BBC Introducing in Manchester will be celebrating BBC Radio Manchester’s 40th anniversary with a song for every one of its 40 years.

The initiative, which showcases under-the-radar talent, has asked 40 local artists to cover famous tracks by past acts that have strong connections to northern city. From the Hollies to 10cc, New Order to Girls Aloud, each song has been hand-picked to denote a year in BBC Manchester’s 40 year broadcasting history.

From Friday 10 September to Sunday 12 September, these 40 recorded tracks will be played out on BBC Radio Manchester’s daytime schedule, giving the next wave of fresh, new northern talent, further opportunities to be heard by a wider audience.

Chris Long, Producer of BBC Introducing in Manchester, says: “We were asked for ideas to celebrate 40 years of BBC Radio Manchester and the idea instantly popped into my head for 40 of the acts that I work with on BBC Introducing to cover 40 Manchester musical moments. We’re trying to showcase the fantastic musical history we’ve got and the brilliant musical future in Greater Manchester.”

Full list of Artists and Tracks:

1970 - The Travelling Band - Our House (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) - Graham Nash grew up in Salford

1971 - The Christophers - Oh You Pretty Things (Peter Noone) - Peter Noone is from Manchester

1972 - Blind Atlas - You’re A Lady (Peter Skellern) - Peter Skellern is from Bury

1973 - The Ambersons - Magic Woman Touch (The Hollies) - Members of The Hollies are from Greater Manchester

1974 - Rook and the Ravens - The Air That I Breathe (The Hollies)

1975 - Christopher Eatough - I’m Not In Love (10cc) - Members of 10cc are from Greater Manchester

1976 - Kid British - The Boys Are Back In Town (Thin Lizzy) - Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott spent some of his childhood in Manchester

1977 - Kristyna Myles - Grease (Frankie Valli) - Grease is written by Barry Gibb, who grew up in Manchester

1978 - Here Be Dragons - Ever Fallen in Love (Buzzcocks) - Members of Buzzcocks are from Greater Manchester

1979 - Golden Glow - Every Day Hurts (Sad Café) - Members of Sad Café are from Greater Manchester

1980 - MAY68 - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division) - Members of Joy Division are from Greater Manchester

1981 - Josephine - Rapture (Blondie) - Blondie bass player at time, Nigel Harrison, is from Stockport

1982 - Unconscious Jungle - The Look Of Love (ABC) - Martin Fry is from Stockport

1983 - Shmoo - Blue Monday (New Order) - Former members of Joy Division

1984 - Becca Williams and Richard Barry - Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (The Smiths) - Members of The Smiths are from Greater Manchester

1985 - Walton Hesse - She Sells Sanctuary (The Cult) - Billy Duffy is from Manchester

1986 - Selfish Lovers - Panic (The Smiths)

1987 - Suzuki Method - Hit The North (The Fall) - Members of The Fall are from Greater Manchester

1988 - Karima Francis - Everyday Is Like Sunday (Morrissey) - Morrissey is from Manchester

1989 - Heavy Feet - People Hold On (Coldcut and Lisa Stansfield) - Lisa Stansfield from Rochdale

1990 - Driver Drive Faster - Step On (Happy Mondays) - Members of Happy Mondays are from Greater Manchester

1991 - From The Kites Of San Quentin - In Yer Face (808 State) - Members of 808 State are from Greater Manchester

1992 - Twelfth Day - You’re The One For Me, Fatty (Morrissey) - Morrissey is from Manchester

1993 - Louis Barabbas & the Bedlam Six - Relight My Fire (Take That & Lulu) - Members of Take That are from Greater Manchester

1994 - Butler Williams - The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get (Morrissey)

1995 - The Reclusive Barclay Brothers - Over My Shoulder (Mike & the Mechanics) - Former members of Sad Café

1996 - Violet Youth - Forever Love (Take That)

1997 - Sophie’s Pigeons - The Drugs Don’t Work (The Verve) - Members of The Verve are from Greater Manchester

1998 - Samir Harmim - Sonnet (The Verve)

1999 - The Minnikins - Once Around The Block (Badly Drawn Boy) - Damon Gough from Bolton

2000 - Seerauber Jenny - A Song For Lovers (Richard Ashcroft) - Former member of the Verve

2001 - A Me B - F.E.A.R. (Ian Brown) - Ian Brown is from Manchester

2002 - The Gilded Palace of Sin - Pounding (Doves) - Members of Doves are from Greater Manchester

2003 - Envy - Sound Of The Underground (Girls Aloud) - Sarah Harding is from Stockport

2004 - Beat The Radar - Love Machine (Girls Aloud)

2005 - Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam - Dare (Gorillaz) - features Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays, who is from the area

2006 - Messner - Country Girl (Primal Scream) - Mani from Primal Scream is from Manchester

2007 - Bugs In Ember - Do It Again (The Chemical Brothers) - The Chemical Brothers met and formed at University of Manchester

2008 - Kathryn Edwards - The Promise (Girls Aloud)

2009 - Hans Island - Up All Night (Take That)

2010 - The Vanguards - Doubt (Delphic) - Members of Delphic are from Greater Manchester

Leave a comment