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Meticulous Detail	Customer Rating:
Fascinating book. Aside from the detailed annexes on every session etc there is a section setting out the background to broadcasting popular music on the radio, long before John Peel and Radio One, and the history of sessions (basically because 'needle time' i.e. playing records was limited). Seeing also who played what and at wha stage of their career is a tremendous insight. Recommended.

Beyond essential for Peel Show fans

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Nothing I write here could do justice to Ken's monumental effort of meticulously documenting the greatest music radio show ever made. For me, the most refreshing thing is we now have a book that is solely dedicated to accurately representing the story of John Peel's show from start to finish - the one thing he did that really matters. Personally, as a Peel show disciple, I started to get frustrated at the misrepresentations of the show following his death (e.g. some obituaries made it sound like opportunity knocks for indie acts) along with the focus on other less important aspects of his life (yeah yeah, National Service, Home Truths, zzzz...). If you feel the same, if you treat your lovingly compiled C90 Peel tapes like the crown jewels, this is the only Peel book you'll ever need.

Not quite the whole story...

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This book is generally authoritive and fascinating. However, without wishing to question Ken Garner's dedicated and skillful authorship I would like to state a few facts that are somehow not properly reflected in the text: (1) Peel was almost singlehandedly giving airtime to dozens of acts who were part of the roots reggae movement during its heyday of the mid-to-late 1970s. This was a significant musical force that was almost contemporary with the punk revolution. Peel loved reggae much more than many of the dour indie bands he featured. (2) Peel's favourite album of this era was Misty In Roots "Live At The Counter Eurovision" - this was featured heavily on the Peel show, and reflected the man's real love far more than the more retro trendy Joy Division's and Smiths... (3) Almost written out of the Radio One story of this era was the much less hip Alan Freeman. Yet Freeman too played the early punk on his Saturday afternoon show, and was equally enthusiastic by the new sounds - I first heard the Ramones and the Damned in 1976 from Freeman, not Peel. There was a real synergy between Peel and Freeman; they shared sessions and in-jokes through this period. Point is, Peel was not quite the lone voice in Radio One that is suggested. These three points are hardly, if at all, given any reference in the book, yet they are vital to an understanding of the true significance of the Peel show. I accept that the emphasis has been placed on the sessions, and reggae artists were less available, but the main overview history of the Peel show in the firtst part of Garner's text could have brought more balance in this way.

The definitive guide to your shoebox of C90s

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Much, much more than a book of lists, The Peel Sessions blends forensic attention to detail with a deft lightness of touch. Ken Garner shows a genuine love of music, and much warmth towards the people who create it. Fascinating to read, with a clear narrative and a keen sense of musical trends, the layout also rewards those who wish to pick and mix at random. It is easy to see why the "Session' remained at the heart of the Peel programme. They provided help to a myriad of new, often unrecorded, artists, and offered an enduring platform for those talents not cursed with the trappings of conventional stardom. Each session was lovingly (and in some cases grudgingly) crafted by a procession of engineers and producers, with John Peel providing a blend of fatherly advice and boyish excitement that spanned 5 decades. Some might argue that John Peel would not have welcomed this backward looking introspection. I think not. At its heart, it is a celebration: a celebration of those who simply love to listen to new music, of musicians who love to create it, and above all those few unique individuals exemplified by Peel whose passion and skill bring the two together. Open up the shoebox, take out a C90 at random, and spend an hour or two immersed in this book. Trust me, it will be time and money very well spent.

Peeling back the years

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Back in 1992 Ken Garner published a fascinating account of the history of the BBC Radio One session called "In Session Tonight". Long out of print and still much sought after, the book tied in with BBC Radio One's 25th anniversary and along with telling the story of the station and it's commitment to live music, the book also contained an almost complete list of sessions recorded and broadcast from when the station opened in September 1967 to September 1992. The lion's share of these were recorded for the legendary John Peel, and now with Radio One celebrating forty years on air, Garner has bought the story up to date with the publication of "The Peel Sessions". Unlike his previous book, this one concentrates solely on the work of the late great John Peel, and is without doubt one of the finest tributes to him that has yet appeared. Using material published in the original book, but altered where necessary for obvious reasons, Garner traces the rise of the Peel programme and it's hosts never- ending quest to find and champion new music. The Peel Session became a mark of respect, and there have been few bands outside of the pop mainstream that have not recorded at least one for the programme. The first half of the book is littered with stories and anecdotes from various classic sessions and even a few memories supplied by listeners, not to mention some wonderful photos of both Peel and various bands. One should also not forget the programme's many producers from the irreplaceable John Walters (R.I.P.) to Alison Howe, Anita Kamath and Louise Kattenhorn, plus of course Bernie Andrews who did so much to support Peel in his early days at Radio One when a lot of the BBC management wanted him out. Garner continues the story from it's original signing-off point in 1992 up to it's sad conclusion with the death of John Peel in October 2004 and the end of an extraordinary era of British radio history. The second half of the book is a trainspotters delight; a full A-Z list of every Peel Session from 1967-2004, and a full list of every Radio One programme Peel hosted to show where the session's fitted in. Garner admits that he did this list originally to help in his research and then decided to include it in the book. That's not all; there is also a full list of the legendary Festive Fifty's including the `missing' list from 1977 and the Peelenium list from 1999/2000. This exhaustive but never less than fascinating book is going to become an essential reference work and surely must be the last word on John Peel the broadcaster and "teenager's friend"! If you own the original "In Session Tonight" then "The Peel Sessions" is an essential companion piece.