R2OK!

Wireless 2 · Guest

Apart from me, who else is saddened that easy listening and jazz has gradually started to diminish on Radio 2?

Humphrey Lyttleton has not been replaced, and I doubt there are any plans for a replacement to be brought in. In my opinion, The Best Of Jazz should have remained on Radio 2. Clare Teal or Jamie Cullum would have made excellent hosts.

Michael Parkinson - no more easy listening and jazz on Sunday mornings. Michael Ball became the new voice of Sunday mornings last April and basically has the same style playlist as a weekday/Saturday presenter.

Ed Stewart - no other daytime programme used to play the easy mix of music Stewpot did.

The easy listening and light music programming has been restricted to Sunday nights. I am grateful that Desmond Carrington, Friday Night is Music Night, and David Jacobs have (so far) managed to escape the axe, but it makes me wonder how much longer they will hold on.

Is Radio 2 deliberately writing off old favourites?

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject:

Absolutely agree.
_________________
MiS

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

So do I.

Ian.

Wireless 2 · Guest

Thanks for your responses. I am glad to know that I'm not alone in feeling disenfranchised by Lesley Douglas' modernisation of Radio 2. If some of the older presenters don't sound like they're up to the job anymore, then simply replace with a younger presenter.

By the way, I have just had a topic removed on the BBC Points of View board. Somebody posted that David Jacobs sounds like he has had a stroke and should be pensioned off.

Nice to know the trolls are still lurking. Rolling Eyes

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject:

Although I can't say I'm a regular listener to any of the programmes you mentioned, I do hear them occasionally whilst doing some DIY or out in the garage. It's then when I realise just how much I like to hear such music and yes, it would be a shame to lose any more.

Ed Stewart is sorely missed I feel, again, he'd play music which made me laugh or I hadn't heard for years, lifted your spirit sometimes.
Shame on Ms Douglas for letting him go.

I miss Parky too, I'm not so keen on Michael Ball for some reason, the music's ok but not such a comfortable show as Parky did.
I really enjoyed Russell Davis' show when it was on Sunday afternnoon, I think it should have been left alone.

But, if they are deliberately writing off old favourites, they should be stopped!
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

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

Heloise · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 237

well yes and no...

Do I think that there is not enough jazz and easy listening music played on radio 2. Yes there are many performers who do not get enough or in some cases any air play. Whilst there are some performers that are played all the time. So it's not only the music it's self being played but a also ensuring a good cross section of the genre is represented not just the same people time and time again. Which apart from the already liking Michael Ball's work, is one of the main reasons I do not miss the old Parky format . I think the current format is far more accesible the playlist more diverse. You never quite know who you will hear next. There is still jazz and easy music played but it is mixed in with other genres and era's of music. Which is how it should be heard, not tucked away in a specialist broadcast once a week. Although I'm not saying don't have special programmes at all.

Agree 100% about Ed Stewart I was an avid listener and still miss his early Sunday evening show.
_________________
Put some records on while I pour

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I'm on the yes/no fence as well.

Much as I miss Michael Parkinson, I have to recognise that his usual selection of music was just a bit too narrow for the wider public audience of a Sunday lunchtime. On the whole there is nothing wrong with the individual tracks of Michael Ball's playlist (and he did play a Sinatra number yesterday) but they lack cohesion or comfortable listening as a whole.

As well as playing the old school of big band and jazz (Clive Anderson used to quip that it was a change for him to occasionally play someone who was still alive) Parky did provide a platform for a raft of young talent in the genre, some better than others, such as Diana Krall, Peter Grant, Clare Teal and Jamie Cullum. Would they have become as well-known without the exposure he gave them, on both radio and tv, and where is similar talent now to find a large audience?

I get very little time to listen to the radio in the evening, but the absence of a permanent programme of popular jazz, to fill the hole left by the late Humphrey Lyttleton, is regrettable. Meanwhile, Messrs Carrington, Davies, Laycock and Jacobs are left to fight the corner for "Easy Listening" but they cannot go on for ever, or even, realistically, much longer. The demise on commercial grounds of the only digital radio station which was set up to cater for the genre (Saga) perhaps shows that we are in a minority - it's selfish I know but I'm just glad that I have the fruits of 40 years of spending too much time in record shops to fall back on and dip into any time I like.

By the way, Wireless 2, I'm glad you persuaded them to eventually close the David Jacobs thread, although I notice they haven't actually removed the first, offensive, message. Moderation over there is as Hit and Miss Wink

as it ever was.
_________________
Ron

Wireless 2 · Guest

I fully appreciate what you have said in your posting, Ron. You are quite right - things cannot and will not stay the same forever. There will come a time when Carrington, Jacobs and Davies will call it a day - or they might be axed. You never know with Radio 2 management these days.

Some of my personal favourites have either been axed or have passed away. I was a regular listener to Hubert Gregg's Thanks For The Memory. This was one of my favourite programmes (hence my screen name, as Gregg often referred to Radio 2 as "Wireless 2"). Another reason why I chose this screen name is because I am a fan of the older output (and I'm not afraid to say so!).

I was saddened when Ed Stewart, Richard Baker and Sheridan Morley were all dropped in 2006. David Barber, one of Radio 2's senior managers, explained on Radio 4's Feedback in late 2006 that the reason why they were axed is because their ratings had tumbled and they were basically sounding unpopular on the network. Now, whether Barber was being honest, I simply do not know, but I do find it bizarre that Your Hundred Best Tunes was axed after 47 years.

When old favoutrites like that are axed, it's plain and simple that no-one on Radio 2 is immune to the axe. It wouldn't surprise me if Friday Night is Music Night is eventually axed because it doesn't fit in right within the weekday evening schedule. Radcliffe and Maconie, Monday to Thursday nights and Friday Night is Music Night on Fridays does seem to make the weekday evening schedule somewhat unsettled. Then, of course, we have Russell Brand on Saturday nights.

Perhaps the reason why Myleene Klass has been made another presenter of FNIMN is to tart the programme up and try and make it lose its granny image? Recently, a number of modern acts have performed live on the show, thus pushing the light and classical music to one side. This could be something to expect on a regular basis.

How much longer will niche programmes such as Big Band Special, The Organist Entertains, Listen to the Band, and Sunday Half Hour survive? These programmes are most definitely for a minority audience and I am surprised they have, so far, survived the axe.

The BBC Trust has said that Radio 2 must offer something different within its schedules, but each time an older presenter leaves or is axed i.e. Michael Parkinson, Humphrey Lyttleton, Ed Stewart etc, they have been replaced with a modern format. Like I said, Parky's playlist has been dropped completely.

Elaine Paige and Alan Titchmarsh mighr survive for a few years longer, but that's only because they're of a celebrity status. I am fed up with TV presenters, celebrities and singers replacing old favourites on the network.

Wireless 2 · Guest

p.s. The David Jacobs thread seems to have disappeared completely now. Why do some people have to post such bile and hatred towards Radio 2's older presenters? It's uncalled for but it's a problem that has been going on for a number of years across various internet forums.

Heloise · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 237

It's when you hear these gems of music played in amongst a general playlist, great to hear Matt Monro played again on Sunday Brunch. You realise just how brilliant they still sound and how well they have stood the test of time.
_________________
Put some records on while I pour

malcyb · Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 29

Well you've always got UK Light Radio to fall back on now.
http://www.uklightradio.co.uk/

gfloyd · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject:

malcyb · Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 29

You don't need Reciva to listen to it. Just go to their website: www.uklightradio.co.uk then click on "listen live" on their front page and you can hear it through your Windows Media player.