Entertainment For Lively Minds
The most dependable radio DJ?
There's an awful lot of rubbish on the radio, but there is also a handful of really good DJs who have an obvious love of the music they play & a genuine desire to share good stuff. Most of the ones I know are on BBC, either 2 or 6, but maybe I should broaden my listening a bit. My very favorite DJ is Guy Garvey, whose "Finest Hour" programme (Radio 6) is superb. Of the others I like Paul Jones is a little too narrowly focused, Jarvis Cocker a little too eccentric, and Don Letts a little too keen to prove that he is cutting-edge. They all produce good shows, though. But Guy Garvey is to my mind the most dependable; if he plays a piece of music, I am reasonably confident that I will like it.
Like Word magazine itself, Guy Garvey has introduced me to a lot of great music that I would not otherwise have discovered. My guess is that he doesn't need to do it, but I hope very much that he continues to do it anyway.
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Can I propose...
Gideon Coe, Marc Riley and Cerys Matthews, all on 6Music.
They never let me down.
Marc Riley
Always listen to Marc. He likes a lot of stuff that I think is awful (Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Super Furries...) but its worth the pain for the good stuff. I "discovered" The Flatmates thus week 30 years late!
I'll add to that 6 list.
Shaun Keaveny (surprisingly divisive, but I *love* him, and have never heard a duff show of his).
Jarvis Cocker.
Steve "Return Of" Lamacq.
It really is the best station I've ever heard in my born days. Custom made, seemingly, for me.
Brian Matthews
Sounds of the Sixties
Brian Matthew
I admit to making the same mistake with his name. I only realised this when I looked up his Wikipedia entry.
He won a Sony Gold Award in 2008: "To celebrate an impressive record of more than 50 years of national and international radio broadcasting. For that lifetime career and in recognition of a truly outstanding contribution to UK radio." Not bad for an 82 year-old.
No contest
Johnnie Walker
Peter Young
Saturday afternoons on Jazz FM.
Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin Criminals
Also on 6music, on now in fact. He was great when he stood in for Lauren Laverne's show for a month too.
Another vote for Guy as well.
I find Huey...
...unintentionally hilarious, though quite sweet.
Joe Elliot out of the Def Leppard on Planet Rock
I think Joe and me were separated at birth, he not only goes for the less well know tracks by Mott the Hoople, Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, Uriah Heep, Rod Stewart, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Cockney Rebel, The Clash etc. but he remembers how much the ellpees cost him (£2.11) and where he bought them (Sign Electrical Records, Sheffield).
A real music fan and his 1hr a week on Saturdays 6-7pm are vital listening: minimum chat, great sounds. You can check out this and last week's shows on the Planet Rock player if you need convincing. - http://www.planetrock.com/
yes to (most) of the above
on my journeys to/from work on the deaded M6 (West Midlands section) I find myself listening more to Evans and Mayo. Never thought I'd ever say that.
But if we're talking real music DJs. and I think we are, then Bob Harris still takes some beating.
And a shout out (I believe that's what youngsters say these days) for local radio - Trev French on WCR FM on Friday 10pm. And the lady who got me into folk again, the wonderful Genevieve Tudor on Radio Shropshire on Sunday.
Yes to local radio
Not exactly local to me but Ralph McLean of BBC Ulster fame presents four evening shows per week and is superb. On a global level... Gideon Coe. No question.
The boul Ralph
I've been listening to his Friday night show on the iplayer for about 2 months; excellent stuff. My mate who tipped me off about this also raves about the Ricky Ross "Another Country" show on Radio Scotland, but I haven't checked this out yet
Steve Barker - On The Wire
BBC Radio Lancashire, weekly show since 1984.
For me, it's what the BBC "Listen again" feature is for. Also available as a weekly podcast.
There's a cracking Spotify playlist here too.
http://open.spotify.com/user/jimbo.ingham/playlist/3tvbDS8n04npSF77RU4ZE...
Bob Harris
both for the voice and the choice of artists.
Definitely
I meant to include Bob Harris in my original post. He is a model of what a good DJ is all about.
Tony Blackburn
Dale Winton, Bob Harris, Tom Robinson, Steve Lamacq.
Staid, but rock solid.
Sean Rowley
He's a terrible presenter, but his Joy Of Music show on BBC Radio Kent is now my main source of loved new music. He also plays a lot of Balearic-style stuff that doesn't get much exposure on radio. Jarvis Cocker and Stuart Maconie are also indispensable weekly listens.
The Odd Couple
Racliffe and Maconie, it will be interesting to hear them on 6 music although I'll miss it most of the time as at work. Could listen on the I-Pleyer, but you miss out on the live interaction.
Jonathan Ross
Dependable in that you know he will talk for too long, too pointlessly and too self-centredly. Dependable in that you know the (too few) records will be very good except for the 2 that Andy chose and which get him a rollocking from JR. Bring him back!
Jarvis Podcast..?
Anyone know if there is a Podcast available of Jarvis Cocker's show?
I had a search on iTunes but couldn't find anything, be great if someone could point me in the right direction.
Freak Zone
Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone on BBC Radio 6 is always introducing me to music I've never heard before.
Unmissable.
Second that. When Maconie starts the new Rad-Mac show next Monday he will be on 6music 7 days a week!