Russell Davies - 07/02/2010

Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft & inspiration of the popular song. This week's show takes in two new releases: A collection of songs originally banned by the BBC entitled This Record Is Not to Be Played: Vol 2 and a set of CDs documenting everything in the British album charts in 1959. Sandwiched between these are a review of a new album by Tessa Souter and a tribute to recently lost Kate McGarrigle. Russell features the artists who gave their songs wings: Fred Astaire, Ella, Bing, Peggy Lee, Sinatra, Julie London, The Mills Brothers, Boswell Sisters and many more. He pays birthday and centennial tributes, marks important deaths, and finds topical items that illuminate the subject in a variety of entertaining ways, with the occasional star interview.