Radio Atlantis

The  Laser Radio Programming book has 175 pages describing radio programming policy and techniques of the major offshore stations, but especially Radio Caroline, Laser and the Laser project's 'grandad' whose style and fresh format inspired the founders, the 1966 super station - Swinging Radio England.

 

The book includes Laser's full Operations Manual and a discussion on the format, music playlisting, strap lines, trailer production and other techniques that Laser used to attract an audience of ten million listeners in the UK & Benelux.

  

The book also looks at how the Laser name, imaging and ethos has been used  to change radio since. There are details of radio ships YOU can visit; not one, not two but THREE radio ships! The book has a  full listing of all the Laser DJs -  biographies; pictures too!

 

LASER helped revolutionise British radio. Its effects are still felt today and more Laser ideas may be put into action soon, as rules on radio are further relaxed. 

 

 

  

Laser’s  competitors howled in protest, but neither they nor the British Government were unable to stop it. Eventually Laser’s own ineptitude and a mutiny by the crew saw the ship sail into port.  A year later a new crew relaunched it and Laser was back - bigger and better than ever.  Lack of investment, bad weather and some rotten luck saw the ship close down again, but finally enjoy big radio profits in Holland.

 

Millions of listeners rued the day she sailed away, but the BBC and ILR stations finally reacted to Laser’s programming initiatives and started to win their audiences back.  Petty restrictions limiting the music on British radio were lifted and radio listeners were happy once again.

Or were they? 

Could another pirate capture a big audience again?

 

In Laser Radio Programming Paul Rusling examines the reasons why Laser was such a huge success in the eighties, and discusses Laser's effects on today’s radio.

The Radio Caroline Bible is a fascinating new book that  tells tells the inside story of Radio Caroline, from the very beginning of the project – right up to date and the passing of Caroline's founder, Ronan O'Rahilly, in April 2020.

 

The Radio Caroline Bible is packed with 'stories from the inside' about the many disasters, boardings, excitement and copious amounts of skull-duggery. There are many inside tales about the major events from all of Caroline’s four eras, told by many of the key people who made Radio Caroline happen. It has a lot of unique content & ‘never published before’ photographs.

 

The story runs chronologically, is illustrated with over 300 photos and drawings, and is fully indexed.  Casebound with strong covers in full colour, the Radio Caroline Bible has over 500 pages and shows the MV Ross Revenge in all her magnificence. The first editions have already become a collector’s item.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 296 page hardback book from the 1990s which tells the story of Radio London, which many claim was the best station ever in offshore history. It's certainly the one that the BBC's Radio One was based on, and whose stations sound they copied, and from where the BBC sourced most of its Radio One disc jockeys.

 

Big L, as the station was called, purely an advertising venture, run by an experienced marketing executive. The station was run by experienced programmers and DJs, but did train up its own talent too, sucha s Kenny Everett who cut his teeth on the ship. The book is based on many background papers of station founder Don Pearson, the book costs £24.95 and is available HERE.

One of the biggest and most comprehensive books about sixties pop radio ships, this mighty tome is a work began by Keith Skues in the sxities, anmd running to 704 pages. 

 

Keith was there at the height of the offshore radio phenomenon, joining Radio Caroline in summer 1964, and continuing his career at Radio London in 1966. After joining then BBC, he presented shows on the first day of Radio One, and a regular strip on Radio 2. 

 

Keith joined ILR in the 70s before rejoining the BBC 20 years later, where he still hosts programmes in the East of England.  Almost every offshore station is covered in Pop Went The Pirates which was updated in the 1990s, to include Laser and other recent ventures. This is a "must have' for every enthusiast's book shelf - (click the book cover for more details).

 

 

 

 

  

Laser’s  competitors howled in protest, but neither they nor the British Government were unable to stop it. Eventually Laser’s own ineptitude and a mutiny by the crew saw the ship sail into port.  A year later a new crew relaunched it and Laser was back - bigger and better than ever.  Lack of investment, bad weather and some rotten luck saw the ship close down again, but finally enjoy big radio profits in Holland.

 

Millions of listeners rued the day she sailed away, but the BBC and ILR stations finally reacted to Laser’s programming initiatives and started to win their audiences back.  Petty restrictions limiting the music on British radio were lifted and radio listeners were happy once again.

Or were they? 

Could another pirate capture a big audience again?

 

 

 

by Paul Harris