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On BBC WM every Saturday, 6.00 - 8.00pm, John Platt plays the best pop music of the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's.

An interview with Network Gold’s John Platt

John, tell us about the history of Network Gold. When did it start? What was the first track played?

Network Gold began at 6pm on Saturday, the 12th of November 1988. The opening disc was "Rave On" by Buddy Holly. The programme came about after I'd had a chat with BBC WM's then Managing Editor, Tony Inchley. I wanted to present an oldies programme with a difference, full of information rather than meaningless waffle.

John Platt in the studio

[John divides each show into five parts:
1) A selection of the weeks' musical anniversaries.
2) ‘Chart file’ - six different acts each week - a disc followed by a brief career review.
3) Chart replay - highlights from a particular chart from a selected year.
4) Listener requests.
5) Re-release spot - reviews etc.]

Have you always been a music fan? Why does music mean so much to you…? How many CDs etc do you own?

I've always been a pop music fan. I was raised on the music of Lonnie Donegan because my Dad was such a huge fan of his. I'm glad to say we twice saw Lonnie in concert before the "King of Skiffle" sadly passed away. In the 60s I was a big fan of The Beatles - I still am. I can't imagine life without pop music. It can be uplifting, emotional and thought provoking, depending on the song.

I own far too many CDs for the space I have at home. It must be just over a thousand as things stand. That's not to mention about a hundred or so vinyl singles and LPs.

John Platt in the studio

Your all time top ten tracks?

That's a tough one.

(1) Hey Jude - The Beatles.
(2) A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum.
(3) Where Do You Go To My Lovely - Peter Sarstedt.
(4) Penny Lane - The Beatles.
(5) Annie's Song - John Denver.
(6) You Needed Me - Anne Murray.
(7) Stairway of Love - Michael Holliday.
(8) When You Walk in the Room - The Searchers.
(9) She Loves You - The Beatles.
(10) Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets.

Why is your no.1 track so special?

Because I recall The Beatles performing the song live during the TV show "Frost on Sunday", the recording always sounds live to me. And when John joins Paul to harmonise on the last verse it simply sends a shiver down my spine.

Does it take a long time to put the show together?

Network Gold takes the best part of three days to prepare. This includes choosing what records to play, plus reseach and scripting all the information.

John Platt in the studio

What do you enjoy most about the show?

I enjoy putting it together and being able to broadcast information that listeners can't get via other programmes.

What’s your most requested record?

There hasn't been a most requested record. That's another unusual thing about the programme. The requests are always different and very varied in musical tastes.

The request that caused the biggest response was Roy Orbison's version of "Danny Boy". At the time, it was no longer available. I was quite taken aback at how many people wanted a copy. It has since been issued on a compact disc. 

The listeners are central to your show?

The response I get from listeners is that there are far too many radio programmes that exclude the person tuning-in - ie chatting to newsreaders, travel reporters etc. They feel I am talking to them and imparting useful information at the same time.

In the studio, Anna Winkles in motion

Also, because the programme is only on once a week, I have to be very careful in not repeating records too often. I keep a list of what I've played in past programmes on my computer at home. I vary the music as much as I can. I’m also proud of the fact that I've never ever received a complaint, which must be rare.

You have some famous fans, John. Tell us what Led Zep’s Robert Plant said about your show?

Robert Plant was very complimentary. Basically he was raving about the obscure records and artists I feature in the programme. He was also amazed at where I get the information from. Next year will see the one thousandth edition of Network Gold, a landmark of which I will be very proud.

I hope the programme can continue for a few more years yet. It's still very popular and, as I've been told many times by kind listeners, it's unique because it’s unlike anything else on the radio.