The Wireless Waffle Information Page
Updated and edited December 2007
"ALL OUR TODAYS" by Paul Donovan -40 years of the Today Programme ISBN 0-244-04358.7 DEWEY DECIMAL IN LIBRARIES 791.447 I popped into a local library and picked up a book which I had missed out on when it was first published. As you will probably note I regularly quote the Paul Donovan section in the Sunday Times on Radio. He is not a wireless waffler, more a wireless authority. This book is one a several he has published on the subject. He came out with the Radio Companion a while back, something that could do with an update, but which covers the roots of British Radio well .The book is a history of the first forty years of the Today programme and thankfully it is still with us, and therefore the book is a jolly good insight to the show.
Argos Catalogue: A UK high street supplier who carries a range of domestic radios and CDs at reasonable cost. Since typing this entry the internet has developed and can offer much keener prices. Overall this is a great free book to have by you as you surf and then you can compare the prices.
Azanorak site: An online archive provided by a Radio Caroline supporter in the US. People regularly upload new and old station recordings to this. It favours Caroline but includes all the old and new offshore stations. An anorak's feast indeed! http://azanorak.com/
Beat Fleet
An excellent A4 format book from Mike Leonard published in 2004 by Forest Press at £9.99. A slim volume but full of pictures of stations, stickers and programme schedules. This comes from the same author who wrote the magnificent large work called "From International Waters". It came out around the time that Pirate BBC Essex was celebration 40 years of offshore radio in the UK. This book tells the story behind the pop stations in the 1960s. To some of us hardened anoraks this is becoming a rather tiring read but Mike manages to bring more facts out and it is well worth a read. ISBN 0-9527684-1-0.
Broadcast: This is the trade publication which leans very heavily in the direction of television. Once upon a time they used to have a few pages devoted to Radio but now they intersperse the news items with television and satellite. Having said this they also do some in depth articles on news topics concerning radio. On large format glossy paper with colour pictures. Some public libraries carry this title.
BBC a brief history:
From BBC online and spotted by Mike Terry, a good brief history of the BBC!The British Broadcasting Company started life in 1922, when the government licensed the UK's six major radio manufacturers to form the new outfit. It had a staff of four, and was financed by a Post Office licence fee of 10 shillings, payable by anyone owning a receiver, and supplemented by royalties on radio sales.The first broadcast came from London on 14 November, and "listening-in" quickly became a popular pastime.John Reith became general manager a month later, and after the baptism of fire of covering the 1926 General Strike - the company was dissolved and the British Broadcasting Corporation formed with a royal charter.Radio listening spread widely during the 1930s, with people gathering together to listen to national and sporting events, while the BBC also became a major patron of the arts, commissioning music and drama.It also took up home at Broadcasting House in London in 1932, the same year as the Empire Service - precursor of the World Service, began broadcasting.The BBC Television Service arrived on 2 November 1936 - but was suspended at the outbreak of war in 1939.Wartime brought huge challenges for the corporation - having to deal with the government's Ministry of Information while finding itself a target for German bombs.Newsreader Bruce Belfrage was on air when 500lbs of explosives hit Broadcasting House in October 1940. He paused as he heard the bomb go off during his nine o'clock bulletin - but continued as normal, as he was not allowed to react on air because of security reasons. Seven people were killed.Entertainment and drama on the Home Service kept up morale - particularly It's That Man Again, featuring comedian Tommy Handley. Meanwhile, the Empire Service - settling into new headquarters at Bush House - broadcast to occupied Europe.Peacetime saw the resumption of the television service and a reorganisation of radio - which now boasted the Home Service, the Light Programme and from 1946, the Third Programme featured music, drama and the arts.The Empire Service continued as the External Service, now receiving "grant-in-aid" from the government, a situation which continues today with the World Service.Television made steady progress from its base at Alexandra Palace, north London - broadcasting for 30 hours each week by 1950, and 50 by 1955. Families rushed to buy sets to watch the Queen's coronation in 1953.But 1955 saw competition in the form of ITV - BBC Radio responding on launch night by killing off Grace Archer in the five-year-old radio drama The Archers.Competition proved difficult - as many BBC staff left to join the new ITV companies - but confidence grew with the beginning of many programmes still familiar today: Grandstand, The Sky At Night and This Is Your Life.The opening of Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, west London came in 1960, playing host to groundbreaking satire That Was The Week That Was two years later.After careful planning, BBC Two was launched in 1964 - but a power cut disrupted transmissions on the first night.Popular TV dramas like Cathy Come Home and Up The Junction captured the nation's attention, while playwrights Harold Pinter and Tom Stoppard were getting their breaks on radio.The success of pirate pop stations prompted the launch of Radio 1 in 1967, and the re-organisation of the Light, Third and Home networks into Radios 2, 3 and 4. The same year saw colour television come to BBC Two.The 1970s saw Open University programmes come to the BBC, and the end of the Post Office's control of broadcasting hours. Teletext arrived in 1974 with early Ceefax transmissions - subtitling for the deaf - coming five years later.The decade was also a strong one for BBC programmes, with Fawlty Towers, The Generation Game, Antiques Roadshow, Question Time, Top Gear and Not The Nine O'Clock News.More competition came in the shape of commercial radio in 1973, followed by Channel 4 television in 1982.The Falklands War saw reporter Brian Hanrahan tell audiences: "I counted them all out and I counted them all back in," as he watched Harrier jump jets return to their aircraft carrier after a raid. But Margaret Thatcher's government complained the BBC's reports were biased towards the Argentine point of view.The 1984 miners' strike saw similar complaints of bias - this time from the left. Further clashes with politicians took place throughout the 1980s.Michael Buerk's reports from Ethopia inspired the Band Aid and Live Aid fundraising efforts, while EastEnders was the BBC's answer to Coronation Street.The 1990s saw further change, as new director-general John Birt reorganised much of the BBC's internal workings, amid tremendous controversy. The BBC expanded with new channels - World Service radio being complemented by a BBC World television service, and satellite channel UK Gold helped it exploit its archives.A new Radio 5 was launched in 1990, becoming news and sport network Radio 5 Live in 1994.The late 1990s saw the BBC invest in new internet services - such as BBC News Online - and prepare for the launch of digital television by introducing new channels.Now, under Greg Dyke, it is preparing to launch two new childrens' services, a cultural network, BBC Four, as well as a collection of digital radio services. An application to start BBC Three, aimed at under-35s, was turned down and is being resubmitted. This has been completed.The BBC opened the new millennium with the most ambitious programme in its history. Hundreds of outside broadcasts across the globe fed into BBC Television Centre, and a continuous programme lasting 28 hours was beamed back to viewers around the world. The show involved 60 nations, and was seen in over 80 countries worldwide.Following ITV’s decision to drop News At Ten, the BBC’s evening bulletin moved to 10pm. After the turn of the millennium, a new enthusiasm for history programmes was evident, and programmes such as What the Romans/Victorians/Stewarts Did For Us followed Simon Schama’s epic History Of Britain series.The Weakest Link presented by Anne Robinson was an instant success and the format was quickly exported to other countries. Landmark television such as Blue Planet and Walking with Beasts, as well as groundbreaking comedy such as The Office, pulled huge audiences. In children’s television Teletubbies was sold to over 75 countries and translated into 45 languages.Digital expansion followed with the launch of BBC Four, Cbeebies, CBBC and BBC Three. Interactive television kicked off with coverage of Wimbledon 2001 and its success encouraged increased interactive activity in television programming.In line with its public service remit, the BBC has led the way in encouraging digital take-up. When the terrestrial Ondigital service ran into difficulties, the BBC launched Freeview, enabling licence payers to move to digital without having to pay a subscription.If you are intrigued and want to read and learn more http://www.bbc.co.uk/heritage/story/index.shtml is a fantastic graphic guide to the BBC history.
Bob Le Roi Productions:An excellent source of offshore radio jingles and books. Specialises in material and documentaries about the offshore radio stations on forts in the Thames Estuary in the 60s. He also has some excellent scrapbooks on his site which have pictures of the forts and Radio Caroline and Laser etc. He also includes samples of all his cds there so you can hear a snippet before you buy. I do recommend this reliable source of offshore material. Mine was with me within a few days of ordering. The site is well worth a look too - there is a full and long catalogue of material - you should not be disappointed. Say the Wireless Waffler sent you there if you buy. Bob not only produces documentaries, but takes part in RSL broadcasts. The Red Sands Radio RSL broadcast in 2007 was a particularly unique and distinctive broadcast http://www.bobleroi.co.uk
British DX Club: An excellent club to join. It has a regular journal, A5 size, called Communication. The magazine contains a host of logs on the am, short-wave and fm broadcast bands, compiled from its members own listening logs. I use it as a reference tool when trying to identify stations. They also publish news about short-wave and uk stations sourced from a variety of journals and heard by their members . They always credit the source of information. If you belong to the club you have the delight of seeing your name in print, this gives authority to a hobby which some think of as odd. You and I know how delightful it can be listening in to established and new broadcasters, but others do not realise. For an extra subscription they have a Tape Circle. Members here have an opportunity to send in a tape of their comments and stations they like, and this is sent out to a group of members on a monthly tape. Since 2007 it has been produced on both CD and tape. I have learnt about a variety of local RSL broadcasts in Communication, and heard recordings of many rare stations on the tape circle. We recommend the bi-yearly list of broadcasts in English which is issued in the summer and winter and aids short-wave listening greatly. They also publish an annual list of UK radio stations.Thoroughly recommended They have an email address bdxc@bdxc.org.uk email them today for more information or have a peek at the superb website which also lists radio station frequencies in the UK and other facts http://www.bdxc.org.uk/
CDs -
New:
This list only covers London and the suburbs - feel free to send in your regional favourites and I will add these to this list.
Avoid buying in HMV or Virgin they charge far too much for their goods. It is true to say that they had a very good stock of new and established material and in a way that is why they charge more. If people bought less from these major outlets they would learn to reduce their profit margin and shift more stock. You also have more chance in big stores of buying a poor quality recording, or re-recording. I must say HMV are very good at refunding in this case and they will also order up obscure of foreign recordings if possible. So try them for orders.
If you are in London try Mr CD in Berwick Street, quite often full price CDs and classic albums are on sale for around £10 or less.
Selecta Disc, also in Berwick Street London, have an excellent range of new material. You can find full price cds very much cheaper here. Occasionally some of the older stock is put on at a special price. Look at the price in HMV pop down there to see if they have it and I guarantee you will have a smile on your face and a few pounds in your pocket. Secondhand:
I can only speak for London and North West London from experience, send in your favourite with a comment if you so desire. Berwick Street has a range of cd shops, I am only listing the ones I visit.
Cheapo Cheapo in the lower part of Berwick Street past Raymond's Revue Bar: No order to the CDs at all but a jolly good selection from £2 upwards, all the CDs are wrapped in plastic bags. The shop is very cramped so be sure to pull yourself in when somebody needs to pass. The basement is also worth a visit. Very close to strip clubs and prostitutes, keep your wallet hidden.
Mr CD in Berwick Street: Not exactly second hand but try out their bargain basement below the main shop. Go into the store and down the stairs at the back right. There are some great staff there very friendly if you talk to them. They have cds at £5, £2 and £1. Sometimes you can pick up a real bargain in the £2 and £1 batches. What seems to happen is stock which cannot be sold upstairs go downstairs. They then put it on at £5, if it does not sell it goes down. They seem to buy in large batches of other stores CDs and they are all in mint condition, worth a check as a few of the £1 ones can be damaged. This is normally customers browsing and breaking the rules of handling CDs.
Reckless Records Berwick Street: They have two shops and a wide range of secondhand stock. It is very expensive in comparison to some stores but they pay well and have a proper database of stock and customers. They have a range of DVDs as well
Record and Tape Exchange, Berwick Street: Crazy prices here, and they pay peanuts for purchases. Look in the basement for bargains, and they mark CDs that do not sell down.
Sellanby: They have a store in South Harrow, Middx, the Eastcote branch closed in 2007. This shop had have really good quality second hand CDs, it does not always pay customers a lot for them but quite reasonable. They do not have a database so you will find quite a lot of duplication - but this is good as it helps to find items more quickly. All stock is guaranteed so there is no problem if something is faulty. South Harrow is larger and has an extensive stock, it sometimes gives me a headache browsing in there - it has a better collection of compilation cds! Eastcote is well organised and you get more personalised service. The manager of the Eastcote Branch has an excellent collection of Rolf Harris memorablia on show, not for sale. Well worth a visit. It is popular, you see hundreds of their distinctive yellow bags buzzing around locally and there is always a happy throng of record buyers in both stores and no pressure to buy. They stock videos and DVDs. Say you saw this mention on the Wireless Waffle site! CDs - a cautionary note on second hand sales and trading. Look after your cds, treat them carefully and respect other peoples property. Never take in somebody else's CDs and trade them in. It is against the law and morally wrong also. A lot of the CDs that appear are promotional cds which are sold cheaply but I fear by experience that some are stolen property! It takes a long while to build up a collection and minutes for it to be ruined. Often a second hand purchase cannot be replaced, as the cd is out of stock or foreign. If you have ever lost cds, as I have in the past, it is a horrible experience. End of lecture! "Custard Stops at Hatfield, The" - Kenny Everett: Published by Willow Press in hardback (I have also seen a paperback) ISBN 0 00 218040 A lovely book from the dear departed Kenny. I especially like the chapter about his time on offshore radio entitled "A smile on your dial" I have seen copies of these in second hand book shops and at jumble sales.
Ebay: One queries the legality of people selling recordings here, but if you enter Pirate Radio into the ebay uk search engine you will find a wide variety of recordings at a very low rate. You can however download a wide variety of these can be downloaded free of charge from http://azanorak.com/
"Emperor Rosko's DJ Book": Published in 1976 by Everest Books ISBN 0903925 915 Written by a man influenced by Wolfman Jack and a genuine American. This is a technical book about how the equipment works, but in an easy to understand form. It is now out of date in that it does not cover CD or many of the newer technical advancements. Especially now that Rosko has returned on air by satellite in the South East on Classic Gold on Sunday evenings this is worth a read.
"From International Waters" by Mike Leonard - this is a new A4 book which is the ultimate history of offshore radio up to 1998. I purchased my copy from the Short-wave Magazine Bookshop and it is absolutely fantastic 571 pages of total information and history on all of the offshore stations right up to Laser 558 and to the Caroline RSL in London Docklands. If I was forming a national library collection on broadcasting this would be the one book alongside Keith Skues's Pop Go the Pirates that I would include! Published by Forest Press PO BOX 1, Heswell Wirrall. L60 3TH England.
The JB Infoline: Run by John Burch who ran the fantastic Caroline Movement. It is a non-premium rate telephone information service with updates on happenings and an opportunity to leave a message which can be used by John in the next bulletin. John no longer lives in Essex and the only number you can call is 0870 741 8699. This is a national rate number and there is a ten minute bulletin on most times. If you have news for John push 7 at any stage to leave a message, there is no need to listen to the end of bulletin. This is still a top quality information source on all things offshore
Maplin Electronics: A superb catalogue of radio spares and electronic parts. Also published on CDROM.
Mojo: Monthly pop magazine which concentrates on the music, and uses very few colloquial or ruder words in its text. Not that I am a prude but I consider Q magazine goes to far! This includes some coverage of Radio Programmes and personalities.
Music Week: Carries two pages of radio play charts from the BBC and commercial radio. There is also a feature on a radio station in each issue, on the week I typed this Atlantic 252 was the subject. In 2007 when updating this section I also note that their website is also a useful source of information http://www.musicweek.com/
"Offshore Radio" by Gerry Bishop Published in 1975 by Inceni Enterprises on A4 shiny paper A definitive A-Z listing of offshore stations with pictures of all of the stations. See the Mi Amigo both as Radio Nord and Caroline and the famed REM island that launched pirate TV in Holland. A classic standard!
Passport to Worldband Radio The book over 500 pages in size and printed on glossy paper, this seems to lend itself to a very robust useable reference work by my experience. At the back is the "Blue pages for the year". This is a channel by channel guide to the broadcast bands on shortwave from 2310 - 25820 KHz. A very good book with absolutely stacks of very reliable information and pictures. It is easier to identify foreign language broadcasts with this book. It has a list of broadcasts on each frequency by time slots. They use a code which allows you identify the broadcast. They also list Clandestine and Pirate stations. If you need to supplement this belonging to the British DX Club or similar radio club, with a reliable monthly publication will give you all the latest frequencies. Sadly books are quickly out of date. Having said that the listings are generally reliable for a period of many years - the allocation of shortwave stations and broadcasts is by international agreements which are not reach annually. Unlike domestic broadcasts stations share frequencies, sometimes using them for only an hour or less. The game of broadcasting is to use a part of the Shortwave (HF) frequency band that best suits the target area. Propagation of signals is governed by daytime and night time conditions.
"Pirate Radio - Then and Now" - Stuart Henry and Mike Von Joel Blandford Press, Dorset ISBN 0 7137 14797 2 The late great Stuart Henry wrote a book with some help in 1984. The development of illegal broadcasting is outlined in a large format paperback in easy reference in a diary style format. There are some smashing black and white photos and features in which deejays like Tony Blackburn and Duncan Johnson talk about life and people in the offshore world.
Pirate Radio some notes on reception from Dutch broadcaster Alfa Lima
76 mb 3.880-3.999: Very popular even with low power not a great deal of activity only 4 to 5 stations of a weekend a useable nighttime frequency for Laser Hot Hits on 3.935.
85 metre communications band 3.450-3.495 Khz lsb: The Echo Charlie Band [CB type band] calling channel 3.475 lsb band is about 25 Khz either side of central frequency, occasional traffic UK, Germany and Holland, strong QRM at times, utility traffic, take care.
52 mb 5.700-5.875: The 52 metre band used when the 48 mb is either full of stations or not propagating very well second hobby pirate broadcasting band.
48 mb 6.200-6.400 (and beyond): The 48 metre band, this is the big one lots of stations on at the weekends and holidays etc from most of Europe and the UK plus a few from Scandinavia, with very little power good results can be achieved, the main Sunday morning hobby pirate broadcast band.
45 mb 6.600-6.700 Khz lsb: This is known as the Echo Charlie range of frequencies with the calling frequency of 6.670 lsb, good band for European traffic. Lots of stations from the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium. Stations running with powers as low as 2 to 5 watts, also used by utility stations, never go to usb.
43 mb 6.940-6.955: This is the main US pirate band where most of the operation is in side band.
42 mb 7.395-7.555: Propagating sometimes better than the 48 mb but only 3 to 4 stations using this band, also a good DX band after sunset. The outsider to this frequency range is the IRRS to be found on 7.120 Italian Radio Relay Service, these put to air pirate tapes sent by hobby broadcasters, look for Laser Hot Hots on 7.455 and Radio Ozone/BBMS on 7.445.
32 mb 9.180-9.350 Khz: The 32 mb is something of a new band, but has been experimented with.
25 mb 11.400-11.550 Khz: The 25 mb mainly 11.404v has been used, good daylight DX band with the odd station as low as 10.355.
22 mb communications band: The 22 mb has also been experimented with, channels such as 12.105 12.130 12.160 up to 12.256v with any clear spots in between.
21 mb communications band 13.630-13.995 Khz AM/usb: The 13 mb has transcontinental traffic only occasionally used 13.630 - 13.960 is the main hobby pirate broadcasting range, there is also an International CB band where the calling frequency is 13.995 usb.
18 mb 15.550-15.835 (and lower): The 18 mb for pirates runs from 15.500 to 15.835 but channels below this have been used such as 15.025 and 15.070 MHz, sometimes excellent for daylight DX.
13 mb these three frequencies have been used 21.450 21.565 and 21.890.
CB frequencies: 26.285 International calling frequency lower section usb.
26.740 International packet radio network lsb. 26.965 local packet radio network FM. 27.500 CW/RTTY frequency lsb. 27.555 International calling frequency high section usb. 27.700 slow scan TV.
60 cm UHF 482-487 MHZ FM wide: In the Netherlands 60cm has been very poplar, the calling frequency there being 485.500, low power and many miles, on a few milliwatts. 21 cm SHF 1300-1350 MHz: Old satellite receivers are useful for this range with 13305 MHZ as the calling frequency, Fast Scan TV. Studio links. Medium Wave low end 1.625-1.670: Most popular evening band with relatively low power 100 watts or less, I think the Dutch lead the World in pirating this section with their barrel organ music, but Germany-Belgium-Greece-Spain-Malta- and the former Yugoslavia have used this range, also try 1.350 1.475 and 1.593 Khz powers up to 3 kW have been used mainly via army/government surplus equipment.
Pirate Radio Sales: A really reliable company to order from, and an excellent site. Unfortunately the web site is closed until January 2008 but check it out then for a great listing of Pirate Radio stuff http://www.pirateradiosales.co.uk/
"Pop Went The Pirates" by Keith Skues Published by Black Bear Press, Lambs Meadow Publications in hard back and soft back book. ISBN for hard back is 0 907398 02 2. I would not recommend the softback as I had one which fell apart and was replace by Keith Skues himself in hardback. Over 500 pages of historical information gathered by Keith (Radio Norfolk and others now) in the sixties. Also supplemented by his offshore chums in interviews he did especially for the book. This is another book which was shoved up the author's jumper for many years without being published for fear of violating the Marine Offences Bill. Thank goodness it came out. It is the definitive book on the subject and gets the top star award.
"Radio Caroline Last of the Pirates Pamphlet "published by Radio Caroline and covers the station from 1964 to 1994. It has a picture of the Ross at anchor in peaceful seas in colour on the front. There is a list of most of the people who have ever broadcast on Caroline.
Radio 270 Life on The Ocean Wave by Bob Preedy This is a fascinating story, one I must not tell in this review! It stands in contrast to the slick Radio London and Caroline in the South, run by American and Irish backing, People who were in local Yorkshire businesses like supermarkets were able, against all odds to set up a highly successful offshore radio station. I ordered my book and it came by return of post. Get this one, it is well written and fills a gap in the history of offshore radio. I would like to see a book like this written specifically about Radio City. Anybody got that one up their sleeve? A broadcasting history book published by R.E. Preedy ISBN 1 8743660 2 0 Copyright 2002
Radio Caroline North "Rockin' and Rollin" by Bob Preedy published March 2004 The world of offshore radio has had much written about it and especially Radio Caroline. I have recently read another history of Caroline and not yet reviewed that on site. This book compresses the history of british commercial broadcasting extremely well in the first chapter. Not too much duplication in the book, a good original slant on the history of a great radio station. I also like the two sections in the book written by DJs on board Radio Caroline. Isn't it funny then that DJs were people who introduced records and now they mix and create new music using turntables? Thought I had better slip that in for younger visitors to the site. I managed to read this book from cover to cover in three sessions totalling about 6 hours - I now look forward to a slower read of the book over a period of days before placing this gem on my bookshelf of great radio books. If you would like to order a copy of the book it is on ISBN 1-874366-04-07 Copyright 2004 It costs £6.99. If I get further information how you can order this book direct it will be put on site. 96 magnificent pages of radio history!
Radio Caroline Story from the Inside as told by Tom Lodge My favourite chapter of all is the Hurricane, which is about a Force 12 Gale off the Isle of Man. It is only three pages in length but I could actually see how rough the weather was. I could feel the enthusiasm that the young brave broadcaster Tom Lodge was able to inject into his work. Without giving the story line away, you will start to feel some despair with Tom and the rest of the chaps on the radio ship when it gets to the chapter about Mutiny. Christopher C Pearson a writer and musician has written a forward. Tom acknowledges www.offshoreradio.co.uk who gave him the encouragement to write the book in the first place. Tom's epilogue is excellent. Quoting him, and perhaps out of context, he says "Today, radio is a dead medium. It has been taken over by corporations, accountants and lawyers". How true this is! In conclusion even though I thought I knew the Radio Caroline story inside out it still has much new information to offer. In the case of some writers you may challenge its authenticity. Tom has an authorative style of presentation. He also was there from 1964 and stayed friendly with Ronan throughout. He has not betrayed that friendship, but does give the background to events like the Radio Caroline venture on aircraft that did no materialise Order details: Title: "The Radio Caroline Story from the Inside as told by Tom Lodge" ISBN 0-9695938-2-1 Published 2002 by The Umi Foundation, Santa Cruz, California Order through Tom's website at the following address http://umisatsang.org/things/index.php
"Radio Companion" - Paul Donovan Harper Collins, ISBN 0 246 13648 Published in 1991 as a definitive reference work on radio. This really does document all of the classic British Broadcasting history up to 1990. It gives reference to illegal and legal broadcasting. The hardback edition will give the user a cornucopia of back up information, the softback will also but is less durable like all paperbacks. Two column listings with lovely black and white pictures. Hopefully this will be updated soon, although I doubt whether I will be able to afford to update straight away. Strangely enough this publication has not been updated as at December 2007.
Radio Fab: A web site which sells a wide variety of radio recordings. I suspect it is part of the old East Anglian Production organisation as sells a lot of their books and recordings. An interesting website http://www.radiofab.com/
Radio Listener's Guide - Edited by Clive Woodyear. Radio Listener's Guide Freepost (SWB40688) Plymouth PL8 1YJ Do check out their website - good diagram of how to connect up a telescopic aerial on a set without an aerial socket to a larger aerial is there! www.radiolistenersguide.co.uk There is an extensive section as usual detail all new radios including digital with pictures and also a review. I find the lists of continental stations on the am band very useful, as I do the listings of all fm and am stations in the uk with their addresses. There is also a list of all UK radio transmitters with their grid reference. Internet and Sky all get reviews. Clive Woodyear pulls all sorts of magnificent information out of the bag each publication and also taps in to a wealth of knowledge by commissioning articles by technical specialists. I am forever slipping this gem out of my bookcase to answer one of my site visitors' questions or one of mine originating from a listening session. 2007 publication just out and as informative and entertaining as usual.
Radio Times: maybe not quite the obvious choice for all to think of. It contains frequency listings of all stations in your area on am and fm. The letters pages are lively and often comment on radio as well as television programmes. The journal is full of up to date phone numbers and addresses which even the World Radio TV Handbook cannot supply.
Rebel Radio by John Hind and Stephen Mosco: Published by Pluto Press ISBN 0 7453 0055 3 This is the full story of British Pirate Radio in a slim paperback book. It gives a potted history of offshore radio and then gets stuck in to the undocumented landbased history of operations like London Greek Radio and Sinah Radio and others which are now legal broadcasters. At the back of the book it has a full index of the stations, most of which have faded away.
"Sound and Recording, and Introduction" Published by Focal Press ISBN 0-240-51487: This book was published in the year 2000. it has everything you need to know to understand how sound originates and all about analogue and digital. It explains about how to record music and speech. It has numerous pictures of technical equipment and special diagrams and explanation. Focal Press really are good at doing technical books, one of my other favourites which I think is still in print is "Technique of the Sound Studio". It contains hundreds of facts and information on radio broadcasting studios. The fact is that in 2000 onwards we can produce high quality sound at home on our pcs and hi fis, but perhaps we are not all artistic enough to extend this to anthing other than cloning a cd or downloading and burning mp3s to cd? Sunday Times "Culture" section: contains media information as does parts of the newspaper.
"Tony Blackburn The Living Legend" Published by Comet 1985 ISBN 0 86379 083 6 A very good light read and funny. Tony emerges as a sex idol and he tells the story from childhood through Caroline, London, 1 and onwards.
"To Be a Pirate King" - Paul Harris: Published by Impulse Books SBN 901311 Looks like this was Paul's 70s attempt to do desk top publishing but quite interesting and well bound. On the dust jacket there is a picture of the radio station that the author started off offshore. It was registered in Liechtenstein and had a female crew. The boat had a circular aerial and a lot of enemies. The story of 70s radio with plenty of sabotage and intrigue.
Week, The: this is an excellent weekly publication which details what has happened in the media throughout the week prior. It also currently lists all of the records that the castaway on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs has chosen! Cost £1.50 in January 1999. You may need to order this one.
"When Pirates Ruled the Waves" by Paul Harris Published in 1968 by Impulse Publications (Paul's own company) It documents in great detail the whole story of the sixties offshore stations with pictures. It ends with the pirates sunk and Radio 1 on the way. When this book was published it was an under-the counter job and sold direct. It was felt that it contravened the Marine Offences Bill. Sorry to harp on my pet subject, why treat a publication without any indecent suggestion or picture in such a harsh way. There is more of a problem nowadays with stations interfering with each other as the FM and AM bands are crammed. In the South East at present Radio Veronica and Classic Gold are both on 828 and in the outskirts both splatter each other. Back to Paul's Book a classic, and on the back dust jacket a map of where the stations were located. It has been updated and republished in 2007. Sadly the first edition I bought has some bad typographical errors in it.
"Who's Who In Pop Radio": Peter Alex Four Square Illustrated Published by New English Library Ltd 1966 Small paperback with stacks of photos and thumbnail details of deejays likes and dislikes. Each section about a new radio station contains a full size picture of the station. There is a picture of the front of BBC Broadcasting House, the MV Galaxy and others. A collectors item. You can also see this book now on the internet
"World Radio and Television Handbook": Billboard Publications This is an annual publication which is the standard work for short-wave and all band dxers. I have used this since the 1960s. Radio club members often offer their old issue for sale at a bargain price when a new issue is released. If you want up to date information join a radio club which publishes lists of radio stations from members. The British DX club is one, but there are others.
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latest correction and editing of information December 2007 will add to this page as soon as time permits
