BRADFORD'S ROCK 'n' ROLL REUNION 1991

Most of Bradford's local groups, with or without talent, wanted to make a record, but only a few succeeded in obtaining a recording contract with one or the other of the London-based recording companies. However, Bradford had its own recording studio which was affordable and used by all the local budding pop stars. This was Excel records at 49 Bradford Road, Shipley - the proprietor and recording technician was Mr. Thistlethwaite. 

The building had a shop frontage. Upstairs there was a former lounge, with the ceiling and walls covered with egg boxes to improve soundproofing. It was a cozy studio. In one corner of the room was a large control panel fronted by a thick glass window, behind which the proprietor could control the sound of the recordings.

The records were all 78 rpm, old style, thick with metal centres. The cost for the A and B sides was £1 for the master and 10 shillings per copy.

Mr. Thistlethwaite and Excel Records are to be thanked for helping local groups to record their songs for posterity some sixty years ago.

To add a personal note, my group Dal Stevens and the Blue Jays made one such recording with Excel Records in late 1959 - 'A Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' on' and 'Why Must I be a Teenager if Love'. At home one Saturday morning, while I was playing  'Why Must I be a Teenager in Love' on the radiogram, the coal man called to be paid.

Thinking it was the radio, he commented "Don't they play some bloody rubbish on the radio these days?". I gave him his money, and agreed, (but  I still have the record).

It was a learning curve for our 'aim for fame' and we knew it could not be sent to any recording studios, EMI or PYE would be the losers - joke!

However, we could only improve and it had been good fun and experience playing with my group members - Terry Moran ( later Dadio - piano), Michael Farrell, bass guitar, Alan (Keg) Grainger our 16-year-old drummer, Terence Flaherty rhythm guitar and the dependable Dougie Lamb, rhythm and bass guitar.