From Pigeons to Rabbits via Mozart and the Moon

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.

Paris Trip

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.

Folsom Prison Anniversary

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).

Epiphany

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.