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Paul presents tracks from this week's US charts, embracing singles, albums, R&B, country and rock hits, as well as those 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 Headline News [Number One Albums On Noteworthy Days] we hear Tangled Up In Blue from Bob Dylan's LP Blood On The Tracks. It was number one on 1 March 1975, the day the FCC dropped the cost of a CB radio licence from $20 to $4 - prompting a boom.

We also hear Stardust by Nat "King" Cole from the soundtrack album Sleepless In Seattle. The album was number one on 19 August 1993 - the day on which the Dow Jones index hit an all-time high of 3612.13. In the regular feature The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, tracks are played from albums by B.J. Thomas and Los Lobos.

In A Matter Of Life And Death, Paul celebrates the birthday of Gordon Lighfoot by playing his hit If You Could Read My Mind. We also hear Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison. It is played as a tribute to the song's co-writer Bill Dees, who has recently died. It's Not The Same Old Song highlights Rain by The Beatles and a different song called The Rain by Oran "Juice" Jones.

Paul continues his countdown of the Top 100 list of songwriters based on success in the American chart from 1955 - 2005. We hear songs written by Paul Simon (Number 58) and Steve Cropper (Number 57).

Our R&B Number Ones are from 1973 - The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes - and this week - Adorn by Miguel. We hear country number ones from 1965 and now by "Little" Jimmy Dickens and Taylor Swift. This week's featured past and present rock number ones are by 10,000 Maniacs and Fun.. Gangnam Style by Psy, meanwhile, is the best-selling song of the week.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Nov 2012 20:00

Music Played

  • Del Shannon

    The Swiss Maid

    This day in 1968: the β€˜Heidi’ football game - Oakland Raiders v New York Jets

  • Rod Stewart

    Merry Christmas, Baby (feat. CeeLo Green & Trombone Shorty)

    New Entry in the Top Three of the Album Chart: Merry Christmas, Baby

  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse

    Twisted Road

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: Psychedelic Pill

  • Bob Dylan

    Tangled Up In Blue

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan (1st March 1975) On this day: The FCC dropped the cost of a CB radio licence from $20 to $4 - a boom followed.

  • Maroon 5

    One More Night

    Top Five hit

  • Gordon Lightfoot

    If You Could Read My Mind

    Born 1938: Gordon Lightfoot

  • Roy Orbison

    Oh, Pretty Woman

    Bill Dees - song writer- born 24th January 1939; died 24th October 2012

  • Jason Aldean

    THE ONLY WAY I KNOW (with Luke Bryan & Eric Church)

    Number One Album in the week of 3rd November - still Top 5: Night Train

  • Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

    The Love I Lost

    R&B Number One this date in 1973

  • Miguel

    Adorn

    Adult R&B Number One: NEW

  • The Beatles

    Rain

    B-side of Number One singleβ€˜Paperback Writer’ in 1966 ('Rain' reached number 23)

  • Oran β€œJuice” Jones

    The Rain

    Number Nine in 1986

  • Toby Keith

    I Like Girls That Drink Beer

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: Hope On The Rocks

  • B.J. Thomas

    The Eyes Of A New York Woman

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) On My Way - B. J. Thomas (18th January 1969)

  • Bruno Mars

    Locked Out Of Heaven

    Number Two

  • Simon & Garfunkel

    The Boxer

    I Write The Songs - 58: Paul Simon

  • Otis Redding

    (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay

    I Write The Songs - 57: Steve Cropper

  • Calvin Harris

    SWEET NOTHING (featuring Florence Welch)

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: 18 Months

  • Nat King Cole

    Stardust

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack album (19th August 1993) On this day: the Dow Jones index hit an all-time high of 3612.13.

  • Tony Bennett

    FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (featuring Marc Anthony)

    Last week’s New Entry at Number Five - still Top Twenty album: Viva Duets

  • β€˜Little’ Jimmy Dickens

    May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose

    Country Number One this date in 1965

  • Taylor Swift

    We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

    Current Country Sales Number One: ninth week

  • 10,000 Maniacs

    These Are Days

    Rock Number One this date in 1992

  • Fun.

    Some Nights

    Current Rock Number One: seventh week (was #1 on 3rd and 10th November)

  • Los Lobos

    Will The Wolf Survive?

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) How Will The Wolf Survive - Los Lobos (15th December 1984)

  • I Almost Do

    Taylor Swift

    Number One Album: Red - second week

  • Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs

    Stay

    Number One this date in 1960

  • Owl City

    Fireflies

    Number One this date in 2009

  • PSY

    Gangnam Style

    Current Number One: fourth week

Broadcast

  • Sat 17 Nov 2012 20:00