BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

BBC Radio 2

Zoe Ball

Zoe joins Radio 2's weekend line-up to present the Saturday Early Breakfast show, after recent stints sitting in for Dermot O'Leary and Ken Bruce.

Each week Zoe has puzzles and difficult questions in Ball of Confusion, plus guest contributors Kirsten O'Brien, Hilary Oliver and Ambrose Heron take turns to round up family events and movies in Here Comes The Weekend.

You can also join the Sleepover Club. It's junior choice for the new millennium. If you've got a houseful of kids camping in the lounge for the weekend, or you're going to be up all night partying with your friends, then you can join. Every week Zoe and Emma Forbes will be inviting a group of members to pick a favourite tune and make a special dedication on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Zoe Ball: 24/10/2009

24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Zoe Ball, 24/10/2009

Kirsten O'Brien has fun ideas for everyone and Zoe has Teenage Kicks to play.

Kirsten O'Brien has ideas for the perfect weekend for everyone and Zoe has Teenage Kicks to play.

Kirsten O'Brien has the perfect weekend for everyone after 7am and Zoe has more Teenage Kicks to play at 6.40am.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Sounds of the 60s

With a tribute to the late songwriter and producer Ellie Greenwich (Be My Baby, Leader of the Pack, Maybe I Know, River Deep - Mountain High).

Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn spins the biggest sixties hits and shares fond memories of the decade.

Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn, 24/10/2009

Brian Matthew replays the sounds of pop's golden decade with hits, rarities and the facts.

Brian Matthew, the voice of sixties popular music, presents the programme for all fans of the 1960s. With facts, figures, hits, rarities and the Beatles A-Z.

Brian Matthew presents the programme for all fans of the music of the 1960s. With facts,
figures and trivia as well as the classic hits, rarities, B sides, obscurities, instrumentals
and album tracks, the selection sweeps right across the most important decade for popular
music. Including records from Sandy Posey, Acid Gallery (which more famous group did they become?) Doodles Weaver, and a three-in-a-row tribute to the late Ellie Greenwich. The A-Z of The Beatles works its way through their entire catalogue and this week we reach 'This Boy' and a BBC 'live' recording of the song. 

Sounds Of The Sixties began in 1983 and Brian has been at helm since 1990, bringing to the programme his distinctive voice and unmatchable experience of sixties pop shows.

Jonathan Ross

Music, guests and lively conversation with Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Jonathan Ross, 24/10/2009

With guests Peter Capaldi and Tracy Ann Oberman. Plus live music from Juliette Lewis.

Jonathan Ross and Andy Davies are joined by In The Loop star Peter Capaldi, actress Tracy Ann Oberman and there's live music from Juliette Lewis.

Jonathan Ross and Andy Davies are joined by In The Loop star, Peter Capaldi, actress Tracy Ann Oberman plus there's live music from Juliette Lewis.

With actor and director Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It) and Hollywood actress and rock chick Juliette Lewis.

Pick of the Pops

Counting down two popular music charts from this week in decades past.

Pick of the Pops: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Pick of the Pops, 24/10/2009

Dale Winton counts down the charts from this week in 1968 and 1989.

Dale Winton counts down the charts from one week in 1968 and 1989, with hits from The Isley Brothers, Joe Cocker, The Beatles, Chris Rea and Billy Joel.

Dale Winton counts down the charts from this week in 1968 and 1989, with hits from The Isley Brothers, Joe Cocker, The Beatles, Chris Rea and Billy Joel.

Dermot O'Leary

Dermot O'Leary presents live music sessions from new and emerging bands.

Dermot O'Leary: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Dermot O'Leary, 24/10/2009

Dermot speaks to Dame Shirley Bassey and has music from Imogen Heap and Brendan Benson.

Dermot speaks to Dame Shirley Bassey fresh from her BBC Electric Proms performance, and has live music from Imogen Heap and Brendan Benson.

Dermot speaks to Dame Shirley Bassey and has live music from Imogen Heap and Brendan Benson.

Imogen Heap is a British-born, Grammy-nominated multi-intrumentalist who has recorded with Guy Sigsworth as Frou Frou, as well as producing solo material. Her third album, Ellipse, recently charted at number five on the US Billboard charts, and is her most successful chart position to date following exposure on film and TV soundtracks including Garden State and The O.C.

Brendan Benson is a Detroit born singer-songwriter who has released four solo albums and collaborates with Jack White as The Raconteurs. His latest solo album, My Old, Familiar Friend, combines many facets of his music: the American, Anglophile, rock and the pop. It was recorded in Nashville and London, mixed in LA, produced by Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters) and mixed by Dave Sardy (The Rolling Stones, LCD Soundsystem, Oasis).

With a live set by English singer/ songwriter Imogen Heap. Plus a set by singer/songwriter Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs), who today peforms new solo work. Plus a chat with Shirley Bassey and Bond-movie composer David Arnold.

Going Out With Alan Carr

Alan Carr hosts fun and laughs on Saturday night

Alan Carr hosts fun and laughs on Saturday night. Whether you're putting on your lippy for a night out or dialing up a curry, Going Out With Alan Carr will put you in a feel-good mood

Going Out With Alan Carr: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Going Out With Alan Carr, 24/10/2009

Alan Carr helps kick start Saturday evening with Gaby Roslin.

Alan Carr helps kick start Saturday evening, hosting two hours of fun and laughs with Gaby Roslin.

Alan Carr helps kick start Saturday evening, hosting two hours of fun and laughs, with Gaby Roslin sitting in for Emma Forbes. Whether you're putting on your lippy for a night-out or dialing up a curry, Going Out With Alan Carr will put you in a feel-good mood.

If you're on the way out to a Stag or a Hen, a night down the pub or a karaoke bar, Alan will send you on your way with a spring in your step, playing great disco classics and modern pop, from Abba to Prince and Duffy to Dusty.

If you're planning a dinner-party, a night at the pub or a hot date, let Alan sort out your entertainment for the night ahead. He'll even help you look the part in his regular feature, Wardrobe Disaster!

And if you're having a quiet night in front of the box, why not take part in Alan's Last Dance!

Going Out with Alan Carr

Electric Proms

A festival of music featuring a series of concerts with rock's most established names

A festival of music featuring a series of concerts, including some of rock's most established names, as well as new and experimental musicians making waves

Electric Proms: 2009

Electric Proms: 2009: 24/10/2009

2009

BBC - Electric Proms, 2009, 24/10/2009

Smokey Robinson celebrates 50 years of Motown records with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Smokey Robinson takes to the Roundhouse stage, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and his band, for an Electric Prom celebrating 50 years of Motown records.

Smokey Robinson takes to the Roundhouse stage, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and his band, for an Electric Prom celebrating 50 years of Motown records. He performs brand new arrangements of some of his greatest hits, alongside tracks from his new album, Time Flies When You're Having Fun. 

Operating out of the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit, Motown Records defined what popular music could be; and Smokey Robinson was integral to the label's success. One of Berry Gordon's first signings, Smokey delivered a string of hits with his band the Miracles including singles like The Tracks Of My Tears and Tears Of A Clown. 

With their pounding rhythm tracks, jubilant string arrangements and that intoxicating, instantly recognisable falsetto, Smokey's recorded output is emblematic of The Motown Sound. He was also the primary songwriter for the Temptations from 1963-6, penning classics like My Girl and Get Ready. 

Paul Gambaccini introduces this special celebration of Motown, 50 years after Smokey first sang for the label.

Series of live concerts performed exclusively for the BBC Electric Proms

Series of live concerts performed exclusively for the BBC Electric Proms at the Roundhouse in London

BBC Electric Proms: Smokey Robinson

Detroit-born singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson performs live with the BBC Concert Orchestra. 
The programme features new arrangements of Robinson's Motown classics with the Miracles as well as solo work, including his new album. Robinson left the Miracles in 1972, having sung lead on defining Motown hits such as Shop Around, You've 
Really Got a Hold on Me, The Tracks of My Years, I Second That 
Emotion and The Tears of a Clown. 
With Paul Gambaccini , whose interview with Robinson follows. 
Producer Sally Wood 
Maconie's Music: page 32

Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits

A selection from the week's American charts, plus classics from the last six decades.

Paul plays his selection from this week's American charts, plus classics from the last six decades.

Paul Gambaccini

Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits, 24/10/2009

Two hours of America's latest and greatest hits from the last five decades.

Bob Harris Sunday

DJ Bob Harris picks an eclectic mix of new tracks

Bob Harris plays an eclectic mix of new tracks from the worlds of Americana, Alt Country, Indie, World, Nu-Folk and Blues

Bob Harris

Bob Harris Sunday: 24/10/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Bob Harris Sunday, 24/10/2009

Mcintosh Ross play live and Bob pays an anniversary tribute to radio DJ Roger Scott.

Ricky Ross and his wife Lorraine Mcintosh (formerly of Deacon Blue) play live and Bob pays tribute to the DJ Roger Scott who died in 1989.

After midnight Bob's live session comes from Lorraine McIntosh and Ricky Ross, who, after more than two decades in and out of Deacon Blue, decided they wanted to make an album - together. 

Not an album as part of Deacon Blue. Not a Ricky Ross album with Lorraine popping up on backing vocals. But an album which the two of them could call, justly and equally, their own. 

They decided they would both write and both sing. The songs would be meaningful and simple - no unnecessary chords or complicated changes. And the couple would go somewhere other than Scotland to record them. "We knew what we'd get if we did it here in Glasgow," Ricky says. "We thought if we go somewhere else and get different people to work with we'll come up with something that will surprise us. We wanted to record music together that was completely fresh."

'Somewhere else' turned out to be the Red Star Studio in Silver Lake, Los Angeles and the 'different people' were a group of players steeped in the finest traditions of Americana music. 

Mark Howard was hired to produce. He has worked in the studio with Bob Dylan and Tom Waits and produced Lucinda Williams's Top 20 album, World Without Tears. With Howard's help Ricky and Lorraine hand-picked a band that included drummer Steven Nistor (Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse), bass player Daryl Johnson (Emmylou Harris, the Neville Brothers) and the great Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams's guitarist) on pedal steel and banjo. Completing the line-up was guitarist and backing vocalist David Scott (of The Pearl Fishers), an old friend of Ricky's and Lorraine's from Glasgow, who produced Ricky's last solo album, Pale Rider.

The result is The Great Lakes by McIntosh Ross, an album which combines echoes of the duo's Celtic homeland with the alt.country twang of the American south - a seamless blend of Caledonia and California. 

Then in the final hour of the show we pay tribute to one of Bob's heroes.

As the late Alan "Fluff" Freeman said in the 1989 Radio 1 documentary 'Radio Radio', Roger Scott was "the D.J.'s D.J."; an "authoritative, encyclopaedic and sensitive music loving broadcaster, who commanded the respect of his listeners and his colleagues."

Best known for presenting an afternoon radio show on London's Capital Radio from 1973 until 1988, Roger ended his illustrious career at the BBC in 1989. 

The 31st October is the 20th anniversary of his death at the age of 46 and, as his friend and Radio 1 colleague, Bob will be paying tribute to him in the last hour of tonight's show. Bob took over Roger's Sunday slot on Radio 1 when he lost his battle with cancer, but had known and respected him for a long time.

Born in London in 1943, Roger Scott began playing records from the window of his Surbiton home, enjoying the reaction of passers-by to the music. Later in life he would constantly refer to his desire to just play things on the biggest record player in the world. In America he achieved this with a 50,000 Watt transmitter beaming out of New York State and across the U.K. on the B.B.C. 

Bob will be playing some of Roger's favourite artists alongside links from his career. Archive comes from American and Canadian Radio stations like WPTR 1540 in Albany and CFOX in Montreal, as well as the 'Three O Clock Thrill', 'Cruising' and 'All Time Top 100' on London's Capital Radio and both his 1970s 'Bob Baker' and final 'Scott on Sunday' shows for BBC Radio 1. 

We'll also hear from Tim Blackmore MBE, who, in addition to being the first Director of the Radio Academy, Chairman of the Sony Radio Awards Committee and a Radio 1 producer, was head of music and programmes at Capital, where he often had the task of telling Roger not to play hours of back to back Bruce Springsteen tracks or Paul McCartney and Beatles bootlegs on air. 

In excerpts from the special 'Radio Radio' documentary recorded for the BBC by Johnny Beerling and Philip Swern towards the end of Roger's life, he talks us through his career, including his bed side position at John & Yoko's peace protest in Montreal. Most importantly, Roger gives a devastatingly candid appraisal of and comment on the state of radio and the then emerging pressure to "play it safe" (with the aid of an even less scientific market research process than his own bedroom window). This proves to be just as prescient and valid twenty years on.

With Deacon Blue's 
Lorraine Mclntosh and Ricky Ross , who have recorded an album combining their Scottish sensibility with Americana. Plus a tribute to revered radio DJ 
Roger Scott , who died 20 years ago next Saturday, aged 46.

Richard Allinson

Richard Allinson in his early-morning weekend residency with music and features

Richard Allinson in his early-morning weekend residency with three hours of music and features

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sounds of the 60s

Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn

24/10/2009

Genres

Brand

Richard Allinson

Richard Allinson

25/10/2009

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 2

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