The Talking Machine

How a cow invented music. A dumb indulgence that serves no purpose and is probably harmful. Paul has been challenged to explain the entire history of music in one hour, but only plays three songs. Someone's going to feel left out.

Paul remembers his first gig at the tender age of 13 at the Broughton Astley Scout Hut

Paul steps beyond the veil to explore the eerie other-world that haunts our cities and daily lives

Paul recalls his experiences as a '2nd Lifer' in the world of used vinyl buyers. Where he didn't meet Eva

Ghosts lurking in the fens, alien abduction, the Jazz loving mad axe man and baseballs vasectomy season. Join Paul and the Talking Machine for The lion, Lamb and Hare as he delves in the month of March

Music history has accumulated a massive collection of classic tracks for broadcasters to pick from. But with so many great songs, its getting more and more difficult for new music break through. Is it time that we retired some of histories greatest music in order to make room for the new classics

Second of a two-part programme in which Paul explores Dartmoor National Park Wild, open moorlands and deep river valleys, with a rich history and rare wildlife, Dartmoor is a unique place

First of a two-part programme in which Paul explores Dartmoor National Park Wild, open moorlands and deep river valleys, with a rich history and rare wildlife, Dartmoor is a unique place

There can be little doubt that civilizations more advanced than the earth's exist elsewhere in the universe. The probabilities involved in locating one of them are coming closer than ever before.

The friends who drove a bus behind the Iron Curtain. In the summer of 1968, a group of students adapted a double-decker bus and took it on a journey to Eastern Europe. Sponsored by two Scotch whisky-makers, they encountered Soviet tanks, a Romanian beer shortage and a perilous Yugoslavian mountain pass.

London's iconic 100 Club has been trading under the same name since 1964 and has put on live music since 1942 as the Feldman Jazz Club amongst other names, earning it the title of the oldest independent venue world wide.

The Remarkable Story of Ona Judge On May 21, 1796, Ona “Oney” Judge fled her enslavement to Pres. George Washington and remained free for the rest of her life,. The Talking Machine provides an account of her dramatic quest for freedom that represents a rare moment when the story of a (formerly) enslaved person is told

This month, The Talking Machine honours the bravery of all those who served, died and were affected by the First World War. As well as remembering one forgotten soldier, Herbert Ayriss... Paul has been researching his family tree which has led him to find some remarkable stories about his ancestors. On the Thiepval Memorial he found 'H Ayriss'.... . Just an initial and surname on a memorial that is dedicated to soldiers that have no known grave. Paul embarked on a long journey of research to find more about H Ayriss, not just his war but also his life prior to enlistment. The information Paul uncovered has given him an insight into his family life, occupation, the music he would have known, the village he grew up in and even his local pub. Herbert's story has now been recorded and follows his life from when he left school at 13 and began working on the farms around Cosby, Leicestershire. The Podcast follows him from childhood into work, enlistment and basic training around the South of England. The story then travels into Northern France and describes the experiences that changed a young country boy into a battle hardened veteran. It ends with his final action at the age of 19.

True or False? It doesn't matter where in the UK a singer is from or how they sound when they speak, when the song begins the regional accent usually ends. Whilst British music has more than held its own on the world stage over the last fifty years or so, you have to admit that the range and breadth of British regional accents isn’t always represented in people’s singing voices. Adele, Cheryl Cole, Jamelia, Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne, all of whom have distinctly regional accents but adopt an Americanised singing style. Or do they? The Talking Machine explores the use of British accents in music.

What do Grandfather clocks, patriotic songs of America and Old Testament have in common with British football? What are the songs behind the terrace standards like ‘you’re not singing anymore' and 'here we go here we go here we go', and what is the oldest football song in world? Paul and The Talking Machine explores the music behind the last modern-day oral traditions and dips into the deep reservoir of Folk poetry to find the origins of over 100 years of terrace song.