The Big L Tapes

Background notes

The Tony Blackburn Show
Sat 15 July 1967 0530-0904
Tony's last Big L show

The Keith Skues Show
Sun 23 July 1967 0900-1203
includes the history of Big L

The Penultimate Fab Forty
Sun 30 July 1967 1200-1506
presented by Ed Stewart

The Final Fab Forty
Sun 6 August 1967 1201-1532
presented by Tommy Vance

The Mark Roman Show
Sat 12 August 1967 1500-1809
Mark's penultimate Big L show

The Ed Stewart Show
Sun 13 August 1967 1210-1518
Ed's penultimate 'Stewpot' show

The Chuck Blair Show
Sun 13 August 1967 1758-2040
Chuck's penultimate show for Big L

The Perfumed Garden
Mon 14 August 1967 0225-0537
John Peel's night-time show

The Chuck Blair Breakfast Show
Mon 14 August 1967 0539-0848
the last Big L breakfast show

The Pete Drummond Show
Mon 14 August 1967 0856-1206
farewell messages

The Last Three Hours
Mon 14 August 1967 1208-1502
the final Stewpot Show, the Juicy Fruit Show, Their Final Hour and Big L's closedown at 1500

Big L extras
Mon 14 August 1967
two TV news bulletins on the day Big L closed

Radio Caroline
February 1968
the end of a Stevie Merrick Show and the US Hot 100

The Final Fab Forty

Sunday 6 August 1967 1201-1532

presented by Tommy Vance

Listen

audio file: type mp4 bit rate 128kbps size 173.0mb length 3.02.16

Notes on the recording

The station was determined to promote as many new records ('climbers') as it could in its last week on air, so this programme overran by 22 minutes.

Sadly, this tape was broken in two places. In the first (at 2.30.55 in the audio file), almost 30 minutes are missing (as shown in the analysis below). I may have decided to cut part of the programme so as to fit the longer programme on a three-hour tape but I can't remember. In the case of the second break (at 2.34.10) only a few seconds are missing.

Fab Forty positions are shown in brackets.

Analysis of the programme

0.00.00 (at 1201) Rolling Stones: We love you (new release exclusive to Big L)
0.04.01 Neil Diamond: Thank The Lord For The Night Time (40), Vitalis ad
0.07.10 The Shiralee: I will stay by your side for ever (climber)
0.10.12 Dave Justin: For Brandy (39), Speedwriting course ad
0.13.58 Ivy League: Suddenly Things (38), Castrol ad
0.18.11 New Christy Minstrels: I'll Coat Your Mind With Honey (climber)
0.21.20 John's Children: Come And Play With Me In The Garden (37), Sight and Sound ad
0.24.17 Critters: Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me (36)
0.28.50 News at 1230 with Ian Damon
0.31.30 Jimi Hendrix Experience: The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp (climber), Quick Tan ad
0.36.05 Madeline Bell: Climb Ev'ry Mountain (35), Vitalis ad
0.38.48 The Quik: King Of The World (34), Lord John (Carnaby Street) ad
0.42.01 David Garrick: Don't go out into the rain (climber)
0.44.21 Sue Ryder Homes appeal by Bing Crosby, Ronson shavers ad
0.46.23 Eddie Floyd: Things Get Better (33), Castrol ad
0.49.48 The Animals: Good time (climber) Cigarillos ad
0.53.35 West Coast Consortium: Some Other Someday (32)
0.57.03 Frank Sinatra: The world we knew (climber)
0.59.52 Weather at 1301
1.00.38 Moby Grape: Hey Grandma (31), Book of Knowledge ad
1.04.11 Chuck Berry: Back To Memphis/I Do Really Love You (30=)
1.06.49 Dionne Warwick: The Windows Of The World (30=), Vitalis ad
1.11.06 Glenn Weston: Pattern People (climber), Bell & Howell camera ad
1.14.47 Truly Smith/New Formula: I Want To Go Back There Again (29), Quick Tan ad
1.19.15 Happenings: My Mammy (28), Upper Cut Club ad
1.23.11 Skip Bifferty: On love (climber)
1.25.43 Johnnie Young: Craise Finton Kirk (27), Juicy Fruit ad
1.28.40 News at 1330 with Ian Damon
1.31.17 Amen Corner: Gin House (26), Vitalis ad
1.35.27 Cat Stevens: A Bad Night (25), Pleasurama Ramsgate ad
1.38.00 Chris Montez: Foolin' around (climber)
1.41.02 Stevie Wonder: I Was Made To Love Her (24)
1.43.42 Monkees: Pleasant Valley Sunday (23), Stafford House computer course ad
1.47.37 Tom Jones: I'll Never Fall In Love Again (22)
1.52.01 Dave Berry: Forever (climber), Sight and Sound ad
1.55.23 Dave Davies: Death Of A Clown (21)
1.58.03 Weather at 1400, Cigarillos ad
1.59.17 Aretha Franklin: Baby I Love You (20), Top Pops ad
2.02.44 Paul Jones: Thinkin' Ain't For Me (19), Du Maurier ad
2.06.54 Traffic Hole In My Shoe (18), Ronson shavers ad
2.11.01 Wonder Who: Lonesome Road (17), Hermit Club ad
2.13.45 Fortunes: The Idol (16), estate agent ad
2.17.57 Jimmy Ruffin: Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby (15), Quick Tan ad
2.21.33 Isley Brothers: That's The Way Love Is (14)
2.23.55 Gladys Knight & the Pips: Everybody Needs Love (13)
2.27.06 News at 1430
2.29.39 Marvin Gaye Your Unchanging Love (12)
2.30.55 tape broken - almost 30 minutes missing

MISSING:

Diana Ross & the Supremes: Reflections (11)
Small Faces: Itchycoo Park (10)
Warm Sounds: Sticks And Stones (9)
Spencer Davis Group: Time Seller (8)
Strawberry Children: Love Years Coming (7)
Keith West: Excerpt From A Teenage Opera (6)

*Frankie Vaughan's There must be a way was Big L's Farewell dedication to the Postmaster General, who was held responsible for the closure of the pirate stations.