STREET RADIO: Back In The Days - edition 2
Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Jan 2008 at 11:04 am |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
I had a look in HMV the other day, and there’s a brand new “80s soul weekender” CD out. I have a few of these collections already. On taking a look at the track listings, it all seemed just a little too familiar. Rufus and Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody. Yes, great tune, certainly a classic, but doesn’t it feature on every 80s soul CD ever made? Candi Staton – Young Hearts. Maybe just a tad overplayed? Earth Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland. Haven’t we had that one a few times too many? The O’Jays – I Love Music. Did The O’Jays actually record any other tracks? I’m fairly sure they did…
I don’t deny the quality of any of these tunes. But can someone tell me precisely why do we have to have the same two dozen tracks on every single 80s soul collection, just in a different order each time?
The situation is even worse if you turn on to one of the mainstream radio soul shows. If you are so inclined (and I choose not to be) and tune into, say, Heart 106.2, or perhaps Smooth FM, you can have the joyful experience of hearing the very same 24 tracks being played at various times during the week, over and over. Presumably as the station’s hard drive picks them at random from this Weekender CD. Or perhaps from one of the other CDs entitled “80s soul” or “soul weekender”, which contain all the same tracks anyway, but just makes it easier for the hard drive to put them in a different order. You can guarantee it’s the Heart 106.2 listeners who buy these collection CDs; as if they haven’t had their fill of Ladies Night.
Can someone tell me precisely why do we have to have the same two dozen tracks on every single 80s soul collection, just in a different order each time?
Take the Chaka Khan track. Instead of Ain’t Nobody, how about a different Rufus track for a change? What about perhaps Live In Me? Or Do You Love What You Feel? I’m not saying these are better tracks – it’s all a matter of taste, after all, it’s not a competition. But these less popular tracks are undoubtedly great tracks and, more importantly, different tracks.
What about if, instead of Candi Staton, we had Candy by Cameo? Earth Wind & Fire – jeepers, why do we have to have Boogie Wonderland every single time? EWF has a back catalogue to envy the Beatles for Heaven’s sake. The O’Jays: please can we have Extraordinary Girl, or Summer Fling, or Put Our Heads Together? And why not slip in a couple of little-heard classics in there too? How about The Two Tons [of Fun] - Never Like This? Or Logg - I Know You Will? Or Norman Connors - Take It To The Limit?
RADIO HUMDRUM
If you in fact time-travel back to the Eighties and examine those weekends of soul, yes, many of us Londoners were filling them with Oops Upside Your Head and Jump To The Beat. Many forget that, for a short while, Radio London decided it fancied itself as a soul music station. Tony Blackburn served up plenty of it in the mornings; there were a couple of hours off for a phone-in (rather ironically, presented by the station’s finest Soul DJ, Robbie Vincent), then Suzie Barnes took up the baton with more soul; Dave Pearce played even more soul music into the evenings and Jeff Young played more soul still at the weekends. In fact, one of the only shows not playing much soul was Black London.
Even the groove-diluted BBC soul vaults were filled with more than just the chosen 24 tracks we are force fed these days. Yet, in true mainstream fashion, inevitably it was still just a same handful of “popular” tracks that the BBC played. And play they did. Day in, day out, over and over. And over, and over. Sounds familiar, Heart 106.2 fans?
Simple fact: if it isn’t played, you ain’t gonna hear it. So you can’t really blame those current compilation producers for giving us the same old same old. If those execs didn’t live in London in their youth, their soul education probably came courtesy of Bruno Brooks, Dave Lee Travis or the Radio 1 Chart Show. So we should perhaps be grateful that the soul CD manufacturers at least managed to pick up on Patrice Rushen’s Forget Me Nots (on the last count, features on 372 Soul Weekender CDs).
But this wasn’t what London deserved. A generation that grew up with Robbie Vincent’s legendary Saturday show, Greg Edwards’ amazing Soul Spectrum and the StreetSounds collections wanted more than this paltry offering.
And we got it. And how.
LONDON WEEKEND RADIO
Anyone who has a half decent vinyl collection these days, which includes the likes of the Bar Kays, Leroy Hutson, Leon Ware and Dee Dee Bridgewater, might well have been drugged by the rare groove haze that wafted through the London streets like a chemical released in an episode of 24. The BBC didn’t conjure up this magic. Greg and Robbie didn’t have the alchemistic powers to cause all this on their own. It was the combined wizardry of these fine fellows and those dedicated souls who were casting the magical spell of street-radio.
There were plenty of sources of this sorcery. In the late 80s you could find on the FM dial as many fine street-radio stations as We Are Family now appears on 80s Soul CDs. These soul weekender stations didn’t always play Rappers Delight and Sexual Healing; they played Passion Play and Sanctified Lady. And then next time they played Sugar Hill or Gaye it was Lover in You and What’s Happening Brother. And the next time probably some ultra rare Master Gee or Marvin recording that no one had heard before, but suddenly everyone wanted to own.
Kiss 94fm gets all the credit these days, but (for me at least), the definitive station of its day was LWR. Founded in 1982 by Johnny Haywood and Keith Green, it survived right through to the 90s. LWR, like Kiss 94fm then and the likes of Unknown FM and Push FM now, had an amazing line up of talented, passionate individuals. Of these, two stand out, for different reasons: Ron Tom and Steve Edwards.
RON TOM
Ron Tom was a powerhouse of a broadcaster. Part responsible for the station’s very existence, he had an on-air presence, knowledge of music and charisma that not only engaged and entertained but also subliminally educated the listener (the selections were spot on every time, so much so that you’d find yourself unexplainably in Our Price hunting down the O’Bryan lp in the £4.99 rack – and finding it, too). This is also a man who managed to persuade Roy Ayers to do a live on air phone in with every single LWR DJ present!
Yet what the public loved most about Ron was that he played tracks like Chocolate Milk’s Action Speaks Louder Than Words; Universal Robot Band’s Funky Tambourine; Juicy’s After Loving You (Juicy was the group responsible for the classic Sugar Free, so often confused with Mtume’s Juicy Fruit).
If those execs didn’t live in London in their youth, their soul education probably came courtesy of Bruno Brooks, Dave Lee Travis or the Radio 1 Chart Show
HEAVY ON THE MURDER MUSIC
Take a listen to the sound clip below as Ron excitedly looks forward to a musically prosperous 1987. Curtis Hairston is predicted as one of the big potential artists for the New Year. If you don’t recall Curtis, he was the voice behind all the big BB&Q hits (Dreamer, Genie, On The Shelf), and his 1987 album was nothing less than a sensation. But have you heard from him since? Vandross’s See Me was Ron Tom’s definitive track of 1986. But 20 years later, does this one ever get played these days? Perhaps Mr 80s Soul Compilation Producer could replace Never Too Much just once?
As Ron lines up a Johnny Hammond track, he proclaims “underground pressure at its best”. Yet to this day, you’ll only hear such a track on an underground station like Push FM.
It needn’t be this way, though.
But perhaps what impresses most is the way in which he enthuses about his music and connects with his audience. No text messages, no chatroom, no message board, no email. But he still manages to read out half a dozen dedications and take care of all the requests (how? By pager, of course).
“Kickin’ kickin’ kickin’ kickin’ it”, as he put it so accurately.
Outstanding radio.
STEVE EDWARDS
Steve Edwards was a man with an agenda: to provide the greatest jazz show on air. And he did just this. But this wasn’t pretentious Radio 3 highbrow jazz or pathetic Smooth FM softy jazz. This was pure, soulful, funky jazz. Jazz from Roy Ayers, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Dexter Wansell and so many more. Jazz with a mix of soulful voices, from the likes of Shirley Jones, Al Jarreau and The Winans. This was no bedroom, part-time DJ; this was a man with a huge collection of vinyl masterpieces that he was keen to share with London (and the surrounding counties). The show was labelled “an education in good music”. It was precisely that. Steve knew what he liked and knew what the public would like. The tracks he played were possibly only ever aired on the few occasions he played them. I still have the list of items from his show that I want to buy. That is, if I could ever find them and had a few hundred pounds to spare.
Both of these LWR presenters went on to bigger, if not necessarily better, things. But Ron and Steve were just two of many, many talented deejays.
LWR’s management even offered heaps of them for hire, courtesy of Midas Media: fancy a bit of soul and funk? Then Wayne Turner or Scully from the Boogie Bunch was your man. Like your funk? How about Barry B or Yommie from the Funk Force? Into your lover’s rock? How about Fuzzy Dee or Daddy Ernie from the Reggae Squad? LWR offered up focused DJ teams who could provide all of your function’s musical needs, while spreading the musical gospel far and wide and well beyond ninety-two point five fm.
LWR: THE LINE-UP
The line-up was impressive: DJ “names” such as Tim Westwood, Ron Tom and Barry B all appeared on the station. But take a look at the LWR Roll of honour, and there were so many brilliant dj’s on the station. Here’s a list of some of them:
Jigs, Angie LeMar, Camilla, Karl Kox, Shads, Scully the “Jive Master”, Steve Edwards, Daddy Ernie, Yommie, Zak, Jasper “the Vinyl Junkie”, Jay J, Fuzzy Dee, Cliff Ringwood, Jazzy M, Steve M, Richard Taylor, Trevor St Francis, Steady Eddie, Tony Bevans, Shay, Addie, Dessie D, DJ Elaine.
If any of you are out there (or if you used to be on LWR and we missed you off) please get in touch!
SIMPLY WICKED
I have a vivid, wonderful memory of revising for my maths O-levels in June of 86, tuned in to LWR 92.5 as Luther Vandross’s fine, sweet voice on My Sensitivity filtered through the speakers of my Sony portable. I was blown away by such an amazing tune. How do you top this? Next track lined up on the turntable was Kool and the Gang’s Summer Madness (although I didn’t know that at the time). What is this amazing sound? Then a track called Games from the “new” Frederick album.Wow. It was, as the jingle used to announce, “simply wicked”.The clothes were Farah, Tacchini and Kappa. The cars were Escort RS Turbo, Audi Coupe and Golf GTI 16v. The TV was Moonlighting, LA Law and Cheers. The clubs were Crackers, Mingles and Trends. The radio was LWR 92.5fm.I HEAR MUSIC IN THE STREETS
When the LWR transmitters were closed down, and all that talent went its separate ways, the raw passion for rare records and availability of quality, new soul also seemed to switch off overnight. Was this mere co-incidence? Was it my arse!It’s no coincidence that the musical preferences of a generation were shaped by the likes of Steve Edwards, Ron Tom and Trevor C, on stations such as LWR and Solar FM.
The kids today might think that the 80s soul weekender scene consisted of worn out old tunes by Gloria Gaynor & McFadden & Whitehead. But it was so very much more than that
Close off access to the great radio pioneers and how does all the musical knowledge transfer down the generations? The kids today might think that the 80s soul weekender scene consisted of worn out old tunes by Gloria Gaynor and McFadden and Whitehead. But it was so very much more than that.
And it’s all still out there, as long as you know where to look.
Thank heavens for the likes of Trevor C and Martin Lodge on Push FM, Marky Mark and Dr Marrese on Passion, Master J and Nick Power on Unknown FM - and all of those legitimate, quality DJs on today’s Street Radio- who dedicate their time and efforts to provide us with some real weekend music.
All of whom give us some hope for the 00’s soul weekender CDs, on sale in all good record shops in about 20 years.
>> READ PART 1 OF STREET RADIO: BACK IN THE DAYS
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Nice write up. Would love to hear some full shows from lwr.
Your’e right though kiss got all the credit, but imo lwr pissed all over it!
Always remember locking into the Saturday Night Bust Up with Zak, Jazzy M, Steve Harris, Wayne Turner.
Also remember Derek Boland, Westwood, & Tony Beverns for the Hip Hop!
Thanks for bringing back the memories!
Hi, just thought i`d get in touch to remind you i was on lwr from 87-88 after being headhunted/hijacked from TKO which in turn did the same from Peoples Choice Radio based near Epsom in surrey. For a while i took over Rontoms Show (the afternoon crisis) i believe he tagged it. And Jasper the vynil junkie came on after me. I then spent a while on Medina radio based in Harlseden in 1989 before ending up on Choice fm for 13 years from 1990-2003. I did the 1st live show on it on the 31st march 90. This actually is a bit of a record as its the first live programme on Londons First legal soul based station !! so all the years of hiding up dodgy tower blocks at North Peckham estate and evading Mr Eric Gotz and his merry men from the DTI seemed well worth it in the end.
Although jazz fm (as was) came on before Choice, its music policy wasnt soul so it doesnt really count. Kiss, as you`re aware came on after us by around a couple of months i believe. I do think we had the edge over Kiss at that time when Lwr was running tings. Our street cred at that time was unmatched and only seemed to slip as the raids became more frequent and transmissions were intermittent. Oh, and by the way, the reason yours truly isnt on choice anymore is because when Capital Radio bought it it out completely in 03` they dropped all the classic soul/boogie shows in favour of r&b,garage and bashment programmes thus dropping their core audience to 16-24. So me and others all got the shove without a penny to say cheers for putting us where we are today . Nice one !
Anyway, cheers for the site, i only discoverd it by accident too. So a little mention amendment would be well appreciated. Thanks…..Terry Peters.
Hi everyone, I’m probably the last of the group to come out of the woodwork. It’s definately a long time since I heard all of these name and yes I can still remember all of the fantastic music you use to play. Jigs as ever with those mind stretching quizes and perhaps my favourate, Daddy Ernie who I could not complement enough.
I was going through some old tapes the other day and found a tape of a show from LWR and as you do you listen to it and try to explain to your child with you how things were back in the day. 46 floors, looking over London! Spreading Love to the Capital! Wow, we certainly captured the imagination as when the mainstream radio stations were struggling to keep-up.
I’m wondering if DJs now a days do the same amount of research and footwook that use to be done back in the days or do they have their record dealer on speed dial with an Mp3 being whizzed down to them over the airwave?
If I was to pick out one delight from our time, it would have be the congregating and meetings we use to have for the exchange of knowledge, history and understanding of the music we love. Fridaynight run around London’s Westend finishing over in Hackney with Trevor Nelson. Only because the shop closed around 10pm.
This was probably one of the reasons why I use to ask for the late spots at my gigs, you really enjoyed the rounds.
Then, at home, ring ring. Holla, “whasup, Dezzi D speaking”. “Hi D, what’s happening”. And I’ll string off a list of clubs. I think the common routine was: I’ll catch you here at 12midnight, but my set finishes at 1am and then I got to be here for 2am. Cool, I’m there at 2am as well but my set is at 3am and we can chat thereafter around 4am. Can’t do. Why not Dezzi. I’ve got to be here at 4am, but I’m dying to catch your set. I heard you got that tune that Barry busted last week. The one with the big horn. How do you know that I’ve got that tune… and so on and so on did the conversations go.
I remember, barely getting out to the bathroom with toothbrush in mouth and my stereo would be busting tune at the hands of my good groove crew, Dominic, Allen Woodstock (RIP), Chike, Roy, Greg, Henderson and many more. My house was the meeting place.
Ring ring, yo whasup. Who is this. It’s me Ron Tom. don’t forget. I have forgotten. No I won’t Ron, just remind me. Ron puts the phone down and I’ve got to reverse dial him back. Give me the detials again Ron: yeh, … and the time to be there is 6am for the show. Cool.
This was my life for all those years and days as a DJ. Would you do it again? I think …
Anyway, just a flavour of how it was back in the day with on mobile phones and computer internet. How did we servive?
Love to all, Trevor (SF) St Francis, WAG Club, Studio 21 & Oasis
Respect to my mentors, Trevor Shakes & Steve Jervier
Respect to all the dance music pioneers from all stations. I can now listen to the music I love without lifting a finger. Thank you for the good times - without you all, we would not be where we are. By the way, were are you now?
Hello guys,
I was a teenager back in the mid to late 80s and lived in Bethnal Green. Soul/funk & Hip Hop were my first love.
Thank God we could get LWR, TKO, Solar, Horizon, RJR and all the rest.
I would like to thank all who were involved with bringing the music we love (with passion) to the air waves.
I do miss the sweet sonud of soul comming at ya live….R&B has taken over and left no room for the likes of Don Blackman, The Jones Girls, Loose Ends etc……
ya know - we are not all 15!! lol
Solar is a bit of a lifeline - but still cant get it in my car…………….
God Bless You All
Peace * Love * Respect
Hi guys those were the best days of my life, thought you might want to know that Wayne Turner passed away back in 2000. Zak started another pirate on 88.6 in 2002 but I have lost contact with him now, as for me I gave up radio and run a massive mobile roadshow, nice site, laters take care.
Steve May.
What a great write up
Those were the days, and whats more special, is to see that even to this day we are still remembered and held in such high regard.
Keep up the good work of keeping the old school alive and remembered for without us, who knows how things would have gone.
The original, one and only, Hit Man, Mr Tony Bevans
Wow, some memory’s here ! Think I may be one of the last out of the woodwork here. I was on the original line up when the station started up, can also remember Mike Steel, Johny Haywood, John Dawson, Mark Mason & the gang. Would be great to find out what happened to everyone. I still have all the letters and I mean hundreds that we use to get sent in those days. No texts or email then ! Am proud to say I was a part of this and still have my white label collection and some old show tapes somewhere too. Long live the memories
Mr Tony Bevans! Good to see you here.
Would like to know if you have any old recordings of your shows on LWR?
Thanks.
Dave
So sorry to inform you that over the years they have been lost, stolen, or just stretched and wrapped around some dodgy cheap cassette players spindle.
Do you remember those days, when your favorite tape would just come to a grinding halt in the machine, and come out all chewed up !
But lets not give up hope
Sending out an urgent message
If anyone has any of the old shows on tape, then please get in touch,
and please make it one of the good ones where i did’nt mess up, ha,ha, ha
Tony Bevans
Shame that, yeh i know what your talking about. LOL!!
Think all my tapes used to get recoreded over, and over again with the latest tracks due to the lack of pocket money. Was only about 12 at the time!
Few old LWR clips can be found at http://www.amfm.org.uk/replay/
Good site. Just wish they would hurry up and finish it.
I stumbled upon LWR while tuning a old radio I had, I became hooked! I really missed the station when it was shutdown. The station knew what to play and it influnced my music taste. Loose Ends became a fav of mine. i’d love to listen to some shows and jingles i remember one where a woman would say “LWR LWR your tuned to 92.5″ anyone got any shows?
eden@vista.aero
Hey Tony Bevans,
I got a tape of yours in May 87 (tko) sent over to the south west corner of Ireland, myself and some friends knew that tape backwards. Can’t be sure if it is still around, will give a look but even now I can nearly name the tracks in order on side one. Had a good influence on my life.
Shane
Hi Ya Shane,
So you could only remember side one, does that mean side two was not Sh*t ?
May 97, i can’t even remember last week, ha,ha. Nice to hear the Hit Man got all the way over to Ireland, if you can find that tape i would pay for it to be fed ex over to me.
Also, all old groover fans, i just done a search on You Tube for LWR, and guess what, there we are loud and proud, also a copy of the last ever show broadcast from 92.5 fm, very sad day……….
Why don’t we all post a nice reply on there for the rest of the world to see.
Back Soon
Tony Bevans (aka The HitMan )
Hi Radiocafe,
this is a great write up, being one of the original management/audio
engineer and dj Fuzzy Dee on lwr from 1981-89 l would like to thank some of the presenters past and present who have graced the airwaves of LWR “The Trailblazers” roll call…Mark Mason, Wayne Turner, Carmella, Mike steel, Derrick Boland, Maxi Jazz, Cliff Ringwood, Wing Commander, Mr C, Steve Harris, Alastair Rapattack, Jigs, Angle LeMar, Karl Kox, Shabs, Oscar J Jennings, Terry Peters, Martin Day, Robbie May, Jerry Floyd, Peter G, Dave King, Paul Cook, Chris Collins, Angle Dee, Gerry Francis, Tim Westwood, John Dawson, Gary Gibbs, Victor Vader, Dezzy D, Steve Edward, KKN, Steve May, DJ Elayne, JB Rose, Jay Jay, Richard Lorenzo, John Prescott, Earl Stevens, Andy Rogers, Bob Jones, Andy Austin, Steve Taylor, Lindsey West, Simon Lee, Mike Sefford, Tony James, Clive Brady, Morris Greenaway, Joe Douglas, Robbie Brown, Jeff King, Steve Foster, Paul Jones, Chris Jackson, Ian Pollock, Gary Taylor, Eddie Jones, Dave Gregory, John Fresco, Mike Jones, Mark Andrews, Linden T, Tony Bevans, Peter Gregory, Nicky Holloway, Elvis, Andrew Dennis, Gary Lee, Paul Williams, Perry Daniels, Tony Monson, Cleveland Anderson, Yomi, Jon Ovel, Tony Marsden, Sarah HB, Jazzy M, Miss Bliss,
Ron Tom, General Lee, GT, Juliet Coley, Mike Anthony, Barry B, Jim Colvin, Dave Stewart, Kevin Martin, Paul Salford, Dave Brown, Colin Hunt, Trevor Jackson,
Tony West, Debbie Gopie, Roger Johnson, Paul Taylor, Richard Taylor, Neil Charles, Pete Tong, Johnny Heywood, Jasper, Don P, Alison, Ray Stevens,
Gary Stevens, Marie Barry, Richie Rich, Daddy Ernie, Gary Kent, Peter Davis, Al Grant, Richie P, Dave Shirt, Nick Stewart, Ralph T, Scully, Ricky King and last but least my brother Zak who was ahead of the radio game. Today you can fine me “fuzzy Dee” working with my roots Reggae band Blood Shanti & the Shanti-ltes and we are one half of the Aba Shanti l sound system. www.falasha recordings.com A note for Eden the jingle: lwr ur in tune too! was made by the group the “Cool Notes” in the year 1982. l would like to hear from you if you have some original broadcast of lwr show’s. Many Thanks……….Bless………Fuzzy Dee.
Hi guys,
I have loads of C90 cassettes with recordings of pirate stations from the 80’s.
Although, to be honest, I’m not sure how much remains. They used to get re-recorded over, broken etc. Unfortunately, at the time, I never bothered labeling any of them, either!
However, this week I found a cable to connect my old cassette deck to my laptop, so I’ve just started to “audiograb” the C90 tapes to mp3.
So far I’ve found…. Solar (4), TKO (1), CLR (1) and LWR (1, after sticking the tape back together).
There should be some JFM and Horizon, too. I remember recording Horizon’s last broadcasts, leading up to when it closed down on 15 September 1985. I think (hope) I’ve still got those, plus Solar’s closedown, a couple of weeks later.
This is going to take some time, I think…..
As you’d imagine, the quality of the recordings aren’t brilliant, but if anyone knows of somewhere that will host the files without deleting them, I can gradually upload them. Each 45min side is about 19mb.
Cheers,
Steve
Wow - a real trip down memory lane! Thanks for the name-check Fuzzy - nice to be remembered! I guess my claim to fame back then was that I was the first female DJ on London Soul pirate radio, when I started on Radio Horizon and was given the chance to transfer my column in Groove Weekly onto the airwaves - but before that, as a helper, working with some of the great guys who started it all on Radio Invicta - Steve Devonne, Steve Chandler, Andy Jackson, the late Steve Walsh, the late Tony Johns - seems like a life-time ago. There were some great technicians and engineers too, without whom we would never have got on the air. And of course, the Home Office chases and raids, the roof top masts, co-ax cables. Whilst on LWR, I loved the way Zak always made sure I went up on the roofs, just to see if I could handle it - yeah, I think I did!!
There are some names mentioned here, I haven’t heard for many many years - whatever happened to Nigel Grant, Mark Mason, Chris Stewart?
Great site - Thanks!!!
hi guys just come across this site some old memorys come back i have 2 or 3 of lwr 1 of barry b in the mix a live set of lwr and some ods and sods cliff ringwood westwood if u have any of lwr maybe we can swap mail me p.bellfield@btinternet.com
hi steve i see u have some of LWR on tape i cant upload my stuff but have put it on cd what stuf of lwr do you have mail me some time paul
Hi all, Could not believe it when I Found this site with Fuzzy Dees entry which listed all the presenters who appeared on the greatest pirate radio station London saw during the 1980s. He must have kept a list because I could not believe it when I saw my name amongst the roll of honour ! Having had success in professional radio as a daytime presenter on 3 FM stations, 1 A M station in the east of England and 1 in the mediterranean I still think my happiest days in broadcasting were at LWR. With those distinctive jingles and and a great DJ line up I was so priviledged to be part of the LWR on air team. I also enjoyed appearing at the stations soul all dayers, especially one held at Camden where I went on stage in front of around 4000 people, scary stuff ! On the list of presenters I see I am next to Morris Greenaway. Most of you are probably not aware but morris passed away in the summer of 1989 when he was found in his car in Tottenham after commiting suicide. A sad end to a great presenter and friend who was just 28 back then. Up in my attic I have several LWR shows on tape (my shows of course!) which I must put on MP3 at some point. I also have some solar tapes and several from Joy Radio where I presented many shows. After 31 years of Djing I am still working the road gigging around the east of England and up until 2006 I was presenting professionally for the UKRD radio group of stations. It was absoloutely fantastic to find the comments on LWR and a great trip down memory lane. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me on LWR (cliveontheradio@aol.com)
Update…
I’ve started uploading some mp3 files to a small website… http://www.oddbodd.plus.com …which I’ve set up for the purpose of sharing some of my old recordings with you guys. To keep the file size down, they’re only 56kbps, but the quality isn’t too bad, actually.
Unfortunately, I only have 250mb of webspace, so I’ll only be able to host about a dozen or so files at one time. [Mostly LWR up at the moment].
I did find the last hour of Horizon, and also the final hours of Solar.
There’s a link there, if you’d like to contact me, to share files or any other info.
Cheers,
Steve
For those who were not fortunate enough to live through the glory days of radio, you should know we are honoured to be in the company of some of 80s radio royalty. “Sir” Clive Brady: I have listened to the recordings I have of your shows on LWR from the late 80s so many times - it is fantastic to hear you are still out there gigging and presenting.
We are also privileged to be joined by Tony “Hit Man” Bevans, Trevor SF, Terry Peters and Fuzzy Dee. Fuzzy Dee! How mad is this? One of the men responsible for one of the finest radio stations ever. This feels almost like a reunion of some of London’s finest jocks.
I had forgotten the Cool Notes did the LWR theme tune, and recall the Cool Note “kids” also did another one of the famous jingles (which we have on tape somewhere). There was also an amazing lyric version of Lonnie Listen Smith’s “Say You Love Me” - which was a true early house classic - which featured an amazing female vocal, must see if we have this too.
Fuzzy - that is truly a definitive roll call of LWR legends, thanks for the message. Anyone know what happened to Jigs? Very sad to learn of Wayne Turner passing away though. He was truly a legend. And does anyone know what happened to Steve Edwards? He left a sinking Radio 1 and I never heard him on the radio again.
It’s worth repeating that today’s radio owes so much to all of you. There really was nothing like the glory days of the 80s, when everyone was into rare grooves, Golf GTIs, Tacchini tracksuits, Eddie Murphy films and tuning in to 92.5. You chaps put a lot of time, effort and passion into your broadcasts, and are partly responsible for me being penniless, but rich with good music.
Clive, Fuzzy, Tony, Trevor, Terry and everyone else - thanks again for getting in touch. Good to revive some so many fantastic memories.
Paul @ Radiocafe
Paul, many thanks for your kind comments and a big thanks for reviving such an interest in LWR and us 80s pirate jocks in London. It is just so great to be reading all this after some 25 years. If anyone wants to see how old, bald and wrinkled I am now and have a listen to some links from my recent shows on KLFM 96.7 FM Norfolk and Fen Radio 107.5 FM Cambridgeshire, just put “Clive Brady” into youtube.com. Seeing as Solar has been revived on the Sky Digital platform, is there anyone out there who could do the same for LWR ? Wow what a thought !
Hi Paul @ Radiocafe, hi everyone,
just a follow on to page 14 l forgot to add the name of the back room staff who helped keep LWR alive, Jill, Hannar, Dix, Pat, Roger ‘’srog”, Jackie Davidson, Emma the founder of Mr Supercool, John Dawson- the greatest powerful rig engineer , Howard, Eddie Medder, Little Bertie, My sister’s Kyei Adeline, Jennifer & bro’s Joe, James and more dj’s Cool Breeze, Dimpels D, Gerry Buscom, dj Maxi LX the lead singer of faceless, former LWR presenter and house music officnado Jazzy M the World of house and garage owes a debt of gratitude to the original master of the jackin’ zone which ran from 1985-89 Tuesdays & Thursday between 9pm-midnight, Jazzy M single handedly introduced and promoted this music genre to the masses through the station. Jazzy M now is presenting shows on ”Ministry of sound’s” digital station a true legend. LWR also has a marketing and promotion company called Midas Media, establishd in 1984, our clients included Tim Westwood, Matt Black (Cold Cut), Dj Elayne, Derek B, and the Voice amongst others. Our past projects have included Kid ‘n’ Play (at Dingwalls), Five Star, Aswad, Loose Ends, Curtis Mayfield, Everis, Incognito, Keni Burke, Gwen McCrae, Roy Ayres and Cheryl Lynn concert tours. Midas Media in conjunction with the Voice presented the 1st ”annual Black Hair Design & Style” also the 1st Black Celebrities Awards (monday 6th May 1991), which today is known as the MOBO’s. On Saturday 14th December 1991 High Society & LWR were proud to present the first ever UK tour of the greatest melodious trio of our time The Jones Girls, nights over England at The Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road London this occasion was truly special, deep gratitude is also extended to Choice fm and Kiss fm for their help and to all those involved behind the scenes seeing this project through to success. Sunday 28th May 1995, at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, was BASE Awards UK (Black Arts Sports & Enterainments) founded by Freddie Adimen and Zak of LWR this was europes most distinguished black awards of international, national performers and celebrities from sport, tv, the theatre, music and business. This evening was a rare occasion for the stars to meet the guests in an informal way, amid the presentation for individual achievement, invited on this list was Kriss Akabusi, Carlene Anderson, Viv Anderson Dennis Andries, Chris armstrong, Jazzie B, John Barnes, Shirey Bassey, Nigle Benn, The Bibi crew, Patti Boulaye, Richard Branson, James Brown, Frank Bruno, Don Campbell, Dina Carroll, Top Cat, Craig Charles, Neneh Cherry, Leo X Chester, Linford Christie, Andy Cole, Stan Collymore, John Conteh, Garth Crooks, Phil Defreitas, Des,Ree, Felix Dexter, Brenda Emmanus, Eternal, Chris Eubank, Everis, John Fashanu, Les Ferdinand, Shella Ferguson, Cast of 5 Guys named Mo, Geoff Francis, Gabrielle, Michelle Gayle, Eddie Grant, Ruud Gullit, Jeremy Guscott, Mona Hammond, Ellery Hanley, Jacqui Harper, George Harris, Herbie Hide, Ram Jam Holder, Jefferson & Whitfield, Whitney Houston, Peter Hunningale, Laurie Ince, Paul Ince, John Isaacs, Tony Jarrett, Colin Jackson, Ultimate Kaos, Chaka Khan, Kreuz, Du’Aine Ladejo, Brian Lara, Angie Le Mar, Phillp Leo, General Leay Chris Lewis, Lennox Lewis, Clive Lloyd, Isabelle Lucas, Devon Malcolm, Cast of Mama l Want to sing, Joe Marcel, Wayne Marshall, Gary Mason, John Matshikza, Trevor McDonald, Paul McGrath, MN8, Mr Motivator, Carmen Munroe, Prince Naseem Hamed, Shara Nelson, Eddie Nestor, Yannick noah, Billy Ocean, Martin offiah, Bruce oldfield, Michael Watson, Marvin Hagler, Geoff Parmiter, Roger Joseph, Chief S B Willams, Lord Pitt & Lady Pitt, JoyceLyn Barrow, John Regis, Gordon Taylor, Omar, Chris Oti, Mica Paris, Mary Pearce, Abedi Pele, Clark Peters, Justin Pickett, Courtney Pine, The Possee, Maxi Priest, Hugh Quashi, David Rocastle, Chrystal rose, Brian Roy, Oliver Samuels, Tessa Sanderson, Rianna Scipio, Seal, Judy Simpson, Corriane Skinner-Carter, Moira Stuart, Cathy Tyson, Victor Ubogi, The Wades, Curtis Walker, Des Walker, Rudi Walker and Ian Wright, this is not about name dropping, this is about a hand full of celebrities from UK and around the world who just loved the station and all experinced the LWR’s LOVE. There is just so much to know about this station please keep history alive. email: fdr.studio@hotmail.co.uk …………………………………..Bless…… Fuzzy Dee
Hi all,
Does anyone know if Rick Robinson was on LWR? It sounds like he followed Tim Westwood on a Tuesday night, 10pm till 1am.
Listen… http://www.oddbodd.plus.com/Rick_Robinson.mp3 [4.5mb]
Thanks,
Steve
Fuzzy, and the rest of the old LWR Crew
Can you feel a revival party coming on, do i have to dig out some of those old tunes to do a half hour set somewhere ?
What do you say guys, shall we ?
Mr Bevans
hi all dose any one remember barry b from LWR i remember he dont a record called doing it to the max any 1 have a copy of it on tape or any of his shows use to love the master mix dance party sham LWr is not here today now that would be worth tuneing in to p.bellfield@btinternet.com
i came across this username boogiel01 on youtube. does anyone know who he is or has his email address? i am desperately lookin for the song called “come and get my lovin’” by sunrize!!! pls help!!!!!
Gigi
Hi there
What a record you’ve requested. I’m not sure about a Sunrize track by the name you’ve given. But check this out, it’s by Janet Lady Day on Prelude Records titled: Come on let me love you. Dated around 1982.
Here’s a website that might help: http://beemp3.com
Good luck Gigi
Trevor SF
iDeLick Media
trevor@idelick.co.uk
www.idelick.co.uk
hi guys, looking for some help on a record here .all i know is it goes either all mine or alright, it was mixed in with rochell magic man and the all mine or alright part was scratched in over magic man. ring any bells??? (it isnt cashflow mine all mine).
thanks paul ps the mix was done on LWR
Hi gigi i was just looking through this website for the first time and my name popped up the tune your after is sunrize - Come And Get My Lovin from 1982 leave me your email and i will try and hook you up with a mp3 of this. Love reading all the comments. LWR got me interested in pirate radio and i started broadcasting in early 1990’s on sol fm 90.2 and others in London Happy new year everyone.
Any one know what happend to chris Stewart?. Reading thiese pages makes me feel old, I was amere 18 years old when helped out Horizon. Sorry to hear Froggy Died in March last year, Not only did he do shows on Horizon, but in many peoples minds invented Mixing in the Uk.
Regards
Tom.
PS. Im so bored with legal and the mono s*** quality pirates I know listern to LBC (sad or What) Although Chillin 102.0 aint bad when they do an old skool or house set….but like all todays pirates they cant Manage Stereo???.
Mike Steel is still DJ’ing and still lives near London. He worked in most of the clubs in the Old Kent Road and along with Steve Goddard (TKO) got me into following my passion for music and spinning on the wheels. Call me an oldie but Vinyl is so much better than CD to work with because of the ability to change a cartidge to change the sound.
Thanks for the good times guys
Mike should be contatable on MikeSteel007@msn.com
I was on LWR in 2002 doing Friday nights from 10pm - 1am….this station gave me appetite to want to carry on doing radio.
My mum always had the radio on when i was young….it was in the mid 80’s i started paying attention……the station was LWR.
thanks for the good times!
keefy
p.s…..it’s my 37th birthday today. wow! i’m feeling old. lol
Cor blimey, 37,
that seems like a life time ago for me, even tho i still feel 27……
hi guys any one out there have any old LWR mix tapes or barry bee or the monster mix sat nights on 92.5 fm would love to hear some real proper old school again
Hi guys has anyone got any lwr jingles im after the one that says Heavy on the murder music thanks Paul
Hello there Funky p, is that the same Funky who used to come round my yard and used to set up for Station FM?
I have all original bill mitchell jingles on nab
would love to hear some of LWR jingles if you have any mp3 clips wouls love to hear them thanks guys
Regarding Chris Stewart,
Bumped into him on a beach in Portugal a few years ago (maybe about 6) he runs a station in spain legally (smiles).. Elaine is now on www.colourfulradio.com JJ pops up now and again on supreme 99.8 in london…..
Chris stewart and the horizon radio gang got me into soul funk must have been about 1982 i was only about 12 a young funker
good times. Check out my youtube page ive been digging out the TDK 90’s for jingles from the London soul pirate stations http://www.youtube.com/user/boogiel01
hey anyone have any steve devonneor early pirate radio boogie/electo funk to share would be much appreciared Love PEace
SOUL
Hey Junior,
I have some Steve Devonne on Solar 102.5fm, in 1985.
Unfortunately, my ISP has closed the website I setup [see above], due to the bandwidth being exceeded.
So I’ve uploaded the Steve Devonne recordings for you, at…
http://depositfiles.com/files/9e0jl5uqp
http://depositfiles.com/files/b8jxd6l9r
…only 56K to keep file size down to about 19mb each.
Cheers,
Steve
Wow just came across this site, it’s great to see all those old DJ names getting mentioned, quite a few i knew back in the day but haven’t seen them in years.
Fuzzy Dee how are you, i was surprised to see that you remembered i did some shows on LWR, it was nice to see my name mentioned in the list.
Of course i started my radio career at Horizon in 1981 then onto LWR in 1984 and then in 1986 moved onto Starpoint until it closed in 1990, nowadays i do internet radio on the newly revamped Starpointradio.com
Also must say hello to Debbie Gopie and Trevor SF, hope you are both OK.
Hi all, great write up…brings back some lovely memories. Especially
good to see comments from the great Clive Brady (I followed Clive after his Sunday breakfast show on Joy Radio many years ago) Great site and lovely to hear from so many former and current DJ’s who made those days so special…Clive, I’ve sent you an email mate.
Gary Lee - good to hear from you. Hope you’re well and enjoying life! Are you touch with anyone from the old days?
Hi Gary
It’s surely been a long time. Hope all is good with you and business over in Upminster if I remember rightly. Good to know if you’re still involved and kicking out those wicked tunes.
All the best,
Yours in music.
Trevor
Ex-LWR
iDeLick Media
Bit of talk about LWR in this old documentary with DJ Elaine & Camilla…
30 minutes onwards…
http://www.thepiratearchive.net/video/TheBlackAndWhitePirateShow.avi
Yep
Just browsing and found this stuff interesting. Iss just that you have ommitted to mention Rapattack as being one of the prominent djs for LWR back in the day. For more info on the eighties Soul Scene and dj history check out www.rapattack.co.uk- (links below)
http://www.rapattack.co.uk/aboutus.html
http://www.rapattack.co.uk/meet%20the%20crew.html#DJ_Master_MC_(a.k.a._Alistair)_
Keep Funkin
Hi!
I started a tribute page with RADIO INVICTA-stuff. Just because I felt a need for it. Being Swedish I learned to know the people back in 1974 - and still keep in touch with quite a few. Sorry to say it, the loss of TONY JOHNS and ROGER TATE (Bob Tomalski) is sad. Tony being the original mainman (with PETER ST CRISPIAN) - and ROGER (Bob) joining shortly after their start.
Feel free to get in touch - would appreciate any help (memories, photos, recordings and so on). At the moment uploaded shows (on my own podcast-page) are off-line due to limit-restrictions. Will get working shortly!
Debbie is a name I do remember… I guess we did meet back in the 70’s!
Together with a friend, we do have a large collection of old recordings.
Willing to share….
All the best!
Update:
Feel free to check out my tribute page for INVICTA at:
www.myspace.com/radioinvicta
Also, have a go at my podcast page. Some oldskool soul/disco mixes PLUS Invicta-shows from the past. If you have recordings to share, feel free to get in touch:
dixmix.podomatic.com
All the best!
DICK
Mr Master MC, Alister, how you been, i saw Bobby and Steve not long ago, you still doing your thang ?
Hi There
Just to let everybody know Dereck Boland has passed away RIP my friend….
R.I.P Derek Boland such sad news.
One of LWR’s real great DJ/Presenter, DEREK BOLAND now back together playing music with some of our departed DJ friends on that giant stage in the sky. My your funky soul…R.I.P
Peace, love and unity to you all. Paul Wellings here - used to do a graveyard shift playing Speng rare grooves on LWR on Friday nights 12-3am.
I wrote a modest little book about our adventures on radio and about my time on the NME called ‘I’m a journalist…get me out of here’. Some of the best days of my life playing out with Ron Tom tunes like Barbara Streisand’s ‘Guilty’ and Leroy Hutson’ ‘Lovers Holiday’ and now he’s the SugaBabes Producer, the Vinyl Junkie and the P-Funk nights and Jazzy M’s Ministry House. www.myspace.com/paul wellings for more
Big Love and Respect to the people who helped me on the station: Fuzzy Dee, Jigs, Jasper, Zak, DJ Elaine, Ron Tom, Terry Peters, Wayne Turner (RIP), Wing Commander, Jazzy M.
P.S If anyone is remotely interested (probably not) now I freelance for The Independent newspaper, am thinking of reforming our dub poetry group the Anti Social Workers with the mighty Mad Professor and am writing books on popular culture and still playing eclectic chill out from every genre on radio and in clubs.Check out www.myspace.com/paulwellings
Px
Hi Paul.
it’s been a good few years, and its nice too see your still doing your thing, (Respect) it would be nice to here from you e-mail: fdr.studio@hotmail.co.uk
Hi Fuzzy,
Good to hear from you brother. You taught me everything I know!!! I remember doing that breakfast show with you and I was flakey. Just send me your myspace address and we’ll chat that way - as I’m on a friends e-mail at the moment.
To Fuzzy Dee, Paul Wellings and everyone who made LWR and those other London Radio stations so very, very special - we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
I will be reliving some of those Christmas specials courtesy of TDK** this Christmas. Steve Edwards did a brilliant show most Christmas days. Perfect after you’ve had your fill of turkey sandwiches and rubbish TV. Ah, the good old days!
Can’t believe how dedicated you jocks were to the cause.
Have a great one this year, chaps, and long live the LWR memory!
Paul @ Radiocafe.
**ps our New Year Resolution is to digitize all those AD90s and release those old shows here as soon as poss in 2010.
It would be great to hear those old shows look forward to that
back in the day the dial was jammed full of good stations i counted 30 the other day and they was all sh*te
Happy xmas to all the original pioneers of London pirate radio
Hi Guys,
I remember Gary Richards on LWR when it was in Peckham. He used to do Saturday Nights 6 - 8pm and Sunday Mornings before Westward. What happened to him?
I am going through all my mid 90’s tapes of the R’n'B programmes on JFM (it was broadcast from Manchester, and I could only get a decent signal when the wind was in the right direction), and would like to know what happened to the presenter Pete Johnson. He run three hour shows on Staurday and Sunday playing some brilliant blues, and had a superb voice, knew his subject, and the links between tracks are still worth listening to. Can anyone help? And are there any similar RnB radio shows running now?
……….Syd.
Great write up again Langers, good memories on here and also good education !
Will post link to this on a few forums etc.
Keep fying the flag.
Marky , dancetrax/soul motive London .
Passion fm & ssradiouk.
Great write up again Langers, good memories on here and also good education !
Will post link to this on a few forums etc.
Keep flying the flag.
Marky , dancetrax/soul motive London .
Passion fm & ssradiouk.
Just found an old LWR recording from June 1984, from Tim Westwoods legendary Hip Hop Show!! Enjoy……
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LFWE26SJ
We owe so much to these pioneers of independent radio in England, and they were truly pioneers. Those wonderful DJ’s who volunteered their time and money educating thousands of loyal listeners deserve a lot of credit. From radio Invicta, JFM, Horizon, Solar, LWR, KISS, and the others I fail to remember (dosen’t matter, as the stations usually popped up under a new name after the last raid!!), we were introduced to the full range of RnB, Reggae, Jazz to Rap. Tim Westwood became a legend, even here in the States, Norman Jay went on to bigger and better things while never selling out, and my favorite, Steve Edwards, whose Sunday afternoon shows, profiling such artist at DD Bridgewater, Carmen Lundy and so on sent me over to Honest Johns record show on monthly basis to spend my grant money on my new gems. I think it was in 1987 or 88 the Evening Standard published a list of the most listened to radio station, The station that was rated number 1 was blanked out (because they were a pirate station, as well as number 3, and 6, the number 1 station had almost doubled Capital Radio audience over the weekend. Then there was the day when all the stations agreed to cease operating in order to apply for a license. I went on holiday for three months and when I came back they we up again under a new name, so much for solidarity!! Just a curious question, whatever happened to Steve Edwards after he was let go from JazzFM?
Wow!!
Bringing back tons of memories.
I was so honoured to be part of the ground breaking history with so many talented individuals known as LWR
My years on LWR were the most enjoyable, I grew up on the station being a snotty nosed kid that loved his turntables and the most of all the music.
I can not express the gratitude of being part of that set up which has enabled me to continue a career in the music industry as a producer, writer and artist leading me to work at Flye Time in US and work with an array of talented artists.
Everyone who was part of the station , I raise my glass to you and we should at some point have a being reuinion honouring everyone involved and and honour those who are no longer with us namely my good old mate Wayne Turner.
I have had lots of request for mastemix tapes, I have a few so if u want to reminise then give me a shout at barrybee@uegmusic.co.uk
Thanks to radiocafe for keeping that tourch burning and bringing those memories flooding back.
Zak and Fuzzy youre family to me as well as all of the friends that appeared on the station.
Respect to our radio friends Kiss, JFM, Time, Solar, Invicta, WNK, Starpoint and the many I may have missed.
Barry Bee
So good to find this site I started LWR in 1984. I was the original breakfast dj. Monday till Friday 7am till 10am then Zac 10 till 12. Remember all the many clubs I done with LWR. Bentleys on fridays with derk b, rappattack and Neil charles and thursdays ar Bentlleys with Zac, Fuzzy dee and Daddy Eirnie. I was djing most nights. I have been a dj for 31 years and still got all my vinyl. LWR the origina and will always be the best. Many copiiers but never bettered. Big shout to all the original djs from the early dsys. 1984. I m still djing in Harlow, Essex at all the clubs. Dj Elvis the original breakfast dj
LWR much copied but never bettered. LWR the first real true black music station to give a chance to black Djs. The so called other black music stations hated LWR because we influenced black djs to believe that Black Djs that they could be on radio. LWR made me known. I was a dj
Thanks to Zac and Fuzzy Dee. Before LWR I knew that for young Black Djs there was not much cjance to be on radio. But LWR gave us a chance. And LWR gave hope and influenced us to believe.
Have a look at this…… Cool Notes jingles of the pirates…..
http://www.slnbmusic.co.uk/musicplayer57/jingleshop.html
Cheers Dave Someone sent me a video of this on youtube i wonder where they got all the jingles is there any websites with Bill Mitchell jingles??
Paul
Dont know where you could get those old Bill Mitchell Jingles. Sorry Paul.
Just got sent some more old LWR Westwood Recordings…..
Westwood LWR 1985
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kg7i4b
Westwood LWR 1986.mp3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qvz2g3
Westwood LWR gig guide 1985.mp3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7vn7z5
Westwood LWR July 1984.mp3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/f09ns6
thanks dave nice to hear westwood again would love to here some on barry bee mixes back in the days old school style master mix dance party
Does anybody know what became of Graham ‘Fatman’ Canter?
All this nostalgia about old soul Dj’s made me think of him. I don’t know if he was ever on any of the pirates, but he was a ground breaking and very good soul Dj and I used to hear him at La Beatroute in Greek Street in the early 80’s.
There are a few references to him if you “Google” his name, but I haven’t heard him mentioned for many years.
Yes Yes,Barry B was the man !..i would stay up till late taping you mate,you are GOD !
Have most of your mixes still,also have a few Manchester mix demo tapes with Bill Mitchell voiceovers !
Maybe swaps with wot-have-you ?
Also got the late great Delboy’ live at Benleys
hi wayne you are right barry bee was the man i have a couple of barry bee master mixes heres my email mail me and ill send them over thanks wayne
p.bellfield@btinternet.com thanks wayne
Les - I remember Graham Canter well and spent many, many great nights at La Beatroute - but don’t know what happened to him. Would also like know what happened to Mark Mason from LWR and Steven Devonne from Invicta!?
Hi Debbie, yes he was a grat dj, A group of us including the late James Hamilton were regulars there. He always spotted the big new tunes and knew how to play them. A couple of credits to him by people on the net but nothing about whether he is dead or alive!
Hi Les - unfortunately Graham Canter is no longer with us - don’t know when or how, but found this on a piece by Ian Dewhurst so I’ve just mailed him to see if he has any details - another great loss. I used to see him a lot at Gullivers too. Will keep you posted. D
Hi Debbie, yes I also have now had this confirmed in an article by dj Greg Wilson. Strangely he wrote about the early days of mixing and it happend to mention that Graham died. Again there were no details but I have written to greg so if I find out any more I will also post the details. A sad loss.