BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

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Russell Davies

Music: Easy Listening, Soundtracks & Musicals

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Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song

Russell Davies: 23/12/2012

23/12/2012

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Davies, 23/12/2012

Russell presents a thoroughly Christmassy edition of the Song Show.

Russell presents a thoroughly Christmassy edition of the Song Show, where the featured artists include Eartha Kitt, Dorothy Squires, Michael Bublé and the Puppini Sisters.

This thoroughly Christmassy edition of The Song Show opens with a reference to the one solitary last shopping day before Christmas - from The Coasters (Shoppin' For Clothes). 

Thereafter - always with a logical reason - Russell introduces a string of famous (or infamous!) seasonal songs - from Gene Autry's Rudoph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, to Eartha Kitt's This Year's Santa Baby.

The subject of British songwriter Billy Reid brings in Dorothy Squires for Snowy White Snow and Jingle Bells, Margaret Whiting for A Tree In The Meadow and Mildred Bailey. Plus a curious story about the lyric for I'll Close My Eyes. 

Add to all this some Doris Day, a dash of Michael Bublé and The Puppini Sisters, two oldies from Dickie Valentine and Billy Cotton. There's also an appearance of the rarely heard Beverly Kenney - plus the traditional recitation by Louis Armstrong of The Night Before Christmas - and Russell has delivered a truly festive show.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

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Russell Davies

23/12/2012

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