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1. phil
   Member

   Hi Chris, Brett and all who are involved in the show.

   I thought March’s show was very well put together; however I enjoyed April’s show even more so. I liked the banter you guys have together and I thought the selection of music you played was just rite.

   I connect my pc’s sound card to an external amplifier and monitor speakers and
   I must say the sound quality is very good, so well done for that too.

   Can I ask who composed and recorded the theme tune? It’s quite catchy.

   I'm still not sure if it's plastic pipes or reall. I'll have a good guess though. What was the email address again? I know you said organfax info but couldn't work the rest out. Sorry.

   Regards

   Phil.

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. Chris
   Moderator

   Hiya Phil!

   So glad that you enjoyed the show/s! Regarding the banter, we are hoping that it is indeed this kind of 'light hearted' approach which will make the show appeal to a wider market than what is typically the 'accepted' in organ and keyboard circles. No offence is intended to anyone - Brett and I do have a good giggle together and I for one would hope that anyone would 'read into anything' that we say more than is necessary!!

   Brett indeed composed, recorded and sung the material for the theme tune and the competition! I don't think it's out on sale yet - well, I haven't seen it on any CD's in Poundland!! Sorry Mr .Wales.....!!

   I have Brett and also Robert New along with Ian House to thank for the excellent sound quality and streaming properties.

   I am not at liberty to give anything away about this month's competition track, but suffice to say that there are some amazing 'replications' of pipe organs on sale these days. One only has to look at the number of posts here concerning TOIAB for one..... Not all are 'fake' though on our show!

   The address as ever is info@organfax.co.uk - we'd love for folks to write in with comments as well as requests and any special dates etc that might be worthy of a mention on air. The same goes to any artistes reading this - please feel free to send any recordings/MP3's and we'll certainly try to include as much new material as we can as the months go by.

   Hope all is well in Herne Bay and keep up the good work!

   All the Best for now,

   Chris (still trying to shake off the jet lag!)

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. Phil Sweet
   Member

   Hi Chris

   I have just read your reply to "Phil" regarding this months edition of Organfax Radio and indeed the quality of the production etc. However, I think you have confused me with the Phil that wrote the thread. I am Phil Sweet from Herne Bay. (Herne Bay Organ & Keyboard Club) so i wouldn't want to steal his thunder regarding his positive feedback. I must though fully agree with what he has said. I listened via my laptop with good headphones and the quality was astounding.

   I think you have got the balance right with the banter and music and it certainly isn't offensive. And what a wonderful arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody by Mr.Hector Olivera. I dont want to take anything away from Mr.Wales as he is visiting us in September but is the "Organfax Radio" jingle deliberately that cheesy?
   The whole show reminds me of my childhood when I believe The Organist Entertains was on a Sunday night after the charts round up. The show formed a regular part of our weekends as it was Dad's favourite radio show. It those days as we know it was an hour long and we all (4 kids) used to sit listening hoping for an "electronic" organ track so Dad could comment on the authenticity of the sounds (even then). We yearned for a track that we actually knew. (Well we were young then). And of course when there was the Theatre or Cinema organ track when Dad used to go into great lengths to explain how pipe organs worked (every week)! The only downside of it was that for a few days after the program Dad used to play his own renditions on the "Home Made" organ of what he had heard on the show. I will tell you about the organ another day maybe!

   The diffence today is, I now have 3 children, I am banished to listening to my favourite radio show "Organfax Radio" via headphones on my laptop. They all take technology for granted. They expect the Sax to sound breathy on my keyboard. They expect to hear the resonance of an acoustic piano on a digital one. They are not marvelled like we were years ago. So as I sit here with my cans on, my 16 year old son is soaking up my internet bandwidth with his PS3, Ipod touch and laptop while my daughters (12 and 7) are with their Mum (age not revealed!) on the Wii fit + striking some poses.... Oh how times change.

   Once again Chris & Brett keep up the fantastic work. Let's hope that Organfax Radio has continued success and the popularity increases month by month.

   I have take the liberty to add an Organfax link to our club's website.Well actually my son Michael did (our own webdesigner) Hope that is ok with you guys. We also promote Organfax on our club meetings too.

   And of course regards to the "other" Phil on this thread.

   Phil Sweet.

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. Chris
   Moderator

   Cheers Phil! Also to the other 'Phil'! Apologies for any mix ups! It's the jet lag!

   Yeah, it was always our intention to try to bring back the 'variety' that made T.O.E just what it was back in the 80's - it was what Friday nights were all about for me when I was a teenager; 'Friday Night Is Music Night' and then an hour of pure organ and keyboard magic - we want to try and keep that variety alive on OFR. The kids of today will only get hooked if they are exposed to modern 'lifelike sounds' as well as a 'fun' approach and a 'fast paced' presentation. Nostalgia has its rightful place in the scheme of things, but I think it's like having a good menu - a bit of everything for all taste buds! I learned that last month down under where 2 out of the 3 theatre organ societies I played for were most keen to have the Atelier there as well to add diversity....... Young newcomers then take a genuine interest to the more 'traditional' things once they get on the band wagon.

   And yes, everything that Brett does is planned and yes, it was meant to be that cheesy!

   As a good friend and colleague of mine said a few years ago; "quality sound is so cheap these days" and herein I guess, lies the problem of promoting the organ and keyboard in the 21st Century...

   Thanks again for the kind comments - that's to both of you fellas, sorry for the mix up 'Phil No 1' and kind regards down to Kent to 'Phil No 2'!!

   All Best Wishes and happy playing,

   Chris!

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hi All,

   The way I tell the "Phils" apart is - "EL90 Phil" and "Tyros Phil", ha ha!.... EL Phil is a fellow "youtuber" and Tyros Phil is a fellow Booking secretary. ;-)

   Seriously though....... Top Marks (AGAIN) for providing a brilliant radio show!!!
   Chris - I think you and Brett have got the perfect balance. There is a wide variety of music to suit ALL tastes. There is a good mix of new fresh things to hear, and also nostalgia without wallowing in things that will turn youngsters away. (no offence intended here folks, it's a tricky thing to attract youngsters without boring the older generation with pop music) but I think the boys have done a sterling job of catering for everybody.

   The Bohemian Rhapsody track with Hector brought back a few fond memories (drool.....) as I was lucky enough to see him play this live, many years ago on the AT90R, and remember the jaw dropping effect of watching him do the lead guitar on the base pedals......(sigh!)

   As to the "real" pipes or "plastic" pipes...... goodness only knows!!!! I thought the Phil Kelsall track played on the GENUINE Blackpool tower organ could have been a Roland Fantom with the Theatre card in...... so there's not much hope for me guessing correctly is there? ha, ha!

   Regards to all, and keep up the good work!!

   Nicola

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. Phil Sweet
   Member

   Hi Nic

   Like many Clubs & Societies, being Concert Sec is just one of the hats I have to currently wear at our club. For my sins I am the Chairman, Concert Sec and more recently publicity officer as well, as our publicity guy has recently stood down after several years of doing a sterling job. Unfortunately no one yet has grabbed the vacancy!!!

   Back to Organfax Radio.... I do admire what the guys are doing here. Like when they both play at concerts getting the balance right is so difficult and of course with radio they can't pick up on audience reaction unless we give them constructive feedback.

   At our club we have a member play a preamble on our concert evenings to warm the evening up. I remember one year, well before I was involved on the committee I played a concert preamble. I spent several DAYS putting 30 mins of music together, from a few big band numbers to some 60's classics. Bearing in mind I am just a nervous amateur, during my "performance" I overheard one of the older guests remark " I wish he would play something I know!" I couldnt believe how insensitive he was and how it affected the rest of my evenings playing! I soon learned that this particular fellow was one of our die hard organists and wasn't keen on having keyboards in the club.

   So again top marks for these guys with what they do.

   Hope your Easter breaks are all going well.

   Regards Phil.

   Posted 2 years ago #

7. Phil Sweet
   Member

   Sorry..............Tyros Phil...

   Posted 2 years ago #

8. Chris
   Moderator

   Thanks, Nicola & Phil's once again.

   Chuckled at your comment re the Tower Wurlitzer - when you consider that it's played daily with a couple of thousand watts of amplification, then one could perhaps say that it's both proper and plastic at the same time! he he..

   Good point about repertoire, Phil, it's always a case of chicken and egg in this game.... Hopefully, a balanced show will please as many as possible, but there are always a few who won't be swayed!

   Show 3 will soon be in the can - can't wait!

   Best regards to all,

   Chris

   Posted 2 years ago #

9. phil
   Member

   Hi Chris, Tyros Phil and Nic.

   It's good to see praise being given when it's deserved.
   I also enjoyed listening to your guest Elizabeth Harrison. I thought your informal interview worked very well. I’m looking forward to hearing more interviews in the future. I would like to make one more comment regarding the interactive banner that’s displayed while the show is playing. Fantastic!!! Who ever thought of that disserves an extra pat on the back.

   Well done once again.

   Regards

   Phil or should I say EL90 Phil.

   Posted 2 years ago #

10. NicEL8000
    Member

    Hi All,

    Sorry Tyros Phil, (trust me to "complicate" things with the "Phils") - I had forgotten you were actually the Chaiman too, AND now the publicity officer!! This is a shame you can't get more people on board to help you. Mind you, in my experience, some of the best clubs are often run by people like you as it means that the running of the whole operation is done by someone that is enthusiastic and really CARES!! Good on you for all your hard work! Our neighbouring club (Stirling Organ & Keyboard Club) used to operate in pretty much the same way, and I'm happy to report that it now has their previous Chairman Denness Wilson back on board. Like yourself, he is very keen and enthusiastic.
    I can sympathise with the negative comment on all your hard work re preparing for your "30 minutes". Console yourself with the fact that there are many of us out there that WOULD have appreciated it. People have the odd "dig" at me for playing things that are different from the "norm", but I've learned to develop a thick skin. It also highlights a classic example of what the Pro's have to put up with at times! :-(

    I agree with EL90 Phil re the informal interview with Elizabeth, and I also love the banter between Chris and Brett that is so natural and comes from being close friends (Only Brett could get away with the "leaving your hair behind" comment!!!) Sorry for sniggering Chris - you know we all love you!

    Can't wait for the next installment!

    Regards

    Nic

    Posted 2 years ago #

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