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October 26, 2005

John Peel's Favorite Singles

John Peel's thoughts on John PeelBy way of Pete's Linklog, I see that The Times has compiled the coolest playlist ever, John Peel's:

John Peel's record collection threatened to overtake his Suffolk home. But in a small, battered wooden box, the much-loved DJ kept a precious selection of 7-inch singles that meant more to him than any of the others. Here is an exclusive insight into the full list of 142 singles...
They should put lossless copies of all of these on a Nano and sell it for an extra hundred bucks to fund his favorite charity. Even the 7" entitled "Marc Bolan talking to Stevie Dixon."

The biggest surprise? That there are ten White Stripes singles in that thar box of 142. And The Wildbunch's "Danger" single. And "The Henchmen featuring Jack White". Take that, all other music ever.

(Pete suggests collecting all of these singles into one big torrent and sharing it with the music-loving world...does anyone want to kick this off? This is as good a place to start as any...does anyone have some of the more obscure stuff on there?)

Posted at 2:22 PM




38 Comments

Cool. I did a double take when I saw Sheena Easton made the list, though.

Posted by: N at 10/26/05 3:15 PM | Reply
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Um - is anything on that list *not* obscure? Aside from the Stipes, that is.

Posted by: Friggityog at 10/26/05 3:15 PM | Reply
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I know what you mean, N.

It was especially surprising to see that he had 2 copies!

Posted by: terrified at 10/26/05 3:18 PM | Reply
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Boards Of Canada, MC5, The Undertones, Pavement, Soledad Brothers, Sheena Easton, The Beatles, The Buzzcocks, White Stripes and Yardbirds aren't obscure...well not for me that is

Posted by: andrew at 10/26/05 3:34 PM | Reply
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side note: The Undertones' "Teenage Kicks" was so awesome Peel played it twice in a row. Somehow it makes that song even cooler.

Posted by: jim at 10/26/05 3:41 PM | Reply
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he really likes his white stripes evidently.

Posted by: Mat at 10/26/05 3:49 PM | Reply
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if i had been in maida vale studio when they killed that first peel session i'd be biased towards em too.
know about it.

Posted by: tobias funke at 10/26/05 3:53 PM | Reply
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Well it least it's Sheena Easton's best song.

Posted by: Fred at 10/26/05 3:54 PM | Reply
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biggest endorsement for the White Stripes ever. like 10 10.0s on pdork!

Posted by: KD at 10/26/05 4:03 PM | Reply
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Wow. This is the most intersting post I've seen all day. Almost makes up for the last one.

Posted by: the management at 10/26/05 4:50 PM | Reply
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come on, Chris Martin saying he sucks? what on earth could be wrong with that?

Posted by: jim at 10/26/05 5:01 PM | Reply
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Nothing by The Fall? Surprising.

Posted by: Paul at 10/26/05 5:03 PM | Reply
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"Aside from the Stipes, that is." I recognize this is a typo, but the thought of some Stripes/REM superband called "The White Stipes" should terrify you all.

Posted by: jd at 10/26/05 5:18 PM | Reply
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Aw man, he had all the nice old Jack White singles. The Upholsterers? Aaah.

Posted by: changa at 10/26/05 5:52 PM | Reply
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I was thisclose to saying "What, no Neko Case?"
But she was the drummer for Vancouver punk band Meow, which then became Maow. Talk about obscure!

Posted by: Blu at 10/26/05 6:07 PM | Reply
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where's clap your hands or wolf parade??? no arctic monkeys??

Posted by: donkey snortsie at 10/26/05 6:19 PM | Reply
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who knew he was so mainstream?

Posted by: pastary at 10/26/05 6:32 PM | Reply
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ouch no smiths

Posted by: Joe! at 10/26/05 6:53 PM | Reply
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Oh boy another list! Just what we need! And not just any list, but one compiled by the king of all indie snobs, may God rest his soul.

Posted by: LL Cool F at 10/26/05 7:52 PM | Reply
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I've got the original vinyl transfer of #76. Paul Revere & The Raiders - Him or me - what's it gonna be? + Legend of Paul Revere (CBS) 1967

Posted by: Chris DeLine at 10/26/05 9:15 PM | Reply
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Maybe he set this collection aside for a garage sale.... There is no Fall or Chameleons..... In Shreds should totally be on that list.

Posted by: c at 10/27/05 12:16 AM | Reply
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on the other hand, maybe he saved this vinyl for when he was on serious drugs. i mean, there's a bill oddie track on this list. come on. really.

or he was just taking the piss.

Posted by: rocky at 10/27/05 1:24 AM | Reply
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I guess, just like anyone else's top 142 singles, these will change on a frequent basis and I don't for one minute believe these are his all time favourite 142 songs. In another 5 years he probably wouldn't have any White Stripes records in the box at all. Was surprise not to see any Fall or Smiths....but also lacking one of his very favs, The Wedding Present. Where is The Only Ones "Another Girl, Another Planet"? ;-)

Posted by: scoobydoo at 10/27/05 7:06 AM | Reply
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Somehow this makes me feel a *little* better about my White Stripes obsession (I wonder if Peel's was tinged with a frisson of crush like mine? "Ball and Biscuit," indeed!) . . .

Posted by: Jen W at 10/27/05 10:11 AM | Reply
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Is it just me, or do others notice the millions of little mistakes in The Times' list? Typos and wrong words and etc...

Posted by: Phil Urich at 10/27/05 11:05 AM | Reply
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How about the fact that there are FIVE Charlie Feathers singles on there? I find that more impressive than the White Stripes thing. White Stripes suck, and I'm sure he has them there because of some crush on someone in the band...

P.S. John Peel = great guy, great for music, but bad taste.

Posted by: Billy K at 10/27/05 11:54 AM | Reply
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the reason why ther are no fall singles is because he kept all them in a seperate box, so that in case of a fire he could rescure them and this box.

Posted by: phil at 10/27/05 12:05 PM | Reply
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Does anyone know if the Henchmen + Jack White single featuring "Some Other Guy" is the same "Some Other Guy" that was written by Richie Barret? I know the Beatles covered the song (it's on "Live from the BBC") and it's one of my favorite early rockers...

Help? Scott?

Posted by: Sara at 10/27/05 2:29 PM | Reply
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Yes, Sara, I suspect it was. I think the Jack/Henchmen stuff was old UK blues/rock covers.

Posted by: David at 10/27/05 3:47 PM | Reply
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Thanks, David, much obliged.

Posted by: Sara at 10/27/05 4:57 PM | Reply
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I have a copy of "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Ann Peebles.

Posted by: john at 10/27/05 5:18 PM | Reply
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glad to see Cat Power on there. Her Peel session Wonderwall cover is spectacular.

Posted by: Adam K at 10/27/05 10:49 PM | Reply
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Yow--that's the Cat Power single I helped put out! Neat.

Posted by: Douglas at 10/28/05 11:41 AM | Reply
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"Nothing by The Fall? Surprising"

Read the accompanying article.
To wit:

"...Peel’s beloved Fall were absent only because they merited an entire shelf to themselves in Peel Acres..."

Posted by: white eyebrow at 10/29/05 6:09 PM | Reply
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Hi folks. For those who are wondering why no songs by The Fall featured in Peel's Favourites Box, it's because The Fall had a box all to themselves - occupying an entire shelf at Peel Acres. Cheers, JON WILDE

Posted by: Jon Wilde at 11/06/05 9:51 AM | Reply
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Hi folks. Most of the entries in Peel's list have been collected on various file-share sites. Check out soulseek. Not that I download songs illegally - hell no. Wouldn't know where to start (in case the law is listening in). Cheers, JON

Posted by: Jon Wilde at 11/06/05 9:59 AM | Reply
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John Peel did alot for Grindcore and underground music, and his inclusion of Electro Hippies, did suprise me abit though.
I did not always agree with his choices, but most were worthy of support and respect.
Medicine head were great!, why no Jethro Tull, John Otway?
I think the 45 box was a work in progress at the time of his death.
I would be more interested in having a full list of all his LP's to look at

Posted by: mark at 11/15/05 10:16 AM | Reply
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Good points, Mark. I found the TV documentary about JP's fabled box disappointing. Presumably, some brave soul with time on his/her hands will be assembling a definitive list of his entire album collection as we speak. At an estimated 100,000 LPs, that would be some list. All best, JON

Posted by: Jon Wilde at 11/20/05 11:34 AM | Reply
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