Radio 1 is nearing its 40th anniversary. Looking back on previous eras might bring a fond smile, but it might also make you feel your age. Dedicated fan and blogger Simon Hayes Budgen offers his own appreciation.
Radio 1 is nearing its 40th anniversary. Looking back on previous eras might bring a fond smile, but it might also make you feel your age. Dedicated fan and blogger Simon Hayes Budgen offers his own appreciation.
It's sometime between the alarm clock and the school run, and, on Radio 1, a portly bloke with some ill-considered facial hair is filling the large gaps between top 40 records with a mixture of in-jokes, insights into his fabulous life and the occasional shout-out to lorry drivers on the M62.
It's sometime between the alarm clock and the school run, and, on Radio 1, a portly bloke with some ill-considered facial hair is filling the large gaps between top 40 records with a mixture of in-jokes, insights into his fabulous life and the occasional shout-out to lorry drivers on the M62.
It's 1979, and the bath-robed, breakfasting nation is lapping up Dave Lee Travis in their millions.
It's 1979, and the bath-robed, breakfasting nation is lapping up Dave Lee Travis in their millions.
How far Radio 1 has changed, eh?
How far Radio 1 has changed, eh?
It's easy to look back over the 40 years of the nation's favourite and, putting Tony Blackburn up against Bobby Friction, conclude that the current sassy young sound of Britain is built on foundations of the purest cheese.
One can find it easy to look back over the 40 years of the nation's favourite and, putting Tony Blackburn up against Bobby Friction, conclude that the current sassy young sound of Britain is built on foundations of the purest cheese.
In the 70s and early 80s, a day trip to North Wales or a family holiday in Skegness was often the best a teenager could hope for t's an impression that memories the Radio 1 of the early 90s do little to counter. When the idea of refreshing the sound of the station was to rename Gary Davies' Bit In The Middle as Let's Do Lunch, it did seem Radio 1 had hopelessly lost touch.
In the 70s and early 80s, a day trip to North Wales or a family holiday in Skegness was often the best a teenager could hope for It's an impression that memories the Radio 1 of the early 90s do little to counter. When the idea of refreshing the sound of the station was to rename Gary Davies' Bit In The Middle as Let's Do Lunch, it did seem Radio 1 had hopelessly lost touch.
Since the network has always had a remit to reflect popular music and cater to younger audiences, both of which are by their nature somewhat fickle, it's only right that most of the programmes and presenters from the station's history seem of their time. Being of its time is what Radio 1 is meant to be.
Since the network has always had a remit to reflect popular music and cater to younger audiences, both of which are by their nature somewhat fickle, it's only right that most of the programmes and presenters from the station's history seem of their time. Being of its time is what Radio 1 is meant to be.
Audience connection
Audience connection
Take the Roadshow. In 2007, when programmes happily pack up and head off to trail round Ibiza and the European festival circuit, winning a goody bag from Mike Read on a windswept prom in Rhyl or Eastbourne might lose a little in comparison.
Take the Roadshow. In 2007, when programmes happily pack up and head off to trail round Ibiza and the European festival circuit, winning a goody bag from Mike Read on a windswept prom in Rhyl or Eastbourne might lose a little in comparison.
Roadshows were once simple fun
Roadshows were once simple fun
But in the 70s and early 80s, a day trip to North Wales or a family holiday in Skegness was often the best a teenager could hope for. It's arguable if watching Steve Wright orchestrate a competition involving wet fish made the holiday better or a little worse, but as far as the 21st Century obsession of "connecting with audiences" goes, the Roadshow knew what it was up to.
But in the 70s and early 80s, a day trip to North Wales or a family holiday in Skegness was often the best a teenager could hope for. It's arguable if watching Steve Wright orchestrate a competition involving wet fish made the holiday better or a little worse, but as far as the 21st Century obsession of "connecting with audiences" goes, the Roadshow knew what it was up to.
Similarly, the charge that Radio 1 used to be a little staid is unfair. Some of the most extraordinary moments in broadcasting have come from between 275 and 285 metres on the medium wave band [the frequency before FM].
Similarly, the charge that Radio 1 used to be a little staid is unfair. Some of the most extraordinary moments in broadcasting have come from between 275 and 285 metres on the medium wave band [the frequency before FM].
Chris Morris's beautifully drifting and twisted Blue Jam might have been tucked away in the small hours of the night, but he was also brought in to do much the same thing on a Christmas afternoon. To this day, I'm convinced that could only have been the result of an administrative error.
Chris Morris's beautifully drifting and twisted Blue Jam might have been tucked away in the small hours of the night, but he was also brought in to do much the same thing on a Christmas afternoon. To this day, I'm convinced that could only have been the result of an administrative error.
Now they are a slicker affairAnother Christmas, and the traditional "DJs pretend to like each other for an hour" of the Radio 1 presenter's lunch suddenly took place - for no good reason - in Grey Gables, the hotel in The Archers.
Now they are a slicker affairAnother Christmas, and the traditional "DJs pretend to like each other for an hour" of the Radio 1 presenter's lunch suddenly took place - for no good reason - in Grey Gables, the hotel in The Archers.
The paper-thin conceit that Steve Wright, John Peel and Simon Bates would gather to share their festive lunch was stretched further to ask the listener to accept they'd all driven 200 miles to the fictional village of Ambridge, and not minded Eddie Grundy trying to flog them used Christmas trees while they were broadcasting to the nation.
The paper-thin conceit that Steve Wright, John Peel and Simon Bates would gather to share their festive lunch was stretched further to ask the listener to accept they'd all driven 200 miles to the fictional village of Ambridge, and not minded Eddie Grundy trying to flog them used Christmas trees while they were broadcasting to the nation.
And yet this was the station which would include gay listeners' love stories as part of Simon Bates's venerable Our Tune slot, at a time when mainstream media was uncomfortable with homosexuality, outside the safe confines of documentary and current affairs.
And yet this was the station which would include gay listeners' love stories as part of Simon Bates's venerable Our Tune slot, at a time when mainstream media was uncomfortable with homosexuality, outside the safe confines of documentary and current affairs.
Dave Lee Travis famously resigned on airLikewise, Bates's decision to pack up his mid-morning show and broadcast it live from Berlin as the wall fell might have resulted in confusion as to what the actual historical event was (the fall of communism v Radio 1 live from Germany), but it showed a network that had interests way beyond the Top 40 and the "England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales" of its jingles.
Dave Lee Travis famously resigned on airLikewise, Bates's decision to pack up his mid-morning show and broadcast it live from Berlin as the wall fell might have resulted in confusion as to what the actual historical event was (the fall of communism v Radio 1 live from Germany), but it showed a network that had interests way beyond the Top 40 and the "England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales" of its jingles.
The station used to challenge itself in all sorts of interesting ways, though admittedly John Walters used to stretch the arts brief somewhat, by featuring unmade tuna sandwiches, what happens when a fox in heat ventures onto your lawn, and the peculiar nature of Riddlesdown. It seems odd that there's no similar programme at a time when Banksy, Lucas and Gormley have brought art ever closer to the heart of British culture.
The station used to challenge itself in all sorts of interesting ways, though admittedly John Walters used to stretch the arts brief somewhat, by featuring unmade tuna sandwiches, what happens when a fox in heat ventures onto your lawn, and the peculiar nature of Riddlesdown. It seems odd that there's no similar programme at a time when Banksy, Lucas and Gormley have brought art ever closer to the heart of British culture.
Ukrainian folk songs
Ukrainian folk songs
And maybe the time is right for comedy to return (and, yes, I have heard Scott Mills's prank phone calls). Nobody mourns the loss of Fun At One slot, dumping 10 minutes of The Glums or Round The Horne into the lunchbreaks of a blameless nation, but the evening slots which gave The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Lee and Herring a starting platform are sadly missed.
And maybe the time is right for comedy to return (and, yes, I have heard Scott Mills's prank phone calls). Nobody mourns the loss of Fun At One slot, dumping 10 minutes of The Glums or Round The Horne into the lunchbreaks of a blameless nation, but the evening slots which gave The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Lee and Herring a starting platform are sadly missed.
DJs like John Peel were a class apart from their peersEven the stuff which the new Radio 1 is good at can struggle to better the past. Jo Whiley's Live Lounge, with its surprise covers, is something of which the network is proud.
DJs like John Peel were a class apart from their peersEven the stuff which the new Radio 1 is good at can struggle to better the past. Jo Whiley's Live Lounge, with its surprise covers, is something of which the network is proud.
But the "rock band does pop song/pop band does rock song" looks a little formulaic when set against the time indie janglers The Wedding Present turned up and delivered four folk songs - in the original Ukrainian - for John Peel, or Janice Long booked the Housemartins for a session and - in place of tracks from the latest album - got a collection of acapella gospel songs.
But the "rock band does pop song/pop band does rock song" looks a little formulaic when set against the time indie janglers The Wedding Present turned up and delivered four folk songs - in the original Ukrainian - for John Peel, or Janice Long booked the Housemartins for a session and - in place of tracks from the latest album - got a collection of acapella gospel songs.
But I'm falling into the trap of trying to measure different eras against each other. It's a youth station, and part of getting older is tuning in to Radio 1 and feeling that - in the words of DLT's famous on-air resignation - changes are being made with which you cannot agree.
But I'm falling into the trap of trying to measure different eras against each other. It's a youth station, and part of getting older is tuning in to Radio 1 and feeling that - in the words of DLT's famous on-air resignation - changes are being made with which you cannot agree.
After all, if we weren't supposed to one day find that Radio 1 has become a bemusing and befuddling place to be, what would be the point of having Radio 2?
After all, if we weren't supposed to one day find that Radio 1 has become a bemusing and befuddling place to be, what would be the point of having Radio 2?
Simon Hayes Budgen lists his own Top 40 of Radio 1 highlights on his blog (see Related Internet Links, right).
Simon Hayes Budgen lists his own Top 40 of Radio 1 highlights on his blog (see Related Internet Links, right).
