R2OK!

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

I was contacted by a BBC producer this week who says they are considering a Radio Night on BBC 4 TV, as part of the R1/R2 birthday shebang.

He found us via the R2ok website and the R2 Timeline page, and would be interested to hear from as many of you as possible, about your years with Radio 2 and what you feel about the station now.

I had a long telephone conversation with him about daytime playlists, loss of specialist shows, RAJAR data, Wogan, Ross, Evans, Maconie, but mainly about the daytime playlists which put ME off tuning in daytime.

He's heard from a 54 year old grump, but he wants to hear from everyone. So I've started this thread, and you can start other threads too, talk about your years with Radio 2 and what you feel about it now and where it's going.

Hopefully our producer/researcher will join up to respond to our threads.

John W

MIKERAPHONE · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:39 am Post subject:

Great idea.
I would like to see old footage of 1967 and how Radio 2 operated.
How the records were chosen.
What the equipment was like in those days.
Also a look at the BBC Gramophone library and how the records
are filed and researched.
Obviously chats with previous presenters and footage of those no longer with us.

On BBC 4 this could be a 2 hour celebration.
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MIKERAPHONE · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

I would imagine they would start with pre pirate radio then what the pirates started ans how that evolved into Radio 2.

I can remember hearing groups singing LIVE to get round the needletime agreements.
Also i'm sure a singer called Danny Street used to sing the ballads in the charts again to get round needletime.
The Musicians Union came down hard on Radio1 and 2 and a lot of live music was covered.

A whole night of 1967 radio nostalgia will be excellent viewing.

Will it be shown on Sept 30th?
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AndyAndy2 · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:58 am Post subject:

Radio 2 is one of the constants in my life - like a familiar friend, I remember going to secondary school in the early 80's and listening to Terry Wogan- even going so far as tape 45 mins worth each day (my recorder / radio would be on all day though!! - no timers in them days).

Everyone will put a radio on at some point, gardening, cooking, DIY - well for me the station of choice has and always will ber Radio 2.

Terry is still there in the morning and I still remember Saturdays when the only time the radio would go off was when 'comedy' hour came on!! You had Jonathan Ross (whilst still entertaining is rapidly goinmg off the boil), Dale Winton's Pick of the Pops, The best Saturday show - Richard Allinson on Saturday, Gambo would be next, a documentary, Stuart Maconie's Critical list then whispering Bob.

Those were the golden days to me, not so far ago but what a world of difference the schedules look today. Notice Rossy is the only 'star' name above. Now we have Brand, mumbling O'leary andShout it loud Evans.

DJ's make good DJ's....Tv personalities do not.

Unfortunately, I'm finding I'm switching off more than I used to...my old friend has moved to another city and we only commune every now and then.
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Some say he once threw a microwave oven at a tramp and that all his potted plants are called 'Steve'.....all we know is, he's called 'The Stig!'.

Rachel · Guest

Radio 2 came to me in the most unusual way. At 36 years old there was no way I was ready for Radio 2. Come on! I was just 36. Radio is naff, it's what old people listen to between trips to the Post Office surely: is what I thought back then. Radio 1 in the car ( if no decent music tapes) and Wessex FM ( for all the local stuff) at home were the two channels most favoured if the radio was on at all. It was an old, cheap and tatty bedside Alarm Clock Radio that first brought Radio 2 into my day.

On reaching out to hit the snooze button early one morning I knocked it from the bedside cabinet, which detuned it from Wessex FM. In a frantic panic to retune it, I found any old station. That will do I thought.

Moments later, I was listening to a competition question, the answer to which was Curtis Mayfield. Oh I know that, I thought, so carried on listening and followed the instructions to enter. The result was promised for the next day. So, the next day arrived and I'd not won - I was devastated but the presenter , someone called Alex Lester did mention a late correct entry from a young lady , which of course, I took to be me. ( Well who else would it be at that time of day) .

There was another competition for that day: - feeling miffed that I'd missed out on the one I knew the answer to gave me the determination to carry on and find the answer to that day's quiz question ( band on the run) - after two years of trying and a change in the quiz format, I eventually won. Yay! So it was Alex Lester who first got me into Radio 2. All the radios in our house and our cars were retuned to Radio 2 (I used to drive to work during Alex's show) I started listening to Radio 2 at other times at home and in the car and recognised Steve Wright with him having been a Radio 1 presenter when I was young. Oh so this is where he went to I thought. Now of course: I listen to Radio 2 almost all of the time that I'm awake. (even Sarah Kennedy-).

Six years later at age 42, and on the death slide to the cemetery, Radio 2 is a habit forming life-changing addiction from which there is no escape: yeah sure I could give it up at any time but it feels like the right thing to do. I love it!

mcl · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject:

Cherskiy · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

Hi John, Rachel, Mike and Andy,

You never know who's reading this forum, do you? Very Happy

Although I've always been aware of R2 since the mid-1970s one way or another (Wogan, JY, Diddy Hamilton and Sport on 2 spring to mind), it wasn't really until 'my perfect Saturdays' started several years ago that I really started listening each day of the week. Before that it had been a mixture of R2, R4, R5Live and Classic FM (with R2 in the minority), following my final abandonment of R1 after the Annie Nightingale Request Show ended - that and John Peel were the only things I listened to anyway on the network in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

My 'conversion' to full-time R2 listener occurred when the same line-up that Andy mentioned - whilst we don't have exactly the same musical tastes, we're of a similar age group and mentality (never mind living in the same city!) so obviously came to the same conclusion independently.

My 'perfect Saturdays' consisted of Richard Allinson, followed by Gambo, Mark Lamarr (then later The Critical List) and lastly Bob Harris. The presenters treated me as an adult, as someone who appreciated music, who wanted to learn more about what was being played, whilst at the same time still being entertaining. I felt as though I was being entertained, and even began to organise my Saturdays so that either I was working in the house from 2pm onwards, or if I did have to go out, I wasn't very far from a radio. Obviously there were days when I missed out on shows, but by and large I heard most of them, and loved them all.

After a while, listening to Saturdays on R2 made me search out similar programmes through the week. I was already listening to Wogan anyway (when I wasn't at work through the week, usually whilst in the car heading somewhere) and had done for several years previously. The interplay between Terry, Paully, Deadly, Fran and Boggy made the show - the music was almost secondary for me. Anyway, back to the point - I then started listening to the Bob Harris Thursday show, Nick Barraclough's country show, Mike Harding's acoustic and folk show, and even on occasion Nigel Ogden's organ music show. Beforehand, I hadn't been a great fan of folk or acoustic music - but now I am. I even like country, although more to the alt- end of the spectrum - all of this based on my exposure to other R2 shows. The documentaries were varied, entertaining and most of all, informative. Everything was rosy in the R2 garden.

This 'happy time' lasted for several years, and cemented my relationship with R2. I felt at home, comfortable with what I was listening to, hearing new music that I liked and musicians that I'd never encountered before, sending me delving through their back catalogues in many cases. My CD collection grew exponentially.

A few years ago, this 'happy time' suddenly ended with a jolt. Richard Allinson was replaced by Chris Evans, who I considered too loud for effective radio - Richard talked to you, whilst Chris simply shouted. It became a zoo format, rather than the gentle afternoon's entertainment I had enjoyed and been used to. I stopped listening to the afternoon output, and soon began to forget to listen to Gambo's show, and found other things to do which led to missing out on Mark Lamarr's show and the Critical List. I never missed out on Bob Harris, though - my one constant each week, live or 'Listen Again'. Whilst the introduction of Stuart Maconie was a step in the right direction again, the signings of Russell Brand and Dermot O'Leary were the final nails in the coffin for Saturdays as far as I am concerned, Russell Brand especially. I feel he is just not suited for me or the R2 audience at large, and interrupts what should be the natural flow of things on a Saturday - in fact, I feel he is indicative of all that is wrong with R2 at the moment.

My Saturdays now? I occasionally listen to Stuart's show live, but usually miss it, attempting to find time to Listen Again later in the week. I give up with the rest of the afternoon/evening, missing out Gambo entirely and usually Listening Again to Bob Harris on a Sunday morning. My once perfect Saturdays have been ruined, and I don't feel that I have the special relationship I once had with R2. The recent re-organisation in the weekday evenings has further sought to break up this relationship, and I find myself retuning to Classic FM, R4 and R5Live once more on various occasions through the week - in fact, I'm listening to R5Live at the moment rather than suffer Chris Evans. My only constants are Wogan and Bob Harris - everything else is fitted into my schedule if and when.

Don't get me wrong - I still love R2, but feel that it doesn't love me anymore and is in search of a new person to entertain, viz the signing of shouting/shock jocks such as Jonathan Ross, Russell Brand and Chris Evans. I'm only 40 and whilst I don't consider myself on the death slide to the cemetery just yet (sorry, Rachel! Smile

), I feel as though I'm gradually being sidelined by the station that should, I would have thought, be most likely to be aimed to my demographic. Obviously that's not the case....
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Cherskiy · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

What I would like to know is what amount of input each presenter has on their own playlist, if they don't have much, why not?

If they are limited to what they can play, would they like more input, and if so, what would they play instead?

Would they keep their playlist "safe" to please their audience, or would they be true to themselves and play what they thought their listeners would appreciate?

Failing all of that, a general conversation/explanation of the playlist system and how it operates through each show would be a boon.
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(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Briant · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject:

A couple of songs come to mind about this subject. 'The Last DJ (who plays what he wants to play)' by Tom Petty, and 'Rex Bob Lowenstein' by Mark Germino (gets taken to court by his employer over the playlist!) I like songs about DJs! They come in various guises, such as 'Radio Lover' by George Jones (a murder ballad), 'W.O.L.D' by Harry Chapin ( just going through the motions), and 'BJ the DJ' by Stonewall Jackson,( dies on the highway!) Anyone got any more to share?

AndyAndy2 · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject:

Lucid and well said Chersk. And I agree with everything you've said - It's funny but I was really getting disenchanted with it all (i know, it's only a radio station) but I love the familiarity of R2 -the news jingles, travel jingles....the reassuring voices of maturity - Terry and Ken to the seasoned Richard Allinson (get him back, Lesley before its too late) and even the tounge in cheek of Mo Dutta and the easy going of Stuart Maconie.

Through this board, I've found new DJ's like Alex lester,etc

Radio 2 has introduced me to music I never had a chance to hear before and I actually find myself looking for albums / tracks from artists in the past rather than the banal of todays charts.

Thanks Radio 2.
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Some say he once threw a microwave oven at a tramp and that all his potted plants are called 'Steve'.....all we know is, he's called 'The Stig!'.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Would like to think about this so may be back on. But how about if in the week of the 40th anniversary each of us listened to one programme that would normally be outside our comfort zone and then reviewed it here?

Any Saturday programme other than SOTS would be a possibility for me.

Ian.

AndyAndy2 · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:38 am Post subject:

hey, that's not a bad idea....Promise if I listen to Evans it will be with an open mind. Crikey!
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Some say he once threw a microwave oven at a tramp and that all his potted plants are called 'Steve'.....all we know is, he's called 'The Stig!'.

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:23 am Post subject:

Great idea, Ian - I'm up for that. I'll leave CE for Andy, though - I've tried a couple of times this past month but have given up again.
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

AndyAndy2 · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject:

Thinking further about this, I remember back in late 80's, I used to avidly listen to Wally Whiton's country club "All over the country, fm stereo...Radio 2".

And I seem to remember Radio 2 used to play some comedy / drama series such as 'Detective' starring Ray Brook and 'Space Force' and am I right in remembering I'm sorry I haven't a clue on radio2? Again this is late 80's but this got me into audio drama.

Must mention the radio 2 documentaries - they've been fun to listen to - the record producers again introduces me to work I've never heard before and even familiar material like ELO and Traveling Wilbury's throws up info I never knew.

But not just music, documentaries like the recent Star Wars, Jaws and Doctor Who fit really well on radio 2.
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Some say he once threw a microwave oven at a tramp and that all his potted plants are called 'Steve'.....all we know is, he's called 'The Stig!'.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

I remember listening to Benny Green every Sunday whilst eating the Sunday dinner.

It is like a smooth transistion of well known broadcasters from big named stations to Radio 2.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Briant · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

Hello Phil Jr. (Your Lordship). Yes, I've loved Tom Petty ever since 'American Girl' which sounded like a cross between Roger McGuinn and John Lennon to my ears!

Two more DJ songs: 'Roll over Beethoven' by Chuck Berry and 'Mr. Record Man' by Willie Nelson!

BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

That's fantastic John real credit to the site that they contacted you Very Happy

I came to R2 simple well I had to listen on my way to school in the car with my Dad but we had a 10 minute slot each Tony Blackburn did the breakfast show then on R1 he always used to say "arrrrrrrrrrrrrrh it's all too loud and frantic please let's switch over." Laughing

I know exactly the time I switched to R2 fully, it was when DLT left R1 never listened to it since and became a R2 Fan and now there is rarely another statio playing in the house.

Memories of the JY show stick out in my mind though from the early days because parents had it on. Helen's memories of it all are much more vivid than anyone elses I know. She remembers everything I'm not that good on specifics. She has a lot of original tapes of the shows as well. I think she's lost in Mark's thread below Wink

I've adapted to most shows even presenters I didn't like at first they have grown on me particularly CE (shock horror) there is no doubt at all he has matured considerably in his style and good luck to him. I enjoy Stuart very much though. We listen all the time and my OH loves Desmond, occasionally he might tune into another station but not often even though we have an internet radio in the kitchen.

Great news does this mean we are going to see you on the Telly? Very Happy

BDG XX

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Sometime in the mid 1990s there was a celebration of the 'Light Programme' (even though it had been defunct for many years) and I remember a Saturday devoted to programmes of that era. Some were genuine 1950s/60s recordings like Saturday Club though I think that was truncated, Listen With Mother & Dale's Diary. Others were re-created I seem to remember Worker's Playtime being like that.
I wonder if a similar thing will be done for the 40th anniversary of R2. Do any tapes survive of Waggoner's Walk?
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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Probably - I'm sure I've seen it now and then in the BBC7 listings.
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Ron

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Thinking a bit more about this, am I right in thinking that, of the current group of presenters, only 3--Desmond Carrington, David Jacobs and Brian Matthew--were on the Light Programme before R2 came? I don't think Wogan arrived till after R2 started. Have I overlooked anyone?

How about a one-hour profile of each of the above 3 and anyone whom I may have missed?

Ian.

mcl · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I thought I'd posted this yesterday but obviously not.

I'm going to have to come back to this if I may. As B say's I've so many memories and thoughts on R2.

I'm not sure if Wogan was on the Light programme? It can't have been much later when he started though.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

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firewirefred · Guest

A more important date is August 14th. The 40th anniversary of the introduction of the Marine (Etc) Broadcasting Offences Act. One of the most far-reaching laws to be implemented in modern times.

mcl · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

firewirefred -

I know. At the time (I would be 15) it made me very cross. However, given the huge advances in technology and the similar sized reverses in standards, attitudes and taste, lord knows who or what would be bombarding our airwaves from three miles off Frinton today if it hadn't been.

Terry Wogan presented Midday Spin on the old Light Programme, just before the advent of Radio1/2.
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Ron

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Hi,

Our producer/researcher friend is delighted by the memories on this thread, but he is a bit shy to post on here:

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Just had this message,

AndyAndy2 · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:52 am Post subject:

This is a real shame. Radio comedy switching to tv, all I can say is please leave radio 2 out then, think we all know what we think of r2 comedy!!
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Some say he once threw a microwave oven at a tramp and that all his potted plants are called 'Steve'.....all we know is, he's called 'The Stig!'.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

OK heads up as they say (well I don't but I'll say it now as it's understood here)

BBC 4 TV have resurrected the Radio 2 TV documentary idea, with just weeks to go before the 40th birthday Rolling Eyes

I have been contacted by a BBC TV producer who is hurriedly trying to put together a TV documentary about Radio 2 listeners who listen to the 'specialist shows', shows like Malcolm Laycock, Desmond Carrington, Friday Night is Music Night, SOTS, Organist Entertains etc., so he was delighted to find that I 'knew' a couple of hundred listeners on various yahoo forums who are devoted to the music genres of early rock and pre-rock eras that are heard every week on Radio 2, and have been since Radio 2 began 40 years ago (the docu will coincide with the 40th anniversary on 30th Sept.).

So, David Olusoga and his team want to hear from you, indeed they want to FILM interviews with willing Radio 2 listeners.

In the chats that I've had with David I have mentioned that the interest in pre-rock music in UK has been kept alive by BBC Radio 2 particularly Alan Dell's shows and then Malcolm Laycock's, also David Jacobs and Desmond Carrington shows, and that the existence of some Yahoo forums and several small CD companies could be largely attributed to the efforts of the BBC during the last 40 years. I've stated also that Brian Matthew's loyal fans are also very grateful to Brian who seems to be the only DJ playing music by certain artistes today.

David is happy for me to publish his e-mail address on this forum and would love to hear from anyone on the forum who would be up for a filmed interview or a phone-call from him. He is based in BBC Bristol but their docu team will travel anywhere in UK, and indeed will be spending some time with Desmond up in Scotland.

So, contact David at:

david.olusoga@bbc.co.uk

They are keen to know why these shows are important to listeners NOW, not so much the long history of the programmes.

Regards,

John Wright

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that - I'll mention it to my girlfriend who LOVES Friday Night Is Music Night (and we're halfway between Bristol and Scotland Wink

)

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Very interesting idea. May be a bit difficult logistically over a short time span but I'll definitely think seriously about it.

Ian.

Lady Boil De Spudswell · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 429 Location: Location, Location

It's kind of up to us guys to put the point across in this programme that the kind of ageism that got rid of things like Your Hundred Best Tunes was not neccesarily a step forward. This is the R2 Preservation Society after all! I've already said my piece.

(Oh, and if you can put in a good work for Michael Aspel, Gerald Harper and Danny Baker! ...) Wink

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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Hi,

I sent the message about all this to a couple of yahoo group forums that are devoted to the older music featured on Radio 2 specialist shows. The British Dance Bands group is virtually a Malcolm Laycock Show appreciation society with weekly polls about what was their favourite track etc etc Smile

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I emailed the prospective producer last Tuesday evening and have heard nothing.

Can't see this documentary being ready for screening in six weeks time.

Ian.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

This whole idea seems to have died a death.

Has anyone else heard anything?

Ian.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Happy to say that I've now had a reply about this. Fairly standard stuff, saying that they probably have most of the contributors that they need but would like to keep my details on file in case further contact is called for.

At least I know what's what now.

Ian.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Hi, yes I had a reply, the producer/researcher David Olusago sent me this message:

"Sorry for the delay in getting back to you and others,
we're working through a very large response.
Light music and Radio 2 certainly has a huge following
and we have received many more responses than we expected.
You are certainly a committed listenership with strong opinions.

We do think that we have probably found the main contributors
we're going to film for this documentary. However this may
well change and I may well end up back on the phone to you
asking for your help again. We'll make sure everyone who
has contacted us is contacted by the end of next week."

John W

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6922280.stm

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Thanks for that Mark. At last we have a complete first day R2 schedule to put on the R2ok website timeline page Smile

No matter what Lesley Douglas says she just cannot justify to me the money R2 pays to Ross, Evans, Wogan. If R2 "are not concerned about attracting revenue" then why spend so much on these presenters?

Oh and Dylan White lobbies Radio 2 to play certain tracks in his role as a "plugger", so how much does he or record companies pay Radio 2?

John W