A freelance entertainment writer from Newport will be spinning some of his favourite vinyl and CD finds located in South Wales charity shops on the radio this Sunday.
Charity Shop Classics is broadcast by South Manchester based local community radio station ALL FM on 96.9MHz and online at allfm.org every Sunday morning and over the summer one of the programmes regular presenters, Simon Galloway has invited listeners across the UK to spin their favourite sounds located in charity shops.
Andy Howells, a graphic designer and freelance entertainment writer who lives in Newport, South Wales was delighted to receive an invitation to participate in the forthcoming “Listeners Choice” programme a few weeks ago.
“I was quite startled at first,” says Andy, “because I’m not a great fan of my own voice although I have always wanted to have a stab at presenting a radio show. I enjoy listening to Charity Shop Classics online as I frequently check out many of the charity shops in my own locality for vintage vinyl and CD releases and its always interesting to see what Simon and his colleagues find in their charity shop visits.”
Andy’s choices will carry a theme based on the music of bandleader and musical arranger, Geoff Love, who released a series of albums of film themes in the 1960s and 70s.
“I think Geoff Love was a bit of a saviour for record collectors who were on the lookout for film themes back in the 70s, “ says Andy, “he recorded pretty much everything from the theme to the classic Western, The Big Country to the theme from Jaws. The albums sold in their masses at the time as they were released on EMI’s budget label Music for Pleasure in brightly painted sleeves depicting action scenes from the films and of course, many turn up in Charity Shops now.
As well as featuring recordings by Geoff Love, the show will also feature hits Love provided music accompaniment on including hits by Russ Conway, Shirley Bassey and The King Brothers, all recordings were found in local charity shops in and around Newport.
Todmorden, the West Yorkshire town where Love was born on September 4 1917 will commemorate his centenary this September. “It’s nice to give these recordings some new life and remember Geoff Love as his centenary approaches as well as namecheck some of the South Wales charity shops I’ve supported along the way,” concludes Andy, “it’s been a fun project to be involved with and I hope people enjoy listening to the programme.”
- Charity Shop Classics airs on Sunday Morning between 11am and 12pm and can be heard online at allfm.org