NOW Yearbook ‘73: Mark Wood and Pete Paphides

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They all know it’s Dynamite,

And the music went on and on and on…

The history books will tell us that, in theory, 1973 shouldn’t have worked.

Terrorist campaigns, oil shortages, petrol rations, power cuts. Peters and Lee.

However, as the saying goes from great adversity comes great art. Or was it great sitcoms?

Either way, 1973 stands not just as one of the greatest pop years of the decade, one could argue of all time.

Really, I hear you cry? Where is the evidence that a year that could see Donny Osmond hit the top spot twice needs to be elevated to such greatness? And we didn’t even win the Eurovision Song Contest? CONVINCE ME!

1973 was perhaps the year where the decade finally shook off the ghosts of the Sixties. The Seventies had arrived and with breathless confidence, swagger and a reclamation of joyful pop by ‘the kids’, the year provides an embarrassment of musical and cultural riches. 1973 had put on its best glam gladrags and was ready to light the fuse for the rest of the decade.

Colour had arrived across UK TV sets just in time for the like of Slade, Elton, Bowie, Roxy Music and a host of others to trailblaze a lightning streak of supercharged escapism across the charts and into our homes every Thursday evening on Tops of the Pops.

Suzi Quatro, Alvin Stardust, Wizzard and Mud joined the glam trail with huge glittery doses of pop sensibility and killer choruses, that at times felt as if the centre couldn’t hold. David Essex provided one of the most memorable songs of the year as ‘Rock On’ also spearheaded 1973’s revival love affair with Rock and Roll as seen in the smash hit film ‘That’ll be The Day’.

But this stellar year also gave us a wealth of classic soul and funk, many of which still soundtrack our lives 50 years later. Let’s celebrate the greats such as Diana Ross, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye. The list of highlights (just like the beat, pop pickers) goes on and on.

And in 2023, the team at NOW have proudly provided us with a Yearbook and extra volume that together curates over 140 hits and memories from 1973; a pop year like no other. A compilation that is worthy of the title A CLASSIC.

Joining me for this special episode is music consultant and Duckie legend Mark Wood and music journalist, author and cofounder of needle mythology records Pete Paphides.

Discover why and how Mark has documented the whole year through his amazingly tireless, daily Facebook updates - and why 1973 is such an important year for him. Revisit Pete’s memories of growing up in a chip shop and the sights and sounds that triggered his own fascination with pop.

Along the way, also share in some fabulous anecdotes and stories including the tale of Roy Wood’s lost man bag, Alvin Stardust’s minders, which 1973 topped Saint Etienne’s all time list, a plethora of Beatles related links and facts and how some Daytona divine intervention soundtracked a 21st century fairground ride for one of our guests.

All of this and much, much more. Whether you were there first time around or are rediscovering the glam and excitement all over again, this is a very special episode that you’ll not want to miss!

Like Christmas, everyday baby.

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