I rarely remember to listen to the Vintage Favourites Show on AM740 Sunday afternoons, because I'm usually busy doing something else. But this week's Victoria Day line-up sounds really interesting. Among the categories Gene Stevens will be presenting is one called "Songs Banned By The BBC."

The Beeb used to be the only game in town for radio listeners in the U.K. (which is how Radio Caroline came into being.) They had strict rules about what could and could not be played on air and that included rock music. I know of one famous example - Lola by the Kinks. In the original, lead singer Ray Davies has a lyric that says "it tastes just like Coca-Cola."

The BBC edicts did not allow any commercial product to be mentioned on air and banned the tune, which was a huge hit everywhere else. Desperate to get it played in the U.K., Davies flew back overnight from a concert tour in the U.S. just to change the line to "tastes just like cherry cola." And then he got on board a jet and flew back to America. 

When the take didn't work, he repeated the return journey a second time, sang the line again and left to go back over the pond and return to the tour. It was worth it - the new version was accepted by the BBC and became a hit over there. 

I'm assuming that's one of the tales Stevens will tell on the episode, which runs Sunday beginning at 2 PM. Here's his preview:

"I’ve taken eleven outstanding examples of major hit records by significant recording artists from the 1930s through the 70s … from the ‘jazz age’ to the ‘rock era’ … from Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong to the Beatles and Bowie. Each was banned, and each has a fascinating story which I’m looking forward to sharing with you."

This Week on Vintage Favourites: May 19th

Last edited by RadioActive (May 19, 2024 12:20 am)