Sounds of the Seventies
Encyclopedia
Sounds of the Seventies was a BBC radio programme broadcast on weekdays, 22:00-00:00, on Radio One
during the early 1970s. Among the DJs were Alan Black, Pete Drummond, Anne Nightingale, John Peel
(who alone had two shows per week), and Bob Harris
. For contractual reasons one of Peel's two weekly shows was known as Top Gear
, but the format and content of the show on every weekday were in essence identical for most of the early 1970s.
Unlike most other Radio One programmes, Sounds of the Seventies concentrated on albums rather than singles, and rock rather than pop. Sessions recorded exclusively by the BBC and featuring major musicians of the day were a regular feature; the Musicians' Union
insisted that "needle time
"--time given to playing recorded music—should be limited.
In 1974 the Thursday show was replaced by a show without DJs known as the "Thursday Night Sequence". Album tracks were played without interruption or introduction, and Pete Drummond gave the artist name, album name and track name after the piece.
In early 1975 Sounds of the Seventies was dropped. In September of that year the loss of a nightly slot for progressive rock music was restored by the introduction of the nightly John Peel show, which initially broadcast from 23:00 to 00:00. Peel carried on and expanded the practice of hosting exclusive sessions by major musicians. The Peel show format lasted until Peel's death in 2004.
piece known as "Theme One", played in baroque style on a church organ. It was the version by Van der Graaf Generator
. Martin had written the piece some years earlier as a theme tune for Radio 1. Variations included Alan Black's regular closing theme, which was the piano and voice coda from Pilgrim's Progress by Procol Harum
.
. Hosted by Steve Harley
the 30 minute programme featured rock and pop tracks from the 1970s. In 2008 following several series the show was dropped from the Radio 2 schedule for a year. The last programme was aired on 27 March 2008.
. It runs from 3pm-5pm, and is hosted by former Radio Caroline
DJ Johnnie Walker
.
There was also a BBC2 TV series called Sounds of the 70s which compiled 1970s performances from the BBC's music archives, taken from programmes such as Top of the Pops
and The Old Grey Whistle Test. This was first shown in 1993, and was rerun on BBC Four in the 2000s.
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
during the early 1970s. Among the DJs were Alan Black, Pete Drummond, Anne Nightingale, John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
(who alone had two shows per week), and Bob Harris
Bob Harris (radio)
Robert Brinley Joseph "Bob" Harris, OBE , known as "Whispering" Bob Harris, is British radio host who currently works for BBC Radio 2, presenting music two nights a week...
. For contractual reasons one of Peel's two weekly shows was known as Top Gear
Top Gear (radio show)
Top Gear was originally a short-lived pop music show on the BBC Light Programme in the mid-1960s.- Origin and format :It was one of the Corporation's few attempts to compete with the pirate radio stations and Radio Luxembourg, who had attracted large audiences of young British pop music listeners...
, but the format and content of the show on every weekday were in essence identical for most of the early 1970s.
Unlike most other Radio One programmes, Sounds of the Seventies concentrated on albums rather than singles, and rock rather than pop. Sessions recorded exclusively by the BBC and featuring major musicians of the day were a regular feature; the Musicians' Union
Musicians' Union (UK)
-About the MU:The Musicians' Union is an organisation which represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the UK music business.-Campaigns:The MU stages regular campaigns in relation to relevant musical and industrial issues...
insisted that "needle time
Needle time
Needle time was created in the United Kingdom by the Musicians' Union and Phonographic Performance Limited, in order to restrict the amount of recorded music that could be transmitted by British Broadcasting Corporation during the course of any 24-hour period. Until 1967 the BBC was allowed to...
"--time given to playing recorded music—should be limited.
In 1974 the Thursday show was replaced by a show without DJs known as the "Thursday Night Sequence". Album tracks were played without interruption or introduction, and Pete Drummond gave the artist name, album name and track name after the piece.
In early 1975 Sounds of the Seventies was dropped. In September of that year the loss of a nightly slot for progressive rock music was restored by the introduction of the nightly John Peel show, which initially broadcast from 23:00 to 00:00. Peel carried on and expanded the practice of hosting exclusive sessions by major musicians. The Peel show format lasted until Peel's death in 2004.
Theme Tune
The theme tune for the programme was usually a George MartinGeorge Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
piece known as "Theme One", played in baroque style on a church organ. It was the version by Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
. Martin had written the piece some years earlier as a theme tune for Radio 1. Variations included Alan Black's regular closing theme, which was the piano and voice coda from Pilgrim's Progress by Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
.
Steve Harley: Sounds of the 70s
In 2000 another programme with the name Sounds of the 70s, but unrelated to the original, began broadcasting on BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
. Hosted by Steve Harley
Steve Harley
Steve Harley is an English singer and songwriter, best known for his work with the 1970s rock group Cockney Rebel, with whom he still occasionally tours .-Biography:As a child, Harley suffered from polio, spending four years in hospital up to the...
the 30 minute programme featured rock and pop tracks from the 1970s. In 2008 following several series the show was dropped from the Radio 2 schedule for a year. The last programme was aired on 27 March 2008.
Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s
A new series of Sounds of the 70s began on Sunday 5 April 2009, broadcasting on BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
. It runs from 3pm-5pm, and is hosted by former Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
DJ Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker (DJ)
Johnnie Walker MBE is a popular British veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster....
.
There was also a BBC2 TV series called Sounds of the 70s which compiled 1970s performances from the BBC's music archives, taken from programmes such as Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
and The Old Grey Whistle Test. This was first shown in 1993, and was rerun on BBC Four in the 2000s.
External links
- A steam radio site featuring brief clips from the show.