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Thank You for the Days: A Boys' Own Adventures in Radio and Beyond
 
 

Thank You for the Days: A Boys' Own Adventures in Radio and Beyond (Paperback)

by Mark Radcliffe (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (2 April 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 184737350X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1847373502
  • Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 5,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #33 in  Books > Biography > Film, Television & Music > Music > Rock & Pop
    #53 in  Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Rock & Pop

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Product Description

Product Description

Approaching 50, Mark Radcliffe decided to write about his life, most importantly, his time in music. But crucially, he only wanted to write about the most interesting days and not the dull ones in between. With predictable good taste, Mark takes his title from the Kinks' song and has written an entertaining, funny book worthy of such a pedigree. Mark's family life is covered by 'The Day My Mother Hit Me With a Golf Club' , his school life by 'The Day I Ruined a Perfectly Good Suit' and 'The Day I Got My First Guitar'; through his epiphany of the power of music in 'The Day I Met the Band Who Changed My Life' and his star struck meeting with childhood hero, David Bowie. Many other stars are covered too, for example in 'The Day I Went to Kate Bush's House for Cheese Flan', and 'The Day Mick Jagger Was Taller Than Me'. He's very funny when recounting his days working at the BBC in '80s and '90s (how, when bored, he and colleagues invented a fictional department), winning Stars in Their Eyes as Shane MacGowan and so on. Yet, among the laughter are more sober days, such as the one when he learned John Peel had died.A cracking read and a potted history of both one man's life and his love affair with music, THANK YOU FOR THE DAYS is a uniquely entertaining memoir that will appeal not just to music fans but to connoisseurs of British popular culture.


About the Author

Mark Radcliffe was born in Bolton and attended Manchester University. He has been employed by the BBC to talk in between records for over twenty years, many of these with Lard (aka Marc Riley) and currently with Stuart Maconie on Radio 2. He has won 6 Gold Sony Awards and has recorded five albums with two bands. He has three daughters and lives in Cheshire.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Suspicious, 14 May 2009
By Dave Gilmour's cat (on Dave Gilmour's boat) - See all my reviews
I quite agree with another reviewer here: Radcliffe spends a suspicious amount of time stressing how he's very much an ordinary, hetrosexual kind of guy. Why protest so much if those things aren't in any doubt?

The accounts of meeting Jagger, McCartney, Kylie, Kate Bush, Dr Feelgood and so on are very interesting, as are the tales of time spent with John Peel. Knowing more about how these sorts of people behave in certain situations is fascinating. There are also some very welcome insights into the bizarre workings of the BBC. Another highlight includes hearing how Mark posed as Shane McGowan of The Pogues for Stars In Their Eyes.

I found some of the childhood anecdotes a little dull. These sorts of things have happened to most of us, so why write about them?

The other thing that grates is Mark's attempts to be funny ALL the time. Some of these stories could be allowed to unfold and reveal their own integral humour, but Radcliffe insists on cramming wisecracks into every paragraph, often creating little digressions apparently just to squeeze in yet more (slightly predictable) jokes. It's good to be amused by a book, of course, but sometimes you feel he's trying just a bit too hard to show you that he is both hilarious and modest with it. It seems he is very eager to be liked, which is odd given his very successful career and also the fact that he seems to be a genuinely decent man.

Gripes aside, while this is clearly no masterpiece (and I'm sure Mark would insist that it was never meant to be), you will find the book fairly entertaining and it will fill a few train journeys in a mostly pleasing fashion. Fans of the Radcliffe & Maconie show on Radio 2 will know what to expect and will almost certainly be satisfied. But it lacks the subtlety and true observational comedy of Maconie's Cider with Roadies.

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17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Ta...but no ta, Mark, 9 April 2009
By Mr. R. J. Watson "Rich Watson" (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Had high hopes for this, based on Radcliffe's previous efforts but the central premise of chronicling the best day's of his life begins to drag a little over the course of this book.

Admittedly, the chapters on Jagger, McCartney and his early days in radio are of some interest but what begins to become slightly annoying is Radcliffe's propensity for labouring the same point over say a good 3 pages a chapter and also what begins to feel like a certain sense of false humility on the authors part.

Now i've been an avid listener of Radcliffe's various radio-based incarnations, so it's with a heavy heart that I dispense this particular criticism but he does seem to waffle on a wee bit too much about how he's ''an average bloke who got lucky''.

Ultimately, the thing that made me pick up this book was getting a humourous insight into the rock n' roll greats that he's rubbed shoulders with. The chapters on his childhood however seem fairly boring by comparison.

So ultimately, not worth the admission price folks!
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Fancy a brew?, 12 April 2009
By Rd Goodall "Bright Ambassador" (Notts UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
As a fan of Mr Radcliffe of over 15 years standing I found this book most enjoyable. The tone is exactly what you'd expect if you like his 'conversational' radio style.
As he's a very private man I don't think we're going to get a full-blown autobiography from him, his insights into his childhood, student days and early days in radio are entertaining though. I found those chapters - especially the one on holidays - the most pleasing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I fondly remember lying in bed at night, listening to Mark and Lard on Radio 1 between 10PM and midnight, laughing at their jokes, loving the music, and being fascinated by most... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Peter Lee

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable...
I could not think of a title that had not already been used! Not really an autobiography, more a series of snippets about bits of Mark's life he recalls clearly (I always wonder... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Stevens

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You For The Days by Mark Radcliffe
This book is a really good read - entertaining, informative and very funny. Not an autobiography, but snapshots of the author's life as a DJ and musician. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. J. Owen

2.0 out of 5 stars He's much better on the radio .....
Having always found Radcliife a very engaging presenter and as a forty something ex drummer with all manner of punk & post punk bands myself I was looking forward to this -... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ageing Cynic

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy and entertaining read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A book you can dip into whenever you have a quiet moment. Entertaining and easy to read. Enjoy.
Published 3 months ago by R. Gatfield

4.0 out of 5 stars A very entertaining non-challenging read
I brought the book before I read the other reviews. I read those reviews before turning the first page. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Davey_Speedstar

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
If you grew up in the '60s and '70s, if you're a fan of popular music, or if you've enjoyed Mark Radcliffe as a radio presenter over the years, then the chances are you'll enjoy... Read more
Published 5 months ago by I. Barker

5.0 out of 5 stars No showbiz hype or glitz here- thankfully
I have been a fan of Mark Radcliffe for as long as I can remember and always wanted to know how someone who sounds laid back and convivial ends up so successful. Read more
Published 5 months ago by M. McCann

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good read
This is a super book, writen in typically engaging style. Very funny, and as a 50-something myself, I can relate to much in his youthful influences and experiences. Read more
Published 5 months ago by M. P. Hooton

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for boys of any age
The opening chapter sets the scene giving an insight into Mark's formative years influenced by Dr Feelgood. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Percival Grafton

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