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The Joy of the Single

Film packed with startling memories, vivid images and penetrating insights into the power of pop and rock's first and most abiding artefact - the seven-inch, vinyl 45-rpm record.

Do you remember buying your first single? Where you bought it? What it was? The thrill of playing it for the first time? What it sounded like? How it maybe changed your life? Lots of us do. Lots of us still have that single somewhere in a dusty box in the attic, along with other treasured memorabilia of an adolescence lost in music and romance. The attic of our youth.

The Joy of the Single is a documentary packed with startling memories, vivid images and penetrating insights into the power of pop and rock's first and most abiding artefact - the seven-inch, vinyl 45-rpm record, a small, perfectly formed object that seems to miraculously contain the hopes, fears, sounds and experiences of our different generations - all within the spiralling groove etched on its shiny black surface, labelled and gift-wrapped by an industry also in its thrall.

In the confident hands of a star-studded cast, the film spins a tale of obsession, addiction, dedication and desire. The viewer is invited on a journey of celebration from the 1950s rock 'n' roll generation to the download kids of today, taking in classic singles from all manner of artists in each decade - from the smell of vinyl to the delights of the record label, from the importance of the record shop to the bittersweet brevity of the song itself, from stacking singles on a Dansette spindle to dropping the needle and thrilling to the intro.

Featuring contributions from Noddy Holder, Jack White, Richard Hawley, Suzi Quatro, Holly Johnson, Jimmy Webb, Pete Waterman, Norah Jones, Mike Batt, Graham Gouldman, Miranda Sawyer, Norman Cook, Trevor Horn, Neil Sedaka, Paul Morley, Rob Davies, Lavinia Greenlaw, Brian Wilson and Mike Love.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 10 Mar 2019 01:40
主播大秀 Four

  • The 12 Inch Single

    Paul Morley on the 7-inch single's grand relative and its peak in the 80s.

Clips

See all clips from The Joy of the Single (2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Roy Orbison

    It's Over

  • Four Tops

    Reach Out I'll Be There

  • 00:04

    The Shadows

    Apache

  • 00:07

    Suzi Quatro

    Devil Gate Drive

  • 00:08

    Booker T. & The M.G.'s

    Green Onions

  • 00:10

    Jet Harris & Tony Meehan

    Diamonds

  • 00:12

    Ian Dury & the Blockheads

    Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

  • 00:13

    The Smiths

    How Soon Is Now?

  • 00:20

    The Hollies

    Look Through Any Window

  • 00:32

    Mud

    Tiger Feet

  • 00:34

    Slade

    Cum On Feel The Noize

  • 00:36

    Joy Division

    Transmission

  • 00:44

    Little Eva

    The Loco-Motion

  • 00:46

    Buggles

    Video Killed The Radio Star

  • 00:52

    Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Two Tribes

  • 00:54

    Jean鈥怣ichel Jarre

    Oxyg猫ne Part III

Credits

Producer Chris Rodley
Director Chris Rodley

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