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Decca's Top Twenty (Part 2 - Number 10 to Number 1)

Decca Records celebrates 90 years in the music business, and Rod Stewart presents a Top 20 chart of their best, diverse and influential pop hits.

Acclaimed legendary British record label Decca Records celebrates its 90th Birthday in 2019. As well as a worldwide reputation for an incredible classical catalogue - Decca has also made musical history by recording and releasing innovative, groundbreaking and highly influential popular music, which often popularised and established hitherto overlooked musical genres. Presented by one of the best-selling music artists of all time, the multi award-winning singer-songwriter, Rod Stewart (his first ever single 1964’s 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl’ and latest number one album 'Blood Red Roses' were both released by Decca).
DECCA’S TOP TWENTY, exclusive for Radio 2 listeners, explores Decca’s most important pop music releases and artists. The chart was compiled after discussion and guidance from industry taste-makers and experts (as well Decca staff past and present); from impressive sales figures, as well as impact, longevity and contemporary relevance. Featuring exclusive interviews with Decca artists including: Michael Ball & Alfie Boe, Founding member of the Lumineers – Wesley Schultz, Marianne Faithfull, Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, Kathryn Jenkins, blues singer Dana Gillespie, Bryn Terfel, Imelda May, Roger Daltrey and Lulu.
Decca Records was the dream of one man, Edward Lewis who founded the company in 1929 with a desire to produce affordable music that could be owned by everyone. He was to surround himself with the best brains in music, recording and technology. In 1934, Decca opened an American subsidiary which due to the artists it signed, helped to save the then ailing US record industry. Decca became so much more than a record label – its cultural and musical fingerprints are found all over the past 90 years.
Here’s just a fraction of the diverse artists recorded and released by Decca and its subsidiary labels: The Rolling Stones, Vera Lynn, Them, Bing Crosby, Ball and Boe, Judy Garland, Bill Haley and his Comets, Ella Fitzgerald, David Bowie, Adam and the Ants, Genesis, Jacques Loussier, Billy Fury, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, Thin Lizzy, Cat Stevens, Tom Jones, & The Smurfs….
The two-part series also features contributions from Tim Rice, Annie Nightingale, former Decca producer Mike Vernon, music writer Daryl Easlea, composer Steve Sidwell, broadcaster Dotun Adebayo and Radio 2’s Bob Harris.

Programme 2 – the countdown is from Number 10 to Number 1.

56 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 Dec 2019 21:00

Music Played

  • jonathan baker Anatole (1993)

    Medlow Bath

    • Emulsion.
    • Mercury KX.
    • 0994105 0.
  • Vera Lynn

    We'll meet again

    • FORCES' SWEETHEARTS & HEART-THROBS.
    • LIVING ERA.
    • CDAJS-286.
  • Vera Lynn

    SAILING

  • The Who

    MY GENERATION

    • THE SINGLES.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 815 965-2.
  • Marianne Faithfull

    As Tears Go By

    • DECCA ORIGINALS, VOLUME 3.
    • DECCA.
    • TAB-61.
  • The Rolling Stones

    As Tears Go By

    • SHINE A LIGHT.
    • POLYDOR.
    • N/A-01.
  • Marianne Faithfull

    As Tears Go By

    • Negative Capability.
    • BMG.
    • 538421732.
  • The Lumineers

    Ho Hey

    • The Lumineers.
    • Decca.
    • USDMG1260805.
  • Luciano Pavarotti

    NESSUN DORMA

    • CD SINGLE.
    • DECCA.
    • PAVCD-3.
  • Tom Jones

    CHILLS AND FEVER

    • THE BEST OF TOM JONES.
    • DERAM.
    • 844-823-2.
  • Tom Jones

    IT'S NOT UNUSUAL

    • TOM JONES THE ULTIMATE HITS COLLECTION.
    • DERAM.
    • 844 901-2.
  • The Moody Blues

    Nights in white satin

    • Nights in White Satin.
    • Deram.
    • DM-161.
  • Bing Crosby

    THE CHRISTMAS SONG

    • CHRISTMAS WITH BING CROSBY.
    • TELSTAR.
    • TCD-2468.
  • Bing Crosby

    White Christmas

    • HOLIDAY INN.
    • MCA.
    • MCAD-25205.
  • Procol Harum

    A Whiter Shade Of Pale

    • THE BEST OF THE ROCK 'N' ROLL YEARS 1963-1971.
    • Â鶹ԼÅÄ.
    • Â鶹ԼÅÄCD-657.
  • The Rolling Stones

    (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

    • Rolling Stones, Forty Licks.
    • Virgin/Decca.
    • 724381337-820.
  • Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra

    THE LAST TIME

    • chilled ibiza 11.
    • Decca.
    • 244567.

Decca's Top Twenty - 10-1

10ÌýDame Vera Lynn -ÌýWe’ll Meet Again

Nobody could have known that this cherished 1939 WW2 hit would be reissued on a new album that would take the then 92 year old Dame Vera Lynn to the top of the album charts in 2009.Ìý She also became the first centenarian to have a gold album with the release of Vera Lynn 100 in 2017.

Ìý

9Ìý

The Who -ÌýMy Generation

Signed to American Decca, London rock band The Who released some of their finest recordings on Decca UK’s Brunswick label – including the peerless ‘My Generation’.

Ìý

8Ìý

Marianne Faithfull -ÌýAs Tears Go ByÌý

Written especially for the 17-year-old Marianne Faithfull by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Andrew ‘Loog’ Oldham, ‘As Tears Go By’ was a hit across the world, including the USA.ÌýÌý Marianne has become one of the UK most cherished and revered performers, still having hit albums and selling out concerts.Ìý We also hear The Rolling Stones ‘As Time Goes By’.

Ìý

7Ìý

The Lumineers - Ho HeyÌý

A track that seemingly came out of nowhere, but went on to dominate the airwaves, television and internet.Ìý This single spent 60 weeks on the Billboard Chart as well as giving the band a top ten UK hit, and established the Lumineers as one of the world’s top folk/rock bands.

Ìý

6Ìý

Pavarotti - Nessun DormaÌýÌý

Of course, originally a classical recording – but one that when used as part of the television coverage of the football World Cup, became a huge smash hit in the summer of 1990.


5Ìý

Tom Jones -ÌýIt’s Not UnusualÌý

Signing to Decca in 1964, Tom’s second single (originally written for Sandie Shaw) became a huge worldwide hit for Tom – making him a multi platinum album selling international star.Ìý

Ìý

4Ìý

The Moody Blues -ÌýNights In White SatinÌýÌý

A track from the Moody Blues' 1967 concept album ‘Days of Future Passed’ which was recorded at the Decca Studios in Broadhurst Gardens – and epitomised a highly influential sound and style of recording.ÌýÌý Not a huge hit when first released – this track has been a hit around the world several times when reissued and is still hugely popular today.

Ìý

3Ìý

Bing Crosby - White ChristmasÌý

Recorded for Decca’s US label in the early 40s, this seasonal recording has gone on to sell an unbelievable 100 million copies worldwide and is still played and streamed every Christmas.Ìý Bing Crosby was one of the first record industry ‘superstars’ signing with Decca in the 1930s.

Ìý

2Ìý

Procul Harum -ÌýA Whiter Shade of PaleÌý

Issued by Decca’s ‘alternative’ label Deram, Procul Harum’s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ was a worldwide number one single – that defined 1967’s summer of love with its intoxicating combination of abstract psychedelic lyrics and a Bach influenced organ motif – on a recording that was John Lennon’s favourite of the summer (he played the single repeatedly on the record player he had installed in his Rolls-Royce).ÌýÌý It is also the most played record – ever – on British radio.


1Ìý

The Rolling Stones -Ìý(I Can’t Get No) SatisfactionÌý

Not the first release by The Rolling Stones, but arguably their best.ÌýÌý Satisfaction is another single release by Decca that just changed everything.ÌýÌý Overtly sexual lyrics, which also challenged the consumerist society, combine with a track of driving r+b rock beat – this was emphatically a record for the young - and the rock band revolution really did start here.

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 Dec 2019 21:00