Haven’t listened to the 1st one, but the 2nd is kick-ass; around the 44ish minute Peel goes from the Clash to Otis Redding to Had Me a Real Good Time by Faces–so good. Too bad there are no more John Peels with radio shows…
Also, from the WTF department: Peel lived in Dallas in his mid 20’s hanging out with high school kids and going to the local friday night drag races? Did I hear that right? I just don’t know how to incorporate this fact into my present world-view…
You’re absolutely right — he did that, and its how his career got moving. He credits The Beatles, because he was able to say he was from Liverpool (sort of true) and sold himself to his first radio employers as an expert on The Beatles. Presumably, he made stuff up, like everyone else…
Also, from the WTF department: Peel lived in Dallas in his mid 20’s hanging out with high school kids and going to the local friday night drag races? Did I hear that right?
I remember back in the 1980s tuning in to John Peel on BBC World Service. It was like a broadcast from another planet.
Hard for the youngsters to understand how your life could be changed by buying a shortwave receiver. Things are better now. You can get stuff from all over the world with just a click of the mouse.
Well, that is a withering portrait even if I don’t know who Oxo Katie is. Sheds some light on why he would bother about drag races in the suburban wastelands of Dallas.
T’other interesting fact is that Peel was loitering in the Dallas Police HQ when Ruby shot Oswald. Peel on the death of Otis Redding: “He was just beginning to progress beyond soul music.” Peel on a reggae record which turned up on on elf his early playlists, before he had full control: “Well, that was a work of great loveliness.” (sighs and scornful irony).
I fell in alongside Peel during one particularly muddy Glastonbury. We chatted amiably, and I warmed somewhat towards him—even complimenting on that Family show, which I did quite like. Nevertheless, I felt offended when he made obvious reference to the encounter on his show, later—claiming that I had mistaken him for Whispering Bob. Trivial I know, yet it changed our meeting into the sort of charm- and- harm episode that have become familiar to me when rubbing shoulders with English public school types. He used to trash family values too, whenever he stood in for Annie Nightingale (e.g Granny writes in for Sunday Girl by Blondie—Peel reads the post guard in sarcastic tones, then plays an Exiles record.)
{ 6 comments }
phenomenal cat 10.19.16 at 6:37 pm
Haven’t listened to the 1st one, but the 2nd is kick-ass; around the 44ish minute Peel goes from the Clash to Otis Redding to Had Me a Real Good Time by Faces–so good. Too bad there are no more John Peels with radio shows…
Also, from the WTF department: Peel lived in Dallas in his mid 20’s hanging out with high school kids and going to the local friday night drag races? Did I hear that right? I just don’t know how to incorporate this fact into my present world-view…
harry b 10.19.16 at 9:22 pm
You’re absolutely right — he did that, and its how his career got moving. He credits The Beatles, because he was able to say he was from Liverpool (sort of true) and sold himself to his first radio employers as an expert on The Beatles. Presumably, he made stuff up, like everyone else…
engels 10.20.16 at 1:45 am
Also, from the WTF department: Peel lived in Dallas in his mid 20’s hanging out with high school kids and going to the local friday night drag races? Did I hear that right?
It’s certainly one way of putting it
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/1999/jan/23/weekend.julieburchill
maidhc 10.20.16 at 7:41 am
I remember back in the 1980s tuning in to John Peel on BBC World Service. It was like a broadcast from another planet.
Hard for the youngsters to understand how your life could be changed by buying a shortwave receiver. Things are better now. You can get stuff from all over the world with just a click of the mouse.
phenomenal cat 10.20.16 at 6:16 pm
re: engels
Well, that is a withering portrait even if I don’t know who Oxo Katie is. Sheds some light on why he would bother about drag races in the suburban wastelands of Dallas.
Jim Buck 10.22.16 at 1:26 pm
T’other interesting fact is that Peel was loitering in the Dallas Police HQ when Ruby shot Oswald. Peel on the death of Otis Redding: “He was just beginning to progress beyond soul music.” Peel on a reggae record which turned up on on elf his early playlists, before he had full control: “Well, that was a work of great loveliness.” (sighs and scornful irony).
I fell in alongside Peel during one particularly muddy Glastonbury. We chatted amiably, and I warmed somewhat towards him—even complimenting on that Family show, which I did quite like. Nevertheless, I felt offended when he made obvious reference to the encounter on his show, later—claiming that I had mistaken him for Whispering Bob. Trivial I know, yet it changed our meeting into the sort of charm- and- harm episode that have become familiar to me when rubbing shoulders with English public school types. He used to trash family values too, whenever he stood in for Annie Nightingale (e.g Granny writes in for Sunday Girl by Blondie—Peel reads the post guard in sarcastic tones, then plays an Exiles record.)
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