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November marks
the 50th anniversary of the Singles Chart in this country
and it's certainly come a long way from its inception back in 1952,
bidding 'hello' and 'farewell' along the way to many an artist and
musical genre.
Despite dwindling
sales, it's still an outlet (and an art form in my book!) that excites
and thrills.
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| It's true,
folks - we're not buying as many 45s as we used to do. Move
over Gareth, Will and Co! |
Classic
singles
My love affair
with the single began back in the early 70s and the Glam Rock explosion,
with my brother and sister and me all forking out hard-earned pocket
money for the platters that mattered to us.
What a magnificent
time for the 45 that was, with the likes of Bowie, Bolan,
Slade et al releasing a smattering of classic singles which
have (mostly) stood the test of time.
I really began
building a collection, though, in early 1977, fired by the burgeoning
Punk scene. Boy, did the New Wave understand the role of the 7-inch!
Musical
delights
My record emporium
of choice was initially Giljays, which used to be situated
on Church Street NW8, before switching allegiance to the cooler,
much hipper selection I found at Disc O Tape, based around
the corner on the Edgeware Road W2.
I spent many an
afternoon sagging off school there, riffling through their assortment
of musical delights and collaring the likes of Joe Strummer of
the Clash (who would be enjoying a meal at the Metropolitan Cafe,
which was right opposite) for an interview for my school punk fanzine
The Modern World!
Instant
fix
To this day, my
fixation with the single has continued, undaunted.
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| Keep the faith
singles-fans! |
Don't get me wrong,
I love albums just as much and when I'm in the mood, nothing can
beat them. But if you want a quick rush, an instant fix of a tune
that possesses a momentous, sometimes inexplicable, hold on you
- then the single is out there on its own.
Just check my Choice
Cuts each week, proving that though the formats may have
mutated over the past 50 years, the single is STILL alive and kicking.
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Listen live
Click
through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!