Mastertapes Podcast
John Wilson talks with musicians about a career-defining album, and a live audience also puts questions. Featuring exclusive live performances.
Episodes to download
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Richard Hawley at the Crucible
Mon 22 Apr 2019
John Wilson talks to Steel City’s own maestro of the melancholy melody - Richard Hawley
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Don McLean - American Pie
Christmas Eve 2018
John Wilson talks to Don McLean about his timeless classic album, American Pie
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The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Mon 17 Dec 2018
Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong talk to John Wilson
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Lily Allen - No Shame
Mon 10 Dec 2018
Lily Allen talks to John Wilson about her fourth and most personal album, "No Shame"
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Elvis Costello
Sat 13 Oct 2018
For National Album Day Elvis Costello talks to John Wilson about his career
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Benjamin Clementine - At Least For Now
Mon 18 Dec 2017
Benjamin Clementine talks to John Wilson about his debut album, At Least For Now.
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David Gray - White Ladder
Mon 4 Dec 2017
David Gray sings live and talks to John Wilson about the album White Ladder.
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Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events
Mon 27 Nov 2017
Emeli Sandé sings live and discusses her debut album Our Version of Events.
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Randy Newman - Sail Away
Mon 28 Aug 2017
Randy Newman talks to John Wilson about his classic album from 45 years ago, 'Sail Away'
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Paul McCartney
Sat 28 May 2016
Paul McCartney joins John Wilson and the audience at BBC Maida Vale to discuss songwriting
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Nigel Kennedy (the B-Side)—Series 5
Tue 26 Jan 2016
Nigel Kennedy responds to audience questions about his 1989 recording of The Four Seasons.
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Nigel Kennedy (the A-Side)—Series 5
Mon 25 Jan 2016
Nigel Kennedy talks to John Wilson about his 1989 recording of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
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Bellowhead (the B Side)—Series 5
Tue 19 Jan 2016
Bellowhead respond to audience questions about their 2010 album, 'Hedonism'
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Bellowhead (the A Side)—Series 5
Mon 18 Jan 2016
Bellowhead talk to John Wilson about their 2010 album, 'Hedonism'
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Donovan (the B Side)—Series 5
Tue 12 Jan 2016
Donovan answers audience questions about his 1966 album, 'Sunshine Superman'
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Donovan (the A-Side)—Series 5
Mon 11 Jan 2016
Donovan talks to John Wilson about his 1966 album, ‘Sunshine Superman’.
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Steel Pulse (the B Side)—Series 5
Tue 5 Jan 2016
David Hinds & Selwyn Brown answer audience questions about the Steel Pulse's debut album
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Steel Pulse (the A Side)—Series 5
Mon 4 Jan 2016
David Hinds & Selwyn Brown about Steel Pulse's 1978 album, 'Handsworth Revolution'
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Squeeze (the B Side)—Series 5
Tue 29 Dec 2015
Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford face audience questions about Squeeze's 'East Side Story'
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Squeeze (the A Side)—Series 5
Mon 28 Dec 2015
Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford talk about Squeeze's 1981 album, 'East Side Story'
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Georgie Fame (the B Side)—Series 5
Tue 22 Dec 2015
Georgie Fame answers audience questions about his album, 'Rhythm & Blues at the Flamingo'
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Georgie Fame (the A Side)—Series 5
Mon 21 Dec 2015
Georgie Fame talks to John Wilson about his 1963 album, 'Rhythm & Blues At The Flamingo'
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Noel Gallagher (the B-Side)—Series 4
Tue 9 Dec 2014
10/12 Noel Gallagher talks about his album, 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds'.
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Noel Gallagher (the A-Side)—Series 4
Mon 8 Dec 2014
9/12 Noel Gallagher recalls artistic freedom in making 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.'
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The Boomtown Rats (the B-Side)—Series 4
Tue 2 Dec 2014
8/12 Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats talk to John Wilson about 'A Tonic for the Troops'.
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The Boomtown Rats (the A-Side)—Series 4
Mon 1 Dec 2014
7/12 Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats talk about their album 'A Tonic for the Troops'.
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Angélique Kidjo (the B-Side)—Series 4
Tue 25 Nov 2014
6/12 Angélique Kidjo talks to John Wilson about her 1994 breakthrough album 'Ayé'
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Angélique Kidjo (the A-Side)—Series 4
Mon 24 Nov 2014
5/12 Angélique Kidjo, the "Queen of African music" discusses her breakthrough album Ayé.
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Manic Street Preachers (the B-Side)—Series 4
Tue 18 Nov 2014
4/12 Manic Street Preachers answer audience questions about their 1994 album, The Holy Bible
Eight things we learned from Lily Allen’s Mastertapes
We hear about the breakdown of her marriage, substance abuse… and socks
10 things we learned from Randy Newman’s Mastertapes
The legendary songwriter's interview with John Wilson is fascinating and very funny.
Mastertapes special: Paul McCartney
Watch a filmed version of Paul McCartney speaking to John Wilson about his career.
Live performances
Watch and listen to exclusive live performances from the Mastertapes recordings.
Radio 4 on Music
Re-releasing music documentaries from the Radio 4 Archive.
