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Post by markdixon on May 13, 2015 13:25:01 GMT
I looked at ‘The Stage’ archive and a few other websites and found some more details regarding missing music performances from ‘Scene at 6.30’ and ‘Scene’. First of all here are some well-known names:
2 May 1966: The Small Faces 17 May 1966: Gary Walker 18 May 1966: The Troggs 16 Jan 1968: Marty Wilde ‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix’
The rest of the list contains quite obscure performers, but I’ve checked online and some of these artists still have fans out there.
12 Jun 1964: Marilyn Powell (When she covered ‘All My Loving’ in ’64 she became the first female vocalist to record a Beatles song) Dec 1964 (?): Steve Aldo ‘Can I Get A Witness’ (R & B/soul singer from Liverpool) c. Apr 1965: David and Marianne Dalmour (Cabaret/folk duo from Leeds) Jan 1966 (?): Friday Brown ‘Getting Nowhere’ (Blues/soul singer from Salford who had her own Tyne-Tees series, ‘A Girl Called Friday’, in 1968) Jul 1967: Ruth Saxon (Singer from Manchester who also became a presenter on ‘Scene’. As far as I know, she was the first black presenter on a British news programme) Aug 1967 (?): Foggy Dew-O (Folk duo from South Yorkshire) Early 1968: Annie Bright (Jazz singer who was a regular on the Tyne-Tees music programme ‘The Late Mood’ in 1968)
Other information
The fifth anniversary of ‘Scene’ was celebrated by an article in the Northern edition of the ‘TV Times’ (Jan 13- Jan 19 1968). Producer Johnnie Hamp remembered how the early days of the programme coincided with the sudden popularity of the Beatles. He made the following comments:
Overnight the Mersey Sound became internationally famous. We sold thousands of feet of film of the new pop idols to TV stations around the world.
American executives, visiting Manchester with their families, rang Granada for tickets for the Cavern on behalf of their daughters, when really they wanted to see the new pop scene for themselves.
This raises hope that some 'Scene at 6.30' music footage might still be out there, possibly in an American TV archive.
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Post by markdixon on May 9, 2015 19:08:37 GMT
The Granada programme that the Bonzos appeared on was called ‘Max Bygraves Introduces New Faces’. It was a networked one-off variety show and was broadcast on 7 November 1967. It also featured the Amen Corner and the Grumbleweeds. The whole programme still exists.
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Post by markdixon on May 9, 2015 12:06:24 GMT
‘New Faces’ was a Granada production shown only in that region. I think most of the featured acts remained very obscure. Apparently a guitarist called Michael Strutt was the first prize-winner. The Wednesday Folk (later known as the Fivepenny Piece) also appeared. ‘New Faces’ grew out of an earlier Granada talent show called ‘Firstimers’. This was a 5 minute programme which was shown about 3 times a week from May 1967-Apr 1968.
There were at least two notable bands on ‘Firstimers’. A band from Blackpool called the John Evan Smash appeared in May 1967. They later became known as Jethro Tull.
Kaleidoscope appeared on ‘Firstimers’ on 17 October 1967. I’m not sure what they were doing on a talent show because they already had a record contract at this point. I think their debut album ‘Tangerine Dream’ was released shortly afterwards.
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Post by markdixon on May 3, 2015 12:39:14 GMT
I found out that some of the musical performances on ‘Scene at 6.30’ were filmed on location. This increases the chances that some of this material might still exist somewhere. According to the ‘Manchesterbeat’ website, the Righteous Brothers’ performance of 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' on ‘Scene at 6.30’ in January 1965 was filmed at Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in Manchester. The Just Four Men (who later became freakbeat band Wimple Winch) were filmed there for the programme on the same day. I think the director was probably Michael Apted.
I suspect that a few other ‘Scene at 6.30’ music clips were probably filmed at Belle Vue because Granada used the place as a backdrop for pop performances fairly regularly. For example, the Flirtations were filmed visiting the amusement park and speedway track for a music spot on ‘Newsday’ in 1971 (this clip still exists). Belle Vue was also featured on ‘Lift Off’ in 1971 and a whole edition of ‘45’ was recorded there in 1974.
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Post by markdixon on Apr 29, 2015 12:52:25 GMT
I looked at Northern editions of the ‘TV Times’ and found the following details regarding music guests on ‘Scene at 6.30’: Jun 1963 -Jennifer Moss (‘Coronation Street’ actress who sang on several Joe Meek productions) 9 Sep 1963 –The Innocents ‘Stepping Stones’ 10 Sep 1963 – Jimmy Justice ‘You’re Gonna Need My Lovin’’ 11 Sep 1963 – Kenny Lynch Early 1964 (?) – Dave Berry 20 Jan 1964 – Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders 27 Feb 1964 – The Caravelles 2 Mar 1964 – Tony Sheridan "with a disc he recorded some time ago with a then almost unknown group – the Beatles" 10 Mar 1964 – Clinton Ford Mar 64 – Millicent Martin - ‘Nothing But the Best’ c. May 1965 – Roy and the Rest (Mancunian beat group) 10 Jun 1966 – Marianne Faithfull (she was featured on the front cover of the ‘TV Times’ in connection with this appearance) 13 Jun 1966 – The Beatles ‘Paperback Writer’ (this must have been a showing of one of the black and white InterTel promotional videos directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg on 19 May 1966) Other information
In June 1963 an amateur talent spot was launched on ‘Scene at 6.30’. One act appeared each week. It seems that many beat groups were featured.
Johnny Hamp presented a feature called ‘Pop Scene’ every Wednesday on ‘Scene at 6.30’ in 1964. I think the first ‘Pop Scene’ was broadcast on 18 March 1964. Musical guests would use this spot to promote singles weeks before the release date.
There was a ‘Pop Scene Special’ on 22 April 1964. William has already mentioned this. It was recorded in Montreux and featured Cilla Black and a few other Merseybeat performers. I wonder if any footage from this edition exists in a Swiss TV archive? Maybe a Swiss broadcaster assisted Granada in the production of the programme.
The 2 July-8 July 1966 edition of the ‘TV Times’ included a feature to promote the new late-night ‘Scene’ programme. It included the following: On the music side of the later ‘Scene’, Granada’s Light Entertainment chief, Johnny Hamp, has plans to slot in the more sophisticated type of entertainment suitable for late-night viewing. Special musical spots will be directed by Philip Casson.
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Post by markdixon on Apr 18, 2015 8:22:27 GMT
Hi William. Thanks again for all the information that you’ve found. There are quite a few unexpected names in these lists. It’s interesting that Northern viewers got early exposure to soul singers such as Jimmy Radcliffe and Doris Troy. Some of the records recorded by these artists in the mid-Sixties came to be regarded as Northern Soul classics a few years later.
I think the Banshees who appeared on 17/09/64 were a band from the North-East of England. For a while their vocalist was Bryan Ferry, but I think he left shortly before their ‘Scene at 6.30’ appearance.
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Post by markdixon on Apr 16, 2015 18:37:18 GMT
Hi William. The information that you've found is really excellent.
As far as I know the only edition of 'Late Scene' that still exists is the one broadcast on 27 Nov 1963 in which Gay Byrne interviewed the Beatles and Ken Dodd.
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Post by markdixon on Apr 15, 2015 20:29:48 GMT
Hi William. That information is great. Thanks.
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Post by markdixon on Apr 15, 2015 15:08:48 GMT
Granada’s weekday news/magazine programme ‘Scene at 6.30’ (1963-1966) is mainly remembered these days because it featured a number of appearances by the Beatles. However many other musical guests appeared on the show (usually miming to their latest singles). No complete editions have been preserved and no music clips from the programme still exist apart from some of the Beatles appearances. Even though ‘Scene at 6.30’ was broadcast in the North of England only, it seems that details of its musical guests were reported fairly regularly in the national music press. Some of this information has ended up on various websites. I thought it might be worthwhile to have all this information in one place. I’m sure my list is far from comprehensive and there are probably several errors. I’d welcome any additions or corrections.
1963:
21 Jan 63: Duke Ellington / Feb 63: Frank Ifield / 16 Apr 63: The Beatles - ‘From Me To You’ / May 63: Billie Davis / 20 May 63: Gene Vincent - ‘Held for Questioning’ / 19 Aug 63: The Beatles - ‘She Loves You’ / 29 Aug 63: The Rolling Stones - ‘Come On’ / 24 Sept 63 (?): Chuck Berry / 24 Sept 63: Bo Diddley - ‘Pretty Thing’ / 18 Oct 63: The Beatles - ‘She Loves You’ / Oct 63: Eddie Calvert / Oct 63: Joe Brown / Oct 63: Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas / Oct 63: The Spinners / Oct 63: Brook Benton / Oct 63: The Caravelles / Oct 63: Mike Cotton’s Jazzmen / Oct 63: Brian Poole and the Tremeloes / Oct 63: The Everly Brothers / 30 Oct 63: Johnny Burnette - ‘Bony Moronie’ / 04 Nov 63: Dee Dee Sharp / 05 Nov 63: Dick Charlesworth and the City Gents / 08 Nov 63: Mark Wynter / 09 Dec 63: The Animals
The following artists appeared in 1963 on unknown dates: Little Eva, Brenda Lee, Brian Hyland, The Paramounts (?), The Sundowners, Four Just Men, The Country Gents.
1964:
17 Feb 64: Maureen Evans / 18 Feb 64: Freddie and the Dreamers / 20 Feb 64: Dave Clark Five / 21 Feb 64: Gene Pitney / 04 Mar 64: The Rolling Stones - ‘Not Fade Away’ / 13 Mar 64: Jet Harris / 16 Mar 64: Julie Grant / 17 Mar 64: The Bachelors / 18 Mar 64: The Animals, Sounds Incorporated / Apr 64: Billy J. Kramer / Apr 64: The Gamblers / 04 May 64: The Rolling Stones / 11 May 64: Roy Orbison – ‘It’s Over’ / 12 May 64: Brian Poole and the Tremeloes / 13 May 64: Billy Fury / 14 May 64: Susan Maughan / 15 May 64: Manfred Mann / 26 May 64: Dionne Warwick / 02 Jun 64: Peter and Gordon / 12 Jun 64: John Lee Hooker / Jun 64: Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men (featuring Rod Stewart) / 02 Jul 64: Inez and Charlie Foxx - ‘Hurt By Love’ / Jul 64: The Searchers / 15 Sept 64: The Rolling Stones / 14 Oct 64: The Beatles - ‘I Should Have Known Better’ / Oct 64: The Beat Merchants / Nov 64: Herman’s Hermits / Nov 64: Sandie Shaw / 16 Nov 64: the Moody Blues / Dec 64: Dave Berry - ‘One Heart Between Two’ / Dec 64 (?): Sonny Boy Williamson The following artists appeared in 1964 on unknown dates: Adam Faith, David John and the Mood, Cops ‘N’ Robbers, The Zephyrs, Little Frankie, Roy and the Rest, Peter’s Faces, The Toggery Five
1965:
Jan 65: The Righteous Brothers – ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’ / Jan 65:The Riot Squad - ‘Anytime’ / Feb 65: The Rats - ‘Spoonful’ / 02 Mar 65: The Moody Blues / 11 Mar 65: The Rolling Stones - 'The Last Time' / 18 Mar 65: The Yardbirds - ‘For Your Love’ / Mar 65: Freddie and the Dreamers / 02 Apr 65: The Zombies / May 65: The Hollies / 18 May 65: The Who / Jun 65 (?): Dinah Lee / 14 Jun 65: The Yardbirds - ‘Heart Full of Soul’ / Jul 65: Marianne Faithfull / 04 Aug 65: The Byrds / 23 Aug 65: The Rolling Stones – ‘Satisfaction’ / Aug 65 (?): Sylvan Mason - ‘We Don’t Belong’ / Sept 65: Petula Clark / 28 Sept 65: The Yardbirds - ‘Evil Hearted You’ / Oct 65: Freddie and the Dreamers / Oct 65: Lulu / 12 Nov 65: Sir Douglas Quintet / 28 Nov 65: The Walker Brothers - ‘My Ship is Coming In’
1966:
25 Jan 66: Dusty Springfield / 01 Feb 66: Crispian St Peters / Feb 66: The Small Faces - ‘Sha La La Lee’ / 01 Mar 66: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich / 07 Mar 66: The Who - ‘Substitute’ / 16 Mar 66: The Yardbirds - ‘Shapes of Things’ / 29 Apr 66: Manfred Mann / 14 Jun 66: Chris Farlowe / 15 Jun 66: The Hollies
The following artists appeared in 1966 on unknown dates: John Andrews and the Lonely Ones, She Trinity, The Dimples, The Chuckles
‘Newscene’ and ‘Scene’ – 1966-1968
In July 1966 the programme was reinvented as a late-night programme called ‘Newscene’ (sometimes known as ‘Scene’). According to the book ‘Anyway Anyhow Anywhere’ producer John Hamp wanted to make ‘Newscene’ “more controversial” than its predecessor. Apparently a studio audience of young people would sometimes engage in discussion with the musical guests. No complete editions survive apart from the ‘Scene Special’ (7 Mar 1967) which featured Pink Floyd. I was only able to find the following details regarding missing music performances:
13 Jul 1966: Simon and Garfunkel / Oct 1966: The Easybeats / 23 Nov 1966: Little Richard / 1 Feb 1967: The Who
‘Scene’ became an early-evening programme in June 1967. Sometime in early 1968 the programme featured a short documentary film in which Barclay James Harvest performed ‘Mr Sunshine’. This still exists. Apart from that I haven’t got any details about musical guests from this period. The programme ended in April 1968.
It’s possible that some artists requested film copies of their performances on ‘Scene at 6.30’ and ‘Scene’ so maybe a few of these telerecordings still exist out there somewhere.
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Post by markdixon on Mar 8, 2015 15:58:23 GMT
After reading the recent Joy Division thread I thought some of you might be interested in information that I’ve gathered together regarding music performances and music-related interviews on ‘Granada Reports’. The programme began in October 1973, but it appears that Granada didn’t start to keep complete editions on a regular basis until September 1980. Here’s a list of the music-related clips from the early years of the programme that still exist in the archives:
Music clips listed on ITN Source
1974: Film footage of Bill Wyman being interviewed by Tony Wilson 15 Sept 1975: Film footage of Paul McCartney being interviewed by Wilson 3 Dec 1976: Film footage of George Harrison being interviewed by Wilson Feb 1977 (?): Film footage of John Cooper Clarke performing in Manchester venues (this exists in an edition of ‘So It Goes’ broadcast on 9 Oct 1977) 10 Mar 1977: Film footage of Genesis drummers Phil Collins and Chester Thompson being interviewed by Wilson Jul 1977: Wreckless Eric performing ‘Whole Wide World’ in the studio (exists as poor-quality off-air recording) 21 July 1977: Elvis Costello performing ‘Alison’ in the studio (exists as poor-quality off-air recording) 7 November 1977: Blondie performing ‘Rip Her to Shreds’ (exists as poor-quality off air recording) 20 Sept 1978: Joy Division performing ‘Shadowplay’ in the studio 26 Nov 1979: Film footage of Paul and Linda McCartney being interviewed by Billy Butler
It is near-impossible to compile a definitive list of missing music clips from ‘Granada Reports’ because it’s difficult to establish what was actually broadcast in the first place. As far as I know Granada-region ‘TV Times’ and North West local newspapers didn’t carry details of the guests who were due to appear on the programme. I’ve looked at various books and websites that contain details regarding particular appearances. I think my list below is reasonably reliable.
Missing studio appearances: 1974 (?): David Cassidy was interviewed by Wilson 1974 (?): Johnnie Ray was interviewed by Trevor Hyett 1974 (?): Leonard Cohen performed 'Chelsea Hotel # 2' and was interviewed by Wilson 09 Sept 1976: Performance by Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias 25 Feb 1977: John Martyn performed ‘May You Never’ and was interviewed by Wilson 03 Mar 1977: Iggy Pop was interviewed by Wilson 07 Apr 1977: Buzzcocks performed ‘Boredom’ 07 Jul 1977: Slaughter and the Dogs performed ‘Cranked Up Really High’ c. Jul 1977: Studio performance by Nervous Breakdown, a teenage punk band from Manchester. There was also a studio discussion about punk in the same episode. 1977: Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds performed ‘Ain’t Bin to No Music School’ (this exists as poor quality footage filmed off a TV screen and was included in the documentary ‘The Rise and Fall of the Nosebleeds’) 1977 (?): The Slits were interviewed by Wilson Aug 1978: The Human League performed ‘Being Boiled’ (a domestic video recording of this is on YouTube) Early 1979 (?): Eddie and the Hot Rods were interviewed by Wilson 20 Apr 1979: Iggy Pop was interviewed by Wilson 18 Jun 1979: Public Image Limited performed ‘Death Disco’ and were interviewed by Wilson Jul 1979 (?): The B-52’s were interviewed by Wilson Aug 1979 (?): Grace Jones was interviewed by Wilson 1979 or 1980 (?): Durutti Column guitarist Vini Reilly performed an experimental track with the Invisible Girls (Martin Hannett and Steve Hopkins) 1980: Performance by X-O-Dus (reggae band signed to Factory Records) 6 Jun 1980: Toyah performed ‘Blue Meanings’ and interviewed herself (this exists as a poor-quality domestic video recording on YouTube)
I haven’t been able to find enough evidence to prove or disprove whether the following were actually broadcast on ‘Granada Reports’ or not:
Possible missing clips
1975: Performance by Dr Feelgood? 1977: Performance by Deaf School of ‘What A Way To End It All’? Late 70s: Performance by This Heat? 1980: U2 interviewed by Wilson?
There are probably more missing appearances by other notable bands that I haven’t mentioned. ‘Granada Reports’ also featured many obscure North West bands during this era. For example the Mancunian Mod revival band the Two Tone Pinks appeared on the programme on 20 June 1980. Their performance is missing.
Hopefully some more domestic video or audio recordings of missing ‘Granada Reports’ music clips will turn up one day.
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Post by markdixon on Dec 27, 2014 14:13:27 GMT
I re-watched an episode of ‘A Show Called Fred’ on YouTube last week and it inspired me to do a bit of research into the three series that Richard Lester made with Milligan and Sellers in 1956. According to Lost Shows:
All six episodes of ‘The Idiot Weekly, Price 2D’ are missing. Episodes 1, 4 and 5 of ‘A Show Called Fred’ exist in full. Extracts survive from episodes 2 and 3. Episode 1 of ‘Son of Fred’ exists, but the other 7 episodes are missing.
It’s been mentioned before on this forum that the ‘Fred’ programmes held at the British Film Institute appear to be compilations rather than the episodes as they were broadcast originally. I decided to see if I could shed a bit more light on this BFI material by identifying the main contents of the original episodes. Some scripts from all three series still exist (many were auctioned at Bonhams in July 2013), but as far as I know these have never been published. Therefore I had to rely upon TV reviews published in ‘The Guardian’ and ‘The Observer’ in 1956.
Here are some details of sketches from each of the episodes of ‘A Show Called Fred' as transmitted:
Episode 1 (2 May 1956): In one sequence a man played noughts and crosses on his forehead while reading a letter. A sketch featured a TV interviewer speaking to the eccentric Lord Pimms at Belvedere Towers. In another sketch a commentator described a birdman’s failure to leave the ground. There was a parody of ‘the Count of Monte Cristo’. A spoof advertisement claimed that ‘MUC, the Wonder Deterrent, chops down trees’.
Episode 2 (9 May 1956): ‘Idiot’s Postbag’ sketch – Sellers answered a letter from Roman centurion Jim Aurelius. There was a parody of the BBC’s ‘Grove Family’.
Episode 3 (16 May 1956): A spoof advertisement claimed that ‘MUC, the Wonder Deterrent, stops elephants’.
Episode 4 (23 May 1956) There was a sketch set in a barbers shop. There was a parody of BBC’s ‘In Town Tonight’. There was also a parody of ITV’s ‘Escaper’s Club’.
Episode 5 (30 May 1956): Katie Boyle appeared as a bearded lady. There was a parody of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.
I compared these details with the contents of the episodes held by the BFI:
BFI ‘Episode 1’ (this isn’t on YouTube): The birdman and Lord Pimms sketches from the broadcast Episode 1 appear here. However the BFI synopsis doesn’t mention the man playing noughts and crosses on his forehead. Some of the other sketches (Valentine Dyall reading from ‘We Die at Dawn Tonight’, musicians in a closet, the hunting sketch) might be from the broadcast Episode 2 or 3. The Escaper’s Club’ parody is from the broadcast Episode 4.
BFI ‘Episode 4’ (this is on YouTube)’: The first 14 and a half minutes of this corresponds with the broadcast Episode 4. The ‘Count of Monte Cristo’ parody and the sequence in which Valentine Dyall walks to the cafeteria are from the broadcast Episode 1. The Max Geldray performance is from the broadcast Episode 4. The sequences which follow the ‘Escaper’s Club’ caption are from the broadcast Episode 1.
BFI ‘Episode 5’ (the first half is on YouTube)’: I think this episode corresponds with the broadcast version. The transition from the woodworm sketch into the ‘Dustbin Dance’ sketch seems clumsy, but I don’t think that the footage has been re-edited. Does anyone know which sketches feature in the incomplete footage from 9 May and 16 May 1956?
According to ‘the Guardian’ and ‘the Observer’ the following sequences appeared in ‘Son of Fred’ Episode 1 (17 Sep 1956): a sketch featuring Valentine Dyall as a tobacco advertiser, a ‘programme breakdown’ featuring revolving and dissolving pictures, a sketch featuring a tramp, another ‘Idiot’s Postbag’ sequence and a sketch involving a lecture on wildlife. I haven’t seen the BFI ‘Son of Fred’ episode, but I know it includes an ‘Idiot’s Postbag’ sketch featuring Graham Stark as a mountaineer in the Alps. I don’t know if this episode is the broadcast Episode 1, a completely different episode or a compilation.
Who donated these prints to the BFI? Why are some of the episodes different from the broadcast versions? Perhaps some of these prints were special reference copies created during the production of the ‘Best of Fred’ compilation.
The ‘Best of Fred’ was broadcast on 18 September 1963. It no longer exists. According to the London edition of the ‘TV Times’ (Sept 15 to Sept 21 1963) the programme included the following sketches: Dustbin Dance, the world short distance race and how to run a power station without power. Robert Fleming compiled the programme. It seems that he also directed new linking material featuring Milligan and Dyall.
If the ‘TV Times’ article is to be believed, then it appears that all the episodes of ‘Idiot Weekly’, ‘A Show Called Fred’ and ‘Son of Fred’ were still in existence when the compilation was made. Did all of these episodes still exist when Associated-Rediffusion lost their franchise in 1968? Could episodes of ‘Idiot Weekly’ and ‘Son of Fred’ have ended up in private hands just before the destruction of the company’s archive?
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Post by markdixon on Nov 10, 2014 11:19:44 GMT
In my previous post I mentioned that I was surprised to see a broadcast-quality version of Elvis Costello’s ‘Granada Reports’ appearance repeated on ‘So It Goes’. I had previously assumed that this performance had gone out live without being recorded by Granada. It turns out that the weekly ‘What’s On’ segment of ‘Granada Reports’ was always pre-recorded on the day of transmission. I found this information in Lindsay Reade’s book ‘Mr Manchester and the Factory Girl’. Therefore when ‘So It Goes’ Series 2 began in October 1977 there were probably quite a few ‘What’s On’ clips from the previous few months still in existence (such as studio performances by the Buzzcocks and Slaughter and the Dogs). I wasn’t correct in saying that those 3 poor-quality off-air recordings are the only ‘Granada Reports’ punk clips from 1977 still in existence. Apparently the film footage showing John Cooper Clarke performing in Manchester venues (from ‘So It Goes’, 9 October 1977) was originally shown on ‘Granada Reports’, probably in February 1977.
The ‘What’s On’ performance of ‘Ain’t Bin to No Music School’ by Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds still exists, but not in broadcast quality. John Crumpton filmed it in black and white directly from a TV screen. He included the footage in a documentary called ‘The Rise and Fall of the Nosebleeds’. This documentary was made as part of a community project in 1977, but it was not screened in public until 2005. The entire film can now be viewed on the Vimeo website. The documentary also contains a segment of the ‘What’s On’ opening titles and some behind-the-scenes footage of the Nosebleeds and Tony Wilson at the Granada studios.
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Post by markdixon on Nov 6, 2014 20:20:39 GMT
Reading this thread made me think of various punk and New Wave performances broadcast on ‘Granada Reports’ during 1977 (bands usually appeared on the weekly ‘What’s On’ segment of the programme). As far as I know none of these performances still exist apart from the 3 poor-quality off-air clips of Wreckless Eric, Blondie and Elvis Costello which were used in ‘The Way We Were’ compilation in 1986. I always assumed the non-existence of this material was down to the fact that ‘Granada Reports’ was a live programme which was rarely recorded. However I realised I was wrong after watching the ‘So It Goes’ sequences repeated on ‘Anarchy in Manchester.’ I was surprised to find out that a short broadcast quality clip of Elvis Costello performing ‘Alison’ on ‘What’s On’ (21 July 1977) was repeated on ‘So It Goes’ on 16 October 1977. It turns out that this clip has already been discussed on an earlier thread on this forum.
However, I don’t think anyone has commented on the edition of ‘So It Goes’ from 30 October 1977. I’ve just watched the sequence where Tony Wilson introduces a filmed interview with Iggy Pop. I noticed that one of the TV screens behind Wilson is showing a ‘Granada Reports’ studio interview with Iggy from March 1977 (he was promoting ‘The Idiot’ album at the time.) A photograph of Iggy taken during this interview was later used on the front cover of the ‘Lust for Life’ album.
It is possible that other now-missing clips were shown on the screens behind Wilson on other editions of ‘So It Goes.’
It seems strange that all the early ‘Granada Reports’ punk material was junked after 1977. It is clear that Wilson understood the significance of the clips at the time. ‘What’s On’ became a series in its own right in January 1978 and according to ITN Source all its episodes have survived.
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Post by markdixon on Oct 20, 2014 17:26:26 GMT
Scottish Television broadcast a programme called 'It May Never Happen' on Friday 19th June 1970 (6.30-7.00). That's probably the programme mentioned in the NME.
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Post by markdixon on Sept 28, 2014 13:39:55 GMT
I’ve got a few more snippets of information regarding ‘Octopus’. Robin Rimbaud a.k.a. electronica musician Scanner tweeted the following on 1st February 2014:
‘I know a very disheartening tale about a Nick Drake live film on a tape of a friend. SO very rare’
Did this broken or degraded tape contain a recording of Drake’s ‘Octopus’ appearance?
I’ve discovered that Mancunian hard rock band Stack Waddy appeared on ‘Octopus’. Apparently their performance in the studio was so loud and ferocious that the show’s producer was not pleased. I found this information in an article that someone posted on a Russian music forum. I suspect that the original text appeared in liner notes that accompanied the CD reissue of Stack Waddy material in the mid-1990s.
I had another look at the catalogue entries for ‘Octopus’ film inserts on ITN Source. I discovered that the title sequence for the series still exists, but is incorrectly listed as being from 1971. I’m interested in the film insert featuring 3 humourous robots (one of which blew bubbles). I think these robots were built by either Bruce Lacey or Roger Ruskin Spear.
Finally here a couple of updates to my earlier post about putting ‘Octopus’ into a wider context.
Before he presented ‘Octopus’ Andrew Fisher contributed to the 1967/68 BBC1 satirical programme ‘At the Eleventh Hour’. He co-wrote the weekly section which featured his fellow OZ magazine editor Richard Neville. I found this information in Neville’s book ‘Hippie Hippie Shake.’
Here’s some info that might back up my theory that Granada producers watched the BBC’s ‘How It Is’ programme and decided to make something similar. In his book ‘Bolan: The Rise and Fall of a 20th Century Superstar’ Mark Paytress mentions that in the Spring of 1969 Granada commissioned a pilot for a series featuring underground bands presented by John Peel (who had been one of the hosts of ‘How It Is’). The provisional title of the pilot was ‘John Peel’s In Concert’ and it featured Tyrannosaurus Rex. Peel explained in issue 60 of ‘International Times’ that the pilot was never transmitted because it was judged to have had ‘insufficient popular appeal’. Maybe the producers of ‘Octopus’ took note of the failure of the Peel pilot and concluded that underground bands and ideas could only be presented to general TV audiences within the context of a tried and tested popular format. That might explain why ‘Octopus’ turned out to be a curious hybrid of ‘How It Is’ and ‘Tomorrow’s World’.
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