- Honorary Mention #1

I'm happy that my efforts are being appreciated. I got a mention over at Sweeping the Nation, which was nice. This looks like a very good blog and I recommend you pop round some time.

More importantly, head over to In Session Tonight, another blog to have mentioned my work, and download an inconceivably good AC/DC Peel session.

- Peel on 'This is your Life'

Sentimental rubbish, crap TV, enough to make you puke.. are all reactions I'd normal display when asked if I watched programs like this.

I was able to watch this particular episode, however, if only for the chance to see Mark E. Smith on prime time telly:

Peel on ‘This is your Life'

Many thanks to Extra Wack for saving me literally minutes of youtubing inconvenience.

- Kat's Karavan UPDATE #1

You wait ages for a new post and then loads of them arrive at the same time! I'm forever indebted to DuffPaddy over at Kat’s Karavan for the new stuff:

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-18th January 1982 (the one I've been waiting for!)

-Festive 50 1983 (complete broadcast, in two parts)

-Final Top Gear 1975 (this is a somewhat longer version than the one I offer, go to the website to see how much effort was gone to to bring you this!)

______________________________________________________

While we're at it, learn more about the origin of the name Kat’s Karavan in this recent article from the Dallas Observer.

- Right Place Right Time Wrong Speed: UPDATE #2

John Horne has updated his site, inciuding, wisely, a link to this blog.

One of my students came up with the word reavailablise the other day. Amazingly, that describes perfectly what has happened over at Right Place Right Time Wrong Speed, the following shows being made available once again:

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-30th May 1984: The night Liverpool won the European Cup. (Ok, so this is where I got it from)

-14th August 1967: The final Perfumed Garden in five parts.

-1979 Festive 50: Top 10 (he got this one from me)

-31st December 1975: Session by Ivor Cutler (and this one)

-12th December 1979 - part 1: Session by The Flys.

-12th December 1979 - part 2: Session by The Flys.

-10th December 1976: Punk special (best Peel show ever)

-2nd September 2003: Session by The Blueskins

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- John Peel on 'Hard Talk', 1999

I don't particularly enjoy this chap's interviewing style, truth be known, although in this case I think the interviewee makes it worth watching.

You can tell that Peel's already got the autobiography in mind, quite a lot of this ended up in Margrave of the Marshes, but it's still a good watch.

Let me know if you have problems viewing this. Just in case, you can download it here.

- Big Ozine UPDATE #2

This week's free mp3s over at The Big Ozine:

-Loggins & Messina: Kansas City 1972
-Karen Ann: Artrock Festival 2003
-Slayer: Holland 1985
-Rush: Tucson 1978
-Miles Davis: London 1971
-Brad Mehldau: Marciac 2006
-Jill Sobule: Nashville 2000
-McCoy Tyner: Tokyo 1972
-Kansas: Canada Jam 1978
-Spirit: Seattle 1971
-The Faces: Coast To Coast Outtakes
-A Silver Mount Zion: Eindhoven 2001
-David Murray: Sunny Murray Quintet, Philadelphia 1975
-Bobbie Gentry: BBC 1968/69

Stop reading, start downloading!

- Von Südenfed Album

Mark E. Smith's new project sounds really good. You can hear an audio clip here, thanks to the ever excellent John Peel Everyday for discovering that.

Video for 'Fledermaus Can't Get it:



The album has also received a favourable review in The Guardian.

- Robert Smith Hosts the John Peel Show, October 2004

In October 2004, Robert Smith stood in as one of three guest presenters for John Peel on BBC Radio 1, a week before Peel's death. He plays a collection of songs that were influential on his musical career.

I'll get round to doing a track list later, bit busy at work this week.



Inicidentally, I will be posting the 1979 show that Smith plays a clip from some time soon.

- Time for Heroes: The Pixies

The Pixies are frequently quoted, with good reason, as being the immediate forebearer of the alternative rock boom of the early 1990s, though they disbanded before reaping any of the benefits this might have brought them. Devoted fan Kurt Cobain's acknowledgement of the debt Nirvana owed to the Pixies, along with similar tributes by other alternative bands, ensured that the Pixies' legacy and influence grew substantially in the years following their demise.

This documentary, along with the previously posted New Order show, formed part of a BBC series called 'Time for Heroes'. One of my favourite parts of this show is when Black Francis is in discussion with John Peel about the lyrics to 'Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons'.



Learn more about the documentary here.

I've a bad feeling I cocked something up when I was uploading the file, please let me know and I'll try to fix it.

- European Cup night, May 1984

My view of the action from the 2005 Final:



Living in Istanbul, I was lucky enough to go to the 2005 Champion’s League Final. In a way I'm disappointed that this year's final will be between the same two teams, as it's bound to, in some way, affect my memories of what happened on that famous night.

Here's your chance to relive the night in 1984 when Liverpool won their fourth European Cup. Peel can barely keep it together, and I think it was a good job that he had rhythm pal Jensen in the studio with him.

Track Listing

-We begin with the final penalty in the shootout
-Kop Choir - You'll Never Walk Alone
-The Mighty Wah - Come Back
-The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
-The Pogues - The Dark Streets of London
-The Wailing Souls - John's Shop
-The Membranes - New Breed (I'm not sure if band and song match here, let me know if I'm wrong)
-The Great Unwashed - Duane Eddy
-Duane Eddy - Hard Times
-Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band - Pachuco Cadaver
-Theater of Hate - Legion
-Anti Nowhere League - Streets of London
-Ivor Cutler - Scenes from a Scotch Sitting Room Vol.2 #17




There's some creative editing by whoever originally recorded this tape, especially towards the end, lots of pressing of the pause button. I've transcribed the tracks as best I can, but please let me know if there are any glaring inaccuracies.

- Lost Boy: In Search Of Nick Drake

A lovely BBC documentary on Nick Drake can be downloaded here. There's some other good stuff on this blog, too, so check it out. Come back when you've finished, mind.

- Yank Sizzler UPDATE #1

Podcast 25 has arrived:

Mudhoney - Hate the Police [1995]
Patrick Wolf - Overture [2007]
Johnny Fortune - Dragster [1964]
Grindhouse Theme - OST [2007]
Eddie Beram - Riot in Thunder Alley [1967]
Delta Spirit - Crippler King [2007]
Brakes - Porcupine Or Pineapple [2006]
Altered Images - Dead Pop Stars [1981]
Lloyd's All-Stars - Dread Dub (It Dread Out Deh Version) [19??]
The Spook Lights - Teenage Maniac [2007]
Otis Rush - Double Trouble [1958]
Yo La Tengo - Rocket No. 9 [1997]
Sweet Emma & Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band - A Closer Walk with Thee [1964]

Go to his website to download it.

- June 15th, 1987

One of the seminal moments of my musical development came in November / December, 1989, when Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses appeared on the same episode of Top of the Pops. I think this was the final nail in the coffin of my embarrasing Hair Metal / Goth phase.

This instantly became much more appealing...



Needless to say my damascene conversion could have happened two years earlier, had I been diligently listening to Peel in the summer of 1987, rather than Guns n' Roses. It was a real thrill to discover 'Sally Cinnamon' and the Mondays track on this show, not to mention Sonic Youth before anyone in Britain had heard of them. The Ivor Cutler session is also a belter.

Track Listing

-Heresy - Visions in Fear
-The Thieves - Talk your Head off
-Ivor Cutler - The Shapely Balloon
-AC Temple - Make my Music
-The Marxist Brothers - title?
-The Mekons - Soapy (?) (session track)
-The Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon
-Ivor Cutler - Clever Night Doctor
-That Petrol Emotion - The Belly Bugs
-The Hornets - The Steel Hull
-The Fat Boys - Crushin' (is this the worst hiphop track ever?)
-Ripcord - Lucky One
-The Mekons - Revenge (session track)
-Ivor Cutler - The Aggressive Onion Bender
-The L8 Connection - Freedom for Africa
-Sonic Youth - title?
-The Beat Poets - Killer Bee Honey
-Ivor Cutler - Me and my Kid Brother
-Happy Mondays - 'Enery
-John Fey (sic) - On the Sunny Side of the Ocean


Get the June 15th, 1987 show here...



Help in filling in the gaps, as ever, is appreciated.

- Have New Order Broken up?

'This is probably just Hooky messing about. Everyone knows what he's like'




According to an article in the Guardian last week, Peter Hook claims that New Order have indeed split. It seems that he hasn't got round to telling the rest of the band yet, so this could all just be hot air.

Most of the band's best work was done when I was still a nipper, Blue Monday, for example, totally passed me by as a ten-year-old...



...so it was only when I was a bit older that I really appreciated them. Truth be known, True Faith has always been my favourite...



Anyhows, New Order were featured in a series of BBC radio documenatries a while back called Time for Heroes, which you can download here. You can find information about the documentary here.

Alternatively, for those who can't be bothered to read my waffle, click below...




Get used to this friendly button, it's the one to look out for to make sure you avoid the drivel I write and get strait to the good stuff!

- Mark E. Smith - Rough and Ready at 50!

The BBC also (fairly) recently celebrated the career of someone who did make it to fifty, although if you can find anyone who's aged more badly than Mark E. Smith, please tell me!



Frank Skinner, filled with trepidation, finally meets his hero. Smith is notoriously unpredictable in interviews, and you can imagine the effect that it could have on you if your music hero turned out to be less than you hoped for. Skinner does a fairly good job of trying to be objective to begin with, although there's a bit of hero worship in there towards the end. How Smith can suggest he looks bad for his age is beyond me.

The gig that Frank Skinner attends took place at the Robin in Bilston, on 5th March, 2007. If you want a copy of this gig, it is available here, courtesy of the Perfumed Garden.

- My Way: Sid Vicious - Slender and Likeable at 50?

Interviewer: Are you having fun at the moment?
Vicious: Are you kidding? No, I am not having fun at all.
Interviewer: Where would you like to be?
Vicious: Under the ground.
Interviewer: Are you serious?
Vicious: (quietly, and sad) Yeah.

Sid Vicious would have turned 50 last weekend. His story is a sad one indeed. The BBC broadcast a one-hour documentary last weekend commemorating him.

Download the program...

-here (part one)

-here (part two).



His version of My Way has never been a personal favourite, but never the less, here it is...

- This isn't right

This person sucks.

- My Favourite Websites #2

Teenage Kicks

Although, like mine, this is a relatively new addition to the world of Peel blogs, I have a feeling it's going to be a really good one.

Choosing to focus on the annual festive fifty lists from the perspective of the bands that appeared in them, this promises to be a fantastic resource for Peelheads.

'So it Goes', an Englishman in South Korea, has got off to a cracking start with detailed stories about...

The Sex Pistols

The Undertones

- Big Ozine UPDATE #1

This week's free mp3s over at The Big Ozine:


-Kansas: Canada Jam 1978
-Laura Nyro: Fillmore East 1970
-Ramones: 914 Sessions
-Steely Dan: London 1974
-A Silver Mount Zion: Eindhoven 2001
-David Murray: Sunny Murray Quintet, Philadelphia 1975
-Bobbie Gentry: BBC 1968/69
-Camille: Black Session 2005
-Slade: London 1975
-Van Morrison: Astral Weeks Live
-If: Stockholm 1972
-New Order:Tokyo 1985
-Thilges: Izdiucz [Radio Edit]
-The Evens: Brisbane 2007

- James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, John Peel's Sunday Show, October 28th, 1970

It's all about the man's voice. I think I could listen to James Taylor sing just about any song. Joni ain't too bad either.

Track Listing

-That song about the Midway
-The Gallery
-Rainy Day Man
-Steamroller
-The Priest
-Carey
-Carolina on my Mind
-California
-The Circle Game
-You can Close your Eyes

Download the show here. I can't recommend this enough, this is really beautiful music.

This post is dedicated to Eren Hill, in his first week of life.

- Perfumed Garden UPDATE #1

Some great new sessions available at the ever excellent Perfumed Garden.

Recent additions

-The Redskins - 15th August 1983
-The Darling Buds - 2 Peel Sessions 1987

Stop reading this and go and download them immediately.

- The Fall: John Peel's 50th, Tuesday, August 29th, 1989

"Think my chances of making the Liverpool side are gone now. Might still be able to get a game at one of those London clubs though"

John Peel, August, 1989


This set was recorded as part of a special show at The Subterrania in London to celebrate John Peel's 50th Birthday. Other bands that night included The House of Love and The Wedding Present.

Incidentally, if you want The Wedding Present part of the gig, go here.

To my knowledge, this was my first ever Peel tape (tape I made of a Peel show). Sadly, however, this isn't my original tape, although that is still sitting in a shoe box under a bed somewhere in Yorkshire. I vividly recall Peel finally deciding to give up chasing his lifelong ambition to play for Liverpool, although, had he known how bad they were going to get a couple of years later, he might have regretted saying that back in '89.

Track Listing

-Mere Pseud Mag Ed
-I'm Frank
-Arms Control Poseur
-Fiery Jack
-Race with the Devil
-Carry Bag Man
-Mr.Pharmacist

The probable lineup was Mark E Smith - vocals, Martin Bramah - guitar, Craig Scanlon - guitar, Steve Hanley - bass, Simon Wolstencroft - drums, and Marcia Schofield - keyboards.


Download the show here (from Divshare).

For details on the special effort made by The Fall for this gig, go here.

- Morrissey: so much to answer for

There's a nice article in the Observer from last weekend commemorating 25 years since the start of the Smiths:


'It was May 1982 when a young Johnny Marr encountered the charismatic Mancunian oddball who became known to millions only by his surname. Their amazing songwriting partnership inspired a thousand indie bands and, 25 years on, they remain a potent force.'


Some great quotes featured at the end of the article:

Bono: '"Girlfriend in a Coma" - when I heard it I nearly crashed my car and ended up in a coma. He has that gift. That is not the work of a miserable man.'

Chrissie Hynde: 'The amount of times people have said it was "Meat is Murder" that converted them is astonishing.'

Noel Gallagher: 'Whatever you put down in a lyric to define your love or hate, [Morrissey]'ll do it one better.'

JK Rowling: 'I think the Smiths were the only group whose falling apart really affected me personally. Very sad.'

Billy Bragg: 'He sang all those old Smiths songs and made me feel 17 again. It was pretty amazing as I was 26 at the time.'

Observer critic Miranda Sawyer: 'If you notice, it's really all blokes. Men are in love with him... not women.'


Read the full article here. I wonder how much influence they had on Harry Potter.

-Quiz time

Your task for today, dear friends, is to work out which song these lyrics come from:

To dance the goat,
To dance the goat,
You need to have a little gracefulness,
A little gracefulness for me,
For jings, jings, jings, jings,
For you it will be,
For you it will be,
For you it will be,
I am not a sailor,
I am not a sailor,
I am a captain,
I am a captain,
I am a captain,
Goat, goat, goat.

To hear John Peel's rendition, translated from the Spanish, and to find out the answer, go here (Megaupload) or here (Divshare).

Many thanks to Chris Bussicott for sending me this beauty.

Also, I've been reliably informed by Bjorn Larsen that MEGAUPLOAD is pants, and, with this in mind, I'm going to look into other options for future downloads. Let me know if you've any good suggestions, as I want to make this stuff as easily available as possible.


These lyrics not bad enough for you? Take a look at these, or these.

- The Pink Floyd: July 16, 1970 and Sept 30, 1971 UPDATE

The downloads are now available here (Megaupload) or here (Divshare), although not all of the tracks listed on my previous post.

- The Final Top Gear, a Thursday in September, 1975

More great stuff in this one. Peel talks about the new format late night show that would begin the following week and which, sadly, is probably lost forever. It's a shame, as it would be great to hear Keith Moon introducing the Who LP.


Track Listing

-Led Zeppelin - Communication Breakdown
-Tyrannosaurus Rex - Ride a White Swan
-Joe Cocker - Delta Lady
-Pink Floyd - Day Breaks (sadly this fades out after a few seconds)
-Bonzo Dog Band - a track fades in in its last few seconds
-Fairport Convention - Percy's Song
-Jethro Tull - Peel neglects to give us the title of the track (sorry, I've never been much of a Tull fan)
-Maggie Bell - Stone the Crows

Another highlight is hearing Peel at his diplomatic best when discussing his by this time fully disintegrated relationship with Marc Bolan.

Download the show here. Does anyone know if the BBC have a vault somewhere with all of Peel's shows on tape? If so, where can I get the key? As ever, help completing the track listing will be appreciated.

- The penultimate Top Gear Show, September, 1975

Surprisingly little is written about the Top Gear radio show, even wikipedia isn't very helpful. Consequently, the best I can say is that this show is from some time in September, 1975. Having just turned two at the time, I can't rely on my own memory to confirm this fact.

It's a really hot day here today, and I think the heat's gone to my brain, as I've done, quite frankly, a pretty poor job of transcribing the track listing for this one. Lots of help needed filling in the gaps.

Track listing

-The Faces - Stay with me (from a 1971 session)
-Steeleye Span - A Buddy Holly song whose name escapes me (from an unidentified session)
-Lindisfarne - your guess is undoubtedly going to be much better than mine (track introduced but fades out after a few seconds)
-Family - The Cat and the Rat (track fades in during the last few seconds)
-Roxy Music - Peel mentions the lineup in great detail but neglects to tell us what the track is called (from a 1972 session)
-Syd Barrett - Gigolo Aunt
-Steeleye Span - First minute of the track only

Peel sounds great on this one, really strait-laced. I guess he was still in full 'this is a public service broadcast' mode at this time. I wonder if he did his programs like this to give the music he was playing more credibility. Shame he's not around for me to ask him.

Download the washy mediumwave extravaganza here.

Like many of you other crazy Peel obsessives, I've got the final Top Gear show, too. For the sake of those who don't yet have it, I'll be posting it sometime next week.

Thanks to the anonymous contributor who has filled in the gaps in my fairly poor effort to supply a track listing.

- Interview with Captain Beefheart, late seventies

I'm not sure about the date of this one, but guessing from the musicians Beefheart mentions, it must have been around the late seventies 'return to form' period.

Apparently, Beefheart used to call Peel sporadically, even many years after he'd stopped making music. Peel, by his own admission, was quite scared of these phone calls; can you imagine trying to hold a conversation with the man?

Get the interview, in all its washy medium wave glory, here. I have another Beefheart interview somewhere and will make it available as soon as I find it.

- John Peel Everyday UPDATE #1

Some new posts over at the ever impressive John Peel Everyday site. Peel has been honoured with some kind of ‘broadcaster’s broadcaster of all time’ award, and this is lovingly documented here.

Read an article from the Independent about Peel’s posthumous award here.

- Peel on desert island discs, 1989

The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May.

Edwin Way Teale


Beautiful day for it here in Istanbul, although the traffic is shocking throughout the city. Everyone is out and about, seems people have a bit more to protest about this year than usual. Anyhow, back to business. I enjoy listening to John Peel in conversation as much as hearing his old shows, truth be known. I wonder if anyone else has managed to get The Fall played on daytime radio 4.

Download the program from MEGAUPLOAD here, from DIVSHARE here or, if you prefer, read a transcript of the show here.