R2OK!

Ian Robinson

I was shocked by the playing of Chris Farlowe's one hit on Ken Bruce's show yesterday morning. Not because of the track itself, as it's nearly up there with Brown-Eyed Girl and All Over The World for tedious ubiquity, but because they played a duff version.

Instead of the single they've played a million times, the Radio 2 system now has a version that appeared on a CD called "99p Guarantees You 73 Minutes 22 Seconds Of Great Music!!!" Exclamation

It opened with the end of the previous track, was speeded up, had a different arrangement, and sounded like a vinyl record with fluff on the needle. How on Earth does such a duff recording end up on the official BBC system? Standards are really, really slipping.

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

I guess you could say that the network is 'showing its BONES a bit' Smile

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ColinB · Guest

I guess either Bones or the SM just keyed in the title as the search term and clicked on the first one that looked about right without even listening to it. As you say, standards really are slipping.

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

I didn't hear the track but later on heard Ken saying they would be looking into why that version slipped in.

I did once complain about a track that was obviously one of the early stereo mixes and not the version that had been the hit. It was passed on and I had a response asking me to let them know of any others! Can't remember who the guy was now 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

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

I've always thought Out Of Time by Chris Farlowe as a great track and one that's not often played on radio. It's certainly better than the original by The Stones on the Aftermath album.
Ironically Ken said on another show recently that it was his favourite track of all time. I guess for once he overruled the feeble producer and wanted it played as a welcome change from all that gay disco rubbish and cheesy ballads that this appalling show normally plays. He must have been disappointed by whatever version was played. As others have said, standards are slipping.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:55 am Post subject:

ColinB · Guest

The trouble (well - one disadvantage) of the BBC's main audio server system is that authorised music companies have a login account direct into the system and have the benefit of an upload interface. This enables not only the transfer of the music file itself but also all the associated metadata (track name, album, artist, writers, producer, version, label, etc etc) as well.

It's the reason that a soon-to-be-released track can be in the system almost as soon as it's mixed in the recording studio (or in ProTools in an artist's bedroom!).

I assume that the dud version of Out of Time got there because somebody at the record label or distributor uploaded it without properly submitting the track metadata and it therefore found itself in the producer's title search. It only needed to be dragged and dropped into the program running order and hey presto - it's on air.

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

Slightly off topic but still on the subject of strange versions. Earlier this week I checked a playlist, I can't remember for which show now, but a well known track, it may have reached no1, that was released in the 60s was on the playlist as coming from a Marks and Spencer CD .................... Rolling Eyes

Why?

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

ColinB · Guest

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

I've noticed recently that on checking the track listings for SOTS and POTP some quite well known tracks seem to come from very strange sources and often not even greatest hit collections

When I look on Amazon for anything of interest to me I usually find them on CD's which are totally more mainstream compared to the BBC listings Confused

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ColinB · Guest

These odd compilation issues are normally quite conspicuous when you put them into iTunes ready for ripping - the album art is often completely different to that on the physical CD!

aviddiva

Pick Of The Pops have previously played a version of Badfinger's Day After Day that was from one of those cheapo compilations, and a version of Dana's All Kinds of Everything that wasn't the hit version.

Phil 'The Collector' Swern produced POTP, so I'm guessing he sat in for Gary Bones one day - hence the Farlowe slip up.
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Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

The first record played on the oldies segment on Wednesday 28th Sept by Richard Allinson sitting in for Steve Wright was the original (best)version of Chris Farlowe's Out of Time-a great song.

What excuse do Messrs Bruce and Bones have for playing naff versions of classic songs- absolutely none-it's just lazy broadcasting.

The sooner these two dinosaurs are shipped out/given their P45's the better.

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

Could just be that Gary Bones has got rid off the rogue copy that had slipped in to the Beeb's PC Mark................. Ken did say they would be making enquiries about it.

If I remember correctly it was Gary who told me who to complain to about another track that was not the 'correct version', it wasn't on their show 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

Ian Robinson · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:27 am Post subject:

jimmy mac · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 21 Location: st neots

Ive noticed they always play the US version of Gimme Some Lovin by the Spencer Davis Group....the original UK is far punchier and well just better...and its the one we all recall......except for the dweebs at the Beeb

Jim...formely cta102
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Tom Dors · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 64

I've been griping about Gimme Some Lovin' for some time now. Would love to hear the original version occasionally.