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Pop Charts Britannia: 60 Years of the Top 10

Documentary chronicling our love affair with the British singles chart on the occasion of its sixtieth anniversary, from the first NME chart in 1952 to Top of the Pops and beyond.

Documentary chronicling our ever-changing love affair with the British singles chart on the occasion of its sixtieth anniversary. From the first NME chart in 1952, via Pick and Top of the Pops to home-taping the Radio One chart show and beyond, we have measured out our lives to a wonderful churn of pop driven, unbeknownst to us, by a clandestine world of music biz hustle. Featuring contributions by 60 years of BBC chart custodians from David Jacobs to Reggie Yates, chart fans Grace Dent and Pete Paphides and music biz veterans Jon Webster and Rob Dickins.

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Sat 19 Jun 202102:00
BBC Four

Music Played

  • ABBA

    The Winner Takes It All

  • Part 1: 1952 - 1969

    • Pathé newsreel music

    • Mario Lanza

      The Loveliest Night of the Year

    • Little Walter

      Juke

    • Bass Incorporated

      At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal

      Pick of the Pops theme

    • Al Martino

      Here in My Heart

    • Frankie Laine

      I Believe

    • Bill Haley and His Comets

      Rock Around The Clock

    • Gale Warning and the Weathermen

      Met Rock

    • The Fleetwoods

      Come Softly To Me

    • The John Barry Seven

      Hit and Miss

      Juke Box Jury theme

    • Johnny and the Hurricanes

      Rocking Goose

    • Elvis Presley

      It's Now Or Never

    • Cliff Richard & The Shadows

      The Young Ones

    • Bass Incorporated

      At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal

      Pick of the Pops theme

    • The Animals

      House of the Rising Sun

    • Frank Ifield

      The Wayward Wind

    • Bobby Midgly

      Percussion Piece

      Top of the Pops 1964

    • Roy Orbison

      Oh, Pretty Woman

    • The Righteous Brothers

      You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

    • The Who

      I'm a Boy

    • Engelebert Humperdinck

      Last Waltz

    • Engelebert Humperdinck

      Please Release Me

    • The Jimi Hendrix Experience

      Moon Turn the Tides

    • Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

      The Legend of Xanadu

    • Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg

      Je t'aime...moi non plus

    • Sounds Nice

      Love at First Sight (Je t'aime moi non plus)

  • Part 2: 1969 - 1989

    • Bass Incorporated

      At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal

      Pick of the Pops theme

    • BBC Radio 2 jingle

    • T. Rex

      Hot Love

    • Top Of The Pops theme

    • The Mixtures

      The Pushbike Song

    • Clive Dunn

      Grandad

    • Slade

      Coz I Luv You

    • Hot Butter

      Popcorn

    • BBC Radio 1 jingle

    • Hot Butter

      Popcorn

    • Queen

      Bohemian Rhapsody

    • Bass Incorporated

      At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal

      Pick of the Pops theme

    • Wings

      Mull of Kintyre

    • The Tubes

      White Punks on Dope

    • Boney M.

      Rivers of Babylon

    • Sister Sledge

      Lost in Music

    • Electric Light Orchestra

      Don't Bring Me Down

    • Duran Duran

      Planet Earth

    • BBC Radio 1 jingle

    • UB40

      One in Ten

    • Bill Wyman

      Je suis un rock star

    • Shakin’ Stevens

      Green Door

    • Ultravox

      Vienna

    • Joe Dolce Music Theatre

      Shaddap You Face

    • Funboy Three

      'Tain't What You Do

    • Paul McCartney

      No More Lonely Nights

    • The Cars

      Drive

    • Culture Club

      The War Song

    • BBC Radio 1 chart show jingle

    • Hot Butter

      Popcorn

    • Ray Parker Jr.

      Ghostbusters

    • Wham!

      Freedom

    • BBC Radio 1 chart show jingle

    • Stevie Wonder

      I Just Called To Say I Love You

    • Eddy Grant

      Electric Avenue

    • BBC Radio 1 chart show jingle

    • INXS

      Never Tear Us Apart

    • The Bangles

      Walk Like an Egyptian

    • Bros

      I Owe You Nothing

    • BBC Radio 1 chart show jingle

    • Black Box

      Ride on Time

    • Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers

      Swing the Mood

  • Part 3: 1990 - 2012

    • Right Said Fred

      I'm Too Sexy

    • Bryan Adams

      Everything I Do, I Do It For You

    • BBC Radio 1 chart show jingle

    • SL2

      On a Ragga Tip

    • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

      Boom! Shake the Room

    • 2 Unlimited

      Faces

    • Dr Fox jingle

    • Radiohead

      Creep

    • BBC Radio 1 jingle

    • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

      Boom! Shake the Room

    • Dr Fox countdown music

    • Culture Beat

      Mr Vain

    • Pulp

      Sorted For E's And Whizz

    • Oasis

      Roll With It

    • Blur

      Country House

    • Bass Incorporated

      At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal

      Pick of the Pops theme

    • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

      Relax

    • Wings

      Mull of Kintyre

    • Band Aid

      Do They Know It's Christmas?

    • Elton John

      Candle In The Wind (1997 Version)

    • Tonight titles

  • ABBA

    The Winner Takes It All

  • Part 3: 1990 - 2012

    • Peter Andre

      Insania

  • Bill Haley

    (Were Gonna) Rock Around The Clock

  • Bill Haley and His Comets

    Rock Around The Clock

  • Part 3: 1990 - 2012

    • Snow Patrol

      Chasing Cars

    • BBC Radio 1 chart show jingle

  • The John Barry Seven

    Hit and Miss

  • Cliff Richard

    The Young Ones (Film Version)

  • The Righteous Brothers

    You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

  • Part 3: 1990 - 2012

    • Wiley

      Heatwave (feat. Ms D)

    • Kate Bush

      Running Up That Hill 2012 Remix

  • Michael Jackson

    Farewell My Summer Love

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Release Me

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Release Me

  • Sounds Nice

    Love At First Sight

  • Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin

    Je T'aime Moi Non Plus

  • Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg

    Je t'aime...moi non plus

  • Hot Butter

    Popcorn

  • Wings

    Mull Of Kintyre

  • Queen

    Bohemian Rhapsody

  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Don't Bring Me Down

  • 808 State, Ub40

    One In Ten (808 Original Mix)

  • Ultravox

    Vienna

  • Stevie Wonder

    I Just Called To Say I Love You

  • Fun Boy Three & Bananarama

    It Ain't What You Do...

  • Jozi

    Electric Avenue

  • Black Box

    Ride On Time

  • Part 3: 1990 - 2012

    • Rita Ora

      How We Do

  • Bros

    I Owe You Nothing

  • Black Box

    Ride On Time

  • Right Said Fred

    I'm Too Sexy

  • Radiohead

    Creep

  • Pet Shop Boys

    Go West

  • Oasis

    Roll With It

  • Blur

    Country House

  • Blur

    Country House

  • Brass Incorporated

    At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal

  • Elton John

    Candle In The Wind (1997 Version)

  • Snow Patrol

    Chasing Cars

Credits

ProducerBen Whalley
DirectorBen Whalley
Executive ProducerMark Cooper

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