All Brass Band Radio: 1st August
All Brass Band Radio station has added several new items and features.
New iOS (Apple) and Android apps have been added so listeners can listen to the station on their smartphones and tablets.
These apps have been completely redesigned so that they are easy to use and are simple in design. They also have the track title and show which band is playing. There is also a comment section.
New tracks
All Brass Band Radio has also added some new tracks that are different from a single track from a CD. Several bands on their CDs have tracks that come in several movements.
For example, in a recently released CD 'Of Gods and Kings' by the Foden's, it has a four movement recording titled 'King Arthur'. In the past, one movement or another was placed into the playlist — but this made the tracks play out of context.
All Brass Band Radio has taken several of these multiple movement tunes and has spliced them together with an introduction. Now listeners can enjoy these multi-part tunes together as they were intended.
Specials
Eleven specials are now included in the playlist. One of the 'Specials' by Cory from the album 'Day of the Dragon' made the Top 20 list for July. The programme that tabulates the voting has a couple of safeguards and one was slightly modified.
It was possible for one band to vote their way to the top. Anti-flooding routine was added long ago when the station had a small playlist to prevent lots of votes cast for only one band or track from the same general area (via IP address).
In addition the Top 20 List was limited so one band could be in the Top 20 only three times.
In the early days, this kept Cory, Brighouse & Rastrick, and Black Dyke from dominating the list. In the past, with a small playlist that was important.
With so many CDs and Albums now on the playlist, the limit has been lowered to two. One band can only hold two spots in the Top 20. Rarely has that rule in recent years made much of a difference.
Top of the charts
'The Day of the Lord' played by The International Staff Band has moved to the top of the charts. Meanwhile, 'The Hymn of the Highlands' is a big favourite with four tracks from three different bands making the list.
The rest is filled with fairly well-known favorites from a 600 track playlist including 'The Floral Dance' by Brighouse & Rastrick, 'Death or Glory' by Hitchin and 'A Gaelic Blessing' by Enfield Citadel Band.
All Brass Band Radio is a commercial-free internet radio station that plays British-Style brass band music (with a surprise or two) 24/7/365 from bands from around the world.
It is run by donations and the graciousness of the donors. Donations of CDs from bands are always welcome.
'The Day of the Lord' played by The International Staff Band has moved to the top of the charts. Meanwhile, 'The Hymn of the Highlands' is a big favourite with four tracks from three different bands making the list4BR
August Top 20:
1. The Day of the Lord (International Staff Band of the Salvation Army)
2. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (Soloist: Mike Thorn) (Hitchin)
3. Day of the Dragon Special (Cory)
4. Land of Make Believe (Fairey)
5. Highland Cathedral (Black Dyke)
6. Linus & Lucy (Spiritual to the 'Bone)
7. Seize the Day (Pikes Peak Brass)
8. 1812 Overture (All Star Girls of Brass)
9. You Raise Me Up (Soloist: Kirsty Abbotts) (Carlton Main Frickley Colliery)
10. Andross Castle (YBS Band)
11. Death or Glory (Hitchin)
12. Dundonnell (YBS Band)
13. A Gaelic Blessing (Enfield Citadel Band)
14. Live & Let Die (Soloist: Steve Molloy) (Fountain City Brass)
15. 1812 Overture (All Star Girls of Brass)
16. Mars: The Bringer of War (Black Dyke Mills)
17. Procession to the Minster (Foden's)
18. The Floral Dance (Brighouse & Rastrick)
19. Stars & Stripes Forever (Bones Apart)
20. Dundonnell from Hymn of the Highlands (Foden's)
