Seeing John Peel…

Watching “late” night telly a while back (late being any time after 10-pm these days) I thoroughly enjoyed a little programme revolving around the late John Peel’s record collection. To be precise, it was based on a box of John Peel’s essential 45s and featured artists old and new discussing those records and John Peel himself. Actually, it was great TV which I (as a vinyl hound) found truly inspiring and it reaffirmed (if that was necessary) my own dedication to music and vinyl in particular.
There are times in everyone’s life when we doubt the road we have chosen. I’m no exception and sometimes wonder if I shouldn’t get out a bit more and maybe become a gardener or lawyer…or something. But this vinyl bug has a hold of me and I simply can’t imagine a life where I’m not deeply involved in music. So seeing a hero like John Peel discussed on TV with all his records on proud display is somewhat uplifting, maybe because I do crave mainstream acceptance for what I do and need to be reminded that thousands of you would agree that vinyl is more than just a cultish hobby! Maybe it’s the long nights and my total immersion in all thing music that’s causing me to not see the wood for the trees. Or something.
Anyhow, it was a good programme. If you missed it, I’m sure it’ll be repeated at some point and if you need validation for your vinyl addiction then watching the show will surely absolve you of any guilt..should you feel it. What I really liked about Peelie was his complete and utter lack of elitism and his whole hearted acceptance of any music- if he liked it. I’m sure quite a few of you have been in bands and maybe even had your record played on his show. Mine was – apparently – but I missed it, to my ever lasting disappointment*. The only I actually encountered the man was in Guildford in Surrey about 10 years ago. I was carrying a box of about 60 LPs from a local record shop to my car. I had just crossed a main road (with my box) when a shiny silver Mercedes glid past me. I noticed the driver taking an usually long look at my box (of records!!). It took me about 2 seconds to realise it was John Peel and for the briefest moment my crate of vinyl connected two record fanatics in a momentary and unspoken bond of vinyl comradeship. Well, that’s how I saw it..maybe he was looking at something else.
I remember in 1982 when I was fifteen years of age staying up late and listening to every minute of his radio show desperate to hear to EVERYTHING he played. If something sounded promising I’d hit the “record” button on my tape deck and over the years I built up an impressive collection of hundreds of Peel spins. It was thanks to Peel that I recorded all the early SMITHS radio sessions before they’d even released a record. I remeber going to see THE SMITHS play at KINGSTON POLYTHECHNIC to about 200 people, Morrissey sitting in the bar with a pint of Ale before the show chatting to one or two people. No sign of hero worship yet. I remember first hearing THE CRAMPS, THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND, THE MILKSHAKES & THE STINGRAYS on Peel’s show. The latter two were virtually local bands to me, as they played regularly about 6 miles down the road from me at Hammesmith’s legendary Clarendon Hotel. I also saw GREEN ON RED, THE THREE JOHNS and a guy named CARLTON B MORGAN there. The last named was also played on Peel’s show and was a Welsh Captain Beefheart (if you like) and sounded awesome. He’s one of the great lost artists of the 80s I think, although there is a super obscure 12″ EP in existence. I suppose my (and everyone else’s) appreciation of John Peel ties in with my disdain for the music industry in its present shape. Let’s hope someday another music obsessive gets to bend the airwaves to his own unique taste as Peelie did for 40 years or so. Respect!!! (footnote, me and Carlton B actually hooked up online and he is on Facebook!!)
It must seem from my comments and stories on this page that I only listen to old music now and to an extent that is true. I do look forward to time when my once great passion for all new music might be rekindled. I took great pleasure in listening to the CDs some of you sent in. I really enjoyed the ARCTIC MONKEYS in particular, I think that is a band that could go far. I also really like THE CORAL and think the path they¹ve made for themselves in the last few years is one that they are pursuing with great aplomb. One of the great bands of all time I think are THE LAS and it’s good to see them back this year. I haven’t yet heard any new recordings, but after fearing that we’d never see them do anything again, just to know they’re around is enough for the time being.
I would still recommend you listen to my old chum Rick Corcoran who records under the name of THE ORGONE BOX. I sometimes help out on guitar when we play live, but that’s not why I am recommending him. No, it’s out a firm conviction that there is a man who’s a major talent but has had no mainstream success of any note. If you have internet access go to this link:
www.minuszerorecords.com/orgonebox.html
This will give you all the information you need, including reviews and mp3 soundclips. If you do want to explore his music further we do have some CDs for sale here. In the future I am hoping that Rick will finally finish his latest masterpiece, in fact his first new recordings since 1996 (!!!). I’ve heard the demos and works in progress over the last two years and the music does sound stunning. Let¹s hope it gets finished soon. When that happens the plan is for SUGARBUSH RECORDS to release this latest CD. A vinyl version is also on the cards, but that will really depend on cost, it seems more likely that this will be a CD only affair. That may seem odd from a vinyl fan like myself, but issuing an LP his horribly expensive these days. But like, I said I will look into it, maybe it will prove to be viable after all.
Over the years I¹ve spent some considerable amount of brain time thinking about my favourite all time LPs. While this list changed all the time it is time for me to put it down on paper. It¹s not really all that spectacular or surprising, but here we go (in reverse order):
10. Small Faces – “Ogdens Nut Gone Flake” (Immediate UK 1968)
9. Wings – “Band On The Run” (Emi UK 1973)
8. Nick Drake – “Heaven In A Wildflower” (Island sampler LP)
7. Tim Hardin – “The Best OF” (Verve 1969 LP)
6. Stooges – “Fun House” (Elektra 1970 LP), sometimes @ No.1!!
5. Love – “Forever Changes” (Elektra 1967 LP)
4.The Beatles – “Rubber Soul” (Parlophone UK 1965), an obvious choice but it¹s a great LP.
3. The Beatles – “A Hard Days Night” (Parlophone UK 1964), the LP that started it all for me. My granny got me this for my 6th birthday in 1973, and it was like being reborn! (Already?)
2. Jimi Hendrix Experience – “Elelctric Ladyland” (Track 1968 2LP), simply out of this world, a piece of genius.
1. The 13th Floor Elevators – “The Psychedelic Sounds Of…” (International Artists USA 1966 LP) – It appears that this is also Robert Plant¹s favourite LP of all time. A true classic, but it only sounds great on original pressings.
*the song was “Coming into Los Angeles” from my Silent Blue LP on Sugarbush Records from 1990.