John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

READ MORE

John Peel Wiki

Show[]

Name
Station
YYYY-MM-DD
  • 1981-12-24
Comments
  • No session repeats were in this show: instead, a simulcast with BBC TV of Toyah live in concert was broadcast between 10 and 11 p.m. (information taken from a closing comment by JP in previous night's show). The fact that he says at the start of this recording, 'Now you're back with me, John Peel, until midnight with the Festive Fifty', makes it doubtful that he was the concert's host.[1]
  • He indicates a liking for the Pigbag track (earlier in the year, they had already recorded their only session for the programme).

Sessions[]

  • None

Tracklisting[]

(JP: 'That was Toyah, the phantom cake flinger. I liked the bit where a bit of her hair fell off ... happens to me all the time.")
(JP: 'The big news, incidentally, if you weren't watching Toyah on television, is that she shaves her armpits.')

1981 Festive Fifty: Numbers 40-31[]

(JP: 'Does make a lot of the new generation of punk bands sound pretty pallid, I think.')
(JP: 'Last time I had a speaking part on Top Of The Pops was in the spring of 1968, and I'm there tomorrow afternoon on BBC Television at 2 o'clock. I think you'll love me, frankly.') [2]
  • 33: Fall: 'How I Wrote Elastic Man (7 inch)' (Rough Trade)
(JP: 'That should have been higher, reptiles,')
(JP: 'I hope that's encouraged you to spare a thought for Malcolm and his family over Christmas.' [3]
'I'm off home to play Father Christmas to the frog children...and a merry Christmas to all of you.')

File[]

Name
  • (a) 1981-12-24 Festive Fifty #2 40-31
  • (b) JP19811224.mp3
Length
  • (a) 0:54:06
  • (b) 1:02:55
Other
  • (a) Very good quality stereo recording.
  • (b) 256k stereo. Includes the end of the Toyah concert.
Available
Footnotes
  1. BBC Genome (Radio Times) listing confirms the time for this Old Grey Whistle Test special, presented by Anne Nightingale.
  2. See 25 December 1981 (TOTP).
  3. The Ruts' singer Malcolm Owen had died from a heroin overdose on 14 July 1980 at the age of 26.