The Story of the 12" Single

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Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies

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Gary Davies has the best 1980s music - hits, classics, album tracks, 12" singles and more.

Gary Davies takes you back to the best decade in music, with a diverse mix of classic pop, dance, rock, hip-hop and alternative pop

Gary Davies takes you back to the best decade in music, with a diverse mix of classic pop, dance, rock, hip-hop and alternative pop. Each week, celebs and listeners choose their favourite 80s tracks on My 80s, and a fresh Mastermix is served.

Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies: The Story of the 12” Single with Jo Whiley

Jo Whiley

The Story of the 12” Single with Jo Whiley

BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies, The Story of the 12” Single with Jo Whiley

Jo Whiley marks 40 years since the original release of New Order's Blue Monday.

Jo Whiley takes the 40th anniversary of Blue Monday by New Order - the biggest selling 12" single of all time, as a starting point to trace the history of the format.

Presented by Jo Whiley, March 2023 marks 40 years since the original release of New Order's seminal single Blue Monday.

From a low-key start, it went on to be revered, and made its way into the history books as it became the biggest selling 12" single of all time.

Taking this record and its anniversary as a starting point, Jo weaves through the history of the 12" single format, with insights from her BBC Radio colleagues Steve Lamacq, Nemone and DJ Spoony, and archive material from people involved in the making of Blue Monday, including the members of New Order.

The 12" single is a format that immediately conjures up images of DJs on turntables. But from its accidental beginnings in disco, it has a story that crosses genres and decades, and reflects the changes in the way we've bought and consumed music since the era of vinyl being the dominant seller.

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