R E C O R D I N G S
The original tape used was recorded in 1973
Noel Edmonds : Radio Swindon.
Valium : Talks over record.
Sing Along with The Beatles : The Birds.
If your radio breaks : Colin Blunstone.
Parts : Violin Lessons.
Vallee Rudy : Frustrated Musician.
Donny Osmond.
ScuzzBlog: Diaries September 2022
Entry 11th September 2022: Post 1: PrinzSound RTR30 - Kenny Everett.
PrinzSound RTR30 - Kenny Everett.
The year was 1973, the month April and the BBC had finally agreed
to let Kenny Everett broadcast on Radio 1. With one proviso, that
his show be pre-recorded and vetted by the BBC prior to broadcast.
Kenny had been dismissed by the BBC for an infringement involving
some comment he made about the wife I believe of the Minster of
Transport... all a distant memory. And so Kenny returned on April
the first and managed to survive the one hour slot until September
of that year.
This was a time when the BBC ruled the waves and created Radio 1
in response to the pirate radio stations that had been broadcasting
from the seas off the coast of the UK. Kenny had been a disc-jockey
on Radio London if I recall which started as early as 1964. In those
days you sat huddled to your radio listening to radio Luxemburg as
the only real alternative to the boring BBC.
Kenny lived with his wife on a farm in Kay Wales where he had built
his own recording studio. The hour long shows were recorded and then
sent to the BBC who cut out the bits they didn't like.
In 1972 I had purchased a PrinzSound RTR 16, a truly crap bit of
kit that spent more time at the repair shop than in my care. The
PrinzSound label was a rebadged Japanese product and sold by Dixons
as their own brand. In those days, Dixons ran their operation from
a warehouse in Willenhall and were able to offer discounted products
as they had no expensive town centre shop rent to deal with. In the
end Dixons gave me a cash sum to bugga off given that they couldn't
undertake a repair that would satisfy me.
My greatest joy during this time was to sit listening to the Kenny
Everett show from 1 till 2, following Noel Edmonds, and tape all
his funny bits. I rarely recorded the music, I just burst my sides
listening to Cuddly Ken. This was 1973 and believe me there was
nothing anywhere that could hold a candle to Kenny. I would
memorise his lines and quote them in pubs and clubs and always
guarantee a god laugh. Man was he funny.
Anyhoo I have spent years trying to track down a PrinzSound RTR 16.
Sadly my original was destroyed by my dad who took it to pieces
before throwing it away. I have had a search on Ebay for years with
no luck. However, an RTR30 came on the Bay recently and being the
next model up it was as close a match as I am likely to get. The
machine isn't working, but for me I just wanted to sense the size,
weight and feel of the transistor radio cassette.
I have to say the memories came flooding back and I was moved to
pull out my original tapes from 1973 and listen to Kenny Everett
once again. You have to remember that these tapes recorded on this
cassette recorder date from 1973 and are nearly 50 years old. Not
dissuaded by age I simply used my camera to record Kenny from one
of his programmes and include these as reflective of the time.
Kenny Everett always struck me as a genuine kinda guy and one with
a remarkable talent to instantly sense the funny side of things.
His humour was simple and built around catch phrases voiced by very
lovable characters. He was mischievous, and ever so naughty, and
never afraid to test the boundaries of what others deemed acceptable.
The world is a lesser place for not having characters like Kenny
Everett to make you smile.
As for the PrinzSound, it was nice to have a similar beast to my
original to give some context to the Kenny Everett era. I shall try
and snag a RTR16 should one ever pop up but for now the RTR30 will
do just fine ..
This unit contains the following solid state devices:
TAPE: 7 Transistor, 1 Diode. 1 Thermistor.
RADIO: 6 Transistors. 5 Diodes and 1 Variatite.
Power: 1 Transistor. 2 Diodes.
PrinzSound RTR30 - Kenny Everett.
and has lasted for close on 50 years. I played
the tape on another tape machine and recorded
with my camera. If that is a problem for anyone
who objects then please let me know.
If you can only see this CONTENT window
then click the image above for the full site
Last updated 11th September 2022
Chandraise Kingdom
Keep the Faith
scuzzscink 2022