[martinlesterMember]

Just to Correct a Few things

Track 1 is not a Custom Package but a re-sing of Package called The Original (Swansea Sound)

Track 2 is not a Custom Package but a re-sing of
The FOX FM package

[martinlesterMember]

The Fox FM Package was called Top Flight

Examples of the Custom Sing

[m_hodgeyMember]

Good spot Martin.

I’m guessing that the detail the MPF use for these tracks will come from the ALFA logs, so I can’t see Neal getting the detail on these two packages wrong.

Perhaps these were indeed customs for Cheltenham Radio and Central FM, but perhaps the Swansea Sound and Fox FM re-sings made the demos as they had better sounding Dallas vocals? Only a thought.

[martinlesterMember]

Good spot Martin.

I’m guessing that the detail the MPF use for these tracks will come from the ALFA logs, so I can’t see Neal getting the detail on these two packages wrong.

Perhaps these were indeed customs for Cheltenham Radio and Central FM, but perhaps the Swansea Sound and Fox FM re-sings made the demos as they had better sounding Dallas vocals? Only a thought.

Hi Mark

Alfa did put the word Custom on several of the tape boxes I had about 6 of the Chilten Cuts re sung in Dallas and they had on the Box Martin Lester Custom Jingles

Both the Fox FM and The Swansea Sound was on the old Alfa Cassette Sampler as well as the CD Demo

but never heard the Cheltenham Radio or Central FM – Alfasound which is why I think the FOX FM and Swansea was the Orignal

Yes I do agree the Dallas Singers sound much brigher !

[mbMember]

A couple of ramblings with no info as around that time Alfa were starting to produce custom package after pretty much only doing JAM commissions or resings.
but It could be they were produced around the same time and they looked for stations to “participate” or use to demo the package or individual cuts written (maybe even at reduced cost)

A lot of the Cheltenham package is from the “The Original” package for Swansea Sound.
It certainly features a different vocal treatment – Maybe they went with solo vocal cuts (primarily from Steve Bultler) Vs group to reduce costs – The Swansea Sound ones feature fuller more traditional group vocals.
Given it was a tiny station that went through names and jingle packages I’m guessing their budget was tight, they had a JAM package resing a year later in 97 which was on ALFA Vol 29 (A JAM resing)
Fox / Swansea Sound may have been the primary stations these were created for as the other two were really small in comparison – They are not the sort of stations i would envisage having custom packages created (Then again look at Kingdom in Fife!!) – I can’t see either having the budget for a custom package unless it was shared, done at reduced cost or ALFA were looking for a partner station to use for a package they had writen and wanted to demo.

Or the above could be BS and I know JACK – which is always an option! But interesting to discuss!!!

[martinlesterMember]

The Cheltenham Radio has Several Cuts Missing compared to the Fox FM including Transition Cuts and the Top of the Hour Cut, which I liked that I even got a Re Sing of this via the KenR Singers

This is why I think the Fox FM was the Custom

https://soundcloud.com/martinjlester/top-flight-fox-fm-and-martin-lester-re-sing

As For Swansea Sound Yes they was a small station but always seemed to have a large Jingle budget maybe Len knows a bit more as he also worked for them

[IainJohnston]

“always seemed to have a large Jingle budget”

Worth remembering that Swansea Sound’s launch package by EMIson was “heavily influenced” lets say by TM
– not sure what the “history” is now as to whether there was a direct “association” or not?

[IanF]

The Alfa singers on the Cheltenham Radio package were 6 singers for the most part from what I’ve heard. The vocal depth from Ian Wilson isn’t as prominent as Jim Clancy on the original cuts on Swansea Sound’s that’s for sure. Cheltenham Radio’s second package, which was JAM resings, used a 5 vocal style group from Alfa from what I remember. Not a bad job either

[mbMember]

As For Swansea Sound Yes they was a small station but always seemed to have a large Jingle budget maybe Len knows a bit more as he also worked for them

I was thinking more that Swansea Sound must have been bigger than Cheltenham Radio which can’t have ben a wealthy station – They started as CD603, then didn’t they change to CAT and then Cheltenham – never seemed to last long as anything, whereas Swansea Sound was more a heritage ILR station.

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