Podcast
The Giddy Carousel Of Pop
Episode 1 - 26th November 2019 - 1 Hr 24 Min
In This Episode (released 26th November 2019) the team discuss the 6th November - 19th November 1985 issue of Smash Hits.
Simon and Gavin welcome you aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
In this first edition of the Smash Hits appreciation podcast, we have a good look at Ver Hits from 6-19 November 1985, with our good buddy
Tim Robinson (of Manchester-based production/DJ outfit Nightdubbing) lending a helping hand in this rummage through the back issues of pop.
Among the regular fortnightly columns (Bitz, Get Smart, Singles & Albums Reviews, RSVP, Letters), artists discussed include: Simple Minds,
Siouxsie & The Banshees, Kate Bush, Howard Jones, Grace Jones,
Midge Ure, Marc Almond, Echo & The Bunnymen, Madness, UB40,
Captain Sensible, Wham!, Pet Shop Boys, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Spandau Ballet, Paul Hardcastle, The Waterboys and loads more.
Episode 2 - 10th December 2019 - 1 Hr 16 Min
In This Episode (released 10th December 2019) the team discuss the
17th May - 30th May 1989 issue of Smash Hits.
Simon and Gavin welcome you aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
In this second episode of the Smash Hits appreciation podcast, we have a good look at Ver Hits from 17-30 May 1989, with our guest
Rachael Galletly lending a helping hand in this rummage through the back issues of pop.
Among the regular fortnightly features (Bitz, RVSP, Singles & Albums Reviews, lyrics and posters), artists discussed include: Roxette, Kylie Minogue, Queen, Fuzzbox, Sam Brown, Stefan Dennis, Bros, Debbie Gibson, Jason Donovan, Danny Wilson, London Boys, Soul II Soul, WASP, Eddy Grant, Paula Abdul, Reynolds Girls, Sonia, Big Fun, Tom Jones, Dirty Dancing, Hue & Cry, Poison and loads more.
Episode 3 - 24th December 2019 - 1 Hr 05 Min
In This Episode (released 24th December 2019) the team discuss the
6th December - 19th December 1984 issue of Smash Hits.
Simon and Gavin welcome you aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
In this third episode of the Smash Hits appreciation podcast, we have a good look at Ver Hits from 6-19 December 1984, with our guest, author and journalist Patricia Caliskan lending a helping hand in this rummage through the highlights of a very festive edition from the biggest Christmas of the 1980's and in pop music history.
Among the regular fortnightly features (Bitz, Singles Reviews, lyrics and letters), artists discussed include: Band Aid, David Bowie,
Strawberry Switchblade, Ian McCulloch, Paul Young, Kool & The Gang, Spandau Ballet, Wham!, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Bananarama,
Duran Duran, Midge Ure and many more.
You can read the issue for yourself thanks to Like Punk Never Happened and Smash Hits Remembered and also check out the music from its pages on our Spotify and YouTube playlists. It’s the next best thing to taping it off the radio!
Episode 4 - 7th January 2020 (Part 1) - 50 Min 49 Seconds
In This Episode (released 7th January 2020) the team discuss the
4th March - 17th March 1982 issue of Smash Hits.
Former Smash Hits editor David Hepworth joins Simon and Gavin on The Giddy Carousel of Pop, looking at the Smash Hits of 4-17 March 1982, in part one of a wide-ranging conversation that takes us behind the scenes of the magazine, the people who worked on it, the pop stars who appeared in it, and the invaluable part played by its readers.
Artists discussed in part one include ABC, Gary Numan, Paul Weller, Orange Juice, Toni Basil and Vice Squad/Beki Bondage. Or, pages 1 to 19!
Episode 4 - 14th January 2020 (Part 2) - 49 Min 54 Seconds
In This Episode (released 14th January 2020) the team discuss the
4th March - 17th March 1982 issue of Smash Hits.
Former Smash Hits editor David Hepworth joins Simon and Gavin on The Giddy Carousel of Pop, looking at the Smash Hits of 4-17 March 1982, in part one of a wide-ranging conversation that takes us behind the scenes of the magazine, the people who worked on it, the pop stars who appeared in it, and the invaluable part played by its readers.
Artists discussed in part one include ABC, Gary Numan, Paul Weller, Orange Juice, Toni Basil and Vice Squad/Beki Bondage. Or, pages 1 to 19!
Part 1 and 2
Episode 5 - 5th February 2020 - 1 Hour 5 Min 40 Seconds
In This Episode (released 5th February 2020) the team discuss the
February 1979 issue of Smash Hits.
In this episode we go all the way back to February 1979 to dissect issue 4 of Smash Hits. The last of the mag’s initial monthly issues, it only takes a moment to realise that this actually hit the streets in the January of 1979, tying up the loose ends of 1978 with its mix of pop, punk and disco before moving to fortnightly publication the following month, clearly marking out its future musical territory along the way.
Academic, author and broadcaster Simon Philo joins us to peruse its pages, with artists discussed including: Elvis Costello, Leo Sayer, Generation X, Olivia Newton John, Boomtown Rats, Rachel Sweet, Earth Wind & Fire, The Jacksons, Elton John, Paul Evans, Manhattan Transfer, Bay City Rollers, Sid Vicious, Funkadelic, Racey, Sally Oldfield, The Beach Boys and many more.
We even take a look at the horoscopes!
Episode 6 - 4th March 2020 (Part 1) - 56 Min 35 Seconds
In This Episode (released 5th March 2020) the team discuss the
23rd March - 5th April 1988 issue of Smash Hits.
Simon and Gavin welcome you once again to The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
In the first of two parts, we have a good look through the Smash Hits of 23 March – 5 April 1988 (the Easter hols!) with the help of our special guest, freelance pop culture writer, contributor to The Guardian and former Smash Hits deputy editor in the late 90s/early 00s, Hannah Verdier.
Hannah tells us about her time at the mag, as well as taking us back to the Smash Hits-obsessed teenage music geek who dreamed of nothing but getting a job at Ver Hits.
Artists discussed include Pet Shop Boys, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany,
Voice Of The Beehive, Des O’Connor, Michael Jackson,
Stock, Aitken & Waterman, Patsy Kensit, Taylor Dayne,
Michael Hutchence and Heart.
Episode 6 - 11th March 2020 (Part 2) - 50 Min 19 Seconds
In This Episode (released 11th March 2020) the team discuss the
23rd March - 5th April 1988 issue of Smash Hits.
Simon and Gavin welcome you back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
In the second part of our chat with freelance pop culture writer, contributor to The Guardian and former Smash Hits deputy editor Hannah Verdier, we continue our look through the Ver Hits of 23 March – 5 April 1988 (the Easter hols!), plus she tells us about her time working at the mag in the late 90's/early 00's including a rather awkward encounter with Jon Bon Jovi and pop larks with Ash and Boyzone.
Artists discussed include Pet Shop Boys, UB40, Bros, Climie Fisher, Sinitta, Taja Sevelle, Erasure, Deacon Blue, Patrick Swayze, The Fall, Morrissey and Rick Astley’s ruddy big pig among many others.
Part 1 and 2
Episode 7 - 9th April 2020 - 1 Hour 24 Min 53 Seconds
In This Episode (released 9th April 2020) the team discuss the
4th November - 17th November 1987 issue of Smash Hits.
Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop.
Hold tight for a top pop ride!
In this episode we go back to the Smash Hits of 4-17 November 1987 with pop kid Catherine Sked.
U2 grace the cover and other artists featured include T’Pau, Marillion, Communards, Blue Mercedes, Pet Shop Boys (again!), Heartbeat, Sting and Wet Wet Wet, not to mention Billy Idol’s ‘perv breeks’ and Rick Astley’s ruddy big pig.
Episode 8 (Part 1) - 5th May 2020 - 1 Hour 14 Min 56 Seconds
In This Episode (released 5th May 2020) the team discuss the
25th March - 7th April 1987 issue of Smash Hits.
Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop. Hold tight for a top pop ride!
​
In the first of two parts, Simon and Gavin chat to former Smash Hits editor Barry McIlheney about his time at Ver Hits (October 1986 to January 1989) and the 25 March – 7 April 1987 issue in particular.
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In just three years, Barry went from being a library assistant living with his mum in Belfast to editor of Britain’s brightest pop mag, via spells at Hot Press and Melody Maker. It was under his editorship that Smash Hits achieved its highest-ever circulation figures, but it wasn’t all plain sailing. From upsetting rock royalty to putting the wrong pop star on the cover, Barry takes us behind the scenes of what life was like at Ver Hits.
Artists discussed include The Mission, Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Terence Trent D’Arby and Curiosity Killed The Cat. Tom Hibbert takes a trip to Downing Street to meet Margaret Thatcher and Gavin dons his detective’s cap and tracks down an RSVP pop kid.
Episode 8 (Part 2) - 12th May 2020 - 1 Hour 10 Min 37 Seconds
In This Episode (released 12th May 2020) the team discuss the
25th March - 7th April 1987 issue of Smash Hits.
Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop. Hold tight for a top pop ride!
​
In part two of our chat with former Smash Hits editor
Barry McIlheney about his time at Ver Hits (October 1986 to January 1989) we continue out look at the issue of 25 March – 7 April 1987. If you missed part one, go and listen to it now (Link Above)!
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In just three years, Barry went from being a library assistant living with his mum in Belfast to editor of Britain’s brightest pop mag, via spells at Hot Press and Melody Maker. It was under his editorship that Smash Hits achieved its highest-ever circulation figures, but it wasn’t all plain sailing. From going to dinner with Michael Jackson to asking the members of U2 to draw a duck, Barry takes us behind the scenes of what life was like at Ver Hits.
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Artists discussed include The Mission, Mel & Kim, The Blow Monkeys, Bruce Willis, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, U2 and Genesis.