Bringing Back The Good Times

Oxford 70s band Far Call (and friends), but where are they now?

If you were in your teens or twenties in the 1960's or 70's, or if you just love the music and local history, BBC Oxford's occasional series Bringing Back The Good Times is for you.

It is a nostalgic look back at the pop music scene in Oxfordshire told by the people who were there and presented by Mark Watson with researchers Trevor Hayward, Bob Dainty and guests.

Details of our next live show will appear here soon. If you would like to share your memories, email Mark Watson via the link below.

In our last programme on New years Eve, we had an interview with Mervyn Butler from Eynsham who used to play bass guitar in 'The Electrons', 'The Spirits' and 'Froggy Moores Kookaburra Jazz Band'! We also heard from Roy Wood, and local groups Mr Big and The Dorne Valley Boys, we appealed for your help in tracking down members of Oxford bands 'Far Call' and 'The Starlights' and brought back a few memories with lots of great music and the gig guides. You can hear highlights of the show here although most of the music has had to be removed due to copyright restrictions.

The Gangbusters in the 60's

To close the show, we played our review of the Bringing Back the 60's Re-union Dance of Oxfordshire bands organised by Radio Cherwell which took place on October 29th at the Rover Social Club in Cowley. Following on from the Bringing Back The Winter Gardens nights in Banbury, some of the counties best known 60's groups got back together for a fundraising night in aid of The BBC Children in Need Appeal and Radio Cherwell, Oxford's Hospital Radio Station. The night featured Oxford 60's musicians The Falling Leaves and Steamroller and were joined by The Gangbusters from Wallingford. Around 300 people came along and raised £3,195 which was shared between the two charities. Click the link below for more details and to see a video from the night.

The good times are back again

Good Times Presenter/Producer Mark Watson

Bringing Back The Good Times Producer/Presenter Mark Watson said: "It was great to see those bands playing live again. We've had them on the show and they're a great bunch of lads and can still play brilliantly. We had great feedback from the audience on the night and you could tell that the bands really enjoyed themselves. Especially the jam number they did at the end when they all played together".

We are still researching bands, venues and events from the 70's, but here are a few people we have found so far that we would love to speak to. Please get in touch if you can help us contact them.

Were you part of Witney band Hot Tramp, USAF Upper Heyford group Afro Dimension, Oxford bands Bluebird, Sunfly, Chatelet or Kickin Chicken? Do you remember the band Lip Service who used to play at The Board Hotel in Eynsham, Unit Four or Phly with Barry Hill, Steve Mould, John Hill and Dave Jeffs? We would love to chat to any of the band members if you know where they are now?

The Manor Recording Studios mixing desk in 1980

We have featured The Manor Studios at Shipton on Cherwell and would also like to tell the story of others in the area like the ones in Chipping Norton, Henley, Stonesfield and Mushroom Music in Oxford. Did you work at any of these or do you know who ran them? Perhaps there are others we have not discovered yet? We would love to hear your memories of these or any of the big or small venues in the county you may have been to.

If you would like to take part and share some of your 60's and 70's pop music memories for a future programme, phone [phone] during office hours, write to Mark Watson at 269 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DW, or email [e-mail]