Oliver!: The Best of John Peel (2 November 1991 to 10 April 1992)

So after four years and 400+ posts, the blog is ready to move on from Oliver! But having used a mix-tape idea as the basis for my selections so far, I’m going to complete the Oliver! era selections by rounding them all up into a definitive Best Of, as if I was making a mix-tape to give as an opening night present to fellow cast members and crew from each show that this blogs traces.

I have chosen one favourite track from each of the Peel shows that selections were taken from, in order to present THE definitive John Peel soundtrack over the rehearsals and performance of Falmouth Community School’s April 1992 production of Oliver!

Katch 22 - Mind Field [Peel Session] (2 November 1991)

Eton Crop - Hey Hey (9 November 1991)

The Blofelds - The Dog is Dead (10 November 1991)

Smudge - Don’t Want to be Grant McClennan (16 November 1991)

Lethal - Techno Stylin (17 November 1991)

Orchestra Maquis Original - Ngalula (23 November 1991)

Home T, Cocoa Tea & Cutty Ranks - Another One for the Road (24 November 1991)

Krispy 3 - Don’t Be Misled (28 November 1991)

Bleach - Wipe It Away (30 November 1991)

The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds [Cumulo Nimbus Mix] (1 December 1991)

Milk - Claws (2 December 1991)

Mono Men - Right Now (7 December 1991)

The Field Mice - Think of These Things (8 December 1991)

Sam Dees’ Beauty and the Beat - The Homecomings [Peel Session] (14 December 1991)

Culture - Life (15 December 1991)

The Pixies - Complete Peel Session (21 December 1991)

D-Nice - To Tha Rescue (26 December 1991)

PJ Harvey - Dress (28 December 1991)

Silverfish - Big Bad Baby Pig Squeal (29 December 1991)

Roshney - Ag Tha Wondi Juway (5 January 1992)

Lucien Bokilo - Leonore (12 January 1992)

The KLF - America: What Time is Love? (18 January 1992)

Bongwater - Love Song (25 January 1992)

Manifesto - Walking Backwards (1 February 1992)

WC and the Maad Circle - Out on a Furlough (2 February 1992)

Kicks Like a Mule - The Bouncer (3 February 1992)

Chumbawamba - I Never Gave Up (8 February 1992)

The Fall - Sing! Harpy (9 February 1992)

Mr Ray’s Wig World - Elvis Begins With an E (16 February 1992)

Aphex Twin - Digeridoo (22 February 1992)

Material with Shabba Ranks - Reality (23 February 1992)

Spitfire - Wild Sunshine (29 February 1992)

The Soka Band - Linga Linga (1 March 1992)

Daisy Chainsaw - Pink Flower (7 March 1992)

Moonshake - Secondhand Clothes (8 March 1992)

A House - Endless Art (Female Version) [Peel Session] (13 March 1992)

Big Black - Il Duce (14 March 1992)

The Werefrogs - Forest of Doves (15 March 1992)

The Misunderstood - I Can Take You To the Sun (20 March 1992)

Scarface - A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die (21 March 1992)

Swell - Down (28 March 1992)

Kalaeidoscope - I’m Gonna Get You [Remix] (3 April 1992)

Po! - Look For the Holes (4 April 1992)

PJ Harvey - Victory (6 April 1992)

Marina Van-Rooy - Complete Peel Session (10 April 1992)


So, four years, eh? Where did they all go?  The next couple of years on this blog will see Peel soundtracking not one, but two Shakespeare plays and that will still only take us to the end of 1992!  But then, who’s in a hurry with a musical guide like John Peel to take me through the plays of yesteryear.

It’s been a fascinating journey so far in which I’ve learnt a lot and heard music ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, just as Peel set out to showcase.  My thanks to everyone who commented on posts, supplied videos and most of all to those who make Peel shows available for people like me to trace  such a niche “I wonder...” in this way.  There is so much still to hear and share, so let’s keep going.

Dedicated to all those acted in or helped put together Oliver! at Falmouth Community School performed from 7-10 April 1992.