Anyone used to listen to Tommy Vance on a Friday night in the 80’s?
Well if it was your thing and you have fond memories, there is an archive out there and you can listen again.
I found it on Wednesday when I was searching for an old band called Severed Head that I really liked.
Ended up listening to an old show from 1983 for a couple of hours.
I found it insane that he was playing all these new tracks as if it was just a normal Friday night, which it was, but when you listen now you realise how great the new music was back then.
It took me back and was just an incredible few hours. Worth downloading and listening if it was your thing.
Comments
The archive will be a look back into a lost world of music creation. No computerised home studios. No auto-tune. Musicians and singers had to be able to perform in real time. None of yer piecing things together in the edit. Well, not much!
If I were delving into the archives, the first thing that springs to mind to listen to is Slade at the Reading Festival.
As for "when am I ready?" You'll never be ready. It works in reverse, you become ready by doing it. - pmbomb
When the atmospherics permitted it I used to listen to Brian Pithers in, I think, Radio 210.
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
There's more of it, the problem now is finding it and sifting through all the stuff that you don't like. Also, it tends to be a lot more narrow, in that a niche "station" will be focused on a particular genre (or sub, sub, sub genre) and play little else so you can find something you like and never feel inclined to go anywhere else. Which is self-limiting.
JP's shows used to be quite eclectic. I remember really liking perhaps 25% of what he'd play in an evening, but I'd listen to the whole show (and slowly open my ears to other stuff not initially in that 25%) because it was the only chance I'd have of hearing that 25%. There was no other similar show, or alternative station back then.
I think.
I loved that show, it was my music bible. I remember Tommy saying "you have to hear this amazing young blues player, sounds like two guitars" He then stuck on Stevie Ray Vaughan's 83 Reading Rock Festival set. I was quick enough to stick a tape in and he became my fave guitarist up until his death.
I also remember being blown away, possibly the first time I heard the show. Tommy was doing a top ten tracks ever as voted by the listeners. Honestly, my mind was blown by what I heard. I don't remember all the tracks now but it changed my life - Genesis, Supper's Ready, and Rush Xanadu were in there. The opening of Xanadu is incredibly atmospheric, I'd never heard it before. Oh yes, another epic was Yes Awaken. All still some of my favourite music.
Edit: Just looked up, this was the list 1981 ...
For someone who only knew Smoke on the water and Stairway to heaven at the time, this was the most enlightening moment of listening to music ever for me.
Bloody amazing show.
Another edit: Just found the SRV recording. This was sooooooo Exciting at the time!
As for "when am I ready?" You'll never be ready. It works in reverse, you become ready by doing it. - pmbomb
I still have a TDK of a programme when Welsh band Crys did a session.
(And yes, it was 100% the Friday Rock Show, not the Friday Night Rock Show! )
The annual Top 10 was great, and I also particularly remember the show when he played The Wall in it's entirety, pre-release. I went out and bought it the next day.