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TRACKS OF MY YEARS - TINIE TEMPAH (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 21st June 2026
Multi award-winning rapper, entrepreneur and presenter Tinie Tempah joins Vernon Kay to choose ten songs that have soundtracked his life, including tracks from Calvin Harris, Shanks & Bigfoot, Craig David and Basement Jaxx.
Tinie tells Vernon about arranging for his mum to meet one of her heroes Dolly Parton and the work ethic he learned from both his parents. They discuss the recording and writing of his huge debut hit Pass Out in 2010, TInie's pastime of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and how he got into it thanks to actor Tom Hardy, plus the lessons he has learned from his time in the industry and how he's trying to pass that on to the next generation.
Born in 1988 in London, Tinie Tempah began his music career in the mid-00s as part of the collective Aftershock Hooligans before going solo and founding his own independent label. In 2010 he released his huge breakthrough single, Pass Out, which spent two weeks at #1 in the UK singles chart, followed by a second chart-topper and massive international hit Written In The Stars, then his debut album Disc-Overy. The album topped the UK chart, went top 30 in the US and has been certified 3 x platinum, leading to two Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act and Best British Single. He's also won four MOBO Awards, as well as an Ivor Novello and has released two more records. Over the years he's collaborated with Zara Larsson, Calvin Harris, Labrinth, Swedish House Mafia, Kelly Rowland and many more. In the last few years he's presented TV documentaries and shows including Extraordinary Extensions on Channel 4 and appearing as a guest investor on Dragons' Den. He's also a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has recently returned to music, with the latest single Living Life released earlier this year.
The BBC are currently celebrating 125 of Black Music in the UK with season of programming called The Music Is Black. It includes a concert presented by Trevor Nelson and DJ Spoony for Radio 2, recorded at the Hackney Empire and starring the Chineke! Orchestra as well as guest artists including Alison Limerick and Elisabeth Troy. It is available on BBC Sounds from 22 June, and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 28 June
Find more programmes and content from the season at www.bbc.co.uk/themusicisblack
Listen to Tracks Of My Years on BBC Sounds, and watch Vernon's conversations on BBC iPlayer and Radio 2's YouTube channel, just search for 'Tracks Of My Years'.
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.
Dolly Parton - Jolene [Now]
Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate [Chocolate Boy]
Artful Dodger (feat. Craig David) - Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) [Now]
Craig David - Fill Me In [Sony]
Tinie Tempah - Pass Out [Parlophone]
So Solid Crew - 21 Seconds [Now]
Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At [XL Recordings]
The Streets - Has It Come To This? [Locked On]
Fat Joe (feat. Ashanti) - What's Luv? [Atlantic]
Tinie Tempah (feat. Jess Glynne) - Not Letting Go [Parlophone]
KDA (feat. Katy B & Tinie Tempah) - Turn The Music Louder (Rumble) [Ministry Of Sound]
Tinie Tempah (feat. Ellie Goulding) - Wonderman [Parlophone]
Amy Winehouse - Rehab [Island]
Calvin Harris - The Girls [Columbia]
Tinie Tempah - Girls [Parlophone]
Calvin Harris (feat. Tinie Tempah) - Drinking From The Bottle [Columbia]
Tinie Tempah & Daecolm - Living Life [Believe UK]
Route 94 (feat. Jess Glynne) - My Love [Rinse/Virgin EMI]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - MICK JAGGER & RONNIE WOOD (THE ROLLING STONES) (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 31st May 2026
Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones join Vernon for a special edition of Tracks Of My Years, taking us through their lives and careers in ten songs.
With The Rolling Stones set to release their new album Foreign Tongues this summer, Vernon Kay sat down with frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Ronnie Wood for a revealing and often hilarious trip down memory lane.
Mick tells Vernon about the ramshackle way the band's first songs were recorded, how he knew he was destined to be a frontman and meeting one of his heroes, Muddy Waters, in Chicago. Plus, how he consumes music now, being excited to work with Sir Paul McCartney on their new album and the importance of Charlie Watts posthumously featuring on the record too.
Ronnie talks about being inspired to learn to play music by his older brothers and self-teaching himself to play riffs by his heroes such as Chuck Berry in his bedroom. Plus, how he joined the band in the mid-70s and used his house as a studio to record their songs, and his first experiences bringing ideas to the band. He also discussed the guitar part he wrote in the studio after hearing of Brian Wilson's passing and his own memories of the late, great Charlie Watts.
Every week on Tracks Of My Years, Vernon is joined by a special guest who chooses ten songs that have soundtracked their life. Listen on BBC Sounds and watch on BBC iPlayer – just search Tracks Of My Years.
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.
The Rolling Stones - Tell Me [ABKCO]
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy [Telstar]
The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It) [ABKCO]
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated - Whoa Babe [Amuze]
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode [Now]
The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up [ABKCO]
The Rolling Stones - Lady Jane [ABKCO]
Cilla Black - It's For You [Parlophone]
The Beatles - I Wanna Be Your Man (Remastered 2009) [EMI]
The Rolling Stones - Dance (Pt 1.) [Polydor]
The Rolling Stones - Hey Negrita [Polydor]
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil (Live) [The Rolling Stones]
The Rolling Stones - Miss You [Polydor]
The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice [EMI]
The Rolling Stones - In The Stars [Polydor]
The Rolling Stones - Rough And Twisted [Polydor]
The Rolling Stones - Band Introductions (Live) [The Rolling Stones]
Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane - My Baby Gives It Away [UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - PAUL MCCARTNEY (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 25th May 2026
Paul McCartney joins Vernon Kay for a special edition of Tracks Of My Years, choosing ten songs that have soundtracked his life.
In a wide-ranging conversation spanning his life and extraordinary career, Paul reflects on his childhood, recalls his earliest musical memories, and discusses the artists and influences that first shaped his love of music. Through his choices, there are stories about The Beatles' relationship with The Rolling Stones and The Kinks as well as recollections of meetings with Elvis Presley, Brian Wilson and Bob Dylan.
Born in Liverpool in 1942, Paul began playing music at an early age, teaching himself Spanish guitar, trumpet and piano and writing the song When I'm Sixty-Four by the age of 16. In 1957, he met John Lennon and was invited to join John's band The Quarrymen, who by 1960 had become The Beatles. They became one of the most influential bands of the time, and Paul wrote a huge number of their songs including Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be and Yesterday to name just a few. After releasing twelve studio albums, they disbanded in 1970, and Paul began a solo career with the self-titled album McCartney that year. He has continued recording music and touring ever since, with a brand new album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, his first in over five years, out on 29th May.
Every week on Tracks Of My Years, Vernon is joined by a special guest who chooses ten songs that have soundtracked their life. Listen on BBC Sounds and watch on BBC iPlayer – just search Tracks Of My Years.
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.
Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula [EMI]
Little Richard - The Girl Can't Help It [Speciality]
The Beatles - Love Me Do [Parlophone]
Chuck Berry - Maybellene [Music Club]
The Crickets - That'll Be The Day [MCA]
Charlie Rich - Mohair Sam [Mercury Nashville]
Elvis Presley - All Shook Up [RCA]
The Kinks - You Really Got Me [BMG]
The Beatles - I Wanna Be Your Man [Parlophone]
The Rolling Stones - I Wanna Be Your Man [Decca]
The Human League - Don't You Want Me [Now]
Prince & The Revolution - Kiss [Warner Bros]
The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road [Apple]
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain [Warner]
Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man [Columbia]
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows [EMI]
The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice [EMI]
Paul McCartney - Days We Left Behind [Capitol]
John Lennon - Imagine [Calderstone]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - PETER CAPALDI (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 3rd May 2026
Star of Doctor Who, The Thick Of It and many more, actor and musician Peter Capaldi joins Vernon Kay to select his Tracks Of My Years - with an in-depth conversation about his life and his choice of ten songs which have been the soundtrack to it.
Peter discusses his childhood in Glasgow, his failure to get into drama school and the punk band he formed whilst studying at art school instead. Then he gives Vernon insights into the musical references behind his beloved characters from The Thick Of It and Doctor Who, as well as how he's come to the point of releasing his own music in his 60s and joining Franz Ferdinand on stage at Glastonbury. All this comes before revealing which popstar he and his grandson both love and telling an incredible story about putting his foot in it when meeting one of his all-time favourite artists.
Born in Glasgow in 1958, Peter first discovered drama and music whilst in school, performing with youth theatre groups and fronting a punk rock band called the Dreamboys. His professional career took off in the 80s with numerous roles on stage, television and film. His first starring role in television came in 1992 with the BBC series Mr Wakefield's Crusade and during the 90s he also began to occasionally write and direct. He created the short film Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life, released in 1993, which won a Bafta and Oscar for Best Short Film. One of his best-known roles began in 2005 when he starred as political spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in the acclaimed comedy The Thick Of It - for which he won a Bafta in 2010. Having been a fan of Doctor Who since childhood, and having played a small role in the show before, he joined it as the Doctor in 2013, He played the role in forty episodes across the next four years, before leaving in 2017. In that time he also appeared in Paddington and Paddington 2. Since leaving Doctor Who, he has starred in films such as The Personal History of David Copperfield and The Suicide Squad, as well as the TV series The Devil's Hour. A keen musician, Peter released his debut solo studio album St Christopher in 2021, followed by a second, Sweet Illusions, in 2025. He also was a surprise guest at last year's Glastonbury festival, when he joined Franz Ferdinand on stage to play Take Me Out. Peter is currently starring in the second series of Criminal Record, on Apple TV.
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.
The Beatles - All My Loving [Apple]
Frank Sinatra - That's Life [Reprise]
Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant [Virgin]
Neil Young - Old Man [Reprise]
Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK (UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love [Epic]
This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren [4AD]
David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) [EMI]
David Bowie - Starman [Parlophone UK]
David Bowie - Golden Years [Rhino]
Willie Nelson - Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) [Columbia Nashville]
The Blow Monkeys - Digging Your Scene [Sony Tv/Columbia]
Peter Capaldi - Sweet Illusions [Last Night From Glasgow Limited]
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out [Now]
Taylor Swift - All Too Well (Taylor's Version) [Taylor Swift]
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset [BMG]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - BOB MORTIMER (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 15th March 2026
Comedian and writer Bob Mortimer joins Vernon to select his Tracks Of My Years - with an in-depth conversation about his life and choosing ten songs which have soundtracked that time so far.
Born in 1959 and growing up in Middlesbrough, Bob says he was very shy for much of his childhood, and it wasn't until he moved to London and met Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) that he got into comedy. The two formed a beloved double act, with shows like Vic Reeves Big Night Out and Shooting Stars to name just a few. In more recent years, he's starred in Gone Fishing with Paul Whitehouse, Taskmaster and had show-stealing appearances in Would I Lie To You. This month, he's returning as defending champion for the second series of Last One Laughing UK on Prime Video, with a new cast including Romesh Ranganathan, Mel Giedroyc, Alan Carr & Diane Morgan.
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.
The Tams - Hey Girl Don't Bother Me [Connoisseur Collection]
Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love [Polydor]
The Beatles - Rocky Raccoon [UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Steely Dan - Only A Fool Would Say That [UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Free - My Brother Jake [Spectrum]
Faces - Ooh La La [Virgin]
Janet Jackson - When I Think Of You [A&M]
Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff - Dizzy [EMI]
Squeeze - Some Fantastic Place [EMI]
Pulp - Babies [Island]
Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank [Skint]
Led Zeppelin - Ramble On [Atlantic]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - PET SHOP BOYS (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 22nd February 2026
Another chance to hear Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe from Pet Shop Boys choose the Tracks of OUR Years, from June 2024.
Neil and Chris met in a London Hi-Fi store in 1981 and bonded over a mutual love for disco and electronic music, drawing inspiration from synth-pop pioneers like OMD, Soft Cell and Depeche Mode.
They have sold over 50 million records worldwide in an astonishing career spanning four decades. From their breakthrough hits "West End Girls" and "It's A Sin" to working with such luminaries as Dusty Springfield, Liza Minnelli, Madonna and Lady Gaga, their songs have been at the forefront of electronic music.
Pet Shop Boys began 2024 with a brand new single "Loneliness" from their most recent album "Nonetheless". They performed that single in Radio 2's Piano Room as well as a brilliant cover of Mott The Hoople's "All The Young Dudes" and then played five nights at London's Royal Opera House in July.
The Beatles - I Am The Walrus [Parlophone]
The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love [Polygram Tv]
Irene Cara - Fame [Now]
The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone [Motown]
Eddie & The Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do [Universal]
Sharon Redd - Never Give You Up [Prelude]
Kariya - Let Me Love You For Tonight [Sleeping Bag]
David Bowie & Pat Metheny Group - This Is Not America [EMI]
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy [Now]
Roy Orbison - A Love So Beautiful [MCA]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - JOHN BISHOP (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 25th January 2026
One of Britain's best-loved comedians, John Bishop joins Vernon to choose his Tracks Of My Years this week - ten songs that tell the story of his life and career to date.
Born in Liverpool in 1966, John Bishop grew up dreaming of playing football for Liverpool FC. Whilst he didn't make it to Anfield, he did play semi-professionally into his 20s, then working in pharmaceutical sales. In his 30s, he was in the middle of divorcing his wife when he started stand-up comedy by accident. He signed up to an open mic night at The Frog and Bucket in Manchester to avoid paying the £4 entrance fee and loved it so much that he became a regular. His set included material about his separation, and one night he didn't realise his wife was in the audience. A conversation after the show led to agreeing to get counselling, and they got back together. After years working on his stand-up alongside a full-time job, he became a full-time comedian, later also branching out into presenting and acting, where his credits include playing companion Dan on Doctor Who and acting on-stage opposite Sir Ian McKellen. Last year, he celebrated 25 years since he started stand-up with a huge live tour, as well as playing a show where it all started, at the Frog and Bucket.
The story of John's start in stand-up has inspired the new film Is This Thing On? which comes to UK cinemas on 30th January. Directed and co-written by Bradley Cooper, the films sees Will Arnett play Alex Novak, who tries his hand at the New York comedy scene in the face of a failing marriage to Tess Novak, played by Laura Dern.
Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 2.
Billie Jo Spears - Blanket On The Ground [Telstar]
The Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything [Now]
Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing [London]
Chris Isaak - Wicked Games [London]
Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You [Now]
David Gray - Sail Away [East West]
U2 - You're The Best Thing About Me [Island]
Jack Savoretti - Soldier's Eyes [De Angelis]
Elbow - One Day Like This [Fiction]
Gerry And The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone [Premier]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - JOHN POWER (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 18th January 2026
Musician John Power of Cast and The La's joins Vernon to choose his Tracks Of My Years - ten songs that tell the story of his life and career to date. His selections include songs by T Rex, The Clash, Candi Staton and Oasis.
Born in Allerton, Liverpool, in 1967, John didn't pick up a guitar until his mid-teens when, encouraged by Lee Mavers, he started playing bass with The La's. He was part of the band from 1986 to 1991, including playing on their classic There She Goes, before leaving to form Cast. Cast released four albums before splitting in 2002, then reformed in 2010 and have released music and toured regularly ever since. Last year, they celebrated thirty years since their debut album All Change, as well as supporting Oasis on their huge reunion tour, including Wembley Stadium, Heaton Park, Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Croke Park in Dublin, Murrayfield in Edinburgh – plus New Jersey and LA in the USA.
Cast are releasing their eighth studio album Yeah Yeah Yeah at the end of January and playing some small UK shows around the release of the new album, in association with local record stores.
Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 2.
The Beatles - Love Me Do [Apple]
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever [Parlophone]
Suzi Quatro - Can The Can [RAK]
T. Rex - Telegram Sam [Premier]
The Stranglers - No More Heroes [Premier]
Los Bravos - Black Is Black [Decca (UK)]
The Specials - A Message To You, Rudy [Now]
The Clash - London Calling [Polydor]
Riff Hard Studios - Key E - 12 Bar Blues Standard
The La's - Son Of A Gun [The Viper Label]
The La's - There She Goes [Polygram Tv]
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Redemption Song [Universal]
Cast - Redemption Song (Live) [Polydor]
The Source - You Got The Love [Castle Communications]
Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues [Virgin]
Cast - Free Love [Scruff Of The Neck]
Oasis - Champagne Supernova [Virgin]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - DAVID ESSEX (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 14th December 2025
Legendary singer and actor David Essex selects his Tracks Of My Years with Vernon Kay.
Since his first singles in the 60s, David has enjoyed a remarkable career; writing and producing albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. He's had twenty-three Top 30 singles in Britain alone. These include the Grammy-nominated 'Rock On', which topped the charts in Britain and the USA. Subsequent singles such as Lamplight, Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You A Star, Oh What A Circus and Silver Dream Machine made David a household name. Meanwhile, his acting credits include West End productions of Evita and Footloose, films such as That'll Be The Day and TV series such as EastEnders.
In 2026, David is travelling around the UK on his new Thanks For The Memories tour, starting in September in Birmingham.
Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 2.
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows [EMI]
David Essex - And The Tears Came Tumbling Down [Fontana]
Little Richard - Lucille [EMI]
The Crickets - That'll Be The Day [TV Music]
David Essex - Rock On [Mercury]
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Could You Be Loved [Island]
Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Nowhere To Run [Motown]
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Born To Run [CBS]
Buddy Guy - First Time I Met The Blues [Geffen]
David Essex - Can't Nobody Love You [Fontana]
Muddy Waters - I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man [Charly]
Ray Charles & Blues Brothers - Shake A Tail Feather [Rhino]
Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) [Fish People]
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime [Sire]
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze [Universal]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - ROLAND GIFT (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 23rd November 2025
Roland Gift, frontman of Fine Young Cannibals, joins Vernon Kay to select his Tracks Of My Years.
Born in Birmingham and raised in Hull, Roland joined Fine Young Cannibals after answering an advertisement for a vocalist by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox – both former members of The Beat. They took their name from the 1960 film All The Fine Young Cannibals and released two albums; their self-titled debut in 1985 and The Raw & The Cooked in 1989. The latter featured singles like She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing - both of which topped the chart in the US. The Raw & The Cooked was globally successful, topping the album charts in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. It sold over five million copies worldwide, topping charts on both sides of the Atlantic, and earned the band two BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello, four MTV Music Video nominations and three Grammy nominations. The band split in 1992, and Roland has also worked as an actor on stage and screen
To mark forty years since the band's self-titled debut album, this month they're releasing a new career-spanning compilation FYC40. Next year Roland is playing live, with a 40 Years Of Songs By Fine Young Cannibals UK tour.
Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 2.
The Clash - Complete Control [Columbia]
Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come [BR Music]
Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair [Telstar]
The Jam - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight [Global Television]
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites [Old Gold]
The Specials - Too Much Too Young [Connoisseur]
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'n' Roll [Blackheart]
The Who - Pinball Wizard [Polydor]
Dexys Midnight Runners - Dance Stance [Parlophone UK]
Billie Holiday - Willow, Weep For Me [Verve Reissues]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - MARK RONSON (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 26th October 2025
Award-winning producer musician and DJ Mark Ronson takes us on his 10-song journey in this week's Tracks of My Years.
Born in the UK, but spending much of his teens in New York, Mark was introduced to music from a young age by his parents, as well as his step-father Mick Jones, the guitarist, keyboard player and songwriter in the band Foreigner. He played in bands but soon was inspired by his love of hip hop to try DJing, which he soon fell in love with.
In the 2000s, he moved into songwriting and production, releasing his hugely successful covers album Version in 2007. Over his career to date, he has worked with a huge range of artists including Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Adele, Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Paul McCartney to name just a few. He worked extensively with Amy Winehouse, co-producing her seminal 2006 album Back To Black, and more recently has moved into film soundtracks, winning an Oscar for co-writing Shallow from A Star Is Born.
Mark has just published his memoir, Night People - How To Be A DJ In 90s New York City, documenting his time in the city at the time.
Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 2.
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is [Telstar]
Duran Duran - Wild Boys [EMI]
Soul II Soul (feat. Caron Wheeler) - Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) [NOW]
Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro [Factory]
Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) [RCA]
Tears For Fears - Shout [Mercury]
Stevie Wonder - All I Do [Motown]
The Jacksons - I Want You Back [Polygram Tv]
AC/DC - Back In Black [Epic]
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black [Universal]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - GRIFF RHYS JONES (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 19th October 2025
Comedy icon Griff Rhys Jones is taking Gary Davies along for his ten song journey this week in Tracks Of My Years.
We've known and loved Griff's work since the late seventies in shows like Not the Nine O'Clock News, It'll be Alright on the Night, Three Men In A Boat and Restoration, but he's still perhaps best remembered for his long-running partnership with the late Mel Smith in 'Alas Smith & Jones'.
Away from comedy Griff's hosted multiple arts and travel documentaries, including Griff's Great Australian Rail Trip, Griff's Great Kiwi Road Trip and Griff's Canadian Adventure, and next year he's hosting a new Channel Four travel documentary exploring the Southern States.
Griff has won two Oliviers, two British Comedy Awards, two Baftas and an Emmy, and he's currently on a theatre tour with his one man show The Cat's Pyjamas. Having first started last year, the show sees Griff "sharing witty observations and rambling comic stories covering a diverse range of subjects: from TV travel, his childhood, Welsh family, age, fraud, late night trains and nostalgia to the TikTok generation, crocodile smuggling, and opal noodling in Australia."
The Beatles - Help! [Apple]
Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks - I Scare Myself [Epic]
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks [Universal]
Blondie - Atomic [EMI]
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Kiss On My List [BMG]
The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash [Abkco]
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain [Universal]
Queen - Radio Ga Ga [Parlophone]
Elvis Costello - Alison [Imp]
Idina Menzel - Let It Go [Walt Disney]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - RICHARD ASHCROFT 21.09.25 (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 21st September 2025
One of the most accomplished and influential songwriters around, over the course of a career spanning three decades, Richard is also a two-time Ivor Novello Award winner for Songwriter of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to British Music.
The Verve released four studio albums: 'A Storm in Heaven', 'A Northern Soul', 'Urban Hymns' and 'Forth'. 'Urban Hymns' brought us tracks such as 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', 'The Drugs Don’t Work', 'Lucky Man', and 'Sonnet', and became one of the biggest selling albums in UK history. In 2008, the album 'Forth' peaked at number one on the UK Albums chart.
Richard's solo career continued that acclaim, with his debut number one 'Alone With Everybody' and all five subsequent studio albums landing in the top five. His new album, 'Lovin' You', is out in October.
After performing in the Radio 2 Piano Room earlier this year, he was also a special guest on the Oasis tour - the biggest stadium tour of the year. After his recent spate of sellout gigs, he has announced more live UK dates for 2026.
Carpenters - Superstar
John Lennon - Just Like Starting Over
The Kids From Fame - Starmaker
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums
Oasis - Live Forever
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
The Electric Prunes - Holy Are You
Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen
Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - ROBERT PLANT 14.09.25 (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 14th September 2025
Led Zeppelin icon and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Robert Plant - regarded as one of rock music's greatest vocalists - chooses ten of his favourite songs in this week's Tracks of My Years.
As part of Led Zeppelin, Robert is known for classics tracks such as "Stairway to Heaven", "Whole Lotta Love", and "Kashmir", but he also embarked on a successful solo career after the break up of the band, with twelve studio albums, two compilation albums, three video albums, four collaborative albums, and 44 singles to date.
One of Robert's most notable collaborations has been his duet album with Alison Krauss - called "Raising Sand' - which won five Grammy Awards including Album and Record of the Year.
He's also collaborated with bands Strange Sensation, Band Of Joy and Sensational Shape Shifters, and in September, Robert is set to release a new album with his latest group Saving Grace, with a North American tour planned for the Autumn.
Little Joe Cook & Chris Farlowe - Stormy Monday Blues (Part Two)
Charlie Rich - So Long
Small Faces - Come On Children
Terry Reid - Tinker Taylor
Dave Edmunds - Girl Talk
Patty Griffin - Back At The Start
Los Lobos - Los Armarillas
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Richmond On The James
Vedra - Dusk
Paul Weller - Lawdy Rolla
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - MARK HAMILL 24.08.25 (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 24th August 2025
Vernon Kay has a real treat for you in this week's Tracks of My Years.
Best known for playing Luke Skywalker across six films and several Star Wars TV series, Mark Hamill is also an acclaimed Broadway actor and one of the most highly regarded voice actors in Hollywood.
He has won awards for his portrayal of Batman nemesis The Joker in several animated movies, and he's appeared in several of the popular Wing Commander video games. Notable non-Star Wars roles include the films Kingsman: The Secret Service, Slipstream and Sleepwalkers, and now he's starring with Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejifor and Karen Gillian in the adaptation of the Stephen King novella 'The Life Of Chuck'. But he begins his musical journey with his favourite band ever - he's chosen "From Me To You" by The Beatles.
The Beatles - From Me To You [Apple]
The Kinks - You Really Got Me [BMG]
The Animals - The House Of The Rising Sun [MFP]
The Rolling Stones - The Last Time [Abkco]
Keenan Wynn & James Whitmore - Brush Up Your Shakespeare [EMI]
Big Brother & The Holding Company - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart [Columbia]
Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now [Reprise]
The Moody Blues - Question [Polydor]
"Weird Al" Yankovic - My Bologna [Volcano]
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows [EMI]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - BURT BACHARACH 10.02.23 (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 10th February 2023
A very special Tracks of My Years another chance to hear the choices of legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach after his recent death. Back in 2005, Ken Bruce was joined by Burt, who had just released his album At This Time.
Plus, we'll hear from TV Presenter Dawn O'Porter, singers Dionne Warwick, Rumer and John Legend, and fellow songwriters, Graham Gouldman, Trevor Horn and Mike Rutherford who have all chosen Burt Bacharach and Hal David tracks and share with us why they were such a huge influence on their musical careers.
Earth, Wind & Fire - After The Love Has Gone
The Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes
Barbra Streisand - People
Ben E. King - Stand By Me
The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Quincy Jones (feat. James Ingram) - Just Once
The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road
Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is?
Dionne Warwick - Walk On By
Cilla Black - Anyone Who Had A Heart
Cilla Black - Alfie
Dusty Springfield - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - DAVID BYRNE (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 3rd August 2025
Vernon Kay, welcomes a real rule-breaker, David Byrne. A Scottish-born musician and interdisciplinary artist who was best known as the front man of the influential American art-rock group Talking Heads.
Byrne has released solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography, opera, fiction, and non-fiction. He has received an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award, and as part of Talking Heads he is an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, where they were reunited to play four tracks: "Psycho Killer", "Burning Down the House", "Once In A Lifetime" and "Life During Wartime".
David's new single "Everybody Laughs" is out now: the new album "Who is The Sky" comes out on 5th September and you can catch David and his band on tour in the UK and Europe next year.
Pete Seeger - Waist Deep In The Big Muddy [Smithsonian Folkways]
Woody Guthrie - Do-Re-Mi [Smithsonian Folkways]
The Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man [Global Television]
James Brown - Cold Sweat [Polydor]
Bill Lee & John Kerr - Carefully Taught [Hallmark Music And Entertainment]
KC And The Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love [Knight]
D‐Train - You're The One For Me [Warner Strategic Market]
Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets [Virgin]
Television - Venus [Elektra]
Miles Davis - Black Satin (Edit) [Source Columbia/Legacy]
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