BBC Radio 4 Extra - Sounds Natural

[Crowthorne]

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Sounds Natural, Adam Faith

I recently stumbled across this programme on BBC Radio 4 Extra - Sounds Natural, a series from 1973, where notables of the day would pick their favourite natural sounds. This episode is Adam Faith, who picks sounds recorded at London Zoo, and there is a longer segment near the end recorded at the Brighton Dolphinarium (now the SeaLife Centre). It is very much a programme of its time, but I thought the recordings from the Zoo and Dolphinarium were interesting.

The programme is available to listen online for another 14 days.

Singer, actor and businessman, Adam Faith (1940-2003) talks to Derek Jones about his interest in wildlife, conservation and his love of London Zoo.

Some of his choices from the BBC Sound Archives include Lions, Puffer Fish, Dolphins, the Silvery Gibbon and the Giant Panda.

The release of "What Do You Want?" in 1959 sparked a run of hit records for Adam, followed by his big TV break as lovable-rogue, Budgie.

Produced in Bristol by John Burton.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1973.

 

[Tim May]

.....This episode is Adam Faith, who picks sounds recorded at London Zoo...,

Thanks for bringing this to my attention; I enjoyed listening to it.

It was interesting hearing the recordings of lion and jaguar made in the old London Zoo Lion House (which was still standing when this programme was made); the recording of the hoolock gibbon was good too. I was rather surprised that it didn't feature the sea lions barking which I always think of as the most evocative noise from London Zoo of the past...

As you mention it was "very much a programme of its time" but worth listening to.