[Inkblot]

Originally Posted by mikeyloo

Prog Rock was considered so seriously that it had a weekly show on Radio 3 in glorious unprocessed stereo - Sounds Interesting with Derek Jewell.

I'm amazed that anyone remembers that show - I don't and I used to listen to it. Jewell was the music critic for the Sunday Times and, having searched online for the show, it looks like it was a weird mix of mainstream album tracks and out-there prog. But I can't remember a thing about it!

[mikeyloo]

Some it was very out there. More like an OU lecture than a radio show. Tracks would go on and on... Later, Alan Freeman's Saturday Show got the presentation spot-on: over-blown classical sting, a few knowledgeable words, play... Looking back on the music, I wonder if history will judge the unpretentious pop better than the over-blown serious stuff?

[trevgo]

Originally Posted by Rodney Collins

I agree with a lot of the comments in this thread but, as a guy who worked for Radio 1 & 2 in the 70s can I say that the then Controller of the two networks really did try to update both radio stations and introduce new music.
Although not a lover of pop music, Douglas Muggeridge hired new people who did know about it. I was only 22 when I joined the BBC and efforts were made to bring in different programmes and at one point Radio 1 producers were told to select more records by new artists for the playlist. Some have mentioned J Walker whose programme was broader in content but it's certainly wrong to suggest people like Walker, Mike Raven and John Peel were disliked by the guys in the grey suits. Both the Controller and the then Managing Director of Radio gave their backing to such shows, even when audience rating were maybe a fraction of those listening to Tony Blackburn or Jimmy Young.
Radio 1 was set up in a hurry to supposedly fill the hole left by the pirate stations. It wasnt properly thought through and it was probably 1971 or 72 before both networks even established their own identities

How interesting!

How did Walker get the freedom he did in a mainstream, lunchtime show? Did the audience dip because of his noticeably different (and heavily American) music choice?

[Rodney Collins]

Originally Posted by trevgo

How interesting!

How did Walker get the freedom he did in a mainstream, lunchtime show? Did the audience dip because of his noticeably different (and heavily American) music choice?

Well, Doreen Davies was, as far as I can remember, working with JW at least for some of the time I worked at the BBC and Doreen was the kind of executive producer who would listen to new ideas. Although credited for much of Jimmy Young's success and his 'play safe' format, she did encourage new music and new broadcasters onto the schedule. As far as the audience figures were concerned, I still have everything from my years at Radio1/2 and Luxembourg (estimates from the BBC's Audience Resaerch Department and from Gallup etc) and, again from memory, JW had shows at 9am in 1970-71 and then did lunchtimes/early afternoons and the figures just wouldnt have been as high as for the breakfast show for instance.
The schedules changed a lot between 1970-74 but these changes were not always down to the audience figures. Remember, too, Radios 1 and 2 had shared hours, usually in the very early morning and in the mid-evenings.
But if you are looking for programmes 'off playlist' take a look at 'Sounds of the 70s' in 1973 with presenters such as Bob Harris, John Peel, Alan Black, Pete Drummond and Anne Nightingale. These shows did quite well, audience wise, given the poor signal in darkness hours for 247metres.

[crusher19860138]

1053/1089 were the best 2 frequencies Radio 1 had on MW,they had a large coverage area,supplemented by 1485 and 1107.

[Glenn A]

Originally Posted by Rodney Collins

I agree with a lot of the comments in this thread but, as a guy who worked for Radio 1 & 2 in the 70s can I say that the then Controller of the two networks really did try to update both radio stations and introduce new music.
Although not a lover of pop music, Douglas Muggeridge hired new people who did know about it. I was only 22 when I joined the BBC and efforts were made to bring in different programmes and at one point Radio 1 producers were told to select more records by new artists for the playlist. Some have mentioned J Walker whose programme was broader in content but it's certainly wrong to suggest people like Walker, Mike Raven and John Peel were disliked by the guys in the grey suits. Both the Controller and the then Managing Director of Radio gave their backing to such shows, even when audience rating were maybe a fraction of those listening to Tony Blackburn or Jimmy Young.
Radio 1 was set up in a hurry to supposedly fill the hole left by the pirate stations. It wasnt properly thought through and it was probably 1971 or 72 before both networks even established their own identities

Maybe it wasn't until 1979, when Radio 1 was at last freed from Radio 2 programmes in the evening, that the station became fully independent of the old Light Programme. However, throughout the seventies both networks had a massive listenership of 40 million a week, something even Morecambe and Wise fell well short of on the television.

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by Glenn A

However, throughout the seventies both networks had a massive listenership of 40 million a week, something even Morecambe and Wise fell well short of on the television.

I'm not sure it was that large, although only 19 ILR stations existed until 1980, they all dented R1/2 listening in their areas, some with a 50% share. Remember the combined audience for Capital, BRMB. Piccadilly, City, Metro, Clyde, Forth, and Hallam would have amounted to 10-12 million.

[Rodney Collins]

Originally Posted by Glenn A

Maybe it wasn't until 1979, when Radio 1 was at last freed from Radio 2 programmes in the evening, that the station became fully independent of the old Light Programme. However, throughout the seventies both networks had a massive listenership of 40 million a week, something even Morecambe and Wise fell well short of on the television.

Well I was a Manager there in the 70's and have access to all of the audience research estimates and nowhere can I find such a figure but - if true - its very impressive. Are you sure you are talking about a weekly audience here and not an 'ever listened' one?

[old pilot]

Originally Posted by Mark C

I'm not sure it was that large, although only 19 ILR stations existed until 1980, they all dented R1/2 listening in their areas, some with a 50% share. Remember the combined audience for Capital, BRMB. Piccadilly, City, Metro, Clyde, Forth, and Hallam would have amounted to 10-12 million.

ILR dented Luxy and the BBC big time because FM delivered a quality signal for the commercial stations and needletime demanded review time.

It was a nice time to be on late night radio in one of the big metro ILR stations. The lack of needletime which was burnt up in prime time meant a presenter had to look elsewhere to fill the 4 hour shifts after 6.00pm.

But new singles and album review time did not count.

So we would all play this game of trying to find the next track to be lifted from an album as a single. Not rocket science but fun.

It meant it was possible to play all the tracks from a new Abba,Bee Gees or Gerry Rafferty album which had not been released as a single.

This also coincided with some superb bands such as Fleetwood Mac and Dire Straits.

Radio 1 on 247 and Luxembourg on 208 medium wave must have been so frustrated and not being able to deliver the music to all the new ICE (In Car Entertainment).

By the mid 70's medium wave was old hat and cassette players were also sold as part of an AM/FM car system.

[Felonious Munk]

Bowie was doing BBC sessions from 1967.

http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/collectors/bbc.htm

[TragicDoggie]

Originally Posted by LaurelandHardy

I can remember John Peel playing the whole of David Bowie's album "Low" on his Radio 1 programme a few weeks before the album was released.

I can remember John Peel playing the whole Side 2 (Vinyl back then) of In the Land of Grey and Pink by Caravan one Sunday. All 22mins & 40seconds worth. Top Draw.

[Shrewn]

Originally Posted by TragicDoggie

I can remember John Peel playing the whole Side 2 (Vinyl back then) of In the Land of Grey and Pink by Caravan one Sunday. All 22mins & 40seconds worth. Top Draw.

Might sound an odd question but did he announce every song or just let it play with the gaps inbetween? I remember when new albums would be featured on shows but would be selected tracks and usually not in order. This was in the days of "illegal taping is killing music" complete with skull and bones.
I guess a lot of artisits would have been a bit sniffy if their albums were played in full, in order, especially on FM Stereo!

[Breizh]

Originally Posted by trevgo

I was 7 when R1 started. By age 11 my favourite past time was recording my favourite songs off Noel Edmonds. Somebody mentioned Johnnie Walker - somehow he got more license than any other daytime jock. His "one to watch" was always leftfield to the rest of the playlist. I remember "The Joker" by Steve Miller and "Union Man" by the Cate Brothers.

Same age, same pastime as you and can still remember JW's One to Watch. So many classic tracks that weren't hits (Howard Werth & the Moonbeams, Wet Willie, Dennis Linde, alongside those you mentioned above and Warm Love (Van Morrison), Satellite of Love (Lou Reed), Already Gone (Eagles). It's also true of Noel Edmonds's breakfast show record of the week and album of the week. Often a chance to play something that was a bit different from the usual playlist. From around that same era, I can certainly remember him playing Joni Michell, Jim Croce, John Stewart and Harry Chapin, which would certainly not be in heavy daytime rotation. During the early seventies, the weekend slots were also quite different from daytime programming. Scene and Heard used to have rock artists on being interviewed. I remember Stuart Henry playing the US number One on Saturday mornings in the early seventies. Rosko would be playing a lot of soul stuff, Noel Edmonds singer-songwriters. So it wasn't all Smashie and Nicey playing fantabulous 45s

[Inkblot]

Originally Posted by Shrewn

Might sound an odd question but did he announce every song or just let it play with the gaps in between?

Ah, but side two of In The Land Of Grey And Pink is one uninterrupted track, Nine Feet Underground.

(It's made up of several "tunes":

I. "Nigel Blows a Tune"
II. "Love's a Friend"
III. "Make It 76"
IV. "Dance of the Seven Paper Hankies"
V. "Hold Grandad by the Nose"
VI. "Honest I Did!"
VII. "Disassociation"
VIII. "100% Proof"

in true progressive rock fashion, it's a series of long, largely instrumental sections featuring a slightly distorted electronic organ as the lead instrument)

[Shrewn]

Originally Posted by Inkblot

Ah, but side two of In The Land Of Grey And Pink is one uninterrupted track, Nine Feet Underground.

(It's made up of several "tunes":

I. "Nigel Blows a Tune"
II. "Love's a Friend"
III. "Make It 76"
IV. "Dance of the Seven Paper Hankies"
V. "Hold Grandad by the Nose"
VI. "Honest I Did!"
VII. "Disassociation"
VIII. "100% Proof"

in true progressive rock fashion, it's a series of long, largely instrumental sections featuring a slightly distorted electronic organ as the lead instrument)

I have an urge to go and get hold of a copy and sit in a darkened room with a bottle of decent red!

[TragicDoggie]

Originally Posted by Shrewn

I have an urge to go and get hold of a copy and sit in a darkened room with a bottle of decent red!

I strongly advise you to do so, Its a great album.

I have it on CD TWICE. Forgot to add I lost the vinyl copy a long time ago.

1st CD is the original (Silver disc with DERAM written in white on a red background)

2nd CD is the Digi Remastered version with Bonus Tracks.

Its a Classic Album in my opinion. Nice to see some Caravan 'Fans' on here.

[TragicDoggie]

Originally Posted by Shrewn

Might sound an odd question but did he announce every song or just let it play with the gaps inbetween? I remember when new albums would be featured on shows but would be selected tracks and usually not in order. This was in the days of "illegal taping is killing music" complete with skull and bones.
I guess a lot of artisits would have been a bit sniffy if their albums were played in full, in order, especially on FM Stereo!

He just let Side 2 play non stop. As that was on 247 mw I doubt anyone would have bother to Tape it. MONO SOUND, SNAP'S & CRACKLES ETC.

It made me go out the very next day and buy it, And my local record shop had a copy in stock. Happy Days.