In Session

Some more Peel-related stuff? Why not indeed. Here's a six pack of tracks from a couple of his legendary sessions. Only the proverbial tip of the iceberg of course, as the list of bands the great dj and wonderful human being managed to coax into recording for aunty Beeb is all but endless.

Can - Geheim (Half Past One)
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Love In A Void
The Slits - Newtown
Wire - Practice Makes Perfect
The Fall - Theme From Sparta F.C.
Billy Bragg - Which Side Are You On?

Out To Play

Expanding the Peel theme for a bit, here's our Britfolk trivia facts desk in action. Shortlived late sixties duo Trader Horne was named after John Peel's nanny. Her name was Florence Horne, and she was nicknamed Trader in tribute to the famous 19th century explorer Trader Horn. Bet you didn't know that, pop kids. Addendum: just add some electronic weirdness and the rather lovely Jenny May could be mistaken for a tune by the modern freakfolkers of Tunng.

Trader Horne - Jenny May
Tunng - Jenny Again

So Hard To Beat

Currently enjoying Good Night And Good Riddance, David Cavanagh's lovely new book about legendary BBC dj John Peel. Presented as an alternative history of the UK from the sixties to the nineties of sorts, and filled with tons of accurate and often very witty insights, this does the late tastemaker proud indeed. For the soundtrack: an everlasting Peel fave from Derry's Undertones. "The reason the song resonates so deeply with him isn't because it reminds him of his teenage kicks. It's because it reminds him, overwhelmingly, that he had no teenage kicks at all..."

Undertones - Teenage Kicks