John Peel: a fitting tribute
24/11/2006
Two years after his untimely death, Universal Music Catalogue have celebrated the life of a remarkable man by releasing an extraordinary series of albums from their key artists performing some of the most legendary Peel Sessions.
Peel, whose relentless passion for music was such an inspiration to thousands, championed many of those who are included in the series: ‘Pulp’, ‘Siouxsie and the Banshees’, ‘House of Love’ and ‘Gene’. Also released last October is ‘Classics From John Peel’s All Time Festive 50’, compiled with input from John’s family and featuring sleevenotes from Alexandra Ravenscroft (John’s daughter) and Clive Selwood.
Pulp – The Peel Sessions
This double album of Pulp’s BBC recordings broadcast on the John Peel show includes their first-ever studio session and Peel ‘In Concert’ performances spanning twenty years from 1981 to 2001.
As Jarvis points out in his sleevenotes, the gap between Pulp’s first and second session (12 years!) was probably the longest for any band. He also talks in details about the events leading up to the momentous occasion of recording his first session as an 18 year-old, and the thrill of being part of his favourite show. The album takes us from the early incarnation of the band right through to their final album, demonstrating how Jarvis grew in confidence through the years and found a unique style which was to make Pulp one of the greatest and most-loved bands of their time
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Voices On Air
After years as a much sought-after bootleg, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Peel Sessions finally get an official release. The disc opens with their two legendary sessions recorded in 1977 and 1978 before they had a record deal, which famously helped kick-start their career. Once again it was a case of John Peel being ahead of the pack when it came to spotting new talent and new trends.
The five sessions span nine years and include classics from ‘The Scream’, ‘Join Hands’, ‘JuJu’ and ‘Tinderbox’ as well as their first single ‘Hong Kong Garden’, providing a unique document of how the band developed its style through the years.
House of Love
The House of Love’s complete John Peel sessions are finally released on a double CD and takes in four years of sessions. With the original line-up back in the studio again and rumours of live dates, this is a fantastic opportunity to revisit the band.
After seeing the House of Love play, John Peel wrote in the Observer on 22nd May 1988: “There are so many moments of spooky, elusive beauty in the songs and in the playing but you can't allow your attention to wander for a second. This is one of those rare performances that I wished I could have taken away with me.” These recordings perfectly illustrate what he meant.
Gene – John Peek Sessions 1995-1999
Recorded between 1995-1999, these Peel Sessions capture the band at their creative peak and at the height of their success, and also features the previously unreleased ‘I Need You’.
As Mark Beaumont says in the sleevenotes: “The stamp of approval from John Peel was always the kitemark of a great band, and Gene repeatedly rose to the honour, recording four sessions during the mid to late 90s that wonderfully capture their blossoming and bolstering.”
Classics From John Peel’s All Time Festive 50
This release is the first official Festive 50 album gathered from the All-Time Festive 50 chart of 2000. In keeping with the spirit of John’s programme the album features as eclectic a selection as possible, and of course includes some of the greatest musicians that John Peel loved and championed - from The Fall to PJ Harvey, from Nick Drake and Tim Buckley to The Undertones.
Some obvious choices have been omitted for a variety of reasons - some have been compiled to death, and others proved elusive. This single-disc selection, compiled with the full blessing of John’s estate, really captures the essence of his beloved music.
Tracks featured include: Teenage Kicks (The Undertones), Common People (Pulp), Shee La Na Gig (PJ Harvey), Shipbuilding (Robert Wyatt), Brassneck (Wedding Present), and Song To The Siren (Tim Buckley).
To buy these albums visit the Amazon link below or your local HMV shop or website.