Capital Radio All Time Top 100

[Torquemada]

I was chatting to friends last night about my first real introduction to music. This came when an uncle taped Capital Radio's all time Top 100 as voted for by the people of London and presented by Tim Rice (and others) uninterrupted over one Saturday in 1973. Those tapes not only introduced me to the obvious acts such as The Beatles, Elvis, The Stones, but also to much more obscure music (to me at that time anyway). Not only was the music great, but each track was coupled with a little background info regarding what was happening at the time and I honestly think this helped nurture my lifelong interest in current affairs. I played those tapes 'til some of them eventually snapped and broke, but I think I may still have some of them. I believe the lead up to this radio event received lots of publicity at the time and wondered if anyone else remembers it? For everyone else I wonder if you care to make a stab at what came in at No.1?

[AdobeFlats]

1973? Well at least you'll be able to discount the last 30 years of turgid musical dross.

[CaptainWaggett]

IIRC the winner 10CC's I'm Not in Love which certainly won some very long radio poll that I remember spending a whole day listening to.

[wadsy]

I had a NME poster of their top 100 around the same time & the #1 was



Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone"!

[Torquemada]

name='AdobeFlats']1973? Well at least you'll be able to discount the last 30 years of turgid musical dross.

I have to say the tracks from the previous ten years on the list were very impressive and I'd agree with you if you also ruled out the period up to 1981, because I think that was when things really hit the skids.



As for the top song - don't forget this wasn't voted for my a panel of journos, but was the result of a large scale democratic vote. That said I think the result proved tastes were far more sophisticated and mature than they are today.

[AdobeFlats]

name='Torquemada']I have to say the tracks from the previous ten years on the list were very impressive and I'd agree with you if you also ruled out the period up to 1981, because I think that was when things really hit the skids.



As for the top song -

I honestly think the microchip ended music, or at least helped to. Of course a lot will disagree, be that as it may.



'Like a Rolling Stone'.@ No1. Obviously a London audience vote. Anyone know the top 10?

[Torquemada]

Like a Rolling Stone was in the top 40 or 50 I seem to recall.



I'm Not in Love was released in 1975.

[CaptainWaggett]

name='Torquemada']Like a Rolling Stone was in the top 40 or 50 I seem to recall.



I'm Not in Love was released in 1975.

I realised that when it was too late to edit It won the 1976 poll which is the one I remember (IIRC Bohemian Rhapsody was second though that will probably turn out to have been released in 1984

[billy bentley]

What was The Clash's slogan ? "Capital Radio In Tune With Nothing".

[AdobeFlats]

name='billy bentley']What was The Clash's slogan ? "Capital Radio In Tune With Nothing".

Strummer's Boys were very prescient then.

[Torquemada]

Not in 1973 they weren't.

[AdobeFlats]

name='Torquemada']Not in 1973 they weren't.

TQA - Well, no. They were probably working up to it.

[Torquemada]

name='AdobeFlats']TQA - Well, no. They were probably working up to it.

But one comment by one band means everything that ever came out of Capital Radio was bad? And Joe Strummer hadn't even met Mick Jones in 1973.

[AdobeFlats]

name='Torquemada']But one comment by one band means everything that ever came out of Capital Radio was bad? And Joe Strummer hadn't even met Mick Jones in 1973.

TQA - Of course not. Same with the Daily Mail.

[Mark O]

What was no.1 in the Capital top 100 that was broadcast in 1973?



I'd be interested to know as I became interested in music around that time, I purchased my first single the year previously at age 11, Balls Park incident by Wizzard, I still have it, I used to be into Slade, Sweet, T.Rex, and.......ahem, the now unmentionable one at the time.

[Torquemada]

Bridge Over Troubled Water with Hey Jude at No.2. Another interesting outcome was two of the top 100 had never been released as singles.

[AdobeFlats]

name='Torquemada']Bridge Over Troubled Water with Hey Jude at No.2. Another interesting outcome was two of the top 100 had never been released as singles.

TQA - Well, yeah, I could live with those.



Now, how about this: The Rolling Stone top 500 songs.



The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone



Whomever compiled this should be shot immediately.

Bob Dylan is a World-class songwriter, but has probably never sung a decent vocal in his life. Try This, Bob takes a verse from one of his own songs...



[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WThjO4IcZkg"]YouTube- Eric Clapton,Bob Dylan,George Harrison,Neil Young,Roger McGuinn-My Back Pages (NYC)[/nomedia]





...Bob's the one after Eric Clapton's vocal.

[Torquemada]

name='AdobeFlats']TQA - Well, yeah, I could live with those.



Now, how about this: The Rolling Stone top 500 songs.



The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone



Whomever compiled this should be shot immediately.

It's as if the British music industry came to an abrupt halt 40 years ago. Just like we've also all got bad teeth and all our women are ugly.

[Mark O]

name='Torquemada']Bridge Over Troubled Water with Hey Jude at No.2. Another interesting outcome was two of the top 100 had never been released as singles.

Cheers T...........out of interest would you happen to know what the two album tracks were that made it into the top 100?

[billy bentley]

I don't think Strummer was commenting on Capital Radio in 1973, but as it was in 1976. I don't recall The Clash or anyone in the punk rock community complaining about Charlie Gillett's "Honky Tonk" show, which if I remember correctly was not on Capital.