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Paul presents tracks past and present US charts, and the featured hitmakers include Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan and Taylor Swift.

Paul Gambaccini presents tracks from this week's US charts and hits from the last six decades.

In the feature Headline News [Number One Albums on Noteworthy Days] we hear Carefree Highway by Gordon Lightfoot from his LP Sundown. It was number one on 26 June 1974, the day a Universal Product Code ("bar code") was scanned for the first time for a packet of chewing gum at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

We also hear You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson from HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book 1. It was number one on 13 July 1995 - the peak of the Chicago heatwave when the temperature reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the regular feature The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, tracks are played from albums by Al Martino and Jeffrey Osborne. While It's Not The Same Old Song highlights Forever Young by Bob Dylan and a different song with the same title by Rod Stewart.

In A Matter Of Life And Death, Paul celebrates the birth on this date in 1957 of Gloria Estefan by playing her hit Anything For You. We also hear San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie, who has recently died. Paul continues his countdown of the Top 100 list of songwriters based on success in the American chart from 1955 - 2005. We hear songs written by Desmond Child (Number 74) and Lionel Richie (Number 73).

Our R&B Number Ones are from 1968 - You're All I Need To Get By by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - and this week - Pray For Me by Anthony Hamilton. We hear country number ones from 1998 and now by Jo De Messina and Blake Shelton. This week's featured past and present rock number ones are by John Waite and Alex Clare. And We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, by Taylor Swift, is the best-selling song of the week.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sat 1 Sep 2012 20:00

Music Played

  • The Kingston Trio

    M.T.A.

    On this day in 1897: the Boston metro opened - the first in the U.S.A..

  • Yellowcard

    Fix You

    New Entry in the Top Ten of the Album Chart: Southern Air

  • Gordon Lightfoot

    Carefree Highway

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot (26th June 1974) On this day: a Universal Product Code (‘Bar Code’) was scanned for the first time for a packet of chewing gum at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

  • Ed Sheeran

    The A Team

    New Entry

  • Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine

    Anything For You

    Born 1957: Gloria Estefan

  • Scott McKenzie

    San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)

    Scott McKenzie [Philip Wallach Blonheim] born 10th January 1939; died 19th August 2012

  • Hunter Hayes

    Wanted

    Top Thirty and certified Platinum

  • Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

    You're All I Need To Get By

    R&B Number One this date in 1968

  • Anthony Hamilton

    Pray For Me

    Adult R&B Number One: NEW

  • Bob Dylan

    Forever Young

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: from Planet Waves - Number One album in 1974

  • Rod Stewart

    Forever Young

    It’s Not The Same Old Song: Number 12 in 1988

  • Mumford & Sons

    I Will Wait

    Top Ten

  • Al Martino

    Here In My Heart

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) The Exciting Voice Of Al Martino - Al Martino (1st December 1962)

  • Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen

    Good Time

    Top Ten

  • Bon Jovi

    Livin' On A Prayer

    I Write The Songs - 74: Desmond Child

  • Lionel Richie

    All Night Long

    I Write The Songs - 73: Lionel Richie

  • Slightly Stoopid

    Top Of The World

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: Top Of The World

  • Michael Jackson

    You Are Not Alone

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] HIStory: Past, Present And Future Book 1 - Michael Jackson (13th July 1995) On this day: the peak of the killer Chicago heat wave, 106F; over 700 people died.

  • Jo Dee Messina

    I'm Alright

    Country Number One this date in 1998

  • Blake Shelton

    Over

    Current Country Airplay Number One

  • John Waite

    Missing You

    Rock Number One this date in 1984

  • Alex Clare

    Too Close

    Current Rock Number One - second week

  • Jeffrey Osborne

    On The Wings Of Love

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Jeffrey Osborne - Jeffrey Osborne (19th June 1982)

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    One Love / People Get Ready

    Number One Catalog Album: Legend - first time in the Top 20 of the Album Chart after over 11 million sales; 236 weeks on the chart; 112 weeks in the catalog chart

  • Donovan

    Sunshine Superman

    Number One this date in 1966

  • Stories

    Brother Louie

    Number One this date in 1973

  • Taylor Swift

    We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

    Current Number One: NEW

Broadcast

  • Sat 1 Sep 2012 20:00