1977 Festive 50 (a billion questions (very slight exaggeration))

[Steve]

Dear Bill

With regards to session eligibility, JP categorically stated in the
1983 FF that all tracks in the charts up to that date were played from
the records, and that Sophie And Peter Johnson's 'Television' was the
first session track to make the chart. On balance of probability,
since he did best of year session shows anyway, he would not have
played any session tracks for the chart. Thus 'Bring In The Morning
Light' (and maybe even 'You Beat The Hell Outta Me') must have been
from the first self-titled LP, as it was released in 1977. 'Dancing
The Night Away' could easily have been the 12 inch or LP version (both
longer than the 7 inch) as he spoke favourably about it in the
existing show of 1977-12-28, and played that version in the 1978 FF.
As for Jah Woosh, I had a conversation with Ken via email about this
when I posted some reggae tracks from this chart last year, and I am
of the opinion that it is an alternatively named version of 'Freedom',
from, I think, 'Lick Him With The Dustbin'. The version played in the
show of 1977-12-26 was on Jamaica Sound, JSD001. I checked the Jamaica
Sound website (which I cannot find now) at the time for this, and they
listed the release date as 1978. I cannot find that site now, so I
posted 'Fredom' anyway in lieu of anything better.

Hope this helps!

Best wishes
Steve [Teenage Kicks]

--- In peel@yahoogroups.com, "spib2003" <bill.spiby@...> wrote:
>
> Dear all,
> Buckle up for the second wave of Festive 50 related queries. This 
> time the subject is 1977's legendary `Forgotten Fifty' which 
> helpfully consists of 61 tracks! The rules are as follows: I'm trying 
> to identify the version that was played and thereafter any eligible 
> version (i.e. released or broadcast up until that date). I'm 
> excluding boots and TV appearances, although am open to persuasion on 
> both (3am Eternal anyone?). Obviously 1977 is a funny one as there 
> was only one `voter'. But working on the assumption that the great 
> man could have heard (and therefore been influenced to choose by) any 
> of the versions, I'm treating it the same as other years in terms of 
> eligibility.
> 
> So here goes:
> Does anyone know of any existing tapes of the broadcasts, or parts 
> thereof?
> Has anyone access to any documentation/pasBs or even their own 
> contemporary scribbles?
> Do any of our older listeners have any recollections of the versions 
> played?
> But most of all, any insights or best guesses folks?
> 
> Here's my list of `informed' guesses. Don't be scared of telling me 
> I'm wrong - that's why I'm posting them here.
> 
> John Peel Festive 50 1977 (Forgotten 50 or 61 to be precise)
> 1 The Motors - Dancing the Night Away
> Probably played single (3.13)
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 2 Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking
> I think JP could only have played single, although despite its 
> megahit status I can't find a pre-early 78 release for it. Anyone 
> help with details about this one?
> 
> 3 The Motors – You Beat the Hell Out of Me
> Probably B side of Be What You Gotta Be single (2.50)
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 4 The Rezillos – I Can't Stand My Baby
> Had to be the single (2.35)
> 
> 5 John Cooper Clarke – Suspended Sentence
> Had to be the single
> 
> 6 Desperate Bicycles – Smokescreen
> Had to be the single (2.03)
> 
> 7 Merlene Webber – Right Track
> Can't find a pre-1978 release for this, so was JP playing it from a 
> promo copy of MW's On the Right Track LP (2.45)?
> 
> 8 Neil Young – Like a Hurricane
> Probably full length version from American Stars `n' Bars LP (8.14). 
> This is the version he plays in 1978's chart.
> Eligible: Single (5.24)
> 
> 9 The Clash – Complete Control
> Had to be single (3.10)
> 
> 10 Frankie Miller – Be Good to Yourself
> I'm guessing single and Full House LP version are the same (2.56)
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 11 The Sex Pistols – Holidays in the Sun
> Single and Never Mind The Bollocks version are identical (3.20)
> 
> 12 The Lurkers – Shadow
> Had to be single
> 
> 13 J. Ayes and Ranking Trevor – Truly
> These reggae releases are never simple, are they? Think this one was 
> originally a 1974 single release but was released as a 12" in 1977. 
> It would seem likely that the '77 version is what was played although 
> technically one could call the '74 version eligible as well. Is the 
> Disco Mix and the 12" mix one and the same? If not, when was Disco 
> Mix released?
> 
> 14 Pink Floyd – Pigs
> Would seem likely to be Pigs (Three Different Ones) (11.28) from 
> Animals LP, but any thoughts on eligibility of Pigs on the Wing 1 
> (1.24) and Pigs on the Wing 2 (1.27) from the same? And if you accept 
> those then that also has to be extended to Pigs on the Wing (8 track 
> version) (3.26)
> 
> 15 Johnny Moped – Incendiary Device
> Had to be B side of No One single (2.06)
> 
> 16 Some Chicken – New Religion
> Had to be Single (2.17)
> 
> 17 Culture – See Them Come
> Tentative guess that it was Two Sevens Clash LP (3.24) version. Is 
> the Jah Jah See Them A Come single version the same as LP? Other 
> contenders See Dem A Come 12" (6.56) and See Dem Dub (3.58). Can 
> anyone confirm whether the last 3 versions were '77 releases?
> 
> 18 The Motors – Emergency
> Had to be session
> 
> 19 The Yobs – The Worm Song
> Had to be B side of Run Rudolph Run single (The Yobs are actually The 
> Boys by the way for those who didn't know (i.e. me))
> 
> 20 The Boys – Box Number
> Probably played The Boys LP (2.33) version sometimes titled Box 
> Number 939
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 21 The Stranglers – London Lady
> Think B side of (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) single is same as Rattus 
> Norvegicus LP (2.25). Anyone?
> 
> 22 Sham 69 – I Don't Wanna
> Had to be single (1.46)
> 
> 23 The Ramones – Pinhead
> Think B side of Swallow My Pride single is same as Leave Home LP 
> (2.42) version. Anyone?
> 
> 24 Jah Woosh – Freedom Connection
> Another funny one because as far as I can tell it wasn't available at 
> all until 1978, so JP must have been playing promo 12". Anyone got 
> any further info on this one?
> 
> 25 Status Quo – Can't Give You More
> Had to be from Rockin' All Over the World LP (4.15)
> 
> 26 Jeff Beck with Jan Hammer – Blue Wind
> Well it has to be live version on Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group 
> Live (5.47) LP but I have various running times for this. Is it case 
> of later CD releases not fading the original recording session take 
> as early?
> 
> 27 The Clash – White Riot
> I'm going for the The Clash LP (1.56) version over the single (2.01) 
> but it's a fairly arbitrary guess. Future 50's are not particularly 
> helpful as JP seemed to alternate between the two.
> 
> 28 Iggy Pop – Success
> I'm assuming Lust for Life LP version (4.23) and Lust for Life single 
> B side are the same despite different spelling `Succes'. Anyone?
> 
> 29 Generation X – Your Generation
> Going for the single (3.11)
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 30 King Short Shirt – Nobody Go Run Me
> Guessing single is the same as Ghetto Vibes LP (5.00). Anyone?
> 
> 31 The Lurkers – Love Story
> Had to be B side of Shadow single
> 
> 32 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Waiting in Vain
> Think single and Exodus LP version are the same (4.03). Anyone?
> 
> 33 Dr Feelgood – Paradise
> Had to be Sneakin' Suspicion LP version (4.06)
> 
> 34 Five Hand Reel – Cruel Brother
> Well given that it's listed as by Five Hand Reel, then it's got to be 
> For A' That LP version (5.37). However, Dick Gaughan did release solo 
> version (earlier the same year I think) on Sandy Bell's Ceilidh LP, 
> so arguably this is eligible
> 
> 35 The Saints – I'm Stranded
> Think single, split EP and I'm Stranded LP versions are the same 
> (3.25). Anyone?
> 
> 36 David Bowie – "Heroes"
> Oh! David. What are you doing to me? Going for the "Heroes" LP 
> version (6.07) as played in '78 rundown
> Eligible: Single edit (3.32)
> French language single edit "Heros"
> German language single edit "Helden"
> English/French hybrid full length version 
> English/German hybrid full length version
> Can anyone confirm release date for the last 2 versions?
> 
> 37 The Users – Sick on You
> Had to be single (3.20)
> 
> 38 X Ray Spex – Oh Bondage Up Yours!
> Going for the single (2.45)
> Eligible: Live version on Live at the Roxy WC2
> 
> 39 The Boomtown Rats – Lookin' After Number 1
> Think probably played single and that The Boomtown Rats LP version is 
> the same (3.06). Anyone?
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 40 June Tabor – No Man's Land
> Probably played Ashes and Diamond LP version (7.40)
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 41 The Damned – Neat Neat Neat
> Think single, New Rose 12" and Damned Damned Damned LP versions are 
> identical (2.46). Anyone?
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 42 Ry Cooder – The Dark End of the Street
> Probably Live version on Show Time (Chicken Skin Revue) (6.43)
> Eligible (ish): Boomer's Story LP (3.25) although released in 1972!
> 
> 43 Suburban Studs – Questions
> Had to be single (2.57)
> 
> 44 Elizabeth Archer & the Equators – Feel Like Making Love
> Going for the single
> Eligible: B side `Version'
> 12" was this released in '77 though?
> 
> 45 Dave Edmunds – I Knew the Bride
> Think single and Get It LP version are identical (2.57). Anyone?
> Eligible: Session as David Edmund's Rockpile
> 
> 46 The Jam – Away from the Numbers
> Had to be from In the City LP (4.03)
> 
> 47 Wreckless Eric – (I'd Go the) Whole Wide World
> Probably played single
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 48 Roy Buchanan – Green Onions
> Probably from Loading Zone LP. Was US Single same version? 
> 
> 49 Generation X – Wild Dub (Version)
> Had to be B side of Wild Youth single (3.47). Any thoughts on 
> eligibility of A side?
> 
> 50 Snatch – I.R.T.
> B side of Stanley single. Was reissued later that year A side (think 
> it's the same version – can anyone confirm?)
> 
> 51 The Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant
> Single and Never Mind The Bollocks version are identical (3.15)
> 
> 52 The Oldham Tinkers – John Willie's Ferret
> Had to be from Sit Thee Down LP
> 
> 53 Peter Tosh – Stepping Razor
> Think this had to be from Equal Rights LP (5.45). Anyone help?
> 
> 54 The Clash – Capital Radio
> Had to be from Capital Radio EP (2.09) (i.e. Capital Radio One 
> version)
> 
> 55 Elvis Costello and The Attractions – Watching the Detectives
> Had to be single (3.43)
> 
> 56 The Motors – Bringing in the Morning Light
> Had to be session
> 
> 57 Eddie & The Hot Rods – Beginning of the End
> Probably played from Life on the Line LP (8.18)
> Eligible: Session
> 
> 58 Devo – Jocko Homo
> Had to be B side of Mongoloid single (3.15)
> 
> 59 The Buzzcocks – Whatever Happened To...?
> Had to be B side of Orgasm Addict single (2.08)
> 
> 60 Little Feat – Rocket in My Pocket
> Had to be from LP Time Loves a Hero 3.25 
> 
> 61 The Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen
> Single and Never Mind The Bollocks version are identical (3.20)
> 
> Look forward to hearing from you all.
> Regards
> Bill Spiby
>