UK radio Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee, Yardbirds & more

[Stuart Monk]

Hi, gavinwest - looks like I'm first to welcome you to the group!
You probably know that the BBC have released some "...At the BBC" type CDs or at least allowed groups and singers to use BBC sessions in collections - there are also a lot of unofficial releases that contain off-air recordings which are not very good quality but are the only surviving copies.
I've looked at some online resources and tried to match up what's been released officially and while I'm no expert you might have a few songs which aren't in circulation - if recordings do exist already, you may have more complete or 'better' quality copies.
There's a lot of interest in BBC music sessions so I'm surprised no-one else has replied, although you may have received some private messages, of course!
From their age and your description I'm assuming they're on reel-to-reel tapes? If you don't have a machine to play them on then, with respect, I suggest that you don't just hand them over to anyone who says they will copy them - this forum abounds with tales of tapes changing hands, never to be seen (or heard) again...
The other thing that occurs to me and makes me even more excited at what you might have in this collection (did I say I was excited? is that many of the officially released BBC Session tracks are sourced from shows broadcast overseas, with songs edited or left off completely - you may have fuller version of one or two songs that were only available in those overseas shows.
So please keep us informed.
Cheers,
Stuart

[Richard Moore]

It's quite likely most don't exist, although some songs might survive having been used on Top of the Pops transcription discs.

The Beatles shows will exist to a certain extent. I know all the songs do from the two shows you have exist,(although Till there was You from 29th June is a bit ropey), speech less likely and non Beatle tracks most unlikely.

Please do list what else you have. They certainly are worth preserving. PM me if you need any help digitising.

Richard

[Nigel Lees]

A fascinating post Gavin, I've released legitimately 5 albums of BBC session recordings over time (in fact I have a Billy Fury album on release right now) Your recordings sound very interesting, would love to hear them! Can't tell you off hand which of your tapes might exist elsewhere though.

[Richard Moore]

Good quality stuff then.

Some of the Yardbirds stuff exists - but if this compilation is anything to go by, not all - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Sessions_(The_Yardbirds_album)

The Dusty tracks look like they are on here www.discogs.com/Dusty-The-Complete-BBC-Sessions/release/986167

The Beatles tracks exist, but if Money is anything to go by your copies are better, particularly Till There Was You

Stones track think is on a release called "On Air"

Hollies tracks weren't on their BBC CD so I think they are new.

Not sure about Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee and the rest, but would guess most don't survive at the BBC.

I hope you get these placed with Kaleidoscope or the BBC so they don't get lost again.

I'm pretty sure The Hollies for instance would love a copy of their songs back for their archive if they don't have them - I might be able to arrange that if you wish (my friend Ron Furmanek knows them well)

Good work.

Richard