John Johnston

Festive 50s

Music EN ↓ 3 episodes

A fan podcast were we review John Peel's festive fifties. If you don't know what that is, let me brighten your world. John Peel was one of the best DJs that ever worked at Radio 1 and without whom there would never have been a punk movement, no new wave, no indie bands making an impact on the general public. His show, from 10pm to midnight weekdays on BBC radio1 attracted an audience of like minded music fans, we were all listening in to discover a new band, or hear the latest release from our favourite ones. John would get in unheard bands to record sessions, bands would send in their demo ta...

Author

John Johnston

Episodes

Episode 3 - 1989 24.03.2026 1:04:53

In 1989, key events included the fall of the Berlin Wall, which symbolized the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Other major events were the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown in China, the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and the proposal of the World Wide Web.

Episode 2 -1994 24.03.2026 49:59

This episode suffers a little from muffled sound and a bit missing near the end, but, we learn as we go. The answer to episode one’s question, would Taylor swift cover Shipbuilding by Robert Wyatt or Bitterest Pill by The Jam was decided by the biggest Swifties I could find (my daughters), and the descision was, “She isn’t really a covers kinda girl, but if it was one of those, then Bitterest Pill...

Episode One - 1982 24.03.2026 1:14:07

1982 the year that gave us - Save Your Love by Renee & Renato with the Christmas No.1 Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners was the biggest selling single of the year.