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Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:57 pm Post subject: Pick of the Pops and Summer Shows

A couple of changes to the schedule announced today. Biggest is that Gambaccini is taking over Pick of the Pops (with Tony Blackburn's blessing). But this means America's Greatest Hits is axed and replaced by a Trevor Nelson soul show.

On Saturday mornings Graham Norton is replaced by Fearne Cotton and Martin Kemp, and on Sundays Fearne Britton stands in for Clare Balding. These are (supposedly) just for Summer though.

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

Does this mean they will change the POTP webpage and stop saying how great Tony Blackburn is?

What's the point of having Balding if she is going to keep disappearing. If she wants to keep up as a commentator the give the job to Britton full time.
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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Gambo will be good on POTP, he's informative and knowledgeable, and better than the overrated Blackburn.

And as for the Annoying Little Twerp on Saturday mornings....good riddance.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 4:49 pm Post subject:

Balding is a waste of time - it's typical Radio 2: they hired her because she was flavour of the month but she's barely on and no-one really cares either way.

I think POTP is a waste of Gambo's talents, unless he can shake up the format a bit. I like (and occasionally get frustrated by) the randomness of America's Greatest Hits. This new line-up just makes the station a bit more bland.

And I can't believe anyone would prefer Fearne Cotton over Graham Norton.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Saturday's is our day... The time change is only changed. Hope the show stays live with listener interaction. I fear the format may change?

I hope Americans Greatest Hits dosnt get dropped

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 8:13 pm Post subject:

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I think Gambo is a superb presenter but somehow I've rather got used to Mark Goodier's style of presentation on POTP and I'll be sorry to see him go

I know he always said it was a temporary arrangement but I really think he should have been retained permanently - unless of course he has other commitments which make it impossible for him to do the job permanently Mad

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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I'm sorry to see the end of America's Greatest Hits as I've listened to it on and off for decades. I'm having a senior moment right now but it did start out on Radio 1 didn't it???

I think Gambo will be good on POTP and hope he can impart some of his usually very interesting knowledge in between the tracks.

Ferne Cotton will signal the 'off' button on my radio. Graham Norton usually has the summer off so I won't worry unduly unless he doesn't return. I've plenty of stuff to listen to and edit on to a different format so that should spur me on to get started!

Strangely I rarely listen to any radio on Sundays until around 11 so Clare Balding not being there won't matter but I agree she seems to be away more than she is here.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Must admit I hadn't heard that it was finished but when I read in the paper that Gambo was getting POTP my first thought was about America's Greatest Hits.

We were away all day and I didn't hear anymore until I looked in here.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

That's the one I remember LEE, late 70s was when I first listened after we'd made our first trip to the US (thank goodness for airline staff standby for next to nothing back then!). I think it was on a Saturday afternoon and I often used to record it.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Ian Robinson · Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 8:46 pm Post subject:

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 1:58 pm Post subject:

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

I'm in two minds about Gambo. I was always a bit unsure about AGH, sometimes it tended to be a bit all over the shop. I would have thought POTP might be a bit restrictive. Here's two years, now play the charts. At least AGN had some individuality about it.

As far as Saturday morning goes I haven't listened since Ross left, apart from one year when Ryan Tubridy stood in. I'd rather put my genitals in the food processor than listen to Norton.
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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Rob · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Leicester

Gambo is an interesting choice for POTP. He was one of the four compilers of the chart books for many years.

Rob.

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I've always liked Gambo, informative and knowledgeable. I still peruse those chart books from time to time, co written with Tim Rice.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Yes I use mine too!
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Having listened to POTP for the last couple of weeks I just think that the whole tradition of the show has completely disappeared with Gambo presenting

Don't get me wrong - I've a great deal of respect for him as a presenter and as a great musicologist but his style whilst great on America's greatest hits for me just does not work for POTP and I'm not sure I can even continue to listen to what used to be one of my favourite shows on the BBC anywhere

Admitedly his jokes are rather more sophisticated than the efforts of TB but for me the show is now not what it was and I just don't enjoy it anymore - is it just me or does anyone else have similar feelings Sad

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Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

I thought Gambo sounded more settled in to the show today. I will keep listening because there isn't much left that I like on Radio 2 any more.
Just POTP, SOTS and SOT70s.
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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I will always listen to POTP regardless of presenter (though I always miss the second half because of other commitments) especially if he provides information as Gambo does (unlike Blackburn).

I didn't listen to SOT60s yesterday but looking at the music played it was really the most dreadful display of obscurities. It really needs to play 60s music that people actually recognise.

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

Disappointed today, tuned in expecting to hear 1966 as per the Radio Times, got 1975 instead. The chart of 1966 is next week according to Gambo, the Radio Times strikes again! Rolling Eyes

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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I listened to a bit of 1975 today, it was the most appalling chart ever and I wonder how it got selected: Jasper Carrot and Funky Moped!!

Thank God for 1966 next week.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Disappointed they didn't play 'Magic Roundabout' actually considering most of these older records are no longer banned

After all that's probably why Mr Carrot tasted success - it certainly wasn't because of Funky Moped Rolling Eyes

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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Not sure if this is the newest thread for Pick Of The Pops ...but it's the first one I found..

Thoroughly enjoyed Paul's programme today..some great sounds from 1968...right up until the No 1 where it fell just a little flat.. Smile

...Des O'Connor and I'll Pretend ... it shows the swinging sixties came to a halt at times....and the Mums and Dads took back the charts. Very Happy

eric mc · Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 50 Location: Farnborough Hants

Oi - don't knock Des.

There was plenty of space in the charts back then for "family" entertainers like Des, Ken Dodd, Anita Harris etc.

It wasn't all flower power and hippies.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Even Frank Sinatra made it to the charts (with and without his daughter Nancy) and Louis Armstrong!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I too enjoyed the 1968 POTP yesterday, especially no 3 Baby Come Back by The Equals and no 2 Mony Mony by Tommy James and The Shondells, songs which are rarely played.
As Becky says, the mums and dads won the day with the awful no 1 song.

Talking of 1968. did anyone see the excellent Sky Arts show tonight (and Friday night) on that year? It was fascinating and a good reminder of what a horrible year globally it was: Vietnam at it's height, assassinations of MLK and Bobby K, Russians invading Czechoslovakia, riots in France which nearly brought down the government, horrifying violence in Chicago at the Democratic Convention and so much more. What happened to the peace and love of 1967?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I saw it listed then forgot to record it Sad

I expect it will get a repeat. I think I saw something listed for 1967 on BBC4 but I wasn't near the TV so promptly forgot to do anything Rolling Eyes

They certainly were 2 very different years though.

JV did something on 1968 earlier in the year and I could remember it all like yesterday, I was about to leave school and parents decided I shouldn't go on a French exchange visit because of the riot in Paris even though it wasn't near where I was going.
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

What a great song Baby Come Back is,Schiz.

Sky Arts was added to my Virgin package,a while ago, without me knowing anything about it! I've caught the odd,good,programme.... Portrait Artist Of The Year.... and have a Joan Baez documentary that I have yet to watch... to be honest,though, I more often than not forget to look at the listings for it..

I listened to that programme by Jeremy,Helen. Enjoyed it too.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

I seem to remember that Herb Alpert's This Guy's In Love With You, was considered a little middle of the road, shall we say. Now, it's an undoubted classic. Plenty of room for Des and his like...though Dick A Dum Dum was s step too far. First released by Jim Dale, who wrote it. While I wouldn't have thought twice, as a 13 year old music lover, going to the record store to buy my Mum I'll Pretend, I don't think I could have asked the girl behind the counter for that one. My Mum was a prolific record buyer, of 78s, long before I came along. Though I probably sat on and broke most of them...

Remembered this chart so well. I was on school journey for two weeks at exactly that time. A lot of the the girls used to cry when Honey, by Bobby Goldsboro, was played at the disco.

Then there was one that got a mention, but not a play - Sue Nicholls- Where Will You Be. Before she became a hairdresser in the Street, but was Marilyn Gates in Crossroads. All sorts in that chart...bubblegum, with Yummy Yummy Yummy, more songs for the older ones, Like John Rowles with his follow up to If I Only Had Time..Hush, Not A Word To Mary and Esther and Abi Ofarim - One More Dance. Tom and Engelbert lurking on the outer reaches...they weren't exactly cutting edge, but welcome on our radiogram, alongside the 45s that I used to buy with my pocket money. Look at this lot. Something for everyone. As it should be.

http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19680724/7501/
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oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Saturday's 1967 chart, certainly brought back memories. I must have bought my first ever Record Song Book at that time, as I distinctly remember quite a few of the songs, such as Purple Haze, Ha Ha, Said The Clown and This Is My Song, amongst others, in my mind's eye. Happy days.

I can honestly say, that I'd never heard the Cliff single It's All Over, before. I can only assume it didn't get much airplay on Radio London, Caroline or the Light Programme, which is what the radiogram would have been tuned into at the time. Pretty good, too. A Don Everly composition, according to Gambo.
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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Sometimes, but not always, I listen to POTP when it has a 70's chart. I did yesterday and enjoyed a lot of the content, especially the beautiful cover of Hurt by The Manhattans. Love the original by Timi Yuro but this cover really hits the spot too.

Didn't expect to hear Substitute - a second entry into the charts for The Who. Great record - love the lyrics.