I've just been listening to Tony Blackburn doing Pick of the Pops on Radio 2.
I thought he had an uncertain start when he took over from Dale Winton.
The old fella has really hit his stride now, helped by an updated jingle package.
OK, the programme's not going to contribute much to the sum of human understanding, but it is top-quality pop music radio.
Catch it will you can, Tone, 68, won't be around for ever.
Here's the iPlayer link:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xn8zt/Pick_of_the_Pops_1966_and_1977/
I think it changes each week when the new show is put on.
|
"Tone, 68, won't be around for ever."
I hang on to that thought to help me through the day.
|
...I hang on to that thought to help me through the day...
Some people find Tone's on air persona irritating, but he's a sharp cookie, as this interview shows:
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8038871/Tony-Blackburn-interview-So-what-if-people-call-me-cheesy.html
|
>> I thought he had an uncertain start when he took over from Dale Winton.
>>
>> The old fella has really hit his stride now, helped by an updated jingle package.
Funnily enough I made exactly the same point to Mrs B about halfway through today's 1958 chart.
>> OK, the programme's not going to contribute much to the sum of human understanding, but
>> it is top-quality pop music radio.
And if you listen regularly the show is quite an insight into how the musical zeitgeist can completely change in two or three years. The 73 chart played on 15 Jan was crammed with pop/rock from Quo, Bowie, Trex, Free, Sweet, the Strawbs and several others. The Xmas hangover of Jimmy Osmond's Long Haired Liver was a bit of a spoiler but his big bruvs' 'Crazy Horses' was a far better track then I gave credit for at the time. One of the first eco-themed songs as well?
A week later he did a Jan 76 chart, mostly disco & dull as ditchwater.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 5 Feb 11 at 16:19
|
...Funnily enough I made exactly the same point to Mrs B...
That's two in the "I like Tone' corner, which is one more than I thought there would be.
I'm sure the first two or three shows were taped, and even someone with Blackburn's experience cannot give the same oomph that he can inject into a live broadcast.
Brian Matthew tapes his Sounds of the Sixties show, and while he is another brilliant broadcaster, I reckon that's why some people find the programme dreary and lacking in pace.
|
|
Desmond Carrington on a sunday used to be brill
|
>> Desmond Carrington on a sunday used to be brill
Used to him on Tuesdays while waiting to collect Miss B from her Brownie leader stints. Heard quite a few bits I subsequently tracked down on Napster including Cherish the Ladies lovely musical version of Yeates's poem The Ballad of the Foxhunter (words at tinyurl.com/48l8qra )
According to R2 website his slot is now 19:00 on Friday.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 5 Feb 11 at 17:08
|
|
Desmond Carrington must be in his nineties. Can't they let someone younger have a go.
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Sat 5 Feb 11 at 17:12
|
>> Desmond Carrington must be in his nineties. Can't they let someone younger have a go.
Have a go at what?
The whole point of DC is that he's actually engaged with stuff right back to the thirties.
|
|
Some new ideas, new music , new ways of presenting. Too many oldies on radio and TV who should have retired years ago. Carrington is an embarrassment to listen to
|
Our local stations are mostly rubbish. BUT we get 567 Cape Talk doing solid gold on Saturdays and Sundays, which is brilliant.
Came in to work today with Sister Golden Hair, These Boots are made for Walking, Rocket man, and Southern Cross.
GET SOME!
|
|
Iffy you posted this knowing I was away ! :-)
|
...Iffy you posted this knowing I was away ! :-)...
Moi?
But I do have some support from Bromptonaut who has also noticed Tone's been cooking on gas in the last few weeks.
If one happens not to be a fan, I can't imagine what's worse, a Tone on top form, or a Tone not at his best.
|
and the worst thing would be tone death
im a fan of his
|
Don't forget, Tone's just starting on Radio2
He's doing 1975 and 1984, not sure about '84, but '75 should be good.
|
|
Just turned over to it....
|
yer like pick up the pieces
/............man..
|
Supertramp and the Average Whites were a good start, but things have just taken a downward turn with Fox.
|
>> Supertramp and the Average Whites were a good start, but things have just taken a
>> downward turn with Fox.
Dana's not my bag either but I bet BBD would!!
And Fox gave TB an opening for puns - wasn't that another fearture of his days as Radio One Breakfast Man.
|
"Dana's not my bag either but I bet BBD would!! "
I certainly would. What does she look like?
|
Thanks for the hedzup iffy, nearly forgot. Supertramp just finished AWB playing now.
I think you're right that he's doing it live; timechecks, weather and particulalry listener comments are pretty diagnostic. Never missed the live element when Dale did it but Tony's a natural at that format.
|
|
Keep it up lads, I can compile my Itunes playlist, and not have to listen to "tone"
|
|
Just realised this will be crashing downhill from now... with the possible exception of Queen Now I'm Here and maybe Steve Harley Make Me Smile if that's your thing.
|
maybe they should give a list of records they are going to play in a pre pack format
:-)
|
|
He missed out Queen... what on earth???
Last edited by: Fenlander on Sat 19 Feb 11 at 13:21
|
|
Not surprised, he is a stylistics kind of Guy
|
>> Not surprised, he is a stylistics kind of Guy
>
Couldn't keep away from it then Zeddo.
Syreeta!!!! Oh dear Oh dear!!!
|
|
Its off now. If I need this kind of nostalgia trip I shall re-arrange my itunes by date.
Last edited by: Zero on Sat 19 Feb 11 at 13:33
|
Tone still makes a thing of his dreadful puns, he tells a few on his twitter site if anyone can be bothered to Google it.
One I remember was when he introduced the record Venus in Blue Jeans with the quip: "One slip of the tongue and we're all off the air."
Thereby saying what everyone was thinking, which I guess is one of the ways of engaging with the audience.
|
I think you may be right F. I commented upthread on how dull 76 was compared to 73 and we seem to be on another discotrek this week.
Stylistics now uuugghhhh - now I remember why I listened to Buddy Holly so much in my teens (I was 15 when this chart was current)
|
I'm still listening in the hope I've forgotten 1975 and it'll get better.
Now if it was this week in 1972...
T.Rex - Jeepster
Cilla Black - Something tells me
Benny Hill - Ernie
The Faces - Stay with me
America - Horse with no name
Don McLean - American pie
Slade - Look wot you dun
T.Rex - Telegram sam
and so on...
|
|
Well the odd track rears up put of the disco trough- Helen Reddy's Angie Baby was a bit different as was Frankie Valli - kids off with school next month to see Jersey Boys.
|
>> Well the odd track rears up put of the disco trough- Helen Reddy's Angie Baby
>> was a bit different as was Frankie Valli - kids off with school next month
>> to see Jersey Boys.
In the West End? seen it - its a good musical night out.
|
Yeah,
School music trip. Down to London on Wednesday morn, some music workshop stuff, a show & overnight in a hotel then more workshops & a matinee on day two. Home in time for tea.
And at £150 a head and two of them going Dad's not smiling!!
|
>>>And at £150 a head and two of them going Dad's not smiling!!
We never say no to any trip because they've been some great places... but the costs with them just 2yrs apart makes us cough from time to time.
The deepest pocket dip will be 2012/2013 when they both qualify for the 10 day ski trip.
|
|
I'm being a bit unfair actually F. I'm paying for son 'cos its relevant to his Music GCSE but daughter who's in upper 6th is paying her own way.
|
...The deepest pocket dip will be 2012/2013 when they both qualify for the 10 day ski trip...
My mother couldn't afford to send me on the skiing trip.
Just as well, I couldn't get out of school quick enough during the day, so I'd have paid not to go.
|
|
Our girls are really lucky... they have extensive classroom friendship groups and I suspect have rather too much fun at school sometimes! In fact I know as I've seen the facebook pictures.... I really don't approve but sometimes Mrs F and I just have to laugh.
|
...Our girls are really lucky... they have extensive classroom friendship groups...
Gender stereotype: Girls tend to have more friends than boys.
|
>>>Girls tend to have more friends than boys.
Indeed last year we had to buy a big tent for the summer sleepovers to avoid tripping over the darlings on the floors of every room in the morning... mind you our house is quite small.
|
1975 was a disappointment, wasn't it?
I'm not hopeful '84 will be much better.
|
Cockernee Rebel, good start.
Wish i hadn't just listened to the news, we're still the worlds police in ambitious politician's minds.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Sat 19 Feb 11 at 14:03
|
1984 will be better if Tone makes the right choices. We could have..
Eurythmics, Nena(anyone remember Nena?), Thompson Twins, Queen, Frankie etc
|
|
Ah the Thompson twins, silly haircuts but the odd musical gem, just downloaded the greatest hits from the bay shop.
|
Not sure about 99 red baloons but there's actually some good stuff in this one. I'd just got together with Mrs B in 1984 ansd was being drawn away from chart music.
In fact the whole neww romantic thing sound better than I remebered.
|
...In fact the whole neww romantic thing sound better than I remebered...
Tend to agree, but it's not something I want to listen to very often.
The Style Council's on now - things are looking up.
|
I was a bit too old at the time but remember Nena being lusted after by lads of a certain age after a TOTP appearance in leather jeans.
The original 99 luftballons with Nena...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztYSlNazJno&feature=related
27yrs on she's still looking OK and performing.
|
>> The original 99 luftballons with Nena...
>>
>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztYSlNazJno&feature=related
Energetic performer isn't she and no stick insect either. I doubt you'd find any of today's female stars performing in a tee-shirt & leggings. One of the other versions on the U-tube side bar is TV broadcast version with soft focus etc - quite a contrast.
Actually I rather like digging out the home language versions of UK hits from mainland european performers. I've both the English (Come What May) and original french (Apres Toi) versions of the song that won Eurovision for Vicky Leandros in 1972 on my MP3. The frequency with which they come up back to back suggests that random is nothing of the sort.
|
|
The TTs were very typical of the 80s and, a bit like Dire Straits, their music was good hi-fi demo material. I still have my LP which I think was Quick Step and Side Kick.
|
fantastic second half
thankfully tone left out the dreadful gladioli waving smitts
|
"the dreadful gladioli waving smitts"
Be careful what you say, you'll have Rattle after you...
|
>> you'll have Rattle after you...
... with Edna Everage hot on his tail
What on earth is this thread about by the way? Surely it can't be about an over-the-hill disc jockey and a long list of bubblegum bands?
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Sat 19 Feb 11 at 15:17
|
...Surely it can't be about an over-the-hill disc jockey...
Tone's not over the hill, he's sounding as good as ever, but if anyone has a right to be ageist on here, you do. :)
|
|
Iffy - he's over the hill. I don't care about ageism in this respect. Briefly caught a bit of it this afternoon - sounded like my grandfather....:-)
|
... he's over the hill...
Matter of opinion, mine is today's programme was another first-class example of pop music radio.
That style of presenting may not be to everyone's taste, but Tone is good at it.
|
|
I once "met" Tony Blackburn in Selfridges on Oxford St. When he used to be on the radio I disliked him but in the flesh he was worse. He was promoting something or other in the store. Can't remember what but he engaged me ( I trust ramdomly ) in public conversation from a little dais. I do remember wanting to punch him but I must have resisted. Man makes my skin crawl.
|
...Man makes my skin crawl...
I nearly met Tony Blackburn when I lived in a shared flat off Harley Street in central London.
Among the sharers was a young woman who worked in a chemist in Marylebone High Street.
The chemist was next to the BBC Radio London studios, and Tone chatted her up when he called in for his Lemsips.
He came to call for her once to take her to a Grace Jones concert.
We were all in the flat and so excited to hear Tone's voice over the entryphone.
He's always been my favourite DJ, brilliant at what he does for nearly 50 years.
|
|
Different folks, different strokes I suppose. I'd go so far as to say I can't bear him. Never could, but as you point out, some must have seen something in him I never did.
|
>> Different folks, different strokes I suppose.
If everyone liked the same things, and had the same opinions, what a boring world we would live in...............
|
>>
>> The chemist was next to the BBC Radio London studios, and Tone chatted her up
>> when he called in for his Lemsips.
Good god how awful, no wonder women turn lesbian and use turkey basters.
|
I quite like lesbians. Well, that is, I quite like watching...
Oh never mind...
:-)
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Sat 19 Feb 11 at 15:52
|
|
Humph, wrong web site my old son.
|
|
I know, I keep typing in 4play and ending up here.
|
I have 2 lesbians living next door.
Very nice girls they are.
In November , they asked what I would like for Christmas.
They got me a lovely Rolex.
I think they misunderstood me when I said I wanna watch..... ;-)
|
Swiss watch to boot...
Edit - gotta be a wind-up...
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Sat 19 Feb 11 at 16:03
|
>> Eurythmics, Nena(anyone remember Nena?), Thompson Twins, Queen, Frankie etc
Heard all of them this week IIRC on Absolute 80s absolute80s.com/
|
Tone's doing 1964 and 1978 today - it could be pop and punk tastic.
|
|
'64 miight have The Stones improving a Cilla-fest. '78 could be the combined joy of Kate Bush and Blondie... plus some dancing from the ELO fans!
Last edited by: Fenlander on Sat 12 Mar 11 at 08:40
|
plus some dancing from the ELO fans!
Cue iffy in flares !
|
...Cue iffy in flares !...
Could've been Jeff Lynne, me.
|
"the combined joy of Kate Bush and Blondie..."
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
|
|
Nothing Tastic about Tone.
|
What is it about Tone's talent and all-round brilliance at radio presenting that some of you find so threatening?
I can't draw like Picasso, but I can still admire and appreciate the guy's work.
|
|
We're teasing you iffy (at least I am) ! :-)
Last edited by: Pugugly on Sat 12 Mar 11 at 12:28
|
...We're teasing you iffy (at least I am) ! :-)...
Well, I wasn't being entirely serious when I compared Tone to Picasso.
Only 25 minutes to go....
|
Be still my pounding heart....
A Citroen Blackburn doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it ? ;-)
|
He's introduced six records in about 15 minutes and not crashed a vocal.
Live pop music radio perfection.
|
|
6 records at an average of 3 mins each don't leave much talk time.
|
"and not crashed a vocal"
He's just fluffed it. Stuttered and had to clear his throat.
|
>> Be still my pounding heart....
>>
>> A Citroen Blackburn doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it ? ;-)
No but it has about the right amount of charisma...
|
|
74 and 91 this week. Latter is outside my era for chart music but should be some goodies from 74. Is there a pattern to the years played. Last week included 72, though as the later year and there's a previous post of either mine or Iffy's noting a shift from 73 to 75.
|
I've not noticed a pattern to the selection, other than there's always a 60s or 70s, and the earlier year is on first.
The Great Man is more comfortable with the older music, although he did carve himself a dance music niche with a specialist show on BBC Radio London in the late 1980s.
|
|
The music was good today, he was pretty dull and as crap as I expected. Good stuff for a garage clear out.
|
...he was pretty dull and as crap as I expected...
There's none so blind as those that won't see - and none so deaf as those that won't hear. :)
|
|
Just listened to a cracking R4 sketch skitting old TB-----funny. Even funnier that this was on a casette tape I found in the attic - it was a recording of a mid-70s radio programme "Week-Ending" the sketch was about a clear out that R1 were planning in which was expected to be a casualty !
Last edited by: Pugugly on Sun 27 Mar 11 at 16:43
|
>> it was a recording of a mid-70s radio programme "Week-Ending"
Blimey, that stirs a few memories!! Best in it's early days when the cast included Sheila Staefell and a young actor by the name of David Jason. I suppose a lot of the jokes would be lost today as they were heavily affected by the news and politics of the time. Some stuff like a little sung skit in a mock asian accent about Sikhs, motorbikes and the then recently compulsory helmets would also fail the PC test.
and now here is next weeks news........
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sun 27 Mar 11 at 17:36
|
It was compulsory Friday night listening for me....that sketch you mention is actually on the tape I found....!
The news that night was about "Britain's Economic Woes - She must pay her way" we're still waiting !
|
|
Just noticed, I'd helpfully noted the date on the label - this one was 13.8.1976 - despite everything still a pretty good sound.
|
It was compulsory Friday night listening for me..
>
>>>>>>and me
|
|
I'm going to put it on a MP3 file once I've moved and settled down - will e-mail it on for you.
|
look forward to it
thanks
|
Iffy said:
>> The old fella has really hit his stride now, helped by an updated jingle package.
He is a harmless enough chap, very professional and confident. But there is far too much ego for me and it gets in the way of the music. I don't want to hear shallow and banal banter between and over the top of records. Give me a John Peel any day. Or even a Rick Wakeman.
|
Well funny you should say that - My self recorded tapes that I "found" today include a batch of early Rick Wakeman - I found him totally different.
Another person that Weekending were taking the proverbial from was "Kid" Jensen. Wonder what became of him ?
|
im pretty sure the kid went to canada
ontario?
|
David 'Kid' Jensen, now 60, was last heard of on Capital Radio and was supposed to be moving to Smooth:
www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2010/12/10/17093-david-jensen-joins-smooth-radio/
Don't think he's turned up yet, so maybe that fell through.
Going back to The Great Man, I'm surprised anyone would have a problem with Tony Blackburn's ego.
One of his qualities is self effacement, every show contains some self-mocking.
He is also very respectful to the listeners.
One of the CDs jumped on Saturday, and Tone apologised for it.
|
>> David 'Kid' Jensen, now 60, was last heard of on Capital Radio and was supposed
>> to be moving to Smooth:
Often to be seen wandering around Esher.
|
Pugugly said:
>> Well funny you should say that - My self recorded tapes that I "found" today
>> include a batch of early Rick Wakeman - I found him totally different.
In what way? He now has a entertaining seaside postcard humour style of presenting. He was live, but changed to recorded because he was too 'naughty'.
>> Another person that Weekending were taking the proverbial from was "Kid" Jensen. Wonder what became
>> of him ?
He went to Planet Rock where he was the side kick to Rick Wakeman. It worked surprisingly well, Rick, endlessly talking about his mighty organ, and Kid Jenson, the smoothy. I think he is still at PR even though RW has now left.
|
Now showing on BBC4 a ToTP retrospective covering 1964-75. Currently playingProcul Harum A Whiter Shade of Pale.
Started with Dave Clark & his 5 - already quite interesting to see how musical & particularly performance styles evolve.
|
>> Now showing on BBC4 a ToTP retrospective covering 1964-75.
www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?f=5&t=5822
|
|
64 and 79 today. Cannot remember much from the early one (was still preschool at time) but 79 should include Ian Dury, Blondie & Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. Oh and I guess thet Art Garfunkel thing from the bunny rabits film was around then as well.
Last edited by: VxFan on Tue 5 Apr 11 at 01:01
|
...64 and 79 today...
Thanks for that, I was wondering.
Same as you, Bromp, I'll not remember any of '64 from the time.
But I bet both of us will know nearly every song, word for word.
|
Just heard a bit of 1962.
A real mixture, quality stuff by Roy Orbison and Sam Cooke, then Hole in the Ground by Bernard Cribbins and the Z-Cars Theme.
Another instrumental in the chart by Acker Bilk, and number one was Wonderful Land by The Shadows.
|
Tone's sitting in for Steve Wright a week on Friday:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010hf8v
Can't wait.
He's also doing a songs from the movies programme on April 25, and one hit wonders on May 2.
That's Tonetastic!
And don't forget Pick of the Pops today at 1pm - 1971 and 1985.
|
|
Thanks for the reminder for today. 1971 might just have a rare glimpse of Deep Purple in the charts unless they skip it. 1985 was.... very 80s!
|
|
Thinking about the 1971 half.... I wonder if Tone has a choice of what they do/don't play? Seems some twee and joke stuff is kept at the expense of good music.
|
|
Catching up on this week's show via I-player. Expected 1971 to include Melanie's roller skates and Ernie the milkman but turned out to be the 2 Jan chart for that year rather than December. Lots of good stuff though, T-Rex - Ride a White Swan and a tear jerking 'westering home' type thing about the southern trades that I thought was Val Doonican but turned out to be Andy Williams
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 31 Dec 11 at 20:22
|
|
Clive Dunn almost but not quite Corporal Jones as 'Grandad' was number 2 and number 1 Dave Edmunds 'I Hear you Knockin'.
|
|
I think 1971 was the year I stopped listening to music at all, and you've just reminded me why.
|
Tone and Diddy David Hamilton are performing together on 'Let's dance for sport relief' tonight, BB1 7pm:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cmkr4
Keith Lemon is one of the comedy panel who will be passing comment - presumably he'll be in 'family TV' mode rather than Celebrity Juice...
|
|
I cant comprehend anything worse than those three sharing the same TV screen.,
|
>> I cant comprehend anything worse than those three sharing the same TV screen.,
Graham Norton's also on the panel?
|
|
Have to agree insofar as it would be difficult to combine three more irritating and vacuous characters. Still, I clearly remember being given a piece of sage advice when I first began work in the fashion industry. It was to never over-estimate the taste of the public. It has proven remarkably accurate over the years.
|
>> Have to agree insofar as it would be difficult to combine three more irritating and
>> vacuous characters.
Are you including Keith Lemon in those three Humph? Lemon is only a comic creation of Leigh Francis, and while many things, I'm not sure you could call him vacuous if you've watched much of his stuff on TV. But, of course, each to his own :)
|
|
Been watching a re-run of TOTP from the 80s on BBC 4 - Blackburn was on one of the episodes. He was crap then as well.
|
Getting on for fifty years at the top of a profession where most do well to survive five.
Truly brilliant broadcaster.
|
|
I kept Radio 2 on later this afternoon, and caught a feature called "Esther Rantzen's Reggae Anthems"... Worthy of a slot in Viz, it was. Next week (I kid you not): "Hale and Pace on Drum & Bass".
|
Tone and Diddy didn't quite make it through to the dance final. Despite an entertaining performance they were pipped to the 2nd qualifying place by comedian Terry Alderton, who I'd never heard of but he did a good Tina Turner. (The EastEnders girls got the most votes.)
Shame Ulrika Jonsson and Angelos Epithemiou didn't get through though.
Excellent Saturday night entertainment!
|
Just goes to show doesn't it? One man's meat etc. I simply don't feel I've got enough time left in this life to waste it on stuff like that ! I shall continue to waste it in other ways of course but watching Tony Blackburn dancing would come fairly low on my list of things to do before I shuffle off my mortal whassname...
:-)
|
>> I kept Radio 2 on later this afternoon, and caught a feature called "Esther Rantzen's
>> Reggae Anthems"... Worthy of a slot in Viz, it was.
I was quite convinced, until she played Althea & Donna.....
|
Tone's back on top form - CGNorwich
