Richard Searling To Quit Smooth Fm

[macca]

Reference taping the show, I have memories of a certain vicar playing Richard's "Rose Valentine (Little Ann) - When he's not around c/u in his spot, that I was told at the time was recorded from Richards show and put on emi-disc.

Mark

In true parrot fashion I will say... why am I not surprised?

Edited August 19, 2009 by macca

[Mike Lofthouse]

Though going slightly OT (others are so I'm joining in!).. did you know that Andy Peebles played a major part in the launch of top band Def Leppard by playing their

first single and tracks of their first EP on his show back in 1980.

Jayne.x.

not totally off topic....did you know that Richard Searling was responsible for the recording of what was to be Joy Division’s first album at RCA. It was canned and eventually re-recorded and released as ‘Unknown Pleasures on Factory. He and (Soul Bowls) John Anderson produced the tracks with Anderson apparently dubbing the synth parts that caused the dissatisfaction . ‘Interzone’on these sessions was an attempt to re-work NF Porters 'Keep On Keeping On'.

I've often thought this one of the more interesting parts of his career but have never seen much mention of it. I have not seen the 'Joy Division' movie - but he is credited so could be in it

....I'll get me coat Mike

Edited August 19, 2009 by Mike Lofthouse

[Steve G]

not totally off topic....did you know that Richard Searling was responsible for the recording of what was to be Joy Division's at RCA. It was canned and eventually re-recorded and released as 'Unknown Pleasures on Factory. He and (Soul Bowls) John Anderson produced the tracks with Anderson apparently dubbing the synth parts that caused the dissatisfaction . 'Interzone'on these sessions was an attempt to re-work NF Porters 'Keep On Keeping On'.

I've often thought this one of the more interesting parts of his career but have never seen much mention of it. I have not seen the 'Joy Division' movie - but he is credited so could be in it

....I'll get me coat Mike

Yes interesting indeed, and I remember John telling me something about this a few years back.

[Guest]

not totally off topic....did you know that Richard Searling was responsible for the recording of what was to be Joy Division's at RCA. It was canned and eventually re-recorded and released as 'Unknown Pleasures on Factory. He and (Soul Bowls) John Anderson produced the tracks with Anderson apparently dubbing the synth parts that caused the dissatisfaction . 'Interzone'on these sessions was an attempt to re-work NF Porters 'Keep On Keeping On'.

I've often thought this one of the more interesting parts of his career but have never seen much mention of it. I have not seen the 'Joy Division' movie - but he is credited so could be in it

....I'll get me coat Mike

Funnily enough, I was only told about this a few days ago. There was a documentary on BBC4 recently which sparked

the conversation. Was it the 24hour party people book where Tony Wilson mentioned this?, something tells me Phil Saxe got a mention too...

Jayne.x

[Lovemusic]

I can't comment on his shows in recent years as i drifted away partly due to the change of day and partly the playlist that jazz fm/smooth imposed on all the presenters, but in his (long) heyday he was unsurpassed in the music he played, and he inspired me to find a lot of great soul music and dig a little deeper for other gems hidden away in albums etc.

I met Richard back in the early 70's, at the Casino, and at the shop in Wigan while i was an art student in that town, and found him a passionate guy when it came to music.

It's no secret that he put his own money into Sunset radio and, along with John A he started first Grapevine and then Expansion records giving the Uk a record label that put out some great new music that almost certainly would never have seen the light of day and made affordable a lot of the rarer tracks too. Couple that with running Parkers, The Halfway House, The Trafalgar,

The Howard etc he gave us places to hear all this great music away from the oldies only venues.

He, along with Chris Savory, Rod Dearlove and Stevie G ETC gave me the desire to publish my short lived magazine Love Music Review, to spread the word and open some pretty closed minds about great soul music whatever the date or style.

So i can understand a lot of the comments here on both sides. I don't do heroes, but Richard does have my respect, and he'd probably thrive better on the internet, without the playlist philosophy of commercial radio, rubbing shoulders with Mick O'Donnell, Fraser, Jacko and Roger et al.

[Davetay]

I can't comment on his shows in recent years as i drifted away partly due to the change of day and partly the playlist that jazz fm/smooth imposed on all the presenters, but in his (long) heyday he was unsurpassed in the music he played, and he inspired me to find a lot of great soul music and dig a little deeper for other gems hidden away in albums etc.

I met Richard back in the early 70's, at the Casino, and at the shop in Wigan while i was an art student in that town, and found him a passionate guy when it came to music.

It's no secret that he put his own money into Sunset radio and, along with John A he started first Grapevine and then Expansion records giving the Uk a record label that put out some great new music that almost certainly would never have seen the light of day and made affordable a lot of the rarer tracks too. Couple that with running Parkers, The Halfway House, The Trafalgar,

The Howard etc he gave us places to hear all this great music away from the oldies only venues.

He, along with Chris Savory, Rod Dearlove and Stevie G ETC gave me the desire to publish my short lived magazine Love Music Review, to spread the word and open some pretty closed minds about great soul music whatever the date or style.

So i can understand a lot of the comments here on both sides. I don't do heroes, but Richard does have my respect, and he'd probably thrive better on the internet, without the playlist philosophy of commercial radio, rubbing shoulders with Mick O'Donnell, Fraser, Jacko and Roger et al.

I had forgot about L.M.R. a great mag, and I liked the cassette tape that came with it.

[Steve G]

I can't comment on his shows in recent years as i drifted away partly due to the change of day and partly the playlist that jazz fm/smooth imposed on all the presenters, but in his (long) heyday he was unsurpassed in the music he played, and he inspired me to find a lot of great soul music and dig a little deeper for other gems hidden away in albums etc.

I met Richard back in the early 70's, at the Casino, and at the shop in Wigan while i was an art student in that town, and found him a passionate guy when it came to music.

It's no secret that he put his own money into Sunset radio and, along with John A he started first Grapevine and then Expansion records giving the Uk a record label that put out some great new music that almost certainly would never have seen the light of day and made affordable a lot of the rarer tracks too. Couple that with running Parkers, The Halfway House, The Trafalgar,

The Howard etc he gave us places to hear all this great music away from the oldies only venues.

He, along with Chris Savory, Rod Dearlove and Stevie G ETC gave me the desire to publish my short lived magazine Love Music Review, to spread the word and open some pretty closed minds about great soul music whatever the date or style.

So i can understand a lot of the comments here on both sides. I don't do heroes, but Richard does have my respect, and he'd probably thrive better on the internet, without the playlist philosophy of commercial radio, rubbing shoulders with Mick O'Donnell, Fraser, Jacko and Roger et al.

Hi Andy, well put and good to hear from you. Steve

[Micksmix]

I can't comment on his shows in recent years as i drifted away partly due to the change of day and partly the playlist that jazz fm/smooth imposed on all the presenters, but in his (long) heyday he was unsurpassed in the music he played, and he inspired me to find a lot of great soul music and dig a little deeper for other gems hidden away in albums etc.

I met Richard back in the early 70's, at the Casino, and at thie shop in Wigan while i was an art student in that town, and found him a passionate guy when it came to music.

It's no secret that he put his own money into Sunset radio and, along with John A he started first Grapevine and then Expansion records giving the Uk a record label that put out some great new music that almost certainly would never have seen the light of day and made affordable a lot of the rarer tracks too. Couple that with running Parkers, The Halfway House, The Trafalgar,

The Howard etc he gave us places to hear all this great music away from the oldies only venues.

He, along with Chris Savory, Rod Dearlove and Stevie G ETC gave me the desire to publish my short lived magazine Love Music Review, to spread the word and open some pretty closed minds about great soul music whatever the date or style.

So i can understand a lot of the comments here on both sides. I don't do heroes, but Richard does have my respect, and he'd probably thrive better on the internet, without the playlist philosophy of commercial radio, rubbing shoulders with Mick O'Donnell, Fraser, Jacko and Roger et al.

Hi Andy,long time no hear,remember doing a couple of articles for the magazine,think I still have it somewhere,sadly

my copy of the differences,reviewed in one of the articles is no longer in my collection

[Lovemusic]

Hi Dave, Steve and Mick it's good to talk.

Used to keep in touch with Ricardo, and still bump into him from time to time, and he was always supportive of the mag. I remember he kept going off the air and swapping stations back in the day so really it's not unusual this has happened.

I always used to tape his shows and do cassette compilations of my favourite tracks and later got so obsessed i was recording every show onto video tape (more space in long play and no deterioration in sound quality). They are still there in my loft gathering dust. There would be no chance of finding a particular track now but could be a project for my retirement?!?

I suppose for me Richards mantle has been passed on to Mick O'Donnell and his Soul discovery show, with loads of new, unknown real soul tracks played each time.

[Lovemusic]

Mr Howard, I was only thinking about you the other day while reading a LMR back issue. I'd put in the editorial you gave me the fastest article (with tape) from commision to putting it in my hand at a Stoke allnighter.

Another guy i got a tape from was Mottie, one of your mates i recall. What happened to him? I lost touch, and recently came across an article that a Dave Motyka had died suddenly in 2007 aged 40 in Chorley. Now i'm sure he was from there and with a surname like his there couldn't have been many with the same first name in Chorley. I hope i've got it all wrong but suspect otherwise.

Andy

[Steve Plumb]

Mr Howard, I was only thinking about you the other day while reading a LMR back issue. I'd put in the editorial you gave me the fastest article (with tape) from commision to putting it in my hand at a Stoke allnighter.

Another guy i got a tape from was Mottie, one of your mates i recall. What happened to him? I lost touch, and recently came across an article that a Dave Motyka had died suddenly in 2007 aged 40 in Chorley. Now i'm sure he was from there and with a surname like his there couldn't have been many with the same first name in Chorley. I hope i've got it all wrong but suspect otherwise.

Andy

Hi Andy

Yes, unfortunately Motty passed away a couple of years ago.

Sadly missed.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest Mrs M]

Iget annoyed when idiots like yourself make comments without first engaging Brain!

If you had worked with Richard or been quite close to him at various points in the last 35 years or so you would know that he has made a great contributuion to the scene as well as music in general .

He has been fortunate at times but sometimes you need that little bit of luck or know how to become quite successful.

You obviously knew him when he worked for RCA - I think not or Global I think not because if you knew how much time is spent sifting through millions of records to find the elusive crowd pleaser you would crawl back into your cocoon.

Old saying- If you aint got nothing positive to say - Then say Nothing!

abso f... lutely......... they say ignorance is bliss but it hasn't half angered me!!!!!!!

[Micksmix]

Mr Howard, I was only thinking about you the other day while reading a LMR back issue. I'd put in the editorial you gave me the fastest article (with tape) from commision to putting it in my hand at a Stoke allnighter.

Another guy i got a tape from was Mottie, one of your mates i recall. What happened to him? I lost touch, and recently came across an article that a Dave Motyka had died suddenly in 2007 aged 40 in Chorley. Now i'm sure he was from there and with a surname like his there couldn't have been many with the same first name in Chorley. I hope i've got it all wrong but suspect otherwise.

Andy

yeah that was pre-internet for me,no email attachments,mp3s,TDK 90's ,photocopies and handwritten drivel(nowt new there then) Edited August 23, 2009 by micksmix

[Guest]

I was very upset to hear Richard say that the show is ending. His show is the reason I rediscovered this music and it has been an inspiration for me for several years. I have heard many amazing records I would never have heard anywhere else. He presents the show with great professionalism and he has a remarkable knowledge of the artists and the records, even down to release dates. He deserves to have a show on national radio, maybe BBC Radio 2?

[Steve W]

I can't comment on his shows in recent years as i drifted away partly due to the change of day and partly the playlist that jazz fm/smooth imposed on all the presenters, but in his (long) heyday he was unsurpassed in the music he played, and he inspired me to find a lot of great soul music and dig a little deeper for other gems hidden away in albums etc.

I met Richard back in the early 70's, at the Casino, and at the shop in Wigan while i was an art student in that town, and found him a passionate guy when it came to music.

It's no secret that he put his own money into Sunset radio and, along with John A he started first Grapevine and then Expansion records giving the Uk a record label that put out some great new music that almost certainly would never have seen the light of day and made affordable a lot of the rarer tracks too. Couple that with running Parkers, The Halfway House, The Trafalgar,

The Howard etc he gave us places to hear all this great music away from the oldies only venues.

He, along with Chris Savory, Rod Dearlove and Stevie G ETC gave me the desire to publish my short lived magazine Love Music Review, to spread the word and open some pretty closed minds about great soul music whatever the date or style.

So i can understand a lot of the comments here on both sides. I don't do heroes, but Richard does have my respect, and he'd probably thrive better on the internet, without the playlist philosophy of commercial radio, rubbing shoulders with Mick O'Donnell, Fraser, Jacko and Roger et al.

can I just thank you for that magazine, I bought every one, i love fanzines (sad I know) but in the early 70s when info was scarce hot buttered soul etc was a lifeline, and its continued ever since, the idea of havin a tape to go with the issue was to my mind a gem of an idea, the bobby hutton issue sticks out, and it put me on to some great tracks, have you ever thought of coming out of retirement??

sorry for being off topic like

[Big Mick]

Richard has ALWAYS been a gentleman and very professional in everything he undertakes. I have had a couple of opportunities to be on his radio show and many more visits to the studio when the Sunday shows were in full swing and made umpteen cups of tea/coffee for all parking their arses and Richards' 'guests' in the studio. It will be a damn shame if Jazz fm closed the door on his shows, and changing from Sunday to Saturday night was not a good move. The controller for Jazz fm must be a moron... Richard will be ok, he doesn't need Jazz fm But Jazz fm are loosing a very talented radio show host and it will be their loss... sod 'em.. BIG MICK

Edited August 30, 2009 by Big Mick

[Guest]

Gutted to hear this!.

Richard's shows have played a huge part in getting me hooked on soul music.

A very mixed show today, chuffed to hear Richard announce he has Chapter 8 on live at Blackpool Hilton weekend

in January but gutted to hear the show will be no more.

3 more shows to go I think, 5th Sept to be the last.

Jayne.x

I hate to be pedantic, but hes not quitting, he is being "let go"

[soulgirlie]

Hi

Just tuned in to Richards last show and he mentioned that he has with him a cd of him DJ'ing at Wigan Casino..he said if he can find the courage ( was going to say the Bottle ) he might play it in the last hour of the show .

Just thought it may be of interest to some on here .

Lin

https://-soulunderground.blogspot.com/

[Davetay]

Hi

Just tuned in to Richards last show and he mentioned that he has with him a cd of him DJ'ing at Wigan Casino..he said if he can find the courage ( was going to say the Bottle ) he might play it in the last hour of the show .

Just thought it may be of interest to some on here .

Lin

https://-soulunderground.blogspot.com/

Listening now, and Richard just played Bobby Womack, a little tear in the eye from me.

Good Luck to R.S. in the future.

Dave.

[Guest]

Hi

Just tuned in to Richards last show and he mentioned that he has with him a cd of him DJ'ing at Wigan Casino..he said if he can find the courage ( was going to say the Bottle ) he might play it in the last hour of the show .

Just thought it may be of interest to some on here .

Lin

https://-soulunderground.blogspot.com/

Thanks Lin!

Much appreciated.

Jayne.x.

[GordonS]

Sadly with the increasing blandness of bigger stations , Richard will never be able to reach a mass audience, I hope he gets a regular show somewhere but it will either be on a specialist station (so preaching only to the converted) or a small community station...I really hope he does get something.

It can be quite surprising what you hear on mainstream radio. By accident I had Michael Ball on the car radio whilst going to something the other Sunday morning and on comes Nancy Wilson's How Glad I Am and Johnny Taylor's Just The One I've Been Looking For - not exactly the obvious JT track for a mainstream easy listening show - first time I'd ever listened - would normally flick to CD.

Also BBC Radio have been running a survey - get in there and tell them stop just playing Abba & Queen and the same two Pointer Sisters records.

[GordonS]

Hi

Just tuned in to Richards last show and he mentioned that he has with him a cd of him DJ'ing at Wigan Casino..he said if he can find the courage ( was going to say the Bottle ) he might play it in the last hour of the show .

Just thought it may be of interest to some on here .

Lin

https://-soulunderground.blogspot.com/

In case anyone is interested I have posted up the final cellar full of soul on my site at soulfulhorwich.org.uk. Also the last 3 weeks soul sauce. I'll keep them up for a couple of weeks.

Been interesting reading all the comments. All I can say is that I've have enjoyed the music he has brought me over the airwaves for the past 19 years that I've been in earshot and appreciate that no doubt some have their reasons for their less than favourable views.

Not quite sure if I totally agree with Steve' comments about Andy Peebles (and Steve you know that I absolutely loved your show on soul24-7). I would have been a much happier chappie if Andy Peebles Soul Train on Piccadilly Radio could be picked up where I lived in Brighouse in the early seventies - I was very jealous of those who lived in Lancashire. His Saturday afternoon show a few years ago also used to well worth listening to IMHO.

Edited September 6, 2009 by GordonS

[Guest]

In case anyone is interested I have posted up the final cellar full of soul on my site at soulfulhorwich.org.uk. Also the last 3 weeks soul sauce. I'll keep them up for a couple of weeks.

Been interesting reading all the comments. All I can say is that I've have enjoyed the music he has brought me over the airwaves for the past 19 years that I've been in earshot and appreciate that no doubt some have their reasons for their less than favourable views.

Not quite sure if I totally agree with Steve' comments about Andy Peebles (and Steve you know that I absolutely loved your show on soul24-7). I would have been a much happier chappie if Andy Peebles Soul Train on Piccadilly Radio could be picked up where I lived in Brighouse in the early seventies - I was very jealous of those who lived in Lancashire. His Saturday afternoon show a few years ago also used to well worth listening to IMHO.

Hi Gordon,

Hope you're well. Nice one re: putting the shows up

you're a star!

Thanks

Jayne.x.

[GordonS]

No problem Jayne.

At that time of day I find it easier to listen to what I can and record it so I can listen to the full show whilst out on a run.

Just an extra step to upload it.

Will try and get to the next Bury but finding I don't seem to get out as much as I used to.