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Paul Gambaccini blends digital tracks from the week's US charts of songs, albums, R&B, country and rock hits with LP and singles tracks from the last six decades.

Paul Gambaccini presents tracks from this week's US charts and hits from the last six decades.

Each week, songs are played connected to members of 'The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame'. Working alphabetically through the list, tonight Paul pays tribute to Leonard Chess by playing a song by one of the Chess label's major artists - Muddy Waters. The electric guitarist Charlie Christian is also celebrated as we feature one of his most famous performances heard on the 1944 Benny Goodman Top Twenty hit 'Solo Flight'. In 'A Matter Of Life And Death', we celebrate the birthday in 1951 of Harry Casey by playing the number one hit by his group KC and The Sunshine Band. Paul also pays tribute to Kim Fowley, who has recently died, by playing 'Cherry Bomb' by the group he managed - The Runaways. 'It's Not The Same Old Song' highlights 'Hey, Girl' by Freddie Scott and a song with the same title by The Temptations.

In the feature called 'Beyond The Sea', Paul plays tracks from the biggest selling albums by UK artists in America. Tonight, we hear songs from LPs by George Harrison and Elvis Costello. 'The Other Number Ones' highlights records that reached number one in the 'Cashbox' magazine American chart, but not in the 'Billboard' Hot 100. This week's examples are by Bob Dylan and Smokey Robinson.

Our R&B hits are from 1964 and and now by Major Lance and Avery Sunshine. We hear Country number ones from 2002 and this week by Steve Holy and the Zac Brown Band. Our featured past and present Rock number ones are by Red Hot Chili Peppers and Hozier. 'Title' by Meghan Trainor is the number album in America and the best selling song of the week is 'Uptown Funk!' by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Feb 2015 03:00

Music Played

  • Jerry Lee Lewis

    WHAT'S MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)

    This date in 1846: Juneautown and Kilbournturn amalgamated as Milwaukee after fighting a so-called Γ’ Bridge WarΓ“

  • Mark Ronson

    Daffodils (feat. Kevin Parker)

    New Entry in the Top Five of the Album Chart: Uptown Special

  • Jazmine Sullivan

    FOREVER DON'T LAST

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: Reality Show

  • Muddy Waters

    I'M YOUR HOOCHIE COOCHE MAN

    The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame: Leonard Chess (non-performer category)

  • Diana Krall

    I'M NOT IN LOVE

    Hit Single from Wallflower

  • KC and the Sunshine Band

    GET DOWN TONIGHT

    Born this day 1951: Harry Casey

  • The Runaways

    Cherry Bomb

    Kim Fowley - born 21 July 1939; died 15 January 2015

  • Reba McEntire

    GOING OUT LIKE THAT

    Country hit

  • Major Lance

    UM, UM, UM, UM, UM, UM

    R&B Number One this date in 1964

  • Avery Sunshine

    CALL MY NAME

    Adult R&B Number One - fourth week

  • Freddie Scott

    HEY, GIRL

    It's Not The Same Old Song: Pop and R&B Number Ten in 1963

  • The Temptations

    HEY GIRL (I LIKE YOUR STYLE)

    It's Not The Same Old Song: R&B Number Two in 1973

  • The Decemberists

    A BEGINNING SONG

    New Hit Single from forthcoming album What A Beautiful World, What A Terrible World

  • George Harrison

    What Is Life

    Beyond The Sea (a UK artist's best selling album in the US) All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

  • Maroon 5

    SUGAR

    Top Five

  • Bob Dylan

    LIKE A ROLLING STONE

    Number One in Cashbox in 1965 (Terrific Two for 2 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100)

  • Smokey Robinson

    CRUISIN'

    Number One in Cashbox in 1980 (Number Four in the Billboard Hot 100)

  • The Weeknd

    EARNED IT

    Top Forty - from Fifty Shades of Grey

  • Benny Goodman

    SOLO FLIGHT

    The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame: electric guitarist Charlie Christian

  • Steve Holy

    GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL

    Country Number One this date in 2002

  • Zac Brown Band

    HOMEGROWN

    Current Country Number One - NEW

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers

    SNOW (HEY OH)

    Rock Number One this date in 2007

  • Hozier

    TAKE ME TO CHURCH

    Current Rock Number One - thirteenth week

  • Elvis Costello

    ALISON

    Beyond The Sea (a UK artist's best selling album in the US) My Aim Is True - Elvis Costello

  • Meghan Trainor

    TITLE

    Number One in the current Album Chart: Title - NEW

  • Danny & the Juniors

    AT THE HOP

    Number One this date in 1958

  • The Lemon Pipers

    Green Tambourine

    Number One this date in 1968

  • Mark Ronson

    Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)

    Current Number One - fourth week

Broadcasts

  • Sat 31 Jan 2015 20:00
  • Fri 6 Feb 2015 03:00