it.

I was rudely dealt with at the 210 interview in Reading, Beacon just seemed a little politely puzzled by me; and Trent said yes.

Thus, in March 1980, began 35 years in radio. It’s been a career I have loved and one which has been hugely good to me. I have been exceptionally lucky.

He seized the BBC UK chart baton from the hands of Richard Skinner in March 1986 and was to clutch it until September 1990.

This first official show from Bruno Brookes was relaxed and precise and as perfect as you’d expect from a pro like Bruno, not least because he’d tried his hand as relief on the show beforehand. These shows are more difficult to pull off than it sounds.

This is a pure first-generation chart performance, the music, the numbers, the jingles and little to distract from the songs that mattered. The way the tracks often seem to fade away before Bruno reappears possibly owed more to consideration for those who wanted to enjoy, or tape, every last second of the songs, than to Bruno not paying attention.

Note the signs of the times: the gleeful claiming of Radio 2’s ‘glorious stereo’ FM frequencies at the outset; the lush JAM jingle sound; and the tease to the ‘new’ chart being unveiled on Tuesday lunchtimes.

Fond chart memories: http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/and-heres-this-weeks-number-one.html and thanks to @RMWhite21 for supplying me the audio

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending 20th March 2015, as heard at the end of the week's RadioTalk podcast from Radio Today.