Radio Luxembourg 208

Subject: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 10 Jun 12 - 10:59 AM

Radio Luxembourg 208 - Your Station of the Stars

BBC Documentary - Part 1 & 2

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PARTS 1 AND 2: Here is a zip containing both parts of the Radio Luxembourg documentary that have been broadcast on BBC Radio 2 the last two Thursday evenings. Also included is a text file with the description of each of the shows from Radio 2 Publicity.

http://www.azanorak.com/new/RadioLuxembourg208-YourStationOfTheStars.zip

Password: freeradio

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PART 1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hzkxx

Noel Edmonds tells the story of the original pop music station in the UK - Radio Luxembourg. It was hugely influential for millions of 'under the bedclothes listeners' starved of 60s pop music but frustrated by the signal that faded in and out. This month marks the 80th anniversary of the first test transmissions to Britain - a full service started in 1933 and it is 20 years ago that it finally closed down to UK listeners.

The first 'jock' in 1933 was Stephen Williams but then remember all these stars who broadcast on 208: Tony Blackburn, Steve Wright, Chris Moyles, Pete Murray, Jimmy Young, Jack Jackson, Roy Plomley, Jimmy Savile, Dave Cash, Simon Dee, Teddy Johnson, Peter Powell, Kid Jensen, Paul Burnett, Rosko, Brian Matthew, Shaw Taylor, Hughie Green, David Jacobs, Don Moss, Barry Alldis, Alan Dell, Alan Freeman, Keith Fordyce, Kent Walton, Kenny Everett, Bob Harris, Tony Brandon, Tommy Vance, Neil Fox, Tony Prince, Mike Read, Stuart Henry, Dave Christian, Mark Page, Sandy Beech and someone called Noel Edmonds - who started his radio career there.

PART 1

Noel takes us back to 1932 and preparations to fire-up the mighty Junglinster transmitter on a long-wave frequency Luxembourg didn't actually own. Once on air commercial radio then came to the UK for the first time much to the chagrin of the BBC, but popularity boomed until the outbreak of World War 2. We hear about William Joyce and his treachery, but then it was back to business after the war in 1946.

During the 1950s the station kept several paces ahead of the BBC and pulled in millions of listeners who were captivated by the popular music and presenters. But then in 1964 came the pirate ships in the North Sea.

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PART 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jgg34/Radio_Luxembourg_208_Your_Station_of_the_Stars_Episode_2/

Part 2 still can also be downloaded using RadioDownloader or get_iplayer

Noel Edmonds continues the story of the original pop music station in the UK - Radio Luxembourg. It was hugely influential for millions of 'under the bedclothes listeners' starved of 60s pop music but frustrated by the signal that faded in and out. This is the story of a radio station, broadcast on an extremely poor frequency, but loved by millions of music fans.

This month marks the 80th anniversary of the first test transmissions to Britain - a full service started in 1933 and it is 20 years ago that it finally closed down to UK listeners.

Listeners were led to believe that everything heard on the station was broadcast live from the 'Grand Duchy' in Europe, although the reality meant that whilst some presenters were sat in front of a mic in this tiny country, much of the programme output was pre-recorded in London.

PART 2:

Noel traces the impact of the pirate stations and how the BBC finally reacted after government policy kicked it into life.

Luxembourg in turn moved to unfettered pop music with its team of Big Six djs in the early 1970s and, with a new general manager, carved a fresh position of influence with music fans. But the end was only 20 years away - so what happened? And what was the legacy of 208? With contributions from Paul Burnett, Tony Prince, Mark Wesley, David Jensen, Steve Wright, Brian Matthew, station manager Alan Keen and Radio Luxembourg archive recordings.

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Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Boogaloo
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 02:31 PM

Thanks for the cool link - was unable to download at BBC

Great stuff Thanx :)

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 02:55 PM

In fact www.AzAnarak.com/new has loads of downloadable zipped files of original recordings of the pirates including R. London, R. Caroline N & S, R. Essex, R. 390, Voice of Peace, R. Hauraki, etc., etc. Also there are t.v. progs about the pirates. All for free.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 11:06 AM

I asm neever in on a Thursday evening as that is Maidenhead Folk Club's night . Thanks for the links !

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 11:41 AM

Does it still fade away every now and again.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 12:50 PM

Sorry - the website for the free download of recordings from the radio pirates - many hundreds of them - are at:

http://www.azanorak.com/

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Johnny J
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 12:54 PM

Auldtimer,

You will have had experience of listening to 208 both in Scotland and also "down South".

Because of the phenomenon known as "skywave propogation, the signal would actually have been better in Dundee and the rest of Scotland(I listened up in Inverness)than in the South of England.

I didn't realise at the time how lucky I was living up North.
It was also the case that we would receive really good reception from pirate stations such as Radio London and Caroline South after dark. In fact, it was even better than Caroline North, Radio Scotland etc at that time although these stations were more accessible during daylight hours.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 04:27 PM

I was an avid "beneath the blankets" listner, in the early to mid sixtys'. I was a "radio" fan and made and repaired radios and bits of radios. I seem to remember a lot of great Jazz on some French and Duch stations.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Tunesmith
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 04:38 PM

At one time ( late 50s), Luxembourg djs would start playing records without introducing them. The dj would then fade in after about 15 secs and give the title.
Me and my mates would play a game whereby we had to say the title/artist of the recording before the dj came in.
Also, if I remember correctly, in those days the only the first minute or so of recordings were played before being faded out ( I know some single were very short in those days, but out that short!).

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Johnny J
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 06:34 PM

http://www.isf-us.com/stream/streamfile.php?file=radio_lux_horace.mp3

K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 06:48 PM

I spent a year in Blackpool 1953 - 54 and we had Rediffusion , with Luxemburg as one of the choices . I still find it hard to believe that Jimmy Young was a Pop Star then !!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Bigpete
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 06:40 PM

Big thanx to CJB for the Zipfile to the recent Radio Luxembourg Documentaries and for the link to: www.anorak.com.There is an amazing archive there!

Happy Memories,

Thanx again!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 11:53 PM

Thanks CJB. I just spent a very enjoyable 2 hours catching up with my youth.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Bugsy
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 12:29 AM

Good lord! Horace Batchelor....

I used to listen to it on my big brother's crystal set until he came to bed and clipped me round the ear for using it.

Do yo remember the jingle "It's Bulovar watch time"? that was the first "on air" advertising I can recall.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 05:29 AM

Memories of "Dan Dare - Pilot of the Future". Thanks to Horlicks, you could send off some labels and get models of the characters. I hated the stuff but my mother developed a voracious appetite for it. As a result I had models of Dan himself, Digby and The Mekon!
It was years later that I discovered my mother hated it too!
Such is motherly love!

Eddie

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Newport Boy
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 05:51 AM

My main recollection of Radio Luxembourg is on summer evenings in 1954/5, sitting under the trees on the (ex)golfcourse. The radio was a portable (with difficulty) valve set - 110V lead-acid HT battery charged each day by the local garage. I couldn't afford such things, but my better-off friend had that and a decent guitar. I was making do with a £2.50 mandolin (I still have it, but it's in a sorry condition, having been sat on at party).

Phil

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 06:35 AM

As I was saying before my computer saved the blank post fo me - the password for the zipped files at azanorak.com is 'freeradio'

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 09:39 AM

"Big thanx to CJB for the Zipfile to the recent Radio Luxembourg Documentaries and for the link to: www.anorak.com.There is an amazing archive there!"

The link is actually at:

http://www.azanorak.com/

AND there are at least three Yahoo Groups devoted to pirate radio:

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

The latest Radio Caroline vessel Ross Revenge is in Tilbury Docks being slowly restored. They broadcast occasionally on a special licence.

http://www.rossrevenge.co.uk/

The modern Radio Caroline itself is on FreeSat and Sky etc.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 03:21 PM

Any other Ovaltineys here ?

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 04:34 PM

The ads and promotions were almost identical to those on this side of the pond.
Jean Shepherd (A Christmas Story) has written about being an Ovaltiney, listening to Little Orphan Annie with his secret decoder ring, only to be shattered when the decoded message turned out to be "Drink Ovaltine".

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 05:19 PM

Ah.....Horace Batchelor.......Keynsham, spelt K    E    Y..........!!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,watcher
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 05:38 PM

Really Buggsy - have you made a typo or have you forgotten the often repeated slogan "Bulova watch time, B-U-L-O-V-A"
Putting an R on the end, what are you thinking!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Bugsy
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 10:34 PM

You're right GUEST,watcher, it's unforgivable of me to have mae such a mistake.

Almost as unforgivable as you spelling "Bugsy", "Buggsy".


Cheers
BUSGY ;0)

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Effsee
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 10:55 PM

Actually Johnny J, the phenomenon was known as Sychronous Fading. When the ground wave met with the sky wave and cancelled each other out.
It depended on atmospheric conditions and was least affected after dark.

I too was an "under the blankets" listener!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: LesB
Date: 27 Jun 12 - 03:26 AM

Does anyone remember Radio Geronimo Link
My all time favorite pirate station, broadcast from Radio Monaco's facility.
Their stated aim was to exist without the advertising & showbizzyness of the other stations they tried to fund it by encouraging listners to buy their music direct from them, needless to say they failed.
Their playlist was eclectic the D.J.s wern't celebs, they were there just to play the records & tell you what they were playing. Sometimes you would listen to 20 mins of music before the D.J. came on to tell you what you had listened to & then what was coming on next.
Typical playlist Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, Fairport Convention, Doors, Bartok, Joni Mitchell, Canned Heat, Ravi Shankar ........
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Jun 12 - 04:18 AM

What about Screaming Lord Suctch's "Radio Sutch" broadcasting "Lady Chatterley's Lover" from a fort in the Thames estuary.

As I remember he didn't have a very strong transmitter so his audience was VERY SMALL.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 27 Jun 12 - 04:41 AM

Then there was Radio City, Radio 352, Radio 390, King Radio, Radio Invicta, Radio Essex, BBMS, KING Radio, Tower Radio & Tower TV etc.

http://www.gulbekian.plus.com/

Some recordings of these exist in places on the web and various nostalgia CDs.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 27 Jun 12 - 05:05 AM

Screaming Lord Sutch

http://www.offshoreechos.com/Radio%20forts-01.html

Scroll down then click on Radio Sutch or whatever.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Azanorak
Date: 16 Feb 24 - 04:24 PM

The pirate radio archives of Ray Robinson is now at www.azanorak.com

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 16 Feb 24 - 04:55 PM

Please does anyone have this - it’s gone from the archives …

http://www.azanorak.com/new/RadioLuxembourg208-YourStationOfTheStars.zip

Thank you

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Feb 24 - 09:02 PM

At the end of the day
Just kneel and and say
Thank you Lord
For my work and play
I've tried to be good
Like I know that I should
That's my prayer at the end of the day
(2am BST, 1am GMT)
... If you could get away with listening in the wee small hours under the sheets with your tranny, the fading away, Bulova Watch time and Horace and his K E Y N S H A M... Thanks for the memories!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,Chris B
Date: 17 Feb 24 - 04:19 AM

Missing R Luxemburg Doco Files …

with Noel Edmonds … are now here (scroll down) …

https://rtlgreat208.wordpress.com/tag/noel-edmonds/

https://rtlgreat208.wordpress.com/tag/noel-edmonds/

CJB

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Feb 24 - 11:20 AM

Good grief .... skywave meets groundwave .... Radio Geronimo* .... faded echoes of a past long since gone. But it helped lead me to wireless, thence electronics, thence software, and eventually into the systems-administration trade in the first century BQ (Before Qualifications). Thanks for stirring some old and treasured memories, folks.

* I actually visited their London HQ about a week after they were kicked off air.

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 24 - 07:11 PM

Cheers, Joe, for your seamless fix!

Subject: RE: Radio Luxembourg 208
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 04 Apr 24 - 06:07 AM

The redirect link azanorak DOT com is blocked, but the direct link still works at …

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/wx8zhb91l17sb/Azanorak

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