Cheers, and, ermm, Bottoms Up !

Well, it's about Playlists, Pods, and that secret Reecey Summer drink...

Oh, it's all go...
Tonight at AZ Towers, it's time for the second in the 'Reecey and Zoe' series, which will be appearing on a Pod near you, shortly...
As it's sunny and balmy (oh, I love that word !), it's time for that 'secret' concoction a-la Reece, beloved of so many (no, really !)...

Meanwhile, my current playlist from the weekend went rather like this :

Johnny Reece Show : 29th June 2008 :

Sparks - As I Sit Down To Play The Organ At The Notre Dame Cathedral
Muse - Supermassive Black Hole
Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man
David Bowie - Oh ! You Pretty Things
The Feeling - Rose
America - Ventura Highway
Chuck Berry - You Never Can Tell
The Jam - Start
The Beatles - Taxman
Vanessa Paradis - Chet Baker
The Black Keys - Things Ain't Like They Used To Be
Glasvegas - Geraldine
The Doors - The Wasp (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)
Bryan Ferry - Sign Of The Times
Coldplay - Violet Hill
World Party - Vanity Fair
The Byrds - The Bells Of Rhymney
Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - All Men Are Hungry
Dawn Landes - Bodyguard
Gong - 5 And 20 Schoolgirls
Cat Stevens - Lady D'Arbanville
Mike Scott - Personal
Simon And Garfunkel - Baby Driver
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
Eagles - One Of These Nights
Gordon Lightfoot - Something Very Special
Tom Waits - Medley : Jack And Neal / California Here I Come

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It's up on the Pod right now...

And, more newies afoot, as Barry De Foyle's new opus has just been uploaded to our Pod today too, so you can check it out, ahead of 'official' airings next week.

It's Promo time again too, as myself and Zoe will be putting down a few messages for WCRV 97.7 this evening, who are our new outlet, in Pennsylvania. Should be fun !
Discussions continue with 2 other outlets, which I'll let you know about, as soon as I can.

Headphones on !

Johnny x

Pod action, 29th June 2008...

Ah yes, new Show is on the Pod. What a mixture, but then again, I always say that. Newies from Glasvegas, The Feeling, Dawn Landes, and more. A nod to psychedelia courtesy of Gong, a dance around the studio with Chuck, a soulful moment with Marvin, and choice Album cuts from the likes of The Doors, Black Keys, World Party, Tom Waits, and more.
Do give it a listen if you can - to just play, or download for free - your choice ! - it's dated 29th June, and is ready for your ears, at :

http://www.4shared.com/dir/391612/be81ca22/sharing.html

Johnny x

studio@albumzone.co.uk

Weekend action !

Hi Zoneheads,
what a funny old week it's been on the Zone.
Time for change, and probably long overdue. For those that don't know, we have withdrawn our programmes from RTI, with immediate effect, no need to go into details - you all know why.
A Radio Station needs to be on air, enough said.
.
Onward and upward, and for the sake of some continuity, we will retain Saturday 9pm and Sunday 8pm as 'debut' Album Zone Shows, when we feel the need.
But all new Shows, wherever they are Broadcast (more about this below !) will always, always, be on our Pod first for you. Fair enough ? We really do think it's the most efficient way to be.
You can access the Pod 24/7, naturally.
.
We are really looking forward to our new arrangement with WCRV, 97.7, Pennsylvania.
It's something we have never really looked into before, allowing local FM Stations in different countries to have the AZ feed, but I think it will be a lot of fun. It's nice to be asked, too.
Initially, WCRV will air The Album Zone on Fridays, at 18.00 hours, EST.
.
Discussions continue, by the way, with New York Metropolitan area Broadcasters.
When something breaks (not literally !) you will hear it right here, first, as ever.
.
Our good friends at Radio Seagull continue to broadcast the AZ team, 6 times per week.
Next week, you can hear (all UK times listed) :
Monday 6pm : Andy Miles
Tuesday 6pm : Simon G
Wednesday 6pm : Johnny Reece
Friday 2am : Andy Miles
Saturday 2am : Simon G
Sunday 2am : Johnny Reece
.
Johnny was invited to Radio Seagull, for a week or two of 'Live' Programmes from their Radio Ship, in July, but it does look as if work commitments here in London will prevent him having the time to be available. Ah, next time !
.
As for newies hitting our Pod, the new Johnny Reece Show will be available this Sunday, 29th June. Other newies are already on the way too, from Gil Legine, and Barry De Foyle.
.
Monday night at AZ Towers brings a visit from the punklicious Zoe, who is here once again to record a co-hosted show, with the Scottish one.
As ever, Pod first... so keep those ears peeled !
.
As ever, we appreciate your feedback, to studio@albumzone.co.uk.
.
Have a fine weekend all, and thanks, as ever, for your support.
.
Steve Lloyd PR The Album Zone
.

Ah, dusty old Records...

Hi Zoneheads,
a quick update, as we are all too busy sitting around with cold drinks and ice cream.
Hey, can you blame us ?
Last night you may well have rocked out to Andy Miles, well, tonight, you can hear the Johnny Reece Soiree, in its usual time and place.
Sunday, 20.00 (UK time) or 21.00 in Europe, via www.rti.fm, and via Sky 0195.
Expect the unexpected.
Well, we always say that, but this time the element of truth has increased somewhat.
Some of the Vinyl archive was raided, including some dusty gems which had not seen the light of day, for more years than any of us could comfortably admit.
Alongside the odd newie or advance play of the likes of Matthew Sweet, you can also hear the little known Tin Tin, The Tourists, and, ermm, Lance Percival. And much more.
No, really.
.
Have a fine weekend all, wherever you may be, and thanks for your support.
.
Steve Lloyd PR The Album Zone

Weekend... and on time ?

Hi Zoners,
it's been a little while.
Off here and there I have been, but now back in a paint-fumed AZ Towers (decorating is afoot !).
I'm pleased to see Simon G back with the Zone. I missed his Programmes, and it's great that he's back in the regular line-up. You'll catch him tonight, Saturday, around 9pm UK time, via www.rti.fm, or on Sky 0195. Oh, and if you miss it, it is, naturally, on our trusty pod.
.
Sunday sees Johnny Reece and Gil Legine in their respective chairs - that's right, a co-hosted Programme, following the tall viking's visit to the UK shores in recent days. Expect lots of musical chat as ever, and a few choice cuts, and ridiculous radio memories from times of yore.
You know what those two are like once they get together !
If RTI can bring it upon themselves to actually play the Programme at the right time, then it should be at 20.00 hours UK time via RTI and SKY, on Sunday evening.
.
And, a word or two - from a neutral - on the above.
We have had many contacts from listeners, asking, basically, what on earth RTI are doing, having the Sunday Show scheduled at the wrong time, for the umpteenth occasion.
Many of you asked a very pertinant question - 'why bother' ?
Well, I put this question to the Scotsman himself.
'Because it's on Sky - no more, no less' was the blunt but truthful answer.
Oh, with an addendum of 'but after 3 years you'd think they'd get the bloody thing right'.
So, now you know.
.
An interesting discussion did rise up amongst some Zoners regarding the closure of English Language Programmes on the FM outlet of RTI.
Much press about this (mainly from RTI themselves).
Sitting back, and thinking about this with a completely unbiased viewpoint, I can see two sides.
Whereas on the one hand, it does seem to be a terribly backward step, particularly in the light of so called European 'unity', there is the other train of thought (and this is my personal one, so agree or disagree with me on this - your choice) that RTI really never did encourage the type of English Programmes to attract or even involve the local Slovak listener.
I will even go so far as to say, that I am proud that the Album Zone has regularly mentioned the local service, the people, and, indeed, played Slovak Bands in the Programmes.
But, we were the only ones who made the effort to do this - a point worth noting.
Many shows never made the effort - for even a second, so I am not too surprised at the decision.
Surely, if promotion of multi-culturism is the key, or your Station remit, then you must feature Programmes to reflect this ? Shouldn't that be common sense for a Station Manager ?
Oh, don't get me started on Programme Controllers and Radio Station managers !!!
Well, just my tuppence worth.
You want to attract locals ? Then do something to attract them, and, moreso, involve them in the Programming to their own area.
Don't abandon them, or... well, you know.
Quite simple really.
The more I think about it, I'm hearing a lot of moans after the horse has bolted.
.
Don't forget ! We can also be heard on Radio Seagull, 6 times per week.
Do check their schedule for details.
.
Have a fine and safe weekend everyone, wherever you are.
.
Steve Lloyd PR The Album Zone

4th June... a Viking invasion

Hello all,

fun at AZ Towers last night, as the tall cool one (ok, Gil Legine to his friends) once again visited these shores. A matter of hours at AZ Towers and all that reminiscing began again (as it should !) and a last minute 'ok, let's do a show' thing occured.
So, expect to hear a Reece/Legine co-hosted show in your ears from Sunday 15th, with, no doubt, some strange stories included.

Incidentally, due to what can only be described as a cock-up by the powers that be in countries far far away, the Johnny Reece show aired 1 hour later than it should have done, last Sunday. Therefore, we are repeating it (hopefully they'll get the time right this time !) this Sunday, 8th June.
Oh, and it's on our Pod anyway...

And what's this about RTI having to stop all English spoken programming on it's local FM service, with immediate effect ?
Hmm, a step backwards for European relations, no doubt.
Many complaints afoot - but there's no use sending them to us - it's the Broadcast Authorities in Slovakia who currently, clearly, have their brains up their own backsides. European understanding my ass !
No matter - we're still on globally via the Net and across Europe via Sky courtesy of RTI, so we're not exactly panicking. It's a local affair.
But if you wish to voice your opinion at the short sightedness of the relevant authorities, by all means go to the ww.rti.fm front page, where you'll be able to vent your spleen, if you so desire !
No such problems at Radio Seagull in the Netherlands, who air us globally, and on AM in their own country, and relay too, to Tenerife on FM.

Have a fine week everyone,

Best,

Steve Lloyd
The Album Zone