Are you all ready for single channel radio? - Page 5 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Junk Box Nick · 19th Mar 2019, 6:58 pm

To use the modern vernacular I am 'gutted' at the loss of Geoffrey Smith. His programmes are so informative and you just don't hear the music he plays anywhere else any more. (I know it states the programme is to be 'rested' but I think in the BBC Dictionary that equates to axed.) However, given how the Radio One-isation of Radio 2 has seen a steady cull of specialist programmes - many of which appeal to us grey types - on that channel I am not in the least bit surprised at this news. This will reduce Jazz on Radio 3 to 2-3 hours a week and depending on the opera and other events that crop up on Saturday afternoons this could be as little as an hour and a half some weeks.

I know a few musical types and they are all disappointed at the reduction of Late Junction. Why Radio 3 feels it has to put on classical music for a late night audience (assume relaxed) when Classic FM and now Scala are providing a service baffles me. (Actually I do have thoughts but to expand on them would not be in keeping with 'editorial' ethos of this forum.)

Unfortunately the threat of what will be effectively national commercial pop (and other) stations seems to result in less diversity in programming - and of course the losers in this are the listeners.

akuram1 · 19th Mar 2019, 8:36 pm

I remember Primetime radio and it played a selection of the music that appealed to me. Then we had Saga radio which was along the same lines. Both sadly gone.
I don't want to be bombarded with rubbish chat from some self important DJ and adverts.
In the car USB sticks are great.
Is there no station that plays 60s music left. If so which one?

michamoo · 19th Mar 2019, 8:56 pm

Gold plays a lot of 60's tracks although they do mostly seem to be the same ones over and over again.

evingar · 19th Mar 2019, 9:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by michamoo

Gold plays a lot of 60's tracks although they do mostly seem to be the same ones over and over again.

This is what hacks me off about a lot of these oldie stations - no imagination just regurgitate a small play list, usually of top 10 hits !

Scimitar · 19th Mar 2019, 9:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by akuram1

Is there no station that plays 60s music left. If so which one?

Solid Gold Gem AM. 8000 tracks, 21 presenters and no adverts. Mostly 60s and 70s and special themed shows for those two decades. For softer 60s stuff, their sister station is Serenade Radio.

Junk Box Nick · 19th Mar 2019, 9:44 pm

All the 'regular' stations seem to have a rotation of a relatively limited number of records from their chosen era. I find the Smooths, Magics, etc., are only fresh if you limit your listening to a couple of days a month. Many artists back in the day recorded fabulous album tracks that are never heard - just the same old same old 'hit' tracks. But then it's probably all run from computer. Reading Bob Harris's autobiography he talks about how he liked to 'build' his shows (i.e. prepare a theme beforehand) but when he found himself out of favour at the BBC and did some time on commercial radio he found it a completely different regime where often that wasn't possible.

The Gold stations suffer from repetitive playlists though if you don't like disc jockeys for much of the day they are automated so it's just records punctuated with ads.

I get my dose of oldies on the Radio Caroline North weekends - there's a big one coming up at Easter - they play tracks that, although not that obscure, I haven't heard for years. Just the job at night with a vintage set tuned to Manx's 1368kHz outlet.

I read a blog or press-release somewhere about changes at Radio 2. IIRC it mentioned that they were 'dialling down the 1960s and 1970s music', but then the change of focus was already self-evident by moving Sounds of the Sixties to 6am on Saturday mornings. If you're after a young audience, playing stuff by The Beatles that their gran listened to isn't the way to go!

19th Mar 2019, 6:58 pm	#81
Junk Box Nick Octode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,571	Re: Are you all ready for single channel radio? To use the modern vernacular I am 'gutted' at the loss of Geoffrey Smith. His programmes are so informative and you just don't hear the music he plays anywhere else any more. (I know it states the programme is to be 'rested' but I think in the BBC Dictionary that equates to axed.) However, given how the Radio One-isation of Radio 2 has seen a steady cull of specialist programmes - many of which appeal to us grey types - on that channel I am not in the least bit surprised at this news. This will reduce Jazz on Radio 3 to 2-3 hours a week and depending on the opera and other events that crop up on Saturday afternoons this could be as little as an hour and a half some weeks. I know a few musical types and they are all disappointed at the reduction of Late Junction. Why Radio 3 feels it has to put on classical music for a late night audience (assume relaxed) when Classic FM and now Scala are providing a service baffles me. (Actually I do have thoughts but to expand on them would not be in keeping with 'editorial' ethos of this forum.) Unfortunately the threat of what will be effectively national commercial pop (and other) stations seems to result in less diversity in programming - and of course the losers in this are the listeners.

19th Mar 2019, 8:36 pm	#82
akuram1 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dundee, UK. Posts: 158	Re: Are you all ready for single channel radio? I remember Primetime radio and it played a selection of the music that appealed to me. Then we had Saga radio which was along the same lines. Both sadly gone. I don't want to be bombarded with rubbish chat from some self important DJ and adverts. In the car USB sticks are great. Is there no station that plays 60s music left. If so which one?

19th Mar 2019, 8:56 pm	#83
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: Are you all ready for single channel radio? Gold plays a lot of 60's tracks although they do mostly seem to be the same ones over and over again. __________________ If smoking is so bad for you, how come it cures kippers?

19th Mar 2019, 9:44 pm	#86
Junk Box Nick Octode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,571	Re: Are you all ready for single channel radio? All the 'regular' stations seem to have a rotation of a relatively limited number of records from their chosen era. I find the Smooths, Magics, etc., are only fresh if you limit your listening to a couple of days a month. Many artists back in the day recorded fabulous album tracks that are never heard - just the same old same old 'hit' tracks. But then it's probably all run from computer. Reading Bob Harris's autobiography he talks about how he liked to 'build' his shows (i.e. prepare a theme beforehand) but when he found himself out of favour at the BBC and did some time on commercial radio he found it a completely different regime where often that wasn't possible. The Gold stations suffer from repetitive playlists though if you don't like disc jockeys for much of the day they are automated so it's just records punctuated with ads. I get my dose of oldies on the Radio Caroline North weekends - there's a big one coming up at Easter - they play tracks that, although not that obscure, I haven't heard for years. Just the job at night with a vintage set tuned to Manx's 1368kHz outlet. I read a blog or press-release somewhere about changes at Radio 2. IIRC it mentioned that they were 'dialling down the 1960s and 1970s music', but then the change of focus was already self-evident by moving Sounds of the Sixties to 6am on Saturday mornings. If you're after a young audience, playing stuff by The Beatles that their gran listened to isn't the way to go!