INFOMAN

JOHN PEEL'S RECORD BOX
Introduction
John Peel's record collection spread beyond the confines of Peel Acres into purpose built extensions and shed. The vinyl LP section alone exceeded 25,000 albums, and the mighty Fall were exclusively honoured with their own multi-format shelf. However, he also kept a sturdy, ever-changing wooden box of whatever he currently regarded as his most precious 140 or so singles. 
At the frozen moment of October 2004 it contained a lot of Jack White - 9 White Stripes singles plus tracks on compilation EPs and a number of guest appearances with bands like Two Star Tabernacle, the Soledad Brothers, the Wildbunch and the Hentchmen - but Peel was always looking for a sound he'd never heard before and in a year's time some of this treasure trove might have found its way into the permanent collection, to make way for the next discovery, and no-one in the world can second-guess what that might have been. The White Stripes appeared live at Peel Acres and at Maida Vale but their only BBC studio session was for the rival Evening Session, for whom, to Peel's frustration, they recorded Stop Breaking Down, an all-time Peel favourite, which he wasted no time in playing when it was released on a B-side.
Had he had a chance to revise the selection perhaps he would have put in other favourites such as Laura Cantrell, the Smiths, Captain Beefheart, Nina Nastasia, Kevin Coyne, Country Joe and the Fish, Altered Images, the Cocteau Twins, Jimmy Reed, Loudon Wainwright, Pulp, the Faces, the Four Brothers, the Wedding Present, Cuban Boys or Melys, to name but a few. 
Some of the records earn their place on purely musical merit; others are also linked to his personal iconography. The Alan Price Set single, for example, includes in its line-up John Walters, long time friend and producer of his Radio One programme, and the flipside, the instrumental Iechyd-Da, which was used as a theme tune for the DJ Guy Hamilton on Radio 270, was written by Walters. Preserved from 1953, and probably the earliest recording in the box, Ken Colyer's Jazzmen included Peel's beloved Lonnie Donegan among their number. 
Obviously, there is more than one copy of Peel's favourite record, Teenage Kicks, but with a fan letter from the band folded inside one of them. Although many of the session tracks recorded for the show have been released on singles and EPs, only a track from an Electro Hippies session makes it into the box, though there are several singles made for his own record label, Dandelion.
Peel loved collectable promos and rarities. "That'll help get the kids through primary education", he would say as he played a limited edition 12" on purple vinyl, and there are a few in the box, such as the It Takes Two, Baby EP and the withdrawn UK Idle Race single.
There are some traps for the unwary. The Cannibals' single for example is included for its much loved B-side, Nothing Takes The Place Of You. Similarly, it was There Must Be Thousands by the Quads that always got played, not the A-side. And though Peel surely regarded it as a fine pop record, Sheena Easton's Nine To Five must be there in part due to the bubbly personality, physical charm and Scottish accent of its singer, rather than its innate musical quality?
Although the original list cites 3 Nilsson singles, it appears on further investigation that the three titles probably actually belong to one maxi-single. I have also added publication dates where I have been able to find them, and noted cover versions where known. Of course I would be pleased to hear of any errors or omissions.
John Peel's record box
Al Casey - Surfin' hootenanny/Easy pickin' (Pye Int 7N 25215) 1963 
Al Ferrier - I'm not drinking more/Don't play Blue Eyes (Master Trak) 1980 
Alan Price Set - I put a spell on you (cover of Screaming Jay Hawkins)/Iechyd-da (Decca F 12367) 1966
Andy Capp - Popatop//Rico and the Rudies - The lion speaks (Treasure Island TI 7052) 1969 
Anemic Boyfriends - Guys are not proud/Bad girls in love (Red Sweater N20) 1980 
Ann Peebles - I can't stand the rain/I've been there before (London HLU 10428) 1972
Anti-Social - Traffic lights/Teacher, teacher (Dynamite DR 01) 1977 
Arthur K Adams - Wildwood flower (cover of the Carter Family)/It's a wild, wild, wild, wild wildwood flower (Jetstar) na (1960s?)
Beatles - Come together/Octopus's garden/Something (Melodica M 62-38133)(USSR, 1976) 1969
Big Three - You've gotta keep her under hand/If you ever change your mind (Decca F 11927) 1964 
Big Stick - Drag racing/Hell on earth (Recess 4512) 1985 
Bill Oddie - On Ilkla Moor baht'at/Harry Krishna (Dandelion S 4786) 1970 
Boards of Canada - Aquarius/Chinook (Skam KMAS 1) 1998
Bobby Lee Trammell - If you ever get it once (You gonna' want it agin')/Don't you know I love you (Alley 1050) 1964
Buzzcocks - Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't've?)/Just lust (United Artists UP 36455) 1978 
Cat Power - Headlights/Darling said sir (The Making Of Americans) 1994
Charlie Feathers - Deep elm blues (cover of Jimmy Lewis)/Nobody's darling' (Holiday Inn 114) 1963
Charlie Feathers - Nobody's woman/When you decide (King 5022) 2x copies 1957
Charlie Feathers - Today and tomorrow/Wild wild party (Memphis Recordings 103) 1961
Charlie Feathers - Tongue-tied Jill/Get with it (Meteor 5032) 1956
Charlie Feathers - When you come around/Too much alike (King 5043) 1957
Cheeze - Dancin' With The Dead: Dancin' queen (cover of Abba)/Direwolf 1989 (Bob BOB-5) 1989 
Clague - The stride/I wonder where (Dandelion S 4494) 1969 
Clefs of Lavender Hill - Stop! - Get a ticket/First tell me why (Date 1510) 1966 (B-side became hit)
Cleveland Crochet - Sugar bee/Drunkards dream (Goldband G 1106) 1961
Don Covay - It's better to have (and don't need)/Leave him (Mercury 6052634) 1973 
Don French - Lonely Saturday night/Goldilocks (Lancer 104) 1959 2x copies 
Dreamland Express - Groovy/U.F.O. (EMI) 1980
Eazy Teeth - Car noise/Her blade (Dental DR 001) 1980 
Eddie & Ernie - I beleive (sic) she will/We try harder (Chess 1984) 1967 
Eddie & Ernie - I'm gonna always love you/Outcast (Eastern 608) 1965
Eddie & Ernie - Time waits for no one/That's the way it is (Eastern 602) 1964
Electro Hippies - Mega-armageddon death (Peel Session, 1987/7/2 R)(Strange Fruit single-track 7") 1987
Elmore James - The sky is crying/Standing at the crossroads (cover of Robert Johnson)(Flashback 15) 1960/1961
The Factory - Path through the forest/Gone (cover of Paul Revere)(MGM 1444) 1968 
Firemen - Old smokie (cover of the Weavers)/Louie's theme (Le Cam L 138)
Freshmen - You never heard anything like it/Bombing run (Release RL 975) 1979
G L Crockett - It's a man down there/Every hour, every day (4 Brothers 445) 1965
G L Crockett - Look out Mabel/Did you ever love somebody (That didn't love you)(Checker 1121, 1965) 1958 R (both alternative versions)
Galactic Symposium - Y.M.C.A. (cover of the Village People)/Money (cover of Barrett Strong)(Vague VOG 002) 1978 
Geater Davis - For your precious love (cover of the Impressions)/Wrapped up in you (House Of Orange 2405) 1971
Gene Dozier & The United Front - Give the women what they want/The best girl I ever had (Mercury 617 007) 1974 
Golinski Brothers - Bloody/Toy (Badge 6) 1980 2x copies 
Green Hornes - Stayed up last night/Shadow of grief (Italy !R 009) 2001
Hentchmen featuring Jack White - Some other guy (cover of The Big Three)/Psycho daisies (cover of the Yardbirds)(Italy IR-004) 1997
Hooton 3 Car - Danny/Numena (Rumblestrip RSTR 004) 1994
Idle Race - Here we go round the lemon tree (cover of the Move)/My father's son (Liberty UK Promo - withdrawn) 1967
Izzy Royal - Coronation St (cover of Dave Browning)/Coronation St dub (WEA YZ 37) 1983
Jane Bond and The Undercover Men - Hot rod Lincoln (cover of Charlie Ryan)/Come on up (Ear Movies) 1982 
Jerry Byro - Memories of Maria/Invitation (Monument) MN 449 1961 2x copies
Jody Reynolds - Endless sleep//Olympics - Western movies (Liberty 54514, 1963) 1958
Johnnie Taylor - I've been born again/At night time (Stax 0208) 1974 
Johnny Adams - You're a lady/I wish it would rain (cover of the Temptations)(Atlantic K 10245) 1972
Johnny Fortune - Dragster/Soul surfer (Sonet SON 2139) 1964 
Ken Colyer's Jazzmen - Ken Colyer's Jazzmen EP: If I ever cease to love you/Bucket got a hole in it/Wildcat blues/Wabash blues (Tempo EXA 31, 1954) 1953/9/2 R, Copenhagen, Denmark
      Ken Colyer (tr), Chris Barber (trom), Monty Sunshine (clar), Lonnie Donegan
      (bnjo, vcl), Jim Bray (bass), Ron Bowden, drums
La Peste - Black/Better off dead (Black CB 711) 1978 
Larry Bright - Mojo workout (Dance)/I'll change my ways (Tide 45 T 006) 1960
Laurie Anderson - O Superman/Walk the dog (One Ten OTR 005) 1981 
Lee Perry - Bafflin' smoke signal/Black smoke signal (Black Ark) 1978 
Legion of Super-Heroes - The great name dropper (Parts 1 and 2)(Amy 971) 2000
Lightnin' Hopkins - Mojo hand/Glory be (Flashback) 1960
Maow featuring Neko Case - Kat nip/One night stand/Anthem/Kill kill kill/Catastrophe/Boy groupies (Twist Like This TLTR 001) 1992
Marc Bolan - Marc Bolan talking to Stevie Dixon, 1973/Jennifer Sharp, Steve Harley & John Peel talking to Stevie Dixon, 1977 (Cube/Pye BINT 1) 1978
Mark Four - I'm leaving/Hurt me if you will (Decca F 12204) 1965 
Mary Monday and her Bitches - I gave my punk jacket to Rickie/Popgun (Malicious) 1977
Max Romeo - Sipple out deh//Lee Perry/Revelation dub (Upsetter) 1976
MC5 - Looking at you/Borderline (A-Square A2 333) 1968 2x copies 
Medicine Head - Coast to coast/All for tomorrow (Dandelion S 5075) 1970 
Medicine Head - His guiding hand/This love of old (Dandelion S 4661) 1969 2x copies 
Mel and Tim - Starting all over again/It hurts to want it so bad (Stax 2025 125) 1972 
Mickey Lee Lane - Tutti Frutti (cover of Little Richard)/With your love (I'll make it through)(Mala 12032) 1968
Mighty Avengers - So much in love (Jagger/Richards song)/Something they say (Decca F 11962) 1964 
Mike Spenser and the Cannibals - Good guys/Nothing takes the place of you (cover of Toussaint McCall)(Big Cock F-UK 1) 1978 (B-side preferred)
"My record, Nothing Takes The Place Of You, an old Tousaint McCall song, 
is in that box. John would often kid me that it was wearing thin and I 
had sent him the odd extra copy over the years. On his 40th birthday, if 
I'm not mistaken, I was told that he'd then placed it as number 21 on 
his all time Top 40 list in one of the muic rags he was writing for." - Mike Spenser
Misunderstood - I can take you to the sun/Who do you love (cover of Bo Diddley)(Fontana TF 777) 1966 
Move - I can hear the grass grow/Wave the flag and stop the train (Deram DM 117) 1967 
Negatives - Love is not real/Stakeout (Look LK/SP 6478) 1979 
Nice - The thoughts of Emerlist Davjack/Azrial (Angel of Death) (Immediate IM 059) 1967
Nightcaps - Wine wine wine/Nightcap rock (Musicor 1057) 1959
Nilsson - Everybody's talkin' (cover of Fred Neil)/Kojak Columbo/Without you (cover of Badfinger)(MaxiMillion Issue)(RCA 2733) 1969/1975/1971
O V Wright - That's how strong my love is/There goes my used to be (Goldwax 106) 1964
Paul Blake & The Blood Fire Posse - Every posse get flat/Flat out (Studio Work) 1984 
Paul Revere & The Raiders - Him or me - what's it gonna be?/Legend of Paul Revere (CBS 2737) 1967 
Pavement - Demolition Plot J-7: Forklift/Spizzle trunk/Recorder grot/Internal K-Dart/Perfect depth/Recorder grot (Rally)(Drag City DC 3) 1990
Pocket Fishrmen - Yr story/The leader is burning (Noiseville WRA 3-689) 1989 
Quads - You've gotta jive/There must be thousands (Big Bear BB 23) 1979 (B-side preferred)
Ramrods - (Ghost) Riders in the sky/Zig zag (London HLU 9282) 1960 
Ray Martin - Blue tango/Bell of the ball (Columbia SCM 5001) 1952
Revelino - Step on high/Memoreason (Musidisc 120072) 1996
Rod Bernard - This should go on forever/Pardon, Mr Gordon (Argo 5327) 1958
Roshell Anderson - The grapevine will lie sometimes/Such a beautiful thing (Contempo CS 2035) 1974 
Roy Head - Treat her right/So long, my love (Vocalion VP 9248) 1965 
Sam & Dave - I can't stand up for falling down/Soothe me (Live) (cover of the Simms Twins) (Stax 218) 1967
Sasha Caro - Grade 3 section 2/Little maid's song (Decca F 12687) 1967
Scrugg - Will the real Geraldine please stand up and be counted/Only George (Pye 7N 17656) 1969 
Sheena Easton - 9 to 5/Moody (EMI EMS 17110) 1980 (Japanese pressing with picture sleeve) 2x Copies 
Sipho Bhengu - Tickey dopies/I saluti (Inkonkoni) 1971 
Smoke - My friend Jack/We can take it (Columbia DB 8115) 1966 
Soledad Brothers - Sugar & spice/Johnny's death letter - with Jack White on shovel (Italy IR 007) 1998
Some Chicken - New religion/Blood on the wall (Raw RAW 7) 1977 2x copies 
Spit Out - O from I/Tan/Rot'n'roll' (Ma Frogs) 1996 
Squirrels - Oz on 45 (cover of Judy Garland & co/The Wizard of Oz)/Alone again (Naturally) (cover of Gilbert O'Sullivan)(PopLlama Prod OZ-452) 1988 
Stanley Winston - No more ghettos in America/It's alright (Jewel 149) 1970
Status Quo - Down down/Nightride (Vertigo 6059 114) 1974 
Super Sister - No tree will grow/She was naked (Dandelion 2001 379) 1971
Travis Wammack - Scratchy/Fire fly (ARA 45-204) 1964 (B-side preferred)
Two Star Tabernacle featuring Andre Williams - Lily White Mama and Jet Black Daddy/ Ramblin' man (cover of Hank Williams)(Bloodshot BS 041) 1998
Undertones - Teenage kicks/Smarter than u/True confessions (Single version)/Emergency cases (Good Vibrations GOT 4) 1978 3x copies 
Upholsterers - Makers Of High Grade Suites: Apple of my eye/I ain't superstitious/Pain (Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTRI 611) 2000
Upsetters - Bucky skank/Yucky skank (Down Town DT 513) 1973
Upsetters - Key card/Domino game (DL Int. DL 503) 1975
Users - Sick on you/(I'm) In love with today (Raw RAW 1) 1977 2x copies 
Various - It Takes Two, Baby: Mr Airplane Man/Hangin' round your door//The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl //Rizzo - Cathy//Bantam Rooster/Shitlist + 1 (Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTRI 663 P)(Promo) 2001
Various - Xmas Surprise Package Vol. 2: Rocket 455/Santa Ain't Coming For Christmas (Go to hell/Get hip)//Blowtops - Sidewalk Santa//The White Stripes - Candy Cane Children (Flying Bomb FLB 110) 1998
Various - Xmas Surprise Package Vol. 3: The Real Pills- It's Almost December//MHz - Secret Santa//The Dirtbombs - My last Christmas (Flying Bomb FLB 115) 2000
Versalites - Cutting razor//Upsetters - Black belt Jones (DL Int. DL 5039) 1974
White Stripes - Lafayette blues/Sugar never tasted so good (Italy ITR 006) 1998
White Stripes - Party of special things to do/China pig/Ashtray heart (all covers of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band)(Sub Pop SP 527) 2001
White Stripes - Merry Christmas From The White Stripes: Candy cane children/The reading of the story of the Magi, the singing of Silent Night (XL WSXMAS 1) 2002
White Stripes - Dead leaves and the dirty ground/Stop breaking down (cover of Robert Johnson)(Evening Session Session, 2001/11/7 R)(XL XLS 148) 2001
White Stripes - Hand springs//Dirtbombs - Cedar Point '76 (Extra Ball 005) 1999
White Stripes - Hotel Yorba(Live at the Hotel Yorba)/Rated X (cover of Loretta Lynn)(XL XLS 139) 2001 
White Stripes - Lord, send me an angel (cover of Blind Willie McTell)/You're pretty good looking (Trendy American Remix)(Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTRI 645) 2000 2x copies
White Stripes - Hello operator/Jolene (cover of Dolly Parton)(Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTRI 619) 2000 
White Stripes - The big three killed my baby/Red Rolling Ball Ruth (Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTRI 578) 1999 2x copies 
Wildbunch (aka Electric Six)- Danger! High voltage - Jack White (bkg vcls)/Neurocameraman/She's Guatemala (Flying Bomb FLB 117) 2001
XL Capris - My city of Sydney (cover of Tommy Leonetti)/Dead budgies (Axle 101) 1980
Yami Bolo - Richer than Cory (adapted from Them/Richard Cory)/Version (Jamaica Int.)(also on Harddow JHN 003) 1998
Yardbirds - Happenings ten years time ago/Psycho daisies (Columbia DB 8024) 1966