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 -   C A P I T A L   R A D I O   - 

16th October 1973

This day in 1973 was actually a Tuesday, which seems an odd day of the week to launch a new radio station in London. It might be one of the moments where Londoners remember where they were at the time ? Though at 5am, perhaps not !

Hear the launch music and various snippets of DJ intros, jingles and commercial ads - see below - as Capital Radio took to the airwaves: "Capital sounds goes round and round, London Town !"

Capital Radio was one of the UK's earliest Independent Local Radio stations to come on air. It served London and the surrounding areas, was originally heard on 539 metres MW and 95.8 VHF before the MW frequency moved to 194 metres (1548 KHz) during the seventies. 

Beginning as more of a light music station it changed its policy following a slow start, to a more pop-based format in January 1974. More info here. 
Some of the early presenters included Kenny Everett, Brian Hayes, Michael Aspel, David Symonds, Dave Cash, Gerald Harper, Graham Dene, Tony Myatt, Roger Scott, Mike Allen, Gary Crowley and 'little' Nicky Horne, with his early evening programme called 'Your Mother Wouldn't like it'.

Here's the odd 10 minute mash up of 'clips' as a video of the 'Launch of Capital'.  

For your memory the UK charts at this time were full of David Cassidy, Slade, Tina Turner, Sweet, David Bowie, Status Quo & Elton John. But at No.1 was the Simon Park Orchestra with 'Eye Level' the theme tune to the TV show 'Van der Valk.