Throughout its history, On The Wire has celebrated legendary figures, labels or styles of music.
This is a collation of most of them. Audio is not yet available for all of them, or it is not very good quality, but we hope to improve that over time.
Despite our best efforts, we do not yet know the dates of broadcast of some of these, although we have tried to place them in the chronological position as far as we can determine it. If you can provide any information which may help us, please contact us.Reggae/Dub Specials
In particular, On The Wire is known for the reggae and dub specials, featuring the best of Jamaican music and artists.
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 1988-06-12 | Dubs On The Wire Ch.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1989-02-12 | Requiem On The Wire (King Tubby) [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1989-07-16 | Scorcher On the Wire - Tribute to Mr. Clement "Coxsone" Dodd [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1989-10-29 | Spear On the Wire - including archive interview with Mr. Winston Rodney aka Burning Spear following his gig at Cleopatra's in Huddersfield in 1980 [Audio] [Show info] |
| Dentist On the Wire (aka Keith Hudson) [Audio] [Show info] | |
| 1990-06-24 | Rockers On the Wire - Augustus Pablo and associated artists tribute [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1990-08-26 | Yabby You On the Wire - Tribute to Vivian Jackson [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1991-10-27 | Dubs On The Wire Ch.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1992-06-18 | Harmony On The Wire [Audio] [Show info] |
| Dubs On The Wire Ch.3 [Audio] [Show info] | |
| Song & Version Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] | |
| 1993-02-18 | Observer On the Wire (Fire On The Wire) - Tribute to Winston Holness, Niney The Observer [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1993-10-21 | Scratch On the Wire - mc'd by Mr. Lee Perry himself [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1993-12-06 | Mighty Two (Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson) [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1994-08-01 | Moods On the Wire – A tribute to the work of Mr. Harry Mudie [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2008-03-15 | Tribute to Derrick Harriott: Chariots of Wire Race 1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2008-03-29 | Tribute to Derrick Harriott: Chariots of Wire Race 2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2008-04-05 | The Genius of Lynford ‘Andy Capp’ Anderson - Dub Inventor [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2008-04-19 | Clash On the Wire - Straight to the Head – I Roy vs. Prince Jazzbo [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2008-05-17 | Jimmy Radway - Fe me Time [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2008-05-24 | The Winston Scotland Showcase [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2009-07-04 | Wailing On the Wire: Wailing Souls Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2009-08-01 | Wailing On the Wire: Wailing Souls Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2009-10-24 | Song Books On the Wire: Bob Andy’s Song Book Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2009-11-28 | Song Books On the Wire: Bob Andy’s Song Book Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2010-01-23 | Behind The Wire - All Rudies In Jail Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2010-02-20 | Behind The Wire - All Rudies In Jail Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2010-06-19 | Desmond Dekker On the Wire: King Of Ska, King Of Rock Steady, King Of Reggae [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2010-11-06 | Solomonic Serende Pt.1 - Bunny Wailer tribute [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2010-12-04 | Solomonic Serende Pt.2 - Bunny Wailer tribute [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-03-05 | Rhythm Master On the Wire: Tribute to the Godson – Glenmore Brown Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-04-16 | Rhythm Master On the Wire: Tribute to the Godson – Glenmore Brown Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-07-02 | Love Forever On the Wire - Tribute to Carlton Manning & His Shoes Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-08-27 | Love Forever On the Wire - Tribute to Carlton Manning & His Shoes Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-09-03 | Roman Stewart [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-11-19 | Impressions of Jamaica On the Wire - Tribute to Curtis Mayfield… the Godfather of Reggae Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2011-12-17 | Impressions of Jamaica On the Wire - Tribute to Curtis Mayfield… the Godfather of Reggae Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2012-01-21 | Impressions of Jamaica On the Wire - Tribute to Curtis Mayfield… the Godfather of Reggae Pt.3 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2012-02-18 | Impressions of Jamaica On the Wire - Tribute to Curtis Mayfield… the Godfather of Reggae Pt.4 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2012-04-28 | Mr Soul of Jamaica at Treasure Isle - Tribute to Alton Ellis Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2012-07-12 | Mr Soul of Jamaica at Treasure Isle - Tribute to Alton Ellis Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2012-10-27 | Abyssinian Salute Pt.1 Ultra Satta – HypnoRiddim (Satta Amassa Gana) Ch.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2012-12-22 | Abyssinian Salute Pt.1 Ultra Satta – HypnoRiddim (Satta Amassa Gana) Ch.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2013-02-23 | Abyssinian Salute Pt.1 Ultra Satta – HypnoRiddim (Satta Amassa Gana) Ch.3 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2013-04-20 | Alton Ellis Sings Rock & Soul On the Wire Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2013-06-29 | Alton Ellis Sings Rock & Soul On the Wire Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2013-08-17 | Alton Ellis Sings Rock & Soul On the Wire Pt.3 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2013-12-28 | Earl ‘Little Roy’ Lowe & the Tafari Syndicate On The Wire Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-02-22 | Earl ‘Little Roy’ Lowe & the Tafari Syndicate On The Wire Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-05-31 | King Tubby On The Wire Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-07-05 | Breadwinner presents Black and White On The Wire Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-08-30 | Breadwinner presents Black and White On The Wire Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-08-02 | King Tubby On The Wire Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-09-27 | Dubs On The Wire Ch.4 Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-10-04 | Dubs On The Wire Ch.4 Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2015-02-21 | Tribute to Prince Buster - Voice of the People Ch.1 - the Ska Years Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2015-04-04 | Tribute to Prince Buster - Voice of the People Ch.2 - the Ska Years Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2015-05-30 | Tribute to Prince Buster - Voice of the People Ch.3 - the Rock Steady Years [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2015-06-06 | Tribute to Prince Buster - Voice of the People Ch.4 - the Reggae Years [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2015-08-01 | Delroy Wilson Tribute [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2015-09-21 | Ujama Digital - Ruff On the Wire - Prince Jazzbo Productions [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-03-26 | Randy’s Studio 17 On The Wire Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-07-02 | Randy’s Studio 17 On The Wire Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2018-12-29 | Tribute to Gregory Isaacs Pt.1 Treasures from the African Museum [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2019-10-05 | Seekersinternational presents Midnight Skanking - Inna Groundation Super Disco Edits Stylee! [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-05-16 | Big Youth Special On the Wire Pt.1 - Musical disc I play from the record rack… [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-05-23 | On-U Sound Rhythm Mix Special [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-06-20 | Big Youth Special Pt.2 - Natty Universal Dread [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-07-18 | Rupie Edwards On the Wire Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-08-22 | Rupie Edwards On the Wire Pt.2 - Yamaha Skank/Let There Be Version Various Artists "Reggae's first concept album..." [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-09-26 | Dillinger On the Wire #2 - Natty Sings a Hit Song [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-10-24 | The Maytals On the Wire – Tribute to Toots Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-11-20 | Bim Sherman Tribute [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-11-21 | Tribute to Toots & the Maytals Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-12-19 | Tribute to Justin Hinds & the Dominoes at Treasure Isle Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-01-23 | Justin Hinds & the Dominoes at Treasure Isle Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-02-20 | Tribute to the Abyssinians Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-02-27 | Salute to the Abyssinians Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-03-20 | Dubbing to the King in a Higher Rank: U Roy at the Control [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-03-27 | Dubbing To The King In A Higher Rank - U Roy At The Control Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-06-19 | Roots of Japanese Dub, Pt.2: Mute Beat Special, 1985-1989 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-08-28 | King Tubby - Dub Correction (Straight to NTS Head) [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-08-30 | Lee Scratch Perry visits On The Wire (archive show from December 1984) [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-12-25 | Tribute to Lee "Scratch" Perry Pt.1 - Scratch On the Wire - Retrieved, Re-mastered and Re-edited [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-01-29 | On the Wire Tribute to Lee "Scratch" Perry Pt.2 - Brother Mick Sleeper Upsetter Custom Edit Discomixes [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-02-26 | Tribute to Lee “Scratch” Perry Pt.3 - Pre Black Ark 7” [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-03-26 | On the Wire Tribute to Lee “Scratch” Perry Pt.4 - Dave Katz with the Rarities [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-04-30 | Tribute to The Mighty Diamonds Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-04-23 | Tribute to Lee “Scratch” Perry Pt.5 - LSP x On U Sound [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-05-21 | Tribute to The Mighty Diamonds Pt2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-06-18 | Tribute to Lee “Scratch” Perry Pt.6 - The Final Chapter: On the Wire 12” Selection [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2022-07-30 | Big Youth On The Wire [Audio] [Show info] |
Other Specials
A number of other themed special shows have been broadcast.
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 1985-04-28 | On-U Sound special 1985 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1986-04-27 | Bottleneck Kings & The Death Slide Blues special [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1987-07-15 | Hardcore Beats [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1990-12-30 | Avant Noise [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1991-11-03 | On-U Sound Special 1991 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1992-04-19 | Blues Special [Audio] [Show info] |
| 1999-01-10 | Now That's What OTW Calls Old School Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2010-06-26 | Jahtari vs Maffi Radio Sound Clash [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2014-09-20 | 30th Anniversary show featuring exclusive guest mixes and pieces from Shackleton, Richard Skelton (as Inward Circles), Demdike Stare, and Youth & The Orb [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-02-29 | On The Wire - 25 hr Dub Techno / Techno Dub Special Pt.1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-02-29 | On The Wire - 25 hr Dub Techno / Techno Dub Special Pt.2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-02-29 | On The Wire - 25 hr Dub Techno / Techno Dub Special Pt.3 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-02-29 | On The Wire - 25 hr Dub Techno / Techno Dub Special Pt.4 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2016-02-29 | On The Wire - 25 hr Dub Techno / Techno Dub Special Pt.5 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2017-03-25 | Echospace On The Wire [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2019-05-25 | Arthur Russell special [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2019-07-27 | Longform special #1 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2019-10-26 | Major Malfunction Reimagined: The Version Excursion [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2019-11-30 | Longform special #2 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-02-22 | Longform special #3 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-03-28 | Longform special #4 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-06-06 | Longform special #5 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2020-08-01 | Longform special #6 [Audio] [Show info] |
| 2021-08-07 | Longform special #7 [Audio] [Show info] |
