Friday, 10 August 2007

I do wonder sometimes why Nickolas and Dimitri bother to frequent Anorak forums if this is how you feel?

No one is forcing you to listen, You can always go off and listen to the Mindless,Robotic,Voicetracked Dross which sadly is British Commercial Radio these days and leave the rest of us to enjoy radio the way it used to be with a group of presenters having a ball and really enjoying themselves.

My Wife is not a great radio listner but even she has said how great this broadcast is with many records played she hasn't heard in years,

Where she works they normally have Magic or Heart playing in the background but when she came home yesterday she said, They have even have this on at work!!

Even on places like Digital Spy where most of the contributors in the radio forum are not really Anoraks and would normally be scathing about any Offshore vanity station a good 90% of people are saying how good and refreshing this broadcast is,

So i am sorry you two, You seem to be in the minority here!!

Richard

Cheviot Slymey <...> said:

I do think that all these dreary elderly tribute
stations – "Caroline", "Big L", and the ludicrous
notion that there is something piratical about a BBC
outside broadcast cheapen the memory of the real
offshore stations. If in some alternate universe the
pirate stations are still broadcasting from the Essex
coast we can be pretty sure that they won't be
employing the likes of Skues and the rest of the
pensioners, and they certainly won't sound like the
music radio equivalent of "Last of the summer wine".
It pisses me off quite a bit, actually.

And me. Great pity that all that experience is being used to create something new in radio instead of all the old dross we've heard a thousand times before.  



dimitri konstantine <...> said:

dimitri konstantine <...> said:
dimitri konstantine <...> said:

And me. Great pity that all that experience is being used to create
something new in radio instead of all the old dross we've heard a
thousand times before.

Damn. Chris why can't you put an edit thingy on this site? That should
have read " . . . isn't being used . . ." of course.

I think you were right the first time!!

Richard

Richard Sharpe said:

I do wonder sometimes why Nickolas and Dimitri bother to frequent Anorak forums if this is how you feel?
 
No one is forcing you to listen, You can always go off and listen to the Mindless,Robotic,Voicetracked Dross which sadly is British Commercial Radio these days and leave the rest of us to enjoy radio the way it used to be with a group of presenters having a ball and really enjoying themselves.

Richard
...................................................................

Richard

I must admit I never checked out the last Pirate Radio BBC Essex broadcasts, as it did not really interest me, but I have done this time and I have heard such good music such as Doris Troy and others that I have never heard before! and presenters who are enjoying themselves rather than saying as little as possible and what they are told to say.

Radio Anoraks get knocked for enjoying this, but I would rather people are like that rather than the "Half Full Glass" attitude all the time, I'm at a loss how people can be so negative and miserable continuously – this Old theory only They can be right?? – instead of just getting on with life and let others do the same.

I go on many radio websites and lots of threads I don't read as it does not interest me, I would never go on the thread and deride those that they do interest. What a funny Old world we live in ??

J

Jay BS <...> said:

Richard

I must admit I never checked out the last Pirate Radio BBC Essex
broadcasts, as it did not really interest me, but I have done this time
and I have heard such good music such as Doris Troy and others that I
have never heard before! and presenters who are enjoying themselves
rather than saying as little as possible and what they are told to say.

Good Morning John, You missed something there as the last broadcast in 2004 was also very good, I have a feeling that this one with Rosco and especially Mr Walker will be even better,

Although 765 is the strongest signal for me in Kent and is fine during the day, I noticed last night it is not so good and suffers with deep fading and mush together with another station in the background,

I tried the other channels 729 and 1530 but they were useless so it looks like i also will have to listen on line tonight.

Richard

I've been catching nearly all of the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 each morning for the last week. Fantastic.

I'm surprised that more anoraks don't love this show, especially since it has melodic sung jingles like radio from the 1960s had. Jingles that Chris actually 'jocks'.

Also, this past week, one of the regular co-presenters has been broadcasting from his front room (long story, he's on paternity leave, and has set-up a studio there), so it's been as relaxed and fun as a land-based pirate. Yet anoraks aren't listening?

Yesterday, the show continued for an extra 2 hours just because they could, through until Midday.

The people who work with Chris are laugh out loud funny, witty, and genuinely entertaining. It's not an ego fest in the commercial radio sense.

What I also like about the show is the way they intermingle text messages. Yes, they get tens of thousands all the time, but they'll randomly read out witty or clever ones that are commenting on the show. They'll do it without all the pre-amble of "Hey, text us now.." or "Let's go to the texts..." that you'd get on commercial radio. They aren't scared to read out texts that slag them off, as long as they are joining in with the style of the show. More importantly, texts will guide the show, pointing to stuff worth commenting on, and so on, so the show is not up its own wotsit and remote from the audience.

They are genuinely enthusiastic about the music they play, often talking about going to see the bands and artists, or chatting to them, a bit like djs from the 1960s pirates used to.

There's a genuine interaction across daytime programming between the different djs on Radio One, a bit like there used to be on the ships. You get to feel they are all part of a single family, living and working together. Most importantly they are having genuine fun and infectiously it comes across on air.

I just wonder how long Chris Moyles (and Radio 1) can retain this number one position!
--
* Christopher England just said that *

Christopher England wrote:
Yesterday, the show continued for an extra 2 hours just because they
could, through until Midday.

So what happened to Sara Cox ?

There's a genuine interaction across daytime programming between the
different djs on Radio One, a bit like there used to be on the ships.
You get to feel they are all part of a single family, living and working
together. Most importantly they are having genuine fun and infectiously
it comes across on air.

Yes, just like they are doing on Pirate BBC Essex!
—

This e-mail has come from

Martin Rosen

All outgoing e-mails are checked
for viruses by ZoneAlarm

Christopher England <...> said:
I've been catching nearly all of the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 each
morning for the last week. Fantastic.

I'm surprised that more anoraks don't love this show, especially since
it has melodic sung jingles like radio from the 1960s had. Jingles that
Chris actually 'jocks'.

Also, this past week, one of the regular co-presenters has been
broadcasting from his front room (long story, he's on paternity leave,
and has set-up a studio there), so it's been as relaxed and fun as a
land-based pirate. Yet anoraks aren't listening?

Its probably because these days most of us dont even consider listening to Radio One but if it is as good as you say Yea!! i will give it a listen but it wont be until after Tuesday for obvious reasons.

Richard

Well of course talking radio isn't voice tracked, and
that is the future of radio. As for listening to
music, here in the 21st century why anyone would
choose radio as their preferred method of delivery is
beyond me! Why on earth listen to someone else's
choice of music – be he a pensioner or merely a middle
aged suit?
It seems ironic to me that a bunch of old men playing
old music is a "tribute" to a group of men whose
success came from overthrowing all that! Anything that
sounds less like 21st century pirate radio than this
BBC thingy is hard to imagine. And it doesn't even
sound much like 60s pirate radio to me – where is the
generator hum, the whiff of illegality, the danger,
the adverts? Don't remember being able to text or
email the offshore stations either.

--- Richard Sharpe <...> wrote:I do
wonder sometimes why Nickolas and Dimitri bother to
frequent Anorak forums if this is how you feel?
 
No one is forcing you to listen, You can always go off
and listen to the Mindless,Robotic,Voicetracked Dross
which sadly is British Commercial Radio these days and
leave the rest of us to enjoy radio the way it used to
be with a group of presenters having a ball and really
enjoying themselves.

My Wife is not a great radio listner but even she has
said how great this broadcast is with many records
played she hasn't heard in years,

Where she works they normally have Magic or Heart
playing in the background but when she came home
yesterday she said, They have even have this on at
work!!

Even on places like Digital Spy where most of the
contributors in the radio forum are not really Anoraks
and would normally be scathing about any Offshore
vanity station a good 90% of people are saying how
good and refreshing this broadcast is,

So i am sorry you two, You seem to be in the minority
here!!

Richard

You have to go out and buy a radio capable of
receiving it?
--- Richard Sharpe <...> wrote:i
will give it a listen but it wont be until after
Tuesday for obvious reasons.

Richard

 
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http://tv.yahoo.com/

Is Peter Moore finally getting the message about what the rest of the world thinks about his version of Radio Caroline (more affectionately known as Caroline Maidstone)?

He seems to be upset that he had to pay to go to the Radio Academy's celebration of offshore radio from the 1960s. He was expecting to get in for free. But on what criteria? He wasn't there in the 1960s, only getting involved in offshore radio towards the end of the 1980s, and then wrestling control of Caroline's ship and then starting his UK version of Caroline in the 1990s, so why should he have had a freebie?

He reacted indignantly, but I wonder if deep inside he's slowly realising the reality of the situation and his standing.

Anyway, after reluctantly parting with cash for his ticket, Moore spent his time at the celebration circling like a wasp around some of those who'd been involved in offshore radio, desperate to get them to plug his version of Caroline. Madness really, in a room full of anoraks who are more than aware of what he's done.

Apparently keeping a fair distance from him was the godfather of the original Radio Caroline, Ronan O'Rahilly. Moore didn't like being kept at arms length and was desperate for a photo opportunity, to try to indicate that he had the godfather's blessing. Nor did he like Roger Day and Johnnie Walker for allowing the event to be about them and what they once did, rather being there to try to promote his private radio business.

But all of that aside, it does seem like it was a good event for people who like that kind of thing. Not my cup of tea, hence why I didn't go! My pathological hatred of oldies and hearing the same old records over and over again kept me away from the Light Programme in the 1960s. Today it keeps me away from all these tributes and re-creations. Can't spend time listening to yesterday's people, I'm too busy listening to and enjoying today's innovators, innit.
—
* Christopher England just said that *

Cheviot Slymey <...> said:
Well of course talking radio isn't voice tracked, and
that is the future of radio. As for listening to
music, here in the 21st century why anyone would
choose radio as their preferred method of delivery is
beyond me! Why on earth listen to someone else's
choice of music – be he a pensioner or merely a middle
aged suit?

Hi Nicholas you are missing some of the point here its not just about the music although that is good,

The most entertaining part for me and makes it compulsive listening is the banter between the presenters especially when things go wrong,

As John Barry rightly said, You wont get that on modern day commercial radio.

Richard

Quoting a previous Martin Rosen contribution:-

So what happened to Sara Cox ?

She had problems with her daughter and a bit of a domestic thing going on.

Yes, just like they are doing on Pirate BBC Essex!

The difference being that Pirate BBC Essex programmes end on Tuesday, whilst Radio 1's will still be going strong!

—
* Christopher England just said that *

Quoting a previous Richard Sharpe contribution:-

Its probably because these days most of us dont even consider listening
to Radio One but if it is as good as you say Yea!! i will give it a
listen but it wont be until after Tuesday for obvious reasons.

You're one of those early risers, Richard, aren't you? (Is that 'cos you never sleep, or just wake up early?) So, after Tuesday, tune in at 6:55am when it starts. You could even catch JK and Joel – they are secretly radio anoraks you know – on 4am to 6:55am. It's a little known fact that Joel only got into radio because I taught him how to be a hot rockin' flame throwin' DJ. He owes everything to me, you know, although I never ever mention it in public. But, probably this latter day Kenny and Cash (JK and Joel) wouldn't be to your taste compared to Mr Moyles.

Actually, thinking about it, Scot Mills (the afternoon guy) is probably the provider of a more 'technical' anoraky show than Chris Moyles, but I can't give you guys too much too soon to listen to. :-)
--
* Christopher England just said that *

Quoting a previous Richard Sharpe contribution:-

The most entertaining part for me and makes it compulsive listening is
the banter between the presenters especially when things go wrong,

As John Barry rightly said, You wont get that on modern day commercial
radio.

That could be why the BBC has the lion's share of listening. You certainly get that banter thing going strong on Radio 1!
--
* Christopher England just said that *

Quoting Richard Sharpe

I do
wonder sometimes why Nickolas and Dimitri bother to
frequent Anorak forums if this is how you feel?

I'm a bit bemused (and amused if I'm honest) by that too Richard. I mean, I don't log on to www1950's toilet brushes.com and witter on about how toilet brushes nowadays are so much better than in the 50's and how sad old 1950's toilet brush lovers are and how I don't remember being able to email or text my fellow toilet brush lovers in 1956. Or something. It seems reasonably obvious that if you look at a website with the word 'anorak' in it, that some of the content may relate to offshore radio, the bulk of which happened in the 1960's. I can't see much wrong with that, certainly nothing to throw hissy fits over. If I found it upsetting for some bizzare reason, I'd look at something else I certainly wouldn't waste bits of my life contributing.

As it happens, not being born until 1968 (August in fact so you can all send me a nice birthday card thank you. And cake.) I missed out on all the excitement of the offshore stations in them days. I first heard Caroline in September 1983 (and that was it- life's never been quiet the same!), so ironically, listening to bits of the R. Essex thing, I'm hearing loads of 'old' music, but to me, its all brand new cos I ain't heard much of it before. Some of the mowtown stuff I heard yesterday I really enjoyed and its all been new 'old' music to me. I also can't see the point in labelling people 'old' as if its some kind of disability. Isn't it an attitude thing? I know plenty of folk in their 20's who act like they're 85. Anyway, unless someones invented a time machine I guess we're all heading that way!

Now, I'm off to www.1950sbogbrusheswerefuckinggreat .com to call them all a bunch of sad old bastards.

Regards
Giles.

Quoting a previous Steve Martin contribution:-

Christopher would it be fair to say there are a few "big fish" in the
London scene and quite a few smaller pirates, or do you think they all
have big audiences?

A good question.

I think I'm right in saying that, on balance, there are probably a number of 'big fish' whilst the others are very tiny, nothing inbetween. But, it depends what constitutes a fair measurement of their audience and impact, and also understanding the weird thing that's happening with 'geographical' communities and prejudices.

There's a dilution of audience when we go through a period of loads of stations all doing the same thing. At the moment, for example, we almost have one Polish pirate per polish immigrant! The same might be true of the Slovakian, and other (whatever they are) stations aimed at each of the massive influx of various Eastern Europeans here (Eastern Europeans immigrants now out number those from Pakistan and the Indian sub-continent). These are the latest types of stations, and despite me not understanding the lingo, they do appear to be very active with listener response from the communities they serve and full of targeted advertising.

On the more conventional urban side, almost everybody is playing a mixture now of garage, house and r'n'b. Those 'specialising' seem to have died down as the music styles appear to be merging in interest within the consuming groups. The stations, despite being easily heard across all of London, are tending to be predominantly listened to by feral 'crews' from a particular geographical area, and so content is reflecting that. So, True 100.2, as an example, will be providing all music styles for the North-East London area. Its advertising will be dominated by shops and events from the local area, calls will come from the local area, and it really is a 'local' station. Its DJs will play at a local club. Once upon a time, stations were London wide with calls from anywhere in London. Now it's all very territorial, despite stations being perfectly receivable across all of London. I find that a little weird.

There was a time when a station would be known and followed for one particular style of music. Possibly the modern way of listening dictates that that is an old idea. I'm noticing a sort of anorak strength style of affiliation to a specific station now, regardless of what is being played. The DJ and / or MC is still king (same as in the 1960s), and will take time to interact on a far more discussional level than just screaming over the music or reading out the numbers giving them 'missed calls' (Hence there's a large amount of talking).

As you probably know, kids today can multi-task in a way we never could. They can hold perfectly un-distracted conversations with you in person, someone else via text, and someone else via MSN, at exactly the same time with no degredation to the quality of each of the communications. Women have done this for a while, but historically have been marred by distraction. Not so the kids of today who have it perfected.

Remember when groups of anoraks used to listen to the radio? They'd chatter away whilst the records were playing, and would all instantly fall silent in order to listen to and marvel at the links. Today, the same sort of thing happens, but kids can hear and digest the links without having to be quiet. It's fascinating.

Anyway, to answer your question as best I can, I'd say that if you measure pirate stations on a feral geographical basis, each area has a number of wannabies that nobody really listens to, and then only one major super-pirate they all listen to. The role of who is the super-pirate or big fish can change almost overnight, for reasons I haven't grasped, but it is nearly always the more professional sounding ones (both technically and organisationally) that seem to be the biggest fish. Transposing this across the whole of London, it probably means around 40% are the big fish, making serious money, getting serious respect, whilst the others are here today gone tomorrow.

Sorry if that was rambling and confused, but did it answer anything?
—
* Christopher England just said that *

Christopher England <...> said:

You're one of those early risers, Richard, aren't you? (Is that 'cos
you never sleep, or just wake up early?)

Nope it because i am secretly a Vampire and roam the streets and forums at night looking for Virgins etc to suck the blood from, Although they are in very short supply round here, Seriously over the years i have had so many jobs where you have to get up early that now i dont work anymore i cant get out of the habit,

 So, after Tuesday, tune in at

6:55am when it starts. You could even catch JK and Joel – they are
secretly radio anoraks you know – on 4am to 6:55am. It's a little known
fact that Joel only got into radio because I taught him how to be a hot
rockin' flame throwin' DJ. He owes everything to me, you know, although
I never ever mention it in public.

I believe you but i am sure thousands wouldn't

 But, probably this latter day Kenny

and Cash (JK and Joel) wouldn't be to your taste compared to Mr Moyles.

I will definitely give Mr Moyles a listen and let you know what i think

Actually, thinking about it, Scot Mills (the afternoon guy) is probably
the provider of a more 'technical' anoraky show than Chris Moyles, but I
can't give you guys too much too soon to listen to. :-)

Nope we might get temporal lobe overload.

Richard