Capital Radio

Capital Radio

In 1972 the Sound Broadcasting Act was finally passed. The Independent Broadcasting Authority was responsible for issuing commercial radio licences and Capital Radio was given the entertainment contract for London. The new programme controller Michael Bukht immediately called Roger in for an audition which he passed with flying colours. Roger was part of the original Capital line up which first went on air on the 16th October 1973. After a shaky start, the station went from strength to strength with Roger at the helm of the afternoon show for the next 15 years. Roger’s slot was initially 4pm-6pm but Michael Bukht quickly realised what an asset Roger was and extended his show to 3pm-6pm then again shortly afterwards to 3pm-7pm.

Playlist - Capital Radio Show
Number Title Date Length
1. Roger talking about his move to Capital Radio - 6:03
2. Roger’s famous ‘Grab a little piece of heaven’ jingle - 0:17

Roger introduced a variety of features to his shows which became very popular with his audience. The ground breaking People's Choice which gave listeners the opportunity to vote for their favourite song (from a selection) which then became the station's record of the week. Roger pioneered interaction between audience and DJ, wanting a live reaction from his listeners to the music he was playing. This concept was developed into the Hit Line Top 10 which ran daily, made up of the ten new/current tracks that had received the most public votes via a dedicated phone number in the preceding 24 hours. This was all very innovative for the time.

The two features that gained the most popularity were Cruisin’ and the daily Three O’clock Thrill.

Cruisin’ was essentially a rock and roll oldies show which started its life on a Saturday evening from 6pm-8pm. Unlike other 'oldies' shows, Roger nearly always gave his Cruisin’ programmes a theme every week. Along with producer James Hamilton they picked out an amazing selection of tracks that always contained new material many listeners had never heard alongside familiar favourites. In 1975 Cruisin’ moved to a 1 hour slot 6pm-7pm on a Friday at the end of Roger’s drive time show. To sum up the essence of Cruisin', it conjured up the atmosphere of the film American Graffiti where guys literally cruised around the strip in California playing rock and roll songs.

Playlist - Cruisin' Show
Number Title Date Length
Cruisin' - Summer 24/08/1974 1:52:36
2. Cruisin' - Teen Idols 14/09/1974 1:52:21
3. Cruisin' - British 1963 30/11/1974 1:59:14
4. Cruisin' - British 1964 07/12/1974 1:49:46
5. Cruisin' - Christmas 21/12/1974 1:52:22
6. Cruisin' - USA 1956 28/12/1974 1:50:48
7. Cruisin' - USA Originals Part 1 11/01/1975 1:25:49
8. Cruisin' - USA Originals Part 2 19/01/1975 1:52:21
9. Cruisin' - Party 25/01/1975 1:07:60
10. Cruisin' - Girls 15/02/1975 1:48:58
11. Cruisin' - Girls 21/09/1975 1:51:50
12. Cruisin' 05/12/1975 34:58
13. Cruisin' 12/12/1975 54:29
14. Cruisin' 19/12/1975 44:07
15. Cruisin' 02/01/1976 53:00
16. Cruisin' 30/01/1976 54:17
17. Cruisin' - Root of Rock 20/02/1976 54:19
18. Cruisin' - Road Show 27/02/1976 44:59
19. Cruisin' - Rockabilly Show 05/03/1976 55:18
20. Cruisin' - London American Part 1 12/03/1976 55:36
21. Cruisin' - London American Part 2 19/03/1976 54:21
22. Cruisin' - London American Part 3 26/03/1976 53:56
23. Cruisin' 02/04/1976 52:15
24. Cruisin' - Girls Names 09/04/1976 53:59
25. Cruisin' 14/05/1976 44:45
26. Cruisin' 21/05/1976 54:39-
27. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 1 18/06/1976 54:57
28. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 2 25/06/1976 55:05
29. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 3 02/07/1976 48:35
30. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 4 09/07/1976 54:53
31. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 5 16/07/1976 54:39
32. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 6 23/07/1976 54:57
33. Cruisin' - Rock'n'Roll Part 1 30/07/1976 53:49
34. Cruisin' - Rock'n'Roll Part 2 06/08/1976 51:46
35. Cruisin' - US Originals Beatles 13/08/1976 53:55
36. Cruisin' - US Originals Stones Part 1 20/08/1976 52:08
37. Cruisin' - US Originals Stones Part 2 27/08/1976 54:13
38. Cruisin' - US Originals 03/09/1976 24:02
39. Cruisin' - Summer Show Part 7 10/09/1976 53:53
40. Cruisin' - DooWop Show 17/09/1976 53:49
41. Cruisin' - Teen Idols 12/11/1976 54:03
42. Cruisin' - Country Classics 19/11/1976 52:34
43. Cruisin' - Classics Show 26/11/1976 50:57
44. Cruisin' - Punk Show Part 1 10/12/1976 51:29
45. Cruisin' - Punk Show Part 2 17/12/1976 53:20
46. Cruisin' - Elvis Presley Rarities 07/01/1977 45:21
47. Cruisin' 14/07/1977 52:20
48. Cruisin' - New Orleans Part 1 21/01/1977 54:46
49. Cruisin' - Joe Meek Show 28/01/1977 52:40
50. Cruisin' - New Orleans Part 2 04/02/1977 55:43
51. Cruisin' 11/02/1977 54:03
52. Cruisin' - Instumentals Show Part 1 18/02/1977 52:26
53. Cruisin' - Instumentals Show Part 2 04/03/1977 54:10
54. Cruisin' - Instumentals Show Part 3 18/03/1977 54:08
55. Cruisin' - Goffin and King 29/04/1977 51:55
56. Cruisin' - Mann and Weill 06/05/1977 54:04
57. Cruisin' - Leiber-Stoller Part 1 13/05/1977 54:21
58. Cruisin' - Leiber-Stoller Part 2 20/05/1977 53:35
59. Cruisin' - Summer Show 08/07/1977 55:22
61. Cruisin' 15/07/1977 54:58
62. Cruisin' - Hot Rod Show Part 1 29/07/1977 55:12
63. Cruisin' - Hot Rod Show Part 2 05/08/1977 54:21
64. Cruisin' - Surfing Show 12/08/1977 54:12
65. Cruisin' - Rockabilly Show 26/08/1977 54:34
66. Cruisin' - Back to School Show 02/09/1977 56:04
67. Cruisin' - Girls Show 30/09/1977 55:09
68. Cruisin' - Rockabilly Show Part 1 19/05/1978 54:46
69. Cruisin' - Rockabilly Show Part 2 26/05/1978 55:10
70. Cruisin' - Collectors Elvis 17/08/1979 53:08
71. Cruisin' - Alan Freed Show 01/09/1979 47:48
72. Cruisin' - Mod Show Part 1 21/09/1979 54:38
73. Cruisin' - Mod Show Part 2 28/09/1979 55:20
74. Cruisin' - Merseybeat Show 09/07/1982 42:19

The Three O’clock Thrill was a daily feature Roger would play at the start of his drive time show. Each day he would chose a particular month and year and would feature both music and news from that period. Again this was all ground breaking at the time and the format has been copied many times since. If Roger ever revisited the same month and year he would always play different songs and news to make the show unique again. You can appreciate that without the benefit of the internet the amount of research and work that must have gone into these shows!

Playlist - Three O’Clock Thrill Show
Number Title Date Length
1. Three O’clock Thrill jingle - 00:25
2. Three O'clock Thrill - August 1966 - 27:20
3. Three O'clock Thrill - December 1970 Dec 1974 29:06
4. Three O'clock Thrill - April 1965 Apr 1975 27:52
5. Three O'clock Thrill - May 1961 May 1975 29:35
6. Three O'clock Thrill - July 1962 31 July 1975 18:05
7. Three O'clock Thrill - August 1960 Sept 1975 24:35
8. Three O'clock Thrill - June 1966 12 Sept 1975 45:35
9. Three O'clock Thrill - November 1960 Nov 1975 35:32
10. Three O'clock Thrill - January 1964 1976 40:40
11. Three O'clock Thrill - May 1962 1976 35:43
12. Three O'clock Thrill - February 1965 18 Feb 1976 42:26
13. Three O'clock Thrill - May 1957 31 May 1976 42:40
14. Three O'clock Thrill - July 1966 31 Jul 1976 32:53
15. Three O'clock Thrill - January and February 1968 Aug 1976 41:11
16. Three O'clock Thrill - January 1957 1977 15:02
17. Three O'clock Thrill - October 1961 1977 35:59
18. Three O'clock Thrill - November 1965 1977 35:26
19. Three O'clock Thrill - October 1962 11 Jan 1977 35:31
20. Three O'clock Thrill - October 1963 22 Aug 1977 45:28
21. Three O'clock Thrill - August 1961 1 Sept 1977 26:47
22. Three O'clock Thrill - June 1969 April 1978 32:49
23. Three O'clock Thrill - March 1964 May 1980 44:40
24. Three O'clock Thrill - November 1964 1980 51:17
25. Three O'clock Thrill - June 1968 3 July 1981 41:40
26. Three O'clock Thrill - April 1968 1981 50:12

Here’s a selection of some of Roger’s other Capital Radio shows.

Playlist - Other Tracks Show
Number Title Date Length
1. Roger Scott Capital Radio jingle - 00:28
2. Roger Scott jingle by Pet Shop Boys - 00:32
3. Capital Radio 28 Feb 1974 1:01:21
4. Capital Radio 1 Mar 1974 1:01:03
5. Capital Radio 15 Apr 1974 59:53
6. Capital Radio 27 May 1974 1:00:42
7. Capital Radio 24 Dec 1974 2:04:44
8. Capital Radio 20 Feb 1975 31:25
9. Capital Radio 10 Apr 1975 31:28
10. Capital Radio - Capital Countdown 6 Jul 1975 59:19
11. Capital Radio - Elvis Tribute 20 Aug 1977 2:53:19
12. Capital Radio 4 Jan 1979 26:17
13. Capital Radio 18 Jan 1979 23:39
14. Capital Radio 23 Jan 1979 1:25:48
15. Capital Radio 25 Jan 1979 58:23
16. Capital Radio - People's Choice 29 Jan 1979 1:00:11
17. Capital Radio 14 May 1980 3:47:41
19. Capital Radio - Capital Hitline Top 10 10 Aug 1980 44:02
20. Capital Radio - Roger Scott and Tim Blackmore - Jukebox Sat Night 16 Jan 1982 54:12
21. Capital Radio - Hitline Top 10 23 Dec 1983 54:28
22. Capital Radio 1 Jan 1986 1:58:25
23. Capital Radio 1 May 1988 30:35

Another Capital star was Kenny Everett. Roger and Kenny were great friends and I often remember him coming round to our house when I was younger. Capital would often pair them together for Bank Holiday specials.

Playlist - Roger Scott & Kenny Everett Show
Number Title Date Length
1. Roger Scott & Kenny Everett - Capital Radio - Help a London Child 29 Mar 1975 1:03:34
2. Roger Scott & Kenny Everett - Capital Radio - The History of 1967 31 Mar 1975 5:38:32
3. Roger Scott & Kenny Everett - Capital Radio - All Time Top 100 1 Jan 1976 7:16:20
4. Roger Scott & Kenny Everett - EMI outtake 27 Sept 1980 02:07

In 1986 Capital started a 2 hour Sunday morning comedy/entertainment/political satire/music show called Brunch presented by Roger, Angus Deayton, Jan Ravens, Steve Brown, Paul Burnett and Jeremy Pascall. After some initial apprehension on Roger’s part he agreed to give it a trial for a few weeks but it was an instant hit and he stayed on.

Playlist - Brunch Show
Number Title Date Length
1. Jan Ravens talk about Brunch - 01:01
2. Brunch 09/04/1986 1:57:58
3. Brunch 03/08/1986 1:52:44
4. Brunch 10/08/1986 1:52:16
5. Brunch 07/09/1986 1:52:44
6. Brunch 05/10/1986 1:43:41
7. Brunch 09/11/1986 1:43:03
8. Brunch 04/01/1986 1:45:55
9. Brunch 11/01/1987 1:46:20
10. Brunch 18/01/1987 1:45:28
11. Brunch 25/01/1987 1:45:55
12. Brunch 01/02/1987 1:37:07
13. Brunch 08/02/1987 1:58:06
14. Brunch 15/02/1987 1:02:14
15. Brunch 22/02/1987 1:42:46
16. Brunch 08/03/1987 1:59:44
17. Brunch 15/03/1987 1:47:37
18. Brunch 22/03/198 1:57:03
19. Brunch 29/03/1987 1:43:53
20. Brunch 05/04/1987 1:43:53
21. Brunch 12/04/1987 1:24:28
22. Brunch 28/04/1987 1:51:10
23. Brunch 03/05/1987 2:00:11
24. Brunch 10/05/1987 1:53:38
25. Brunch 24/05/1987 1:59:30
26. Brunch 31/05/1987 1:56:30
27. Brunch 14/06/1987 1:59:56
28. Brunch 28/06/1987 1:59:40
29. Brunch 19/07/1987 1:56:56
30. Brunch 26/07/1987 2:01:01
31. Brunch 02/08/1987 2:00:54
32. Brunch 09/08/1987 1:59:58
33. Brunch 16/08/1987 1:58:40
34. Brunch 28/08/1987 1:47:50
35. Brunch 04/10/1987 1:55:14
36. Brunch 13/12/1987 1:38:16
37. Brunch - Best of '87 1987 1:52:47
38. Brunch 07/02/1988 1:53:60
39. Brunch 28/02/1988 1:50:20
40. Brunch 02/03/1988 57:40
41. Brunch 06/03/1988 1:54:44
42. Brunch 20/03/1988 55:53
43. Brunch 15/05/1988 52:25
44. Brunch 22/05/1988 50:54
45. Brunch 29/05/1988 50:54

All good things come to an end! In the summer of 1988 Roger left Capital Radio for BBC Radio 1.

Playlist - Farewell Show
Number Title Date Length
1. Roger’s final Capital show June 1988 3:01:01
2. Roger’s final Capital sign off June 1988 00:42