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

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John Peel Wiki
(This page is for the British band who recorded one Peel session. For the American singer-songwriter, see James Taylor.)
Jtq

The James Taylor Quartet (or JTQ) are a British four-piece jazz-funk band, who have become renowned for their live performances. They were formed in 1987 by Hammond organ player James Taylor following the break-up of his former band The Prisoners in the wake of Stiff Records' bankruptcy.

The James Taylor Quartet's first single, "Blow-Up" (a funked-up version of Herbie Hancock's main theme from the seminal 1960s film of the same name), was released in 1987 on the Re Elect The President label, which would later become the Acid Jazz label. The track was championed by the NME and John Peel, appearing in Peel's Festive Fifty chart for 1987. The band's debut album, Mission Impossible, was released the same year and predominantly comprised covers of 1960s film themes such as "Alfie", "Mrs. Robinson" and "Goldfinger" in a rough, up-tempo, almost punk-like style, that was primarily focussed on Taylor's Hammond organ playing. (Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel[]

The_James_Taylor_Quartet_-_Blow_Up

The James Taylor Quartet - Blow Up

Peel was an early supporter of the band, booking them for a session in the same month as the release of their debut single, perhaps attracted by the retro Sixties sound and material that characterized their initial releases. As noted by Mark Whitby, the up-front use of the organ to some extent anticipated the Inspiral Carpets.[1]

While the James Taylor Quartet’s version of the theme from “Blow-Up” reached #33 in the 1987 Festive Fifty, however, available show tracklistings suggest this was the last time they were played on Peel’s show.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

Sessions[]

One session only. “Blow Up” released on The BBC Sessions, CD, 1995/1997 (Nighttracks CDNT010 / Strange Fruit SFRSCD043).

1. Recorded 1987-04-12 First broadcast: 29 April 1987. Repeated

  • Blow Up / Goldfinger / Hump-Backed Bridge / One-Way Street

Other Shows Played[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. Mark Whitby, The Festive Fifty (2005), pg26.