The John Peel Sessions

About the Sessions

The John Peel Sessions compilation brings together J Mascis’s recordings for BBC Radio 1 across multiple sessions between 2000 and 2002. The album features material recorded for both the legendary John Peel Show and the Gideon Coe Show, showcasing different phases of J’s solo acoustic work.

The first five tracks were recorded on December 13, 2000 for John Peel, featuring a full band setup with Mike Watt on bass and George Berz on drums. These sessions were produced by Simon Askew and mixed by Kevin Shields (of My Bloody Valentine), creating a more layered sound than J’s typical solo acoustic performances.

Recording Sessions

December 13, 2000 Session (John Peel Show): Features the opening medley combining covers of Teenage Fanclub’s “Everything Flows,” Pavement’s “Range Life,” and The Ruts’ “In A Rut,” along with original compositions “Same Day,” “Ammaring,” “Waistin’,” and “I’m Not Fine.”

November 20, 2002 Session (John Peel Show): A more intimate acoustic session including a cover of Charlie Rich’s “I Feel Like Going Home” and original tracks “Alone,” “Everybody Lets Me Down,” and “Freakscene.”

September 13, 2002 Session (Gideon Coe Show): Features the solo track “If That’s How It’s Gotta Be.”

The album demonstrates J’s versatility as both a solo acoustic performer and as a collaborator, working with notable musicians and producers to create unique interpretations of both his own compositions and carefully chosen covers.