Happy 50th to Piccadilly Radio!

Nobody Did It Better

At 5am on the 2nd of April in 1974 a legend was born when the first epic 45-second-long Piccadilly Radio jingle hit the airwaves. All went fairly smoothly through the first news bulletin until Roger Day mis-cued the first song so that the first second of The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations sounded positively squidgy:

First five minutes of Piccadilly Radio, 2 April 1974

Piccadilly Radio was Greater Manchester’s first commercial radio station and it inspired listeners all over the North West with its mix of news, music, interviews, sports, drama and current affairs. Manchester Central Library’s climate-controlled archive vaults hold over 1,800 Piccadilly Radio master tapes, on obsolete and hard-to-maintain reel-to-reel format.

The tapes are now fifty years old and many are degrading fast with ‘sticky shed syndrome’. This can make them unplayable and means that they have to be ‘baked’ dry and treated with alcohol before being played one last time while being transferred to digital storage. Here’s a before and after baking comparison of a jingle.

Jingle before baking (PICC/226)

Jingle after baking (PICC/226)

How to listen

The good news is that, thanks to the National Lottery Heitage Fund and the British Library,  you can listen to over 100 digitised Piccadilly Radio recordings in the Sound + Vision pods at Manchester Central Library. The shows so far digitised include:

• Arena – a documentary programme on social and cultural issues.
• Top Twenty – a series of short drama productions based on popular music.
• Sweeney’s Gang – a talk show hosted by Mike Sweeney featuring musicians, sportspeople and other prominent entertainment figures.

Excerpt of interview with Tony Wilson on his opinion of the music scene in Manchester.

John Cooper Clarke "Express"

Angie is questioned by Police after being arrested for smashing windows in the Arndale Centre.

Two older people reminiscing about their work commute together.

Singer John Leyton who is staying at the Midland hotel gives away some of his concert tickets

Suzi Quatro on how she has been an inspiration to other female performers

Les Gray talking about 'Lonely This Christmas' and an appearance on TOTP

Sandie Shaw winds up presenter Mike Sweeney on why she performs barefoot

Foo Foo Lamarr talks about his first drag show at Christmas in the factory where he worked.

1. Excerpt of interview with Tony Wilson on his opinion of the music scene in Manchester.

3:24

2. John Cooper Clarke "Express"

1:11

3. Angie is questioned by Police after being arrested for smashing windows in the Arndale Centre.

2:19

4. Two older people reminiscing about their work commute together.

2:26

5. Singer John Leyton who is staying at the Midland hotel gives away some of his concert tickets

2:09

6. Suzi Quatro on how she has been an inspiration to other female performers

1:09

7. Les Gray talking about 'Lonely This Christmas' and an appearance on TOTP

2:43

8. Sandie Shaw winds up presenter Mike Sweeney on why she performs barefoot

0:56

9. Foo Foo Lamarr talks about his first drag show at Christmas in the factory where he worked.

1:57

The tapes are degrading every year so this painstaking preservation work is urgent. With the help of ex-Piccadilly Radio staff, copyright holder Bauer Radio and funding bodies, we hope to be able to continue this work to preserve the entire unique radio archive.

If you have tapes at home (master or off-air) or if you’d like to share your memories of the station please get in touch!