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Paul Gambaccini presents tracks from this week's US charts and hits from the last six decades. Featured artists include Van Morrison, The Drifters, Fred Astaire and Jill Scott.

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 Moonlight Serenade from The Glenn Miller Story, a chart-topping album for the band leader ten years after his death. We also hear a track from Cracked Rear View, the debut album by Hootie and The Blowfish which sold sixteen million copies.

Songs are featured from the debut hit LPs by Van Morrison and Don McLean in the regular feature The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. It's Not the Same Old Song highlights the 1961 US R'n'B Top Ten hit Some Kind of Wonderful by The Drifters and the song with the same title covered by Grand Funk in 1975.

In A Matter of Life and Death, Paul celebrates the birth of Stewart Copeland - drummer in The Police. He also pays tribute to the recently deceased Dolores Fuller. She was film director Ed Wood's star, muse and girlfriend. She co-wrote two Elvis movie songs Do the Clam and Rock-a-Hula Baby. We hear The Way You Look Tonight by Fred Astaire and The Wild Side of Life by Hank Thompson and His Brazos 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 Janet Jackson and Jill Scott, past and present Country Number Ones from Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean, and Rock Number Ones from 1990 and now by Bruce Hornsby and The Range, and Foster the People. Beyonce's album 4 enters the American Album Chart at Number One. On the singles side, LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and Goon Rock is Number One with Party Rock Anthem.

2 hours

Last on

Sat 16 Jul 2011 20:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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09/07/2011

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23/07/2011

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

Music Played

  • David Cook

    The Last Goodbye

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: This Loud Morning

  • Glenn Miller

    Moonlight Serenade

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Glenn Miller Plays Selections from the Film β€œThe Glenn Miller Story - Glenn Miller (1954)

  • The Police

    Roxanne

    Born 1952: Stewart Copeland

  • Elvis Presley

    Rock-A-Hula Baby

    Dolores Fuller - born 10th March 1923; died 9th May 2011

  • Simon & Garfunkel

    Mrs. Robinson

    This day in 1941:Joe DiMaggio set a major league baseball record that is considered the least likely ever to be broken: at least one base hit in 56 consecutive games

  • Gillian Welch

    The Way It Goes

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: The Harrow And The Harvest

  • Scotty McCreery

    Gone

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: American Idol Season 10 Highlights

  • Janet Jackson

    Any Time, Any Place

    R&B Number One this date in 1994

  • Jill Scott

    SO IN LOVE (featuring Anthony Hamilton)

    Adult R&B Number One: third week

  • OneRepublic

    Good Life

    Top Twenty

  • The Drifters

    Some Kind Of Wonderful

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Top Ten R&B hit (Top 40 Pop) in 1961

  • Grand Funk Railroad

    Some Kind Of Wonderful

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Number Three in 1975

  • Dolly Parton

    Together You And I

    New Entry in the Album Chart: Better Day

  • Van Morrison

    Brown Eyed Girl

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Blowin’ Your Mind! - Van Morrison (7 October 1967)

  • Selena Gomez & the Scene

    Love You Like A Love Song

    Top Forty single featured on a Top Ten album: When The Sun Goes Down

  • Jerome Kern

    The Way You Look Tonight

    Performer: Fred Astaire. Lyricist: Dorothy Fields.

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: Number One in 1936 (6 weeks)

  • Hank Thompson & His Brazos

    The Wild Side Of Life

    Grammy Hall Of Fame Single: Country Number One in 1952 (15 weeks)

  • The Black Keys

    Dearest

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: Rave On: Buddy Holly

  • Hootie & the Blowfish

    Let Her Cry

    Baby What A Big Surprise [they really were Number One albums] Cracked Rear View - Hootie & The Blowfish (1994)

  • Tim McGraw

    Live Like You Were Dying

    Country Number One this date in 2004

  • Jason Aldean

    Dirt Road Anthem

    Current Country Number One - fifth week

  • Bruce Hornsby & the Range

    Across The River

    Rock Number One this date in 1990

  • Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

    Current Rock Number One - third week

  • Don McLean

    Vincent

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) American Pie - Don McLean (13 November 1971)

  • ΅ώ±π²β΄Η²Τ³¦Γ©

    Best Thing I Never Had

    Number One in the Album Chart: 4 - NEW

  • The Four Seasons

    Rag Doll

    Number One this date in 1964

  • George McCrae

    Rock Your Baby

    Number One this date in 1974

  • LMFAO

    PARTY ROCK ANTHEM (featuring Lauren Bennett & Goon Rock)

    Current Number One: NEW

Broadcast

  • Sat 16 Jul 2011 20:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2