Posted by Radiocafé on 09 Jan 2010 at 1:59 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
If you reviewed the radio listings of the Radio Times for the first week of May back in 1986, the options for those who prefer their music on the soulful or funky side would have been as follows: Sunday at 9pm, Robbie Vincent (having moved on from BBC Radio London) with a 2 hour slot on Radio 1; Jeff Young (replacing Robbie on London), with a lunchtime Saturday show; and… that was it. Commercial radio didn’t fare much better either: Greg Edwards soldiered on with his Soul Spectrum on Capital Radio; and… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 30 Nov 2009 at 11:20 am |
Category: 1. General Music
Radiocafé is proud to present the definitive list of some of the broadcasters, presenters and other individuals who have made a wonderful contribution to the popular music cause. Sadly, many of these individuals are no longer with us, but their memory will live on for many years to come. We hope you agree that their excellence deserves to be celebrated, as each of them made it to the top of their chosen field and have brought pleasure to so many of us. If there is anyone who you feel we have missed off this… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 29 Nov 2009 at 11:20 am |
Category: 1. General Music
Click below for Radiocafé’s DEFINITIVE list of national and local BBC radio shows playing “our kind of music”. For those who appreciate quality light and easy music in the true, traditional sense, including a portion of jazz, dance bands and big bands, there are many highlights still to be found on BBC radio. Sadly, few are available on the national network and we would like to see a greater portion of the broadcasting spectrum dedicated to this kind of output. If the BBC could bring together as one station all the local shows listed… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 26 Nov 2009 at 11:50 am |
Category: 1. General Music
The sad death of Malcolm Laycock represents the final chapter of one of the most sorry stories in the recent BBC’s history. Last night (15 November, 2009) it paid tribute to the broadcaster by repeating part of a show of his from April. It was introduced by Clare Teal, the young personality who replaced him a few months ago. She announced that “the word presenter somehow does not do justice to talent like this”, and indicated the high esteem in which the BBC held Malcolm Laycock.
But just look at how the BBC… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 25 Nov 2009 at 1:00 am |
Category: 3. Light & Easy, 1. General Music
UPDATE:
10 November 2009: We are sad to learn that Maclolm Laycock passed away on 8th November 2009. Malcolm was one of the finest broadcasters, and has been greatly missed from the airwaves since his recent departure from BBC Radio 2. We are so very sorry to hear of this news, as Malcolm was a true gentleman and pioneer of the dance band cause. We were fortunate enough to meet him a few years ago, which was a privilege for us. There were few broadcasters with his vast knowledge and experience and we wish to… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 24 Nov 2009 at 11:49 am |
Category: 3. Light & Easy, 1. General Music
BBC radio currently fails to offer anything for a large and significant population: older listeners. While music preference should be independent of age, it is evident that the BBC provides handsomely for the youth audience: they get Radio 1, 1Xtra, 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network. And while Radio 2’s offering is aimed at the over-35s, much of the music offered is in fact aimed at attracting a younger audience. Much of it is completely unattractive to the over-70s.
What it does is cater only for a certain type of over 35… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 22 Nov 2009 at 10:09 pm |
Category: 6. Other Music, 1. General Music
Few broadcasters are more fondly remembered than Ray Moore, who entertained millions of listeners for years with his regular early morning show on Radio 2.
Ray looked after the 5 to 7.30am slot throughout the seventies and eighties in his uniquely special way. He was one of the highlights of radio, even managing to make travel forecasts and sports reports entertaining.
Common Moore references included “Gatport Airwick”, “Moore’s ‘Orse”, “Old Moore’s Alma Nag” (a pun on the name of his beloved wife, Alma) and referring to a fellow broadcaster, “the Truckers’ Flussey” (Sheila Tracey).
Part… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 22 Nov 2009 at 10:52 am |
Category: 1. General Music
It always amazes me when I stumble across a pile of lovely old records in second hand shop. I’ve found loads of classic Capitol years Sinatra, loads of great 80s soul music, heaps of Nat King Cole and many a classic rarity lurking in an unsuspecting crate - all usually looking like they have never actually been played.
I do sometimes wonder why anyone would want to discard of such gems. Naturally many have long since got rid of their record player, replaced once by a midi system, then by a… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Nov 2009 at 11:53 am |
Category: 2. Vocal Gems, 1. General Music
For those of us who like the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Julie London and Ella Fitzgerald, who are the up and coming popular song stars of today? We are looking for your recommendations of singers who are made out of the same sort of stuff as Frank and Julie.
For starters, of course we have Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bublé and Diana Krall. All have done much to raise the profile of “our kind of music”, and proven that there is still a massive market for this kind of recording, which… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 16 Nov 2009 at 3:05 pm |
Category: 3. Light & Easy, 2. Vocal Gems, 1. General Music
David Jacobs is worthy of every superlative. He is quite simply one of the finest broadcasters we have ever produced; his weekly BBC Radio 2 show remains one of the few, true gems on air. He has been broadcasting for over half a century, and his charm, knowledge and professionalism make every show completely special.
Not all that long ago, David had a lunchtime show every weekday on Radio 2, in addition to his infamous Saturday morning slot. As one listener put it: “such a civilised way to spend lunchtime”. And how right… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 02 Nov 2009 at 5:12 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds
There are few individuals out there who can match the knowledge and appreciation of quality soul music of The Master J. Along with Greg Edwards, MJ continues to fly the flag for the very best in music and deserves his place alongside the greatest. His weekly Soul AM show on Unknown FM has entertained and educated lovers of soul music for (at the time of writing, Jan ‘08) nearly six years - quite an achievement. If you want the very best in soul music, then at home with your radio is… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Oct 2009 at 11:48 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds
Back in the early 1980s, a collection of soul LPs (and cassettes, but not CDs as they had not yet hit the shops) came along which, for many of us, changed our worlds forever.
Each StreetSounds edition was something to get truly excited about. Why? Because you could be certain that every release would contain all of the very best dance tracks of the day. Not the usual two-and-a-half minute album versions, either, but the full length, extended and often exclusive remix versions, some tracks running to over 10 minutes. Eight or so of… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 21 Sep 2009 at 10:04 am |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
Excellent news for fans of soul and jazz-funk: Les Adams’ all new Dancefloor Classics website opens up a world of quality music for fans of the genre. If you are yet to hear the Dancefloor Classics show, set aside 8-10pm next Saturday, tune into Solar Radio and then turn up your volume. Your neighbours will soon coming knocking to ask you to turn it up some more, since this is one of the definitive soul shows on air.
Les is a true icon of soul… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 20 Sep 2009 at 11:28 am |
Category: 1. General Music
Arlene Phillips may be grabbing all the headlines, but the suspicion that the BBC may be guilty of ageism is nothing new. Let’s fact it, what’s been going on at Radio 2 in the past decade hardly favours anyone over the age of 50 does it? In the past few years, we’ve seen older presenters farmed off to local radio or handed their P45s, and in many cases their replacements seem to have been chosen as much for their youth as their talent. Recent examples include:
• Sheila Tracy’s role on Big Band… Continue reading

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Posted by Radiocafé on 08 Sep 2009 at 2:13 pm |
Category: 1. General Music
It was surely inevitable that Chris Evans would replace Sir Terry Wogan as host of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show. This is not surprising on two levels: first, that Wogan would be cutting back his commitments at some stage. He is 71, after all. But equally, that the BBC management would opt for a high profile celebrity to fill this slot. It was all too predictable that the highest profile of them all - Chris Evans - would get the nod.
But is Evans likely to be a popular choice? Undoubtedly a… Continue reading

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