The music from a January 1994 aircheck from The Pulse

For a long while, I’ve had a copy of a friend of mine’s first ever show on FM radio (on 1 January 1994). I recorded it on “hifi stereo” VHS tape, as you did in those days, but I’ve not had a VHS tape recorder to play it on, and the VHS cassette has remained hidden in a cupboard until very recently, when I’ve been thrown out of my home to allow the builders to put the floor back. (No, really).

Anyway… while publishing the audio itself might not be welcomed by someone who’s now a PD in the region (although wonderfully listenable-to), I thought it might be fun to publish the two hours of music that Muscom (the Metro Radio Group’s music scheduling system) scheduled for him. (Most of these tracks are here on Spotify and YouTube if you wanted to listen). Just as a bit of fun. But, goodness, what a nice range of songs… “more variety”, certainly, though the station didn’t use that moniker back then. And a suspiciously high amount of Tyneside artists…

Ain’t no doubt: Jimmy Nail
Down the drain: Stakka Bo
Delicate: Terence Trent D’Arby
Cream: Prince and the New Power Generation
Mr Blobby: Mr Blobby (no, really)
Please forgive me: Bryan Adams
Private Dancer: Tina Turner
Ain’t no doubt (ain’t no use): Sub Sub
Don’t worry: Kim Appleby
Hero: Mariah Carey
I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing: Pet Shop Boys
Weather with you: Crowded House
Auberge: Chris Rea
Babe: Take That
Going nowhere: Gabrielle
Steam: Peter Gabriel
Things can only get better: D:Ream
I miss you: Haddaway
The joker: Steve Miller Band
Cold, cold heart: Wet Wet Wet
Hands up (for loverrs): Right Said Fred
Easy lover: Philip Bailey and Phil Collins

Also, by the way, interesting to hear how full the ad log was (of excellent-sounding creative); and how good the station promos were. Proper sounding station, that was.