“It is my intention to fill these hours with as much dodgy opinion, crackpot theories, hare-brained schemes and beautiful, beautiful music as is humanly possible.” (Jarvis’ statement of intent, BBC 6 Music website, 2010)
A musical institution. A religious experience. A student tutorial. A difficult commute from Paris. These are all things that could be said about Jarvis Cocker’s much-missed Sunday Service radio show, BBC 6music’s gift of gentle musical heroism to their weekend listenership.
Jarvis now brings together for Ace Records an eclectic and exciting mix of the records and the features that made the show the unique experience that it was, from listener suggestions that became personal favourites such as Nina Simone’s “Baltimore”, unusual cover versions like Antony & the Johnsons’ stunning performance of Beyoncé’s ‘Crazy In Love’, and the Katzenjammer’s rendition of Gary Numan’s ‘Cars’ as played on steel drums – a record so irresistible, it remains the only time Jarvis has ever felt compelled enough to ask another DJ what they were playing.
We revisit the Radiophonic Workshop bed that made the intro to each show and a special reading from Padgett Powell’s The Interrogative Mood, performed live on the show by Jarvis accompanied by David Cunningham from the Flying Lizards on kalimba. And if you listen very carefully between tracks, you may even hear a hidden jingle or two.
Brought together on heavyweight 180g double vinyl and CD digipack (each featuring different covers, as designed by Julian House) and with full accompanying liner notes by Jarvis, it’s a keepsake of the show that you can thankfully hold onto for any and every Sunday.
LIZ BUCKLEY
