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Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

A selection from the week's American charts, plus classics from the last six decades.

Paul plays his selection from this week's American charts, plus classics from the last six decades.

Paul Gambaccini

Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits: 17/03/2012

Music: Rock & Indie

17/03/2012

BBC Radio 2 - Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits, 17/03/2012

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

Paul presents tracks from this week's US charts and the last six decades. This week's featured artists include The Police, Isaac Hayes, Beyonce and Adele.

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

In the feature Headline News [Number One Albums On Noteworthy Days] we hear King Of Pain by The Police from their LP Synchronicity. It was number one on 25 October 1983 - the day on which a US-led invasion of Grenada took place. We also hear My Heart Will Go On from Celine Dion's LP Let's Talk About Love. It was number one on 17th January 1998 - the day on which the Monica Lewinsky scandal was revealed.

In the regular feature, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, songs are featured from albums by Stax label artists Johnnie Taylor and Isaac Hayes. It's Not The Same Old Song highlights Something About You by the 4 Tops and a different song with the same title by Level 42.

In A Matter Of Life And Death Paul celebrates the birth on this date in 1944 of John Sebastian by playing his US Terrific Two Daydream by The Lovin' Spoonful. We also hear Bang Bang, sung by Nancy Sinatra. It is played in tribute to the guitarist on the record, the singer, songwriter and actor Billy Strange, who recently died. Yakety Yak by The Coasters and Yesterday by The Beatles are this week's featured records from the Grammy Hall Of Fame Singles list.

Our R&B Number Ones are from 1986 - What Have You Done For Me Lately by Janet Jackson, and this week - Love On Top by Beyonce. We hear Country Number Ones from 1992 and now by Alan Jackson and Carrie Underwood; while this week's past and present Rock Number Ones are by Robert Palmer and Gotye featuring Kimbra.

Adele remains at the top of the US album chart for a twenty-third non-consecutive week with 21. On the singles side, We Are Young by fun. featuring Janelle Monae is the best selling song of the week.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

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Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits

17/03/2012

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