主播大秀

by Bob Stanley

They were mainly recording covers of British and American hits...

- Brian Matthew

In the seventies Brian Matthew had a World Service show called Matthew On Music. One of the highlights was a visit to Jeff Beck's house ("who sat beside me on his settee and gave me the most amazing master class of rock guitar playing"), and another was a trip to the Far East.

"The bloke who was the boss of the English department at the World Service came up with the idea of going to make a first-hand study of the record business in India, China and Japan. He went himself and asked me to go as well. No one could do all of them - each one demanded a fortnight's application - so he went to India and I went first to Hong Kong, then Tokyo, and recorded as much as I possibly could. They were mainly recording covers of British and American hits." SOTS listeners might like to investigate a couple of compilations released on Ace called Nippon Girls, which include some terrific Japanese sixties recordings - no covers - and gorgeous artwork.

During his trip, it turned out that Brian's transcription radio show Top Of The Pops was very popular at one commercial station "and they were delighted to put me on air, being interviewed." Rather more depressing for the esteemed broadcaster was "an extraordinary robot-operated station in a skyscraper run by white coated assistants" who put the records onto tapes before "mechanical arms picked them up and started them playing. I was rather appalled by all this."

Robotic radio stations aside, did he enjoy the trip? "Yes, it was good... I haven't ever been to either country again"
I ask Brian if he'd like to go back, and he pauses."It was quite a long journey."