R2OK!

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

As the last thread on SOTS now has 102 postings, it seems a good moment to start a fresh one.

This Saturday is a double celebration for the show, both strands verified by Wikipedia.

First, it's the nearest Saturday to the show's 25th anniversary. It first aired on Saturday 12 February 1983, with Keith Fordyce as its presenter. After KF left, there was quite a myriad of guest presenters. Simon Dee had quite a long run in the chair (to mix metaphors!). Brian Matthew has been there since April 1990. I do hope the anniversary is acknowledged in this Saturday's show.

Second, it's a year since BM returned following his long period of sick leave. It's good to hear him sounding so fit and well one year on.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Well, I missed the first two minutes, but, unless he mentioned it in his introduction, I think they went unremarked.

Actually, an unremarkable edition today, I thought.

The Hard To Get sounded as if it was the copy that got thrown into the thorn bush, and I for one wouldn't have been that bothered about it.

You can understand why Paul left Maggie Mae off his remixed release of the Let It Be album.

The Who's early hits sound much, much better in their original mono single form. The cleaned up, super-separated stereo versions that you get on all the compilations now (as used today) are pale in comparison.
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Ron

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

Tend to agree, though I was pleased to hear the Fourmost early on. I wouldn't personally say that their version of Baby I Need Your Loving is better than the Four Tops one but it's a good account and deserved its play.

If the programme is recorded, couldn't they have ironed out the error in scheduling Three in a Row for the wrong Saturday? That said, at least they had the decency to apologise.

Ian.

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

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

I can't be totally sure but I am almost certain that Sounds of the Sixties was on before Feb 1983.

I have a strong recollection of being in my Mum's house and hearing the theme tune Foot Tapper as I walked into the kitchen. I think the time could have been different though.

I'll just add that I've an extremely good memory, sometimes too good!

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

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

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

Thanks Helen.

Wikipedia gave me the date of 12 February 1983 and this is about what I expected--but we could both be wrong, of course!

Ian.

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

Hi Ian,

I'm not sure if Sounds of The Sixties has always been between 8-10? Does anyone know that I wonder?

It was definitely the end of the show that I heard at my Mum's house and I'm guessing maybe year or so earlier.

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

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

My memory may be hazy but didn't Ronnie Hilton's Sounds Of The Fifties at one time in the 90s occupy all or part of the Saturday 8 - 10 slot?
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Ron

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

The programme rings a bell but I don't think I ever heard it and can't remember when it was on.

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

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

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

For a little while SOTF was on from 8 to 9 and SOTS from 9 till 10.

Ian.

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

I seem to remember Ronnie Hilton's Sounds Of The 50s as being a Saturday afternoon show. This would be mid-late 1990s.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

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

SOTS was initially on from 10 to 11am on Saturday, I think. David Jacobs was on from 8 till 10 in those days.

In 1990 the Sat line-up was revamped. Ronnie Hilton was brought in to do SOTF from 8 till 9 and Brian Matthew took over SOTS, which then ran from 9 till 10.

At some point SOTF migrated to Sat pm and then disappeared.

I'm pretty sure that SOTS expanded to 8 till 10 when SOTF moved.

Any advance on all this?

Ian.

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

Ian,

I'm sure you are right as I almost said that I thought David Jacobs was on R2 on a Saturday morning but wondered if I was dreaming it!

The 10-11 timing would fit in to my memory of it before 1983 as well.

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

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

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

I thought I might have another go at getting a request played, this time to mark my 60th birthday later this year.

I'm especially keen to nominate some items for Three in a Row.

One possibility would be a Diamonds theme (diamond = 60, geddit?).

Possibilities include Jet Harris and Tony Meehan's Diamonds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys' This Diamond Ring and the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Would anyone care to comment on this or other possible themes?

Ian.

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

Heard pretty well all the show today and thought the choice of music was really good.

Don't suppose I've heard Dantalion's Chariot singing Madman Running Through the Fields since it was out in 67 but searching for long-forgotten items is one of the programme's strengths.

Back in the 60s I fancied myself as an amateur punter, with some success, but I could get it gloriously wrong, too. I was sure Susan Maughan's Verdict Is Guilty was going to be a smash. It had the right sound and received sufficient airplay. Yet it did nothing.

Very sad to hear of the death of the Fortunes member--was his name Ray Allen? The chosen tribute track You Gave Me Somebody to Love was in my opinion one of their best but sales were split with a version by Manfred Mann, to the detriment of both.

On the 3 in a row duets, I could hear both voices OK on all three tracks but perhaps the less prominent voice on each simply didn't have as interesting a part as the lead. Good choices, anyway.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Heard most of it but wasn't giving it full concentration all the way. Enjoyed it all anyway - I'm easily pleased!

Rod Allen it was from the Fortunes. Shame to note that the website has had to close the page for condolences because it was attacked by spammers Evil or Very Mad

They continue to play the 1960s circuit, some dates lined up in tandem with the Ivy League.

The BBC's Music Played recordist is well up to his or her usual standard - Shirley Ellis's Nitty Gritty is credited to Gladys Knight & The Pips (who did also record it, but not on the album Very Best of Shirley Ellis!).

Interesting to note that the Quincy Jones track came off a party album bought from Marks and Spencer.

Of the three-in-a-row I might have agreed with Little Man, on which Sonny is certainly eclipsed by Cher, but Glen and Bobbie sang together in perfect harmony, as did, in their own way, the Sinatras.
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Ron

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

Haven't done a resume for a week or two.

Glad to hear Bits and Pieces by DC5 included and that a fuller tribute to Mike Smith is to follow.

A sad story re the pressure under which the Big Three track was recorded and yes, the vocal does sound strained, especially where the lead singer isn't supported vocally by the rest of the group.

Didn't know the Mamas and Papas had recorded Lennon and McCartney's I Call Your Name--very effectively, too. Billy J Kramer sang it on a B side (of Bad to Me?), in which his Scouse accent could clearly be heard (I call your name but you aren't thur; was I to blame for being unfur?).

Jay and the Americans' version of Cara Mia was played and played on Radio Caroline at the time that it was first out.

Gerry and the Pacemakers' I'll Be There was one of my real weepies at the time.

Over to you.

Ian.

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

Hi Ian,

Haven't listened to today's show yet, had a lie in!

You're correct about the B side of Bad To Me, I had the single and the accent was indeed very strong on the track. I've heard the Mama's and Papa's version but not in a long time, was it from an LP at the time? I'll no doubt find out when I listen to the show sometime this week.

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

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I meant to post something about last week's and forgot. Hearing Bits and Pieces this morning reminded me that last week he played its near-identical twin, by a Tottenham band which, according to PS the Dave Clark Five "sound" was modelled on. I've looked back on the Music Played page and can't find it (mind you, strangely, Bits and Pieces isn't included in today's list either). Can't find anything mentioned on the various web sites - can you remember who it was, Ian (or anyone)?

While searching I did discover that, following the group's induction earlier this year into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the death of Mike Smith, a comprehensive "Best Of..." CD collection is planned - I missed the last one and it has been out of print and unavailable for many years.

Otherwise, last week's was notable for Paul McCartney's ditty for Mary Hopkin, Goodbye, which usually gets forgotten about, in the shadow between Those Were The Days and her Eurovision song. Another Hollies hit - considering their copious album output he might play something a bit less well-know for a change. And Guide Me Orion, the single from the OTT concept album Ark 2, written by the Howard/Blakely machine and featuring on drums an embryonic Phil Collins. I remember it got massive airplay at the time but was never a hit - the B side was a mixture of an original song, From Now On, with the hymn Immortal Invisible.

To this week's, which I only heard snatches of:- The Mamas & Papas' version of I Call Your Name I have heard on the radio before. It was an album track (from If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears in 1966) but appears on most of their Best of... collections.

Alan Klein's Age of Corruption seemed to go on for ages, unlike Barry McGuire's Destruction. It's a long time since I've heard that Moodies track - makes me want to go and hunt down my old LP copy.

I think Jay and the Americans may have been one of those groups and artists (the Bachelors were another) which were played so much by Caroline and London that dark mutterings and allegations of payola were heard.
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Ron

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

I enjoyed the show this morning for all the reasons mentioned above but was quite sad to hear that DC5's singer had died..

I used to love their sound, thinking it was quite heavy at the time - specially the saxophone and bass thumping out the rhythm at the same time.

Of course we all tried to get the drumming to Bits and Pieces right with rulers at school Laughing

but another thing that stood out for me was the way they stamped their feet to the tracks! I thought that was great.

Yes, a truly great 60's band for me.
Another beacon from my past is no more... Sad

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

Hi Ron.

As I recollect, they reckoned that the DC5 sound was modelled on Doug Sheldon and played his Your Mum Says You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night.

Hope this answers your query.

Ian.

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

Sorry, meant to add that I can't recall whether they said anything about the source of the Mamas and Papas track or not.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Thank you, Ian.

A senior moment - I saw that name on the list and it didn't twig - even though I've got the CD it came from! I've just dug it out and listened to it again and, yes, with the volume turned up a gear and sung as a group it could have been the DC5. It was a minor hit, and he had two others, one a cover of Dion's Runaround Sue.
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Ron

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

I hadn't seen SOTS as a possible source of my beloved light music, so today I was all the more delighted to hear Peter Yorke's splendid Silks and Satins, the closing theme of Emergency Ward 10. Actually I've got this on a double CD called the Great British Experience. But I hope that non-owners of this track enjoyed hearing it here. Do you remember Desmond Carrington playing a surgeon in the show? He must have been in it for about six years.

The rest of the programme was superlative, too, reminding me why I stick with it through occasional lapses. Why aren't they allowed to send 'plunder' out to requesters any more? Does anyone know?

Love the story of the baby who chewed his dad's record. I suppose it beats that other excuse, the Dog Ate It.

Ian.

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 439 Location: In the village

I certainly remember Desmond Carrington, as wll as John Alderton, Charles Tingwll and Paul Darrow (later Avon in Blake's 7)

I also remember Desmond on Sunday afternoon doing Movie Go Round with Pater Haigh. God, I'm getting old.
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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I remember DC in Emergency Ward 10, also Jill Browne as the central female lead Nurse Carole Young, who seemed to take an age to get promoted to Staff Nurse (well I suppose they did in those days), and John Carlisle as the young Registrar who was something of a jack-the-lad character.

As to the rest of the programme, I've come to the conclusion that the Hard To Get feature must be governed by what they are able to obtain permission for the giving away of a CD-R copy, since the Association's Never My Love, along with most of their material, is still easily available, albeit (at the moment) on Import.
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Ron

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

Others in Ward 10 included Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, who turned up much more recently in Neighbours. Richard Thorp did a long spell at the fictional Oxbridge hospital before moving to Emmerdale. Dandy Nichols was a long-stay patient at one time, as was Judy Cornwell (the wonderful Daisy in Keeping Up Appearances and the much less likeable Queenie in EastEnders).

As for today's SOTS, memories of the This Is Your Life music make me wonder if it's worth trying another revival of the programme (but NOT with Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross, please!).

The Playing Hard to Get record, Blue Girl by the Bruisers, was one of the legion of records that I heard endlessly for about a month after it came out and then never again till today. Great to be reminded of it.

Pat Boone's Speedy Gonzales still makes me smile 46 years later. Sounds like Mexico's answer to Andy Capp!

Ian.

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

Today's show is just finishing as I type.

LOL at the final track, parodying MacArthur Park. Might re-run it on Listen Again.

No other particular comment, except to agree 100% with BM's assessment of Matt Monro's Softly As I Leave You as a special favourite.

We sing a beautiful arrangement of this in our male voice choir.

Ian.

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

Yes, I thought the MacArthur Park version was funny too - never heard it before. Captain Kirk could have done this.. Laughing

Also hadn't heard the cover of Strawberry Fields track before either. What was the point of recording something like this so close to the original and of course, the best!

Softly as I leave You caught me out as this was played at my mum's funeral a few months back. I didn't think I'd hear it again for a while...

I wish they'd bring out a radio on which you could "listen again" - rather than listen to the self centred big mouth that follows...
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Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

pickle · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject: SOTS

I hadn't come across the Mark Dinning track before, but I was convinced the laugh in it belonged to Muttley from 'Wacky Races' and 'Dastardly & Muttley in their Flying Machines'! This ought to have been followed by David Bowie's 'She's Got Medals' as Muttley was always asking Dick Dastardly to give him a medal!

The McArthur Park parody is called 'Muck-Artie Park' and is by Soupy Sales, a US comedian who was also the father of Hunt & Tony Sales who worked with the Mael brothers in Sparks.
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We made a land where crap is king and the good don't last for long.

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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Enjoyed the show as usual, but someone was surely taking the proverbial (again) by having David McWilliams' Pearly Spencer as Hard To Get. Tell the lazy, tight-fisted so-and-so to look him up on Amazon/HMV, or even riffle through his local shop's 60s collections.
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Ron

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

A fellow-resident of my adoptive home town of Prudhoe had a request played last Saturday. It was Come Home by the Dave Clark Five, the last item included in the Three in a Row tribute to Mike Smith. I didn't recognise the requester's name but am on the case!

Great to hear a snippet of Morecambe and Wise in this morning's A to Z of the Beatles.

Ian.

Briant · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject: Re-makes vs Original Versions...

Yes Ian, I enjoyed that M&W meet The Beatles. Good scripting by I think Eddie Braben, calling Ringo 'Bongo' for example. The Jerry Lee Lewis song 'I'm on fire' I well remember as it was his first single after leaving 'Sun Records. 'I thought it was pretty poor, though I did buy it as I was and am a big fan of 'The Killer!' The version played on SOTS today was a later version with 'brass' on and a less convincing vocal by Jerry Lee. The Turtles, James Carr and The Everly Brothers were other highlights for me on today's edition. Laughing

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

Caught some of the show today, between 8.30- 9.30am some very amateurish obscure stuff I've never heard The Cheetahs, Earl Jean, Tommy Bruce, and certainly don't want to hear them again Laughing

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

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

For the second week running only caught a small part of the show, from Helen Shapiro up to the nine o'clock news; thought for a bit that they were doing one of their Connections programmes.

I don't remember seeing the Beatles on M&W at the time. The banter between them obviously survived on film because that crops up on every profile of the pair, but perhaps the song itself didn't.
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Ron

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

Even by its own standards, today's show was unusually laden with treats all the way--alas, I wasn't feeling quite as appreciative as usual, having just learned of Humph's death on the 8am News.

But it was nice to have a helping of Frankfurter Sandwiches served with my breakfast and I thought the American hits that never made it in Britain provided another good idea for 3 in a Row. The last of the three, by the Cowsills, was one of those tunes that really got into my blood at the time, yet I too had never heard it again, till today.

The Kinks one, Till the End of the Day, had some copyright issues, so I think its hurried release may have had some connection with these.

Yes, I Will was one of my favourite Hollies tracks. Several different versions of this have cropped up in the programme over time but today's sounded like the original.

Ian.

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

Hi Ian,

I missed Saturday's SOTS but scrolled down the playlist and as you say there are loads of goodies there so will give it a listen during the week. Smile

I remember the Cowsills from when it was first released as well. They have another one that I like but I always forget the title, something like 'the Rain, The Park and other things' that I'd forgotten about until I discovered a fab oldies station in Florida a few years ago.

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

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Yes, I missed it as well, will have to find a space to Listen Again later.

And, yes, he has played Yes I Will, several times, before - if the listing details are correct I think it was the original this time.
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Ron

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

Today's edition, superb as ever, was topped and tailed by two of my special favourites, Vanity Fare's Early in the Morning and Steve Wonder's For Once in My Life.

Forgot that Bob Lind had recorded Cheryl's Going Home, which I tend to associate with Adam Faith--whose the First Time received a welcome play also.

There's usually at least one track that I'd never heard since it was first out and today there were two, by Scott MacKenzie and Nirvana.

The A to Z of the Beatles has now been running for over 3 years in its present season and is currently on M. I was trying to work out what the very last track will be and right now my money's on You Won't See Me from the Rubber Soul album--any advance on this?

Thought BM sounded particularly chirpy this morning.

Ian.

Ian.