DEC4 Podcast

We note with sadness the recent passing of outspoken music writer, Dave Marsh. (August 14, 2026)

https://variety.com/2026/music/news/dave-marsh-dead-bruce-springsteen-born-to-run-1236835488/

We referenced some his commentary in our series on Aloha From Hawaii; He was of the opinion that the dress rehearsal show was not only better than the satellite broadcast performance, but was just about the best 1970s Elvis show ever captured 'in video, film or audio', singling out James Burton and Ronnie Tutt for particular praise. He noted that Elvis 'radiates healthiness and sings fabulously'. Dave Marsh had a few interesting things to say about some iconic bands over the years - his Wikipedia page is well worth a visit.

Link to our full episode here;
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https://dec4podcast.com/2025/06/26/gary-wells-elvis-aloha-from-hawaii-the-complete-story-omnibus-edit/

A very warm welcome to the first episode in our occasional series, the Elvis History Vault; our leading contributor, ‪Gary Wells,‬ is along for the ride as we learn about some perhaps lesser known people and events in Elvis’ professional life.

This time, we remember tour photographer Bob Heis, discuss how it was almost business as usual in Las Vegas in 1978 thanks to Colonel Parker and concert promoter Jerry Weintraub, and learn about an important member of Elvis' touring party, Jerome 'Stump' Monroe. Gary also explains how a remarkable songwriting career blossomed after a chance meeting with the TCB Band on tour.

Episode webpage;
https://dec4podcast.com/2026/08/04/elvis-history-vault-1-tour-photographer-bob-heis-vegas-78-jerome-stump-monroe-kye-fleming-ronnie-milsap/

Oliver Crocker ‬ is a filmmaker, podcaster, publisher, and leading writer and historian on classic British television. In this clip from a two-part podcast recorded in 2021, we discuss the art of the interview and memorable encounters with British acting legends John Salthouse (The Bill, Abigail's Party) and Robert Hardy (All Creatures Great and Small).

Oliver is also the author of three successful and acclaimed books; Witness Statements: Making The Bill Series 1-3 and Making The Bill 1988, as well as All Memories Great and Small. Oliver has also edited and published the autobiography of Larry Dann, who made a huge contribution to the early years of The Bill as Sgt Alec Peters.

He is now in demand as a bestselling ghostwriter.

Find more from our Studio 2 catalogue celebrating luminaries of classic British television, theatre and cinema, at our podcast website, including extended conversations with Oliver about Dad's Army, The Bill Podcast, and his published works.https://dec4podcast.com/studio-2-classic-british-stage-screen/

This episode (first published in 2022) is inspired by our regular contributor Gary Wells’ popular website, soulrideblog.com ‘Your Home for Vintage Leisure’; specifically, his reviews of two important and fascinating books on the Beach Boys – The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys, and the Southern California Experience (1994), by Timothy White, and Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy (2016), by Mike Love with James S Hirsch.

Gary takes us through why the ambitious scope of Nearest Faraway Place makes it much more than just a rock and roll bio. We discuss the emerging music scene in California of which the young Beach Boys were a critical part, and how Timothy White’s work helps us to better understand Murry Wilson, and assess his complicated legacy. For a little additional context, we also refer to I am Brian Wilson (2016), written by Brian himself with Ben Greenman.

Gary also gives us some detailed analysis on Mike Love’s autobiography, a major theme of which is his long fight for songwriting credits on some of the Beach Boys’ most iconic tunes. We look at why Mike can be such a polarising figure within the fan universe and beyond, and expand upon Mike’s account of Charles Manson’s disturbing incursion into the Beach Boys’ orbit.

Find the complete episode on your favourite podcast platform or our podcast website;
https://dec4podcast.com/2023/01/29/gary-wells-the-beach-boys-book-club/

Frank Williams (1931-2022) is remembered with enormous fondness by generations of fans as Timothy Farthing, the perpetually exasperated Vicar in the BBC’s Dad’s Army; on television, radio, stage, and in two feature films separated by almost half a century. Victoria Wood once described Dad’s Army as ‘the most affectionately regarded comedy programme in the history of television’, and Frank Williams made his own unique contribution to that universal love for the programme in all its forms, the characters, and the actors who brought them to life. This brief clip is from our podcast tribute episode, co-produced by Frank Williams' friend, author and publisher, Oliver Crocker...

Join us for the full episode on your favourite platform or at our podcast website;https://dec4podcast.com/2023/06/26/oliver-crocker-remembering-frank-williams/