FEATURE:
Influenced by Sara Cox’s BBC Show, Between the Covers…
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Should There Be a Televised Record Club?
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THIS will be a short one…
IN THIS PHOTO: Sara Cox/PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Lake/The Observer
but I wanted to react to a great BBC Two show that started last year, Between the Covers. Hosted by Sara Cox (BBC Radio 2), the concept is that four celebrity guests come on each week and discuss books important to them, in addition to a new release. I think it works so well for a few reasons. There is no studio audience so it is like a traditional book club. Not that a studio audience would have much to react to, though I feel the lack of excess noise and distraction means one focuses on the guests’ words and reasons why they love a particular book. Cox is a warm and witty host who throws in joke but ensures that things are not farcical or too silly! She has a clear passion for literature and provides a lightness and humour to a show that could otherwise have been dry and too academic. I am a book fan, but I have found myself discovering new books and becoming more interested because of Between the Covers. It is a BBC gem that has attracted a passionate audience! I know there are podcasts and other shows (from the past) that act like a book club. It is fascinating looking at the podcasts that explore books. For a literature lover, there is a banquet of choice. I don’t think there can be too much choice when it comes to shows and series that are dedicated to literature.
IN THIS PHOTO: Graham Norton/PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
I especially like Between the Covers, as I think Cox is a natural and engaging presenter. The fact there is this structure where each guests brings their own book and shares their thoughts on a new release means there is this consistency and set format. It never becomes too rigid or formulaic. Each show is very different; every guest provides their own fascinating takes. Go and bookmark the series if you like literature and have not checked it out. I have repeatedly written about the lack of music television and how, when there are so many different and exciting artists looking for a platform, there is this dearth. The same can be said for other music programmes. Of course, there are podcasts and radio series, yet there is precious little on T.V. I feel there could be a similar show to Between the Covers for a music audience. One is tempted to simply amend the title to Inside the Covers, though it would not simply be a copy of Sara Cox’s show. That said, I like the format of that series and it could allow for exploration of some great albums. A few new albums from the week could be dissected and featured. Whereas Between the Covers has the author of the new book discussing the concept and story, there could be the artist talking about their new album. I would be interested to hear guests discussing their favourite albums.
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Maybe they could talk about the first album they owned and one that means a lot. It is similar in concept to the First, Last and Everything feature on BBC Radio 6 Music that is on the RadMac Sunday show. More than one new album from the week should be under the spotlight. Perhaps guests could bring in a mixtape with their favourite songs – and then one of the tracks is played. Maybe, in terms of albums, have their favourite album and one that is underrated or people might not know about. There is scope for flexibility, but I do think that there would be an appetite for a T.V. show that is like a record club. In terms of set design, it could be like a record shop setting. Having the seats in a circle in the middle of the set/shop would lend a sense of authenticity and atmosphere. I think that, as it is T.V., including music videos would be a good idea. The idea is to bring music and album passion to the small screen. At the moment, there is this dominance of audio formats and very little T.V. inclusion. Some might say that YouTube and other platforms allows one to have a music T.V. show – though you could also say that about books and why we need Between the Covers. A T.V. show is more for the family, and it lets us slow down and spend some time in front of the screen without the distraction of the Internet and phones.
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The digital age has brought us closer to artists and opened our worlds to sounds we might not have otherwise discovered. I also think a certain community and tradition has been taken away. You could mix retro with modern. In the sense that there is a sort of 1980s/1990s ‘record club’ vibe where one could mix cassettes asnd vinyl. The record shop set could see artists drop in. Maybe one artist a week could perform to close the show – one whose new album is being recommended? I like the idea of mixing in different layers and angles. One could do this without things becoming too crowded and unfocused. The fact that we saw the first drop of Record Store Day on 12th June means that there is a big appetite for vinyl and albums in general. I know that there would be demand and a big audience for a show that put music at the forefront. Rather than going between the covers, the viewer could dive…
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INSIDE of the sleeve.