Program for Friday 31st. - Back to the Fifties.

A selection of goodies from the Nineteen-Fifties is on the menu today and will include the following hits:-

• A Woman In Love - Frankie Laine (1956)
• Born Too Late - the Shannons (1958)
• Bye Bye Baby - Col Joye (1959) AUSTRALIAN
• Cannonball - Duane Eddy (1958)
• Chantilly Lace - the Big Bopper (1958)
• Ginger Bread - Frankie Avalon (1958)
• Gonna Get Along Without You Now - the Keynotes (1957) - Live, from Take It From Here.
• Happy Go Lucky Me - Paul Evans (1960)
• I See The Moon - the Stargazers (1954)
• It's All In The Game - Tommy Edwards (1954)
• Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle (1956)
• Lonely Guitar - Annette Funicello (1959) Two versions of the same song.
• Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson (1958)
• Moritat - the Dick Hyman Trio (1956)
• Mountain Greenery - Max Geldray (1956) Live, from The Goon Show 11-Oct-1956.
• My Blue Heaven - Fats Domino (1956)
• My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own - Connie Francis (1960)
• Rag Mop - Lionel Hampton (1950)
• Seven Lonely Days - Georgia Gibbs (1953)
• So Tough - Johnny O'Keefe (1958) AUSTRALIAN
• Splish Splash - Bobby Darin (1958)
• Stardust - Ray Conniff (1956)
• The Big Hurt - Miss Toni Fisher (1959)
• The Twist - Chubby Checker (1960 & 1962)
• There's Only One Of You - the Four Lads (1958)
• Walkin' My Baby Back Home - Johnny Ray (1952)
• Whole Lotta Loving - Fats Domino (1958)
• Wishing For Your Love - the Voxpoppers (1958)
• You Belong To Me - Jo Stafford (1953)
• You Need Hands - Eydie Gorme (1958)
• You Are The Limit - the Delltones (1961) AUSTRALIAN

As mentioned in the last entry (for Monday 27th. May) I will be presenting the first episode in the BBC radio series, "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" in the half-hour immediately following the 3:00 PM news & weather.

Grab your towels, don your PJs and dressing-gown and prepare yourself for some whacky trans-universal comedy from the pen of Douglas Adams.

Monday 27th. May - Back 50 Years to 1963

For today's show I am going back fifty years - to 1963 and a look at and listen to what was receiving airplay during the twelve months of that year.

The playlist will feature the following songs (listed alphabetically, not necessarily in playing order):-

• As Usual - Brenda Lee
• Be My Baby - the Ronettes
• Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison
• Bombora - the Atlantics (Australian)
• Come A Little Bit Closer - the Delltones (Australian)
• Danke Shoen -Wayne Newton
• Eighteen Yellow Roses - Bobby Darin
• Fifty-five Days At Peking - Rob E G (Australian)
• Hangin' Five - the Delltones (Australian)
• Hello Muddah Hello Fuddah - Allen Sherman
• Hey Little Cobra - the Rip Chords
• Hey Little Girl - Major Lance
• James Hold The Ladder Steady - Sue Thompson
• Maria Elena - Los Indios Tabajares
• Move Baby Move - Johnny O'Keefe (Australian)
• Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
• So Much In Love - the Tymes
• Spanish Lace - Gene McDaniels
• Sugar Shack - Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs
• Surfside - Digger Revell & the Denvermen (Australian)
• Talk Back Trembling Lips - Johnny Tillotson
• Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer - Nat King Cole
• Walk Right In - the Rooftop Singers
• Washington Square - the Village Stompers
• What Will Mary Say - Johnny Mathis
• You Don't Own Me - Leslie Gore
• You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful & You're Mine - Johnny Burnette

Today I will be presenting my final Hancock's Half-hour as the comedy feature which follows the 10:00 AM news & weather.

Today's show comes from the 29th. April 1958, features the full team of Kenneth Williams, Tony Hancock, Bill Kerr, Sid James and Hattie Jacques (left-to-right, above) and is entitled "The Grappling Game", in which Sid James is a wrestling promoter and Tony, Bill and Hattie attend the opening night. Kenneth Williams plays a multitude of roles, as usual!

So this will bring the Hancock's Half-hour radio presentations to a close for the time being.
Having played two per week since October 2012 I have exhausted the supply!

Therefore, starting next Friday, the 31st. May, I will present the first half-hour episode in the complete "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" radio series, as produced by the BBC in the 1990s.
Subsequent episodes will be featured in the regular Monday and Friday programs until exhausted (there are 24 episodes).

If you are a fan of the Douglas Adams books you will love this show, in which Peter Jones plays "the book".

For Friday 24th. May, back to 1964!

What a year this was - the first full year since the commenement of the "Top Forty" during which the Australian airwaves and the record stores featured more British artists than American.
The British Invasion had finally arrived and the predominantly American influence diminished almost overnight.

Today I am featuring a cross-section of artists and their songs from 1964 and the playlist will be made up of the following (listed in alphabetical order by song name):-

• A Fool Never Learns - Andy Williams
• Ain't That Good News - Sam Cooke
• All My Loving - the Beatles
• Always Something There To Remind Me - Sandie Shaw
• Baby I Love You - the Ronettes
• Bits & Pieces - the Dave Clark Five
• James Bond theme - John Barry
• Bread & Butter - the Newbeats
• Dawn (Go Away) - the Four Seasons
• Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
• Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin
• Have I The Right - the Honeycombs
• Hawaii Tattoo - the Waikikis
• How Do You Do It - Gerry & the Pacemakers
• I Want To Love Him So Bad - the Jellybeans
• I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits
• In The Misty Moonlight - Jerry Wallace
• Juliet - the Four Pennies
• Just Like Romeo & Juliet - the Reflections
• Little Old Lady From Pasadena - Jan & Dean
• Memphis (Tennessee) - Johnny Rivers
• No Particular Place To Go - Chuck Berry
• Nobody I Know - Peter & Gordon
• Reet Petite - Dinah Lee
• Ringo - Lorne Green
• She Wears My Ring - Johnny O'Keefe
• She's A Mod - Ray Columbus & the Invaders
• Such A Night - Elvis Presley
• Talkin' About My Baby - the Impressions
• Tell Me Why - Bobby Vinton
• That's The Way Boys Are - Lesley Gore
• Time Is On My Side - the Rolling Stones
• White Rabbit - Peter Posa
• Willow Weep For Me - Chad & Jeremy

The Comedy Spot which follows the 3:00 PM news & weather update is another in the classic Hancock's Half-hour radio series.
Today's show comes from the 13th. January 1957 and is entitled "Almost A Gentleman".
It features the "full" cast - Tony Hancock, Sid James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques.

Program for Monday 20th. May 2013

The major world-wide headline of 1961 was that relating to the launch, orbit and successful recovery of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin - and the so-called "space race" between the USSR and the USA entered a new phase.

Meanwhile, down here on earth we were listening to a plethora of musical hits from the USA; there was no competition when it came to the source of the vast majority of the records that were bought and received air-play here in Australia. America provided more than 90% of our popular music.

On the 20th. of May 1961 our transistor radios were blasting out the following hits (I have listed them in alphabetical order), and it is these that I will blasting forth during my program tomorrow morning:-

• A Hundred Pounds Of Clay - Gene McDaniels
• African Waltz - Johnny Dankworth
• Barbara Ann - the Regents
• Blue Moon - the Marcels
• Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart - Connie Francis
• I Don't Know Why I Love You (But I Do) - Clarence "Frogman" Henry
• Daddy's Home - Shep & the Limelites
• Funny - Maxine Brown
• Good Goodbye So So Long - the Bob Knight Four
• Heart And Soul - the Cleftones
• I Feel So Bad - Elvis Presley
• I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott
• Little Devil - Neil Sedaka
• Mama Said - the Shirelles
• Moody River - Pat Boone
• Mother-In-Law - Ernie K Doe
• On The Rebound - Floyd Cramer
• Portrait Of My Love - Steve Lawrence
• Quarter To Three - Gary "US" Bonds
• Raindrops - Dee Clark
• Rama Lama Ding Dong - the Edsels
• Runaway - Del Shannon
• Running Scared - Roy Orbison
• Some Kind Of Wonderful - the Drifters
• Stand By Me - Ben E King
• Take Good Care Of Her - Adam Wade
• That Old Black Magic - Bobby Rydell
• The Charanga - Merv Griffin
• Those Oldies But Goodies - Little Caesar & the Romans
• Tonight I Fell In Love - the Tokens
• Tossin' And Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
• Tragedy - the Fleetwoods
• Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson
• Trust In Me - Etta James
• You Can Depend On Me - Brenda Lee
• You Always Hurt The One You Love - Clarence "Frogman" Henry

The Comedy Spot which follows the 10:00 AM news & weather will be another in the classic Hancock's Half-hour series, today's from 30th. December 1956 and entitled "The Diary".

Ladies Day.....Friday 17th. May 2013

The focus for today's program is on the female artists of the 1950s and 1960s.
So the following songs and artists will be included in the playlist:-

• Are You Looking For A Sweetheart - Kitty Kallen (1950s)
• Billy - Kathy Linden (1958)
• Blonde-Headed Stompie-Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy - Little Patty (1963)
• Born Too Late - the Poni-Tails (1958)
• Bumble Bee - Laverne Baker (1960)
• Ciao Baby - Lynn RAndell (1960s)
• Comes-A-Long-A-Love - Kay Starr (1950s)
• Don'cha Go 'Way Mad - Lucy AnnPolk (1950s)
• Everybody Loves A Lover - Doris Day (1958)
• Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Connie Francis (1960)
• Half As Much - Rosemary Clooney (1952)
• Hallelujah, I Love Him So - Dinah Lee (1965)
• He's Mine - Millie Small (1960)
• He's Not A Rebel - Vicki Carr (1962)
• Hi-Lilli Hi-Lo - Dinah Shore (1953)
• How High The Moon - Lola Albright (1958)
• How Much Is That Doggy In The Window - Lita Roza (1950s)
• I Love How You Love Me - the Paris Sisters (1961)
• I'll Never Fall In Love Agaian - Dionne Warwick (1969)
• I'm The Girl From Wolverton Mountain - Dorothy Baker (1962)
• I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott (1961)
• Jeepers Creepers - Hayley Mills (1962)
• Johnny Angel - Shelley Fabares (1962)
• Knock Knock, Who's There - Liv Maessen (1970)
• Left Right Out Of Your Heart - Patti Page (1958)
• Lollipop - the Chordettes (1958)
• Love Me To Pieces - Jill Corey (1957)
• Mr. Lee - the Bobettes (1957)
• Music Music Music - Teresa Brewer (1950)
• Picnic - Shalley Fabares (1962)
• Pineapple Princess - Annette Funicello (1960)
• Puppet On A String - Sandie Shaw (1967)
• Sugar In The Morning - the McGuire Sisters (1958)

In addition to the above, following the 3:00 PM news & weather will be another classic Hancock's Half-hour, this one from the 14th. October 1956 and entitled "Back From Holiday", featuring Tony Hancock, Sid James, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams.

Here we go for Monday 13th. May!

Today I am featuring a selection of  Top Forty hits from 1963 and 1964....and a couple of 1965 songs as well.

Here is the playlist (in alphabetical order):-

• Abilene - George Hamilton IV (1963)
• Baby I Need Your Loving - the Four Tops (1964)
• Be True To Your School - Bobby Rydell (1963)
• Blame It On The Bossa Nova - Eydie Gorme (1963)
• Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton (1963)
• Cotton Candy - Al Hirt (1963)
• Deep Purple - Nino Temple & April Stevens (1963)
• Devil In Disguise - Elvis Presley (1963)
• Don't Think Twice - Peter, Paul & Mary (1963)
• Doo Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann (1964)
• Fools Rush In - Rick nelson (1963)
• Frankie And Johnny - Sam Cooke (1963)
• Go Now - the Moody Blues (1965)
• Honolulu Lulu - Jan & Dean (1963)
• I Should Have Known Better - the Beatles (1964)
• If I Had A Hammer - Trini Lopez (1963)
• I'll See You In My Dreams - Linda Scott (1965)
• It's My Party - Leslie Gore (1963)
• Last Kiss - J Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers (1964)
• Let It Be - Jerry Butler & Betty Everett (1964)
• Maybelline - Johnny Rivers (1964)
• More - Kai Winding (1963)
• My Boyfriend's Back - the Angels (1963)
• Our Day Will Come - Ruby & the Romantics (1963)
• Peaches And Cream - the Ikettes (1965)
• Popsicles And Icicles - the Murmaids (1963)
• Red Sails In The Sunset - Fats Domino (1963)
• Stop And Think It Over - Dale & Grace (1964)
• Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto (1963)
• Wipeout - the Surfaris (1963)
• Wishing And Hoping - Dusty Springfield (1964)

In addition to these, following the news & weather update at 10:00 AM will be yet another in the Hancock's Half-hour radio comedies from the 1950s, today's entitled "The Smugglers", from 29th. September 1959, and featuring Tony Hancock, Sid James, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams.

Program for Friday 10th. May 2013

A veritable buffet of finger-food for you today!
The table will be loaded with pops and hits from the 1950s through the 1960s, plus a smattering of Easy Listening for your enjoyment.

Following the news & weather at 3:00 PM, another classic Hancock's Half-hour radio show from the 1950s will air.

So please join me for three hours of nostalgia this Friday afternoon.

Program for Monday 6th. May 2013

A continuation from where I left off at the end of Friday's program.

We had listened to the Top Thirty of the 2UW Fabulous Top Fifty for week-ending 3rd. May 1959 and today the rest of the tracks are presented, as follows:-

• House Of Bamboo - Andy Williams (the B-side of the next song)
• Hawaiian Wedding Song - Andy Williams (the A-side of the previous song)
• Petite Fleur - Chris Barber's Jazz Band
• Story Of My Love - Conway Twitty
• Yellow Bird - the Mills Brothers
• Madrid - Nat "King" Cole
• The Girl On Page Forty-Four - the Four lads
• Maybe Someday - the Young Lions
• I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
• Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - the Platters
• My Happiness - Connie Francis
• (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings - Paul Anka
• Waltzing Matilda - Jimmie Rodgers
• Hibiscus - Artist not known. No information available.
• Night Train - the Stars
• The Children's Marching Song - Cyril Stapleton
• May You Always - the McGuire Sisters
• I Could Have Danced All Night/I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face - Ray Conniff
• The World Outside - the Four Aces
• A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring - Mike Preston

In addition, the.....
BEST NEW RELEASES

• Bye Bye Baby - Col Joye AUSTRALIAN!
• Come Softly To Me the Fleetwoods
• Luther Played The Boogie - Johnny Cash
• Sweet Violets - the Rover Boys (No copy was found)
• Hip Hop - Ray Charles (No copy was found)
• Valley Of Love - the Harry Simeone Chorale
• Guitar Boogie Shuffle - the Virtues
• As Time Goes By - Johnny Nash
• Dancing In The Streets - the Ames Brothers (No copy was found)
• Only Love Me - Steve Lawrence

and also those yet-to-be-released...
UP-AND-COMING

• If I Didn't Care - the Platters (the charted Connie Francis version not found)
• I'm Never Gonna Tell - Jimmie Rodgers
• It's Just A Matter Of Time - Brook Benton
• The Lonely One - Duane Eddy
• I Got A Wife - the Mark IVs
• Ther Must Be A Way - Joni James
• Let's Love - Johnny Mathis
• I'm So Ashamed - Peter Sellers (Yes, that's correct...Peter Sellers!)
• Star Love - the Playmates
• Trade Winds - Billy Vaughn