BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 05:36 AM

Check out BBC folk chat for singers and writers etc and the programme is still available on Radio 2 playback, but not for long

Ray

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 04:55 AM

Hi John W
Don't know when (or if) The Miners Strike Radio Ballad is going to be made available for purchase. But, you can get the first 6 on CD. (Just Google Radio Ballads).
If you liked the format of Tuesdays show. then you'll certainlay enjoy the series broadcast a couple of years ago.
Subjects like, The Steel industry, Shipbuilding, HIV, etc. All reflecting life as it is now.
Many of the artists that are on the Miners project can be found there too...
Hope you have a large wallet!

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 04:53 AM

Does anybody know how (or if) you can get hold of the songs from the programme?

You could record it....

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,John Wintersgill
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 04:43 AM

What a brilliant programme! Does anybody know how (or if) you can get hold of the songs from the programme?

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,Ian Cameron
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 02:06 AM

I listened to and enjoyed the programme very much indeed - really nice to hear so many regional accents that one way and another "normally" get airbrushed into oblivion. Would be really helpful to have posted somewhere in due course all the titles of the nine songs that featured. The lyrics would be helpful too especially for senile eldely ex activists like myself - well not entirely "ex" -not yet. I agree with some points made above about late night transmission etc., With the death of Ian Tomlinson last April for daring to walk home from work in the vicinity of the Boys In Blue their thuggish murderous fun and games are still going on. And no rush tom justice either ... 11 months later and still no charges or court appearences by Tomlinson's killers. Time for a "BALLAD OF TOMLINSON'S G20 MURDER".

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: EnglishFolkfan
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 12:34 PM

Excellent programme indeed, and when the BBC sorts out the current debacle on what Radio stations they intend to keep, change, whatever let us hope the increased emphasis on words intended for Radio 2 means many more programmes in the Ballads format .

I, like many others, have recorded the programme so the songs and words can be repeatedly enjoyed just in case it doesn't make it onto the Radio Ballads website or tragically that website becomes one of those the BBC plan to axe in the planned cutbacks.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Singing Referee
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 06:49 AM

Couldn't see one anywhere else, so here's a link to the iplayer page

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:24 AM

It will be our secret Ray

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 07:45 PM

Dennis no I havent got round to listening and transcribing this song sung by Bob Fox I think!

Dont tell anyone that I have recorded it to listen to will you!!

Ray

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 03:14 PM

Excellent programme. Dave H, I don't think the programme makers showed any particular sympathy with the scabs, quite the opposite. But they went out of their way to get as many viewpoints included, without adding comment, which is right and proper. They let the listener draw the conclusions.

My favourite was "When the Judas bus goes by", so evocative...

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:26 PM

Hi Ray
Have you the words for the song with the chorus starting with It'll all be over in a fortnight featured on the programme?

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: r.padgett
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:12 PM

I have just posted on the BBC chat about this

I have listened to the whole hour on BBC play back

It is, in my view a land mark piece of audio recordings and songs which is a true reflection of many of the views held during the strike

I applaud all who have taken part in this and trust it will be part of the enduring Radio ballad resources to augment those of Maccoll and Charles Parker

Well done

Ray

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:15 AM

On the whole it was excellent, in some places though, just a bit too sympathetic to the scabs and the filth.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:19 AM

A very good programme. Living in a pit Town, being born in a Pit Village in a Pit house and having both granddads who worked down pits all their working lives, it brings back many memouries.
Please does any one have the words for one of the songs featured with the chorus starting "It'll all be over in a fortnight" .
It is a "New song night" at Wath on Sunday and never having sang this one I would like to practice it and sing it.
Wath is also steeped in mining history and is just down the road from what was Corton Wood Colliery, obviously for those that did not know.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 04:58 AM

They did a large section concerning Orgreave which I'm sure you will find most captivating. The song surrounding that bit showed good imagination too.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 04:27 AM

I absoloutly LOVE Count Arthur Strong - one of the best things on radio.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 04:18 AM

First, bear in mind that this came from they who brought you Count Arthur Strong. To state the bleedin' obvious, John Leonard is not Charles Parker. Actually, I didn't hear much of it and so will catch it again on the iPlayer. Having located R2 on the bedroom radio, I lay down to listen. Playing was The Organist Entertains and the track, bizarrely, was the Blackpool Tower organist doing Day Trip To Bangor. And apart from a vague recollection of John Tams' voice, the next I knew was a lively rendition of Let's Dance, possibly from the very same theatre organ. It was 12.30. So, I'd slept through it. Did it even mention Orgreave?

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: peregrina
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 03:12 AM

Yes: it seemed to have a really good integration between the words of the eyewitnesses and the newly composed (&some older) music.
I only regret that there wasn't a bit of contextualization for the music: it would have been nice to have heard some discussion of the role of music at the time, and the songs composed and sung then, and some words about the rationale for the songs commissioned for the show. Still--a full hour of very good radio.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 03:07 AM

agreed. Really good.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 03:01 AM

A most absorbing programme well in the tradition of the original Radio Ballads. Some fine songs too!
Congratulations to all involved.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: EnglishFolkfan
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 05:56 PM

Listening now: BBC Radio at it's best because they let the right people do it.

My only complaint is that it's going out so late at night (10.30pm till 11.30pm) so many people who were active or affected in the Event at the time who are getting on in years are not likely to be listening. My elderly neighbours don't have the technology to record it or use iPlayer. It needs to be broadcast in the daytime too.

Bringing back memories of living in Sheffield during the Strike and having moved there from the East Midlands mining area.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 05:17 PM

It'll be starting in just over ten minutes.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 11:22 AM

Just a reminder - it's tonight!

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 05:49 AM

It's tomorrow night

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 06:15 PM

2 threads running. Please combine.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 04:07 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 03:58 AM

Sorry - I missed Dave Mac's post - I did look - Honest! Thanks for combining:-)

DeG

Subject: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 03:43 AM

Next Tuesday - 2230.

In specially commissioned songs to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of miners' strike, Radio 2 explores how lives were changed by the year-long dispute (1984-85). The Ballad Of The Miners' Strike is a forthright and powerful exploration of contrasting human experiences.

Excerpt from the BBC web site

Enjoy.

DeG

Subject: RE: The Ballad of the Miners' Strike
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 08:05 PM

Lots of information on the BBC2 Website. Also see the BBC Radio Ballads page.

Next on:
Tuesday, 22:30 on BBC Radio 2
SYNOPSIS
In specially commissioned songs to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of miners' strike, Radio 2 explores how lives were changed by the year-long dispute (1984-85). The Ballad Of The Miners' Strike is a forthright and powerful exploration of contrasting human experiences.
Songs inspired by their stories propel the ballad through issues still causing debate a quarter of a century later. Striking miners describe the physical and mental toll of the dispute and they and police officers recall the picket line confrontations; miners who worked tell how they're still called "scab"; miners' wives describe how the strike empowered them; and everyone remembers The Battle of Orgreave.
The ballad is a musical and historical tapestry which includes sequences of reflection and testimony, punctuated and driven by archive clips of news bulletins, reportage and interviews from the strike period with key figures miners' leader Arthur Scargill and Coal Board leader Ian McGregor. Musical accompaniment is provided by acclaimed folk musicians John McCusker, Andy Cutting, Bob Fox, Barry Coupe, Jez Lowe, Andy Seward, Julie Matthews and John Tams.
Interviews were gathered across the UK by reporter Vince Hunt who travelled to Wales, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Kent and Yorkshire to talk to miners and the women who supported them, police officers who served on the picket lines and the miners who crossed picket lines to work.
These themed interviews have been used as sources to inspire the songwriters and then fed back into the songs. Jez Lowe's Judas Bus describes a minibus taking "scab" miners across picket lines; John Tams' Over in a Fortnight plants the battle lines for the strike in the victory over Ted Heath of 1974. Julie Matthews' Beyond The Picket Line was written after hearing women from mining families describe their part in the strike, organising food parcels, meetings and protests. Ray Hearne wrote Ordinary Copper from the stories of policemen finding themselves in bitter fights with miners
This is the latest in a series of award-winning Radio Ballads commissioned in recent years by Radio 2, exploring important issues of our time. In 2006 a series of six ballads explored the decline of the shipbuilding and steel industries; thirty years of conflict in Northern Ireland; the end of hunting with hounds; the experiences of six people affected by HIV/AIDS; and the lives of Britain's fairground community.

Subject: The Ballad of the Miners' Strike
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 07:22 PM

Next Tuesday, 2 March at 22:30 on BBC Radio 2, "The Ballad of the Miners' Strike" to mark the 25th anniversary of its end.