Mastertapes

Mastertapes

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Paul Weller

20130525

Paul Weller discusses the final Jam album The Gift and performs songs from it live.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Ray Davies

20130526

Ray Davies discusses two classic Kinks albums, Lola and Muswell Hillbillies.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Wilko Johnson (the A-side)

20131105

John Wilson returns with a new series of Mastertapes, in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

Programme 1, A-side. 'Down By The Jetty' with Wilko Johnson.

At the beginning of 2013 Wilko Johnson announced a series of farewell UK concerts in March. The guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and he has chosen not to undergo chemotherapy. But before these final live appearances and before going into the studio to complete a new album, he came to the BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss the making of his very first one: Dr. Feelgood's debut album, 'Down By The Jetty'.

Released in January 1975 and including 'Roxette', 'She Does It Right' and 'All Through the City', the album has been cited as a major influence by the likes of Paul Weller, the Clash, Blondie and the Ramones.

The B-side of the programme, where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions, can be heard tomorrow at 3.30pm

Future Programmes will include Mike Scott talking about the Waterboys' album 'Fisherman's Blues' and Richard Thompson revisiting his best selling solo album, 'Rumor & Sigh'.

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where the programmes can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

Wilko Johnson talks to John Wilson about Down By The Jetty, the debut album by Dr Feelgood

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Wilko Johnson (the B-side)

20131106

Programme 1, the B-side. Having discussed the making of 'Down By The Jetty', the debut album from Dr. Feelgood (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 27th May and available online), Wilko Johnson responds to questions from the audience and performs live versions of some of the songs discussed.

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where all the programmes of this and previous series can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

Wilko Johnson responds to audience questions about the making of Down By The Jetty.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Richard Thompson (a-side)

20131107

John Wilson continues with the second series of Mastertapes, in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

Programme 3, A-side. 'Rumor And Sigh' - Richard Thompson

Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of all time, Richard looks back at the making of what is not just his most commercially successful album, but also one of the high points of his career. It was album that earned him a Grammy Nomination for the Best Alternative Music Album (he lost out R.E.M.) and it captures Thompson's obsession with romantic despair and the more miserable quirks of fate. And yet, like all good tragedy, it does not sound depressing - it is instead life affirming.

Richard has said that the albums he considered 'successful' were those where his initial concept most closely matched the finished product. By this yardstick, 'Rumor And Sigh' was one of his most successful albums, containing such tracks as '1952 Vincent Black Lightning', 'God Loves A Drunk' and 'Why Must I Plead'.

The B-side of the programme, where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions, can be heard on Tuesday 11th June at 3.30pm

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

John Wilson talks to Richard Thompson about the making of his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Richard Thompson (b-side)

20131108

John Wilson continues with his new series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

Programme 3, the B-side. Having discussed the making of 'Rumor And Sigh', not just his most commercially successful album, but also a high point of his career (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 10th June and available online), Richard Thompson responds to questions from the audience. He also performs live versions of some to the tracks from the album as well as classic tracks from his days with Fairport Convention.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

The audience asks Richard Thompson questions about his 1991 solo album Rumor and Sigh.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Brinsley Forde (the A-side)

20131112

John Wilson continues the series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

New Chapter' - More than 30 years since its release, Brinsley Forde talks about Aswad's third studio album. Formed in Ladbroke Grove in West London, Aswad are the band that put UK reggae on the map. They were reknowned for their fusion of styles including dancehall, funk, hip-hop and dub and for bringing strong R&B influences to the reggae scene. New Chapter, their first album for CBS, was both a watershed for the group and a benchmark for British reggae and it features tracks like 'Natural Progression', 'Ina Your Rights', 'Candles' and 'African Children'. Released in 1981, it went on to influence the likes of Maxi Priest, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions and that programme can be heard tomorrow.

First broadcast on Radio 4, where a new series of Mastertapes began on 11th November.

Brinsley Forde discusses Aswad's album New Chapter and performs tracks from live.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Brinsley Forde (the B-side)

20131113

Having discussed the making of New Chapter, the third album from the UK reggae group, Aswad, Brinsley Forde responds to questions from the audience and performs live versions of some to the tracks from the album which was released more than three decades ago.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, where a new series of Mastertapes began on 11th November.

The audience asks Brinsley Forde questions about Aswad's 1981 reggae album New Chapter.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Corinne Bailey Rae (the A-side)

20131114

Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea. Four years after her number one debut album, Grammy-award-winning Corinne Bailey Rae returns to its follow-up, released in 2010. An extremely personal album, it explored a range of human emotions from grief and loss to love and joy. In a revealing interview, Corinne describes not just her musical upbringing and influences, but also talks movingly about the impact that the death of her husband had on the making of this album. Together with pianist Steve Brown, she performs an exclusive live version of the title track from the album.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, where a new series of Mastertapes began on 11th November.

Corinne Bailey Rae returns to her second album The Sea, and plays tracks from it live.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Corinne Bailey Rae (the B-side)

20131115

Programme 6, the B-side. Having discussed the making of her second album, 'The Sea' (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Tuesday 4th December and available online), Corinne Bailey Rae responds to questions from the audience and, together with pianist Steve Brown, performs acoustic live versions of some of the songs discussed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

The audience asks the questions as Corinne Bailey Rae talks about her album The Sea.

John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.

Billy Bragg (the A-side)

20121030

20130524 (6M)

John Wilson's series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios.

Programme 1, A-side. 'Talking With The Taxman About Poetry' - Billy Bragg reveals how the self-proclaimed 'difficult' third album was written and created with a guitar he bought when he was out shopping for swimming trunks (he claims he still swims naked as a result)... he explains how a film about the James Brothers helped him write 'There's Power In A Union'... and describes how Andy Kershaw's inability to shut up led him to writing 'Levi Stubbs' Tears'. And he plays excerpts from the album live in front of the audience.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions and Billy considers the state of protest songs today, reveals what music he is writing at the moment and explains what poetry he would discuss with today's taxman.

Other programmes include Paul Weller talking about The Jam's final album, 'The Gift'; Suzanne Vega recalls the making of 'Solitude Standing', the album that made her a worldwide superstar; and Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone takes us back to the seminal Zombies' record 'Oracle And Odessey

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Billy Bragg talks to John Wilson about his album 'Talking with the Taxman about Poetry'.

John Wilson talks with musicians about a career-defining album.

The Zombies (the A-side)

20121211

20130527 (6M)

Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone, embers of The Zombies, talk about their 1968 album 'Odessey and Oracle'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances of songs from the album.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson asks Rod, Chris and Colin to recall how they made the album.

When it was released in 1968, after the band had split up, it was indifferently received. But since it has been described as: 'one of the great undiscovered works of the psychedelic era' - Pitchfork; 'an album that should grace any record collection... essential' - BBC; and 'combining the adventure of Sgt. Pepper with the concision of British Invasion Pop' - Rolling Stone.

Those who have cited the Zombies as influences include everyone from Courtney Love to the Magic Numbers and from the Arctic Monkeys to Paul Weller. 'Odessey And Oracle' (the title was mis-spelt by the designer of the cover) contained only one stereotypically summer-of-love hit ('Time Of The Season') - the darker tones and dramatic third-person feel of much of the album (including the likes of 'Care of Cell 44', 'The Butcher's Tale' and 'A Rose For Emily') makes it sound ahead of its time.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone on the Zombies' album Odessey and Oracle.

John Wilson talks with musicians about a career-defining album.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	02	Paul Weller	20130525		Paul Weller discusses the final Jam album The Gift and performs songs from it live. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	03	Ray Davies	20130526		Ray Davies discusses two classic Kinks albums, Lola and Muswell Hillbillies. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	05	Wilko Johnson (the A-side)	20131105		John Wilson returns with a new series of Mastertapes, in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Programme 1, A-side. 'Down By The Jetty' with Wilko Johnson. At the beginning of 2013 Wilko Johnson announced a series of farewell UK concerts in March. The guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and he has chosen not to undergo chemotherapy. But before these final live appearances and before going into the studio to complete a new album, he came to the BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss the making of his very first one: Dr. Feelgood's debut album, 'Down By The Jetty'. Released in January 1975 and including 'Roxette', 'She Does It Right' and 'All Through the City', the album has been cited as a major influence by the likes of Paul Weller, the Clash, Blondie and the Ramones. The B-side of the programme, where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions, can be heard tomorrow at 3.30pm Future Programmes will include Mike Scott talking about the Waterboys' album 'Fisherman's Blues' and Richard Thompson revisiting his best selling solo album, 'Rumor & Sigh'. Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where the programmes can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed. Producer: Paul Kobrak. Wilko Johnson talks to John Wilson about Down By The Jetty, the debut album by Dr Feelgood John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	06	Wilko Johnson (the B-side)	20131106		John Wilson returns with a new series of Mastertapes, in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Programme 1, the B-side. Having discussed the making of 'Down By The Jetty', the debut album from Dr. Feelgood (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 27th May and available online), Wilko Johnson responds to questions from the audience and performs live versions of some of the songs discussed. Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where all the programmes of this and previous series can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed. Producer: Paul Kobrak. Wilko Johnson responds to audience questions about the making of Down By The Jetty. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	07	Richard Thompson (a-side)	20131107		John Wilson continues with the second series of Mastertapes, in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Programme 3, A-side. 'Rumor And Sigh' - Richard Thompson Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of all time, Richard looks back at the making of what is not just his most commercially successful album, but also one of the high points of his career. It was album that earned him a Grammy Nomination for the Best Alternative Music Album (he lost out R.E.M.) and it captures Thompson's obsession with romantic despair and the more miserable quirks of fate. And yet, like all good tragedy, it does not sound depressing - it is instead life affirming. Richard has said that the albums he considered 'successful' were those where his initial concept most closely matched the finished product. By this yardstick, 'Rumor And Sigh' was one of his most successful albums, containing such tracks as '1952 Vincent Black Lightning', 'God Loves A Drunk' and 'Why Must I Plead'. The B-side of the programme, where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions, can be heard on Tuesday 11th June at 3.30pm Producer: Paul Kobrak. John Wilson talks to Richard Thompson about the making of his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	08	Richard Thompson (b-side)	20131108		John Wilson continues with his new series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Programme 3, the B-side. Having discussed the making of 'Rumor And Sigh', not just his most commercially successful album, but also a high point of his career (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 10th June and available online), Richard Thompson responds to questions from the audience. He also performs live versions of some to the tracks from the album as well as classic tracks from his days with Fairport Convention. Producer: Paul Kobrak. The audience asks Richard Thompson questions about his 1991 solo album Rumor and Sigh. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	09	Brinsley Forde (the A-side)	20131112		John Wilson continues the series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. New Chapter' - More than 30 years since its release, Brinsley Forde talks about Aswad's third studio album. Formed in Ladbroke Grove in West London, Aswad are the band that put UK reggae on the map. They were reknowned for their fusion of styles including dancehall, funk, hip-hop and dub and for bringing strong R&B influences to the reggae scene. New Chapter, their first album for CBS, was both a watershed for the group and a benchmark for British reggae and it features tracks like 'Natural Progression', 'Ina Your Rights', 'Candles' and 'African Children'. Released in 1981, it went on to influence the likes of Maxi Priest, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack. In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions and that programme can be heard tomorrow. First broadcast on Radio 4, where a new series of Mastertapes began on 11th November. Brinsley Forde discusses Aswad's album New Chapter and performs tracks from live. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	10	Brinsley Forde (the B-side)	20131113		John Wilson continues the series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Having discussed the making of New Chapter, the third album from the UK reggae group, Aswad, Brinsley Forde responds to questions from the audience and performs live versions of some to the tracks from the album which was released more than three decades ago. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, where a new series of Mastertapes began on 11th November. The audience asks Brinsley Forde questions about Aswad's 1981 reggae album New Chapter. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	11	Corinne Bailey Rae (the A-side)	20131114		John Wilson continues with his new series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea. Four years after her number one debut album, Grammy-award-winning Corinne Bailey Rae returns to its follow-up, released in 2010. An extremely personal album, it explored a range of human emotions from grief and loss to love and joy. In a revealing interview, Corinne describes not just her musical upbringing and influences, but also talks movingly about the impact that the death of her husband had on the making of this album. Together with pianist Steve Brown, she performs an exclusive live version of the title track from the album. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, where a new series of Mastertapes began on 11th November. Corinne Bailey Rae returns to her second album The Sea, and plays tracks from it live. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
	12	Corinne Bailey Rae (the B-side)	20131115		John Wilson continues with his new series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Each edition includes two episodes, with John initially quizzing the artist about the album in question, and then, in the B-side, the audience puts the questions. Both editions feature exclusive live performances. Programme 6, the B-side. Having discussed the making of her second album, 'The Sea' (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Tuesday 4th December and available online), Corinne Bailey Rae responds to questions from the audience and, together with pianist Steve Brown, performs acoustic live versions of some of the songs discussed. Producer: Paul Kobrak. The audience asks the questions as Corinne Bailey Rae talks about her album The Sea. John Wilson talks to musicians about their career-defining albums.
01	01	Billy Bragg (the A-side)	20121030	20130524 (6M)	John Wilson's series in which he talks to leading performers and songwriters about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios. Programme 1, A-side. 'Talking With The Taxman About Poetry' - Billy Bragg reveals how the self-proclaimed 'difficult' third album was written and created with a guitar he bought when he was out shopping for swimming trunks (he claims he still swims naked as a result)... he explains how a film about the James Brothers helped him write 'There's Power In A Union'... and describes how Andy Kershaw's inability to shut up led him to writing 'Levi Stubbs' Tears'. And he plays excerpts from the album live in front of the audience. In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions and Billy considers the state of protest songs today, reveals what music he is writing at the moment and explains what poetry he would discuss with today's taxman. Other programmes include Paul Weller talking about The Jam's final album, 'The Gift'; Suzanne Vega recalls the making of 'Solitude Standing', the album that made her a worldwide superstar; and Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone takes us back to the seminal Zombies' record 'Oracle And Odessey Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where the programmes can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed. Producer: Paul Kobrak First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012. Billy Bragg talks to John Wilson about his album 'Talking with the Taxman about Poetry'. John Wilson talks with musicians about a career-defining album.
01	13	The Zombies (the A-side)	20121211	20130527 (6M)	Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone, embers of The Zombies, talk about their 1968 album 'Odessey and Oracle'. Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side. Both editions feature exclusive live performances of songs from the album. In this one (The A side), John Wilson asks Rod, Chris and Colin to recall how they made the album. When it was released in 1968, after the band had split up, it was indifferently received. But since it has been described as: 'one of the great undiscovered works of the psychedelic era' - Pitchfork; 'an album that should grace any record collection... essential' - BBC; and 'combining the adventure of Sgt. Pepper with the concision of British Invasion Pop' - Rolling Stone. Those who have cited the Zombies as influences include everyone from Courtney Love to the Magic Numbers and from the Arctic Monkeys to Paul Weller. 'Odessey And Oracle' (the title was mis-spelt by the designer of the cover) contained only one stereotypically summer-of-love hit ('Time Of The Season') - the darker tones and dramatic third-person feel of much of the album (including the likes of 'Care of Cell 44', 'The Butcher's Tale' and 'A Rose For Emily') makes it sound ahead of its time. In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions. Producer: Paul Kobrak. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012. Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone on the Zombies' album Odessey and Oracle. John Wilson talks with musicians about a career-defining album.