What's the big problem with the hit music of 1974?

Here's a really big mystery that is being openly discussed online elsewhere. The long running archive chart show Pick Of The Pops on Radio 2 has steadfastly refused to play the year 1974 in the schedule for almost 5 years now, since late in 2019, despite other years from the 70's getting frequent plays on a regular basis. Up until five years ago it was a regular play in rotation. Everyone is baffled by this, there isn't even a significant Glitter problem, he topped the chart for just a week in June that year and they play 1972 and 1973 when he was far more prolific anyway.

So what is the problem with 1974?

What makes this even more baffling is that last night on BBC4 they aired the Noel Edmonds TOTP from 11th April 1974 to mark the Abba 50th anniversary, the first time this has been shown on BBC TV since that date. Yet radio's Pick Of The Pops has ignored the anniversary and carries on with a very strange and unexplained boycott of the year 1974 even when it had a great chance to play the year right now.

A gap of 5 years is not an accident so why would producers be boycotting 1974 in this way? It's fascinating.

It's being discussed here;

forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1832163...he-pops-radio-2/p642

If they scared to play Glitter Band then the estate and surviving members are missing a shit load of money.

Glitter Band were a decent band in their own right for fuck sake.

I had to look at 1974 on wiki etc. Kung Fu Fighting is now cancelled.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381305...er-Simon-Ledger.html


However The Streak is one of the best songs of all time.



Ray Stevens was also singing about funny pills in 1961.

I didn't know that about Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. It would surprise me if Radio 2 really has banned that song. But there are 52 weeks in a year and even if you take out Glitter topping the chart for a week in June '74 with the dreadful Always Yours, and even Kung Fu Fighting a chart topper for three weeks in the early autumn you still have 48 other weeks left!

That TOTP that was shown last Friday night on BBC TV from April 1974 actually had the two Glitter's in the top five, the Glitter Band at No5 in the countdown with Angel Face, which played out the show end credits, and Gary Glitter himself was shown in picture form at No3 at the start without censoring or blotting him out, during the top 30 rundown, quite rightly of course.

Actually the music from 1974 on that show this week five decades ago was rather fine, Mud - The Cat Crept In, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye - You Are Everything, Limmie & The Family Cookin' - A Walking Miracle, Slade - Everyday, Chi-Lites - Homely Girl, Abba - Waterloo, Wombles - Remember You're A Womble, Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun, Glitter Band - Angel Face, and even a return of Bill Haley & The Comets - Rock Around The Clock. Something for litrally everyone there.

So the 1974 boycott continues to mystify.

The new host of the show taking over from this July will be Mark Goodier. A good solid traditional choice. Almost a surprise now with the BBC.

I guess that BBC hates rock music, soul and funk. Brownsville Station and Grandfunk takes me back!

digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/bg_hits/bg_hits_74.html

This is very strange indeed. 1974 was hardly a classic year, it was the tale end of Glam Rock with Slade, Mud, and The Sweet past their peak. Punk hadn't started yet, not that it troubled the chart that much, nor Disco. Also there were a lot of silly Novelty songs like "The Streak", The wombles (best selling act of 74). However there were some fine songs in 74 as shown on the recently aired totp from 74. However I can understand why they didn't play 74 this week, because it would be exactly the same chart that was shown on the totp from the previous evening, as they always show the corresponding week in the year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68816377

Also it has been announced that Mark Goodier will take over the show in July. Why? Gary Davies is doing a perfectly good job and fits the bill perfectly. He will be off the Greatest Hits radio, if he thinks he is being over-looked for the big jobs. At least he will have the gig till July, which is something to cling to.

This is very strange indeed. 1974 was hardly a classic year

Oh, I disagree. Look at the albums that were released in 74 are timeless.

Wish You Were Here by Badfiner, Lamb Lies On Broadway- Genesis, Sheer Heart Attack - Queen, Energized - Foghat, Burn - Deep Purple, Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan,Rock N Roll Animal - Lou Reed, Mirage - Camel, Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash, Positive Vibrations - Ten Years After, Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Rick Wakeman, Not Fragile - BTO, Preservation Act 2 - The Kinks, Bad Company released their debut album, Diamond Dogs by Bowie, Souvenirs - Dan Fogelberg, Crime Of The Century - Supertramp, War Child - Jethro Tull,

Green Man wrote:
This is very strange indeed. 1974 was hardly a classic year

Oh, I disagree. Look at the albums that were released in 74 are timeless.

Wish You Were Here by Badfiner, Lamb Lies On Broadway- Genesis, Sheer Heart Attack - Queen, Energized - Foghat, Burn - Deep Purple, Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan,Rock N Roll Animal - Lou Reed, Mirage - Camel, Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash, Positive Vibrations - Ten Years After, Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Rick Wakeman, Not Fragile - BTO, Preservation Act 2 - The Kinks, Bad Company released their debut album, Diamond Dogs by Bowie, Souvenirs - Dan Fogelberg, Crime Of The Century - Supertramp, War Child - Jethro Tull,

Ok some of albums you mention are class albums, particularly Diamon Dogs, though not his best. I was particularly referring to the quality of the single releases of that year, which is what pick of the pops deals with. It goes through the chart in the corresponding week of a chosen year and plays a selection from the top 30? In this respect it wasn't up to the standard of 72 (T-Rex, Bowie,New Seekers, even David Cassidy), or 73 which was the year of Slade, Glitter (can't play), Sweet, and Suzi Quatro.

I might be the minority but singles did nothing for me. Apart from take up space in the living room in boxes. I considered singles for the casual fans unless you wanted the non album b side track.

Green Man wrote:
I might be the minority but singles did nothing for me. Apart from take up space in the living room in boxes. I considered singles for the casual fans unless you wanted the non album b side track.

A lot of groups are purely singles artists like the Police or Abba, where as every track on Duran Duran's Rio is great, with the title track being the worst one on there. There's nothing wrong with been a casual fan, if you like a song you shouldn't feel obliged to buy a full albums worth of songs. I used to collect every single and album of certain groups that I liked as a teenager, including 12" singles, and picture discs. I didn't go as far as buying import copies with a different pressing

robbiex wrote:
Green Man wrote:
I might be the minority but singles did nothing for me. Apart from take up space in the living room in boxes. I considered singles for the casual fans unless you wanted the non album b side track.

A lot of groups are purely singles artists like the Police or Abba, where as every track on Duran Duran's Rio is great, with the title track being the worst one on there. There's nothing wrong with been a casual fan, if you like a song you shouldn't feel obliged to buy a full albums worth of songs. I used to collect every single and album of certain groups that I liked as a teenager, including 12" singles, and picture discs. I didn't go as far as buying import copies with a different pressing


It's interesting Robbie for you say to this, our taste of music is very polar opposite. I have some Police LPs and CD's still and some hits thing I don't remember buying. I never liked ABBA or Duran Duran, nor does my partner nor my ex's.

I did collect LPs of the bands I like of course, some of the LPs are sadly long gone. I did buy picture discs, I still have a few of them still, they never played great but they look good in frames.

I have lost my U.S release of Dire Straits EP, which I have had for donkey years.

I think I only bought imports because they were slightly cheaper and German MCA releases sounded a lot better than North American releases due to the pressing plants.

Green Man wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Green Man wrote:
I might be the minority but singles did nothing for me. Apart from take up space in the living room in boxes. I considered singles for the casual fans unless you wanted the non album b side track.

A lot of groups are purely singles artists like the Police or Abba, where as every track on Duran Duran's Rio is great, with the title track being the worst one on there. There's nothing wrong with been a casual fan, if you like a song you shouldn't feel obliged to buy a full albums worth of songs. I used to collect every single and album of certain groups that I liked as a teenager, including 12" singles, and picture discs. I didn't go as far as buying import copies with a different pressing


It's interesting Robbie for you say to this, our taste of music is very polar opposite. I have some Police LPs and CD's still and some hits thing I don't remember buying. I never liked ABBA or Duran Duran, nor does my partner nor my ex's.

I did collect LPs of the bands I like of course, some of the LPs are sadly long gone. I did buy picture discs, I still have a few of them still, they never played great but they look good in frames.

I have lost my U.S release of Dire Straits EP, which I have had for donkey years.

I think I only bought imports because they were slightly cheaper and German MCA releases sounded a lot better than North American releases due to the pressing plants.

Not entirely polar opposite, you mention a Bowie album earlier who is probably the major influence of most of the groups i like (Duran, Japan, Human League, ABC etc.) GM I think your taste is polar opposite to most people's, but there is nothing wrong with that.

I agree Robbie.

I was never a huge bowie fan, I do few albums like Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs and Ziggy Stardust. I never liked his 80s stuff even back then. I liked the music videos though.

I am going off script off here but I want to know what you mean by getting concert and tour dregs up in the North?

Green Man wrote:
I agree Robbie.

I was never a huge bowie fan, I do few albums like Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs and Ziggy Stardust. I never liked his 80s stuff even back then. I liked the music videos though.

I am going off script off here but I want to know what you mean by getting concert and tour dregs up in the North?
I don't think it was me who said this. I can't recall saying this and I never lived in the proper north. There are plenty of concerts in the big cities of the north, like Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds etc. Not many concerts in Surrey. Central London is a 2 hour trip by public transport.

robbiex wrote:
Green Man wrote:
I agree Robbie.

I was never a huge bowie fan, I do few albums like Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs and Ziggy Stardust. I never liked his 80s stuff even back then. I liked the music videos though.

I am going off script off here but I want to know what you mean by getting concert and tour dregs up in the North?
I don't think it was me who said this. I can't recall saying this and I never lived in the proper north. There are plenty of concerts in the big cities of the north, like Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds etc. Not many concerts in Surrey. Central London is a 2 hour trip by public transport.

I have re-read the MJ posts and threads it was our lovely Honey who wrote that. Sorry Robbie!

I never go to Surrey apart from yesterday to look at a new some vehicles for work. I didn't see many posters for concerts, like I do around the Shires which are plastered all round their market towns and larger towns.

Green Man wrote:
[quote]robbiex wrote:
[quote]Green Man wrote:


I never go to Surrey apart from yesterday to look at a new some vehicles for work. I didn't see many posters for concerts, like I do around the Shires which are plastered all round their market towns and larger towns.

A lot of Surrey (including where I am) is so close to London that there is no need for local venues and acts. Hop on a train and you are in cental London in just over half an hour.

I can't get into central London in less than 2 hours by public transport, been in Cranleigh. Going back to the subject of the thread, "Pick of the Pops". It would be interesting to see how many times they play different years. They seem to do 1982 quite a lot. It is my favourite year for music, also 1978, 1981, and 1972 are other standout years for me. They seem to play less and less years from the 70s. I guess this is more about appealing to younger people (i.e. under 50). I don't remember early 70s, but I love the music of this time and enjoy it when they play these years. I'm not much interested in anything after 1990, even though i was in my 20s then. I think the bulk of radio 2 listeners are between 50 and 80, so there are still plenty of people interested in the older years.

I heard about Cranleigh Robbie, I hope it has good bus links to the Guildford theatre's.

Wyot, I hope you have booked Steve Hackett in October? The Lamb album was released 1974. Great stuff!

trafalgartickets.com/g-live-guildford/en...nesis-greats-tickets

Well how nice to see this discussion take off a bit!

Robbie, you are not the same Robbie who has been quite vocal about the 1974 boycott on the DS forum I linked in my opener are you?

In terms of singles, I was always a singles person first and foremost. I suppose singles and albums lovers are much like cat and dog lovers.

If you want to talk about one of the greatest ever singles, years ahead of its time in my opinion, then that came out of 1974 and was released 50 years ago this month and debuted on the chart 50 years ago next week as their first hit.

Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us.

It went on to hit No2 for a couple of weeks in early June 1974, an absolute stand out single and looking group.

youtu.be/eUJ_ifjKopM?feature=shared


Despite a string of hits and a bit of a resurgence in '79 they did not trouble the UK singles chart for so much as one single solitary week within the Top 75 during the entire 1980's which is truly staggering considering this song from 1974 sounds like it comes out the early 80's to me and you'd have thought their style would have suited at least the first part opf that decade to perfection. I bought their singles chart return in late 1994 when they crept to a meagre No38 with When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'.

Rich wrote:
Well how nice to see this discussion take off a bit!

Robbie, you are not the same Robbie who has been quite vocal about the 1974 boycott on the DS forum I linked in my opener are you?



No, I'm not the same Robbie from that Forum. Yes the Sparks track was good, but they didn't produce any catchy songs in the early 80s to match the synth pop groups, and they were just too old, not good looking enough, and too American. Even Abba were seen as a spent force in the 80s.

Oooh, that's a stinger about Sparks there Robbie. Thanks for clearing up my query there by the way.

Those spent forces in a particular time were infact only dormant forces it turned out.

On the 1974 question, BBC Three Counties were happy to play a half hour of hits from 1974 at lunchtime today.

Because of this 1974 question I am drawn to the year at the moment and last night watched the Christmas Day 1974 TOTP show with Tony Blackburn and Savile and was really impressed by how many actual acts that had topped the charts in 1974 they managed to bring to the studios that year for the Christmas end of year showpiece.

Another great fact was how in the second half of '74 suddenly it was packed with some great black artists topping the charts, George McCrae, Three Degrees, Carl Douglas, Sweet Sensation, Ken Boothe and Barry White, yet since late 1971 only one black act had done so in more than two and a half years, and that was only the novelty hit by Chuck Berry.