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1966-1976: The Love Affair

Series telling the story of pop music through fans' memories and memorabilia. Danny Baker looks at 1966 to 1976 - a time when music fans really let rip.

Writer, journalist and broadcaster Danny Baker looks at the years of his youth - 1966 to 1976 - a time when music fans really let rip.

From the psychedelia of the Beatles' Sgt Pepper to the birth of the large-scale music festival, this is when hair, sounds and ideas got wilder and looser as a whole new generation of fans got really serious about British pop music and the world around them.

There is testimony from hippies who found love and happiness at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival, from a teenager growing up in Birmingham who discovered a new sound called 'heavy metal', and from fans sent wild with excitement after David Bowie and Marc Bolan were beamed down and glam rock was born.

A shy young man tells how he found expression through progressive rock, a fan relives her weekend escapes to Wigan Casino and a new scene called northern soul, and a young man discovers a new hero as reggae becomes mainstream.

Unearthed pop treasures include a rare item of clothing worn by Marc Bolan and given to a young fan as a gift after he knocked on Marc's door. A former teacher and pupil of Peckham Manor School are reunited, more than forty years after they witnessed an unknown Bob Marley perform in their sports hall, and rare photos of the event are shown. Plus, some rare and special material from the biggest star of the 70s himself - David Bowie.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Cream

    I Feel Free (Album Version)

  • The Beatles

    Tomorrow Never Knows

  • Screen Play

    Love Is the Sweetest Thing

  • The Who

    The Magic Bus

  • Black Sabbath

    Black Sabbath

  • T. Rex

    Twentieth Century Boy

  • T. Rex

    Twentieth Century Boy

  • T. Rex

    Children of the Revolution

  • T. Rex

    Jeepster

  • David Bowie

    The Jean Genie

  • David Bowie

    The Jean Genie

  • David Bowie

    My Death

  • David Bowie

    Farewell Speech

  • David Bowie

    Space Oddity

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Concrete Jungle

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Stir It Up

  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer

    Fanfare for the Common Man

  • Pink Floyd

    Breathe (In The Air)

  • The Four Seasons

    The Night

  • Chuck Wood

    Seven Days Too Long

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Danny Baker
Series Producer Zoe Jewell
Executive Producer Steve Condie
Producer James Giles
Director James Giles
Production Company 7 Wonder Productions

Broadcasts

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