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Paul Gambaccini blends digital tracks from this week's US charts of songs, albums, R&B, country and rock hits 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 'Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days]' we hear the title track of 'Freeze Frame' by J. Geils Band. It was number one on 1st February 1982, the day on which 'Late Night With David Letterman' was first broadcast on NBC-TV. We also hear 'Beat It' from Michael Jackson's album 'Thriller'. It was number one on 23rd February 1983. On this day: Toto won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year for 'Rosanna' and Album Of The Year for 'Toto IV'. In the regular feature 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', tracks are played from albums by AC/DC and Britney Spears.

In 'A Matter Of Life And Death' Paul celebrates the birthday of Della Reese by playing her hit 'And That Reminds Me'. As a tribute to Bobby 'Blue' Bland who has recently died, we hear his hit 'Call On Me'. 'It's Not The Same Old Song' highlights 'Bang Bang' by Cher and a different song with the same title by Joe Cuba Sextet. In the feature called 'Both Sides Now', Paul plays a single by an American artist that was a hit in the UK but not in the US and an American hit by a British artist that was not a hit in the UK.

Our R&B Number Ones are from 1960 and this week by Brook Benton and Dinah Washington, and Miguel. We hear Country number ones from 1957 and now by Jim Reeves and Florida Georgia Line. This week's featured past and present Rock number ones are by Bruce Springsteen and Imagine Dragons. 'Blurred Lines' by Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell Williams is the best-selling song of the week.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sat 6 Jul 2013 20:00

Music Played

  • Aloe Blacc

    I Need A Dollar

    This day in 1785: the dollar was chosen as the financial unit of the US

  • John Mayer

    Paper Doll

    New Entry in the Top Forty

  • Empire of the Sun

    Alive

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart:Ice On The Dune

  • The J. Geils Band

    Freeze Frame

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] Freeze Frame - J Geils Band (1st February 1982) On this date: Late Night With Letterman was first broadcast on NBC-TV.

  • Fall Out Boy

    MY SONGS KNOW WHAT YOU DID IN THE DARK (Light Em Up)

    Top Ten

  • Della Reese

    And That Reminds Me

    Born 1931: Della Reese

  • Bobby β€œBlue” Bland

    Call On Me

    Bobby β€˜Blue’ Bland - born 27th January 1930; died 23rd June 2013

  • Hunter Hayes

    In A Song

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

  • Dinah Washington & Brook Benton

    A Rockin' Good Way

    R&B Number One this date in 1960

  • Miguel

    Adorn

    Adult R&B Number One: seventeenth week

  • Cher

    BANG BANG (My Baby Shot Me Down)

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Terrific Two in 1966

  • Joe Cuba Sextet

    "bang" "bang"

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Number 63 in 1966

  • OneRepublic

    Counting Stars

    Top Twenty Album: Native

  • AC/DC

    Let There Be Rock

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Let There Be Rock - AC/DC (13th August 1977)

  • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

    SAME LOVE (featuring Mary Lambert)

    Top Twenty

  • Otis Redding

    My Girl

    Both Sides Now - Not a single in the US; released in the UK in 1965 - reached Number Eleven)

  • The Escape Club

    Wild, Wild West

    Both Sides Now - Not a hit in the UK; Number One in the US in 1988

  • Sigur RΓ³s

    Isjaki

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the American Album Chart: Kveikur

  • Michael Jackson

    Beat It

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] Thriller - Michael Jackson (23rd February 1983) On this day: Toto won Grammys for Record of the Year for β€˜Rosanna’ and Album Of The Year for Toto IV.

  • Jim Reeves

    Four Walls

    Country Number One this date in 1957

  • Florida Georgia Line

    Cruise

    Current Country Sales Number One: eighteenth week

  • Bruce Springsteen

    Dancing In The Dark

    Rock Number One this date in 1984

  • Imagine Dragons

    Radioactive

    Current Rock Number One: sixteenth week

  • Britney Spears

    ...Baby One More Time

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears (30th January 1999)

  • Kelly Rowland

    YOU CHANGED (featuring Beyonce and Michelle)

    Number Four in the Album Chart: Talk A Good Game

  • Bill Haley and His Comets

    Rock Around The Clock

    Number One this date in 1955

  • The Hues Corporation

    Rock The Boat

    Number One this date in 1974

  • Robin Thicke

    BLURRED LINES (featuring Pharrel)

    Current Number One: fourth week

Broadcast

  • Sat 6 Jul 2013 20:00