SOUNDS INCORPORATED

The BBC’s Sounds Of The 60s is a radio institution that continues to go from strength to strength. Legendary presenter BRIAN MATTHEW and producer PHIL ‘THE COLLECTOR’ SWERN take a few requests from TERRY STAUNTON

In a studio high above London’s Great Portland Street on a Tuesday afternoon, Brian Matthew and his producer Phil Swern are poring over the script for the edition of Sounds Of The 60s they’ve just finished pre-recording, but are still labouring to get an important link just right. It’s a slightly convoluted introduction to the show’s regular three-in-a-row segment, this one involving The Crystals, Vikki Carr and Gene Pitney, that has the potential to bamboozle listeners – which is the last thing they want to do.

Deciphering the proper wording for who recorded what, which was written by whom and what that whom later recorded themselves is hardly as complex as The Da Vinci Code, but it will require a corrective “drop-in”, ie a short passage to be inserted into the master recording. It’s all part of the trivia heaven and unbridled celebration of great music from a thrilling decade that has close to four millions listeners – quite possibly double that on the internet - tuning in to Radio 2 every Saturday morning at 8am.

“The three-in-a-row is usually selected by a listener, but I’ve come up with one myself for this week’s show, and it’s proved to be a little confusing,” says Phil in the BBC Club, once editing on the programme …

by TERRY STAUNTON
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