Radio Head

by John Osborne

s/t: From Chris Moyles to Book at Bedtime, Via Iranian Hip Hop, Ibsen Plays & Stuart Maconie
The hilarious and revealing account of the author's month as a Radio Head: listening to a different radio station each day, all day, for thirty days.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2009

About the author

John Osborne graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2004. He has taught English in Austria and Germany, and has had poetry published in the Guardian and the Spectator. Radio Head is his first book.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, John Osborne, decides to listen to a different radio station every day. It's a fun, easy read and as a radio enthusiast, found it really interesting.

[Bettie]

Was going to listen to this, however there is so much more calling ...

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and a very likeable writing style.

[John Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought back to many memories of listening to the radio under the bed covers when I should have been sleeping. Well worth tracking down a copy.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An quick entertaining read from author beginner John Osbourne. The book gives a good snapshot into the world of British radio. I felt that it needed to cover more ground but listening to a different radio station each day for a month is probably a hard task to do especially if you're working. The interviews with Tommy Boyd, Radcliffe & Maconie and Nicholas Parsons impressed me the most. Tommy Boyd is one colourful character that could probably fill lots of books.

One glaring error I would to point out: where the author mentions Kiss FM's start date is incorrect. It started broadcasting legally in 1990 not in 2000.

Uncannily, the author reminds me of myself. Working in a mundane office job during my early 20s, tapping in numbers all day, wishing I was working in the broadcast industry (which thankfully I am today, no thanks to work experience and sheer determination!). But the ultimate questions remain unanswered:

1. Did John ever get that job at Future Radio?

2. Is Alan Medlicott married?

3. Did John ever get together with the lovely Poppy?

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading Radio Head and loved it. Radio is a passion of mine and there aren't enough books about it as a medium ... this stands level with Rebel Radio (about 70s and early 80s pirate radio) and I Am an Oil Tanker (about radio around the world). Radio Head started off okay but got better as it went along - at first Osborne just seemed to be reporting what he heard with little comment on how it made him feel but later he seemed to get more emotionally involved in the book and that made for some fascinating comments and insights. It's also encouraged me to vary my listening beyond my favourite stations - I've already tuned in to the madcap genius that is Resonance FM and am even going to attempt my own 30 day radio marathon!

[Mike O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely read. I liked John Osborne, he seems like a very pleasant chap, not to be mistaken, as goodreads does, for the angry playwright of the 1960s.

His examination of the radio and the biographical detail he provides are nicely humorous and understated. I will be reading some of his other stuff.

After writing the above, I looked John up and discovered that I have come across him before. He had a thing on the radio in 2014 called "The New Blur Album, which I listened to, and thoroughly enjoyed. The same understated humour, the same self effacing biography, and love of music and life. An excellent fellow.

[Russio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read that communicates John Osborne's passion for all things radiophonic. Scrolling his dial he spends a day at a time discovering stations that he enjoys, even if the most entertaining reading is when he doesn't like a DJ. Is book made me want to explore the radio more myself and knowing that he then went on to have a great series on Future Radio is a great postscript. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the book is his witty rendering of his day-to-day existence with his boss and work colleagues, all of which enlivens the text and enhances the fabulous subjectivity.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I din't like the author's style of writing at first, but by the end of the book it had become quite endearing. His writing also seemed to mature as it went on - I don't know if this was deliberate or not. It's a simple concept to build a book around - he listens to a different station everyday and just writes about the programming of the station and his own life. But it works brilliantly. I'm quite jealous that I never thought of it first.....anyway, a must read for any radio nut like myself.

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this guy's one man show - John Peel's shed - absolutely charming. Draws on many of the observations in this book. Wry, charming, unexpected and a fantastic exploration of the genre of radio. An absolute gem and am loving it.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a bit of a radiophile like I am, this book is really funny and will definitely strike a chord.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Started off a bit slow but I got into it after a few chapters.

[Simon Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely tribute to the power of radio.

[Diana180]

#overdrive