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

Where It's At was a six-part documentary series recorded by Peel for BBC Radio 3 and broadcast weekly on Fridays, 7-7.30pm, from 23rd April 1976. Ken Garner (The Peel Sessions, p. 216) describes the programmes as about "the present and possible future of music" and gives the following lineup of shows:

  1. How Did It Get Here? beginnings
  2. Rock Art and Rock Folly (Dylan, Beatles, ELP, Mike Oldfield)
  3. The Supreme Sacrifice (Blues & Gospel)
  4. From Highlife to Dub and Skank
  5. Is There Rock On The Moon? (Rock spreads around the world)
  6. It Gives Me Great Pleasure (Tax exiles and the music Peel currently likes)

In an article in the Listener (1976-04-22, reprinted Olivetti Chronicles, hardback, p.70), Peel himself regrets the title of the series and says that "the listener may well expect to learn which are the current trends and in what directions we may find ourselves moving in the future," but admits "I can still, despite many hours of contemplation, see no trends or direction with which I can reasonably satisfy the questor after truth." [1]

A short fragment was rebroadcast as part of the John Peel Around The World tribute programme (see linked page for track listing details). Two complete programmes in excellent audio quality have since been made available, with many thanks to the original taper. All tracks are short extracts and serve only to illustrate Peel's analysis.

The series was repeated almost exactly one year later from 15 April 1977.

Programme 1: How Did It Get Here? []

Peel looks at the trend of music on how it ended up here

Tracklisting
Length
  • 00:20:30
Other
Available

Programme 2: Rock Art And Rock Folly []

Peel looks at art in rock music, sometimes known as art rock

Tracklisting
Length
  • 0:28:19
Other
Available

Programme 3: The Supreme Sacrifice[]

Peel traces the development of black music from the blues of the 1930s to the disco music then current.

Tracklisting
Length
  • 00:28:42
Other
  • Thanks to Steve
Available

Programme 4: From Highlife To Dub And Skank[]

Peel examines the development of reggae and its influence on rock music.

Tracklisting
Length
  • 00:28:23
Other
  • Thanks to Steve
Available

Programme 5: Is There Rock On The Moon?[]

Peel looks at development of music throughout the world, the influence of folk music on British and American artists and finally jazz rock

Tracklisting
Length
  • 0:28:19
Other
Available

Programme 6: It Gives Me Great Pleasure[]

Peel looks at rock musicians who are tax exiles and his current favourite records

Tracklisting
Length
  • 0:28:26
Other
Available
Footnotes
  1. It could be argued that Peel was not alone in failing to foresee the imminent arrival of the UK punk revolution.