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Pick Of The Pops - Radio 2
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Apprentice 2 SA
15-05-2015
Originally Posted by Ian 57:
“I would love them to use the BBC Charts, it would add so much more authenticity to the older decades. I wonder what the "official" reason is that POTP ( or Unique) no longer chooses to use them?”

My guess is license related. Either in order to use the post 69 OCC adopted charts, they have to use their pre 69 ones. Or. Someone's decided that the BBC don't currently have the rights to use their own chart that was compiled at the time - did the BBC pay to access the charts they were compiled from?
Rich Tea.
16-05-2015
When I used to listen to the brand new chart coming out on Tuesday lunchtime in the middle 80's with Gary Davies when I was in my early teens the one thing I always remember him saying before he read out the full chart and played the No1 song was - "Here is the chart as compiled by Gallup for the week beginning....". On some of the earlier actual Top 40 Sunday countdowns I've downloaded from the 1970's and early 80's pre-Gallup in January 1983 at the start it is mentioned that the chart is compiled by the BMRB (British Market Research Bureau). Yet whenever we hear a chart on POTP there is no reference given to the source of compilation which would be quite a nice touch and an added bit of information about the chart from when it was published. People think of them as BBC charts but they never were and are not really anything of the sort are they?
Rich Tea.
16-05-2015
I thought the 1959 chart was a bit hit and miss but the 1967 chart is excellent. Really like that Monkees track A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You which doesn't get many plays nowadays. It was belting out across my local HMV about a year ago one afternoon when I visited and made me stop and listen. May have to add it to my one and only Monkees track Last Train To Clarksville.

Isn't it strange to listen to the turgid ballads Tom Jones sung as a twentysomething back in 1967 compared to the far more hip tracks he now sings as a much older man in recent years. He sounds younger as he's got older.
Ian 57
16-05-2015
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“When I used to listen to the brand new chart coming out on Tuesday lunchtime in the middle 80's with Gary Davies when I was in my early teens the one thing I always remember him saying before he read out the full chart and played the No1 song was - "Here is the chart as compiled by Gallup for the week beginning....". On some of the earlier actual Top 40 Sunday countdowns I've downloaded from the 1970's and early 80's pre-Gallup in January 1983 at the start it is mentioned that the chart is compiled by the BMRB (British Market Research Bureau). Yet whenever we hear a chart on POTP there is no reference given to the source of compilation which would be quite a nice touch and an added bit of information about the chart from when it was published. People think of them as BBC charts but they never were and are not really anything of the sort are they?”



I grew up watching TOTP through the 60s, and remember Feb 1966 with 19th Nervous Breakdown at the Number 1 spot, and to me, to see the charts on the tv screen made it special. But now when listening to POTP, 19th Nervous Breakdown we are told didn't reach that prized position. There are many others too. Kinda spoils the memories of the time, to now be told you must pretend this new set of charts is correct, and blot out what you grew up with!
Boz_Lowdownl
16-05-2015
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“I thought the 1959 chart was a bit hit and miss but the 1967 chart is excellent. Really like that Monkees track A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You which doesn't get many plays nowadays. It was belting out across my local HMV about a year ago one afternoon when I visited and made me stop and listen. May have to add it to my one and only Monkees track Last Train To Clarksville.

Isn't it strange to listen to the turgid ballads Tom Jones sung as a twentysomething back in 1967 compared to the far more hip tracks he now sings as a much older man in recent years. He sounds younger as he's got older.”

I have yet to hear Tom Jones sing a turgid ballad.
Boz_Lowdownl
16-05-2015
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“When I used to listen to the brand new chart coming out on Tuesday lunchtime in the middle 80's with Gary Davies when I was in my early teens the one thing I always remember him saying before he read out the full chart and played the No1 song was - "Here is the chart as compiled by Gallup for the week beginning....". On some of the earlier actual Top 40 Sunday countdowns I've downloaded from the 1970's and early 80's pre-Gallup in January 1983 at the start it is mentioned that the chart is compiled by the BMRB (British Market Research Bureau). Yet whenever we hear a chart on POTP there is no reference given to the source of compilation which would be quite a nice touch and an added bit of information about the chart from when it was published. People think of them as BBC charts but they never were and are not really anything of the sort are they?”

I am sure they WERE the BBC charts, as wasn't the BBC a partner in their commissioning!
Robbie01
16-05-2015
Originally Posted by Boz_Lowdownl:
“I am sure they WERE the BBC charts, as wasn't the BBC a partner in their commissioning!”

They were. In 1969 the charts were financed and owned by the BBC and Record Retailer magazine (now Music Week) along with funding from the BPI from 1973, the year the music trade organisation was formed. The BBC remained a partner in the ownership of the charts until 1990.
Rich Tea.
17-05-2015
Happy to stand corrected on the issue of the BBC and the chart. Not something I had ever given much thought to until I began thinking about it while reading about the differences with old BBC charts and others published in the earlier posts here.
Ian 57
17-05-2015
While we are discussing the different charts from the early years, we see that Tony is using the NME chart from 1959, which now shows on the OCC listings. He acknowledged the two tied positions at number 19, but not the two tied positions at number 3, Russ Conway and Marty Wilde. Perhaps there couldn't be four tracks in the "Terrific Three" ! It was a nice touch to hear both sides of the Elvis single, so in reality there could have been five songs played in the Top 3.
highlander1969
17-05-2015
Originally Posted by Ian 57:
“While we are discussing the different charts from the early years, we see that Tony is using the NME chart from 1959, which now shows on the OCC listings. He acknowledged the two tied positions at number 19, but not the two tied positions at number 3, Russ Conway and Marty Wilde. Perhaps there couldn't be four tracks in the "Terrific Three" ! It was a nice touch to hear both sides of the Elvis single, so in reality there could have been five songs played in the Top 3.”

I always enjoy hearing the 50's charts and, as you said. nice that he played both the Elvis tracks at No.1, They are 2 of my fave Elvis songs.
Jim_AFCB
17-05-2015
IIRC, the Music Week charts used by the BBC was compiled by the British Market Research Bureau until the end of 1982, and Gallup took over at the start of 1983.
Rich Tea.
17-05-2015
Originally Posted by highlander1969:
“I always enjoy hearing the 50's charts and, as you said. nice that he played both the Elvis tracks at No.1, They are 2 of my fave Elvis songs.”

The only reason he played both of them in my opinion is because the singles in 1959 were so damned short and he had plenty of time! There was one track that he played that was just 1 minute 40 seconds and even Tony agreed that it was poor value for money. It raises a good question about why singles were so much shorter back in those days yet over the next decade or so they effectively doubled in length to an average of close to 4 minutes.
Multimedia81
17-05-2015
Originally Posted by FM Lover:
“Must admit to being a huge Bucks Fizz fan.
Personal favourite was 1983's 'When We Were Young' and closely followed by 1984's 'Talking In Your Sleep' which was a cover of The Romantics song.

I thought that after the initial success of 'Making Your Mind Up' and the mediocre success of the two follow ups that they may slowly disappear and then 'The Land Of Make Believe' really cemented their 80's chart success.

Just a shame that they fell out and now, although three of the original members still appear together they are unable to use the name.”

When We Were Young is also my favourite Buck's Fizz song, followed by One of Those Nights. Talking In Your Sleep is another rarely-played classic of theirs.

Originally Posted by spursboy68:
“No disrespect to you, but it really annoys me when people feel the need to reproduce the relevant chart. Sort of spoils the enjoyment.”

I also prefer such charts not listed here just before POTP, so that we can keep a sense of surprise as to what Tony will be playing.
highlander1969
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“The only reason he played both of them in my opinion is because the singles in 1959 were so damned short and he had plenty of time! There was one track that he played that was just 1 minute 40 seconds and even Tony agreed that it was poor value for money. It raises a good question about why singles were so much shorter back in those days yet over the next decade or so they effectively doubled in length to an average of close to 4 minutes.”

That's the reason I like the 50's charts, in that we get the whole chart. No need for skips.
I think song duration was just shorter in that era as the norm. As 'pop' music blossomed in the 60's, perhaps artists became a bit braver and, as you say Rich, the duration grew.
Radio stations must have fainted when 'Hey Jude' came out but, of course, that was The Beatles!
Out of interest, I think the longest No.1 single (duration) is Oasis 'All Around the World'. It's just under 10 minutes long!
Rich Tea.
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by highlander1969:
“That's the reason I like the 50's charts, in that we get the whole chart. No need for skips.
I think song duration was just shorter in that era as the norm. As 'pop' music blossomed in the 60's, perhaps artists became a bit braver and, as you say Rich, the duration grew.
Radio stations must have fainted when 'Hey Jude' came out but, of course, that was The Beatles!
Out of interest, I think the longest No.1 single (duration) is Oasis 'All Around the World'. It's just under 10 minutes long! ”

I didn't know that fact Ian. But in terms of No1 duration of stay at the top Oasis have a rather poor track record in that with every single one of their 8 No1's debuting at the No1 spot but failing to hold it the next week. Eight single week chart toppers is abysmal. Infact U2 are almost as bad with 6 No1 hits none managing more than a single week top. My interpretation of that kind of pattern is that as big and successful as those groups might have been, their appeal was effectively "soft" and shallow based. Compared to say the Beatles with 17 No1's and every single one of them held for at least 2 weeks, and Abba's 9 chart toppers all held for at least 2 weeks as well, and in both cases often many more than that.

Just had a look to see the U2 hit list and they have not had a top ten single for over 8 years now! I never even noticed it had been so long.


Back to 1959 and my mum bought both of Russ Conway's No1 singles that year, Side Saddle and Roulette. To me he sounds just like a smoky pub piano player. She also bought Donna by Marty Wilde, Mean Streak by Cliff, and the double A sided No1 by Elvis. All still in good condition and playable in her record cabinet, along with quite a few other 1959 hits later in the year including another 6 No1's from 1959 - Dream Lover, Bobby Darin, Living Doll and Travellin' Light by Cliff, What Do You Want by Adam Faith, Here Comes Summer by Jerry Keller and Only Sixteen by Craig Douglas. She also bought Marty Wilde's follow up to Donna, called A Teenager In Love which nicely made No2 the very week she became a teenager!
david1956
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by highlander1969:
“That's the reason I like the 50's charts, in that we get the whole chart. No need for skips.
I think song duration was just shorter in that era as the norm. As 'pop' music blossomed in the 60's, perhaps artists became a bit braver and, as you say Rich, the duration grew.
Radio stations must have fainted when 'Hey Jude' came out but, of course, that was The Beatles!
Out of interest, I think the longest No.1 single (duration) is Oasis 'All Around the World'. It's just under 10 minutes long! ”

Back in 1968 there was a radio edited version of Hey Jude.
highlander1969
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“I didn't know that fact Ian. But in terms of No1 duration of stay at the top Oasis have a rather poor track record in that with every single one of their 8 No1's debuting at the No1 spot but failing to hold it the next week. Eight single week chart toppers is abysmal. Infact U2 are almost as bad with 6 No1 hits none managing more than a single week top. My interpretation of that kind of pattern is that as big and successful as those groups might have been, their appeal was effectively "soft" and shallow based. Compared to say the Beatles with 17 No1's and every single one of them held for at least 2 weeks, and Abba's 9 chart toppers all held for at least 2 weeks as well, and in both cases often many more than that.

Just had a look to see the U2 hit list and they have not had a top ten single for over 8 years now! I never even noticed it had been so long.


Back to 1959 and my mum bought both of Russ Conway's No1 singles that year, Side Saddle and Roulette. To me he sounds just like a smoky pub piano player. She also bought Donna by Marty Wilde, Mean Streak by Cliff, and the double A sided No1 by Elvis. All still in good condition and playable in her record cabinet, along with quite a few other 1959 hits later in the year including another 6 No1's from 1959 - Dream Lover, Bobby Darin, Living Doll and Travellin' Light by Cliff, What Do You Want by Adam Faith, Here Comes Summer by Jerry Keller and Only Sixteen by Craig Douglas. She also bought Marty Wilde's follow up to Donna, called A Teenager In Love which nicely made No2 the very week she became a teenager! ”

Yes Rich, 8 No.1's for Oasis and all 1 weekers. It was in those days of such a high turnover of No.1's. Not the best of times. But I loved Oasis music so was kinda happy.

Oasis came sooooo close to having a 2 week No.1 with 'Some Might Say' (their first No.1....20 years ago!!!!).
It entered at No.1 but at that time only 3 formats of a release could count towards the chart. They put it out on CD, cassette and 7 inch single.
The next week they released a 12 inch version which wasn't allowed to be counted towards the main sales. It charted at No.71. So effectively, 'Some Might Say' was No.2 and No.71 in the same week. Ironically, it missed holding at No.1 by only around 500 copies. Had the 12 inch sales been merged then 'Some Might Say' would almost certainly have held for a 2nd week denying Livin' Joy's 'Dreamer' a No.1.

Statistically it was similar to The Eagles in America. 5 No.1 singles all 1 weekers. Of course I'm not comparing US 70's charts to UK's 90's charts!
They're worlds apart!

Your mum bought some great singles in '59. Have to confess I always smile when I hear Russ Conway. He was great. His tracks always cheer you up. I can't help thinking of Mrs. Mills though!!
I have many Elvis singles from the late 50's early 60's that my dad bought. Not in brilliant condition but not too bad.
A wee treasure in amongst those singles was Jimmy Jones 'Good Timin', a No.1 from 1960. I love that song. It's a nice fun track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRG0Y5N8lg
highlander1969
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by david1956:
“Back in 1968 there was a radio edited version of Hey Jude.”

I can believe it!
Rich Tea.
18-05-2015
You may like to know that the singer Jimmy Jones only passed away back in the summer of 2012 in Aberdeen..........North Carolina. The song may have been called Good Timin' but it was "bad timin'" for me at just a touch over 2 minutes. I was convinced my mum had that one but I just checked the inventory of all her vinyl records that I made a couple of years ago and have on file on the computer and it wasn't there. There are a lot of Elvis singles on the list but sometimes they were my mum and sometimes my late dad who bought them at the time. I have often had to ask her which one of them bought which single and she always remembers.

Talking 1967 now from the weekend, and POTP played Mama's & Papa's Dedicated To The One I Love which is another single my mum bought at the time literally a few weeks after my parents got married so it was a very apt track to get. However by '67 marriage and record buying did not seem compatible as there are only a handful of singles from that year even though they were only 20.

They say vinyl sales are making a bit of a modest comeback and it is now showing in the shops because in the media section of my local huge John Lewis store I was somewhat surprised the other day when amongst all the digital tech, sitting all by itself alone in the display was a totally standard record player with wooden effect! Now it is years since I have seen that. The market must be opening up for them all over again in a small way.
Apprentice 2 SA
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by Ian 57:
“[/b]

I grew up watching TOTP through the 60s, and remember Feb 1966 with 19th Nervous Breakdown at the Number 1 spot, and to me, to see the charts on the tv screen made it special. But now when listening to POTP, 19th Nervous Breakdown we are told didn't reach that prized position. There are many others too. Kinda spoils the memories of the time, to now be told you must pretend this new set of charts is correct, and blot out what you grew up with!”

I agree with you, Ian. For most people, what was announced on radio on POTP, and on telly on TOTP, would have been THE chart. It was also very authoritative as it was a 'poll of polls' of all the charts at the time.

Originally Posted by highlander1969:
“That's the reason I like the 50's charts, in that we get the whole chart. No need for skips.”

I also find many retro charts are much more enjoyable when playing shorter records because they don't skip records.
Ian 57
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by highlander1969:
“Yes Rich, 8 No.1's for Oasis and all 1 weekers. It was in those days of such a high turnover of No.1's. Not the best of times. But I loved Oasis music so was kinda happy.

Oasis came sooooo close to having a 2 week No.1 with 'Some Might Say' (their first No.1....20 years ago!!!!).
It entered at No.1 but at that time only 3 formats of a release could count towards the chart. They put it out on CD, cassette and 7 inch single.
The next week they released a 12 inch version which wasn't allowed to be counted towards the main sales. It charted at No.71. So effectively, 'Some Might Say' was No.2 and No.71 in the same week. Ironically, it missed holding at No.1 by only around 500 copies. Had the 12 inch sales been merged then 'Some Might Say' would almost certainly have held for a 2nd week denying Livin' Joy's 'Dreamer' a No.1.

Statistically it was similar to The Eagles in America. 5 No.1 singles all 1 weekers. Of course I'm not comparing US 70's charts to UK's 90's charts!
They're worlds apart!

Your mum bought some great singles in '59. Have to confess I always smile when I hear Russ Conway. He was great. His tracks always cheer you up. I can't help thinking of Mrs. Mills though!!
I have many Elvis singles from the late 50's early 60's that my dad bought. Not in brilliant condition but not too bad.
A wee treasure in amongst those singles was Jimmy Jones 'Good Timin', a No.1 from 1960. I love that song. It's a nice fun track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRG0Y5N8lg”

When I hear Roulette, I think the tune is saying, "Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat". Now whenever I hear Roulette I can't get them stupid lyrics out of my head. Give it another listen, it might ruin it forever for you too!
highlander1969
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by Ian 57:
“When I hear Roulette, I think the tune is saying, "Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat". Now whenever I hear Roulette I can't get them stupid lyrics out of my head. Give it another listen, it might ruin it forever for you too! ”

Oh no, you're right!! Aaarrrgghh!
Apprentice 2 SA
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by Ian 57:
“When I hear Roulette, I think the tune is saying, "Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat". Now whenever I hear Roulette I can't get them stupid lyrics out of my head. Give it another listen, it might ruin it forever for you too! ”

I hope whoever wrote Roulette sued whoever wrote Postman Pat, Postman Pat!
Bandspread199
18-05-2015
Originally Posted by Rich Tea.:
“The only reason he played both of them in my opinion is because the singles in 1959 were so damned short and he had plenty of time! There was one track that he played that was just 1 minute 40 seconds and even Tony agreed that it was poor value for money. It raises a good question about why singles were so much shorter back in those days yet over the next decade or so they effectively doubled in length to an average of close to 4 minutes.”

One of the main reasons was the BBC! They wanted short records. Radio Caroline broke the mould by playing the Animals "House of the Rising Sun" which lasted 4 minutes 10 seconds!. The BBC would never have allowed a song that long in those days!
david1956
19-05-2015
On this date Tony will play the charts from 1966 and 1978.
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