R2OK!

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

Presented by Ken Bruce this should be good for anyone who was around then and also those who weren't!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03m75x3

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: 6851

This is on my Listen Again list!

Another thanks,Helen! Smile

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

Don't know whether I was just having a bad day but I really simply could not get into the show at all

I thought it lacked any kind of decent presentation and that the clips were fairly disjointed and that it needed Ken to come in to provide some kind of order to what was clearly interesting archive material

Whilst I'm the first one to admit that I'm certainly not the world's greatest Beatles fan I still feel that as a historical record of their obviously great achievements in the sixties the programme lacked order and direction

Do any of you Beatles lovers agree or is it just me Confused

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

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

I started to listen to this but I think it may have been the wrong time slot, for me at any rate, as I was dashing around in the house doing things so decided to leave it and record it later on to listen to when I've got time.

I must admit it wasn't what I was expecting as it just started with part of the first Beatles fan club record and no introduction from Ken, unless I missed it!

I also thought they had speeded up that Fan Club record as I've heard it before and I'm sure they spoke more slowly. I did have the next 2 at the time but they are long gone so if they are on the show I'll probably remember how they sounded a bit better.

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

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

It's all timed to coincide with the release of "Beatles at the BBC volume 2" and I have to say that while I'd normally go out of my way to listen I couldn't actually be bothered with this. I think the days of the really insightful programmes about the Beatles from R2 (such as those produced by Kevin Howlett) are long gone - and I have many of the earlier ones recorded anyhow - as does Helen no doubt!!!

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

I agree Colin.

I'll listen when I find the time as I'm sure there will be something I've forgotten about!

It just dawned on my that it's 50 years ago since I was given a reel to reel tape recorder for Christmas with a recording of that Fan Club Special that went out the same night as their appearance on Juke Box Jury. It was a very basic machine (well I was only 11) but it wetted my appetite for recording stuff from the radio. At the time our TV also had a radio and you could attach a lead so I used it quite a lot to record from both radio and TV.

I kept that reel for donkeys years but it got recorded over in the 80s in error, I found the very recording on YouTube a few years ago so got it back again.

I don't have any other recordings as they all got erased as I needed to re -use the reels. I've one or two bits that I picked up on TV but rarely look at them.

How technology has evolved!

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

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Funnily enough I'm having a bit of a tidy-up of my home office (which my wife refers to as my "pit") and I've just found some off-air Beatles recordings on both VHS (using the Stereo HiFi tracks to record the audio-only signal) and some Mini Discs. The VHS contains three hours of the Radio 2 "Beatles Weekend", dates between 1st and 3rd May 1999 and there's a load of archive stuff on there. I also have a pile of Radio 1 and 2 docs and features on both audio-cassette and MD which I forgot I had. I'll start the process of digitising them into iTunes soon........

.......well, one day. Soon. Ish.

I also have Parts 1 and 2 of the Brian Mathew series called "The Beatles Story" which was transmitted on Radio 1 back in the early 1970s. I would have had parts 3 and 4 but, in my absence, my Dad didn't use the right combination of keys to record them using my Philips portable audiocassette recorder! I must do a bit of Googling to see if they exist elsewhere.

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7228 Location: North Yorkshire

We recorded it to listen to a bit later, my hubby who has always been a big Beatle fan was very disappointed. He expected it to be recordings from their time at the BBC when in fact it seemed to be more about the Fan Club messages sent out at Christmas. We listened until the end but he was getting more and more irritated!
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

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

I've listened now and I too was a bit disappointed. 50 years on it's great to hear their music and recordings that weren't released previously but I think it's getting close to the stage that it's too long ago.

I wonder how popular the Beatles at the Beeb vol 2 will prove to be?

Funny thing is I can remember an awful a lot of those shows and the Fan Club records mainly I think because a) there were few recording devices and obviously no 'listen again' so you took it in and digested everything far more than you would do today and b) you played records over and over again if you were a mad keen fan as I was.

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

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

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

I read that about the copyright as well Colin.

Still got my Beatles singles as well, in their original covers, with my name on both disc and sleeve!!

Always loved This Boy. George Martin did a fabulous instrumental arrangement on an album that my Mum had that was rarely played. There were 2 slightly different ones out at the time I think, but the album one was my favourite.

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

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

There's a musical arrangement of This Boy in the film "A Hard Day's Night" through the sequence where Ringo does a runner and wanders off along the banks of the Thames in London with his camera. I assume that George Martin arranged and recorded that one, too. It's very simple and very effective.

BTW - my grandson's oft-quoted lines from the film:

"Who's that little old man?"

"It's Paul's Grandad. He's very clean".

Sometimes he'll ask me who I was talking to if we're out. I'll say "That's my old mate Dave. He's very clean". He finds it amusing even if others are puzzled!

Yep. He's been brainwashed! Smile

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

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1189 Location: London

Stumbled across this earlier, tucked away in the wee small hours of Sunday R2 programmes...yes, some of us are familiar with it, but still nice to hear the Fabs in the early days.

Celebrating The Beatles

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b03h4226
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

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

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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