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1959

Episode 9 of 50

Jeremy Vine introduces an audio journey through five decades. 1959 was the year of Fidel Castro, General de Gaulle and 'Mac the Knife'.

Sounds of the 20th Century is an audio journey through five decades of triumph, tragedy and trivia in 50 hour-long episodes.

Each programme is dedicated to one year from 1951 to 2000 and features nothing that wasn't heard, seen or read at the time. There's no hindsight, no "I-heart-the-80s"-style reminiscences; just the music, the news, the radio, the TV and the movies as they were first experienced.

This week, Jeremy Vine introduces 1959, the year when "Mac the Knife" wins the Tories a third successive general election and National Service is abolished. General de Gaulle is the new president of France and the communist Fidel Castro takes over in Cuba. World Champion racing driver Mike Hawthorne is killed on the Guildford bypass and at Wembley Elton John's cousin Roy breaks his leg in the Cup Final.

In the music industry, 78s are discontinued and the stars on 45 are Adam Faith, Anthony Newley and (the late) Buddy Holly.

57 minutes

Last on

Tue 3 Mar 2015 23:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Buddy Holly

    It Doesn't Matter Anymore

  • Tommy Dee

    Three Stars

  • Adam Faith

    What Do You Want

  • The Coasters

    Charlie Brown

  • Edd Byrnes

    Kookie Lend Me Your Comb

  • Lonnie Donegan

    Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour?

  • Bobby Darin

    Mack the Knife

  • Eddie Cochran

    C'mon Everybody

  • Cliff Richard

    Travellin' Light

  • The Chipmunks

    The Chipmunk Song

  • Russ Conway

    Side Saddle

  • Duane Eddy

    Peter Gunn

  • Neil Sedaka

    Oh Carol

  • Ritchie Valens

    Donna

  • Johnny Horton

    Battle Of New Orleans

  • Elvis Presley - One Night

  • Marilyn Monroe

    I Wanna Be Loved By You

  • Bobby Darin

    Dream Lover

  • Cliff Richard

    Livin' Doll

  • The Ken Colyer Skiffle Group

    Down By The Riverside

  • Anthony Newley

    Idle On Parade

  • Dion & The Belmonts

    (Why Must I Be) A Teenager In Love

  • Edd Byrnes

    Kookie Lend Me Your Comb

Credit

Producer Trevor Dann

Broadcasts

  • Thu 2 Jun 2011 22:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
  • Tue 3 Mar 2015 23:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2