Web Page No 762

FIRST PICTURE: AUNTY BBC IN PORTLAND SQUARE



SECOND PICTURE: NERO AND THE GLADIATORS






RECORDS BANNED BY THE BBC

Offically speaking the BBC has never admitted having an official 'banned' list, so probably a more accurate title would be 'Records the B.B.C. Didn't Play Their Own Reasons'! And those reasons were often many and varied. Looking back over the 60’s there were so many protest movements and groups it is really amazing that not one record was 'banned' for 'political content' during these years although many have been before and since. Some records were not totally banned some had restricted playtime and, in most cases, the bans been lifted over the years. The way the BBC is and was set it, regional radio started to hold sway in the 60’s and some of these local stations also had their own hit list!

Lets start in 1960.
Adam Faith released a record called ‘Made You’. The BBC banned this because of its lewdness and sexual content. The first of the doom songs came out that year. This was ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ by Ricky Valance and the BBC refused to play it because of its Explicit death lyrics

The following year (1961) ‘Night Of The Vampire’ was released by The Moontrekkers, the backing group to Rod Stewart, but despite being produced by Joe Meek, this was too morbid and scary for the BBC. Morbid was also the word they used for ‘Tribute To Buddy Holly’ by Mike Berry and The Outlaws. However the record based on the music of Edvard Greig ‘In the Hall Of The Mountain King’ by Nero and The Gladiators was accused of having Some dubious words in the spoken intro. Well, I had that record, it was on the Decca label and I don’t remember any words at all on the record. I still have it in the loft so I will have to retrieve it and has a listen and let you all know.

In 1962 the record industry seemed to please the BBC as no records were banned but by 1963 ‘My Little Ukelele’ by Joe Brown and The Bruvvers were accused that the lyrics to this George Formby re-make were considered 'far too risqué.' Strange as the original version had spent many years in general circulation via the music halls and 78 rpm records.

Things progressed quietly for another three years when ‘I Can't Control Myself’ was released by The Troggs. The BBC claimed that it contained lewdly suggestive sounds made by Reg Presley. ‘They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaaa’ by Napoleon XIV hit the charts in the same year and the BBC stated that this was Making fun of mental illness.

‘Jackie’ by Scott Walker was released in 1967 and according to the BBC had References to 'authentic queers' and ‘Let's Spend The Night Together ‘by The Rolling Stones was alleged to promote promiscuity.

Pink Floyds’ ‘It Would Be So Nice’ which was released in 1968 was banned for advertising ('Evening Standard was eventually changed to 'Daily Standard').

The one we all remember is ‘Je T'Aime (Moi Non Plus)’ by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg in 1969 and again in 1974. But the first time round the BBC objected to the suggestive sounds and dubious colloquial expressions (although in French!) This song was actually played on Top of The Pops, but only an instrumental version by 'Sounds Nice'.


But Lonnie Donegans’ ‘Digging my Potatoes’ of 1956 has generated more discussion than any other banned recording. It was banned in the UK and US on its release in 1956 for lyrical references to sex. The reason was that it included the line, "Thought you were my friend till I caught you in my bed". The "bed" in the song is another word for "garden". Also the verse, "Love you in the winter/ Love you in the fall/ But in between them blankets, baby/ I love you best of all". It was to be issued as a single that year, but after the ban it wasn't. Many mothers broke the EP's when the children bought them and very few still survive. Given this it is amazing that Decca chose to release it as a follow up to the transatlantic hit "Rock Island Line"!

It is also worth noting that many song lyrics were either 'bleeped' or slightly modified over the years to gain airtime.



Take Care

Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com
Pj.keat@ntlworld.com

YOU WRITE:

Chris Writes:-


Boy, if this doesn't hit the nail on the head, I don't know what does!

Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.

The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.

The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another week and finally has his surgery scheduled for 6 months from then.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.
The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.

Next time take me to a vet!

NEWS AND VIEWS:

Organist Matthew Fischer has once again been awarded part of the song writing royalties from Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade Of Pale." The House of Lords-- the nation's highest court-- overturned a lower court ruling in 2008 that Matthew had waited too long to assert his authorship over the organ part of the song. The group's Gary Brooker will share credit with Matthew in future royalties.

On this day 22th August 1960-1965

On 22/08/1960 the number one single was Please Don't Tease - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Rawhide (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was First Beyond the Fringe festival opens in Edinburgh.


On 22/08/1961 the number one single was You Don't Know - Helen Shapiro and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.


On 22/08/1962 the number one single was I Remember You - Frank Ifield and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was De Gaulle escapes assassin.


On 22/08/1963 the number one single was Bad to Me - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.


On 22/08/1964 the number one single was Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 22/08/1965 the number one single was Help - The Beatles and the number one album was Help - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Riviera Police (AR).