The Other Top of the Pops: The BBC's Best-Kept 60's Secret.

Hi to all

Join me for a very special edition of Our Time this Sunday at 5 PM UK, 12 PM US Eastern.

Some of the most expensive records that have been auctioned in the last few years are 'BBC transcription service' discs, pressed for radio stations to
use overseas. A series of such LP's was confusingly called Top of the Pops. There was a long-running famous BBC TV show called Top of the Pops, which began its life in 1964, and was highly influential in ensuring that the stars performing on the programme gained hit records. However the radio programme named Top of the Pops was never heard in the UK, but it was listened to overseas, and began in late 1964.

The reason that these discs are highly sought-after is that the show not only contained the most popular British groups of the day playing live, but more importantly, they included interviews with many of the big names of the day. Groups like the Hollies, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Spencer Davis group would visit the BBC studios in London to appear on "The Other Top of the Pops".
Some of these artists are no longer with us, so it's great to be able to hear them talking about their careers and their hopes for the future.

During Our Time this week, we'll be hearing a number of those interviews and live performances. It's a real treat for fans of 60's music and it is very likely you will not have heard these before.

Remember that our time is always a good time, and it certainly will be this week!

Brian Hartgen