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Paul Gambaccini blends US chart hits with classics from the last six decades. Featured artists include Johnny Mathis, Alison Kraus, Queen, Smokey Robinson and Jimi Hendrix.

Paul Gambaccini presents tracks from this week's US charts and hits from the last six decades. In the feature Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] we hear a song from Johnny's Greatest Hits by Johnny Mathis - the first Greatest Hits album to reach number one.

Down To The River To Pray by Alison Krauss is played from the chart-topping O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack album. Tracks will also be heard from the debut hit LPs by Queen and Sam Cooke in the regular feature The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. It's Not The Same Old Song highlights All 4 Love by Color Me Badd and All For Love by Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart.

In A Matter Of Life And Death Paul celebrates the birth in 1944 of Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas. He also pays tribute to the recently deceased Bob Flanigan of The Four Freshmen. We hear The Star-Spangled Banner played by Jimi Hendrix and The Tears of A Clown by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles in the weekly presentation of two songs from the Grammy Hall Of Fame's Singles and Tracks.

There are past and present R&B Number Ones from Kool & The Gang and Kelly Rowland, past and present Country Number Ones from Dolly Parton and Lady Antebellum and Rock Number Ones from 1989 and now by The Doobie Brothers and Foo Fighters. Adele reigns supreme at the top of both the American album and singles charts.

2 hours

Last on

Sat 4 Jun 2011 20:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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28/05/2011

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11/06/2011

See all episodes from Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits

Music Played

  • Roy Orbison

    I Drove All Night

    This day in 1895: Henry Ford took a test drive in his first gasoline-powered automobile

  • Lady Gaga

    Hair

    New Entry at Number Five

  • Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

    Number Two in the Rock Chart

  • Johnny Mathis

    Wonderful! Wonderful!

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Johnny’s Greatest Hits - Johnny Mathis (1958) [the first Greatest Hits number one]

  • Parachute

    Kiss Me Slowly

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: The Way It Was

  • PaPas

    California Dreamin'

    Born 1944: Michelle Phillips

  • The Four Freshmen

    Graduation Day

    Bob Flanigan - born 22nd August 1926; died 15th May 2011

  • Michael Grimm

    You Don't Know Me

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: Michael Grimm (Winner of America’s Got Talent in 2010)

  • Kool & the Gang

    Hollywood Swinging

    R&B Number One this date in 1974

  • Kelly Rowland

    MOTIVATION (featuring Lil Wayne)

    R&B/Hip-Hop Number One: NEW

  • Color Me Badd

    All 4 Love

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Number One in 1992

  • Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting

    All For Love

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: reached Number One in 1994

  • Ben Harper

    Don't Give Up On Me Now

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: Give Till It’s Gone

  • Sam Cooke

    Summertime

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Sam Cooke - Sam Cooke (10 March 1958)

  • LMFAO

    PARTY ROCK ANTHEM (featuring Lauren Bennett & Goon Rock)

    Top Five

  • Jimi Hendrix

    The Star Spangled Banner

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Track from the soundtrack album of the 1969 film of the Woodstock festival

  • The Miracles

    The Tears Of A Clown

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: released in 1970 - reached Number One

  • Seether

    Country Song

    New Entry at Number Two in the Album Chart: Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray

  • Alison Krauss

    Down To The River To Pray

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] O Brother, Where Art Thou? - Various Artists (2002)

  • Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi featuring Jack White

    Two Against One

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: Rome

  • Dolly Parton

    I Will Always Love You

    Country Number One this date in 1974

  • Lady A

    Just A Kiss

    Current Country Number One - third week

  • The Doobie Brothers

    The Doctor

    Rock Number One this date in 1989

  • Foo Fighters

    Rope

    Current Rock Number One - eleventh week

  • Queen

    Keep Yourself Alive

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Queen - Queen (3 November 1973)

  • Adele

    Set Fire To The Rain

    Number One in the Album Chart: 21 - ninth week (12th longest run for a woman)

  • Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel

    Number One this date in 1956

  • Extreme

    More Than Words

    Number One this date in 1991

  • Adele

    Rolling In The Deep

    Current Number One: third week

Broadcast

  • Sat 4 Jun 2011 20:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2