Feb 14, 2016
It's 8am on Easter Monday. Paul James is pretty much alone in the Thameside Radio studio. Dave Birdman is still in bed at home although Ian the Engineer is going there to pick some things up!
The show starts with The Jam and Start - which you don't hear much any more. Did you know that The Beatles sued them for because the riff and the bass line were lifted from Taxman? Of course Taxman was written by Goerge Harrison, who was himself sued for the similarities between "My Sweet Lord and "He's so Fine". That's the start of my question for RBQ! At least now we have standard rates for tracks that use samples from other artists.
Nine minutes in Paul plays the definitve Thameside Radio "Well Corporal" jingle.
There are a couple of technical problems at the start of the show - hum, hiss, setting levels and all that. Usually those issues were dealt with during the 10 minute warmup but it took a bit longer. They are all fixed in the end: so hang in there.
We are told that there will be a treasure hunt for an easter egg hidden somewhere in London. Also a picnic which we will be told more about later (it ended up at Harrow on the Hill).
Loads more from the 1982 Easter Monday show to come
Mentions for Dave in Croydon and Hilly.
Great to hear these shows after all this time, to hear the music many people were really listening to then.
Thameside was a Sunday night treat - first place I heard Hitchhikers Guide.
So thanks for the great shows both then and now.