A NICE CUP OF TEA

You may remember that when Rocket was on air in 2005, Derek Watts had just published his biography of Jim Parks, "Young Jim". He's now working on a biography of Albert Lee, described by Eric Clapton as "one of the finest guitarists in the world - absolutely unique" - and in the course of his research Derek has come up with some unmissable recordings which you will hear on Rocket!

Brought up in Blackheath, Albert Lee played with Chris Farlowe in the 1960s, but he really made his name when he crossed the Atlantic and played with the Everly Brothers. He has influenced a whole generation of American country/rock guitarists.

He played with Eric Clapton from early 1979 to mid-1983, featuring on the live Tokyo album, 'Just One Night', and the two recorded in Nassau 'Another Ticket' and 'Money And Cigarettes'.

Derek says that Albert's a really great guy, unassuming and affable. He is currently touring in Europe with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings - and his work will be featured during "A Nice Cup Of Tea" from 1 pm to 3 pm on weekdays.

Derek's book has a working title of "Country Boy - the life and times of Albert Lee" and in it Derek will seek to set Albert's story against the backdrop of the changes in British popular music in the last 50 years. Albert and Derek are the same age, within three weeks, and their early influences - Lonnie Donegan, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran - were the same. Derek finds that period of early rock 'n' roll a fascinating one, as you will hear from his programme.

Now for our first exclusive! In the course of his researches for the book, Derek conducted a lengthy, informal, interview with the great Eric Clapton. "Derek Meets Eric", highlights from this interview, will be broadcast at 2:30 pm during "A Nice Cup of Tea" from 31st October to 4th November, along with appropriate music.

Derek describes Clapton as being "fit, relaxed and open" - at ease with himself, and looking forward to the Cream concerts at Madison Square Garden on 24th - 26th October. The interview covers the years of "Just One Night", the "Live in Japan" album, the recording of "Another Ticket" in Nassau, Clapton's critical illness at the beginning of 1982, the car crash and his alcoholic rock-bottom, followed by recovery. He also talks about the band break-up during the sessions for "Money and Cigarettes", also in Nassau, and of course his views on Albert Lee as a player and a man. 

And now, our second exclusive! During the first week of "A Nice Cup of Tea", from 24th to 28th October, at around 2:30 pm, Derek will be featuring (for the first time on British radio) extracts from a recording of Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds live at the Flamingo Club in about 1965. These Soul and R'n'B all-night sessions were legendary, and featured all the best musicians of the day, including Georgie Fame, Geno Washington and Zoot Money - and of course, later, the very young Jimi Hendrix.

The quality of the tape, now transferred to mini-disc, is extraordinary. Albert Lee is playing on it of course, and Chris Farlowe - best known for his 1966 number 1, "Out Of Time" but also by common consensus the greatest British soul and R'n'B singer - is in tremendous form.

Derek will be featuring tracks from this live and unreleased tape in the first week of "A Nice Cup Of Tea". 

Another regular feature on "A Nice Cup Of Tea" (and, of course, yet another world exclusive!) is "Whittington's Walk" - Derek and friend Roger Ordish (who used to produce "Jim'll Fix It" for the BBC) strolled around Lewes with well-known Lewes historian and raconteur Tony Whittington, during which Tony talked about many of the interesting a little-known features of Lewes's rich and varied history.

Derek will be playing excerpts from the walk, recorded by "A Nice Cup Of Tea"'s Outside Broadcast Unit, each day during the run.

Derek also has many live guest interviews during his two weeks - see the Guest Details page.

So - put the kettle on, put your feet up, have a nice cup of tea - and let your ears soak it all up!

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