'Reach Out' to help Children in Need

The One Voice Community Choir

It was 20 years ago today… BBC Radio Lancashire unveiled a special song for Children in Need 1989.

Written by Alan Green from Garstang Round Table, and fellow musician Geoff Price, "Reach Out" was recorded at our Darwen Street studios by local band Amounderness joined by the Catforth Primary School Choir and Jon Anderson… that's THE Jon Anderson of Yes and Jon & Vangelis fame.

The recording sessions, produced by Gerald Jackson, created a great highlight in the station's history.

Now, two decades later, we've produced a brand-new version of the song, which you can download now... (right click and select "save target as")

Listen now: Reach Out featuring The Frequency, Jon Christos and the One Voice Community Choir

The 2009 version features our station band, The Frequency, along with top tenor (and BBC Radio Lancashire presenter) Jon Christos, and the fabulous One Voice Community Choir from Preston.

Contemporary make-over

The Frequency is the BBC Radio Lancashire station band, featuring Paul O'Gorman (bass), Phil Cunliffe (keyboards), Alex Entwistle (drums) and John Clayton (guitar) joined by Grant Wignall on vocals.

The One Voice Community Choir is directed by Tyndale Thomas MBE who arranged the amazing vocal sound. Choir members come from all over the county and, in our opinion, make the most joyful, uplifting sounds you will ever hear.

Help us to raise money for Children in Need

Jon Christos can sing a bit too… just think of the moon in Moulin Rouge!

"When Gerald Jackson pointed out that it was the 20th anniversary of the recording of this special song, we knew we had to make it the centrepiece of BBC Radio Lancashire's Children in Need activities for 2009," says station editor John Clayton. "The new version gives the song a contemporary make-over.

"The lads in the band had the best fun working with the One Voice choir… they are such a fantastic bunch of people who just love singing their hearts out, and Tyndale, their director, is a musical genius. Add the brilliant Jon Christos to that mix and I think we've ended up with something very special indeed for Children in Need."

Everyone performing on this song gave their time, skill and effort for free. We hope you enjoy this new version but please remember that it's all been done for Children in Need.

You can download the song for free right now, but we'd be really grateful if you would make a donation to Children in Need too! - Donate now!

Find out what has happened to Alan Green and Geoff Price who master-minded the original version of Reach Out.

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And if you're wondering what this is all about... you'd better listen to Sean McGinty on Friday afternoon - then check out Facebook!