DR Essential Songs #3: Telstar - The Tornadoes
 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ybCjf6ras



Produced by Joe Meek in 1962 this was the first song by a British band to make number one on America's Billboard Hot 100. This led to early US export singles being stickered with the logo, "Look out America, the British are coming" a good year before the arrival of Beatle-mania.

It's also probably the only hit single ever to have been named after a communications satellite.

A seminal release, but also one of Thatcher's favourite tunes (ugh....)

Haha. I never knew that. Either way, It's one of those records I would've genuinely liked to have been around to listen to for the first time when it was actually released. Have you heard the Joe Meek album from 1959, 'I hear a New World'? That's amazing. There's just something so utterly right about the idea of a RAF radar expert from Gloucester inventing Happy Hardcore from his bedsit on the Holloway Rd.

This is yr best pick yet! Dig this cover:

demonrail - I've not heard that Meek album - I must investigate further!

i've only heard the ventures version

i thought i comment on this.

capital tune with capital production; kinda campy but really effective.

one of the greatest songs ever recorded in the world ever by anyone!

Excellent choice, a great record and one that I'm gonna play right now.