Bob Pratt tapes

[Jeff Leach]

Most members on this forum are familiar with the BBC engineer Bob Pratt who saved many classic performances from destruction, but has anyone compiled a list of clips/shows of the material he collected ?

Is the chap still with us and has anyone any contact or had contact with Bob in the last few years.

I searched through previous posts and although there are many mentions of him I cannot find detailed information about him.

Can anyone help ?

[Deleted]

I believe Andrew Martin from BBC Archives compiled a list of Bob's material a while back, as it was being transferred / catalogued (which I believe is all done now). It's probably best to contact him and ask about it.

I believe Bob is now happily retired. As far as I know, he has never been interviewed for the record about his recordings (which is a great shame).

[Rich Cornock]

An excellent candidate as a guest at the next Kal event

[Deleted]

I've often wondered if it might be worth our time here for once and for all to compile a definitive list of Bob Pratt's material so we can use it as a reference point since until the BBC let us have access to the lists and tapes, we'll never fully know for certain all of what Bob saved. There have been odd threads relating to him here and numerous mentions but with all the info scattered about, it would be nice to have a list here.

[Ray Langstone (was saintsray)]

There is a list of all Bob Pratt's tapes that the Beeb have. Trust me on this. Most have been seen now.

[Richard Hunter]

I agree Bob would make a great guest at either the next musical KAL event or even one of Dick Fiddy's "Missing Believe Wiped" sessions at the NFI.

I always thought it was a great shame that nobody interviewed Johnny Stewart whilst he was alive.

Let's not make the same mistake whilst Bob is still with us.

[Jeff Leach]

Would' nt John Henshall be a possible contact for Bob ?

would have thought they must know one another.

secondly - Does anyone have a copy of the list of the tapes they could publish here ?

[Paul Varley]

I'd love to see a full list of his material too.

What we do know is that a large chunk of all the existing 1970 TOTP footage comes from him, this (to anyone who may not yet know) includes:

Blodwyn Pig - Same Old Story*
Rare Bird - Sympathy*
Jethro Tull - Witches Promise
Badfinger - Come and Get It (all these come from 29/01/1970)

Herman's Hermits - Years May Come* (12/02/1970)

Free - All Right Now (04/06/1970)

The Kinks - Lola
Lulu - Hum a Song* (incomplete) (both 18/06/1970)

Fairweather - Natural Sinner*
Pickettywitch - Sad Old Kinda Movie* (both 09/07/1970)

Family - Weavers Answer* (27/08/1970)

The Tremeloes - Me and My Life* (03/09/1970)

The Kinks - Apeman (03/12/1970)

We have him to thank for this priceless performances !

*Unbroadcast on the BBC since original transmission

[Neil Megson]

Is there any info on why Bob Pratt started his unofficial archive ? Was there any specific plan for it or did he just recognise that what he was saving would be valued more in the future than it was at the time ? And was he the only BBC employee to do this - or did anyone else ever build up a 'private' archive of material which would otherwise be junked ?

[Paul Varley]

Bob was a large music fan, particularly of rock music, and was concerned at the bulk wipings, so showing some foresight and bravery (an instant dismissal if found copying this material onto expensive 2'' tape) made copies of performances he liked, thus saving them from being lost forever.

It is apparent that Bob had his favourite groups as more material from them has survived, such as 'The Kinks' (1969 Julie Felix show and the two 1970 TOTPs) and the devastatingly underappreciated 'Family' (1969 How Late it Is appearance and the hallowed and yet-to-be broadcast 'Weavers Answer' from TOTP 1970).

Not sure if anyone else built up an archive like he did internally at the time (although I'm sure you know about John Henshall and his personal copies of music TV he had a part in creating), but Bob definitely is a hero as far as we're concerned with what he saved.

[Deleted]

Jun 13, 2012 19:57:13 GMT Paul Varley said:

I'd love to see a full list of his material too.

I'm not certain that all of the clips you listed are Bob Pratt material, Paul (although many of them are). There is quite a lot of stuff he saved. I expect Kal and / or Andrew Martin of BBC archives will have the full list and so perhaps they could provide access to it here? It would act as a useful resource and field off a lot of "is this one of Bob's recordings?" type questions!

[Neil Megson]

Jun 14, 2012 13:45:22 GMT Paul Varley said:

Bob was a large music fan, particularly of rock music, and was concerned at the bulk wipings, so showing some foresight and bravery (an instant dismissal if found copying this material onto expensive 2'' tape) made copies of performances he liked, thus saving them from being lost forever.

If this was (technically) a sacking offence, when did the existence of these copies come to light - was it after Bob had left the BBC, or did policies change sometime in the 1970s ? Was this stuff known about but implicitly tolerated ? (And where did the blank tapes come from, as they were so expensive ?)

[Deleted]

Herman's Hermits - Years May Come (12/02/1970)

This was just found recently wasn't it?
I saw it last December just before the first screening of 'The Jean Genie'.
I'd be surprised if it was part of 'The Bob Pratt Tapes'.

Just checked an old thread on this and Sal told me
this clip was found in a show called 'Making Rainbows'.

[Paul Varley]

I wasn't too sure about that one I'll admit, I just assumed that as it had been found recently it was part of an uncatalogued Bob Pratt tape (although they are of course now 100% catalogued), seeing as he previously saved another Hermits performance (Little Bit Better from Summer '65).

The rest of them I'm sure certainly are Bob Pratt material.

And to Neil... I'm really not sure about that, I'm sure someone else can explain that one... but the 1970 compilation reel was known about as early as 1973 as it was utilised in the '10 years of Pop' special in December.

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2012 19:09:16 GMT Paul Varley said:

And to Neil... I'm really not sure about that, I'm sure someone else can explain that one... but the 1970 compilation reel was known about as early as 1973 as it was utilised in the '10 years of Pop' special in December.

As was the 1965 TOTP videotape material which was also used in that 1973 show, which I read sometime ago on here was the earliest existing Bob Pratt tape...

Which makes me wonder WHEN Bob actually saved these items... was he saving them as he went along between 1965 and whenever the tapes ended or he grabbed copies before they were wiped in the early to mid 70's?