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Written By : Various
Narrated By : Various
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Runtime : 1 hour
Categories : Biographical
Music Related
Radio Shows
Biographical
British
Price : $7.25
Not many people manage to achieve the status of legend in their own lifetime, and even fewer deserve that status. John Peel was one such, whose contribution to British culture is undeniable. His 40-year career on Radio I and Radio 4 reached a huge and diverse audience, and he influenced the musical tastes of millions.
On the first anniversary of his death the BBC broadcast a tribute programme of HomeTruths, hosted by Tom Robinson. Among the items featured are a visit to John Peel's family at the ironically-named 'Peel Acres', the launch of the John Peel Train, and the story of the Gomersall family, three generations of Salvation Army members.
Guaranteed to appeal to all John Peel's many devoted fans, this download is a perfect reminder of the genius of a man many regarded as the best ever DJ.
John Peel was BBC Radio I's longest-serving DJ, with a radio career spanning 40 years.
He was born in Heswall, near Liverpool, and educated at Shrewsbury School. After completing his military service, he went to the United States where he worked for a cotton producer and an insurance company before getting a job with Dallas radio station WRR. When the Beatles became popular in the States, his Liverpool accent led to him becoming the official Beatles correspondent for rival Dallas station KLIF. He stayed in America for five years, returning to Britain in 1967.
Back in the UK, he worked for the pirate station Radio London, where he hosted a programme called The Perfumed Garden in the midnight to 2am slot. There, he used his extensive knowledge of the American underground scene to play an eclectic mix of classic blues, folk music and his favourite West Coast bands such as The Doors and Jefferson Airplane. His personal, confessional style of presentation was a huge hit with the listeners, who sent him letters, poems and even records from their own collections.
He joined Radio I at its launch in 1967, and again hosted a late-night programme called Top Gear until 1975. Subsequently, his programmes were simply known as the John Peel shows. Continuing the tradition he established at Radio London, he built his reputation on playing unusual, obscure and avant-garde music, and was one of the first DJs to expose punk, reggae and hip-hop to a mainstream audience. His enthusiasm for new music led to him playing the entirety of Tubular Bells, an entire side of a Cocteau Twins album, and putting Teenage Kicks by The Undertones on twice. In addition, he was the first DJ to play The Sex Pistols' God Save the Queen and Bob Dylan's Desire. Many bands credit John Peel with launching their career, including The Undertones, The Cure, Pulp and The White Stripes. His Radio I shows were also notable for The John Peel Sessions, usually four tracks pre-recorded in the studio. Many of these have been released on record, largely by the Strange Fruit label.
John Peel married Sheila in 1974, and they had four children. Married life mellowed him somewhat, so when BBC Radio 4 launched a programme about family life called HomeTruths in 1998, John Peel was chosen to present it. An idiosyncratic, charming, magazine-style show, based around listeners' phone-ins, letters and interviews, it quickly became an institution and won Peel a whole new fan base.
As well as radio broadcasting, John Peel also appeared on television, regularly presenting Top of the Pops, voicing documentaries such as Life of Grime and contributing to Grumpy Old Men. In 1998 he was awarded an QBE, and in 2003 was inducted into the Radio Academy's Hall of Fame.
He died of a heart attack in 2004, while on holiday with Sheila in Cuzco, Peru.
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Audio books really are a wonderful thing, not only do they transport you to other worlds, introduce you to other people’s ideas and culture, they are also a lot more flexible than books. The book drains your time in a world where time is a very valuable thing, in mp3or wma format however; stories can be listened to anywhere and on any music device. It doesn’t matter if you use an mp3 players or a cd player, whether you are jogging, washing the pots or transforming the boring commute to work with excitement and intrigue and you can listen to them at any time.
Now with the internet audiobooks are a lot more accessible and easier to obtain than normal books, going online for them is quick, simple and saves time that would be other wise spend trawling through stores trying to find one you really want.
Many sites offer a few free downloadable introductory titles, to get you started and no doubt hooked on the splendour of them. What better way to spend a Saturday evening than to sit back, relax and enjoy a good audiobook, instead of renting a dvd or stagnating in front of the television. Unlike rentals, they can be kept for life and enjoyed again and again.
Many people who are interested in arts and drama and wish to read a piece of classic literature or a Shakespeare play rent a library book or buy one from the shop. Shakespeare wrote some truly magnificent plays and what better way to make the play alive and a much more enjoyable experience than to listen to them in audio format, performed by talented actors. |
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Narrated By : Various
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Runtime : 2 hours 30 minutes
Categories : Autobiography
Biographical
Poetry
Biographical
British
Price : $18.49
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Written By : Alan Bennett
Narrated By : Various
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Runtime : 2 hours
Categories : British
Radio Shows
Biographical
Short Stories
Price : $18.49
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Narrated By : Alan Bennett
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Runtime : 2 hours 30 minutes
Categories : Biographical
Autobiography
British
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Price : $18.49
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Narrated By : Alan Bennett
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
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Categories : Autobiography
Biographical
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Price : $18.49
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Narrated By : Various
Published By : BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Runtime : 2 hours
Categories : Comedy
TV & Film
British
Biographical
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