In December 1964 the MV Galaxy sailed into our universe and changed our lives forever !

A week of test transmissions from the 16th - DJ Paul Kaye announcing "Testing – This is Radio London" followed by the "Sonowaltz" jingle (better known as 'Big Lil' here) - before its official launch on 23rd December. 

The UK's pirate radio stations and their influence would increase. Radio Caroline altered its music style and output and more stations would broadcast until the UK government put an end to the fun in 1967. 

Radio London was always a Top 40 station and the 'Fabulous 40' was mentioned right from the start. However they had relatively few current singles to begin with, making a meaningful chart rundown impossible. In the early weeks of 1965 references were made to chart positions and 'climbers' but not until Sunday January 24th did a full Top 40 list appear. (See listings). (Although scheduled, this 'Big L Fab Forty' was not broadcast on Jan 24th, as a mark of respect to Sir Winston Churchill, whose death had just been announced).

Cast your gaze down this chart, past various well known artists to the No.9 slot and "up one place from last week" it's Sounds Orchestral with 'Cast Your Fate To The Wind' >

Sounds Orchestral were a British group assembled by John Schroeder and Johnny Pearson (of TOTP fame). This hit record was their version of American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi's 1962 instrumental.

While 'YouTubing' this track an unexpected version appeared: 'Cast Your Fate to the Wind / Louie Louie' by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin. Lyrics had been added by Carel Werber in 1963. (View it here and enjoy the waves). 

The careers of DJs - Tony Blackburn, Dave Cash, Kenny Everett, Pete Drummond, Ed Stewart and in 1967 John Peel with his midnight-to-two programme 'The Perfumed Garden' - are all part of the 'Big L' Pirate Radio story.