The JCSS Archive: 2010

A Boxing Day Bonanza

Jarvis makes a present of the past with some of the best music and audio he's discovered this year. And as he always used to watch Beatles films on Boxing Day morning, he plays songs from those throughout the show. Stephen Fry reads from David Eagleman's Sum; Baxter Dury remembers his dad Ian; Jarvis talks about the history of Boxing Day and possible etymology of the term; Alex Turner reads his short story A Choice of Three; Grayson Perry on culture and pottery; Tim Smit of the Eden Project with his daughter's theory about pupae; David Sedaris reads his short story Hejira; and Simon Munnery slates the grey skies over Watford.

Sir Peter Blake sits in for Jarvis. The pop art pioneer shares some of his favourite records, a few Christmassy tunes and plenty of rock 'n' roll memories. He plays clips of comedians Max Miller, WC Fields and Mrs Shufflewick, a character played by Rex Jameson. He also reads the beginnings and endings of both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Great Gatsby.

This week Jarvis attended Richard Hawley's Other Voices event in Ireland and a Strange Boys concert in Paris. We hear Turner prize-winning audio artist Susan Philipsz singing under a bridge. It's the final BBC Seasons track. There's a seasonal story by Deb Olin Unferth called Juan the Cellphone Salesman, read by Raina Lampkins-Fielder; an excerpt from the film Key Largo; and a mention of Coronation Street's 50th anniversary. Birthdays: Frank Sinatra (with some exercise tips), Gustave Flaubert, Edvard Munch, John Osborne (comparing film vs. theatre), Bill Nighy (discussing his formative years) and Dionne Warwick.

In an archive recording, children are asked where they think babies come from. As the Mary Celeste was found abandoned this week in 1872, Jarvis reads out theories about the maritime mystery from Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious Universe. There's another SweetThunder.org mangled fairground organ tune. Jarvis talks to author Nick Hornby about his latest project, the Ministry of Stories, which provides a space for young people to develop writing skills. They also discuss working with Ben Folds and William Shatner. Finally, there's a feature by This American Life on the phenomenon of 'song poems'. Birthdays: Ronnie O'Sullivan (musing on his lack of motivation), Christina Rosetti, JJ Cale, Fritz Lang, Walt Disney (we hear the voice of Mickey Mouse) and General Custer.

Jarvis talks about the concept behind Aidan J Moffat's Ten Short Songs for Modern Lovers. Honouring the first publication of The Times newspaper, Jarvis plays a musical representation of the steam press. David Cunningham of The Flying Lizards comes in to talk about the band's album re-issues, his project in which all the pianos in a piano shop played together, and working with Michael Nyman. Then they have a jamma session, with DC on the thumb piano and JC reading from The Interrogative Mood: A Novel? by Padgett Powell. From SweetThunder.org, a recording of a decaying fairground organ. Lastly, Jarvis asks of Bright Eyes, Are They Any Good? and reads an excerpt about them from Jonathan Franzen's novel Freedom. Birthdays: John Bunyan, Nancy Mitford, Berry Gordy Jr, Friedrich Engels, William Blake (prompting a reading of Songs of Experience: The Human Abstract).

Jarvis reads the English words to the Gaelic song Horo Bhodachain by The MacDonald Sisters. He also explains the idea of World Hello Day. Director Garth Jennings drops by to chat about his creative process, why he started making music videos and his film Son of Rambow. He brings in a recording of Oliver Postgate reading from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as well as the Italian Lessons track from his album of happy hold music. He also talks about a film he's promoting, A Town Called Panic. Afterwards, Jarvis talks about an exhibition of customised record sleeves he saw in Paris, World Television Day and the Piltdown Man hoax. Birthdays: Roy Boulting, Eleanor Powell (doing some tap dancing), Alex James, Goldie Hawn and Björk.

Musician Matthew Herbert discusses his concert at the RFH in which all the music is based on one newspaper. He explains why he chose the Guardian over the Times and how he wants the concert to highlight conflicting messages within the same paper. He also considers how we think of sound as generic compared to specific visual records. Jarvis marks the NME printing the first regular singles chart this day in 1952, and the first BBC radio broadcast. Cordelia Cembrowicz gives her eyewitness account of the recent student protests. Sadly, no-one answers the Are They Any Good question of Yanni. Birthdays: Cornell Gunter, John Henry Barbee, Wendy Carlos (talking about synthesisers), Brendan Benson, Prince Charles, Big Daddy (talking about his real name, Shirley) and Gunter Sachs. Valete: Michel Colombier.

Richard Burton's chilling opening dialogue to War of the Worlds starts the show and Jarvis wonders about music for firework displays. After a Brian Eno megamix, the celebrated producer introduces his new album, Small Craft on a Milk Sea. He remarks that a record label's like a gallery: you get to know the kind of work they show. He remembers mixing live for Roxy Music, in costume at the back of the auditorium! He considers how to keep improvisation fresh, with techniques like 'imagining lost music from the future'. His Oblique Strategy Cards also help to spark creativity when under pressure in an expensive studio. He praises Cosmo Jarvis' method of writing music visually, and poet Rick Holland. Birthdays: Captain Cook, Neil Hannon, Joni Mitchell, Ary Barroso, Albert Camus (who reads from L'Étranger), Jean Shrimpton (on modelling). Dee Clark, Billy Graham (interviewed about Creationism by David Frost). Valete: Steve McQueen.

Vincent Price reads a recipe for a ghoulish spell. Jarvis talks about Samhain ('Sauwan'), a Celtic harvest festival featuring costumes, bonfires and restless spirits. Then there's a recording of him reading the quietly creepy MR James story Rats. After dark, a spooky announcement heralds a spine-tingling Monstermix. Lastly, Guillermo del Toro, director of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy, tells Jarvis about his love of fairytales, horror stories and videogames. He also considers why we like to scare ourselves with stories and talks about movie soundtracks, his favourite kind of music. Birthdays: Jarvis' dad, Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz, Jimmy Savile, Annabella Lwin, John Keats (Robert Donat reads Ode to Autumn) and Peter Jackson.

We hear some Proposed Changes to Hotel California, a list from Mountain Man Dance Moves: The McSweeney's Book of Lists. More lists are scattered throughout the show. Jarvis is tickled by Rory Macbeth's anachronistic cover versions, and Discordianism, a belief system based around chaos. Director Ken Loach talks about the state of British film; why he's drawn to certain subjects; his thoughts on reality TV; Looking for Eric and football. Mentioning Kes leads to a discussion of Margaret Thatcher's legacy and the current economic crisis. Jarvis also interviews Leslie Holmes of the Salford lad's club. And On This Day in 1857, Sheffield FC was founded. Birthdays: Bob Kane, Luciano Berio, Sonny Terry, Bill Wyman, Santo Farina, Jack Warner (singing the Dixon of Dock Green song) and Arthur Miller (comparing comedy and tragedy).

Orson Welles gets stroppy while voicing a frozen foods ad. Jarvis celebrates 'ladies of character' with a clip of Rita Hayworth in Gilda. On This Day in 1091, a tornado hit London, and 1814 saw the London Beer Flood. Gaz Mayall discusses his new book, featuring memories and artefacts from 30 years of the clubnight Gaz's Rockin' Blues. He describes how he designed its distinctive flyers, great acts like Screaming Lord Sutch and the club's presence at Glastonbury. He also explains how artist Robert Gordon McHarg III got a street named after Joe Strummer. Then Gaz plays a megamix. Finally, the Orson Welles track I Know What It Is to Be Young. Birthdays: Shinichi Suzuki, Evel Knievel (reading his poem about his vocation), Barney Kessel, Montgomery Clift, Michael Eavis and Peter Stringfellow.

It's 10/10/10, but Jarvis observes that some countries skipped this date On This Day in 1582, because of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. And today in 1967, the Outer Space Treaty was agreed. Jarvis features theatre group Forced Entertainment, with music and dialogue from their play The Thrill of It All, plus two members discussing the music they use. Salman Rushdie talks about his novel Luka and the Fire of Life, written for his son. He mentions storytelling, his love of animal fables and folk tales, and the quest narrative found in videogames. He also reads an excerpt about the fantastical borderland between the world of imagination and the real world. Finally, a snippet of Orson Welles. Birthdays: Alberto Giacometti, Nicholas Parsons, Charles Dance, Ed Wood, Chris Tarrant, Tony Adams and Harold Pinter (Kenneth Williams and Peter Reeves perform a Pinter scene).

Jarvis broadcasts from Un-Convention in Salford, an international grassroots music event. British Sea Power discuss their live soundtrack for Man of Aran. On This Day, Dafydd ap Gruffydd was the first prominent person to be hung, drawn and quartered; and Iraq gained its independence. Organiser Ruth Daniel explains the origins and ethos of Un-Convention. Bill Drummond suggests recorded music is dying as an art form, and is attempting to re-engage with music in new ways, including a guerrilla choir called The 17. Naomi Kashiwagi and Matthew Krysko talk about their sound art collaboration in which they DJ with old gramophones. Birthdays: Gore Vidal, Chubby Checker, Lindsey Buckingham, Al Sharpton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tommy Lee, Clive Owen, Gwen Stefani, Tim Westwood (who's recorded a special shout-out to Jarvis) and Eddie Cochran. Valete: Tony Curtis.

This week Jarvis rowed in the Great River Race. On This Day, the UK agreed to hand over Hong Kong, nuclear war was narrowly avoided, tomatoes were shown not to be toxic and Francis Drake finished circumnavigating the globe. Jarvis apologises for his crackling records: "It's like a giant having a bowl of Rice Krispies in the background." Tony Blair talks about religion with Philip Dodd. A talk by Ted Hughes compares effective thinking to fishing. Lastly, an archive news report about Concorde and what its passengers ate for dinner. Birthdays: Anne Robinson, Johnny Appleseed, Anthony Blunt, Ricky Tomlinson (on falling in love with the banjo), Lynn Anderson, Andrea Dworkin (lecturing on race and pornography), Bryan Ferry, Winnie Mandela, Serena Williams, TS Eliot (we hear music based on his poetry and he reads The Dry Salvages) and Barnes Wallis. Valete: Levi Strauss and Bessie Smith.

Whalesong greets us, because Jarvis has been whalewatching off the coast of Ireland with Marc Riley and Richard Hawley. Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day and Jarvis's birthday. He plays a birthday megamix, including poems by Sir John Betjeman and Dylan Thomas, Bernard Herrmann's score for Taxi Driver featuring the voice of Robert De Niro, Van Morrison's Coney Island and dialogue from the TV series Kung Fu. We hear the BBC Seasons Autumn track. Jarvis asks for songs that might encourage birth and thanks everyone for the good wishes and his caterpillar cake. Birthdays: Brian Epstein (describing how he dressed The Beatles), Lol Creme, Ferry Porsche, Twiggy, William Golding, Frances Farmer, Brook Benton, Bill Medley, Mama Cass, Freda Payne, Daniel Lanois, David Seaman, Jimmy Fallon, Patrick Marber, Eamon, Nile Rodgers and Adam West (discussing Batman's innocence).

On This Day, Henry Hudson began exploring the Hudson River; Elizabeth Barrett eloped with Robert Browning; Switzerland became a federal state; Mahler's 8th Symphony premiered; the Lascaux cave paintings were found; the first integrated circuit was demonstrated; Steve Biko died in police custody; an aeroplane landed on the White House lawn - and Jarvis is recovering from the End of the Road festival. Nick Cave explains how he improvises lyrics; how working with a set of trusted musicians frees him to be creative; and how satisfying it can be to get certain words into songs. Then he discusses his attitude towards God and organised religion. And we hear an excerpt from his 1996 radio essay The Flesh Made Word. Birthdays: Louis MacNeice (Jarvis reads from Autumn Journal), Barry White, Richard Gatling, Maria Muldaur, George Jones (who'd do anything for a drink) and Maurice Chevalier. Valete: Johnny Cash and Anthony Perkins.

On This Day, the Great Fire of London ended, Peter the Great announced a tax on beards and the first Opium War began. The Voyager 1 space probe was launched with a gold phonograph record onboard. Scientist Carl Sagan talks about NASA's intergalactic message in a bottle, its playlist, purpose and intended audience. Jarvis also mentions an artistic clubnight he attended and rants about Boris bikes. As the schools are about to go back, we hear from teacher Jamie Kelsey-Fry about an innovative GCSE Citizenship textbook he's written to inspire kids to get politically active. Birthdays: Chris Morris, Jack Daniel (?), Raquel Welch, John Cage (who has a Zen approach to Q&A sessions), Loudon Wainwright III, Al Stewart, Jesse James, Arthur Koestler (discussing science fiction), Werner Herzog and George Lazenby. Valete: Douglas Bader (he enthuses about aircraft engines).

It's the Notting Hill Carnival today. On This Day, The Beatles gave their last ticketed live concert; Gustav Daimler patented the first motorbike; Native American Ishi was found in California (we hear some of his sad life story); and the remote island of St Kilda was evacuated. Noel Fielding reads Mirrors by Dave Eagleman. Artist Grayson Perry tells Jarvis that he thought he'd get thrown out of his first solo show. He considers how working class people regard the arts, and how he thinks everyone should have the confidence to judge artworks. He explains why he works with ceramics and how much he enjoys the messy process of making pots. "Creativity is optimising your mistakes." Birthdays: Preston Sturges, John McCain, Elliot Gould, James Hunt, Diamanda Galas (Is She Any Good?), Thom Gunn (who reads some poetry), John Locke (a wise philosopher), Dinah Washington, Elizabeth Fraser, Kumi Tanioka and Ingrid Bergman.

Jarvis recalls the imagery he used to memorise Inversnaid and later recites it by heart. Events On This Day: the Battle of Bosworth Field, the English Civil War, the first Geneva Convention, the formation of the Red Cross, a notorious theft of the Mona Lisa, St Columba sighting the Loch Ness Monster, and the BBC's experiment with TV broadcasting. Tim Smit talks about the Eden Project, which he emphasises is a joint effort. He thinks we'll remember this time as a renaissance, an awakening of environmentalism. He quotes some enlightening questions his daughter asked him. He also shares some leftfield views on globalisation and multiculturalism. Birthdays: Dorothy Parker (reading Lady's Reward and Résumé), Annie Proulx, Dale Hawkins, Honor Blackman, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Ron Dante, Steve Davis, John Lee Hooker, Ray Bradbury (Jarvis reads from Fahrenheit 451). Valete: Al Dvorin ('Elvis has left the building') and Jacob Bronowski (on Joyce and Lawrence).

John Cooper Clarke sits in again, playing more toe-tapping tracks and reading out messages from listeners. With spoken word by Eminem and The Courtesy Group, plus a tribute to the late Frank Sidebottom. John says no to a questionnaire and tells an anecdote about a miniatures shop. He also tells the story of the Million Dollar Quartet, points out the irony of tracksuits and recalls a joke about Frank Sinatra. He finishes with Pulp's My Legendary Girlfriend, featuring a great deal of moody spoken word by Mr Cocker.

Bard of Salford John Cooper Clarke sits in, playing stacks of his treasured vinyl. He talks about how many of Britain's run down holiday resorts have been revived by the pink pound, and shares a valuable Northern soul track which he bought in Poundland. He muses on how some accessories make you behave in certain ways: walking sticks and pipes magically make you act like an old duffer. He enthuses about the snarling guitar sound of Link Wray, who stabbed his amp with a bowie knife to get the right effect. He recites a jingle he wrote for a Martini commercial, Home Honey, I'm High. Lou Rawls tells a story about a not-so-sharp hustler. And John thinks about the appeal of pirates and his love of nautically themed parties.

On This Day, oxygen was re-discovered, Regent's Canal in London opened, the first Brownsea Scout Camp was held (Arthur Smith investigates) and the Belgian Congo got a new name. Jarvis reads some TS Eliot. In the first of several recordings from Port Eliot, Jarvis chats to Gavin Pretor-Pinney from The Cloud Appreciation Society. Although clouds aren't popular, Gavin thinks we can all benefit from their beauty and drama. As it's Yorkshire Day, we're set a quiz about Yorkshire dialect. Jarvis reads from Ted Hughes's book By Heart and asks us to memorise a poem while he's away. Then Ted Hughes recites a poem. And Jarvis meets Robin & Partridge at The House of Fairytales, who improvise stories from children's suggestions. Birthdays: Joe Elliot, Lionel Bart, Yves Saint Laurent, David James, Jim Carroll (reading his poem Praying Mantis), Herman Melville, Sam Mendes and Michael Penn. Valete: Johnny Burnett and Calamity Jane.

Jarvis is at the Port Eliot Festival with a live audience. He announces some oddities overheard from tents, then medieval troubadours Princes in the Tower entertain us. Marcus Coates is interested in where our world converges with the natural world. He plays recordings comparing birdsong to human sounds, and talks about getting people to sing bird calls. On This Day, Blériot flew the Channel, the first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast occurred, Bob Dylan went electric and it's the Inca festival of Ilyap'a. Bill Drummond dislikes rock heritage and warns Jarvis not to reform Pulp! He describes The 17, a choir which is never recorded and only exists for the moment. Here at the festival, he's busy building a bed. Jarvis recommends the Outdoor Swimming Society... Wilko Jonson is here for an Oil City Confidential screening and Q&A. He discusses his jug band, astronomy and the beautiful rings of Saturn. Sound recordist Chris Watson is fascinated by ambient sound and audio environments, and has created a soundscape for the Palm House at Kew. We hear two tracks from his Nature Disco, seals singing and Vulture Carcass. Birthdays: Rita Marley, Thurston Moore, Alain Robidoux. Valete: Hurricane Higgins and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

On This Day, the Vatican decided that the Pope could never be wrong, Hitler's Mein Kampf was published, Intel Corp was founded and Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci scored an unprecedented perfect 10. A record bought in Berlin makes Jarvis think about bad breakfast foods. And to cool us down after the recent hot weather, he reads an Icelandic legend called The Wizards of the Westman Islands. As Jarvis is planning to be at Latitude this weekend, he plays music by some bands playing at the festival. Plus, quirky records featuring a 'French James Brown' and a drug overdose. Birthdays: WG Grace, George Machine Gun Kelly, Nelson Mandela, Burt Kwouk, Hunter S Thompson (ranting an excerpt from Fear and Loathing), Yevgeny Yevtushenko (discussing reincarnation; Anthony Hopkins reads one of his poems), Dion, Henri Salvador, Jean Yanne, Martha Reeves, Lonnie Mack, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Bobby Susser. Valete: Bobby Fuller and Nico.

Let's celebrate: 6 Music has survived! On This Day, Martin Frobisher sighted Greenland; the town of Tijuana was founded; the Hollywood Bowl first opened; Jean-Louis Pons observed the first of many comets he discovered; A Tale of Two Cities and To Kill a Mockingbird were first published; Waterloo Station opened; and today there is a total solar eclipse visible from Easter Island. Jarvis reads a poem by Jim Morrison. We hear some of Fleet: Ice Cream Orchestra, a piece for Pixiphone and Grampian horn by Kelvin Pawsey and Chris Yates. We also ponder a tall tale about a phonebox. Spiritual guru Alan Watts gives a mesmeric lecture on the Hindu concept of Om. Cleo Laine reads The Frog's Request by Brian Patten. And Jarvis reveals where his intro/outro music comes from... Birthdays: Reg Varney, Giorgio Armani, Craig Charles, Lil Kim, Yul Brynner, Pete Murphy, Michael Rose and Andrew Bird. Valete: Laurence Olivier.

It's American Independence Day, so the show features audio tributes to Paul Revere, Yankee Doodle Dandy and other American icons. On This Day, Leo Szilard patented the atom bomb; Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass was published (we hear a poem from it); and so was Thoreau's book Walden. There's a Miranda July soundpiece about night-time driving and Jarvis wonders about ice cream vans. Poet John Cooper Clarke joins Jarvis. He explains how he got into poetry by writing lyrics, and cites Baloo-voicing Phil Harris as a major influence. They also consider mobile phones, poetic forms and whether a poem should rhyme. John inspires two listeners to write an ode to their dirty kitchen. Birthdays: Giuseppe Garibaldi, Thomas Barnardo, Irving Caesar, Mitch Miller, Eva Marie Saint, Louis B Mayer (the MGM lion roars), Gina Lollobrigida, Colin Welland, Stephen Foster, Ron Kovic, Bill Withers, David 'Kid' Jensen and Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson.

Instead of the Sunday Service, Jarvis continues 6 Music's last full day of Glastonbury coverage, live from Worthy Farm. He talks to Andrew Kerr, who helped set up the first ever festival at Glastonbury, and poet Ross Sutherland. Murray Lachlan-Young also joins Jarvis for poetry on the themes of Portaloos and thongs.

An appropriate haiku begins this Father's Day show. On This Day, a British garrison was imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta and Samuel Morse patented the telegraph. Raina Lampkins-Fielder reads Sam Shepard's story about a forgetful father, Berlin Wall Piece. Jarvis shares more theories about blancmange, celebrates midsummer, and marks Team Green Britain Bike Week by reading from David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries. Richard Harris declaims a passage by Kahlil Gibran about parenthood - and John Shuttleworth adds his two-penn'orth. And Joe Cocker: Is He Any Good? Birthdays: Johnny Morris (doing animal voices), Anne Murray, Terence Young, Jacques Offenbach, Chet Atkins, Wendy Craig, Kurt Schwitters (reciting his tone poem Ursonate) and Erroll Flynn (gathering lilacs in the spring). Valete: Conrad Schumann (the sound of propaganda being blasted eastwards and westwards at the Berlin Wall).

Jarvis broadcasts from Paris. On This Day, Martin Luther's wedding annoyed Rome; the Soviet Mir diamond mine opened; the Miranda rights were instated; Pioneer 10 made space history; and Mussolini and Hitler met in Venice. Jarvis speaks to musician Andrew WK. He's in the UK playing bass with Current 93. He explains his motivational speaking — they discuss the odd relationship a performer in the spotlight has with the audience. Jarvis asks about his new direction, piano-led album 55 Cadillac. Andrew says he wanted to reach out to people who don't like his usual work. Plus, Jarvis ponders blancmange and tubular bells. Birthdays: Charles the Bald, Gerald Gardner, Basil Rathbone, Dorothy L Sayers, Heinrich Hoffman (creator of creepy Struwwelpeter), Alan Hansen, Malcolm McDowell, Alan Civil, Dennis Locorriere, WB Yeats (Jarvis reads about his religious theories, followed by crackly archive of Yeats reading The Lake Isle of Innisfree). Valete: Michael Wojas.

The 1970 England World Cup squad sing an earnest There'll Always Be an England. Jarvis wonders when, exactly, does summer begin? Then he's joined by Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Leckey. He explains why he thinks rock isn't as energetic and political as in the past: once music was a great way to communicate to the world and now there are many other ways to do that. He also suggests that youth movements develop very differently now that we have the internet, and warns against nostalgia and aligning yourself with an era that never really existed. There's a spoken word piece by rockabillies Heavy Trash, The Pill. Jarvis thinks about the summer again and plays the sound of twittering greenfinches. And Wilco: Are They Any Good? Birthdays: Levi Stubbs and Brenda from Toronto.

Chirruping tree frogs from Jarvis's jungle journey begin the show. On This Day, Joan of Arc burned at the stake, Evel Knievel jumped 16 cars, Henry VIII married Jane Seymour — and we hear all about Big Ben's chiming debut. Jarvis talks to journalist and film-maker Adam Curtis. He remembers his creatively inspiring schooldays. His early career at That's Life taught him how to tell stories in film, incorporating humour. He shares a recording of Afghanistan's only rock festival, in 1975. It's very rough and ready, and includes a cover of Kung Fu Fighting. Adam's interested in the mythologies Afghanistan and the West dreamed up about each other. He suggests that nowadays, we've stopped knitting events together into proper stories, making the news fragmentary, contextless and alarming. Birthdays: Topper Headon, Harry Enfield, Leigh Francis, Agnès Varda, Mel Blanc and Devendra Banhart. Valete: Dennis Hopper, Boris Pasternak, Mickie Most and Voltaire.

Jarvis celebrates the Tate Modern's 10th birthday: peppered throughout the show are interviews with non-profit art groups at the No Soul for Sale exhibition in the Turbine Hall. James Brett of the Museum of Everything has made an open call for works of Outsider Art - we hear the judging panel and documentation process at work. Artists from the Kling & Bang Gallery's Tower of Now talk about their installation Circus - a much-loved bar which they reconstructed when it was sold, freezing it in time. Jarvis describes a messy work which has scattered rubbish everywhere and one revealing the music of plants, and he reads out a quiz he was handed, called Are You Independent. On This Day, Bonnie and Clyde were executed and the accordian was patented. Birthdays: Michel Colombier, Robert Moog, Phil Selway and Bob Dylan tomorrow. Valete: Patrick Cargill (reciting a song about his dog).

We're all 'tangled up in blue' for the foreseeable... On This Day, Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI, Edgar Allen Poe married his 13-year-old cousin, the first Academy Awards were held and Motown Records was established. Alex Turner reads his story, A Choice of Three. We hear two spoken word tracks called Grey, by Alan Parker, Urban Warrior and Ken Nordine. Julie Andrews and Moondog celebrate nursery rhymes from around the world - then Barbara Windsor reads some of Cinderella, marking the anniversary of Charles Perrault's death. Birthdays: Nicky Chinn, Henry Fonda, Roy Hudd, Max Miller, Jonathan Richman, Liberace, Billy Cobham, Studs Terkel (talking about interviewing ordinary people) and Robert Fripp. Valete: Lena Horne and James Agee (an excerpt from Night of the Hunter, which he screenwrote).

Jarvis saw Iggy and The Stooges play with Suicide this week — we get to hear Iggy preaching to the crowd. On This Day, Thomas Blood tried to steal the Crown Jewels, Buffalo Bill opened his Wild West Show in London and the first contraceptive pill was launched (so we hear the intro to Valley of the Dolls). The incomparable Arthur Lowe delights the listeners with his narration of Mr Noisy by Roger Hargreaves. Plus Alan Bennett performs the comedy sketch The Telegram, Miranda July shouts a surprising rock intro, and John Selwyn Gummer tells us to 'just shut up!' And we find out whether Richard Thompson Is Any Good. Birthdays: Dave Gahan, Paul Heaton, Paul McGuigan, Glenda Jackson, JM Barrie (who invented celebrity cricket), Roger Hargreaves, Albert Finney, Billy Joel, Richard Adams and Alan Bennett.

Jarvis couldn't go abroad because of the ash cloud, so he visited his mum and nicked her records - we get to hear the results. On This Day, Tennessee Williams won the Pulitzer and Bill Clinton made an important decision concerning GPS. We hear about the customs of May and the meaning of Mah - the Japanese concept of 'positive emptiness'. Michael Palin drops in, chatting about his childhood in Sheffield and where he liked to cycle. Jarvis asks about the musical bits of his career: writing lyrics for Monty Python, compering a pop showcase and his brief songwriting career. Michael also talks about his travelling and his enthusiasm for Hemingway. Then he reads a Hemingway essay about a seedy Parisian cafe and answers listeners' questions about happiness and stunt chips. Birthdays: Lorenz Hart and Engelbert Humperdinck. Valete: Alan Sillitoe (we hear one of his caustic quotes).

Richard Hawley sits in for Jarvis, joined by fellow Pulp veteran Candida Doyle. Together they chat about wayward flatmates Jack Nitzsche and Bob Lind; Johnny Cash's best mate Johnny Horton; composer Angelo Badalamenti and actor James Spader; and Richard's dislike of classical music. We hear Professor Stanley Unwin reading his story Goldiloppers and the Three Bearloders, then Sheffield band The Crookes play live in session. Richard and Candida finish with Little Fluffy Clouds by the Orb and a giggle at Jarvis's jingles.

Today seems to have been an uneventful day in history - in 1930, BBC Radio declared it to be No News Day. Jarvis reads excerpts from 17 by Bill Drummond, a series of essays exploring his theories about recorded music. Jarvis corrects some mistakes from previous shows, reads out appreciative listener emails about the Laurie Anderson show and mentions that he's up for the Sony Rising Star Award. Then he plays some songs with French titles by non-French artists. Birthdays: Bez, Miklós Rózsa, Hayley Mills, David Tennant, Thor Heyerdahl (who voyaged to Easter Island on a raft), Skip Spence (a 60s casualty), Les Pattinson and Tony Mottola. Valete: Frankie Howerd (a clip of his stand-up) and Malcolm McLaren (a speech from October 2009 in which he describes his earlier life and education, of sorts).

Jarvis recalls a lecture he gave in which he investigated how we use language and lyrics to communicate — an idea which led to this very programme. On This Day, Supergun was seized, the last German 'witch' was executed and the Brixton riots erupted. Multimedia artist Laurie Anderson joins Jarvis and he asks why stories and narratives are so integral to her work. As NASA's one-time Artist in Residence, she remembers witnessing the Mars rover landings entirely via numbers. She considers what an artist can bring to a big government institution. They also discuss elections and how journalism and entertainment are merging. Then Laurie reads her short story about her dog. Birthdays: Richard Berry, Vincent Gallo, Anton LaVey and Bob Harris. We remember Joseph Merrick, Malcolm McLaren (Jarvis talks about him and Malcolm sings a Max Bygraves song), Harry Secombe and Jacques Prévert (we hear his poem Pater Noster).

As it's Easter Sunday, Jarvis plays the full version of I Am the Resurrection. He also wonders whether Jesus ever travelled to England and plays a record mysteriously left for him at his hotel in Venice. On This Day, explorer Francis Drake was knighted, Robert Walpole became the UK's first prime minister, the Star-Spangled Banner was raised and the CND symbol was adopted. The musical story is My Sister by The Tindersticks. Artist Peter Blake talks about sharing the 'godfather of Pop Art' title and collecting junk. He explains that designing covers for albums like Sgt Pepper's is a way for an artist to get noticed by a young audience. They also chat about Outsider Art and how art colleges have changed. Birthdays: Junior Braithwaite, Marguerite Duras, Elmer Bernstein, Anthony Perkins, Muddy Waters, Dave Hill, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Graham Norton, Robert Downey Jr, David Blaine and Jarvis's sister Saskia.

A shorter show today, as Jarvis didn't realise the clocks went back. For Palm Sunday, we hear Adrian Henri's Christ's Entry into Jerusalem. On This Day, the Paris Commune was established but the decimal republican calendar didn't catch on. Sound artist Max Eastley talks about the Cape Farewell voyages - this organisation takes creatives and scientists to the Arctic Circle to learn about climate change. From an ice floe called the Devil's Dancefloor, Max recorded the boat's creaking and the sounds under the sea. We hear the calls of bearded seals mixed with the scything of a weird instrument he invented. In a jamma session, Max plays this instrument as Jarvis reads Ian McEwan's story A Boot Locker in the Frozen North. And Pavement: Are They Any Good? Birthdays: Alexander the Warlike, Maxim Gorky, Dame Flora Robson, Nelson Algren and Michael Parkinson. Valete: Alex Chilton.

Today is the Spring Equinox, when light and darkness are perfectly balanced. On This Day, Einstein published the Theory of Relativity, the Moondog Ball was held, Alcatraz closed, JR was shot and a hot air balloon first went round the world; it's also Harmony Day in Australia. Vivian Stanshall performs a shaggy Bonzo Dog story. And for World Poetry Day, Jarvis reads Portrait of the Artist as a Prematurely Old Man by Ogden Nash. Then he is joined by actor John Hurt. John discusses how attitudes to drinking have changed since the 1960s. Jarvis asks about his youth at art school, and John reveals how to avoid becoming 'an old fogey'. He also discusses how attitudes to sexuality have revolutionised since The Naked Civil Servant, and there's a clip of Quentin Crisp himself speaking. Birthdays: JS Bach, Son House, Brian Clough, Gary Oldman, Russ Meyer, Guy Chadwick and Vivian Stanshall.

Does modern Mother's Day go right back to ancient Greek festivals honouring Cybele? It's also Summer Day in Albania, White Day in Japan and Pi Day for mathematicians. Jarvis accidentally watched Lambing Live this week, so he plays a track about how they count sheep in Yorkshire. We hear 'soothing sounds for baby' by Raymond Scott, an American one-man Radiophonic Workshop, and a track he made with Jim Henson called Limbo: The Organised Mind. Childhood memories are stirred by the Trumpton Clock and Baby Mine from Dumbo. Peter Sagal reads ...Lamentations of the Father by Ian Frazier, a short story sermon from a dad's point of view. And Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: Are They Any Good? Birthdays: Rita Tushingham, Casey Jones (a heroic train driver), Albert Einstein (William Simpson reads his theories on society and personality), Pam Ayres (contemplating her son), Michael Caine and Quincy Jones.

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This Day in history was a day of patents, exploration and relaxation. Jarvis reads On Making Someone a Good Man by Calling Him a Good Man by Dave Eggers. A listener sends in the noisy sound of a wake in Singapore: perhaps the ruckus will see off some malevolent forces at work at 6 Music! As a new film about shy electro genius Delia Derbyshire is released, Jarvis talks about her with Pete Kember (Sonic Boom). They discuss her work at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, why she struck out on her own and her legacy. Pete explains how he came to collaborate with her in the late 1990s and we hear a piece they made based on a vintage Flake advert. Birthdays: Maurice Ravel, Rik Mayall, Ivan Lendl, Brett Easton Ellis and Townes Van Zandt (Is He Any Good?). Valete: Michael Foot (with some of his stirring socialist speeches).

Jarvis broadcasts from Edinburgh. He begins with a proposal for a performance art piece by Peter Liversidge, an idea involving a giant reproduction of Mel Gibson's head. He plays lots of Scottish music suggested by Bobby Gillespie, including the spoken word track First Big Weekend by Arab Strap. He also highlights Concern Worldwide's charity single for Haiti. On This Day, M*A*S*H came to an end and goalkeepers Dino Zoff and Sepp Maier were born. Jarvis talks about Albert Camus and the philosophy he learned from football. Then he reads The Goalkeeper's Revenge by Bill Naughton. Recorded speech patterns become skittish violin notes in Charles Spearin's Happiness Project. Then we return to Peter Liversidge's quirky proposals in The Thrill of It All at the Ingleby Gallery: an interesting, amusing exhibition to see if you're lucky enough to be in Edinburgh too. Birthdays: Vincent Minnelli, Bugsy Siegel and Brian Jones.

On This Day, the first steam train set off, the Communist Manifesto and the first phone book were both published, Churchill abolished ID cards, DNA was mapped and the first convention of psychotropic substances was held. Young British Artist Gavin Turk talks about his House of Fairytales project, which encourages children and families to think creatively. Recalling an artwork he made from crushed Coke cans, he expresses an interest in the connection between art, rubbish and value; pointing out that rarity and nostalgia can make even little things like ringpulls and chip forks valuable. Miranda July performs her short story The Boy from Lam Kien, about an agoraphobic's encounter with her neighbour's son. Birthdays: Johnny Eccles and Jerry Harrison. Valete: Malcolm X (he rails against Uncle Toms). Jarvis also pays tribute to his close friend Tim.

A special Valentine's Day programme for those romantics who want to keep their credibility. We start with the theory that Valentine's was fixed at 14 February to obscure the pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia - the day's first association with romantic love was made by Chaucer. The first half of the show investigates the tender side of love, with romantic stories from listeners. Jonathan Coe reads his story 9th and 13th, a cautionary tale about seizing love while you get the chance. The second half of the show features a sensuous megamix, with passionate spoken word by Anthony Newley, McGough and McGear, and Dirk Bogarde. We also celebrate Chinese New Year. Birthdays: Tim Buckley.

Jarvis remembers being in a production of Oliver!; Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking rap; and On This Day, the Bonfire of the Vanities blazed. David Sedaris reads Hejira, his story about leaving home. Artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot generates the sound of finches nesting on Les Paul guitars, and romantic Dirk Bogarde readies us for Valentine's. Film-maker Julien Temple discusses punk, The Sex Pistols and Dr Feelgood. He considers why so many films are revisiting that era at the moment. Jarvis asks about his latest film, Requiem for Detroit? Julien explains that as recession destroys Detroit, 40-foot trees grow from derelict skyscrapers and miles of inner city have returned to prairie — but a vibrant new music scene is emerging from the ashes. Birthdays: Charles Dickens, Buster Crabbe, Juliette Gréco, Pete Postlethwaite, Emo Philips, Ray Mears, Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo montage) and Danny Goffey. Valete: JD Salinger, John McCallum and Johnny Dankworth.

On This Day features Guy Fawkes, the first VD hospital, AA Milne, Native Americans and Robert E Lee. Jarvis investigates sound recording, beginning with a gramophone record of Thomas Edison's voice. Jarvis reads passages from Greg Milner's Perfecting Sound Forever. One is a scientific analysis of Led Zep's drumming, another considers loudness. There's a soundpiece by Miranda July. Jarvis talks to Turner Prize-winning performance artist Jeremy Deller. His projects include a steel band who play Manchester hits; a film about Russian Depeche Mode fans; his Folk Archive; a re-enactment of the Battle of Orgreave with miners and battle re-enacters; and the Acid Brass Project. Jeremy points out that Northern musicians favour the thumping beats that once thrummed through their cities. Then we hear some dub music, which can't really be done live. Finally, another excerpt by Greg Milner about an American healer who thinks digital music's making society sick.

24th January is 'officially' the most depressing day of the year, so Jarvis tries to play some uplifting songs. On This Day, the first Apple Mac computer went on sale. Jarvis reads the story Mirror from the anthology Sum. On the phone from Paris, pianist Chilly Gonzales talks about representing the hands of Serge Gainsbourg in the biopic Gainsbourg: Vie héroïque. Jarvis asks whether you can get to know a person by learning to imitate how they played. Gonzales suggests that French people clap differently to Anglo audiences, to a beat he feels is somehow childlike. Jarvis sheds light on that with an interesting psychological theory about rhythm. And Jarvis is cheered to hear of more pets named after him. Birthdays: Neil Diamond, Klaus Nomi (Is He Any Good?), John Belushi, Jools Holland, Natasia Kinski, Ray Stevens and Vic Reeves. Valete: Kate McGarrigle.

A freshly Poligripped Jarvis delivers one last dead Christmas tree update and asks Are They Any Good of Ryan Adams. We hear a story with a musical backing, The Gift by The Velvet Underground, and how Benjamin Franklin invented the glass armonica - an instrument that sounded so beautiful that it was feared it drove people mad. In a restful interlude, Uri Geller encourages you to bend a spoon with your mind. Tom Waits shares some wisdom about conception. Baxter Dury tells Jarvis about the new biopic of his father, Ian. He considers how it feels to have a rock star parent mythologised and explains that a biopic needn't be factually accurate to tell a truthful story. He also talks about CCTV and the London marathon. Birthdays: Eartha Kitt, Chris Montez, Françoise Hardy, Keith Chegwin, Michelle Obama, Muhammad Ali (discussing trash talk), Benjamin Franklin, Richard Hawley and Al Capone.

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