Entering the latter half of the Spring '07 semester, an enjoyable time albeit with a few obstacles that may have planted seeds for the downers to emerge in my third year.
But before then, a lot of really good radio emerged from the Harrow Campus.
Kicking off with the dynamic duo themselves, Goodlass and Marshall,
ever energetic, and the awe of many first year radio students.
Including Sam and Phil (1.28), back to two hours, and relaunching their show
"Impey And The Brain", despite the opener clearly singing "Pinky".
They did at least share an equal chance of being able to take over the world...
Whilst more confident than before, bits of the show still felt a little off,
namely "Beat The Brain", that half-inched hook line and sinker from the
"Monday Night Pub Quiz" on The Chris Moyles Show (even using the same music)
and "The News At Now" a comedy sketch that was... just a sketch.
In spite of the rough edges, the duo were given the prestige of launching Smoke Radio's
"Big Red One", (9.46) a continuous broadcast from midday Friday to midday Saturday
coinciding with Comic Relief, though we weren't allowed to directly raise money,
due to SU regulations.
There’s not many photos from the event, save for this one when Danny Dyer
made a visit to M Block…
It was also the day of the SU election results of which the live reports
from Central London got the good word from listeners, all down to
the concise updates from Steven McIntosh.
Even if the results themselves weren't in everyone's favour,
certainly not on the Harrow Campus.
Steven also heard at 12.55, alongside Melina on a show that should have gone further. 
Giving a great reflection of London's nightlife including a more than honest
assessment on Joss Stone's shambolic gig at Koko.
Wishing I still had the audio of that review, had I not lent the DVD with the Red Nose Broadcast shows themselves to another member at the station who never gave it back...
(Though an equally blunt review of a Placebo gig from Ross Powell
pops up at 37.16)
By now the station was getting further publicity in the Smoke Newspaper
with a different show in the spotlight each issue.
When mine was featured, many Monday night punters at the Undercroft
were surprised that the idiot dancing rather manically, actually presented a show.
But without it, I probably wouldn't have been up to any idiotic antics full stop
with the realisation that it was all worthwhile.
A number of posters promoting shows around the same time were plastered round
our Undercroft bar, as seen behind Goodlass and Marshall.
Photos by Edward Burke
Heard at 17.35 rounding off the marathon with many a rude phone awakening
to their mates. almost identical to Gladys Pugh on Radio Maplin.
The all-nighter should have boosted morale, adding anticipation up to
the summer broadcast in May, as had been the case the year before with Smoke Aid.
Only on the Monday after the broadcast we all got sent an e-mail from the editor
of programming, and it wasn't good news.
Due to conflicts with other courses wanting to use the bigger studios in the evenings,
we now had to present all live shows after 7 from the smaller, and not-as-technically
-advanced Studio 4 as used for daytime.
that Tuesday night turned into a rant, on what may be my favourite Smoke Radio moment.
Josie preceding at 20.11, having been forced into self-opping earlier in the year
refused point blank to present from the smaller studio
opting for studio 5 via the matrix fader.
A valid point at 33.55, regarding the potential circumstances.
In the same way as the snippets of Pippa ST a few blogs back,
it's none more genuine an insight on the stresses of student life,
proving Josie and Tudor definitely weren't putting on an act that evening.
Even if in Tudor's case, it was more than just hilarious.
At 26.09, "The Alternative" hosted by MA journalism student Sarah and her friend Memo,
filling the slot formerly occupied by Pippa's Evening Session, left vacant since Christmas.
A short, but entertaining stint, it's truncated run made moreso by the 6 week break
for Easter to be touched on later in the blog.
Popping up at 31.30, Sephora with another Jazz Etc and some interesting asides
on Amy Winehouse after playing the best song from her "Back To Black" LP.
Being in the audience for that very episode of Buzzcocks made it even more
hilarious my end.
(Though slightly jealous when a TV student revealed he'd been in the
audience for the Donny Tourette episode)
At 28.26 another Shuffle, themed around Flowers, minus Adam but with Harjeet
a CMP alumni who often stood in alongside regular host Zo.
It was always fun when Harj presented, returning later in the semester
to co-host a show themed entirely around video game soundtracks.
Providing similar quirkiness at various points, third year film students Ben and Jason
with their "Really Really Late, Or Really Really Early (Depending On Your Point Of View)
Breakfast Show".
Jason having previously co-hosted the Request Show with Pete up to Christmas
found a better-suited home for his offbeat humour and the pair may have been
the funniest of the newer shows to have aired on the station this year.
Whilst Tudor was losing the will to live, let alone present from Studio 4,
Ben and Jason were recording their show in studio 5 after Josie, and they had
the guts to fade up the film students in 6 who were ultimately the cause of Tudor's rage.
I soldiered on in Studio 6 the night after, following Smoke International,
and goodness knows how they'd have managed in the "Insanity Cupboard".
The uncertain feeling within the station summed up by them
playing out with Aimee Mann's version of Harry Nillson's "One".
Heightened by the infamous strapline, as mentioned in an earlier blog post.
Ina as heard at 30.13, ended up recording her Friday night 80s show, though she
had found a more permanent co-presenter, with Aussie Dave who joined
As the end of term drew nearer, the fuss over studio access died down
(for the time being) leaving us to focus on planning up to mid May and the
final week of shows as branded "Smoke's Out 4 Summer".
(35.01) marking it's farewell with a specially made chronology of the show.
Photo by Fabian Alber
They were amazing. No harder working show on the station.
Also bidding adieu were Impey and The Brain, though their long pause
(until January 2008!) was down partly to them both attending that year's SRA Conference
before Easter, and Impey having to cough up ahead of a month long summer
Stateside stretch, meaning she wouldn't be around for S04S.
Leaving my show as the last that went out live for the Spring semester,
due to the campus shutting down on the the Thursday evening before Good Friday.
Winding down with a "Slow Soul Special", all the more needed following
the enjoyable chaos of Smoke International's swan song.
Carl from the Gospel Show (34.16) listening in RP1 that evening was rather happy
that I played out with "People Get Ready" by The Impressions.
A reflective but anticipatory tune with SO4S looming.
Last up, a final word from Ross and Paul at the Live Variety Show.
If Seb and Jon's on air patter resembled the dry wit of Lennon and McCartney,
Paul Calvert was definitely Smoke Radio's Chris Kamara.
(even if it's Ross cocking it up at 7.11)
A six week break over Easter until mid May was met with a mixed response,
but having done so the year before, entirely necessary to recharge batteries
so when we did return, it would be with more energy than had been present
throughout the whole year.
And possibly why the last two end-of-year broadcasts weren't as good,
with the regular schedule carrying on after Easter in the weeks leading up.
You'll hear the ever-increasing highs (in my case at least) in the final part of my
more-than-overblown recollections of university radio.
attention from the specialist shows on Smoke Radio during those four years.
