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Paul Gambaccini presents an Elton John-themed programme, with tracks from this week's US charts and hits from the last six decades.

Paul Gambaccini presents an Elton John-themed programme with tracks from this week's US charts and hits from the last six decades.

Featuring the title track of Elton John's album Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. It was number one on 5th July 1975, the day Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon to become the first black male champion. Plus, Can You Feel The Love Tonight by Elton John from The Lion King soundtrack. It was number one on 12th August 1994 - the day of a Major League baseball strike. It was the worst in sports history, lasting 232 days. In the feature The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, tracks are played from the first chart albums for Martha & The Vandellas and Elton John. It's Not The Same Old Song highlights Nobody Wins by Brenda Lee and a different song with the same title by Elton John.

In a special feature for today, Only In America highlights two Elton John singles that were successful in the US chart, but not in the UK: Tiny Dancer and Mama Can't Buy You Love. In A Matter Of Life And Death Paul celebrates the birth on this date in 1961 of Billy Ray Cyrus with his hit Achy Breaky Heart.

From this date in history, the R&B Number One is Boombastic by Shaggy (1995), the Country number one is If I Die Young by The Band Perry (2011) and the Rock number one is Throwing It All Away by Genesis (1986).

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sat 25 Aug 2012 20:00

Music Played

  • Elton John

    Border Song

    On this day in 1970: Elton John made his US live debut at The Troubadour, Los Angeles.

  • Taylor Swift

    We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

    New Hit

  • Frank Sinatra

    My Way

    Re-Entry at Number Three in the Album Chart: Nothing But The Best

  • Elton John

    Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John (5th July 1975) On this day: Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon; the first black male champion.

  • Elle Varner

    Not Tonight

    New Entry in the Top Five of the Album Chart: Perfectly Imperfect

  • Billy Ray Cyrus

    Achy Breaky Heart

    Born 1961: Billy Ray Cyrus

  • Jimmy Jones

    Good Timin'

    Jimmy Jones - born 2nd June 1930; died 2nd August 2012

  • Colt Ford

    WAY TOO EARLY (featuring Darius Rucker)

    New Entry in the Top Five of the Album Chart: Declaration Of Independence

  • Shaggy

    Boombastic

    R&B Number One this date in 1995

  • John Legend

    TONIGHT (BEST YOU EVER HAD) (featuring Ludacris)

    Adult R&B Number One: seventh week

  • Brenda Lee

    Nobody Wins

    It鈥檚 Not The Same Old Song: Number 70 & Country Top Five in 1973

  • Elton John

    Nobody Wins

    It鈥檚 Not The Same Old Song:Number 21 in 1981

  • John Mayer

    Go Easy On Me

    New Entry in the Album Chart: Complete 2012 Performances Collection EP

  • Maroon 5

    One More Night

    Top Ten

  • Elton John

    Tiny Dancer

    Only In America: Number 41 in 1972

  • Elton John

    Mama Can't Buy You Love

    Only In America: Number Nine in 1979

  • Carolina Chocolate Drops

    Jackson

    New Entry in the Top Twenty of the Album Chart: We Walk The Line: A Celebration Of The Music Of Johnny Cash

  • Elton John

    Can You Feel The Love Tonight

    Headline News [Number one albums on noteworthy days] The Lion King soundtrack album - Elton John (12th August 1994) On this day: a Major League baseball strike; the worst in sports history - 232 days.

  • Faron Young

    Alone With You

    Country Number One this date in 1958

  • Little Big Town

    Pontoon

    Current Country Sales Number One - fourth week

  • Barenaked Ladies

    One Week

    Rock Number One this date in 1998

  • Alex Clare

    Too Close

    Current Rock Number One - NEW

  • Elton John

    Sixty Years On

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (debut hit albums) Elton John - Elton John (3rd October 1970)

  • Neon Trees

    Everybody Talks

    Current Number One in the Album Chart: Now That鈥檚 What I Call Music 43

  • The Elegants

    Little Star

    Number One this date in 1958

  • Elton John & Kiki Dee

    Don't Go Breaking My Heart

    Number One this date in 1976

  • Flo Rida

    Whistle

    Current Number One: third week

Broadcast

  • Sat 25 Aug 2012 20:00

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