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LANDBASED PIRATES UK - YORKSHIRE

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YORKSHIRE AREA FREE RADIO ARCHIVES:

The files below are historical off air recordings in our collection from past free radio stations in the Yorkshire area, from 1995 and before.

These archives will be added to as time and recordings are available.

Enjoy the memories.

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ABC FM - (LEEDS) 94.6MHz - 105.2MHz

ABC FM was a soul and reggae station first heard in Leeds during late 1986 on 94.6MHz (ironically, the original BBC Radio Leeds FM frequency).  ABC later moved to 105.2MHz.  They seemed to disappear following a raid in October 1988, but then were noted with joint broadcasts with Music City Radio on 90.3MHz.

1987_07_22_wed_abc_leeds_946fm_1505-1735_doclove-gh639.mp3 New Mar 2024 Two and a half hours of ABC-FM from Wednesday afternoon, 22nd July 1987. Not sure of the first presenter, but Doc Love programmes after 4pm. Modulation not the best in places. Recorded in North Leeds from 94.6MHz in mono. 206MB
150mins
1987_12_26_sat_abc_leeds_1052fm_thefox_theyouthmanshow_princessflack-gh732.mp3 New Mar 2024 A three hour recording of ABC FM from the morning of Saturday 26th December 1986. The programming starts with 'The Fox' and is followed by 'The Youthman Show' and Princess Flack(?). Recorded in North Leeds from 105.2MHz. 242MB
176mins

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CALDERDALE SOUND - (TODMORDEN) 1405kHz


Calderdale Sound operated from a house in Todmorden which backed onto the railway line to Burnley. It had apparently been operating for a number of years on low power as can be seen from this report from the Yorkshire Post of October 11th 1977. The frequency in those early days is not known, and the report below does not mention it.


In August Calderdale Sound 1984 obtained a more powerful transmitter from another station in Lancashire, and commenced test transmissions on the slightly off-channel 1405kHz. Programming was very community orientated. The signal was heard in the Calder Valley, but did not travel too far from Todmorden due to the steep sided valleys and also as the aerial was believed to be a vertical whip. After a number of Sunday broadcasts, they were raided shortly after 10am on 21st October 1984. Apparently complaints had been received from a local IBA station, presumably Pennine Radio. This was interesting, as no IBA station could actually be heard in Todmorden with a saleable signal.

1984_09_23_sun_calderdale_sound_1405am_airchecks-gh512.mp3 New Aug 2024 Some brief airchecks from Sunday 23rd September 1984 at just around 5pm. There is a relay of Independent Radio News at 5pm, followed by some local news read by David Sinclair. Recorded in Todmorden from 1405kHz. 7MB
8mins

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DREAM FM - (LEEDS) 99.9MHz - 107.8MHz

Dream FM broadcast a variety of dance music styles and sucessfully operated for a number of years in the early to mid-1990s. Initially operating on 99.9MHz, they later moved to 107.8MHz. A relay on 107.6MHz later made their signal coverage continuous from Leeds to the York area.

1993_07_24_sat_dreamfm_999fms_0850-0937_jane_i_am_edi-ghe283.mp3 New Apr 2024 Saturday morning requests on 24th July 1993 from Jane, followed at 9am by 'I am Edi'?. Recorded in Leeds from 99.9MHz in stereo. 108MB
47mins

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GENESIS FM - (LEEDS) 90.3MHz

Genesis FM operated in Leeds during the early 1990's and took the frequency of the pioneering 1980's Music City Radio which had been off the air for a while.

1993_07_17_sat_genesis_903fm_1310-1355_mr_b-ghe284.mp3 New Apr 2024 Saturday afternoon, 17th July 1993 with Mister B. Recorded in Leeds from 90.3MHz in mono. 65MB
47mins

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OCEAN SOUND - (ROTHERHAM) 106MHz

Ocean Sound were heard during the early months of 1987 from the Rotherham area on various frequencies around 106MHz.

1987_04_05_sun_ocean_sound_106fm_1937-2025-ghe191.mp3 New Nov 2024 A rather noisy recording of Ocean Sound on 106.0MHz from Sunday evening 5th April 1987. The noisy signal was due to it being received around 35 miles from the transmitter which according to the broadcast was running only around 4 watts at the time, so pretty good coverage. There was some interesting technical details about transmitters available for purchase. 65MB
47mins

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PEOPLES FM / NEW HORIZON FM - (LEEDS) 91.8MHz - 104.7MHz

Peoples FM promoted the best in black music, possibly operating from the Chapeltown area of Leeds and were first heard in early 1988 under the name New Horizon Radio. By April 3rd 1988 they seemed to be calling themselves Peoples FM. The station initially broadcast on 91.8MHz, which was not a suitable channel due to BBC stations on either side, and in July 1988 moved to the clearer area of 104.7MHz. Peoples FM was still being heard into the late 1990s.

1988_03_30_wed_horizon_918fm_2215-2300-gh312.mp3 New Mar 2024 The only recording we have of the new station announcing as Horizon FM. This was from Wednesday 30th March 1988 and on 91.8MHz.  There appeared to be an issue with a programme tape being a bit chewed after 2230. The signal was a bit crackly and suffering co-channel interference. 65MB
47mins
1988_04_03_sun_peoplesfm_918fm_1425-1510_mister_b-gh312.mp3 New Mar 2024 By the time of this recording on Sunday 3rd April, Horizon Radio was calling itself Peoples FM. Mister B was your host on this recording. The signal on 91.8MHz was a little clearer than the previous week. 65MB
47mins

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RAPID FM - (LEEDS) 98.1MHz - 103.6MHz - 105.1MHz

Rapid FM were a seven day operation broadcasting reggae to Leeds from around June 1988 when they operated on 105.8MHz. After a few weeks they moved to 103.6MHz before settling on 98.1MHz in September. They seemed to have been raided in mid October, but were heard again by early November. In January 1989 they moved up the band to 105.1MHz region. They were still operating in the early 1990s and  seemed to be also referring to themselves Rapid Community Radio.

1988_09_11_sun_rapid_981fm_1615-1700_the_fox-ghe253.mp3 New Mar 2024 'The Fox' on Rapid FM from the afternoon of Sunday 11th September 1988 playing some of the Rapid FM chart.  Recorded from 98.1MHz in mono. The signal was a bit crackly. 65MB
47mins
1988_09_28_wed_rapid_981fm_0725-0810_the_godfather-ghe253.mp3 New Mar 2024 Breakfast with 'The Godfather' on Wednesday 28th September 1988. As received on 98.1MHz in mono. 65MB
47mins

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RADIO 104 (104.2MHz) / RADIO RADAR - (MORLEY) 104.5MHz

Radio Radar operated from the Morley area, just south of Leeds from around 1985 to 1987.  It had links to an earlier station, Radio 104, which broadcast from the same area during 1984. The station had a good signal across Leeds due to its high location.

1984_12_09_sun_radio104_1042fm_1430-1515_bigbopper-ghe136.mp3 New Nov 2024 This recording of Radio 104 was made on Sunday afternoon. There was some technical issues with the transmitter which went off for a short time. The shows were live, so apologies are made when the statiion returned. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.2MHz in mono. 55MB
40mins
1984_12_09_sun_radio104_1042fm_1515-1600_timpurley-ghe136.mp3 New Nov 2024 Continuing on from the above recording is Tim Purley. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.2MHz in mono. 66MB
48mins
1984_12_09_sun_radio104_1042fm_1640-1800signoff_stevesummers-ghe140.mp3 New Nov 2024 Steve Summers on Sunday 9th December 1984 up until station sign off at 6pm. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.2MHz in mono. 111MB
82mins
1986_12_27_sat_radar_1045fm_1400-1607_signon_andymegastar-gh649.mp3 New Feb 2022 The first part of a six hour recording of Radio Radar doing a 31 hour marathon shortly after Christmas 1986. This is the sign on at 2pm with Andy Megastar and his first two hours. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.5MHz. 173MB
1986_12_27_sat_radar_1045fm_1607-1810_andymegastar_bigbopper-gh649.mp3 New Feb 2022 Part two of this recording is the last hour of Andy Megastar followed by 'Big Bopper'. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.5MHz. 170MB
1986_12_27_sat_radar_1045fm_1810-2025_bigbopper_stevesummers-gh649.mp3 New Feb 2022 The final part of this six hour recording features the end of the 'Big Bopper' show, and then at 8pm Steve Summers. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.5MHz. 181MB
1987_04_05_sun_radar_1047fms_1050-1135_bigbopper_stevesummers-ghe190.mp3 New Nov 2024 Big Bopper followed by Steve Summers on Sunday 5th April 1987. Recorded in Tingley from 104.7MHz in stereo. The station had recently moved to this frequency. 109MB
47mins
1987_04_05_sun_radar_1047fms_1330-1417_philinn_daverobb-ghe190.mp3 New Nov 2024 A Sunday afternoon with Phil Inn followed at 2pm by Dave Robb on 5th April 1987. Recorded in Tingley from 104.7MHz in stereo. 107MB
47mins
1987_04_05_sun_radar_1047fms_1445-1533_daverobb_andymegastar-ghe191.mp3 New Nov 2024 More of Dave Robb followed by Andy Megastar on 5th April 1987. Recorded in Tingley from 104.7MHz in stereo. The audio levels are a bit variable. 109MB
47mins

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SKY FM - (LEEDS) 90.3MHz

Sky FM operated in the early 1990s from the Morley area and seemed to have a link to Radio Radar which operated in the late 1980s.

1993_07_26_mon_skyfm_903fms_2125-2215_paulstevens_stevesummers-ghe283.mp3 New Apr 2024 Monday evening 26th July 1993 with the last link of the night from Paul Stevens and then at 9:30pm is Steve Summer. Recorded from 90.3MHz in stereo. 108MB
47mins

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SUPREME FM - (LEEDS) 104.5MHz

Supreme FM was heard in the early 1990s broadcasting to Leeds on 104.5MHz.

1993_03_15_mon_supreme_1045fm_1845-1930-ghe305.mp3 New Apr 2024 Monday evening from Supreme FM, although there doesn't seem to be a station announcement on the recording, other than the mention of 104.5MHz. There are plenty of adverts for the Leeds area. Recorded from  104.5MHz in mono. 64MB
47mins

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RADIO VERONICA - (BRADFORD) 104.9MHz / 105.5MHz

Radio Veronica operated on FM from a high location west of Bradford from mid 1986 to early 1988.  The station courted controversy in some quarters with some of its late night discussions around the kitchen table.  The signal, often using over 100 watts, travelled far and wide, being regularly heard near Blackpool. The station ceased regular broadcasting in February 1988 following near misses with the DTI, and also apparently due to 'anoraks' turning up in the street in the early hours disturbing the neighbours. They did however make occasional broadcasts later in 1988.

1986_10_01_wed_veronica_1049fm_2245-0115_christine_stephen-gh837.mp3 New Jan 2024 Over two hours of a late night midweek broadcast from Radio Veronica on Wednesday 1st October 1986 featuring Stephen and Christine. There are some microphone issues at the beginning. Stephen signs off at around 1:15am. Recorded in North Leeds from 104.9MHz. 141MB
154mins

                 

Two articles from consecutive evening editions of Bradford's 'Telegraph and Argus.
The allegations in the first one on Thursday 19th March 1987 effectively closed the station down later that evening,
generating the article the following evening Friday 20th March 1987.
(Click either image for larger and more readable version)
In fact, Radio Veronica resumed transmissions a few weeks later.

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Additional recordings from Yorkshire and a huge amount of material from other areas of the UK can be found at The Pirate Archive web site.