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Paul Gambaccini blends this week's 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 the title track from Calcutta! by television host Lawrence Welk and a track from Come Away with Me - the 2003 debut LP by Norah Jones and the first number one album for Blue Note Records since its foundation in 1939.

Songs will be heard from the debut hit LPs by Dion and Stevie Nicks in the regular feature The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. It's Not the Same Old Song highlights the title track of Bruce Springsteen's Number One album The River and a country number by Garth Brooks also called The River.

In A Matter of Life and Death, Paul celebrates the birth in 1983 of Michelle Branch. He also pays tribute to the recently deceased member of The Coasters, Carl Gardner. We also hear The Twist by Chubby Checker and The Very Thought of You by Ray Noble and His Orchestra, with vocalist Al Bowlly, 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 Aretha Franklin and Jill Scott, past and present country Number Ones from Donna Fargo and Jason Aldean, and rock Number Ones from 1981 and now by the Moody Blues and Foster the People. Eminem scores another number one album with Hell: The Sequel (EP), his collaboration with Royce Da 5'9" under the name Bad Meets Evil. Katy Perry adds another number one single to her total with Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F).

2 hours

Last on

Sat 2 Jul 2011 20:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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25/06/2011

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09/07/2011

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

Music Played

  • Sam Cooke

    Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come

    This day in 1964: President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, banning racial segregation in public places

  • Barry Manilow

    Barry Manilow - Trainwreck

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: 15 Minutes: Fame ...Can You Take It?

  • Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra

    Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra - Calcutta

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Calcutta! - Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra (1961)

  • Lil Wayne

    Lil Wayne - How To Love

    Top Ten

  • Santana

    Santana - THE GAME OF LOVE (featuring Michelle Branch)

    Born 1983: Michelle Branch

  • The Coasters

    The Coasters - Yakety Yak

    Carl Gardner - born 29th April 1928; died 12th June 2011

  • The Band Perry

    The Band Perry - If I Die Young

    Top Forty and certified two million sales

  • Aretha Franklin

    Aretha Franklin - Something He Can Feel

    R&B Number One this date in 1976

  • Jill Scott

    Jill Scott - SO IN LOVE (featuring Anthony Hamilton)

    Adult R&B Number One - NEW

  • Bruce Springsteen

    Bruce Springsteen - The River

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Title track of 1980 Number One album

  • Garth Brooks

    Garth Brooks - The River

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

  • Jackie Evancho

    Jackie Evancho - SOMEWHERE (featuring Barbra Streisand)

    New Entry at Number Two in the Album Chart: Dream With Me

  • Dion

    Dion - The Wanderer

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Runaround Sue - Dion (27 November 1961)

  • Owl City

    Owl City - Galaxies

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: All Things Bright And Beautiful

  • Chubby Checker

    Chubby Checker - The Twist

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: Number One in 1960 and 1962

  • Ray Noble & His Orchestra (vocalist: Al Bowlly)

    The Very Thought Of You

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: Number One in 1934

  • Ledisi

    Ledisi - Pieces Of Me

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: Pieces Of Me & Top Five Adult R&B hit

  • Norah Jones

    Norah Jones - Don't Know Why

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Come Away With Me - Norah Jones (2003) - first number one album in the history of Blue Note, founded in 1939

  • Paul McCartney

    Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed

    Re-Entry in the Album Chart & Top Ten in the Internet Album Chart: McCartney

  • Donna Fargo

    Donna Fargo - That Was Yesterday

    Country Number One this date in 1977

  • Jason Aldean

    Jason Aldean - Dirt Road Anthem

    Current Country Number One - third week

  • The Moody Blues

    The Moody Blues - The Voice

    Rock Number One this date in 1981

  • Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

    Current Rock Number One - second week

  • Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Stop Draggin' My Heart Around

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks (15 August 1981)

  • Bad Meets Evil

    Bad Meets Evil - LIGHTERS (featuring Bruno Mars)

    Number One in the Album Chart: Hell: The Sequel (EP) - NEW

  • Elvis Presley - (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

    Number One this date in 1957

  • The Hues Corporation

    Hues Corporation - Rock The Boat

    Number One this date in 1974

  • Katy Perry

    Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)

    Current Number One: NEW

Broadcast

  • Sat 2 Jul 2011 20:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2