Shakin' Stevens BBC Recording Sessions

SHAKIN' STEVENS
BBC Sessions

1970

Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets (original line-up)

“FIRST GEAR” Session 1970
Shakin’ Stevens & The Sunsets
Studio: BBC Maida Vale Studios, North London
Proprietors:
BBC Engineer:
Producer:
Recorded: 15/06/70
Broadcast: 15/08/70 and 22/08/70

Tracks Recorded:	Length	Broadcast	Musicians:
Yakety Yak	1:56	15/08/70	Lead Vocals - Shakin' Stevens
I'll Try	2:32	15/08/70	Back-up Vocals - Paul Barrett
Leroy	2:01	15/08/70	Lead Guitar - Robert "Carl" Peterson
Forty Days	2:28	15/08/70	Bass - Steve Percy
Cast Iron Arm #	2:13	22/08/70	Drums / Vocals - Rockin' Louie*
Lights Out (Shaky only on vocals) #	2:14	22/08/70	Tenor Sax - Paul "Duane The Fink" Dolan
Train Kept A Rollin'	2:17	22/08/70	Piano - Trevor "The Hawk" Hawkins
Down Yonder We Go Ballin' *#	2:55+	22/08/70
Hawkins Mood ( instrumental )	1:42+	22/08/70

# Confirmed by BBC as still in the archive.
* Rockin' Louie on lead vocals

These tracks were recorded for the BBC's infamous Radio One sessions, a special Rock 'n' Roll program called "First Gear", which ran for two hours each Saturday for a couple of weeks only to give John Peel a break from his normal "Top Gear" evening show. Johnny Moran was the presenter of the show which was produced by John Walters and went out on Saturdays between 3pm and 5pm from August 8th until August 29th 1970. Other artists in session on this short series included: Marty Wilde, Bert Weedon, Billy J.Kramer and Fleetwood Mac with their Buddy Holly covers.

1976

"It's Rock 'n' Roll" Show #1

Shakin’ Stevens & The Sunsets

Studio: BBC Maida Vale Studios, North London

Proprietors: BBC

Engineer:

Producer: Dave Price

Recorded: September 1976

Broadcast: 25th September 1976 at 5:30pm (Show number: 1)

Tracks Recorded:

Length

Musicians:

It's Rock'n'Roll

unknown

Lead Vocals - Shakin' Stevens

Sexy Ways

2:48+

Drums - Rockin' Louie

I Told You So

3:00+

Lead Guitar / Pedal Steel - Ian Lawrence

Frantic

2:49+

Piano - Mike "Ace" Skudder

Rock Around With Ollie Vee

2:05

Slap Bass - George Chick

Rockabilly Rock

1:58

interview [ PLAY IT ]

0:22

These Tracks were recorded for Stuart Colman's Radio One show "It's Rock 'n' Roll". This was the first session for "It's Rock 'n' Roll" which was a successful radio series which ran for two years. All but three of the Shaky's recordings from this session remain unreleased. The signature tune "It's Rock 'n' Roll" also "I Told You So", and "Sexy Ways" were featured on the 1997 BBC compilation album "It's Rock 'n' Roll" (Super Beeb BEMP-001).

The reason for the series being broadcast was after a long protest that involved the British Teddy Boy movement marching across London to the BBC, complaining about the lack of Rock 'n' Roll on British radio. (Some members of the Teddy Movement included a coach load of followers from the Shakin' Stevens & the Sunsets fan club!).

1977

"It's Rock 'n' Roll" Show #31

Little Tina and the Sunsets

Studio: BBC Maida Vale, London

Proprietors: BBC

Engineer:

Producer:

Recorded:

Broadcast: 10/12/77 (Show number: 31)

Tracks Recorded:

Length

Motorcycle Michael

2:11

My Boy Elvis

2:17

This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'

2:21

interview with Tina [ PLAY IT ]

1:04

There was a second album released the following in 1977, but by now Shaky was starring in Jack Good's Musical "Elvis", so Little Tina took lead for the Sunsets on "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin' " and "My Boy Elvis". It's also worth noting that Vol.2 featured a version of "Don't Lie To Me" by Geraint Watkins Band. Geraint later went on to record with Shaky and Shaky was also to record his own version of the Chuck Berry song for his 1985 album "Lipstick Powder & Paint".

1979

"It's Rock 'n' Roll" Show #90
Shakin' Stevens
Studio: BBC Maida Vale, London
Proprietors: BBC
Engineer: Ted De Bono
Producer: Bernie Andrews
Recorded: 02/09/79
Broadcast: 13/10/79 (Show number: 90)

Tracks Recorded:	Length	Musicians:
Is A Bluebird Blue?	3:18+	Vocals - Shaky
Shotgun Boogie	2:39	Lead Guitar - Albert Lee
Lovestruck	3:00	Rhythm Guitar - Roger McKew
Hot Dog	2:00+	Pedal Steel - B.J.Cole
Apron Strings	3:11	Piano - Geraint Watkins
		Bass - Stuart Colman
		Drums - Howard Tibble

All of these recording remain unreleased, however Shaky did record them using the same musicians for CBS on his 1979 album "Take One" and Apron Strings appeared on the flip side of the Hot Dog single. BBC Maida Vale Studios entrance