The 100 greatest BBC music performances – ranked!
November 5, 2023 1:01 AM Subscribe
... by The Guardian. With YouTube links to let you see and/or hear the performances for yourself.
I suggest we skip arguing about the ranking element and simply treat this as a grab bag of great music.
I suggest we skip arguing about the ranking element and simply treat this as a grab bag of great music.
Might be "due to the unique way it's funded"* the list also lacks Mr Blobby who had a Christmas Number One and a chaotic performance om Top of the Pops (TOTP).
Those acronyms:
Top of the Pops (TOTP) -- weekly run-down of the top 40 pop chart, broadcast on Thursday evenings from 1960s to 2000-something.
Old Grey Whistle Test (OGWT) -- TV show in 1960s to 1970s featuring new musical acts with the test whether their musical was memorable having senior citizens who would whistle back the melody, or not.
*: this was a slogan in BBC's own advertising in the 1990s.
posted by k3ninho at 2:35 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Those acronyms:
Top of the Pops (TOTP) -- weekly run-down of the top 40 pop chart, broadcast on Thursday evenings from 1960s to 2000-something.
Old Grey Whistle Test (OGWT) -- TV show in 1960s to 1970s featuring new musical acts with the test whether their musical was memorable having senior citizens who would whistle back the melody, or not.
*: this was a slogan in BBC's own advertising in the 1990s.
posted by k3ninho at 2:35 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think of the BBC mostly in the context of studio sessions, like John Peel, so I was a little surprised at so many lip syncing TOTP moments included. Some are probably undeniable cultural moments if you were watching at the time. And, of course, New Order on the beach with David Hasselhoff is timeless.
posted by snofoam at 2:45 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by snofoam at 2:45 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Additionally: I like that Factory Records promoter/owner Tony Naylor is now a food writer at The Guardian and recommends a possibly-forgotten local radio broadcast of influential UK dance music acts. (43: 808 State / A Guy Called Gerald - Christmas Bash - Manchester Ritz - December 1988)
posted by k3ninho at 2:45 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by k3ninho at 2:45 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
"due to the unique way it's funded" may also have something to do with the fact that almost none of these performances are still available on the BBC, instead we get 3rd generation copies on YouTube.
How many of these shows are on tapes buried and slowly decaying in the BBC vaults?
posted by Lanark at 3:02 AM on November 5, 2023
How many of these shows are on tapes buried and slowly decaying in the BBC vaults?
posted by Lanark at 3:02 AM on November 5, 2023
Yay Kate!
6. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (Wogan, 1985)
posted by fairmettle at 3:11 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
6. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (Wogan, 1985)
posted by fairmettle at 3:11 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I will enjoy digging through this especially some of the Peel show sessions of my youth!
A personal favourite performance is this one of Radiohead doing Life in a Glasshouse on Jools Holland. You really feel the emotion in the vocals but what makes it special to me is the guest appearance of Humphrey Lyttleton not long before he died.
posted by crocomancer at 3:13 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
A personal favourite performance is this one of Radiohead doing Life in a Glasshouse on Jools Holland. You really feel the emotion in the vocals but what makes it special to me is the guest appearance of Humphrey Lyttleton not long before he died.
posted by crocomancer at 3:13 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Crocomancer: You may also enjoy The Perfumed Garden, an online archive of several hundred downloadable Peel shows from throughout his long career (1961-2004). Peel wasn't the only music fan who lived through that whole era of youth music, but he was the only one to pay attention throughout and never lose his appetite for something that surprised him.
Most of the entries are not complete shows, but long fragments of shows - as much as would fit on a listener's C90 or C120 cassette in the old days. They're hugely enjoyable all the same, and the sound quality's generally pretty good.
I used to routinely tape Peel myself back in 1970s, 80s and 90s, and was able to contribute a few tapes of my own for digitisation and addition to this unofficial archive. I also interviewed one of his favourite session guests here, along with two of Peel's final producers who remember him very fondly.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:33 AM on November 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
Most of the entries are not complete shows, but long fragments of shows - as much as would fit on a listener's C90 or C120 cassette in the old days. They're hugely enjoyable all the same, and the sound quality's generally pretty good.
I used to routinely tape Peel myself back in 1970s, 80s and 90s, and was able to contribute a few tapes of my own for digitisation and addition to this unofficial archive. I also interviewed one of his favourite session guests here, along with two of Peel's final producers who remember him very fondly.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:33 AM on November 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
Oh hey! My aunt features in the top 20, she’s one of the violinists playing on Björk’s Jóga (the one with shorter hair).
posted by Kattullus at 4:50 AM on November 5, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 4:50 AM on November 5, 2023 [14 favorites]
ungated version
If by “ungated” you mean “stuck in a captcha loop.”
posted by Thorzdad at 5:47 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
If by “ungated” you mean “stuck in a captcha loop.”
posted by Thorzdad at 5:47 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ah, Kattullus, what a beautiful song and a gorgeous performance. Uninformed about Bjork's catalog, I was driven to find out more about it; it is her love song to Iceland and was inspired by her relationship with her best friend:
Everybody should have one of those friends who you can call 24 hours and be abstract and they get it. We are basically emotionally married.posted by virago at 7:10 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Deserving of a place in this list is Sutton Foster in the London production of Anything Goes. Start about 1 hour 15 mins in here on iPlayer and you will be happy.
posted by YoungStencil at 8:59 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by YoungStencil at 8:59 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you're getting blocked by youtube for using an adblocker—like any decent, sane person—Vivaldi has an inbuilt adblocker that seems to be working and not blocked yet, for me at least.
posted by signal at 9:04 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by signal at 9:04 AM on November 5, 2023
Very happy to see the Peel Sessions obviously, but why wasn't this 1971 performance by Neil Young not included ?!
posted by Webbster at 9:09 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Webbster at 9:09 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Considering the BBC's infamous policy of wiping tapes in the 60's and 70's (resulting in lost episodes of Top of the Pops, etc.), this could have probably been better titled "The 100 greatest BBC music performances that are known to still exist". (Really don't want to think about how many great performances have been thus lost in the mists of time).
Worth noting that Sonic Youth's Fall-covering Peel session was released as 4 Tunna Brix back in 1990 (apparently the first release on their own Goofin' label), though good luck finding it for less than $40. Hopefully they'll include it as part of their rarities series on their Bandcamp page someday (though I don't know how many legal hoops they'd have to jump through nowadays to do so).
posted by gtrwolf at 9:15 AM on November 5, 2023
Worth noting that Sonic Youth's Fall-covering Peel session was released as 4 Tunna Brix back in 1990 (apparently the first release on their own Goofin' label), though good luck finding it for less than $40. Hopefully they'll include it as part of their rarities series on their Bandcamp page someday (though I don't know how many legal hoops they'd have to jump through nowadays to do so).
posted by gtrwolf at 9:15 AM on November 5, 2023
Sad that it doesn't include one of my favorites, the Low Peel Session where their soft, spare performance was mistaken for dead air and set off the emergency alarm system (can be found at the 25:05 mark here).
posted by carrienation at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by carrienation at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
Ctrl-F "Manhattan Transfer OGWT"
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Fine. Here it is. Peak early ManTran.
posted by the sobsister at 9:26 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
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Fine. Here it is. Peak early ManTran.
posted by the sobsister at 9:26 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
That classic Pink Floyd BBC stuff from 1971 isn't on here? The Led Zeppelin BBC sessions isn't here? W.. T.. F?
posted by Liquidwolf at 10:23 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Liquidwolf at 10:23 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I remember 12/13-year old me watching that Bowie Starman performance on TOTP and being thrilled to my core, a little scared too. He was like nothing I'd ever seen before.
posted by essexjan at 11:24 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 11:24 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
Shipbuilding OGWT surely an oversight ...
posted by burr1545 at 2:15 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by burr1545 at 2:15 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I always enjoyed The Imagined Village's appearance on Later.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 5:05 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 5:05 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I adore this BBC Radio 1 Prom featuring the music of Ibiza. That rendition of Cafe Del Mar is something else.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 5:47 PM on November 5, 2023
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 5:47 PM on November 5, 2023
These must all be excellent, because Bonnie Raitt's appearance during her second album didn't make the article.
And I see there's a "Random Shipping Forecast" podcast that will be perfect for dealing with those late-night insomnia sessions.
posted by morspin at 10:06 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
And I see there's a "Random Shipping Forecast" podcast that will be perfect for dealing with those late-night insomnia sessions.
posted by morspin at 10:06 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you're getting blocked by youtube for using an adblocker—like any decent, sane person
then another option you might consider is installing Redirector and adding the following redirection rule to it:
Description:
Example URL:
Include pattern:
Redirect to:
Pattern type: 🞊 Wildcard 🞅 Regular Expression
Pattern Description:
Example result: https://piped.video/watch?v=fhDfmUnN1vY
posted by flabdablet at 12:57 AM on November 6, 2023
then another option you might consider is installing Redirector and adding the following redirection rule to it:
Description:
YouTube to PipedExample URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhDfmUnN1vYInclude pattern:
*www.youtube.com*Redirect to:
$1piped.video$2Pattern type: 🞊 Wildcard 🞅 Regular Expression
Pattern Description:
Replace www.youtube.com with piped.videoExample result: https://piped.video/watch?v=fhDfmUnN1vY
posted by flabdablet at 12:57 AM on November 6, 2023
the Low Peel Session where their soft, spare performance was mistaken for dead air and set off the emergency alarm system
I'd never heard that session before, and hadn't realised the emergency tape thing had ever actually happened. No wonder Peely seemed so paranoid about this eventuality in his later years!
posted by Paul Slade at 8:57 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'd never heard that session before, and hadn't realised the emergency tape thing had ever actually happened. No wonder Peely seemed so paranoid about this eventuality in his later years!
posted by Paul Slade at 8:57 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
This list cannot be complete without that time that the BBC had Rage Against the Machine on live to perform "Killing in the Name" and told them not to swear.
posted by ChrisR at 10:14 AM on November 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by ChrisR at 10:14 AM on November 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
Shelagh Fogarty caught between rock and hard place when Zack decides that he will not, in fact, do what they told him: [sudden though incomplete volume dump] "GETRIDOFIT! Sorry, we needed to get rid of that because that suddenly, uh, turned into something we were not ex well we were expecting it but we asked them not to do it and they did it anyway so buy Joe's records."
Best.BBC.Pearl.Clutch.Ever.
posted by flabdablet at 6:58 PM on November 6, 2023
Best.BBC.Pearl.Clutch.Ever.
posted by flabdablet at 6:58 PM on November 6, 2023
I'd also somehow missed Charlie Brooker's contribution at the time, and it's too good not to share:
I happen to think Killing in the Name is an excellent song, so I've already got something out of it. Most importantly, it contains genuine emotion. Even if the climactic repeated howls of "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!" put you in mind of a teenager loudly refusing to tidy his bedroom – as opposed to a masked anarchist hurling petrol bombs at the riot squad – there is at least an authentic human sentiment being expressed. Zack de la Rocha is audibly pissed off.posted by flabdablet at 7:13 PM on November 6, 2023
Compare this to the pissweak vocal doodle that is Joe McElderry's X Factor single. For a song whose lyrics ostensibly document an attempt to gather the spiritual strength to overcome adversity and thereby attain enlightenment, The Climb is about as inspiring as a Lion bar. It's a listless announcement on a service station Tannoy; an advert for buttons; a fart in a clinic; a dot on a spreadsheet. Listening to it from beginning to end is like watching a bored cleaner methodically wiping a smudge from a Formica worksurface.
But then nobody's buying The Climb in order to actually listen to it. They're buying it out of sedated confusion, pushing a button they've been told will make them feel better. It's the sound of the assisted suicide clinic, and it doesn't deserve to be No 1 this Christmas.
That verdict of Brooker's reminds me of something the comedian Jeremy Hardy once said about a certain singing drummer:
"Nobody loves Phil Collins -tired people find him acceptable".
posted by Paul Slade at 1:38 AM on November 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Nobody loves Phil Collins -tired people find him acceptable".
posted by Paul Slade at 1:38 AM on November 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
It is not just Drake who is impressed with "Sipping prosecco out of a paper cup and looking slightly terrified of DJ Charlie Sloth’s manic yells and police siren sound effect."
The Guardian has a link to the Joni Mitchell and James Taylor via Internet Archive but here is a better one here.
For Mary J. Blige and getting the not available message, here is a link that seems to work.
The James Blake link, unfortunately, throws you to Rapidgator download. And be prepared for a LOT of Strokes songs since they seems to be mingled with Blake's portion of the show. Anyway, if you are looking for only that BBC 1 cut of Mitchell's "A Case of You", performed by Blake, here is a more accessible link.
Optimo leads to Soundcloud, so be prepared for a long music section of one hour plus.
Sparks leads to a copyright 404 so here is a more viable link though to be fair, the Disco (German TV) version is not bad at all.
The Jimi Hendrix link leads to a documentary portion about the clip being rescued from the bin by a renegade librarian at the BBC, and the performance is interspersed with interviews. But if all you want is the music, , then here you go.
Uh, the Dusty Springfield links not to Top Gear but to the Top of the Pops version.
Here is the Cat Power Peel Session via YouTube, which is nicely linked to individual songs within the session.
Here is a public link to the Carey performance.
The Lyndard Skynard video has been upgraded using AI, and it is a good sound. It's way better than the original saved archive.
In case you get the BBC UK only message here is a non geo-fenced link for Akala Fire In The Booth Part 2
Iron Maiden's listing without a link to said performance is poor. You, my fellow metal fan, deserve the superior link of the remastered video.
In case the Lana Del Rey link is borked here is a working link.
The Black Sabbath November 1969 Peel session seems not to be available. It's a pity since the set list looks nice.
Ah, man, Desmond Dekker's Isrealites is the 404. There are some Youtube videos of dubious quality that maybe the performance, but they are kind of iffy.
The Guardian's link for Amy Winehouse may trip to this "Video is Private", which is criminal when seeing such a good performance by Winehouse. But have no fear; a working link is here.
Working link to the Smiths September1983 Peel Session.
I feel like one of the monkeys that kept on pressing that bar for its dose of cocaine watching/listening to all this music. I leave you with DJ Charlie Sloth on Hot Ones. He is way more quiet on Hot Ones than on his show, Fire in the Box. This is a good thing.
posted by jadepearl at 2:38 AM on November 7, 2023 [3 favorites]
The Guardian has a link to the Joni Mitchell and James Taylor via Internet Archive but here is a better one here.
For Mary J. Blige and getting the not available message, here is a link that seems to work.
The James Blake link, unfortunately, throws you to Rapidgator download. And be prepared for a LOT of Strokes songs since they seems to be mingled with Blake's portion of the show. Anyway, if you are looking for only that BBC 1 cut of Mitchell's "A Case of You", performed by Blake, here is a more accessible link.
Optimo leads to Soundcloud, so be prepared for a long music section of one hour plus.
Sparks leads to a copyright 404 so here is a more viable link though to be fair, the Disco (German TV) version is not bad at all.
The Jimi Hendrix link leads to a documentary portion about the clip being rescued from the bin by a renegade librarian at the BBC, and the performance is interspersed with interviews. But if all you want is the music, , then here you go.
Uh, the Dusty Springfield links not to Top Gear but to the Top of the Pops version.
Here is the Cat Power Peel Session via YouTube, which is nicely linked to individual songs within the session.
Here is a public link to the Carey performance.
The Lyndard Skynard video has been upgraded using AI, and it is a good sound. It's way better than the original saved archive.
In case you get the BBC UK only message here is a non geo-fenced link for Akala Fire In The Booth Part 2
Iron Maiden's listing without a link to said performance is poor. You, my fellow metal fan, deserve the superior link of the remastered video.
In case the Lana Del Rey link is borked here is a working link.
The Black Sabbath November 1969 Peel session seems not to be available. It's a pity since the set list looks nice.
Ah, man, Desmond Dekker's Isrealites is the 404. There are some Youtube videos of dubious quality that maybe the performance, but they are kind of iffy.
The Guardian's link for Amy Winehouse may trip to this "Video is Private", which is criminal when seeing such a good performance by Winehouse. But have no fear; a working link is here.
Working link to the Smiths September1983 Peel Session.
I feel like one of the monkeys that kept on pressing that bar for its dose of cocaine watching/listening to all this music. I leave you with DJ Charlie Sloth on Hot Ones. He is way more quiet on Hot Ones than on his show, Fire in the Box. This is a good thing.
posted by jadepearl at 2:38 AM on November 7, 2023 [3 favorites]
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posted by Martijn at 1:33 AM on November 5, 2023 [8 favorites]