Just read the heated debate over the merits of Count Arthur Strong and thought I would stir the shit a bit more.

Did anyone catch Henning Wehn's show on Radio 2 this week? Still available for listening until next Saturday, and there's the rest of the series to come:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dd1l0

I know the very idea of a German stand up comedian will be shrugged off as a myth by many, but I find him funny, especially when he's taking the piss out of us Brits.

So who's on my side? And who can't stand him? Come on, give it your worst.

Johnny Walker's new series Long Players starts tonight at 11pm on R2 and features Hunky Dory and Aladdin Sane in part one. A bit late in the evening for this old bird, but definitely one for the iPlayer - looks like a good series.

Also starring one of our two fave mag editors;

"The programme will feature highlights of the albums, with comment and cultural history from Johnnie and broadcaster and critic David Hepworth alongside archive interviews with many of the key players."

Info here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bh924

My earliest memories of music are listening to hits recorded from the Sunday night top-twenty with Alan Fluff Freeman. My older brother recorded all kinds of stuff and logged it religiously, despite the despicable quality of the recording itself.
He first used and old 'Elizabethan' (for that was what it was called) reel to reel recorder with great clunking buttons on the top that took herculean strength to operate. Then moved on to a cassette recorder and MICROPHONE - no direct input available (shhh, silence please!)
But the main thing was that as a child I really believed that Alan Freeman's voice was actually on the end of ALL songs for some reason. Things like "UP THREE PLACES.." or "STRAIGHT IN AT..." which my brother's reactions weren't quick enough to 'edit' from the recordings. I had no reason to think otherwise as this was the only 'pop' music I heard until I was about 10.
What's more, I can still hear the ghostly echo of my mum cooking dinner in the background, superimposed whenever I hear Lee Marvin's Wanderin' Star...

I've got a one-off radio show coming up in a couple of weeks, and our theme for the day is... nothing. Couldn't think of one. So have decided that "nothing" will actually be the theme for an hour of music.

Anyone able to come up with any suggestions? "Nothing" in the title is fine, but that's too easy. I just did a search for exactly that and have found oodles. I'm after songs that may be ABOUT nothing, or that have some subtle reference hidden somewhere in the lyrics.

To be honest, very tenuous links are fine - if it's a killer song, I'll find a way to justify playing it!

If I end up using any of your suggestions, full credit will be given and you'll be famous. For about 10 minutes. In New Zealand.

How can you possibly resist??

God, I hope I'm not coming across all needy, but... ... I'm someone whose entire professional life has been involved in music of some form - from playing live in pubs 40 years ago, through years of radio and tv shows as a music presenter (I'm in New Zealand). Brilliant! And now I've got a show on National Radio throughout summer that lets me play anything - ANYTHING - I want. Heaven! Then I discover The WORD, and all you people so passionate about what you listen to.... Amazing!

I used to be like that.

But not so much anymore - and I don't know why. I've got access to pretty much any music I'd like to listen to, but the heart just ain't in it anymore. I'm hoping this is a temporary thing and my love for the recorded arts will return.

Anyone out there been through anything similar? Where you just can't be bothered, and even the old favourites - the tracks and artists that you could ALWAYS rely on to get the blood moving - don't seem to have that magic anymore.

Anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get "interested" again? I have three hours commuting in the car every day, so plenty of time to listen. Instead, I find myself preferring silence most of the time. It just doesn't seem natural... ...

Listening to the Radio this last week and a bit I realised that I still get a lot of new (to me anyway!) Music from the Wireless.

Julian Cope appeared on Radcliffe/Maconie a week last Friday and chose a CCR track and fantasic tune from Zounds which have been a constant on the iPod. Add to that Church of Anthrax, Jonathan Halper, Abner Jay and Voice of the Seven Thunders from the last few Freak/Freakier Zones and I'm pretty set for the week!

Anybody still get a lot of their new Music from the Radio?

should've hoyed this up soon as it came on radar but still 18 hours to check it out, classic radio geezer, ever grateful etc...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0128hdm#synopsis

Having read the shoeing that Jo Whiley got here recently which DJ's would you recommend? Im having to channel hop from 5live Drive at the moment because of the tennis. Im clearly too old for Radio 1 nowadays but way too young for Radio 2. The "local" commercial station has just been rebranded Capital (despite the fact I live in the midlands) and as a consequence is no longer local and yet still sh*te.
So if you were able to have your fantasy radio station who would you have on? I'm going for Mark Radcliffe, Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson, Tom Ravenscroft, Stuart Maconie and Peter Allen (not a music DJ but still great on 5Live) Any suggestions welcome please.

I know what you are thinking, how could they make the R&M show any better? Well next Thursday they have managed to improve on perfection!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01104ch

Based on the conclusions I drew from the recent "when was the best year in rock, ever" thread, this will be of interest to anyone aged 42-47...

XFM Presents… 25.

http://www.mixcloud.com/XFM/

" Xfm, the station that brings you music that rocks, is proud to present 25 – an exclusive documentary series featuring 12 seminal albums, all celebrating 25 years of influential music.
a
1 - Master of Puppets, Metallica
2 - Album, PIL

Other albums still to come in the series – all released in 1986 – include Depeche Mode’s “Black Celebration”, “Parade” by Prince & The Revolution, and “Licensed to Ill” by Beastie Boys… "

Disclosure: Episode 2 features some friends of the GLW.

My usual means of downloading the Wireless has just gone tits-up, the wonderful IPDL. It worked by disguising your PC as an iPhone but the Beeb has just changed the method by which it works. It now asks your PC which version of iOS it has.

So for any one else stuck like this, a little poking around has found this http://www.nerdoftheherd.com/tools/radiodld/

It seems to work pretty well with some automation included.

Ian

If I just want something from which I can stream content and whack through some speakers, is a netbook the cheap and easy answer? Or am I a month behind again?

I love, love, love the radio. There's always one on somewhere in the house. But I've realised that I'm pretty traditional in my listening choices. It's either BBCs 4 or 6. Always. And, having listened to the recent excellent podcast with Trevor Dann and Phill Jupitus, I don't know why I've never touched that dial. Especially as a lot of 6 Music's output doesn't really rock my world.

So, can anybody recommend some top quality radio stations and shows? What am I missing?

“The EVOKE-1XT is a multiple-award winner, including class-leading audio, an easy-to-use kitchen timer, USB upgradability, an optional stereo speaker and featuring a design style with pays homage to the famous Marshall amplifier.”
Oh, and yes – it still goes UP TO 11.

Kitchen Timer!?

Following on from the 'How did O Superman get in the charts...' thread. The notion that a song like that would find any place on daytime radio these days is a far fetched one. Running scared of the opposition, playlisted by focus groups, most stations are happy just to rehash 'classic' tracks and safe newcomers, flogging the winehouse/take that axis of evil to death. It's no longer broadcasting, it's very narrow casting. Or am I just jaded and cynical? Do you love your radio and the music comes from it?