Judie Tzuke Live Session What can I say about the Judie Tzuke Live session last night, correction this morning, in a word - SUPERB! THANKS SO MUCH! I think this surpasses the Stephanie Lambring and Jonatha Brooke Sat/ Sun sessions of 2010. Judie was joined by David Saw (acoustic guitar), Tim Deal (Keyboards) and daughter Bailey Tzuke (backing vocals), who all write together.
David Saws also hangs out with the likes of Carly Simon and her son Ben Taylor!
Bob has known Judie from back in the 70's of course and they are both going strong. It was great to hear that she is now a prolific writer, penning songs with others. Bob remarked that her voice is better than ever and how confident she is now. On the evidence of this I have to agree. Nice to hear the reminiscing of the 70's classic songs and how the album charts looked back then. Bob highlighting the power of the song and its importance, citing artist like Joni Mitchell & Jackson Browne. Judie openly revealed she felt very alone with her family going through problems and that these artists brought her up and became her "friends" without sadly ever meeting them. She spoke about the beautiful honest lyrics, thoughtful and expressive melodic songs back then ? How true!
Speaking about her beginnings it appears her first record company went down when her first single came out 'These Are The Laws' recorded and produced by Tony Visconti under the name of "Tzuke and Paxo". I didn't realise Elton John signed her. How gracious of him to give her back all her music masters when times got tough ? An artists publishing is everything!
Great advice for new artists and interesting when Bob asked Judie to "contrast and compare" to her daughter Bailey entering the music business. In terms of studio availability things are easier but she thought that things were pretty "terrifying" nowadays. Describing an example recently speaking to a record company person at a Bailey gig who it seems wasn't prepared to stay for the whole set but thought: "I really like it but it's a bit early 70's, not really 2010 radio" - What a pathetic attitude! I guess that's why the quality of music these days is so diluted, has little depth and artists no longer have longevity. Judie spoke of a lack of believe and long term investment in an artist. "If they are not Top 5 they don't want to know anymore, so it's harder" she says. She pointed out you have got to have lawyers, managers, campaigns and you've got to finish an album and have everything in place before record companies will take artists on. It appears they don't want to take risks anymore. When she was signed the attitude was an artist may last for 30 years. Now the attitude is "we will give it a year, we'll make an album maybe and put a single out and shelve the album if it doesn't happen in 5 minutes"
Following the Nashville music scene it's exactly what happens over there. Fantastic artists are getting dropped and not having albums put out if the single doesn't chart. Some of the best artists you never hear.
On the session brand new live 'So Hollywood', 'All At Sea' and particular the song first track 'If' from the album Moon On A Mirrorball was fantastic!
Bailey Tzuke seemed pleasantly surprised that Bob wanted to play her new single 'Strong', she is unsigned and brought this out using a company called Awal. From her voice you can tell that she is from the same weave as her mum's summer dress. See Pic A very good track 'Strong' ; written with Tim and Judie. Its available on iTunes too - LINK Bob picked up on the fact she had a hit when her voice was featured on a single 'Uninvited' by The Freemasons. I didn't know it so looked it up - It's a dance track and was their 4th hit single, # 8 on UK Singles Chart and charted internationally; a song written and recorded by Alanis Morissette. ** Thanks to all for this session! **
Midnight Tracks Bob is asking for listeners to submit songs for Midnight hour with the new schedule 12 - 3am. It's been brilliant to hear South City Midnight Lady (Doobie Brothers) and Midnight Cruiser (Steely Dan) over the weeks. Hard to think of any of the top of the head. Ummm.. perhaps I could suggest 'Isn't It Midnight' (Fleetwood Mac), 'After Midnight'(Eric Clapton),'Midnight Song'(Kimmie Rhodes). Will anyone dare ask for ABBA Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) and would Bob play it ! What would you suggest Perhaps it could provide some opening for inde artists to submit a song
Are any Whispers burning the midnight oil and staying up for the 3 hour duration or is it a listen back iPlayer job Are there any night shift workers listening to this "graveyard shift"
On The Show Great to hear The Storys Their website domain no longer seems to be in place ? I thought there was one more to go tonight but perhaps the 19 June Grand Theatre, Swansea was the very last gig. Where you there Bob on 18th to introduce them on stage Its sad its all over. If this band can't make it big in the UK who can Maybe it will be Mumford and Sons - Described by Bob as "Absolutely Brilliant". I've heard them on Radio Wales and they have made the Radio2 playlist. Good to see Catherine MacLellan played. She has got good airplay on the BBC network.
Nice Surprises Odi - 'Something Beautiful', good to see this new Irish artist on the show the other week as was Sarah Siskind from Nashville, she has good songs on her album SAY IT LOUDER. Anyone a fan of these artists
Other Sessions 1) Really enjoyed the Welsh duo Paper Aeroplanes on 6 June. Sound nice young people, open , modest and good songs. Musically their hearts are in the right place. As they and Bob said if you buy their music as downloads you miss out on the CD booklet with the photography by Rosie Hardy. See Pic This duo reminds me of a local acoustic duo Tinderbox. I hope they might make a BH breakthrough in the future.
2) Marybeth D'Amico (23 May 2010 ) - Good conversation about her Patty Griffin influence and regarding the lack of categorising and open mindedness in Germany compared to the UK. Here we like to put artists in neat boxes, with country music the debate is often heated with attitudes 20 years behind the Nashville scene. Funny to hear about American's crawling over Holland because of the rise in interest in Americana! Marybeth D'Amico recently had a Maverick Magazine Gig Review - LINK
Views - Looking at artists websites (particularly session guests)on the face of it there doesn't appear to be much feedback to their appearances on Bob's Show. Is this new time schedule not giving them the exposure they deserve How many can be bothered to switch on a PC and listen back What are your feelings on Bob Harris Sunday Show Have you any thoughts on the Live sessions or tracks played
I really enjoyed the Judie Tzuke interview too - very revealing. However, I think Jude needs to be careful what she wishes for. I have an old Jackson Browne video here, showing the state of a house he'd moved into a while earlier but still hadn't got around to organising. If that's what his living room usually looks like, I'm not sure anyone would want to live in his attic! Or indeed, could find any space up there...
'big one' - I'm confused Yes Sorry about the length of the opening post. Lot to say about Judie and the points she raised are very topical. Many features over the weeks will hopefully promote some feedback and debate about artists and music we have heard and continue to hear on the Sunday Shows.
I always love hearing Band of Heathens played on radio even though they are available on album, you tube, various websites and my space etc.
Great track from same album by Band of Heathens also Colin Brooks lead vocals, Hey Rider. Have mostly heard this on album and a couple of you tube pieces of footage, it seems to be less played, can't really understand that.
Some great music on the Sun show generally. 'Handbags and Gladrags' seems to be getting a few outings at the moment, Ed Jurdi of BoH appears on you tube singing this.
Finding it hard usually to stay up and listen to the whole show however enjoyable it is, and usually resort to iplayer.
I am listening now Andy, on my own graveyard shift. Just been singing along to "Three Steps To Heaven" rather loudly as there's nobody here except myself.
Bob, that film you mentioned was Radio On. I seem to remember that Barry Norman (always a good barometer of taste) gave it the thumbs up on Film 79.
Glad I'm not the only one who thought so, Phil. It prompted me to go to his website to see if I could get hold of it before December (!) which you can if you subscribe and buy it as a download - £2 for three tracks including that one. What I found interesting when I did the initial search, was that I discovered (the rest of you probably knew this already) that, despite being involved in music technology as well as making music, he isn't related to the Dolby's of "the Dolby System". His real name isn't Dolby anyway, and he was apparently sued by Dolby Laboratories at one time for using the name at all. They were particularly shirty, apparently, because there is an actual Tom Dolby who is part of the company. Wikipedia says that the case was settled out of court with Thomas allowed to keep using the stage name providing he never shortened it to 'Tom'. He was given the nickname Dolby by his mates because he was always playing around with cassette recorders when he was young. Well, I thought it was interesting anyway!
Yes, I too enjoyed hearing Thomas Dolby's new stuff. Always thought he was a bit of a genius...anyone remember his track Screen Kiss...? One of my Desert Island Discs...
A long time 'fan' of Mr Dolby's work - really looking forward to his long awaited new album - pleasantly surprised to hear him on the show and thanks to Bob for bringing this to my attention...
More please!!!
EDIT 4/7/10: Just listened to the full interview on the road home from the Lakes - interesting chat you had with Thomas Dolby. Liked the 17 Hills track enough to get the EP.
_______________________ Bob Under my gruff exterior lies an even gruffer interior...*
Yes, I too enjoyed hearing Thomas Dolby's new stuff. Always thought he was a bit of a genius...anyone remember his track Screen Kiss...? One of my Desert Island Discs...
Thomas Dolby - Yes it was an excellent interview a really well educated and highly intelligent guy who spoke so well, he would make an excellent radio presenter. Yes years ago I too assumed he had something to do with the Noise Reduction system. This must have been the first iPlayer stream that had DOLBY ON ! Anyone still into cassette recording and do you miss VU Meters too I haven't spotted any quality blank tapes (TDK) for ages. When CD came on the scene it started the demise of the blank tape. Mini Disc was huge in Europe but never seemed to take off over here. The quality of cassettes became so good though that I had Dolby off. Whatever anyone says the quality you could get was superb, a warmer feel to the clinical sound from CD.
Back in the early days of CD Players reviewers named the albums they were using as their test beds Thomas Dolby's Flat Earth was one of them. I did have it once to appreciate the new digital recording techniques. Another was The Alan Parsons project.
Interesting to hear Thomas discuss with Bob how music has developed today and that Bands have to find new ways to market themselves as a a brand - "They get to a certain point where hopefully cream rises to the top without having to grapple with the industy " Bob said he liked the Canadian approach in terms of "build a living, one fan at at a time". Yes they don't want to neceassily earn mega bucks but earn enough to survive from their music. I'm guessing that only a very small percentage can, 2% ?
Did anyone see Thomas at the Maverick Festival on July 3rd , were there more people than flies there this year
Sunday Show 4 July Great to hear the Steve Miller Band,the album track just doesn't pack the same punch as on the Live LP (1983). That was incredible and the concert was shown on TV once, can't remember the channel but it was So good I went straight out and bought the vinyl.
A bit of a trip down memory lane on the Sunday show with Bob's radio anniversary appraoching ,Steve Winwood joining Bob will be exciting !
Good to hear ex Whisperer Daniel Wylie namechecked and the Moody Blues track dedicated to him! Quite enjoyed the Joe Bonamassa session and agree with the comment that British blues artists should not be overlooked, great to hear Bex Marshall again on the show!
Ruth Notman - Really liked the track can't remember her plays and Live Session from 2008 ? Reading about her in 2006 she reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. Good quotes too - LINK
Bob spoils us yet again! So much to admire about the tracklisting this morning with XTC, Joan Armatrading, I Am Kloot, John Mellencamp and Curved Air. Best of all though is the marvellous Maia Sharp.
A compelling songwriter (Bonnie Raitt included three of her co-writes on 2007's 'Souls Alike') a wonderful voice that is part Thea Gilmore, part Fiona Apple, not to mention the fact that she is also a very talented saxophonist too. Last years collection 'Echo' is one of my top 5 albums of the last 24 months along with 'Middle Cyclone' by Neko Case.
Thanks for flying this particular flag Bob. You're a star!!
I have been out of the UK for four weeks; my Freeview recorder has been listening to Bob for me and I am now slowly catching up too. One more to go before last night's programme! I'm going back a bit but the Turin Brakes session was fantastic... these sessions are going to be so precious in years to come, like the Whistle Test recordings are now. The timeslot doesn't quite square up with their value in my mind!
Three fantastic tracks played to round off the show with Marc Cohn, Bonnie Raitt and Beth Nielsen Chapman. Couln't find any reference on the BBC Radio Oxford website which Bob mentioned paying his personal tribute to Ally Booker. Sorry you and your wife lost such a close friend Bob. Found these 2 links http://www.jackfm.co.uk/ali/
I am so pleased to see The Pines track on tonight's show. Love their sound which is so suited to late nights. Have seen them three years running at SXSW and the latest CD Tremolo will be in my pick for 2010.
Really enjoying The Floe - there's a quite amazing version of 'Heatwave' on the album - you could almost be listening to a new Dusty Springfield. Not representative of the rest of the album which is very fine in it's own right.
Bob Harris Sunday 1 August 2010 Really liked the last 2 tracks. With 28 plays to his credit over the years on the Saturday / Sunday seems like I'm slow to pick up on James Reyne! Can't find any info on his website about the album 'The Whiff Of Bedlam', maybe its a new release. An Australian singer-songwriter then, impressed by the videos: http://www.jamesreyne.com.au/forum/video.html
John McVey - Says new website coming soon, no info on the track played. Possibly a Nashville songwriter who maybe a christian artist, can anyone expand Just been sampling his songs and absolutely love his Top track on Spotify called 'Oh, How Lovely Was The Morning' which goes back to 2007. What a beautiful song for an early Sunday morning. Its great its available for download. Thanks so much Bob for this artist introduction , interesting lyrically compassion you made to BNC's 'How We Love'. Would love to hear more of his music on the Sunday show please.
Sarah Borges - There is a graveyard shift typo on the Radio 2 page , it links to Sarah Brightman I thought it odd Bob might spin her. Robert Plant - My John McCririck prediction for the Country show looks even better now. I've shortened the odds !
without doubt bob is the only uk show where you will hear james reyne [ or i will eat my hat !] back in the eighties soon after my cousin emigrated downunder & i made a number of visits out there, picking up various discs as you do. one of the acts being australian crawl [ james band him being the lead singer/songwriter & one of the biggest bands of the day] i caught them doing a headlining gig xmas eve 2003 in londons 100 club oxford street, i have since seen him doing gigs with his band under his own name,in darwin/northern aussie, & at the borderline london,both awhile ago mind you. most of his music is worth checking out,maybe a best of is a good place to start. of course the track that bob has played ever since the overnights is the awesome " take a giant step".
And Bob liked that James Reyne track so much, he bought the company! Well, named one after it, as in "Take A Giant Step Ltd." I would strongly recommend Any Day Above Ground/Electric Digger Dandy (the same album with different titles depending on where released) or Whiff Of Bedlam as starting points.
Went to see James at the Shepherds Bush Empire in August '95, but he was very disappointing and didn't do any of his best stuff. I was feeling quite cheated until Procol Harum (who I wasn't bothered about seeing) came on and totally blew me away! Funny how things go.
It was a remarkable coincidence that Bob played a Small Faces track "What'cha Gonna Do About It" from 'The Decca Anthology' on Sunday morning 1/8/10.
I'd just bought the first Small Faces album the afternoon before which contains the aforementioned and weighs in at 28 tracks including several extremely good alternate recordings.
What was noticeable was how Steve Marriott's voice 28 seconds to 42 seconds into the song on the track "You Need Loving" was copied exactly by Robert Plant several years later as was the 'Woman you need Love' refrain at 3' 25". A piece of plagiarism I hadn't realized existed before!!
Is this the right thread for discussing the Sunday show sessions?
Just catching up with the last few shows and I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the John Grant session and interview from July 25th. I must confess I sometimes fast-forward through the long interviews but I'm glad I didn't skip past this one. A very interesting, warm, open, humble guy. Good songs and good piano as well. Best one of the year so far, a very engrossing hour of radio.
Never mind about all that mindcandy, lets have your Formantera summer special compilation
Ian, The loop is a long one of 6 hrs and is covers 79 tracks. Some of them are on the "Can't stop listening to this' thread in my post of the 25/7.
The folks at the bar are playing the new Gotan Project album morning, noon and night. It is a stunner. Also anything by Chris Coco, St Etienne, Little Dragons and the wonderful Katalyst.
All the Besnard Lakes albums arrived three days ago. All of them are superb! Full of crunchy guitars versus delicate, stringy instrumentation.
What talent coming out of North America nowadays, with Canadiana especially buoyant.
Great to hear a Spirit track on Bob's show ( Nothing to hide).If any of you haven't come across or listened to Spirit's LP/CD "12 dreams of Dr Sardonicus" and fancy a roller coaster flight of musical fancy ride with great tunes, sublime guitars and some heartbreaking lyrics,get along to iTunes or whatever it takes to acquire this LP. Absolutely out of this world West Coast-adelia....Sigh..
Got in a full 3 hours worth of last Sunday's show last night. A nice random look back with Bob playing some fave tracks of the show's 12 year tenure on Radio 2. Even if I'm not a fan of the featured session artists Bob always seem to make it entertaining, enlightening and interesting. The Magic Numbers seem like a nice bunch anyway.
Death Cab For Cutie's "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" must be one of my "Bob friendly" top tracks, I never tire of hearing it.
Yes terrific special guests and conversation. I've missed 20 years of your Radio career Bob as I never was a Radio 1 listener but thankful for the music, interviews and sessions on Saturday / Sunday nights and the Country show. Reading the Radio 2 message boards seems like your still costing folks a fortune with new artist introductions. This makes you a unique Radio presenter.
Beth Nielsen Chapman may be hoping for too much wanting another 40 years of you on the airwaves. Congratulations on your current landmark and for supporting Inde artists that many of us are fans of. Keep 'Reeling In The Years' Bob!
Enjoyed Cherry Ghost, who reminded me of Richard Hawley and, having checked the playlists, was surprised to see how little Bob has played of this superb artist who it seems to me can do little wrong.
Bob Harris Sunday Shows
Posted - 20/06/2010 : 13:58:26
I guess that's why the quality of music these days is so diluted, has little depth and artists no longer have longevity.
**
Ummm.. perhaps I could suggest 'Isn't It Midnight' (Fleetwood Mac), 'After Midnight'(Eric Clapton),'Midnight Song'(Kimmie Rhodes). Will anyone dare ask for ABBA Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) and would Bob play it !
