Old Auntie Beeb are spoiling us with some quality music documentaries at the moment. On Radio 2 Don Letts presents the first of a two part series on Trojan Records, otherwise known as the Motown of Reggae.

The series features music and interviews with a host of bona fide reggae legends including Ken Boothe, Bunny Lee, Derrick Harriot, Dandy Livingstone, John Holt, Ansel Collins, Derrick Morgan and my dad.

OK so the last one may not actually be a “reggae legend”, but under the moniker of Patrick T.Rojan he ran and revived Trojan during the 80’s and has a few good stories to tell. Unfortunately the one about the stresses of trying to buy cod and chips with Lee “Scratch” Perry in a small Welsh chippie isn’t included.

Its available to listen to online – Tighten Up (The Story of Trojan Records)

Also on a reggae tip, on 6music Mark Lamaar hosts an eight part “Beginners Guide To Reggae” again available online, and on 1xtra theres a look at 25 years of VP Records. Loads of music and interviews on the label’s roots in 70s Jamaica to the present day, featuring Elephant Man bigging up Will Smith, Vybz Kartel putting Sean Paul in his place and Buju Banton on what he thinks of VP.

Theres a treasure trove of essential music documentarys on the various BBC radio sites, 1xtra has a huge list from Japanese Dancehall to the history of the remix. Radio One has even more including the story of the New York Dolls, Homosexual Hip-Hop, and “Straight Outta Clichy” (French HipHop and the riots).

If you want to lose a few days explore the BBC Radio Player. Thousands of hours of on demand music, documentarys, interviews etc. The range of music is unrivaled from beat boxing to Brahm – it is quite simply the most essential source of music radio on the internet.

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