I couldn't agree more. 1967 was brilliant. It has been for 49 years.
1990 was atrocious.

Going back to the 1967 chart. The number one was my mam's favourite pop song. She liked classical music more, especially Chopin. The vocals by the Tremeloes are awesome.

Rich, I agree with you about the 1990 chart. It was unlistenable. 1967 was a classic, I can't see what you could possibly dislike about that.

Regarding the presenter. I am getting used to Mark now. I think that the only way that Gambo can improve the show is by telling us more facts about the music. I am not sure that he has the personality to carry the show. His recent interview suggests that he doesn't really want to do it. Doesn't bode well for the future.

Some formats that may be more likely to work for Gambo than the current one:

1. The Paul Burnett format of the 70s - play chart new entries and climbers without mentioning those being missed then play the top five in full with the countdown before the number one. That would allow Gambo some flexibility to include the US number one or UK number one album.

2. A UK chart in the first hour and a US chart in the 2.00 hour, not necessarily from a later year. That would bring back memories of his show from the 70s and 80s and would make him feel more at home.

3. More frequent specials - possibly combined UK/US hits of the year shows that could cover any year including from this century. Remember when Fluff did the UK and US number ones from different years as a POTP spin-off? Something like that.

p.s. Do they ever play 'Seven Drunken Nights'?

Might have been a little harsh on 1967 on reflection David. I used to like Silence Is Golden when I was very young and my parents had the 40 Number One Hits album by K-Tel that had it on. I often played that one. Not so keen now though. I never realised it was actually a Four Seasons song. I would prefer to hear them doing it I think and having topped the chart with it. Clearly Waterloo Sunset at No2 is a classic Kinks single. I once heard Paul Weller of the Jam state that it was his all time favourite song.

After not buying singles for a couple of years, none at all in 1966 unbelievably, my mum bought two in this 1967 top five, the No3 from Mama's & Papa's, Dedicated To The One I Love, probably because she was just married a few weeks then, and also the No4 from Procol Harem, A Whiter Shade Of Pale.

So the top five was not bad, as well as The Happening from Diana Ross & The Supremes. But I could have done without hearing both Puppet On A String and Something Stupid. I have never liked that Arthur Conley single Sweet Soul Music either, or Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck. Quite enjoyed Finchley Central by New Vaudeville Band though, not heard it before.

Interesting that this 1967 top twenty did not feature a single by Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard or Elvis Presley. Most of the charts in the decade have at least one of them in it at any one time.


Regards Gambo and his interview, I agree with your thoughts there. He came across as being coerced into presenting POTP against his will. He clearly wants to still be doing America's Greatest Hits, and who can blame him. I see no reason for it to be stopped, even if he did POTP too. I do wonder if he will present the show for long, if he even gets to the first one in July. He's clearly not happy, but I'm sure he will do a professional and very good job.

It looks like it was only me who liked the 1990 chart. I thought it was quite good! Though I wish Mark hadn't skipped 2 of the top 5 - 'Dirty Cash' at number 4 is excellent.

That said, having just listened to the chart from 1967 I do agree with david1956 that it was a great chart. The number 1 ('Silence Is Golden' by The Tremeloes) is a quite wonderful record.

Didn't listen but peeked at the chart Al kindly posted and the chart also contains the gorgeous Hold On by En Vogue and further down the equally gorgeous Ghetto Heaven by the sadly underrated Family Stand.

Sorry Robbie. That 1990 chart was grim beyond belief. If ever POTP need a reason for not playing nineties charts they have just provided one.

Tony skipped it when he played the chart from 20th June 1967 last year, annoyed me at the time.

Silence is Golden by the Tremeloes is without doubt the best British cover of an American record ever. This record is pop music at its very finest.

Yes, very true!

Some of those sixties songs had quite superb harmonies, "Silence Is Golden", included. There is also quite a folky influence to a number of those songs which i begin to miss a little after the early seventies period. Jimi Hendrix "The Wind Cries Mary", i'd say lyrically was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan. I believe Bob was possibly Jimi's biggest musical hero. He also noticed how Bob hadn't got a technically great voice, which also encouraged Jimi to have a shot at singing himself. Let's not also forget Jimi's version of Bob's "All Along The Watchtower" which proved a hit.

Jimi Hendrix favourite guitarist was Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top who Jimi used to watch playing live in bands in the late 60's a few years before ZZ Top were actually formed!

Can't cope without the cheese. Won't ever listen again

Nope not just you, it's just the usual dullards shouting the loudest that only their opinion can possibly be right on any music after about 1974.

I like Dirty Cash but with these new plastic fivers coming out you can now launder them and they come out perfectly clean.

I didn't think Gambo could have made it any more clear that he really doesn't want the Pick Of The Pops job. Tony, without doubt was a perfect fit, and in recent weeks i have to admit Mark Goodier has grown on me. True, he does not seem to give out much trivia, but i have grown to really like his voice. He speaks with such perfect clarity, and makes the show, for me, a rather attractive listen. Both he and Tony have made the occasional blunder, admittedly, and i do think Mark could have done with doing a little more homework. Listening to Gambo listing the advantages of doing Pick Of The Pops, which seems an almost sarcastic response to his deep love for his American Chart Show, the one advantage he claims is he won't have to spend time picking the songs, because the charts are already compiled, and it will take him maybe just a third of the time in preparation. I am hoping though in some ways, and it depends on which angle he takes with his delivery, he is aware of the reputation he has to uphold, which cuts far deeper than the likes of Tony and Mark, in him having an encyclopedic knowledge of everything in music. He has an enormous reputation to preserve, and one slip, and that will be his credibility ruined in the eyes of some. There is a lot riding on him getting everything right, and in a way the potential spontaneity of a golden oldies show like Pick Of The Pops may prove a test for him, like he perhaps has never had before. Sometimes i think he has been chosen because the likes of us pick over every detail, and come down like a ton of bricks if we see a mistake. That may be why we have the ultimate man for knowledge. The show doesn't seem much of a perfect fit, in my opinion, but it will be interesting to see how he tackles it.

I hope that we don't get too much trivia when Paul Gambaccini takes over as I am only interested in the basic facts like where the songs were the week before and maybe where it got too. I think Alan Freeman didn't do much trivia at all.
One thing I like about Mark Goodier on the recent charts is he sometimes annouces the records as if he is doing the current chart without the trivia which we didn't have at the time of the chart so it sounds a bit like your listening to an original recording of the chart instead of a retro chart.
I liked the 1990 chart in the same way as the 1988 chart Mark did on his first week as there were songs that don't appeal to everyone so it was more of a random chart pick than what we have come to expect of POTP where charts have been picked because they contain mainly overplayed songs.
I am sure most people on this thread have already seen this programme but for any that haven't this show is back on iPlayer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...uggid=b01nwfxs

Yes, it is all down to personal taste, Frank. I rapidly lose interest in the chart sounds after around the mid eighties, and it wouldn't bother me particularly if nothing from that period and beyond, was ever played.

I think it would be a waste to have Paul Gambaccini presenting the show, if he didn't impart plenty of trivia. I am not saying he needs to labour his information necessarily, but Tony seemed to give a lot of interesting facts etc. without slowing down the pace of the show, or the amount of songs played. Pretty short and to the point i think would work fine. Sometimes, i feel it would have been good to hear Johnnie Walker give Pick Of The Pops a go. He is a rarity in many ways because he is pretty versatile in terms of the things he can do behind the microphone. You could say he's a personality DJ but he's a great interviewer, too, and can be serious at that, who is truly committed to the music. The one thing also i used to notice with him on his radio 2 drive time show was how much he used to enjoy a good giggle. Something used to tickle him and he'd be off. He seems to have the confidence to be fully relaxed behind the microphone. Few others are as good in that regard. I suppose Noel Edmonds was another who seemed pretty natural and at ease. He could mix it up with live tv, too.

I enjoyed the 1990 chart too.

I wish I could've posted earlier to say how much I enjoyed the 1990 chart.

I haven't really had the enthusiasm to post in this thread the past couple of weeks. I've been enjoying Mark doing POTP and did start to think, after it passed the 4 week period mentioned, that he might be staying on permanently and he seems to be settling into the show now. I can't say the appointment of Gambo fills me with much excitement, despite his chart knowledge. First of all it did seem strange, and hypocritical, that he'd take the job after the way he was treated. Now it seems that he was pretty much forced into doing it and I can't see him doing it for that long. Also, added to the fact, I'm not that bothered about American charts and, there's. of course., been speculation that he might be an American chart when he takes over.

Anyway, I managed to hear nearly all of the 1990 chart yesterday and it was a thoroughly enjoyable hour that certainly brought back memories of that summer - GCSEs., England (nearly) winning the World Cup. I hope to comment more on the tracks played at a later date.

Oh, belated commiserations to JBO. Having been through it twice. I know how it feels!

I don't claim this is a scientifically representative sample or anything but I was arranging my recordings of the show in order of year and there appear to be hardly any charts from the years 1960 and 1961.

On 18th June, POTPs will feature the charts from 1977 and 1981.

Yes, i have to admit i grew happy about having Mark, although whoever it is who takes over, does often take a little getting used to. It will be the same with Paul when his turn comes. Tony displayed a real sparkle, though, which i think if anyone tried to replicate his style, the chances are, they'd always end up coming off second best. Paul will be different, but only time will tell, whether in his own way, he will be as good. I do feel excited and inquisitive for what he will be offering. I would be surprised personally, if, like suggested, he incorporated the retro US charts into the show.

Co-incidentally the exact same two years played on the third week of June two years ago.

Bet Swern has exactly the same songs lined up.
Here's that playlist, get your 'POTP bingo cards' ready...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b047bqz0

Good notice Mr Taters. Duplication is getting a bit ridiculous now.

When I saw David's posting of 1977 and 1981 on the same show, because it is just 4 years apart I recalled those two years on a previous edition together. Didn't expect it to be the very same chart week though.