Tuesday, 27 October 2009
PlayBack's Pirate song
Well, those electric sheep to the valley they keep walkin
On the radio waves selling tennis shoes and beer
It induces sleep when that dj starts his squawkin’
I’m lookin’ for one song to save me on this midnight clear
So how far do we have to go to hear that pirate radio?
One song that could steal our hearts
Before they turn into silver and gold
Well I’m drivin’ my care real slow and my baby wants to know
When we gonna hear our song on that pirate radio?
One star in the sky so I named it ottis redding
Or maybe marvin gaye lookin’ for his tammi turell
There ain’t no mountain high enough to stop this wedding
Rollin’ out of memphis to detroit I can hear those bells
So how far do we have to go to hear that pirate radio?
One song that could steal our hearts
Before they turn into silver and gold
Well I’m drivin’ my care real slow and my baby wants to know
When we gonna hear our song on that pirate radio?
Well, we’ve been drivin’ all night, ever since we were teenagers,
Up to that border town where the outlaw station air waves
Where the dj’s outta sight and his heart is so courageous
And he loves every song that he’s puttin’ on for the free and brave
So how far do we have to go to hear that pirate radio?
One song that could steal our hearts
Before they turn into silver and gold
Well I’m drivin’ my care real slow and my baby wants to know
When we gonna hear our song on that pirate radio?
Monday, 19 October 2009
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Radio Caroline North Documentary
The Other Radio Caroline, a one hour documentary by Paul Rowley about Radio Caroline North are now on PBi.
Don't miss it
(CET)
sat 10.00
sat 14.00
sat 18.00
sat 22.00
sun 10.00
sun 14.00
sun 18.00
The founder of Radio Caroline South and Radio Caroline North - Ronan O'Rahilly, an Irish American.
Before Ronan came along with his revolutionary idea of "free" radio, we in the United kingdom had to suffer the pains and stiff collars of the "dear old beeb - the BBC". To say this organization was stuffy, upper class and very very stale is an understatement - a lot of it still is now in the Y2K year. BBC tried to fight the pirate radio stations off the shores of the UK for 2 years before the Socialist Government of Harold Wilson and his "Postmaster General, Communist Tony Wedgwood Benn", under pressure from the BBC, decided that pirate radio was illegal and promptly declared them illegal. The fact that these stations had over 32 million listeners was of no interest to the government - all they cared about was that over 32 million people were NOT listening to the BBC, which was the station that the government "controlled".
Radio Caroline North and Radio Caroline South claimed 32 million visitors between them, there were also stations such as Radio City, Radio London, Radio Scotland, and many others which had followed Caroline onto the high seas. One radio station took over a disused Anti Aircraft Battery in the Thames Estuary. The immense popularity of these stations prompted almost universal support from the pop stars of the day, including the Beatles. Here were stations that played all the hits of the day, without paying royalties to the stars, yet the stars supported them wholeheartedly. Much to the annoyance of Harold Wilson and his Labour Government who used royalties as one of the "excuses" to ban these popular stations.
For those of you who have never heard these stations, imagine a BBC "music" channel, they only had one! They were playing Band music, like "Dead" Loss & His Orchestra, people like Frank Sinatra and that band that used to back him - AAAGGGHHH!! Whilst the newsreaders had to wear "dickie bows" and dinner suits to read the news - ON RADIO!! The BBC did have a children's request show on a Saturday morning which was still playing "children's records" (like Tommy the (bloody) Tuba) but was gradually being inundated with requests for Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys etc. That was the limit of "pop" music on "good old auntie beeb". Therefore these "pirate" stations filled a huge niche in the market and quickly drowned the BBC into the backwaters of broadcasting for what should have been forever, Harold Wilson thought otherwise. The BBC, fearful of losing their monopoly on broadcasting in the UK, pounded the government to do something and consequently these pirates were declared illegal on false charges and condemned to customs and government harassment. Most disappeared under the pressure, others got supplies from a more liberal minded Netherlands and in Caroline North's case. Eire, and struggled on.
My own "local" radio station was Radio Caroline North, moored off Ramsey Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. I lived then on what is now Merseyside, then Wirral part of Cheshire. First ever record was "Not Fade Away" Rolling Stones. The memories that flood back when thinking about those days. Jerry Leighton, Bob Stewart, Tony Prince, Mike Ahern, Don Allen, Johnnie Walker and more. Sitting on the sand dunes on Leasowe shore, those midnight beach parties with bonfires of driftwood. I recall one particular sunny, warm, Sunday afternoon, lying on those dunes, listening to Radio Caroline North on a 6 inch by 4 inch by 2 inch tinny sounding transistor radio. Gina Johnson was lying by my side. She was a real beauty in every sense of the world. Long golden blonde hair, long legs, mini skirts - a real catch and we had been lying there talking most of the day. I asked her out and she agreed!! As we had arranged to meet later, I had to go home first to get changed then walk to her home in the opposite direction. As I waited I realised something had gone wrong. When she eventually did turn up, she had a heavily bandaged foot. She had split her foot open on some glass on the way home! So she was in a lot of pain and bedridden for days. Never did get that date! I wonder if history would have been changed if I had that date?
Anyway, BBC's answer to the "radio and music revolution" was to introduce Radio 1, a pop music channel on 247m am. They employed ex pirate disc jockeys and the first show hit the air in 1967 with Tony Blackburn (ex - Radio London) kicking off with "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move. It filled a "music" gap but never the hunger of the true fans for the thrill and informality of "pirate" radio. Even in those days of revolution and expression, never once did I hear the lads on Caroline abuse their position of power nor did they "blue" the air - gentlemen all (well, at least ON the air!!). The BBC was even then, governed by the stiff upper lip brigade, whose starched shirts still stifled the natural thought patterns of the day. Radio 1 DJ's had to conform - or else! Few survived the BBC regime, those that did were Dave Lee Travis, Noel Edmonds, Tony Blackburn and that nutter Kenny Everett amongst others. Mind you, some got sacked, at least once a year, only to return later!!
Don't miss it
(CET)
sat 10.00
sat 14.00
sat 18.00
sat 22.00
sun 10.00
sun 14.00
sun 18.00
The founder of Radio Caroline South and Radio Caroline North - Ronan O'Rahilly, an Irish American.
Before Ronan came along with his revolutionary idea of "free" radio, we in the United kingdom had to suffer the pains and stiff collars of the "dear old beeb - the BBC". To say this organization was stuffy, upper class and very very stale is an understatement - a lot of it still is now in the Y2K year. BBC tried to fight the pirate radio stations off the shores of the UK for 2 years before the Socialist Government of Harold Wilson and his "Postmaster General, Communist Tony Wedgwood Benn", under pressure from the BBC, decided that pirate radio was illegal and promptly declared them illegal. The fact that these stations had over 32 million listeners was of no interest to the government - all they cared about was that over 32 million people were NOT listening to the BBC, which was the station that the government "controlled".
Radio Caroline North and Radio Caroline South claimed 32 million visitors between them, there were also stations such as Radio City, Radio London, Radio Scotland, and many others which had followed Caroline onto the high seas. One radio station took over a disused Anti Aircraft Battery in the Thames Estuary. The immense popularity of these stations prompted almost universal support from the pop stars of the day, including the Beatles. Here were stations that played all the hits of the day, without paying royalties to the stars, yet the stars supported them wholeheartedly. Much to the annoyance of Harold Wilson and his Labour Government who used royalties as one of the "excuses" to ban these popular stations.
For those of you who have never heard these stations, imagine a BBC "music" channel, they only had one! They were playing Band music, like "Dead" Loss & His Orchestra, people like Frank Sinatra and that band that used to back him - AAAGGGHHH!! Whilst the newsreaders had to wear "dickie bows" and dinner suits to read the news - ON RADIO!! The BBC did have a children's request show on a Saturday morning which was still playing "children's records" (like Tommy the (bloody) Tuba) but was gradually being inundated with requests for Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys etc. That was the limit of "pop" music on "good old auntie beeb". Therefore these "pirate" stations filled a huge niche in the market and quickly drowned the BBC into the backwaters of broadcasting for what should have been forever, Harold Wilson thought otherwise. The BBC, fearful of losing their monopoly on broadcasting in the UK, pounded the government to do something and consequently these pirates were declared illegal on false charges and condemned to customs and government harassment. Most disappeared under the pressure, others got supplies from a more liberal minded Netherlands and in Caroline North's case. Eire, and struggled on.
My own "local" radio station was Radio Caroline North, moored off Ramsey Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. I lived then on what is now Merseyside, then Wirral part of Cheshire. First ever record was "Not Fade Away" Rolling Stones. The memories that flood back when thinking about those days. Jerry Leighton, Bob Stewart, Tony Prince, Mike Ahern, Don Allen, Johnnie Walker and more. Sitting on the sand dunes on Leasowe shore, those midnight beach parties with bonfires of driftwood. I recall one particular sunny, warm, Sunday afternoon, lying on those dunes, listening to Radio Caroline North on a 6 inch by 4 inch by 2 inch tinny sounding transistor radio. Gina Johnson was lying by my side. She was a real beauty in every sense of the world. Long golden blonde hair, long legs, mini skirts - a real catch and we had been lying there talking most of the day. I asked her out and she agreed!! As we had arranged to meet later, I had to go home first to get changed then walk to her home in the opposite direction. As I waited I realised something had gone wrong. When she eventually did turn up, she had a heavily bandaged foot. She had split her foot open on some glass on the way home! So she was in a lot of pain and bedridden for days. Never did get that date! I wonder if history would have been changed if I had that date?
Anyway, BBC's answer to the "radio and music revolution" was to introduce Radio 1, a pop music channel on 247m am. They employed ex pirate disc jockeys and the first show hit the air in 1967 with Tony Blackburn (ex - Radio London) kicking off with "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move. It filled a "music" gap but never the hunger of the true fans for the thrill and informality of "pirate" radio. Even in those days of revolution and expression, never once did I hear the lads on Caroline abuse their position of power nor did they "blue" the air - gentlemen all (well, at least ON the air!!). The BBC was even then, governed by the stiff upper lip brigade, whose starched shirts still stifled the natural thought patterns of the day. Radio 1 DJ's had to conform - or else! Few survived the BBC regime, those that did were Dave Lee Travis, Noel Edmonds, Tony Blackburn and that nutter Kenny Everett amongst others. Mind you, some got sacked, at least once a year, only to return later!!
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Miss Oybo back to the Island
Today on PBi Miss Oybo live.
She's a great singer after 4 bottles ... don't miss the show !!!!
Friday, 1 May 2009
The Boat That Rocked - special Soundtrack day
Listen to the sound that rocked UK
The best songs ever
Saturday, 18 April 2009
PlayBack International and friends
Enjoy the spirit of FREE RADIO
Search around the PIRATE SHORTWAVE Band... and you'll be surprise.
Feel free to use the blog for your request when we are live from studio no3
JJ & friends
News from the island
Compiled and edited by Akin O. Fernandez and his Iridial imprint, The Conet Project: Recordings of Shortwave Numbers Stations presents five hours' worth of recordings of numbers stations taken from shortwave radio transmissions. Who could have thought that such an undertaking would be largely embraced by underground music fans? Originally issued in 1998, the initial four-CD box set sold out in respectable time and became a highly sought after -- and expensive -- collector's item. The 2004 re-press was made possible because of the settlement of a lawsuit between Fernandez and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. Wilco's 2002 breakthrough album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, was named for an unauthorized sample from a track off The Conet Project. The sample, a woman's voice with an indecipherable accent, repetitively intones three words, "Yankee…hotel…foxtrot," which loops for a minute and a half during Wilco's track "Poor Places." The legal battle took nearly two years, and ended with Tweedy agreeing to the settlement. Fernandez used the money to re-press The Conet Project.
But what are numbers stations, you might ask. They are radio stations that can be heard on the shortwave band. Unlike regular SW stations, they don't have call letters and are not registered -- in fact, no government in the world is even willing to acknowledge their existence, even though anyone with a SW radio can tune in to them, either willingly or by accident. These stations transmit Morse signals; melodic fragments; strings of numbers (hence their nickname) spoken by male, female, and artificial voices; and other strange noises. They are believed to be means by which intelligence services communicate with spies (since tuning in to a shortwave frequency leaves no trace, unlike receiving e-mails or phone calls), and there is a worldwide network of station spotters attempting to decipher and unmask these mystery stations and their cryptic transmissions. The Conet Project was first and foremost collected for these aficionados (the booklet is very extensive in details and log codes for each recorded station). But the whole project also has a wider appeal, as the impact it had on many an experimental and ambient artist can testify.
First of all, the highly characteristic background noise of the shortwave band is something to behold: rich in swooshes, buzzes, and other eerie interference. Second, some of these recordings, skillfully edited by Fernandez, are truly strange, even disturbing (the otherworldly voices, distorted by the distance they have traveled; the odd choices of musical IDs; the foreign languages; the nonsense words). Third and most of all, the whole thing is a feast for the imagination, its undercurrents of secrecy, spying activities, and paranoia giving these recordings forbidden meanings. Several artists have later sampled and otherwise borrowed material from this collection. The sound quality is good considering the circumstances (some of these recordings were 20 years old, others were brand new, but they all still come from the shortwave band), but it still takes some dedication or curiosity to enjoy this set. If you don't own a shortwave radio, this is the next best thing to listening to numbers stations "live," and if you do, you'll find yourself paying much more attention to the odd transmissions you used to dismiss. Of course, if you are already into these kinds of covert mysteries, The Conet Project is the most complete audio resource available. ~ François Couture and Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Monday, 16 February 2009
Kevin Turner Week-end
21st - 22nd Feb.
Stay tuned ... from Caroline's ship KEVIN TURNER is back to the Island
A special QSL will be made for the occasion.
Reports and Requests are welcome at: playbackinternational@gmail.com or directly on the blog
Stay tuned !
Secret Streaming will be on from somewhere around Europe; just ask for it !
Sunday, 15 February 2009
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