Jarvis Cocker on BBC 6 Music

Blizzards, Bob & Brautigan



Jarvis Cocker, BBC 6 Music's latest celebrity signing to its DJ roster, made an impressive debut on Sunday afternoon. Better still he introduced me to two great tracks I'd never previously heard.

Tim Rose's Snowed In was the perfect opener at the end of a week when "weather chaos" has blighted the nation. Until I clicked through to the BBC's Tim Rose artist page from the tracklist on the 6 Music site I knew nothing about the man. I can now tell you that Rose's version of Hey Joe inspired Jimi Hendrix and that Snowed In was released in 2003, a year after the singer's death. Make yourself a hot chocolate, throw another log on the fire and enjoy.

MP3: Tim Rose - Snowed In

Buy Snowed In: Amazon

My second discovery was Elvis Presley's version of Bob Dylan's Tomorrow Is A Long Time. I can't believe this track has passed me by. Elvis recorded it in Nashville in April 1966 when, according to Peter Guralnick, "Odetta Sings Dylan was never far from the turntable". My Bob Dylan Encyclopedia (p.660) tells me that in a June 1969 interview with Rolling Stone Bob was asked if there were any versions of his songs he liked. He replied, "Yeah, Elvis Presley. I Liked Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley recorded a song of mine. That's the one recording I treasure the most... it's called Tomorrow is a Long Time." Michael Gray notes that at the time it was assumed Bob was joking. You be the judge.

MP3: Elvis Presley - Tomorrow Is A Long Time

Buy Tomorrow Is A Long Time: 7digital | Amazon

The track originally appeared as a bonus on the soundtrack LP to Spinout, one of Elvis' many execrable movies. I found it on a wonderful album, also called Tomorrow Is A Long Time, that compiles the cream of the King's mid-60s sessions. There's excellent further reading about the record at The All Music Guide.

Back to the Jarvis Cocker Show: as well a some choice musical selections, the Sheffield stringbean also turned in a discursive interview with film director John Hillcoat and read Richard Brautigan's What Are You Going To Do With 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees? Musicians reading aloud from their favourite books and music free from the station's playlist? It was like the vintage years of Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley's old nighttime show on Radio 1!

Of course, Jarvis isn't the only musician spinning discs on 6 Music. Here's that rock star DJ line-up in full: Marc Riley (The Fall), Guy Garvey (Elbow), Lauren Laverne (Kenickie), Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin' Criminals), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Tom Robinson (Tom Robinson Band) and of course... Bob Dylan (The Travelling Wilburys).

I hope Jarvis sticks around on 6 Music for a while. I really loved the programme; a genuine breath of fresh air. If you've heard his show (you can listen online anytime you like) do leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Related Links
Jarvis Cocker on BBC 6 Music - listen to the show and see tracklists
Jarvis Cocker could be the next John Peel... - review in the Guardian