New series about Funk on BBC Radio

**delboy** · September 29th, 2002, 05:12 AM

Just thought I'd bring to your attention the following...

Wednesday 2nd October 2000-2100 (GMT)
BBC Radio 2

The Radio 2 Funk Factory
Norman Jay begins a six part series in which he unearths classic and forgotten funk tracks from over the last 6 decades.

**jazz_pilgrim** · September 30th, 2002, 02:06 AM

Thanks for the info. I guess the Deniece Williams series must have finished!

Unmissable! : You can be sure that I will be tuning in! - indeed I shall record the whole series on MD!! :grin: :grin:

**QUINNY** · September 30th, 2002, 02:11 AM

I just hope it's not going to be so obscure that it'll lose me after the first week. So often these shows are too hip for their own good, but the fact that it's on Radio 2, and not Radio 4, is promising. the programmers there realise that its listenership is mostly ageing hippies who've mellowed out and have now become the pillars of society. :grin:

**jazz_pilgrim** · September 30th, 2002, 02:20 AM

Not last Saturday, but the one before that, there was actually a programme on Radio 4 (in the Archive Hour slot) about the history of the Nightclub!! And it was quite a good programme! Wow!! Radio 4 getting hip! :???: Whatever next!! Brass Construction on Radio 3??

**QUINNY** · October 2nd, 2002, 02:11 AM

Oh dear! I've seen a small preview in one of the TV & Radio listings and it looks a bit 'arty farty' to me. Why does the whole world (including posters here at DiscoMusic.com) get off on the 'this is rare therefore it's ultra worthy' trip? Is that our own pathetic take of the 15 minutes of fame syndrome?
I'm a philistine, I know.

**QUINNY** · October 2nd, 2002, 04:54 AM

Contrary to the above message, I've seen tonights playlist and it could be O.K.
One track I'll be listening out for is 'FUNKY 16 CORNERS'. There's been one hell of a hype about that track, so it WILL be interesting to see just how good it is.
Others by the likes of Manu DiBango, Roy Ayers, James Brown, Cymande etc are included.

**jazz_pilgrim** · October 3rd, 2002, 01:23 AM

Wow!! I listened to the show on my MD on the train into work this morning, having recorded it last night... FUCKING BRILLIANT!!

Having been a Norman Jay fan since his pirate / rare groove days in the mid-80s through seeing him at Carnival through to his Giant 45 show every Sunday night, I can honestly say he is the most respected and best funk DJ in the land! And he treats his audience with respect, accepting that most of them are knowledgeable funk fans... Last night show did not disappoint. Especially having Roy Ayers on the line from New York!! :grin: :grin:

Did anybody else hear it and enjoy it???

**QUINNY** · October 3rd, 2002, 02:19 AM

Jazz: This is my personal take on it.

I was slightly disappointed by both content and presentation. I haven't heard such a corny radio show for years. Those jingles, the intro. He, or his producer need to go back to the drawing board. It took radio presentation back, waaaay back in time. I don't think the irony IS intentional.

Rapp Payback - One of James Brown's largely forgotten tracks, certainly not his funkiest. Unless he's going to play one by Brown every week, why play this?

The best record was Getaway for sure. It still sounded fresh and highlighted for me why I baulked at Boogie Wonderland when it came out.

Cymande - O.K. but 'The Message' or 'Bra' are so much better. I liked 'Brothers On The slide' back in '74, but none of us DJs liked it as much as the other two. It wasn't as good then and it ain't as good now. It typifies why Brit Funk wasn't as good as the real thing. We could never quite play in time to create a REAL SOLID groove and the horns always sounded feeble.

Linda Lewis - forgettable pop funk. I HAD forgotten it!!

As for Fred Wesley - "For a house party, first you need a house". He sounded really old and out of it, and did you hear all the hiss and buzz when his vocal inserts were played? This is the BBC for Chrissakes!!! This was two minutes of pure dross. Sorry Fred.

The Drive in with Roy Ayers..... what's the first thing he said? He reiterated what Norman Jay had just said as the intro to the piece. This is very poor broadcasting indeed. Probably Norman's fault as this was obviously recorded? Roy Ayers insights were fairly interesting, the music wasn't particularly except to say his second talked over piece sounded better than 'Coffy' to me.

GEORGE CLINTON & PRINCE...I've loved a lot of George's output, but how long can you get away with the same Thang? One of his more dirgy grooves(complete with Pinky&Perky types voices yet again!!!) Nuff said.

As for the HiLiters 16 corners.... what a let down. Let's boogaloo y'all. A cliche ridden load of tosh!!!! It should have stayed in the cheapies bin where it belongs.

Norman will have to do better. I hope he does.

**jazz_pilgrim** · October 3rd, 2002, 03:13 AM

Quinny - somehow I knew you wouldn't like it!!!

**QUINNY** · October 3rd, 2002, 03:16 AM

Jazz: Somehow I just knew you would!!

**jazz_pilgrim** · October 3rd, 2002, 07:07 AM

On 2002-10-03 04:16, QUINNY wrote:
Jazz: Somehow I just knew you would!!

Touché!!

Looks like you have sussed out that I am always the eternal optimist!! :grin: :grin:

**jazz_pilgrim** · October 3rd, 2002, 07:15 AM

Good news everybody!

The BBC have put in a link about the programme (incl playlist, background etc), but best of all, you can hear the programme itself over the web (under LISTEN AGAIN)! :grin: The programme is available for seven days so don't delay!

The web link is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/inside/f..._feature.shtml

I would be interested to hear what some of you other guys think!!

_________________
If it moves - funk it!!

[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-10-03 08:16 ]

**zeca azevedo** · October 3rd, 2002, 12:34 PM

On 2002-10-02 03:11, QUINNY wrote:
Oh dear! I've seen a small preview in one of the TV & Radio listings and it looks a bit 'arty farty' to me. Why does the whole world (including posters here at DiscoMusic.com) get off on the 'this is rare therefore it's ultra worthy' trip? Is that our own pathetic take of the 15 minutes of fame syndrome?
I'm a philistine, I know.

I'm very surprised that, in a web site LIKE THIS ONE, there's people who thinks this way. Why you can't accept that people like the songs just FOR THE WAY THEY SOUND? Before judging others, think about your own opinions about music, baby. If there's some people who prefer obscure - I'm sorry - "obscure" songs, I also see people who prefer top forty songs. What's wrong with that? NOTHING. There's good and bad stuff in the top 40 and in the underground. If you want to be simplistic, well, it's your problem, not ours.

I saw the list of the songs of the BBC show and, for my money, it is great. NORMAN JAY is one of the greatest DJs in a world full of fake music lovers. The guy has good taste.

As one of my friends told me once: if you forgot something, maybe the problem is in your head, not in the thing you forgot.

zeca azevedo, yin a yang mood

[ This Message was edited by: zeca azevedo on 2002-10-03 13:38 ]

**markydefad** · October 3rd, 2002, 12:49 PM

Quinny,

As a follow-up to Zeca, the Energizer Bunny...

You are protesting, of late, people's obscure, elitist choices in music...BUT. quelle surprise!!!!.... may I remind you that YOU chose a song few of us have ever heard of as YOUR BEST DISCO SONG OF ALL TIME!!!

So, fess up, Mr. Pot-- who's calling the kettle "beige"???

Your song was sooooooo obscure I can't even recall what the title was...BUT I can find out.

Be right back....

OK, either "Rhythm Makers" by Zone OR "Zone" by Rhythm Makers...never hoid of it...but I'd take a listen if I found it.

Sometime I get the feeling that if I said po-TAY-to, you'd say po-TAH-toe, if I said to-MAY-to, you'd say to-MAH-toe...BUT then again you are English...so that's probably EXACTLY what you'd say. Never mind. :razz:

Ok, let's call the whole thing off.

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-10-03 13:57 ]

[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-10-03 14:03 ]

[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-10-03 17:33 ]

**zeca azevedo** · October 3rd, 2002, 01:31 PM

On 2002-10-03 13:49, markydefad wrote:
Quinny,

As a follow-up to Zeca, the Energizer Bunny...

You are protesting, of late, people's obscure, elitist choices in music...BUT. quelle surprise!!!!.... may I remind you that YOU chose a song few of us have ever heard of as YOUR BEST DISCO SONG OF ALL TIME!!!

So, fess up, who's calling the kettle "beige"???

Your song was sooooooo obscure I can't even recall what the title was...BUT I can find out.

Be right back....

OK, either "Rhythm Makers" by Zone OR "Zone" by Rhythm Makers...never hoid of it...but I'd take a listen if I found it.

Sometime I get the feeling that if I said po-TAY-to you'd say po-TAH-toe, if I said to-MAY-to, you'd say to-MAH-toe...BUT then again you are English...so that's probably EXACTLY what you'd say. Never mind. :razz:

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

Hey Marky, sing with me!

"You say po-TAY-to and I say po-TAH-to/You say to-MAY-to and I say to-MAH-to/Po-TAY-to/Po-TAH-to/To-MAY-to/To-MAH-to/Let's call the whole thing off!!!"

Gershwin lives on!

zeca aze-VEH-do

**QUINNY** · October 3rd, 2002, 01:36 PM

In my defence:
There is a huge difference between a record that WAS played a lot in the day and received rave reactions and ones that have been picked up from cut out bins 20 years later that are merely obscure.
THE RHYTHM MAKERS later became G.Q. and re-did a track 'Soul on your side'? as Disco Nights, which was of course a gigantic hit.
Zone was for me at least (and many of my DJ colleagues) one of those records that just made you drop your jaw and say SHIIIIIT!!!! It just blew me away and still sends shivers down my spine when I play it. It was just so damned funky, solid and special (to me at least).
It is on 3 Cds to my knowledge, all three of which should be findable.
Disco Nights - GQ (as a bonus track on CD)
Make It Funky - Various Artists
Star Funk Vol. 15 - Various Artists
I'm not someone who lists obscure tracks just to look hip or to drive you guys insane. All I ever say is these are records i've played and/or these are ones I've dragged out to put onto minidisc.

[ This Message was edited by: QUINNY on 2002-10-03 19:00 ]

[ This Message was edited by: QUINNY on 2002-10-03 19:15 ]

**zeca azevedo** · October 4th, 2002, 08:05 AM

On 2002-10-03 14:36, QUINNY wrote:
In my defence:
There is a huge difference between a record that WAS played a lot in the day and received rave reactions and ones that have been picked up from cut out bins 20 years later that are merely obscure.
THE RHYTHM MAKERS later became G.Q. and re-did a track 'Soul on your side'? as Disco Nights, which was of course a gigantic hit.
Zone was for me at least (and many of my DJ colleagues) one of those records that just made you drop your jaw and say SHIIIIIT!!!! It just blew me away and still sends shivers down my spine when I play it. It was just so damned funky, solid and special (to me at least).
It is on 3 Cds to my knowledge, all three of which should be findable.
Disco Nights - GQ (as a bonus track on CD)
Make It Funky - Various Artists
Star Funk Vol. 15 - Various Artists
I'm not someone who lists obscure tracks just to look hip or to drive you guys insane. All I ever say is these are records i've played and/or these are ones I've dragged out to put onto minidisc.

Hey,

again, why the hell you think that who's been listing or listening to "obscure" tracks is doin' this just to look hip? Why don't you accept that somebody simply LIKE this songs? If you choose songs to look hip, that's your problem. If you know someone who picks obscure, I mean, "obscure" tracks just to look smart, well, you don't have the right to say that EVERYBOBY who likes "obscure" tracks are trying to look hip. Maybe some of them are really hip, baby, who knows? Before judging others...

BTW, Quinny, you have a history, so do we. I'm a 40 years old guy, so I was there too, I saw some of your "obscure" tracks making people shake and shout on the dancefloor yesterday and even today. We should respect your history, you should respect ours... It's YOUR history and YOUR point of view, not exactly the OBVIOUS TRUTH, you know what I mean?

zeca azevedo, a piece of history himself

**QUINNY** · October 4th, 2002, 08:13 AM

Zeca: What IS your problem. Have I touched a raw nerve or something?
BTW: With licensing laws being what they are you were old enough to have 'been there' in 1980 or thereabouts. Need I say more.

That's a smilie!

**Blaxman** · October 5th, 2002, 08:55 PM

Hmmmm......excuse me Quinny...but, I must remember you, we (Zeca and me) live in Brazil. This kind of laws were not much serious over here, specially in the 70's!!

Yes!! We are barbarians!!! :lol:

Blaxman, being nosy!

**QUINNY** · October 10th, 2002, 02:07 AM

For my money this week's show was much better. Still not convinced that Fred Wesley's section is any good or the Drive In feature. Lyn Collins was informative, but I feel the music featured by The Godfather was well below par.
Do you think someone at the BBC gave Norman some gentle prods after last week's show??

**ruoffended** · October 10th, 2002, 08:04 AM

you should be happy to have shows like this , you can not imagine how awwwwwful are radio stations here in Montreal , same stupid songs everyday ! RU

**QUINNY** · October 10th, 2002, 12:50 PM

I don't feel lucky. A show like this has been a long time coming on the BBC. Don't you think we envied N.America years ago with its Black music stations, when all we had was the BBC.
BTW you can listen to it on the web for the next week. see previous link from Jazzpilgrim or just type in "radio2" + "funk" in google and you'll go straight to it.

**QUINNY** · October 16th, 2002, 06:07 PM

I don't wanna start anything here, so please read this and keep any disagreement non personal. I promise NOT to argue.

16th October:
IMHO:
This week's show was struggling to come up with the goods.
I wish Norman wouldn't play so many of the late sixties funky boogaloo type of funk tunes. They are not THAT funky and quite boring after the 3rd or 4th variation. All they show is that no one could hold a candle to James Brown.
Out of all the fantastic output by Marvin Gaye why the hell play that nondescript, instantly forgetable, track he played tonight. Surely Marvin Gaye deserved better than to be a part of a seriously lacklustre, manufactured 'trip to the movies' section. Talk about scraping the barrel.
O.K. everyone's heard 'A Real Mother For Ya' by Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, but I'd still play that in preference to 'Superman'. The difference in class between those two tracks is as wide as the Atlantic.
For me Norman's playing fairly second rate stuff and not playing enough funk classics (as defined by the average R2 listener and possible convert). He's also not made any attempt to chart any funk history or give us much in the way of informative chat. Now, if this was the 207th show in a continuing series that might be O.K. but this was the 3rd of 6 for BBC Radio 2, with a fairly ageing, fairly conservative listenership that may know nothing about funk. Would this show have turned any new listeners on? I doubt it. Hey, You've got to get them on the hook before you can reel 'em in. What is the point of having a National show if you aren't even going to try and pull in new listeners and TRY and make some converts?
I'm beginning to lose interest and that really is, for me, a crying shame.
Wish I could write something better about it!!

**Blaxman** · October 16th, 2002, 06:41 PM

Quinny,

How can you supose the other listeners did not like the show?

You tell us, you did not. OK, no problem. But, are many other people who should have liked (or did not, I know).

I think the real question is:
Is the purpose of the show teach the listeners to like those songs? To get new fans for this kind of stuff? To get new listeners? Or maybe...they play this stuff just to please the already existent fans of this stuff?

To me, it seems just like a matter of taste.

I'm just trying figure out, since I cant listen to this show over here in Brazil. :sad:

Peace

_________________
SENHORES DO GROOVE - BRAZIL

[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-10-16 19:44 ]

**jazz_pilgrim** · October 17th, 2002, 01:48 AM

On 2002-10-16 19:41, Blaxman wrote:
Quinny,

To me, it seems just like a matter of taste.

I'm just trying figure out, since I cant listen to this show over here in Brazil. :sad:

Peace

_________________
SENHORES DO GROOVE - BRAZIL

[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-10-16 19:44 ]

Blax, I put in a link earlier on in this thread where you can listen to the show on the web. The BBC store it for seven days! If you can't listen to it via the link, my friend, let me know - 'coz I've recorded them all so far and I can put them on a couple of tapes for ya!! :grin: :grin:

A word in FAVOUR of Norman Jay in case our friends around the world are getting the wrong opinion about him. Norman has made his name as a Seventies rare groove DJ. I first discovered his music on London pirate soul radio in the mid-Eighties, and has been instrumental in digging out some real gems out of the bottom of the crates over the years..... Whether you like these tunes or not is a matter of personal taste - exactlyas you said, Blax! ... Some people don't like them, some people do (like me :grin:). Blax - I have this funny feeling you would like the music he plays!

And look what Norman Jay has achieved in his life - he has a regular 3-hour show on local BBC radio, he was picked to present a black music show on national BBC radio, and he has an MBE (medal from the Queen) for his services to black music!

I am a Brit who actually appreciates the fact that we have such good music on our radios!!

BTW I am hoping he is gonna play Funky Dude's Outhouse track!! :grin: :grin:
_________________
If it moves - funk it!!

[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-10-17 02:51 ]