James Masterton

Burning The Candle

James — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:48:40 +0000

A true story about how I got where I am today. I didn’t get to work on the radio as a presenter and producer because I was necessarily the most talented guy around, the best talker, the funniest writer or even the most informed sportsman. It is because I said yes to a great many things. It is [...]

Rhythm Of The Night (Or Morning)

James — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:48:41 +0000

Those of you who follow me on Twitter or even have the dubious privilege of knowing me personally will be aware I’ve spent the past month some considerable distance from my usual chirpy self. This has by and large been down to an exceptionally unusual working schedule which has seen me eschewing [...]

It’s Easter 1989 For Real – Part Three

James — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:15:00 +0000

Yes, I suck at planning important things like finding time to write over bank holidays. With apologies to all those hanging on in suspense for the final part of the Easter Sunday chart of 1989, here comes the Top 10, as revealed on Radio One on March 26th 1989. 10: Kon Kan – I Beg Your Pardon The [...]

It’s Easter 1989 For Real – Part Two

James — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:56:00 +0000

There is a family photo which adorns the dining room of my parents house back in Yorkshire. Taken on a family day out during the Easter holidays in 1989, it serves as an eternal reference point of that particular time every time I come home. I’m 15 years old, looking fresh faced and bright, with a [...]

It’s Easter 1989 For Real – Part One

James — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:55:00 +0000

OK, now this is something of a cheat. This recap of the Easter Sunday chart from 1989 was first published here four years ago, but was done as one of the first retrospective chart recaps I’d done, hence the style was still to settle down properly. As one of my favourite old Top 40 shows from years [...]

The Shot Heard Around The World

James — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Stoke City v Manchester City was one of those football fixtures which didn’t immediately jump off the page as a classic in the making, but faced with selling it as a matchup, it was possible to see how it could provide the required level of entertainment. Champions in waiting against a side [...]

Found That Soul Of 2001–Part Four

James — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:53:52 +0000

A word about the Radio One Top 40 show itself for this week, as recorded on March 4th 2001 and which has effectively been the soundtrack to all of these posts. The production of the show was essentially imperial era Mark Goodier, albeit at a point where he was becoming less and less relevant to [...]

Found That Soul Of 2001–Part Three

James — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:39:31 +0000

During this particular period in 2001 it was a pretty grim time to be a farmer, with the great Foot and Mouth outbreak causing entire herds to be destroyed in an attempt to counter the spread of the disease. Other aspects of life were affected too, with parks being closed, horse racing meetings [...]

Found That Soul Of 2001–Part Two

James — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:14:37 +0000

I’ve mentioned before that there is an unbreakable emotional link between the circumstances of your life and how you feel about the music of the time. I’ve written in the past about chart countdowns which mark deep personal lows and how the emotions flood back with every song. I suspect the [...]

Found That Soul Of 2001–Part One

James — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:48:44 +0000

Why 2001? Well for a start it is the last remaining year of the last 25 or so from which I’ve yet to select a vintage chart show to write about. This seems as good a moment as any to plug that hole. However it is also the case that this year was actually a particularly memorable one in popular [...]