R2OK!

Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

I wonder if the new charges will consider a change of presenter.

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

I think it's more a change of producer we need rather than a change of presenter

However as Phil Swern was producing POTP long before Unique came in I really can't see the situation changing on SOTS

I'd much prefer someone who wasn't a 'collector' because this just seems to be an excuse for indulging his own obscure interests instead of producing a mainstream show which the majority of listeners can relate to
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

No need for a change of presenter, as Ruddles has said it's the producer that could be better.

Wonder what happened to Roger Bowman?

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

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

This is a start of independant production companies who are to take over other shows like Jance and Alex.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/03_march/03/radio2.shtml

pd_bmn · Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 26

i have to say that i can't tell any difference to SOTS since Unique took over, and maybe that's the idea that if there are any changes, they would be extremely subtle.
I don't know why Ruddles and others keep going on about SOTS needing a new producer, if you just want to hear mainstream oldies, put a 'Gold' station on where they will have the same old mix of top 10 hits on rotation..

Phil Swern is a great producer and i always enjoy hearing something different that i wouldn't hear elsewhere.
As for Roger Bowman, he probably retired, and Mr Swern is over 60 so someone else will probably take over in the fulness of time

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

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

There aren't plenty of sixties shows during midweek which listeners can hear on I Player at weekends Rolling Eyes

SOTS is the only dedicated 60's show and as such it should live up to its name i.e. reminding listeners of the music they heard and bought in their youth NOT trying to introduce listeners to American and other obscurities almost 50 years after the event

And yes pd bmn I take your point and I don't want to constantly hear the same ten 60's tracks which get played on Radio 2 and commercial stations in the main daytime shows but there were literally thousands of tracks which made the British charts back in the 60's many of which are never played on SOTS or on Radio 2 generally

And by the way John I realise that SOTS isn't for one 60's geek as you rather disparagingly put it but there are others on here who agree with me and a lot more people I know who never frequent forums like this but find the current SOTS formula distinctly irritating

Of course there used to be a show on Radio 2 for people who actually enjoy all this obscure stuff - it was called Mark Lamarr's Alternative Sixties but it was discontinued by Mr Shennan or his predecessor presumably because there was little demand for it based on audience figures and quite frankly I'm not surprised
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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

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

I'm not suggesting that SOTS should do anything other than cover the music of the whole decade John

That's why as I've mentioned before I think there is a strong argument for dividing the show up into sections to ensure every section of the decade gets equal coverage and also so listeners don't have to sit through stuff they don't much like and can simply switch on for what they do like

Of course there are always going to be some lesser known tracks and non chart hits in the show and I haven't got a problem with that particularly if they are requested by listeners either as individual requests or for the Three in a Row feature but those tracks should be given far less prominence than they are at present - and the balance is simply wrong at present

It probably will remain that way as long as Phil Swern is producer because he seems to think that just because he has a great interest in uncovering these obscure tracks the listeners will automatically have the same enthusiasm which many like me simply do not

And seeing that you mention it what is wrong with the idea of having a 'Hits of the Sixties' show?
A few years ago on a summer bank holiday we had a show called 'Dale's Groovy Sixties' in which Dale Winton did play many rarely heard sixties tracks requested by listeners and at the time we were promised that Radio 2 would do it again at some time in the future
Almost three years later we're still waiting Rolling Eyes

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

We hear the hits of the 60s a lot it's those that weren't hits that should be heard more often, including album tracks.

I don't include obscurities such as B sides of songs whose A were never even a hit though!

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

kengeo · Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 278 Location: Gloucestershire

I would welcome a Sounds Of The 80's show with the same format as SOTS, would love to hear some rarities from that decade.

Maybe Mike Read can host it with his knowledge of music, but would he play Relax??

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

To be honest they could follow the same formula and do a "Sounds Of The" 40's and 50's even if it only had a short run of 6-13 weeks at a time.

I'd listen.

kengeo · Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 278 Location: Gloucestershire

Good idea I know nothing about 40's music, and would be quite interested in listening to what my parents would have listened to in their youth.

I also like 50's music, we never seem to get a 50's Pick Of The Pops.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

There have been 50's POTP but only rarely.

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

Yes, there was a 1959 chart a few months ago and it was better than I thought it would be.
My favourite years will always be 1964-75 though.

Shaky Fan · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 628

If you're interested in 1950s chart hits check out these......

http://www.acrobatmusic.net/?cid=3&cat=4

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

The charts began in 1952, Al Martino was the first to top them.

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

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Thanks Helen...

In that case POTP's could risk going back a little further once in a while...

Again, sticking to a chart format the 50's and 60's often stayed in the chart for many weeks.

Shaky Fan · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 628

In the earliest years the chart was a Top 12 - Top 15 (it varied from week to week). Given how short the majority of songs were in those days it would be possible to play the entire chart but you could have a lot of spare airtime within that hour of the programme.....

For example the very first chart from 14th November 1952 consisted of 15 songs with a combined playing time of 42 minutes 53 seconds.

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Interesting Shaky...

Time to include a few extra tracks of the time Very Happy

Much of the 60's music was short too so I do wonder why they struggle to play the whole song when featuring the early charts of that decade.

They only started getting longer I suppose from approx 1967 and groups like The Beatles( a sweeping generalisation)started to experiment more and the record companies were prepared to allow some groups to do so.