LINKS | PICCADILLY RADIO 261

Links to memorabilia and people

Recorded in 1975 and digitally enhanced by AI software, this is Philip T Birch, Piccadilly Radio's founding Managing Director, talking about the great success of the former "pirate" ship he set up and ran, Radio London, that led to the launch of commercial radio stations in the UK.

PHILIP T BIRCH TALKS ABOUT RADIO LONDON AND THE NEED FOR UK COMMERCIAL RADIOPiccadilly Radio

00:00 / 02:11

Paul and Linda McCartney's jingle for Piccadilly Radio, recorded at Strawberry Studio, Stockport in 1975, when Paul was producing brother Mike McGear's album. Recording courtesy Strawberry Archive (@strawberrynorth on Twitter and Strawberry Recording Studios on Facebook). Warning - this jingle is very catchy, you'll be singing it all week!

PAUL Mc CARTNEY - Hello Piccadilly - Recorded at Strawberry Studio, StockportPiccadilly Radio

00:00 / 00:51

Piccadilly Radio had its own Commercial Production department where actors and voiceover artists came to record, this was way before internet recording or computers! Here is a selection of promos and ads featuring staff voices Steve England, Tony Hawkins and Pete Baker as well as voice artistes Peter Wheeler, Chris Kaye and others.

PICCADILLY PROMOS AND ADS MADE BY COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION DEPTPiccadilly Radio

00:00 / 11:56

Piccadilly DJ Pete Baker wrote the music and DJ Susie Mathis wrote the lyrics for this catchy song that was played on air at the time of the Piccadilly Marathon races. Susie of course is a pop star from the 60's band The Paper Dolls. It was recorded in the commercial production department at Piccadilly Radio on simple 2-track machines and was never released as a single.

SUSIE MATHIS AND THE RUNNETTES - RUN THE MARATHON - 2024 mixPiccadilly Radio

00:00 / 03:31

Piccadilly was never afraid to try out new ideas and the "Piccadilly Pendant Radio" was one of them, offering to the public circular transistor radios with the Piccadilly logo or DJ photos in the clear front panel. The devices were very heavy with the "PP3" battery inside, so not exactly practical for wearing round one's neck, and the power only lasted an hour or two at max. Maybe not the best-selling 261 souvenir, but here's a brilliant promo voiced and produced by the legendary audio producer, Steve England at Piccadilly Radio.

PICCADILLY PENDANT RADIO PROMOPiccadilly Radio

00:00 / 00:35

Here's an interview with Pete Baker who lives in Stockport, with Paul Taylor, the MD of the DAB and internet station, Strawberry Radio.

PETE BAKER INTERVIEW with Paul Taylor on Strawberry Radio, StockportPiccadilly Radio

00:00 / 19:36