30 All Killer No Filler albums
Having first taken to the airwaves in 1987, Liz Kershaw celebrated 30 years at the BBC in 2017. From her days at BBC Radio 1 to her current show on 6 Music, Liz has been heard across many BBC Radio stations nationally and locally, and is a familiar face from her BBC TV appearances.
To put a life on air in context, Liz picked 30 of her favourite All Killer, No Filler records, including the albums that inspired her, the artists she’s played on air, new discoveries and much more.
The invite remains open for listeners to nominate their own All Killer, No Filler choices for her Saturday afternoon programme (1pm-3pm). “It can be anything,” she explains. "It could be a really well known album – like some of the ones I’ve picked – something you want to share because it deserves some attention, or perhaps an album that’s sound tracked your life and you just want to give it a blast on the radio. The possibilities are endless. Obscure or popular, it doesn’t matter, it’s just a record you love and you don’t skip the tracks."
Here are Liz’s picks of the All Killer, No Filler albums that have shaped her life and career, and why she rates the so highly:
1970s
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
"I didn’t discover it when it was first out, but later in the ’70s because a flatmate of mine at university had it. I just thought it was absolutely fantastic. I’ve seen them a few times, there’s nobody like them. People go ‘Oh no, prog rock!’ but as you can see from selection you can like pompous music and punk. I just love Pink Floyd."
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
"I got this one because when I was at uni and everyone was discovering punk, all the lads who had long, lank hair decided they had to get it cut off. They’d come round to mine and I cut their hair. I wasn’t qualified in anyway, I was just hacking away, but because no one could afford to pay me, the price for a punk-style haircut was an album. One of them gave me this record. How good were the hair cuts? They got away with it!" [laughs]
Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
"I first saw him on Granada TV with Tony Wilson. Nobody had heard of Bruce Springsteen in 1975. I saw him live in Birmingham in 1981, I was there at the NEC with my £5.50 ticket and I’ve seen him about hundred times since. This album is so inspiring! I would go as far to say that if it wasn’t for this, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do now. It’s the line from Thunder Road – ‘It’s a town full of losers and we’re pulling out of here to win’ – that just made think ‘no matter how mundane your life is, if you’ve got a dream I can make it happen.’ So thank you Bruce!"
Ramones – Ramones
Liz says: "This lad I got off with at the Geography Society Disco at uni introduced me to the Ramones. I wasn’t doing geography but they had the best discos. Anyway ‘Steve’ walked me home and asked me if I was going to see the Ramones. I’d never heard of them. I thought he was making it up when he started reeling off the song titles. I’ve loved them ever since. They came on my show when I did the Radio 1 evening show in 1988. I also compered Reading Festival and had the privilege of bringing them on stage. They’re one of my favourite bands."
Wreckless Eric – Wreckless Eric
"I got into him through the whole Stiff Records thing. He’s a brilliant songwriter, so underrated. He’s been on my show a few times, although the number of times that he’s been due to be on the show and his car has broken down is probably more. I’ve had that call from the roadside, 'Sorry Liz I’m waiting for the Automobile Association', a few times."
Blondie – Parallel Lines
"Debbie Harry was so inspiring. Back then there were fewer women fronting bands – there aren’t as many as there should be now – and so she became my icon. She was glamourous, she could sing, she had fantastic songs and any girl of my age at that time wanted to be her."
1980s
Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction
"This is a fantastic rock album. I had it on cassette at first and I remember when we’d go in the Radio 1 Roadshow truck from place to place, this was on in the cab constantly. You just want to flail around and be passionate about everything in life when you hear this."
The Long Ryders – Native Sons
"They’re from all over the States but were based in California. They did country alt rock. The frontman is Sid Griffin – who often to goes on with Radcliffe and Maconie – who was inspired by The Byrds and Gram Parsons. This album is packed with great songs." Listen to Sid on 6 Music.
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Barbed Wire Kisses
"This is an album of outtakes, unreleased stuff and b-sides. It was a filler between contracts, but it’s all killer. I’ve also got an affection for them because when I was in a band myself in Leeds, Dawn Chorus and the Blue Tits [who also counted Carol Vorderman among their members], we did a Peel Session that went out the same night this other little known band called Jesus and Mary Chain. It was February 1985. I can hear John Peel now saying: ‘Tonight in session Dawn Chorus and The Jesus and Mary Chain…’ We got top billing, though I always joke they did better than us… in the end! When they played the 6 Music Festival this year, they let me introduce them onstage. What a thrill."
Voice of the Beehive – Let It Bee
"I love those girly vocals and they’ve got some great three minute pop songs. It still sounds fresh now. They’re great eccentrics. I went to their house in the US and it was full of Barbie Dolls and kitsch things."
Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever
"It’s a fantastic summer album. I love driving around in the sunshine with this on. Every song is killer. It’s a big family favourite at home now too."
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
"The Perfect album! It’s hard to believe now, but Made of Stone only got to number 90 in the charts. We couldn’t give them any daytime airplay at the time on Radio 1, so that’s why I was campaigning in the press for a radio station that played this stuff anytime of day. It’s so great now on 6 Music we can play this stuff all the time. If that album had come out now with a platform like 6, imagine how different it would have been. It’s an iconic album."
1990s
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
"I’ve always loved R.E.M., right back to 1983. My brother and I once went to Athens, Georgia, for our holidays to see them. Then before they were really famous we’d take them out round London for the day, particularly when they were recording with Joe Boyd. Michael Stipe would want to go to art galleries and we’d want to go and sit in bars in Soho. There isn’t a duff song on this record."
Nirvana – MTV Unplugged In New York
"It’s live, so it’s kind of a greatest hits, but not. I love it. The performances are brilliant. Come As You Are on there is my favourite track of theirs."
Pulp – Different Class
"The first time I heard Common People I was driving home from Peel Acres on a Sunday because we’d been over for our tea. I thought ‘how fantastic!’ – John had been championing them for 13 years by this point. It was the album of the year. I once went to a party where just this album was played over and over again."
Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
"It’s the biggest selling album of the 90s – and one of the biggest UK albums of all time. The songwriting and performances on here are fantastic. It sums up that period in the middle of the 90s, it was the album."
The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole
"I like a dance! I discovered this by hearing it in a record shop in Milton Keynes. They were playing it nice and loud so I bought it immediately! It was one of those moments where you hear something by chance and you discover a record you love."
Massive Attack – Blue Lines
"Just gorgeous!"
2000s
Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
"What a voice! What a tragedy. Just great songs and an absolutely superlative delivery. You just wonder what could have happened…"
Fun Lovin' Criminals – Welcome To Poppy’s
"I didn’t know Huey when I got this album – I never dreamed that one day he’d be my warm-up act [laughs]. I like the attitude and there are some great songs on it. As soon as you put it on, it’s pumping away."
Dolly Parton – The Grass Is Blue
"I’ve always been a fan of Dolly’s, I see her as a role model and an inspiration. She’s a businesswomen, a feminist, a philanthropist and ultimately really musical. She did this when she got dropped by her label. She went back to the Smokey Mountains, got together a load of really good Bluegrass musicians and made this album. It’s not glitzy crossover country shit, it’s back to basics, raw bluegrass."
Foo Fighters – One By One
"Dave Grohl get’s a second look in on my list! I love Foo Fighters and this is my favourite album. He has a bit of a songwriting formula – it starts measured, then it kicks off! – but I like it. I stood in the wings once watching him drumming with Queens of the Stone Age at Glastonbury once and the sweat was flying off him, he’s just so passionate about his music. He’s every musician’s fan and their favourite guy."
Faithless – No Roots
"I do like a dance, as I said, and they can make an amazing musical hook from two notes. Maxi Jazz’s voice is brilliant."
The White Stripes – Elephant
"On that one he’s got the Dusty song [I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself] and everything else. There’s only two of them but what a great sound they made."
2010s
The War On Drugs – Lost in the Dream
"I just love their sound and their lilting, poignant and evocative songs, plus there’s a good nod to Bruce Springsteen too."
Slaves – Are You Satisfied?
"I just love them because they’re taking it back to punk basics. I look round and ask: 'Why are young people all watching X Factor, covering ballads? Where’s your anger? Where’s your protest?' Then when Slaves came along I thought: 'Yes! the punk spirit is not dead.'"
The Hempolics – Kiss, Cuddle & Torture Vol. 1
"There are some great songs on here, and the main guy Grippa Laybourne is such a funny lad. He’s got all these singers and rappers involved, including Maxi Jazz. There’s a lot of contrasting styles on the album, yet it all ties together. If he’s written them all, where did it come from? I’m really looking forward to having them in session for my 30th celebrations, I really want to see how they do all that live."
Temples – Sun Structures
"They’re my favourite band from Northamptonshire where I live. Prior to that it was only really Des O’Connor and Bauhaus who troubled the charts [laughs]. I love their sound, it’s so psychedelic."
Public Service Broadcasting – Inform-Educate-Entertain
"I just really enjoy putting this on… also the title is what I’ve been trying to do for the last 30 years – boom, boom! It’s great how they’ve found all these archive clips and used them really effectively and intelligently alongside powerful melodies."
And number 30?
"The door is open, there’s always another All Killer No Filler out there, so it’s To Be Continued..."
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