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  Pirate Sounds |
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Back To Main Radio Page Pirate Sounds Programming Copyrights
"Pirate Radio” became known as such not because it was broadcast by scurrilous hook-handed knaves and wenches in pirate costumes, but because it was broadcast from disused sea forts and offshore ships. This was done to take advantage of the increasing demand for rock and pop music for which the legal BBC Radio services did not cater. The stations were technically not actually illegal as long as they broadcast from international waters.
The sound of the very first bell from Radio Caroline in 1964 heralded the start of a completely new type of sound coming out of British transistor radios - the radio jingle. These self-contained snippets of the Sixties contained tunes and catchphrases that were, in many cases, even more memorable than the records being played by the stations and there can't be many of us for whom at least one of these doesn't bring back memories of the halcyon days of pirate radio. They don't make them like this anymore...
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Pirate 'Songs' |
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Radio Jingles
While some stations had specially composed jingles, many of the pirates used generic ones, tailored to their own particular station or show, commercially produced by ( usually American ) companies. In the examples below, the Radio England jingles have been tailored specifically for the station's own use. The others are in their 'raw' state ready for modification or as ready to use 'off the shelf' items.
Swinging Radio England
( with thanks to the generosity of Ray Robinson in providing much of the Radio England content )
Radio Shows and DJs
The following are excerpts from various stations and programmes, giving examples of the chat, the jingles, the Sixties DJ sound and, in more than one instance, the embarrassing cock-up.
Swinging Radio England
Other Stations
Radio Adverts
Of course, what kept the whole thing afloat was the income from advertising broadcasts. Here are a few well-known ones:
| Coca Cola ( performed by 5th Dimension ) | Crazy Foam - the push button fun |
| Opal Fruits - made to make your mouth water | Heinz Baked Beans - a million housewives every day... |
More Pirate Sounds
Visit my links pages to find lots more fabulous pirate radio sound and information sites
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Big
'L' Radio
London