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1st & Last A-L Click on picture or title for audio clip

The first and last songs played on the offshore stations

RADIO ATLANTA
Not known

RADIO ATLANTIS

ATLANTIS - The Shadows  Columbia DB7047 (1963) The station theme was a version of the Shadows hit, that had "phasing" added to it.

TIME FOR LIVING - The Association Warner Brothers WB7195 (1968) The first record officially played, after Adriaan van Landschoot had opened the station.

SHIP AHOY - The O'Jays Philadelphia PIR65860 (UK.1974) The last record played on the Jeannine.

 

BRITAIN RADIO

YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS - Mitch Miller CBS 40540 (US.1955) The first record played on the station, was also first heard on Radio England tests.

Last record not known

RADIO CAROLINE

NOT FADE AWAY - Rolling Stones Decca F11845 (1964) The first official record played when the station opened at midday on Easter Saturday 1964. Deejay Chris Moore, dedicated this record to Caroline's founder Ronan O'Rahilly. Ronan was a great friend of the Stones and their first "unofficial" manager Georgio Gomelski.

PILOT OF THE AIRWAVES - Charlie Dore Island WIP6526 (1979) The last record played by Neil Gates when Caroline closed (unknowingly) on 5 November 1990. Ironically perhaps a fitting record for the end of Radio Caroline's offshore radio days.

RADIO CITY

First record not known

THE PARTY'S OVER - Shirley Bassey Columbia DB4421 (UK.1960) The B side of With these hands, the track was used for the stations nightly closedown theme. Radio City deejays Alan Clark, Paul Kramer, RWB and Ian Macrae said their farewells, before Tom Edwards played this final track. The station closed after playing God save the Queen - artist unknown

RADIO DOLFIJN

ANNA (MAMMA EL BAJON) - Edmundo Ros The first record played was introduced by Peter van den Hoven. (release details and audio required)

RADIO ESSEX

SPANISH FLEA - Herb Alpert Pye 7N 25335 (1965) The first record played on the station.


RADIO ENGLAND

YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS - Mitch Miller CBS 40540 (US.1955) The first record played on a test broadcast from the station. It was apparently the engineers favourite record.

HAWAIIAN EYE - unknown  One source notes this as being by Petula Clark and the first official record played, although it remains unconfirmed. Petula Clark didn't record this track. What is correct?

CORRIDO DE AULD LANG SYNE - Little Bobby Rey The B side of Rocking "J" Bells Original Sound OS08 (USA.1959) The last record played on the station. Errol Bruce writes that this was "a 'holiday novelty' instrumental, a sax arrangement of Auld Lang Syne. I'd bought it at some point in the late 50s/early 60s and had taken it out to the ship - why, I don't know. I guess I've always been fairly prescient and had sub-consciously anticipated what was about to happen to the station on what was to be one of my last shifts aboard".
 

RADIO HAURAKI

BORN FREE - Matt Monro Capitol CL15436 (UK. Mar 1966) Capitol CL15436 (USA.1966) The first record played when the station opened on 5 December 1966. One hundred and eleven days later disc jockey Ian McGann closed the station - on 1 June 1970, with the same song.


RADIO
INVICTA
Not known


KING RADIO
First record not known

HANG ON SLOOPY - The McCoys Immediate IM001 (1965) The last record played on KING. 


LASER 558

First record not known

OH SHEILA - Ready for the World MCA MCAT1005 (1985) The last record played on Laser 558.


 

LASER HOT HITS

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC - Abba  CBS A3894 (UK.1983), Epic WA3894 picture disc (UK.1983). Vogue VG108 101861 (F.1977).  Also on the  albums Thank you for the Music  EPC 10043 (1977) & Absolute Abba Telstar STAR 2329 (1988) The picture disc is shaped to form the word Abba and the flipside with the track "Our last Summer", features a colour picture of the group. The first song played, had previously been used by Laser 558, as the nightly closedown theme, and continued in this role on Laser Hot Hits.

Last record not known


RADIO LONDON

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU - Cliff Richard Columbia DB7420 (UK.1964) The first record played when Pete Brady officially opened the station at six in the morning on 23rd December 1964.

A DAY IN THE LIFE - The Beatles Track on album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Parlophone PCS7027 (UK.1967) The final track on the Sgt. Pepper album and the final record played by Big L on August 14th 1967.

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page last updated 5 January 2007