yTravel on an epic journey through the history of Radio Luxembourg - the ‘Great 208’ – a station which entertained millions and helped shape European listening habits during the last century. The book, which has been a project lasting a decade, features exclusive contributions from stars of the golden age of music and broadcasting, including Vera Lynn, Pete Murray, Teddy Johnson, Gerry Marsden, Desmond Carrington, David Jacobs, David Gell, Ray Orchard, Alan Freeman, David Attenbrough, Don Wardell, Shaw Taylor, Arthur Brown, David Hamilton and many others. Nathan Morley traces the origins of Luxembourg, celebrating the early pioneering spirit and unearthing long forgotten characters and programmes. The book looks at the brutal war-years and the transformation of the channel into a Nazi propaganda station, then as a US psychological warfare channel. It provides an insight into key events, personalities, programmes, internal problems and its magnificent successes. The Cold War years are recalled by songstress Connie Francis, who became a popular entertainer on the channel, which was banned in the Eastern block and USSR, but attracted over 35 million listeners. In one of his last interviews before his death and subsequent exposure as one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders, Jimmy Savile spoke to the author about his Radio Luxembourg career, the station that had made him a legend; as he cascaded to fame as a purveyor of pop, spouting nonsensical catchphrases and innuendo. Faced with a hostile BBC and the pop pirates, Radio Luxembourg managed to survive the 60s and 70s. Personal memories are shared by Noel Edmonds, Paul Burnett, Kid Jenson, Roger Day, Benny Brown, David Symonds, Colin Nichol, Timmy Mallett, Tony Blewitt, Alton Andrews and Emperor Rosko, who all give their take on the era, in addition to contributions from pop stars including David Soul and Dave Berry, and former Controllers Alan Keen and Ken Evans. The boss of the opposition Radio One’s Johnny Beerling also contributes his memories. This is an important deeply researched portrait of British broadcasting history, and one which is aided by many of the personalities, staff and stars that were associated with it.
Genre: HISTORY / Europe / General
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 88,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#274 in Books > Art, Architecture & Photography > Radio
The Hertford Street studios were a mere stone's throw from the Hilton Hotel in the West End. The property had once belonged to Lord Royston, MP for Cambridgeshire, eldest son of the Earl of Hardwicke. Then it was bought by Sir John Arthur Levy, a respected precious stone and pearl broker who acted for King Edward VII as an adviser in the cutting of the Cullinen Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.
By the time it was taken over by Radio Luxembourg, only the exterior had kept its grand appearance. But, behind its small elegant frontage in the heart of fashionable Mayfair, visitors discovered a hive of activity. Once past the ‘enquires room’ and small reception area, you’d find ‘Studio One.’ Five recording engineers and an administrative staff of twenty were kept busy from dawn till dusk. The two recording studios could be booked seven-days a week and rarely fell silent. Recording sessions usually began at 10 am and could continue well into the night. A small round table complete with ashtrays and a large microphone took-up most of the floor space in the main studio, whilst the adjoining control room was narrow and windowless. The Chief Engineer at the time was Ted Scott, ‘The racing driver Stirling Moss had a townhouse in the mews at the rear of the Luxembourg studios. This was where we parked without restriction, no meters, no wardens hiding behind lamp posts.’[1] Ted also remembers, that at the end of the corridor was what seemed like, a large cupboard:
