Anorak Nation: Discussion: Re: Radio Caroline North

Hmm, I think you're being a bit selective there. That period would have been three and a half years for Caroline North, ok, two and a half if we discount the horrendous Major Minor era! For Big L, it was three and a half years. But nothing lasts forever in this world, people come, people go. I think the reason all the stations you mention are so fondly remembered is, quite simply, because of the impact they had. Think of the pop radio scene BC. It was dire. From what I have read about Laser, it too had a disctinctive sound and when contrasted with the hamstrung BBC Radio 1 with needle time restrictions, you were "only a minute away from music".

Which begs another question. Was the price Caroline paid for the "Major Minor" era too high, bearing in mind what it did to the music policy, and therefore, the sound of the station? I thought the North ship sounded pretty dire during that era, the South ship being saved only by the DJs who kept the dream alive, people like JW, RTD, Andy Archer, Stevie Merike.

Yes, I agree with the North ship being viewed as Ronan's baby. Interesting then that Ronan called Caroline "The Lady" irrespective of the vessel.

Which brings me onto another point that I've wondered about over the years. We know that the Caroline ships were berthed in Holland for 4 years before Gerard van Dam bought the Mi Amigo at auction. What no-one has described is the reason why it was the Mi Amigo and not the Fredericia that was purchased. Was the Fredericia's condition inferior at the time? Rob Olthof's website (http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/CAR/car13.shtml) doesn't paint a very pretty picture of the seaworthiness of the Mi Amigo, so was the Fredericia's state even worse, as I understand it was sold to a breaker at the ame auction in 1972.

Alan

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Alan Milewczyk aka The Pole with Soul
Soul pix on the net at www.soulman1949.com