Festive Fifty Session Broadcasts

Introduction

 * This page is a list of the session recordings broadcast as an adjunct to the Festive Fifty chart. John had in most cases two hours of airtime to fill, so, rather than devoting it entirely to the chart, he repeated what one assumes were his choice of the best or most significant sessions of the year prior to the Fifty, and in 1991, in lieu of the chart altogether, he filled all his festive shows with these repeats. (The exception is the 1977 Festive Fifty, which featured concert repeats.)
 * However, changes to his scheduling led to the abandonment of these for the 1993 chart, and 1994 and 1996 featured entirely new sessions, with the last repeat broadcast of any session coming in 1997. The remaining years (1995 and 1998-2003) featured records with no sessions at all in addition to the chart. In many cases, the entire session was presented: instances where this is not the case are marked with a §. Official releases are listed where known.

1976 Festive Fifty

 * Note that not all session repeats came from the year in question.


 * 24 December 1976
 * Climax Blues Band, #3. Recorded 1976-09-16. §
 * Joan Armatrading, #8. Recorded 1976-07-29. §
 * Lone Star, #1. Recorded 1976-01-29. §


 * 27 December 1976
 * Be Bop Deluxe, #4. Recorded 1976-02-10. Available on Tramcar To Tomorrow (Hux).
 * Jess Roden Band, #3. Recorded 1976-03-18. §
 * Brand X, #2. Recorded 1976-07-15. Available on Missing Period (Pangea). §
 * Aswad, #1. Recorded 1976-08-10. Available on The BBC Sessions (Dub Vendor). §
 * Maddy Prior & June Tabor, one and only session. Recorded 1975-09-23. §


 * 28 December 1976
 * Stretch, #3. Recorded 1976-09-30. §
 * Bill Aitken, one and only session. Recorded June 1975 (private tape).
 * Racing Cars, #2. Recorded 1976-09-09.


 * 29 December 1976
 * Bowles Brothers, #1. Recorded 1976-08-05. §
 * Graham Parker & The Rumour, #2. Recorded 1976-11-02. Available on Not If It Pleases Me (Hux). §


 * 30 December 1976
 * Deaf School, #1. Recorded 1976-08-19. Available on What A Way To End It All (The Anthology) (Castle Music). §
 * Frankie Miller, #2. Recorded 1976-06-10. §


 * 03 January 1977
 * Thin Lizzy, #10. Recorded 1976-09-23. 'Don't Believe A Word' available on Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit). §
 * Chieftains, #5. Recorded 1975-10-09. §
 * Bill Aitken, as above.

1978 Festive Fifty

 * 26 December 1978
 * Retrospective of the 1976 chart.


 * 27 December 1978
 * Buzzcocks, #2. Recorded 1978-04-10. Available on The Peel Sessions Album (Strange Fruit).
 * Steel Pulse, #2. Recorded 1978-04-04.
 * X-Ray Spex, #1. Recorded 1978-02-20. Available on Germ Free Adolecsents (expanded edition) (Castle Music).


 * 28 December 1978
 * Alternative TV, #2. § Recorded 1978-07-17. Available on The Radio Sessions (Overground).
 * Magazine, #1. Recorded 1978-02-14. Available on The Complete John Peel Sessions (Virgin).
 * Penetration, #1. Recorded 1978-07-05. Available on The Early Years (Get Back).
 * Slits, #2. Recorded 1978-04-17. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit). §


 * 01 January 1979
 * Boomtown Rats, #2. Recorded 1978-05-15.
 * Elvis Costello & The Attractions, #2. Recorded 1978-03-13.
 * Dé Danaan, one and only session. Recorded 1978-01-25.
 * Reggae Regular, #1. Recorded 1978-06-12.
 * Siouxsie & The Banshees, #2. Recorded 1978-02-06. Available on Voices On The Air - The Peel Sessions and At The BBC (Polydor).

1979 Festive Fifty

 * 20 December 1979
 * Cockney Rejects, #1. Recorded 1979-08-08.
 * Jam, #3. Recorded 1979-10-29. Available on The Jam At The BBC (Polydor).
 * Killing Joke, #1. Recorded 1979-10-17. Available on The Peel Sessions (Virgin).
 * Misty In Roots, #1. Recorded 1979-06-05. 'Babylon's Falling' available on The John Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Skids, #4. Recorded 1979-04-30.
 * Undertones, #2. Recorded 1979-01-22. Available on Listening In. Radio Sessions 1978-1982 (Sanctuary).


 * 24 December 1979
 * Cure, #2. Recorded 1979-05-09.
 * Damned, #4. Recorded 1979-10-22.
 * Secret Affair, #2. Recorded 1979-11-07.
 * Steel Pulse, #3. Recorded 1979-07-16.
 * Viv Stanshall, #9. Recorded 1979-12-11.


 * 26 December 1979
 * Chords, #1. Recorded 1979-07-03. Available on At The BBC: The Complete Peel Sessions And More (Detour).
 * Gary Numan, #1. Recorded 1979-05-29. Available on The Complete John Peel Sessions (Maida Vale).
 * Penetration, #2. Recorded 1979-02-28. Available on The Early Years (Get Back).
 * Specials, #2. Recorded 1979-10-15.
 * Stiff Little Fingers, #3. Recorded 1979-09-03. Available on The Complete John Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).


 * 27 December 1979
 * Buzzcocks, #4. Recorded 1979-05-21. Available on The Peel Sessions Album (Strange Fruit).
 * Magazine, #3. Recorded 1979-05-08. Available on The Complete John Peel Sessions (Virgin/EMI).
 * Merton Parkas, one and only session. Recorded 1979-08-13.
 * Selecter, #1. Recorded 1979-10-09. Available on BBC Sessions/Live At The Paris Theatre 79 (EMI).
 * Siouxsie And The Banshees, #3. Recorded 1979-04-09. Available on Voices On The Air (Polydor).
 * UK Subs, #3. Recorded 1979-06-19. Available on Peel Sessions (Fallout).

1981 Festive Fifty

 * 23 December 1981
 * Birthday Party, #2. Recorded 1981-04-23. Available on The John Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Cure, #4. Recorded 1981-01-07.
 * Musical Youth, #1. Recorded 1981-04-22.
 * Au Pairs, #3. Recorded 1981-01-21.
 * Bee Vamp, one and only session. Recorded 1981-10-24.


 * 24 December 1981
 * Live simulcast of Toyah concert.


 * 30 December 1981
 * Altered Images, #3. Recorded 1981-09-04.
 * Vice Squad, #1. Recorded 1981-06-01. 'Coward' and 'It's A Sell Out' available on compilation LP Riotous Assembly (Riot City).
 * Higsons, #2. Recorded 1981-10-21. "We Will Never Grow Old" and "Touchdown" available on It's A Wonderful Life (Hux).
 * Twinkle Brothers, one and only session. Recorded 1981-09-23.
 * Pigbag, one and only session. Recorded 1981-09-09.
 * Fire Engines, #1. Recorded 1981-02-23.

1986 Festive Fifty

 * 22 December 1986
 * Bhundu Boys, #1. Recorded 1986-07-06. 'Writing On The Wall' and 'Chemedza Vana' released on single 'The Bhundu Boys In London' (JIT-5) in Zimbabwe. §
 * Happy Mondays, #1. Recorded 1986-04-01. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit). §
 * Housemartins, #3. Recorded 1986-06-03. Available on Live At The BBC (Mercury). Billed for this recording only as 'Fish City Five' (the stage pseudonym they used for their a capella warm-up act).
 * Anhrefn, #1. Recorded 1986-07-22.
 * Age Of Chance, #2. Recorded 1986-06-10.
 * Primal Scream, #2. Recorded 1986-05-06.


 * 23 December 1986
 * One Thousand Violins, #2 (repeat). Recorded 1986-11-04. §
 * Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle, #2. Recorded 1986-08-03. Available on Double Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Yeah Yeah Noh, #3. Recorded 1986-01-19. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit) and Fun On The Lawn (Vuggum). §
 * Slab!, #1. Recorded 1986-08-12. §
 * Frank Chickens, #5. Recorded 1986-08-05. §
 * Head Of David, #2. Recorded 1986-09-23. §


 * 24 December 1986
 * Housemartins, #2. Recorded 1986-04-06. 'Over There' and 'Caravan Of Love' available on Live At The BBC (Mercury).
 * Misty In Roots, #8. Recorded 1986-04-29. 'Own Them Control Them' available on 12 inch (People Unite).
 * Fall, #10. Recorded 1986-06-29. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle).
 * We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It, #1. Recorded 1986-03-02.
 * Half Man Half Biscuit, #3. Recorded 1986-06-31. §
 * Three Wise Men, one and only session. Recorded 1986-11-18.


 * 29 December 1986
 * Primitives, #1. Recorded 1986-09-30. §
 * Twang, #2. Recorded 1986-09-07.
 * Stars Of Heaven, #2. Recorded 1986-05-13. '28' and 'Every Other Day' available on Unfinished Dreaming (Independent).
 * Miaow, #1. Recorded 1986-06-08. §
 * 14 Iced Bears, #1. Recorded 1986-10-28. Available on In The Beginning (Slumberland). §
 * James, #2. Recorded 1986-01-12. §
 * Laibach, #1. Recorded 1986-06-15. 'Krvava Gruda - Podna Zemlja' and 'Krst' released on Slovenska Akropola (Ropot).


 * 30 December 1986
 * Stump, #2. Recorded 1986-06-24.
 * Microdisney, #6. Recorded 1986-07-27. §
 * Billy Bragg, #5. Recorded 1986-09-02. 'Greetings To The New Brunette' and 'Chile Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto' available on 'The Peel Sessions' (Strange Fruit SFRCD117). §
 * Big Flame, #4. Recorded 1986-05-04.
 * Wedding Present, #1. Recorded 1986-02-11. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit) and The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle Music).
 * Soup Dragons, #1. Recorded 1986-02-16. §
 * Weather Prophets, one and only session. Recorded 1986-11-02. §

1987 Festive Fifty

 * 22 December 1987
 * Robert Lloyd, #1. Recorded 1987-03-10. Billed as 'Robert Lloyd & The New Four Seasons'.
 * Wedding Present, #3. Recorded 1987-03-03. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle Music).
 * Paul Johnson, one and only session. Recorded 1987-07-27.
 * Heresy, #1. Recorded 1987-07-26. Available on Grind Madness At The BBC (Earache). §
 * Mekons, #6. Recorded 1987-02-10. §
 * Datblygu, #1. Recorded 1987-04-26. Available on The Peel Sessions (Ankst). §


 * 23 December 1987
 * Bad Dress Sense, one and only session. Recorded 1987-02-24. §
 * Bogshed, #5. Recorded 1987-10-18.
 * Capitols, one and only session. Recorded 1987-03-24. §
 * Ivor Cutler, #16. Recorded 1987-06-09. §
 * Great Leap Forward, #1. Recorded 1987-05-24.
 * MC Duke, one and only session. Recorded 1987-09-20.


 * 28 December 1987
 * Bhundu Boys, #2. Recorded 1986-12-12. §
 * Fall, #11. Recorded 1987-04-28. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004 (Castle Music).
 * Darling Buds, #1. Recorded 1987-03-29.
 * Terence Trent D'Arby, one and only session. Recorded 1987-08-02.
 * Electro Hippies, one and only session. Recorded 1987-07-12. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit). §
 * Housemartins, #4. Recorded 1987-11-03. 'There Is Always Something There To Remind Me' available on Now That's What I Call Quite Good (Go! Discs). 'Sunday Isn't Sunday' and 'Build' available on Live At The BBC (Universal). §


 * 29 December 1987
 * Abs, #1. Recorded 1987-06-28.
 * Catapult, one and only session. Recorded 1987-07-29.
 * Cud, #1. Recorded 1987-06-16. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Extreme Noise Terror, #1. Recorded 1987-11-10. Available on Grind Madness At The BBC (Earache).
 * Holle Holle, one and only session. Recorded 1987-09-15.
 * Wedding Present, #4 (a.k.a. Ukrainian Session #1). Recorded 1987-10-06. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle Music).


 * 30 December 1987
 * Head Of David, #3. Recorded 1987-07-07.
 * Overlord X, #1. Recorded 1987-11-24.
 * James, #3. Recorded 1987-09-03.
 * Primitives, #2. Recorded 1987-03-31.
 * Slab!, #2. Recorded 1987-02-01. §
 * Stupids, #2. Recorded 1987-05-12. Available on The Complete BBC Peel Sessions (Boss Tuneage). §

1988 Festive Fifty

 * 20 December 1988
 * Fflaps, #1. Recorded 1988-03-13.
 * A Witness, #4. Recorded 1988-11-20.
 * Datblygu, #2. Recorded 1988-02-09. Available on Peel Sessions (Ankst).
 * Plant Bach Ofnus, #1. Recorded 1988-02-16. Available on Symudiad Ymddangosol Y Lleuad (Direction).
 * Stella Chiweshe (& The Earthquake), #1. Recorded 1988-03-06.
 * House Of Love, #1. Recorded 1988-06-07. Available on The Complete John Peel Sessions (Mercury).
 * Extreme Noise Terror, #2. Recorded 1988-05-01. Available on Grind Madness At The BBC (Earache).


 * 21 December 1988
 * Wedding Present, #5 (Ukrainian Session #2). Recorded 1988-03-15. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle).
 * Primitives, #2. Recorded 1988-04-17.
 * Benny Profane, #1. Recorded 1988-05-22.
 * Butthole Surfers, #2. Recorded 1988-09-20.
 * Siddeleys, #1. Recorded 1988-09-13. Available on Slum Clearance (Clarendon).
 * Shalawambe, one and only session. Recorded 1988-08-23.


 * 26 December 1988
 * Jesus & Mary Chain, #5. Recorded 1988-05-31. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Márta Sebestyén, one and only session. Recorded 1988-04-05.
 * Heresy, #2. Recorded 1988-03-01. Available on Grind Madness At The BBC (Earache).
 * Funky Ginger, one and only session. Recorded 1988-07-26.
 * Dinosaur Jr., #1. Recorded 1988-11-08.
 * My Bloody Valentine, one and only session. Recorded 1988-09-25.


 * 27 December 1988
 * Overlord X, #2. Recorded 1988-08-02.
 * Pixies, #1. Recorded 1988-05-03. Available on Pixies At The BBC (4AD).
 * Billy Bragg, #6. Recorded 1988-08-30.
 * Amayenge, #1. Recorded 1988-07-05. Available on Strange Fruit LP (SFPS067).
 * King Of The Slums, one and only session. Recorded 1988-04-12.
 * Dub Sex, #3. Recorded 1988-06-05.


 * 28 December 1988
 * Humanoid, one and only session. Recorded 1988-11-15.
 * Wedding Present, #6. Recorded 1988-05-24. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle).
 * Inspiral Carpets, #1. Recorded 1988-07-17.
 * Four Brothers, #1. Recorded 1988-09-11. Available on Strange Fruit LP (SFPS070).
 * Napalm Death, #2. Recorded 1988-03-08. Available on Grind Madness At The BBC (Earache).
 * Bolt Thrower, #1. Recorded 1988-01-03. Available on Grind Madness At The BBC (Earache).

1989 Festive Fifty

 * 20 December 1989
 * Robert Lloyd, #3. Recorded 1989-01-31.
 * Walking Seeds, #3. Recorded 1989-04-04.


 * 21 December 1989
 * Where's The Beach, #1. Recorded 1989-08-01. 'Tripping The LUV Fantastic' available on New Season: The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Wedding Present, #7 (Ukrainian Session #3). Recorded 1989-05-02. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle Music).


 * 26 December 1989
 * Prong, one and only session. Recorded 1989-01-22. Available on Blast Off: The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Four Brothers, #2. Recorded 1989-03-25.
 * Ruthless Rap Assassins, one and only session. Recorded 1989-06-04. 'Three The Hard Way' available on Manchester, So Much To Answer For (Strange Fruit).


 * 27 December 1989
 * Inspiral Carpets, #3. Recorded 1989-08-17.
 * Filthkick, #1 (repeat). Recorded 1989-08-15.
 * Happy Mondays, #2. Recorded 1989-02-21. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).


 * 28 December 1989
 * Mudhoney, #1. Recorded 1989-05-09. Available on Here Comes Sickness: The Best Of BBC Recordings (Varese Sarabande).
 * No Means No, #2. Recorded 1989-05-30.
 * Company 2, one and only session. Recorded 1989-08-20.

1990 Festive Fifty

 * 22 December 1990
 * Barkmarket, #1. Recorded 1990-09-30.
 * MC 900 Foot Jesus & DJ Zero, one and only session. Recorded 1990-02-18.
 * Simba Wanyika, one and only session. Recorded 1990-07-24. §


 * 23 December 1990
 * Farm, #5. Recorded 1990-05-06.
 * Fall, #13. Recorded 1989-12-17. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions (Castle Music).
 * Prophecy Of Doom, #1. Recorded 1990-01-28. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).


 * 29 December 1990
 * Ride, #1. recorded 1990-02-04. Available on Waves-Radio 1 Sessions 90-94 (Ignition).
 * Would Be's, one and only session. Recorded 1990-02-25.
 * Levellers 5, #1. Recorded 1990-04-19. Available on Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).


 * 30 December 1990
 * Babes In Toyland, #1. Recorded 1990-09-09. Available on The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).
 * Wedding Present, #8. Recorded 1990-10-14. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions 1986-2004 (Castle Music).

1992 Festive Fifty

 * 18 December 1992
 * Pavement, #1. Recorded 1992-06-23. Available on Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe And Reduxe (Matador).
 * Terry Edwards, #1. Recorded 1991-12-15. Available on Birth Of The Scapegoats (Hux).
 * Klezmatics, one and only session. Recorded 1992-07-14.
 * Half Man Half Biscuit, #5. Recorded 1992-06-02.


 * 19 December 1992
 * Fall, #15. Recorded 1992-02-19. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004 (Castle Music).
 * Jacob's Mouse, #2. Recorded 1992-08-20.
 * Loudon Wainwright III, #11. Recorded 1992-10-01.
 * Ragga Twins, #2. Recorded 1992-01-21.


 * 25 December 1992
 * PJ Harvey, #2. Recorded 1992-09-22.
 * Cobra, one and only session. Recorded 1991-12-29.
 * Nirvana, #1. Recorded 1989-10-26.
 * Sonic Youth, #2. Recorded 1988-10-11.


 * 01 January 1993
 * Ultraviolence, one and only session. Recorded 1992-08-27.
 * Babes in Toyland, #4. Recorded 1992-07-11.
 * Spiritualized, #1. Recorded 1992-01-07.
 * Sebadoh, #1. Recorded 1992-08-09.

1994 Festive Fifty

 * 17 December 1994
 * Fall, #19. Recorded 1994-11-20. Available on The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004 (Castle).
 * Elastica, #3. Recorded 1994-12-06. 'All For Gloria' and 'I Wanna Be A King Of Orient Aah' available on The Radio One Sessions (Strange Fruit).

1996 Festive Fifty

 * 22 December 1996
 * Billy Bragg #9, live on air in studio.

1997 Festive Fifty

 * 23 December 1997
 * Pavement, #4. Recorded live at Maida Vale 4 on 21 August 1997.


 * Footnotes