Ever heard the expression “oldie but goodie”? “Oldies” refers to music from past decades that are still popular today, including the decades from the 1950s through the 1980s. This term encompasses many genres such as rock and roll, pop music, and surf, to name just a few.
Oldies can include a variety of timelessly classic songs from many different artists. These artists often include Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, and Journey.
Radio is still an essential medium, especially for music listeners. Oldies stations hold appeal for everyone feeling nostalgic about a previous era and anyone cultivating retro interests alike. For anyone located in the UK, there are many options of radio stations that play these oldies.
Take a trip back to the second half of the 20th century with the following best radio stations for oldies.
1. Gold Radio UK
Gold Radio is a popular oldies radio station in the UK. Owned and operated by Global, Gold Radio is a network of oldies radio stations based in London and Manchester. It uses frequencies 945 and 999 AM as well as DAB in the Nottingham and Derby areas.
Gold Radio is available through DAB+, Global Player, and online.
2. ABC Oldies Radio
ABC Radio is an internet radio station that plays music from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. They play all the classic songs in HD quality, 24/7. Listeners can access ABC Oldies Radio from anywhere in the world.
ABC Oldies Radio is available online.
3. Funky Radio UK
Funky Radio UK is a UK radio station that only plays funk music. Funk originated in the mid-1960s and is defined by its rhythmic pattern of drum beats and bassline. This combination resulted in a “groovy” sound that is now iconic of the 1960s. This radio is perfect for anyone looking to listen to this specific style of music.
According to their website, Funky Radio UK is dedicated to playing only classic funk music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Funky Radio UK is available online.
4. Heart 80s Radio
Heart 80s Radio is a spin-off radio station of Heart Radio. Like Gold Radio UK, Heart Radio is operated by Global and is broadcasted from Leicester Square, London. Heart Radio 80s is dedicated to playing classic feel-good tunes from the 1980s. They play the songs back-to-back with some ad breaks spread in between.
Heart 80s Radio is available through DAB and online.
5. Absolute Radio 60s
Absolute Radio runs multiple different radio stations. One of these is Absolute Radio 60s, dedicated to playing oldies from the 1960s. Therefore they play a variety of different artists, including but not limited to Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Simon and Garfunkel, and The Rolling Stones.
Absolute Radio also has a premium subscription option. With this, subscribers will have access to 115 different stations through just one subscription. It costs £3.99 per month.
Absolute Radio 60s is available on DAB within the UK and online everywhere else.
6. Absolute Radio 70s
Like Absolute Radio 60s, Absolute Radio 70s is a classic radio station run by Absolute Radio. However, instead of playing music from the 1960s, this radio station sticks to oldies from the 1970s. They play music from various artists such as Don McLean, Stevie Wonder, The Police, and Paul Simon to name a few.
Absolute Radio 70s is available on DAB within the UK and online everywhere else.
7. Absolute Radio 80s
Absolute Radio 80s is yet another radio station run by Absolute Radio which plays excellent oldies, this time specifically from the 1980s. On this radio station, they play music from different artists such as Madonna, Genesis, Rod Stewart, Def Leppard, and Bryan Adams. They play a variety of different genres despite that all of the music is from the 80s.
Like Absolute Radio 60s and 70s, Absolute Radio 80s is available on DAB within the UK and online everywhere else.
8. Totally 80s Radio
Totally 80s Radio will take you right back in time to the 1980s. Their slogan is, after all, “taking you back, back in time, when music was king!” This radio station only plays music from the 1980s, with varied genres including rock, punk, soul, new wave, and synth-pop.
Anyone looking for a blast from the past with some 80s oldies will enjoy Totally 80s Radio. They even have a schedule on their website for listeners to keep track of when their favorite tunes will play.
Totally 80s Radio is available online.
9. Greatest Hits Radio by Planet Radio
Greatest Hits Radio is a radio station run by Planet Radio. Technically, they are a network of local radio stations dedicated to playing oldies. Greatest Hits Radio plays all the biggest hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Greatest Hits Radio by Planet Radio is available on AM, FM, DAB, and online.
10. Classic Hits Forest Gold
Classic Hits Forest Gold has been around since 1976, and still plays the music of that era. Located in Essex, this radio station is a part of Radio Forest. Radio Forest is a registered charity dedicated to entertaining patients and staff at National Health Service (NHS) sites in Essex.
Classic Hits Forest Gold plays a wide range of music from the 60s to the 90s. It is a commercial-free radio station with the help of donations from listeners.
Classic Hits Forest Gold is available online.
11. Fresh Gold Radio
Fresh Gold Radio plays all the greatest hits from the 60s up until now. This radio station broadcasts from the United Kingdom 24/7 with high-quality production and station imaging.
They also have multiple live personality presenters along with the music, bringing extra energy to the station. Fresh Gold Radio plays a variety of genres of music, including rock, funk, soul, and country music.
Fresh Gold Radio is available online, and you can listen from wherever you have an internet connection.
12. Memory Lane Radio UK
Memory Lane Radio UK specifically caters to the “older listener” by playing songs dating back as early as the 1930s and 40s. Take a walk down memory lane with this radio station, and listen to timeless artists such as The Carpenters, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.
Memory Lane Radio UK additionally caters to dementia patients who may benefit from music therapy. Memory Lane Radio UK is available online.
13. Magic Soul Radio by Planet Radio
Magic Soul Radio by Planet Radio is dedicated to playing oldies from genres such as Soul and Motown from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
They play a variety of artists, including but not limited to Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Kool and the Gang, The Tymes, and Quincy Jones. Some mornings, Magic Soul Radio also has a “Magic Soul Breakfast with Paul Hayes” to start the day off right.
Magic Soul Radio by Planet Radio is available on DAB and online.
14. Angel Radio
Angel Radio was launched in 1999 to bring music and memories to people of an older generation. This unique radio station has a record library that has music ranging from the early 1900s to the 1960s which they broadcast 24/7. They mostly play songs starting from the 1920s until the 1960s.
Angel Radio is available on FM, DAB, and online.
15. Radio Addictive 50s
Radio Addictive 50s is a commercial-free, newsflash-free radio station dedicated to playing only the greatest tunes from the 1950s. Therefore, they play a variety of great artists such as Elvis Presley, The Drifters, Doris Day, Marty Wilde, and Buddy Holly.
Radio Addictive 50s is available online.
Top Radio Stations For Oldies, Final Thoughts
For anyone looking for a nostalgic blast from the past or a change of music scenery, these are the best radio stations to listen to oldies music. Get ready to listen beyond your local radio station and listen to these options today. Get ready to expand your musical horizons!