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Singer, songwriter and producer Barry Blue shares his memories of being a 70s heartthrob, and touring with Queen, ABBA and Status Quo.

Singer, songwriter and producer Barry Blue shares his memories of being a 70s heartthrob.

Best known for his hit songs "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" and "Do You Wanna Dance" (both 1973), Blue has also been a prolific songwriter and producer and has had over forty worldwide hits with the likes of Diana Ross, Celine Dion, The Saturdays, The Wanted, and Pixie Lott.

He released his first record "Together" in June 1971 under the name of Barry Green but found his first UK chart success as Barry Blue and had five hit between 1973-4: "Dancin' (On A Saturday Night)" (No. 2 1973), "Do You Wanna Dance?" (No. 7 1973), "School Love" (No. 11 1974), "Miss Hit and Run" (No. 26 1974) and "Hot Shot" (No. 23 1974). During this period, Blue appeared on many major TV shows and toured alongside artist such as Queen, Abba and Status Quo.

As a songwriter, Blue achieved a million seller in 1975 with "Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby" recorded by Brotherhood of Man. Two years later (1977) he co-wrote "Devil's Gun" a song by C. J. & Company from the album of the same name. The song went to No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard disco/dance chart. The single also peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart.

As a producer, he had a long association with the band Heatwave, who enjoyed hits in the UK and US with "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever", 'Mind Blowing Decisions", and "The Groove Line".

Also on the show, Johnnie adds another classic 7" single to his giant virtual jukebox and hears all the stories from This Week In Music.

1 hour, 56 minutes

Last on

Tue 13 Aug 2019 03:00
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • The Jimmy Castor Bunch

    Troglodyte (Cave Man)

  • Pratt & McClain

    Happy Days

    • Television's Greatest Hits Volume 3 70s & 80s.
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.

  • Queen

    Don't Stop Me Now

    • Jazz.
    • Island.
    • 12.

  • David Bowie

    Fame

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.

  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Mr. Blue Sky

    • The Very Best Of.
    • Frontiers Records.
    • T1.

  • Free

    All Right Now

    • Back To The 70's (CD1) (Various).
    • EMI.
    • 15.

  • Slade

    Cum On Feel The Noize

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.

  • John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band & Yoko Ono

    Instant Karma!

    • GIMME SOME TRUTH. (Deluxe).
    • Calderstone.

  • Stealers Wheel

    Stuck In The Middle With You

    • (Single).
    • A&M.

  • The Stylistics

    Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)

    • 70's Number Ones Vol 3.
    • Old Gold.

  • Nick Lowe

    So It Goes

    • The Best Punk Album In The World... Ever! Part 2 (Various Artists).
    • Virgin.
    • 2.

  • First Class

    Beach Baby

    • Dance Hits Of The '60's & '70's.
    • Old Gold.

  • The Detroit Spinners

    Could It Be I'm Falling In Love

    • Afrodisiac (Various Artists).
    • Universal Music Tv.
    • 6.

  • Status Quo

    Paper Plane

    • Whatever You Want - V.Best Of Status.
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

    The Tears Of A Clown

    • Motown: The Ultimate Hits Collection (Various Artists).
    • Motown.

  • The O’Jays

    Love Train

    • Shades Of Soul (Various Artists).
    • Global Television.

  • Barry White

    You're the First, the Last, My Everything

    • Barry White - The Collection.
    • Mercury.

  • Van Morrison

    Bright Side Of The Road

    • The Very Best Of Van Morrison.
    • Polydor.

  • The Temptations

    Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)

    • The Temptations - Motown's Greatest H.
    • Motown.

  • Barry Blue

    Dancing On A Saturday Night

    • Dance Hits Of The '60's & '70's.
    • Old Gold.

  • The Beach Boys

    Disney Girls

    • The Best Of The Beach Boys (CD 2).
    • EMI.

  • Queen

    Seven Seas Of Rhye

    • Queen - Greatest Hits.
    • Parlophone.
    • 11.

  • Heatwave

    Boogie Nights

    • Too Hot To Handle.
    • BBR.
    • 013.

  • Sparks

    Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth

    • Mael Intuition: The Best Of Sparks.
    • Universal-Island Records Limited.
    • 7.

  • James Taylor

    Handy Man

    • James Taylor - Classic Songs.
    • CBS.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 11 Aug 2019 15:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Tue 13 Aug 2019 03:00
    BBC Radio 2