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: 02/06/2013

02/06/2013

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Davies, 02/06/2013

Russell Davies recalls Coronation Day, Johnnie Ray and some cute etchings.

Russell Davies recalls Coronation Day and the popular music that we listened to: Frankie Laine, Johnnie Ray and a number of Queens, including a songwriting one!

The 60th anniversary of Her Majesty's coronation (2nd June 1953) prompts Russell into reviewing what was going on in the pop charts of the day: Johnnie Ray was still riding high, but it was with an oldie from 1918: 'Somebody Stole My Gal'. Meanwhile Frankie Laine was dominating things with his passionate recording of "I Believe" which remained in the Hit Parade for an unbelievable 18 weeks. And Billy Cotton was paying tribute to the occasion with his 'In a Golden Coach'. After Bill's introductory words, (that unfortunately includes, as Russell points out, an erroneous weather prediction for the day!) this is sung by Doreen Stephens. 

A song that Julie London discovered in 1953 - 'Cry Me A River' - had to wait for a further two years before she recorded it (Russell tells the story of 'Cry Me A River') and then we're on the hunt for other Queens in the music world. There's Dinah Washington - 'Queen Of The Blues' - with 'After You've Gone' and later we hear Andy Williams sing 'Aloha Oe', written by Queen Lili'uokalani. There's also Sinatra's 'Elizabeth', a song from his 'Watertown' album, while a candidate for 'the unluckiest Queen on record' is Margaret Johnson, known as 'Queenie' until she depped for Count Basie, after which she was 'Countess'. She was pianist on Billie Holiday's 'I've Got A Date With A Dream' and Russell tells her sad story, before introducing our earliest recording by a long way: 1914 is the date that Irving Berlin recorded 'Follow The Crowd', a song he wrote for the show 'Queen Of The Movies'. And all this is topped up with a brand new release by 23-year-old singer Cecile McLorin Salvant, re-visiting a Bessie Smith hit 'St Louis Gal' and a wild re-release by the Alex Welsh band in top 'oo-yah' form on 'You're Driving Me Crazy'.

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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02/06/2013

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