R2OK!

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Now up to episode 3 of 50 this week's song is She Loves You. Great documentary from Stuart Maconie and a good insight into how life was mainly in 1963.

Well worth a listen IMHO.

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

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

I've listened to the first one and the third, with Dame Vera and The Fabs, which I thoroughly enjoyed, also a bit of the second one, with Two Tribes, which I wasn't really in the mood for, so gave up after 15 mins or so. But excellent radio from Stuart Maconie, who has no peers when it comes to this sort of stuff.

Never thought I'd hear anyone say that The Undertakers were as good as The Beatles... Smile

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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I've done the same as you Raver. I've recorded the second one maybe I'll listen, maybe not. As you say you need to be in the mood.

Stuart is superb, a miss on mainstream R2.

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

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Too right, Helen. He's a massive loss.
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

This sounds like a really good little series and Stuart Maconie is the right presenter for it, as he is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about this sort of thing.

In fact when it was first publicised late last year I submitted a few words on what I think was a very interesting and influential year, 1967, by email to the Beeb and got a phone call from a lady from the production company asking me in for an interview. In December at the BBC Sussex studios in Brighton I duly answered a few questions about that era, and nominated 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' as a key song from that year.
I suspect that much (or all) of it will be edited, but I shall be keen to listen to that episode when it comes out.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Ooh you'll have to tell us if they broadcast your comments!

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

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I certainly will, Helen. I don't yet know the date of broadcast.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

You're absolutely right about 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' Schiz - for me no other track sums up the wonderful late 60's period better Smile

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

It most definitely was Becky, I don't think I could explain it either.

Glad you enjoyed it as well. I like the way the songs don't seem to be in any chronological order either.

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

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Oldraver and Helen:

Indeed, it is at 10pm this Wednesday (20th)! I only found out yesterday when the production company emailed me with details.

Don't expect anything too enlightening from me. The main gist of my contribution was that I was only 13/14 in the summer of 1967 and really too young to appreciate the ideaologies of the hippie movement and much of the weird psychedelic music (early Pink Floyd, Love, Frank Zappa, Hendrix etc) and spent my time listening to pop music such as Procul Harum's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' which to me formed the musical backdrop of that unique summer and always transports me back to that time when I hear it. Along with Sgt Pepper of course.

Still, I will enjoy my brief period of fame. I expect much of what I said will be edited.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I shall look forward to listening, it may be via iPlayer though.

Is it just me or is everyone still having access problems with the board?

Yours is the first 'reply to post' email I've had for days!

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

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I hope you enjoyed the show Becky.
There was a brief reference to the above, and I was quoted four or five times in all which was pleasing. I was flattered that I had the final say, about 1968 being such a violent year (anti war demos, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King) compared to 1967.

I also appear briefly on March 6 in a prog called 'Je T'Aime' though can't remember what I said.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Yes,I did enjoy it,Schiz.

I don't know if it is a well known story about what Bob Dylan thought the lyrics" I can't hide" were in" I Wanna Hold Your Hand" but it's not one I've heard before... Smile

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Good stuff Schizzo. I enjoyed the whole thing immensely. Looking forward to your next appearance, as long as it's not a Serge Gainsbourg impression, or worse still, a Jane Birkin one...
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Glad you enjoyed it, Raver.
I shall look forward to my brief encounter with the lovely Jane Birkin. I think my contribution was that a group called Sounds Nice did an orchestral version of Je T'Aime which was also very good and a small hit.

Becky, I had a laugh as well on hearing that Dylan thought the words were 'I Get High'.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I've recorded it but haven't had time to listen yet, so I'll look out for your comments Schiz!

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

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I made another brief appearance on tonight's show, right at the beginning!
The show was based on the song Dedicated Follower Of Fashion by The Kinks and was about the Swinging London scene of the mid 60s., Carnaby Street, Kings Road etc.

This is an excellent series and I hope Stuart Maconie and the independent production company get lots of awards for it.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Stuart Maconie is another person who should be doing a lot more on Radio 2. As he was about 10 years ago. It was a travesty when his Critical List show was axed. Alright, this was replaced by a good Saturday afternoon show for a while, until it was chiselled down from three hours to two, then went the same way as The Critical List. I wish we can hear more of Stuart.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Yes, Helen it was. I think I said something like the early 60s was an era of black and white and very American influenced, whereas everything had become more vivid and colourful by the mid 60s.

Not very earth shattering, but clearly Stuart MaConie was impressed!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Haven't heard most of these but enjoyed this edition about musicals.

The story about Rizzo's song from Grease, by one of the contributors, was nice and sad at the same time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01pkrh8/The_Peoples_Songs_Dont_Cry_for_Me_Argentina_Musicals/

Julie Covington's version of Don't Cry For Me Argentina never fails to send a shiver down my spine ...her voice is beautiful on that.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

This series is coming to a close next week and just a shout out if you want to listen to any previous episodes to do it quick!

There is an error on the webpage which wrongly states there is still a year to listen to all episodes, which is wrong. The whole series disappears a week after the last episode goes out next Wednesday Dec 11th.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/peoplessongs

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