Every Thursday on the Right Hook, Bill Hughes appears on The Right Hook to take a listen to some of the essential songs of the 20th century. Now, operating under a new format, Bill will be gently prodding George - or indeed Shane Coleman, who is hosting the show this week - to appreciate three songs that were hits on this day in the past, while taking in some of the historical events happening at the same time.
This week Shane and Bill will be talking about 23rd of April 1972. The songs featured are Without You by Nilsson, Come What May (Apres Toi) by Vicky Leandros, and Hold Your Head Up by Argent.
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April 1972 was in many ways right in the middle of a period of transition - albeit a transition that had been taking place over the course of many years, and would continue to do so. During that month, the US and the Soviet Union signed the Biological Weapons Convention (along with dozens of other signatories), and the US launched their penultimate mission to the moon with Apollo 16. Cold War tensions were certainly cooling, while the US was in the slow process of withdrawing from Vietnam. Socially things were still changing too - the first women were allowed run in the Boston Marathon held in April 1972, indicative of a more liberal, inclusive society.
In terms of pop culture, 1972 was also a significant year, further highlighting changes that had taken place over the preceding years. April 1972, for example, saw the first US release of Fritz the Cat - the infamous X-rated animated film. It wasn't far behind the equally taboo-breaking Pink Flamingos - they were both the sort of films that would have been almost impossible to make even a few years earlier. Indeed, it would have been a very good time to go to the cinema - The Godfather had just been released in the US, undoubtedly one of the most influential films of all time, although it would be a few more months before it showed up on Irish screens.
In Ireland, top-charters in early 1972 included the likes of Paul McCartney, T-Rex and Johnny Cash, alongside local acts like Eurovision contestant Sandie Jones (her song Ceol and Ghrá had only finished in 15th place back in March). On 22nd April, Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards had taken their place at the top of the chart with their version of Amazing Grace.
Bill's picks this week take us on a trip back to 1972, a time of change and transition that left us with plenty of great music. It was music that was often politically charged, but also full of innovation. From popular hits to classic rock, there was undoubtedly plenty of essential music in April 1972. It was, after all, the month that saw arguably the most iconic Neil Young song of them all hit the charts:
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