This month we meet Barrie Hyde, presenter of The 70s Album Show.
How long have you been a radio presenter?
I've been a presenter with Bedford Radio since September and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I first got involved in radio 21 years ago. It's always been a hobby and a passion rather than a day job. I was in financial services and I was doing a lot of driving, seeing customers. I was fed up with the music on the radio. There were no rock stations and rock has always been my love when it comes to music.
So, I wrote to BBC Three Counties and outlined my idea for a 70s Album Show. We did four trial shows in 2004. After that I presented with them for nine years.
What was the inspiration behind The 70s Album Show?
I've always loved 70s rock music; that was the music I grew up with. But a lot of radio shows would only play the hit singles. At that time, people would listen to albums but, other than the hit single, those album tracks were never played on the radio. That's where I come in.
We all know and love 'Layla' for example by Derek & the Dominos, but it's a double album. I won't play 'Layla' but I will play other tracks from the album so that people get a deeper understanding of the music.
How do you plan the show?
The listeners make the show by writing in every week with requests. A lot of people who tune in were listening to my show 20 years ago. Half the music I play is requests and the other half is stuff that I choose. Over the past 20 years, I've played over 8,000 tracks yet, every week, people write in requesting tracks I've never played. That's what makes it exciting - every week is different.
Tell us about your new album and how that came about
In my 20s, I wrote quite a few songs and fancied myself as a bit of a Bob Dylan. But then, with family and my job, I parked it.
I picked it up again in retirement. It's lovely to be able to do the things you've always wanted to do, but never had the time to do. I joined U3A and each week we play guitar together and we've formed a writing group. So, I'm writing songs again.
I sing at the local folk club. Then I came across an app called Suno. You upload your songs and it comes up with ideas as to how they should be produced. AI is doing what studios have been doing for the past 30 years. It allows the young man to do what he always dreamed of; hence the album title, 'Young Man's Dream'.
The 70s Album Show is on Sundays at 8pm. You can catch up with past shows on Listen Again via the link below. You can also contact Barrie at: [email protected].
