Menston superstars Kaiser Chiefs have been chosen to kick off a special CD by recreating pop star Roy Wood's iconic hit single that was the first track ever played on Radio One.

The CD is being released to commemorate 40 years of the station which was born following the demise of the pirate radio stations in 1967 to reach out to the burgeoning pop culture, and bring the BBC into the 20th century.

And Bradford's Kimberly Walsh has also been picked to feature on the CD with her band Girls Aloud in celebration of four decades of the station.

The Chiefs will be the first band to feature on the 40-track album, made up of contemporary bands covering a song from each of the station's 40 years of service.

Kaiser Chiefs have been handed the task of covering The Move's 1967 hit Flowers in the Rain - the first song the station ever played on the air when it was launched by DJ Tony Blackburn in 1967.

A statement on the Kaiser Chief's website read: "Radio 1 is 40 this year.

"To celebrate they have asked 40 current artists to cover a track from each year of their existence, we we're given year one, 1967.

"This also means we'll have the first track on the album released later this year. The track we have covered was the first song to be played on Radio 1 back in 1967."

The band recorded it in a London studio with producers Dan Grech-Marguerat and David Arnold."

The band said: "It's got a dancefloor thing going on, we hope you like it."

Earlier this year, the Kaiser Chiefs recorded a track from The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band for a special celebration on Radio 2.

Each track from the album was recorded by modern-day bands on equipment used by technicians when the album was recorded, also 40 years ago.

Although often billed as being from Leeds, Kaiser Chiefs actually hail from Menston and Ilkley.

Bassist Simon went to St Cuthbert's Primary school in Manningham, and met drummer Nick Hodgson and keyboard player Nick Baines at St Mary's Catholic School in Menston.

Mr Hodgson also studied at Horsforth Trinity & All Saints College.

Their latest album - Yours Truly, Angry Mob - featured a track called High Royds, named after the psychiatric hospital which has been used in a number of TV programmes and was situated just across the road from their school. Since then they have gone on to win Brit Awards and Ivor Novellos, play the US-leg of Live 8 and support rock legends such as the Rolling Stones and U2.

Much like Kaiser Chiefs, The Move's output was heavily influenced by quintessentially British acts like the Kinks and the Beatles. Both groups also comprised five members.

Kaiser Chiefs were one of the main acts at this year's Glastonbury Festival and are currently on a European Tour.

Bradford's own pop princess Kimberly Walsh and her band Girls Aloud will tackle Wheatus' 2001 smash Teenage Dirtbag.

Elsewhere on the CD All Along the Watchtower will be covered by Scottish group the Fratellis and Love Is The Drug by Roxy Music is performed by Kylie Minogue.

All bands involved chose which track they wanted to perform from each year.

The album is released on October 1.

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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