Tuesday, September 22, 2009
- Lightning Bolt in session
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
- Podcast 21 in all its glory
02 Frankie Miller - Good to yourself
03 Jayes & Ranking Trevor - Truly
04 Confuse the Cat - Get the bullets
05 Whitey - Leave them all behind
06 The high Fives - The line
07 Pulp - Live at John Peel night (October, 2005) Peter Gunn theme / Sorted for Es and whizz / Help the aged / This is hardcore / Sunrise
08 Favours for Sailors - I dreamt that you loved me in your dreams
09 Joy Division - Transmission
10 Dandy - A message to you rudie
11 Birdland - Peel session (June, 1989) White / Sugar blood / See no evil / Paradise
12 Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - The beat that my heart skipped
13 Don Rimini - Rave on
14 Ty Segall - The drag
15 The Fall - Ed’s babe (Festive 50 version)
16 The Virgins - One week of danger
17 Lady Dottie & the Diamonds - I ain't mad at ya
Download link here.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
- Back with a whimper: Podcast 21
Full track list to follow...
Alternatively, listen now...
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
- Peel sessions Q Magazine article: April, 1989
Did somebody say 'long lost Police session'?
DOWNLOAD (pdf format 2.5 mb)
Saturday, June 20, 2009
- Movietone sessions:1994 - 1997
‘Movietone create beguiling musical statements that draw explicit influence from the coastlines of England,’ or at least that is what record label Domino would have you believe, and who am I to argue? Formed in Bristol in 1994, Movietone revolve around core members Kate Wright and Rachel Brook. Brook was also a member of Flying Saucer Attack during the first few years of the band, while Wright is currently the bass player for Crescent.
Ostensibly an ongoing concern, no new album has appeared since 2003's ‘The Sand and the Stars’, which was recorded, as all albums should be, almost entirely live on a beach.
The band’s three sessions come from the mid 90s…
18th June, 1994
Movietone’s first session, recorded on 12th May, 1994.
TRACKLIST
-Heatwave Pavement
-Darkness Blue Glow
-Stone
-Mono Valley
LINE UP
Kate Wright (Guitar, Vocals)
Rachel Brook (Bass)
Ros Walford (Clarinet, Perc)
Matt Elliot (Guitar, Percussion, Piano)
Matt Jones (Drums)
10th February, 1996
Movietone’s second session, recorded on 28th January, 1996.
TRACKLIST
-The Voice Came Out Of The Box And Dropped
-Blank Like Snow
-Summer
-Chocolate Grinder
LINE UP
Kate Wright (Guitar, Vocals)
Matt Elliott (Guitar, Noise)
Rachel Brook (Bass, Xylophone)
Matt Jones (Drums)
20th September, 1997
Movietone’s third session, recorded on 31st August, 1997
TRACKLIST
-The Blossom Filled Streets
-Hydra
-Facing West From California's Shores
LINE UP
Kate Wright (Guitar, Vocals)
Matt Elliott (Guitar, Noise)
Rachel Brook (Bass, Xylophone)
Matt Jones (Drums)
Movietone record label site
Thursday, June 18, 2009
- Leonard Cohen: 14th July, 1968

Cohen's sessions at the BBC in 1968 offer a young artist, whose voice is fresh, delving into poetry with a richness of words and subject. Today, they show a young artist at the peak of his powers.
Cohen did a lot of work at the Beeb in 1968, but here are the four songs from the July Top Gear show hosted by John Peel. The final track of the four is a duet with British folk singer Julie Felix. I'm warning you now, this is a bit special.
Leonard Cohen's Top Gear session: 14th July, 1968
- That's no way to say goodbye
- You know who I am
- Like a bird on a wire
- So long Marianne
Monday, June 15, 2009
- Punishment of Luxury sessions, 1978-79
By 1979 they had signed to the major label United Artists and released the single Jellyfish/Engine Of Excess and the album Laughing Academy. 1980 brought the release of the single Secrets/Brain Bomb, which received both critical acclaim and also sold fairly well. A European tour followed and United Artists sent the band into the studio to record another album, a concept album to be called Gigantic Days. However, while the recording was still going on, United Artists were taken over by EMI, who dumped the band. Punishment Of Luxury released two further albums, Seven in 1983 and Feels Like Dancing Wartime in 1984. The album Gigantic Days was finally released, on CD, in 1998.
In 2007, they reunited and played a few songs for the basist Jimi Giro's 50th birthday party. A little more than a year later they landed a gig at a small pub in Gateshead, which was considered a success and was reviewed in The Guardian newspaper. The band are apparently planning more gigs in the future and possibly introducing more new material. They are currently enjoying gigging, on June 12th they played in Kilburn, North London.
30/08/1978 : TRACKLIST
-Funk Me
-Babalon
-Let's Get Married/You're So Beautiful
30/05/1979 : TRACKLIST
-Radar Bug/Metropolis
-British Baboon
-Secrets
Punishment Of Luxury on MySpace
Friday, May 29, 2009
- Play Dead sessions: 1982-84
The original lineup was Rob Hickson (vocals), Pete Waddleton (bass), Mark "Wiff" Smith (drums), and Re-Vox (guitar). In July 1981, Re-Vox was replaced by Steven Green. The band recorded 3 Peel sessions between 1982 and 1984.
- Enjoyable romp from 1982
Short, sharp and to the point... would be a huge improvement on my current posts, but work continues to be a real bugger. Another one courtesy of the mighty Teenage Kicks Steve, a mix tape of 1982 shows. The master speaks:
‘Mark was at the same Uni at the same time that I was, but in a different college. He made this compilation of various sessions and Peel plays, and has several more. Dates are largely unknown (and it's not entirely October 1982), but it's an enjoyable romp. Despite his reservations, the quality is not all that bad.’
Info here.
Monday, April 20, 2009
- Podcast 15 in all its glory
Del Close & John Brent – Introduction
Toots & the Maytals - 54-46 was my number
Pocket Fishermen - The leader is burning
Dead Kennedys - California Über Alles
Queens of the Stone Age – Misfit love
The Stooges - No fun
Imperial Leisure - Untouchable
Yuksek - Break ya
Franz Ferdinand - Can't stop feeling
Dave Clarke - Live on John Peel (4-2-2004)
LR Rockets - Death of the UK
Filur - 28 - I want you (feat. Magnum Coltrane Price)
Fake Problems - The Dream Team
Mansun - Peel session (7-10-1995)
Genius Mess Poets - Lost in translation
The King Blues - Save the World, get the girl
Papa Roach - Hollywood whore
Acid Junkies - Wrathchild
Legowelt - Run To The Hills
Mr. Velcro Fastener - The Trooper
Rude 66 - Killers
Thanks to the many of you who downloaded this on blind faith alone, it's appreciated.
Download and listen now links are one post down.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
- Not yet, we're not ready: PODCAST 15
Download the bugger (125mb for 140 minutes of music).
Alternatively, listen now:
Full details to come in the next post.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
- Uncle Jim's birthday bash: PODCAST 14
As usual, the track listing will come later so as to avoid post deletion from Big Brother. For those of you who can't wait, here are the download options.
Download: 130mb for 2 and a half hours of listening pleasure.
Listen now:
Friday, January 23, 2009
- Podcast 12 in all its glory

Typical, isn’t it? Even though you hadn’t been waiting for me to do a podcast, two of them show up almost at the same time. Believe it or not, I rarely use these as an opportunity to indulge in, er, self indulgence, although I’m perhaps a little guilty this time around, particularly with my first selection, Hole’s 'Celebrity skin'. I did manage to get a reference to ‘Margrave of the Marshes’ in there to throw you off the scent though, plus I have to remember that there are those among you who aren’t quite as approaching middle age as I am and may never have heard it before.
The main reason I had to cobble this podcast together so quickly after the last one is that, by hook or crook, I’ve managed to get hold of a copy of Franz Ferdinand’s new release and have shared 3 tracks from ‘Tonight’ with you today: ‘Ulysses’, ‘Turn it on’ and ‘No you girls’. Another newly released long player I’ve stumbled ass-backwards into owning is John Frusciante’s ‘The Empyrean’, from which you can enjoy the opportunity to listen to his interpretation of ‘Song to the siren’ (including some probably woefully incorrect discussion of the song’s place in Festive 50 lore).
There’s another live selection for you all, this time from The Police. The concert, recorded in Melbourne, Australia in early 1981, is a real curio, as it contains some incredible backstage chatter from the band members and their manager, Miles Copeland (brother of drummer Stewart). Songs you can enjoy are: Voices inside my head / Don’t stand so close to me / Walking on the Moon / De do do do, de da da da / backstage interview / When the World is running down, you make the best of what’s still around / Message in a bottle / Roxanne / backstage interview / Can’t stand losing you / Reggatta de blanc / Be my girl / So lonely.
Other tracks featured include Cocteau Twins’ ‘Pitch the baby’, Polly Paulusma’s ‘Back to the start’, Nightjar’s ‘Poor man's son’, ‘Bad before good’ by Day One, Kalli’s ‘It's over’, ‘Lord, Ive been on fire’ by BC Camplight, Soundgarden’s ‘Like suicide’, ‘N.T. parts 1 & 2 [original full length album version]’ by Kool & the gang and Jesse Malin’s ‘Broken radio’.
Click here or scroll down a bit for download / listen now options.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
- Podcast 7 in all its glory

So, here's the highlights of the mega podcast. First up from Hamilton, Ontario, we have Vatican Chainsaw Massacre and their track 'The Not So Hidden Agenda' from their 2008 album 'Hazy Skies Over Martha's Vineyard'. to continue my antitdote to my 1976 blues, I've chosen 'Fight the Power', the 1989 classic by Public Enemy. I've also included an old favourite from Sneaker Pimps.
Three tracks from the new Morrissey album 'Years of Refusal' feature, 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull', 'Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed' and 'Black Cloud'. There are also a couple of funk classics; Curtis Mayfield's awesome 'Pusherman' and James Brown's epic 'Stone to the Bone'.
There are two full Peel sessions; Hagar the womb's one and only session from 1984 and the classic 1983 session from Culture. The podcast also includes tracks from Levy (Glorious), Asobi Seksu (Thursday), BC Camplight (Lord, I've been on Fire), Land of Talk (Young Bridge) and Stalkers (Let's Get it Together). I really think there's a bit of something for everyone on this podcast, so please give it a listen.
Click here or scroll down a bit for download / listen now options.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
- Morrissey's new album: PODCAST 7
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
- 30 from 30 Breaks the DivShare Bank
1. Siouxsie and The Banshees, 'Love In A Void' (Session #1)
2. Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band, 'Electricity' (Session #1)
3. Meteors, 'Ain't Gonna Bring Me Down' (Session #2)
4. David Bowie, 'Queen Bitch' (Paris concert)
5.
6. Smiths, 'What Difference Does It Make' (Session #1)
7.
8. Cure, '17 Seconds' (Session #3)
9. Department S, 'Is Vic There' (only session)
10. Killing Joke, 'Wardance' (Session #1)
11. Joy Division, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (Session #2)
12. Adam And The Ants, 'Deutscher Girls' (Session #1)
13. Queen, 'Spread Your Wings' (Session #3)
14. Damned, 'New Rose' (Session #1)
15. Motorhead, 'Louie Louie' (only session)
16. Cocteau Twins...
17. Pavement, 'The Classical' (Session #4)
18.
19. Chameleons, 'The Fan The Bellows' (Session #1)
20. Fall, 'ROD' (Session #10)
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. House Of Love, 'Christine' (Session #3)
26.
27. Nirvana, 'About A Girl' (Session #1)
28. Breeders, 'Hellbound' (only session)
29. Future Sound Of London, 'Papua New Guinea' (Session #1)
30. Billy Bragg, 'Between The Wars' (Session #3)
If you think you can help, leave comments below and I'll update the list. Meanwhile, in news from elsewhere, those of you who feel that the blog is, and I quote, 'slightly bewildering' and even a 'complete mess', you should bloody well see the rest of my life. While we're at it, I don't really know where you live, stop being silly. I've changed the little caption anyway, hope you approve.
All new listen now...
Monday, November 24, 2008
- 30 from 30: Peel Session PODCAST
The tracks featured today span 30 years of Peel sessions and Peel show concerts, from the late '60s to the late '90s (thirty years if my maths is right). Just to spice things up a little, I'm not going to give you the details of any of the tracks, I'd just like anyone who can identify them to leave details in the comments section below. There are a fair few classics in there, even some from my selections for Steve's Peel session 50. There are also a few more obscure tracks, which is where it might get tricky.
I've had a bad back for the last few days and have generally been feeling miserable and bored, so was really happy when Davy H pointed out that the Guardian had written a piece about the blog. I get in a bit of a downer about the blog from time to time, especially as I have nowhere near enough time to devote to it as I'd like, so it's nice to know that people out there give a damn.
Getting down to business, finally, here's the download and keep forever link to the podcast:
Length: almost 2 hours
File size: 100mb
Alternatively, make use of the 'listen now' format:
There's much less chitter chatter from me this time, you'll be delighted to hear. I eagerly await your wildly inaccurate guesses about band names, track names and session dates in the comments section!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
- Flock of Seagulls on TOTP
This is a great clip, never the less. TOTP was once the coolest program on TV, lest we forget:
Also available for your downloading pleasure:
File size:50mb
- Erazerhead Session: 20th July, 1982
Lineup:
Lee Dury (Vocals)
Jim Berlin (Guitar)
Billy Trigger (Drums)
Gary Spanner (Bass)
I await the deluge of complaints that this track list doesn't match the one that you've seen elsewhere. Please let me know if you have more info.
Track list:
I Hate You
Teenager In Love
Noone sees me now
Martian girl
File size: 7mb
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
- 7th November, 1978
Tracklisting:
-XTC: Red (LP - Go 2) Virgin
-Sham 69: Red London (single b-side – I Don't Wanna) Step Forward
-Joe King Carrasco and El Molino: Jalapeno con Big Red (LP - Joe King Carrasco & El Molino) Lisa Records
-The Mekons: Trevira Trousers (Peel session)
-Gary Moore: Back on the Streets (single) MCA Records
-Spizz Oil: 6000 Crazy (single) Rough Trade
-Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: When I See Mommy I Feel Like A Mummy (LP - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller))
-Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Owed t'Alex (LP - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller))
-Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Candle Mambo (LP - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller))
-The Mekons: Rosanne (Peel session)
-Buzzcocks: Promises (single) United Artists
-John Cooper Clarke: Readers Wives (LP - Disguise in Love) CBS
-Status Quo: Accident Prone (LP - If You Can't Stand the Heat) Vertigo
-Peter and Paul Lewis: Ethiopian Land (single)
-Red Crayola: War Sucks (LP - The Parable of Arable Land)
-Ted Nugent: Smokescreen (LP - Weekend Warriors)
-Jimmy McCracklin: The Walk
-The Mekons: Like Spoons No More (Peel session)
-Bethnal: Nothing New (single) Vertigo
-Xdreamysts: The Right Way Home (single) Good Vibrations
File size: 54mb
Who was John Peel?
The philosophy of this blog is a celebration of music in the spirit of the late John Peel. For those of you who want to learn more, click here.
