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Paul Gambaccini blends current US hits from the digital songs, albums, country, R'n'B and rock charts with LP and singles classics from the last six decades.

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 Cash at San Quentin and a track from the US version of 'Ancora' by Il Divo. Songs will also be heard from the debut hit LPs by the Temptations and Harry Connick Jr in the regular feature 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'. 'It's Not the Same Old Song' highlights the 1960 R'n'B hit 'If I Can't Have You' by Etta James and Harvey Fuqua, and the American number one with the same title from 1978 by Yvonne Elliman.

In 'A Matter of Life and Death' Paul celebrates the birth in 1940 of Joey Dee - best known for his American chart-topper with the Starliters 'Peppermint Twist'. Paul also pays tribute to the recently deceased Gil Scott-Heron. We hear 'The Tennessee Waltz' by Patti Page and 'The Third Man Theme' by Anton Karas in the weekly presentation of two songs from the Grammy Hall of Fame Singles.

There are past and present R'n'B Number Ones from James Brown and Kirk Franklin, past and present Country Number Ones from Ronnie Milsap and the new 'American Idol' Scotty McCreery and Rock Number Ones from 1989 and now by Love and Rockets and Foo Fighters. 'Born This Way' by Lady GaGa enters the album chart at number one with the biggest first week sale (1.108 million) since 2005. Adele's reign at the top of the singles chart rolls on for a fourth week.

2 hours

Last on

Sat 11 Jun 2011 20:00
麻豆约拍 Radio 2

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Previous

04/06/2011

Next

18/06/2011

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

Music Played

  • The Corsairs

    Smoky Places

    This day in 1920: Describing a gathering of Republican party leaders in Chicago, meeting to settle on a Presidential candidate, the Associated Press first used the expression 鈥渟moke-filled room鈥�

  • Reeve Carney featuring Bono & The Edge

    Rise Above 1

    New Entry from Spider-Man musical

  • Lauren Alaina

    Like My Mother Does

    New Entry in the Top Twenty from American Idol runner-up

  • Johnny Cash

    A Boy Named Sue

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Johnny Cash At San Quentin - Johnny Cash (1969)

  • Jill Scott

    SO IN LOVE (featuring Anthony Hamilton)

    Top Five in the Adult R&B Chart

  • Joey Dee & the Starliters

    Peppermint Twist

    Born 1940: Joey Dee [Joseph DiNicola]

  • Gil Scott鈥怘eron

    The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

    Gil Scott-Heron - born 1st April 1949; died 27th May 2011

  • Brad Paisley

    EASTWOOD (featuring Clint Eastwood)

    New Entry at Number Two in the Album Chart: This Is Country Music

  • James Brown

    It's A Man's Man's Man's World

    R&B Number One this date in 1966

  • Kirk Franklin

    I Smile

    Adult R&B Number One: NEW

  • Sublime with Rome

    Panic

    Top Ten in the Rock Chart

  • Etta James & Harvey Fuqua

    If I Can't Have You

    It鈥檚 Not The Same Old Song: Number Six R&B hit in 1960

  • Yvonne Elliman

    If I Can't Have You

    It鈥檚 Not The Same Old Song: Number One in 1978

  • Foster the People - Helena Beat

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: Torches

  • Harry Connick, Jr.

    It Had To Be You

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) When Harry Met Sally soundtrack album - Harry Connick Jr. (19 August 1989)

  • Patti Page

    The Tennessee Waltz

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: Number One in 1950 and 1951

  • Anton Karas

    Harry Lime Theme (The Third Man)

    Performer: Anton Karas.

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: Number One in 1950

  • Journey

    Anything Is Possible

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

  • Il Divo

    Por Ti Sere (You Raise Me Up)

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Ancora (US version)- Il Divo (2006)

  • Ronnie Milsap

    Happy, Happy Birthday Baby

    Country Number One this date in 1986

  • Scotty McCreery

    I Love You This Big

    Current Country Number One - NEW - by the winner of American Idol

  • Love and Rockets

    So Alive

    Rock Number One this date in 1989

  • Foo Fighters

    Rope

    Current Rock Number One - twelfth week

  • The Temptations Original Lead Singers

    The Way You Do The Things You Do

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Meet The Temptations - The Temptations (9 May 1964)

  • Lady Gaga

    Born This Way

    Number One in the Album Chart: NEW - Born This Way

  • Wings

    My Love

    Number One this date in 1973

  • Rihanna

    Umbrella (feat. JAY-Z)

    Number One this date in 2007

  • Adele

    Rolling In The Deep

    Current Number One: fourth week

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Jun 2011 20:00
    麻豆约拍 Radio 2