Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Mastertapes

Mastertapes is a BBC Radio 4 programme, presented by John Wilson, which discusses the making of significant rock albums. The featured artists are interviewed, in front of an audience, and perform exclusive live tracks, many of which are available on the programme's website. Each album is discussed over two half-hour programmes: the "A side" programme features the artist being interviewed by Wilson, with the "B side" programme featuring questions from the studio audience.

Last revised
Jul 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
Length
1,218 w
Citations
38
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Mastertapes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Home stationBBC Radio 4

Mastertapes is a BBC Radio 4 programme, presented by John Wilson, which discusses the making of significant rock albums.1 The featured artists are interviewed, in front of an audience, and perform exclusive live tracks, many of which are available on the programme's website.1 Each album is discussed over two half-hour programmes: the "A side" programme features the artist being interviewed by Wilson, with the "B side" programme featuring questions from the studio audience.

Episodes

Each episode has two parts ("Side A" and "Side B"). The "First broadcast" date refers to "Side A".

Series 1

Episode Artist Album First broadcast
1 Billy Bragg Talking with the Taxman about Poetry (1986) 30 Oct 2012 2
2 Suzanne Vega Solitude Standing (1987) 6 November 2012 3
3 Paul Weller The Gift (1982) 13 November 2012 4
4 Brinsley Forde (Aswad) New Chapter (1981) 20 November 2012 5
5 Ray Davies Lola (1970) and Muswell Hillbillies (1971) 27 November 2012 6
6 Corinne Bailey Rae The Sea (2010) 4 December 2012 7
7 Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone (The Zombies) Odessey and Oracle (1968) 11 December 2012 8

Series 2

Episode Artist Album First broadcast
1 Wilko Johnson (Dr. Feelgood) Down by the Jetty (1975) 27 May 2013 9
2 Mike Scott and Steve Wickham (The Waterboys) Fisherman's Blues (1988) 3 June 2013 10
3 Richard Thompson Rumor and Sigh (1991) 10 June 2013 11
4 Eliza and Martin Carthy Anglicana (2002) 17 June 2013 12
5 Gary Kemp and Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) True (1983) 24 June 2013 13

Series 3

Episode Artist Album First broadcast
1 Robbie Williams Life Thru a Lens (1997) 11 November 2013 14
2 David Crosby If I Could Only Remember My Name (1971) 18 November 2013 15
3 Natalie Merchant Tigerlily (1995) 25 November 2013 16
4 Edwyn Collins Gorgeous George (1994) 2 December 2013 17
5 Jazzie B and Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul) Club Classics Vol. One (1989) 9 December 2013 18

Series 4

Episode Artist Album First broadcast
1 Rufus Wainwright Want One (2003) 10 November 2014 19
2 Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (1994) 17 November 2014 20
3 Angélique Kidjo Ayé (1994) 24 November 2014 21
4 Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) A Tonic for the Troops (1978) 1 December 2014 22
5 Noel Gallagher High Flying Birds (2011) 8 December 2014 23
6 Sinéad O'Connor Theology (2007) 15 December 2014 24

Series 5

Episode Artist Album First broadcast
1 Georgie Fame Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo (1964) 21 December 2015 25
2 Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford (Squeeze) East Side Story (1981) 28 December 2015 26
3 David Hinds and Selwyn Brown (Steel Pulse) Handsworth Revolution (1978) 4 January 2016 27
4 Donovan Sunshine Superman (1966) 11 January 2016 28
5 Bellowhead Hedonism (2010) 18 January 2016 29
6 Nigel Kennedy Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (1989) 25 January 2016 30

Series 6

Episode Artist Album First broadcast
0 Paul McCartney Special edition, covering McCartney's career 27 December 2016 31
1 Laura Marling Once I Was an Eagle (2013) 2 January 2017 32
2 Graham Nash Songs for Beginners (1971), This Path Tonight (2016) 9 January 2017 33
3 Shirley Collins Love, Death and the Lady (1969), Lodestar (2016) 16 January 2017 34
4 Craig David Born To Do It (2000), Following My Intuition (2010) 23 January 2017 35
5 Tom Jones Praise and Blame (2010) 30 January 2017 36
6 Randy Newman Sail Away (1972) 28 August 2017 37
References

References

  1. "Mastertapes". BBC Online. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  2. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, Billy Bragg (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  3. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, Suzanne Vega (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  4. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, Paul Weller (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  5. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, Brinsley Forde (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  6. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, Ray Davies (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  7. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, Corinne Bailey Rae (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  8. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 1, The Zombies (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  9. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 2, Wilko Johnson (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  10. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 2, Mike Scott and Steve Wickham of the Waterboys (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  11. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 2, Richard Thompson (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  12. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 2, Eliza and Martin Carthy (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  13. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 2, Gary Kemp and Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  14. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 3, Robbie Williams (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  15. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 3, David Crosby (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  16. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 3, Natalie Merchant (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  17. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 3, Edwyn Collins (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  18. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 3, Soul II Soul (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  19. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 4, Rufus Wainwright (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  20. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 4, Manic Street Preachers (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  21. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 4, Angelique Kidjo (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  22. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 4, The Boomtown Rats (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  23. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 4, Noel Gallagher (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  24. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 4, Sinead O'Connor (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  25. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 5, Georgie Fame (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  26. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 5, Squeeze (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  27. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 5, Steel Pulse (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  28. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 5, Donovan (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  29. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 5, Bellowhead (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  30. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 5, Nigel Kennedy (the A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  31. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Paul McCartney". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  32. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Laura Marling (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  33. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Graham Nash (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  34. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Shirley Collins (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  35. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Craig David (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  36. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Tom Jones (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  37. "BBC Radio 4 - Mastertapes, Series 6, Randy Newman (A-Side)". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
External links