The JCSS Archive: 2013

The Best of the Sunday Service 2013

Jarvis looks back over some of his favourite bits from the Sunday Service 2013. He brings us clips from guests such as David Attenborough, who came in to talk about musicality in the animal kingdom; Nick Hornby, who discusses his project in which children wrote lyrics for grown-up musicians; and Beardyman, who provided an improvised backing to a previously unreleased Pulp lyric.

For the last Sunday Service before Christmas, we have a bit of an office party and hear some dubious cracker jokes. As it's the time of year for carolling, Brian Eno returns to the show to talk about his fondness for a cappella music. He shares a range of examples of sweet and strong singing without instruments. There is also a snowy story read by Iggy Pop, about a father and son's skiing trip on Christmas Eve.

Special episode marking 50 years since the release of Lee Hazlewood's debut solo LP. Featuring Hazlewood-related tracks, archive nuggets, and fresh insights from his fellow singers, musicians and producers. We also learn a little Esperanto, and salute the late great Nelson Mandela and author Colin Wilson.

Inspired by the Tate gallery's recent re-hang, Jarvis looks at what happens when the worlds of art and music collide, with tracks inspired by paintings and tracks by visual artists who were also in bands. Plus, he reads another of Alan Garner's folk tales, The Trade That No-One Knows, which is about the trials a poor man must undergo before he can marry the king's daughter.

Photo by Michael Ivankay on Flickr

Jarvis is back after a trip to California, where he sang at the Disney Hall for Beck's Song-Reader project. He offers an audio postcard of his time in sunny LA, featuring music inspired by cars and driving, records he found in LA record stores and some Hollywood film music. We also talk about earworms, songs that get stuck in your head — and the lyrics of one earworm give us this week's recipe, for johnnycakes.

Dr John Cooper Clarke sits in for Jarvis again, determined not to let a few aches and pains get in the way of a groovin' good time.

Jarvis is handed the keys to the Radio France vinyl archive, armed with a record player and a list of rarities. Rummaging around the vinyl vaults, he blows the dust off lost moments of Gallic greatness, guided by archivist Luc, and DJs Clovis and Guillaume of Dirty Sound System. Jarvis also takes us on a whistle-stop tour of Paris and shares a recipe for croque-monsieur.

Jarvis returns to Hoxton Street Monster Supplies to meet up with author Nick Hornby. They discuss the forthcoming album Share More Air, a unique songwriting collaboration between Nick's Ministry of Stories and 56 children aged between 8 and 13 years old. The musicians involved include Ben Folds, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Emily Barker, Marcus Foster, Skinny Lister and Ben Fletcher. Jarvis and Nick discuss writing, collaboration, and the brave new world of publishing today. We also remember two great children's TV shows, Sesame Street and Doctor Who; and hear the true story of loyal dog Hachiko.

Jarvis pays tribute to the life and work of rock legend Lou Reed, who died last week. Featuring archive interview clips and quips from the influential Velvet Underground band leader, and praise from colleagues and admirers such as Andy Warhol, David Bowie and Brian Eno. Also, we try some alternative instrumental tracks to accompany fireworks displays, and sample a recipe for Yorkshire Parkin, a fiery ginger cake.

It's time to get in the mood for Hallowe'en, so we hear a horrifying story of vampirism read by Christopher Lee. Jarvis quizzes us on our knowledge of monster sounds and there's a recipe for pumpkin pie.

Jarvis celebrates the work of Tom Dowd, the recording engineer and producer who innovated multi-track recording and popularised the use of stereophonic sound. He also shines a light on fantasy author Alan Garner. Jarvis reads an extract about fairies from Garner's collection of British folklore. He also reads the Grimm tale Faithful John, about a staunch stone servant and the wisdom of crows.

Jarvis chats with influential director Nicolas Roeg about his philosophy, techniques and the wealth of wisdom he has garnered over 50 years of film-making.

As part of the BBC's Sound of Cinema season, Jarvis visits Pinewood Shepperton's sound effects studio to meet Foley professionals Peter Burgis and Glen Gathard. They provide him with an insight into how cinematic sound effects are created and mixed, why films require ambient sounds both big and small, and who gave the process the name of Foley. Then they draw on their vast array of props to aurally 'illustrate' a spooky story scribbled by Jarvis. On This Day, Jason Lewis finished pedalling his way around the globe, and the first talkie, The Jazz Singer, opened. This week's recipe is for apple strudel. Birthdays: Le Corbusier, Carole Lombard (a clip from 1942 film To Be or Not to Be), Glenn Branca, William Butler (remembering his first guitar), Britt Ekland (what is the enduring appeal of The Wicker Man?) and Stanley Kramer last week.

Caffeinated songs are sprinkled like coffee granules through the frothy milk of this International Coffee Day programme. This Day also saw the sausagey-sounding Battle of Salamis. Just how do you design an aspect of everyday urban life? Jarvis interviews the audio designers who are creating a new sound for electric cars. We check out the Bright Phoebus Revisited project. Richard Hawley reads a story, The Crimson Kite by Michael Ward, musically accompanied by I Monster. Jarvis shares a devilish recipe for tiramisu. And has this drummer drunk too much coffee? Birthdays: Michelangelo Antonioni, Caravaggio, Brett Anderson (on striving to sing Suede songs), Alan McGee (iPhones are 'technological psychedelia'), Billy Butlin (archive ads and a redcoat in action), Sebastian Coe (running as a vocation), Gilles Peterson yesterday (considering his name), Mike Post, Jean-Luc Ponty, László Bíró, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ian McShane (on baddies) and Scout Niblett.

It's the autumnal equinox, and as the nights begin to lengthen, we hear music and facts to do with darkness. Jarvis hopes that on dark Sunday afternoons, we will all stay in and cosy up by the radio — although ideally not playing sudoku... This day in history was significant for the founding of Mormonism; also On This Day, the UK television channel ITV launched. Arthur Lowe narrates another Mr Men story, the tale of trembling Mr Jelly. Jarvis teaches us how to bake scones, in a musical tribute to The Great British Bake-Off. Today is International Car-Free Day; and the listeners are asked which songs make us feel autumnal. Birthdays: Toni Basil, Joan Jett, Nick Cave (with clips from his Sunday Service interview), Tony Drago, Chesney Hawkes, Gideon Coe, Arthur Lowe, Fred and Richard Fairbrass, and Sue Perkins (remembering coming out).

From the JCSS Archive x

The Maudlin Megamix

With a major birthday approaching, Jarvis muses over the autumnal change in the air. He asks listeners about our must-have music for birthdays. The BBC's Sound of Cinema season gets a mention, and On This Day, Lehman Brothers imploded. We wonder whether the unearthly beauty of the glass harmonica ever really sent anyone mad. Then it's time for a 50th birthday Maudlin Megamix, during which Jarvis reads the story Forever Overhead by David Foster Wallace, about an adolescent boy taking his first tentative dive into the unknown. Today in history, Winston Churchill reminds us, was the climax of the Battle of Britain. And we cheer ourselves up with this video. This week's recipe: pizza. Birthdays: Oliver Stone (arguing that we are addicted to greed), Ben Wallers, Cannonball Adderley, Bruno Hoffmann, Sophie Dahl (on why she loves cooking) and Jimmy Carr (with a quick quip).

Jarvis returns to Paris and instructs us in the French tradition of 'à la rentrée'. On This Day, Michelangelo's David statue was unveiled, but how did the V&A make their plaster cast decent? Jarvis's guest is folk-rock musician Bob Lind. They debate the differences between poetry and lyrics. Bob remembers his relationship with Charles Bukowski. They discuss songwriting and Bob says he prefers performing live to recording — he explains why he's returned to recording after a break of 40 years. Also On This Day, Star Trek first aired and sticky tape went on sale. This week's recipe is for meatballs. Birthdays: Aimee Mann (on writing sad songs), Peter Sellers (performing a sketch), Harry Secombe (with a classic Goon Show gag), Benjamin Orr, Neko Case, Jimmie Rodgers, Patsy Cline, Asha Bhosle, Alfred Jarry, Siegfried Sassoon (a reading of his poem Attack), Martin Freeman (on his career choice) and Peter Maxwell Davies.

Jarvis returns with tales of his summer adventures! Including surviving the absolutely boiling weather; the Venice Biennale; the Big Melt in Sheffield; the End of the Road Festival; a Beck-inspired concert at the Barbican; the Despacio project in Manchester; the Rory McEwen exhibition at Kew; and at a lakeside cocktail bar, an entertainer making a surprising song choice. Today in history, World War II began — Stephen Fry recites WH Auden's poem about that day — Martha the last Passenger Pigeon died, the Cod Wars started, and Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea was published. Plus, what could replace The A-Z of Peel: perhaps recipes for Sunday lunch? Birthdays: Edgar Rice Burroughs (we learn Tarzan's language), AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (founder of Krishna Consciousness), Johann Pachelbel, Violet Carson (in character as Ena Sharples), Barry Gibb (recalling the Saturday Night Fever premiere), Bruce Foxton (on lyric-writing), Gloria Estefan and Armi Aavikko (video).

Jarvis was away from the show for three months, so the Archive took a little break too and there are still a few shows waiting to be added here. But there were many wonderful guest presenters for us to enjoy in the meantime. Here is a list...

06-02 BOBBY GILLESPIE Sits In
06-09 JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (6)
06-16 JOHN LYDON Sits In (1)
06-23 JOHN LYDON Sits In (2)
06-30 JOHN LYDON Sits In (3)
07-07 COLIN GREENWOOD, JONNY GREENWOOD and ADAM BUXTON Sit In
14-07 COLIN GREENWOOD Sits In (2)
21-07 [no JCSS: general Latitude Festival coverage]
28-07 COLIN GREENWOOD Sits In (South Africa show) (3)
04-08 JOSHUA HOMME Sits In
11-08 BOB GELDOF Sits In
18-08 TOM RAVENSCROFT Sits In
25-08 [no JCSS: extended edition of The First Time with Trent Reznor]

I hope all the devotees of the show and readers of this blog had a very pleasant summer!

Did You Know?
In May, the mesmerising Radio 4 series Wireless Nights returned for a second series. It was released as a podcast.

TOM RAVENSCROFT Sits In

DJ Tom Ravenscroft sits in. On This Day, Nabokov's novel Lolita was published in America, drummer Dan Peters was born, and composer Elmer Bernstein died (there's a clip of Burt Lancaster in the film Birdman of Alcatraz, for which Bernstein wrote the score). Tom also plays one of his signature 'Grubby 45' records.

Bob Geldof sits in. Bob is the lead singer of The Boomtown Rats and is renowned for his anti-poverty charity work. His guest is writer and music journalist Adrian Deevoy. Spoken word snippets: Ian McDiarmid recites The Hollow Men by TS Eliot, and blues legend Son House talks about the raw power of the blues.

Joshua Homme sits in. Josh is the frontman of Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal. He shares a selection of dark and dirty delicacies that he thinks should've been big hits.

Colin Greenwood of Radiohead sits in, along with his brother and bandmate Jonny. Adam Buxton is along for the ride, asking the boys what music makes it to the tour bus playlist.

Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie sits in, playing an eclectic mix of his favourite new and classic records — featuring anything from acid house and post-punk, to psychedelia and Motown.

This bank holiday weekend promises to be very rainy, so imagine you're on a fiery hot beach instead... We mark the birthdays of Morrissey [22/05] and Moondog, the eccentric outsider artist who brought music to the streets of New York. For Whitsuntide, Philip Larkin reads his poem The Whitsun Weddings. We hear about a record that found a re-release after 27 years. On This Day, Vauxhall Bridge first opened and the European flag was unfurled. The Peel Z is for Zion Train. Birthdays: Steve Hanley, Robert Morley (an unlikely papal candidate), Levon Helm, Jaki Liebezeit, Stevie Nicks (on the romantic legacy of Fleetwood Mac), Mick Ronson (Bowie explains how he persuaded the Spiders to wear make-up) and Peggy Lee (being modest). Valete: Ray Manzarek — there's a rowdy 15min Doors live track, with audience hecklers getting superbly scolded.

Jarvis announced on this show that he will be away until September and there will be guest presenters throughout the summer.

A whistling dawn chorus gently awakens us. There's an excerpt from The Ballad of Reading Gaol because today in 1897, Oscar Wilde was released. And in 1802, Napoleon established the Légion d'honneur. Jarvis presents almost a whole hour of the John Peel show from 19th May 1977. At that time, this enormously influential show was the only place to hear alternative music on the radio. Jarvis found the recording in his mum's garage while helping her to move house, and excitedly saved it for this Sunday. Lastly, we revisit This Day in 1962, when Marilyn Monroe sang a sultry Happy Birthday to JFK, and finish with a little more birdsong. Birthdays: James Fox, Pete Townshend (on songwriting), Grace Jones (being self-effacing), Joey Ramone (discussing glue-sniffing), Martyn Ware (on how steelworks inspired the synth beat), Malcolm X (expressing some radical views), Mickey Newbury and John F Kennedy.

Jarvis celebrates the work of Burt Bacharach on the occasion of his 85th birthday.

Enjoy the Experience - JOHAN KUGELBERG

Jarvis chats to Johan Kugelberg about his latest book Enjoy The Experience: Homemade Records 1958-1992.

We catch up on last week's International Record Store Day party. Craig Parkinson reads a story by Ian Rankin, a roadie's cautionary tale of a band break-up. Jarvis interviews Beardyman, who begins by explaining how his music is like that of the lyrebird. With his unique 'real-time music production system', the Beardytron 5000 Mk II, he samples vocal sounds to create amazing beatboxing electro. He's a one-man band, producer and studio! He participates in a jamma session, with Jarvis reading the lyrics to a long-lost Pulp song. The Peel W is for Wagon Christ. And today is International Health and Safety at Work Day. Birthdays: Ian Rankin, Kim Gordon, Harper Lee (a short extract from To Kill a Mockingbird), Lauren Laverne (who's recorded a message for us), Ann-Margret, Jacques Dutronc, Blossom Dearie (discussing her name), Penélope Cruz and Yves Klein (there's a spoken word track about his blue).

Jarvcasts

Can anyone help with a request?

I had a comment from listener Frank regarding the Jarvcasts. This was a series of short stories read by Jarvis and released as podcasts — two of them have featured on JCSS in the past.

Here's a list:

2006:
The Wizards of the Westman Islands (Icelandic folk tale) [7:49]
The Bokkala and the Boy (Icelandic folk tale) [4:48]
Excerpt from The Tokyo Montana Express by Richard Brautigan [13:17]
The Mouse, the Bird and the Sausage (from Grimms' Fairy Tales) [3:58]
The Laughing Man by JD Salinger [30:59]
The Shadow by Hans Christian Andersen [27:57]

2007 Halloween:
Rats by MR James [13:56]
Playmates by AM Burrage [52:25]

Frank has most of them but is missing the underlined ones. Can anyone shed any light on the search? I haven't got any of them but I'm sure someone reading this can help...

Record Store Day Round-Up

In honour of Record Store Day yesterday, Jarvis presents some exclusive records, both brand new singles and classic re-releases. Featuring a jazz poetry superjam by Michael Horovitz, and great TV themes from Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Star Trek and the jazz-playing puppets from Thunderbirds. A recent study has shown that new music lights up the brain's reward centre: we test whether new cover versions give your nucleus accumbens a double-whammy of pleasure. On This Day in 1989, protests began in Tiananmen Square and in 1990 Sinéad O'Connor started a lengthy run at the US number one spot. And our old-fashioned host recalls flexi discs fondly but admits that Facebook has him foxed. Birthdays: Iggy Pop (who remembers starting out and his influences), Alistair MacLean, Ira Louvin, Robert Smith (who's tougher than he looks) and Eddy Christiani.

There's a warm breeze, a change in the air... On This Day, Webster's dictionary was published, videotape was unveiled and poor Abraham Lincoln was shot. The first Highway Code was issued too: 'always give way to trains'. Jarvis reads a passage from The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, published today in 1939. Listeners share what they're up to: DIY, handicrafts and having a baby! We remember the musicians of the Titanic, who kept on playing to calm the passengers. The Peel V is for Van der Graaf Generator. And listeners suggest songs to herald the beginning of a new era. Birthdays: Rod Steiger (discussing drinking), Shorty Rogers, Julie Christie (telling a naughty joke and criticising aspirational magazines), Loretta Lynn, Win Butler, Robert Carlyle (considering the music taste of his characters) and Gerry Anderson (his puppet Marina was Jarvis's first love). Valete: Margaret Thatcher.

Jarvis meets natural history film-maker Sir David Attenborough. They discuss the origins of singing and the significance of music and rhythm to every human culture. David remembers his 1950s series The Song Hunter, produced with ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax. It was an early showcase for folk and popular music on BBC television — although David recalls one disastrous performance! He also reads out advice from Victorian explorers, hints at a forthcoming project with Björk and explains how elaborate songs and plumage can attract a flighty female. They consider our amazing, sometimes daunting, ability to access music written throughout history. Jarvis asks David about the importance of connecting with nature, and how he feels about the closure of BBC Television Centre. David has dedicated his broadcasting career to sharing science and culture with everybody, and for that Jarvis thanks him. Birthdays: Florian Schneider and Andrew Sachs (talking about his love of animals).

Celebrating David Bowie

Last week, there was no Sunday Service because the station devoted a whole weekend to David Bowie — in our usual slot wuza-wuza Adam Buxton's love letter to his hero (the show is on his Soundcloud).

So instead, here's another chance to hear this episode from January 2012... [link expired]

But wait, there's more! Jarvis narrated a TV documentary on BBC4, David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust. It's currently available on YouTube. Enjoy:

ALISON MOSSHART Sits In (3/3)

It's Alison Mosshart's final week on the show, and to mark the end of her tenure, her theme is death and the devil.

Alison Mosshart sits in again, playing music on the theme of outlaws and highways.

Alison Mosshart of The Kills and The Dead Weather sits in, playing some of her favourite songs of love and heartbreak.

Resistance is futile: let the Sunday Service flow through your circuits. The Melomics organisation created music for us using the keywords 'relaxing/Sunday/mellow': was it successful, or can the listeners do better? On This Day, the Miners' Strike ended, the second Opium War started, HSBC was founded and the opera Carmen premiered. Jarvis shares nocturnal sounds from his tropical holiday. This week, New Order's Blue Monday is 30 years old. But what were the secret ingredients of this groundbreaking hit? Its creators give us a flavour. We hear about disappointing birthdays from This American Life. Also today in history, the USA adopted The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem and 1933 film King Kong was released. The Peel U is for The Ukrainians. Birthdays: Robyn Hitchcock (discussing religion and belief), Tone-Lōc, Arthur Machen, Ira Glass, Jennifer Warnes, Brian Cox (contemplating Saturn), Ronald Searle (with some wise advice) and Alexander Graham Bell.

John Cooper Clarke sits in while Jarvis is away, presenting a show jam-packed with rockabilly, pysch, crooners and more. In his new feature Cockney Corner, there's Low era David Bowie, Anthony Newley and Chas 'n' Dave. Frankie Avalon makes John consider level-headed hairdressing: "you don't want a 'wacky' barber, you want a man with a steady hand and a sober world view!" His Sabbath Special track comes from the star-studded Million Dollar Quartet. And in the A-Z of Peel slot, John rewinds to P and plays Pulp's very first Peel Session. Birthdays: Plastic Bertrand. Valete: Johnnie Ray and Buddy Holly.

To escape the miserable weather, we go on an aural holiday — with a first class flight, a touch of holiday romance, and the sound of surf on the sand. John McGregor reads his story about a meeting in a lost property office. We have a cocktail (today in 1933 Prohibition was repealed), spy mermaids on the rocks and go for a dip in the pool. The Peel T is for June Tabor, and On This Day back in dreary London, the congestion charge scheme began. As Jarvis sails off into the sunset, he suggests we think of this show as his holiday postcard. Birthdays: (Larry Adler last week), Ron Goodwin, David McComb, Alan Bates (being begged to tell a story in Whistle Down the Wind), Paris Hilton (on her love of pound shops), Gene Pitney, Rebecca Adlington and Ed Sheeran. Valete: Paul Tanner.

Celebrating 150 years of the London Underground, Jarvis takes us on an exuberant ride through the subway systems of London, Paris and beyond. There are Tube facts and a recording of Jarvis's Metro ride today. Emma Clarke explains how she became one of the voices of the Underground network. We travel further: today is the beginning of Chinese New Year, we glimpse Russia, then we reach the deepest realm there is. Back to reality with the rubbish morning commute; it's time to spice up the journey with Poems on the Underground and some naughtiness on the NY Subway. The Peel S is for The Sabres of Paradise. We take a detour into the world of chess, as On This Day Garry Kasparov was beaten by Deep Blue. We alight and our magical Tube train hurtles away. Birthdays: Bertolt Brecht, Boris Pasternak, Roberta Flack, Jerry Goldsmith, Jimmy Durante. Valete: Reg Presley.

Jarvis sings his intro over some soothing Spiritualized pure phase drones. This week, London skyscraper The Shard opened despite the recession — and today in 1637, the financial bubble of Tulip Mania burst. Walter Donohue reads for us Sunday Drive by Bob Ayers, from a story anthology edited by Paul Auster. Jarvis plays a song that may have been designed to catch out unwary DJs! Gertrude Stein reads the tale of a young butterfly collector. Today, as on the first Sunday of every February, Trinity Church in Dalston held the Joseph Grimaldi service for clowns. The Peel R is for Racing Cars. We mark Setsubun, the Japanese bean-throwing festival; and the listeners are asked for our favourite cover versions. Birthdays: Melanie Safka, Paul Auster, Kenneth Anger, Lol Tolhurst, Gertrude Stein, Dave Davies (who asked tricky questions in RE class) and Yasuharu Konishi.

There's a wildlife theme this week, beginning with warm praise for David Attenborough's series on Africa. Jarvis has a little shout about hoovering. A scientist dispels the myth that Mozart's music makes you intelligent. Pigeons are musical too: artist Kerry Morrison made sheet music with the help of birds in the park. Rabbits are Jarvis's pet hate — another thing he finds a bit of a nightmare is opera. The Peel Q is for Quiet Sun. Today in 2003, the first historically significant selections for the National Recording Registry were announced: we hear two surprising examples. And in 1967 the Outer Space Treaty ensured that the stars would remain free from human conflict. Birthdays: Margo Timmins, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lewis Carroll (Alan Bennett reads about Tweedledum and Tweedledee), Gillian Gilbert, Tricky (on crime and punishment), Frank Skinner (on The Magic Flute), Rosamund Pike (on her operatic upbringing) and Nick Mason.

On a crisp winter's day, Jarvis takes us sightseeing around Paris. He walks us from the BBC's Paris studio, up the Champs-Élysées to a record shop. Then he reads about the Gare du Nord and its statues representing European destinations. Today in 2009, Barack Obama was inaugurated, and in 1986 the first Martin Luther King Day was celebrated. There's arcane spoken word from The North Sea Scrolls. The rowdy Peel P is for Panacea. 16 January is when the French do their New Year's thanksgiving: pianist Nils Frahm gives thanks for his unbroken digits. After the Louvre, we warm up with a hot toddy. Birthdays: Clarice Cliff, Hachidai Nakamura, Eric Stewart, David Lynch (who discusses his creative process), Gary Barlow (lamenting his early lyric-writing), DeForest Kelley, Buzz Aldrin (marvelling at the moon landing), Tom Baker (Jarvis does an impression of him), Federico Fellini (considering neorealism), Slim Whitman and Josef Hofmann.

The Lord of Misrule's reign has ushered in the reign of the Lord Bowie! Jarvis shares some records he's acquired from his mother's house move. We investigate triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13. Radical spiritual teacher George Gurdjieff was born today in 1887: he believed music was one way of transcending to a higher plane of consciousness. We hear about Polari, an archaic form of gay slang. On This Day in 1968, Johnny Cash performed a legendary concert at Folsom Prison. We learn all about how it transpired and Cash's interest in prison reform. The Peel O is for Mike Oldfield — featuring an extraordinary version of Tubular Bells. Birthdays: George Gurdjieff, Suggs (whose stage name was once a graffiti tag), Edmund White (on writing gay literature), Wayne Coyne (regretting his singing skills), Bill Bailey (on his start in musical comedy) and Michael Bond (on his beloved creation, Paddington Bear).

It's Twelfth Night (or is it?) when the reign of the Lord of Misrule comes to an end. In an unsure world, Jarvis confesses one thing he's still sure of... We're asked to suggest a song that sums up our festive season. On This Day, record label EMI dropped The Sex Pistols: an EMI executive explains why. We hear some facts about Epiphany, as 6th January is when the Magi's arrival in Bethlehem is celebrated. TS Eliot recites his poem The Journey of the Magi. Alan Watts lectures on reincarnation — would you be happy to be reborn as a fruit fly? The Peel N is for Nina Nastasia. Birthdays: Alan Watts, Syd Barrett (with memories from Rick Wright), Sandy Denny, Montgolfier, Kahlil Gibran, Nigella Lawson (the rude mash-up of her cooking commentary is here) and Alex Turner (paying homage to The Smiths). Valete: Gerry Anderson.

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