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THIS WEEK IN ROCK

November 17, 2019

Wham! bestride the Atlantic, Ozzy announces his retirement, Eurythmics join the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and more – it’s this week in rock.

#OnThisDay November 11, 1972
The wildly popular singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan tops the UK singles charts for the first time with his 12th single, ‘Clair’. It goes on to be a Top 3 hit in the US.

#OnThisDay November 12, 1947
Many happy returns to Blue Öyster Cult’s Buck Dharma who wrote the rock classic ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’. The band have sold a staggering 24m records worldwide.

#OnThisDay November 13, 1976
Billy Ocean releases his third single of the year in the shape of ‘Stop Me (If You’ve Heard It All Before)’. It goes on to peak at No. 12 in the UK singles charts.

#OnThisDay November 14, 1974
The incomparable David Essex scores his first UK No. 1 single with ‘Gonna Make You A Star’. Produced by Jeff Wayne, the single spends three weeks in pole position. The single also goes Top 5 in Australia.

#OnThisDay November 15, 1992
After playing a gig in California, Ozzy Osbourne announces his retirement from touring. “Who wants to be touring at 46?” he laments. Wonder how that turned out for him?

#OnThisDay November 16, 2005
Eurythmics are inducted into the UK Music Hall Of Fame. One of Britain’s most successful bands, they’ve sold 75m records and have been won an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 1984, the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1987 and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1999.

#OnThisDay November 17, 1984
Wham! bestride the Atlantic like a pop colossus when ‘Make It Big’ tops the UK album charts while ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ is the biggest-selling single in the US.

Spotlight in Stereo

Spotlight in Stereo

It may not have been the hottest of summers here in the UK, but we’re still holding out for a sizzling September and enough of a vitamin D boost to see us into Christmas smiling.

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Artist Spotlight: WHAM!

Artist Spotlight: WHAM!

Celebrating forty years of their debut album with a heartwarming Netflix documentary and new The Singles: Echoes from the Edge of Heaven release, this month’s Artist Spotlight lands on WHAM!

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Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves

Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin

Last Christmas

WHAM!

WHAM! The Singles: Echoes From The Edge of Heaven Out Now!

WHAM! The Singles: Echoes From The Edge of Heaven Out Now!

Celebrating 40 years of chart-topping classics and hidden gems, WHAM! The Singles: Echoes From The Edge of Heaven will take you on a journey through the greatest hits of WHAM!’s extraordinary career.

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WHAM! Club Tropicana (Balearic Breeze Remix) Out Now!

WHAM! Club Tropicana (Balearic Breeze Remix) Out Now!

Welcoming you back into their wonderland, WHAM! share a brandnew remix of their iconic 1983 hit single Club Tropicana’!

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WHAM! Now streaming, only on Netflix!

WHAM! Now streaming, only on Netflix!

With unprecedented access to both George and Andrew’s personal archive, WHAM! charts their incredible journey from school friends to superstars. Now streaming, only on Netflix!

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WHAM! Coming to Netflix 5 July!

WHAM! Coming to Netflix 5 July!

WHAM!, the new documentary film charting the global rise of pop sensations George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, told in their own words. Coming to Netflix 5 July!

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Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)

Billy Ocean

Billy Ocean

Billy Ocean
The ultimate Billy Ocean playlist celebrating 45 years of Billy! Including your favourite hits Love Really Hurts Without You, Red Light Spells Danger, When the Going Gets Tough, Caribbean Queen, Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car and more!