The magic of musical memories

A NEW study across 84 countries suggests that men tend to hang on to musical memories from their teenage years, while women's tastes often continue to develop and grow as they get older.

- Ken Rogers

The Merseybeats helped make the Sixties swing

To use the title of that famous Four Tops Tamla Motown classic, males seem to keep singing the 'Same Old Song.' It would probably be easy to put this to the test at any city centre karaoke evening.

It appears that the music experienced by lads, particularly at the age of 16, tends to stick with them across the decades, while girls appear to move with the times.

Up until 1960, when I was 12, most of my musical tastes were being shaped by what I heard on the 'wireless,' mainly the output of Radio Luxembourg. Every week, I would capture its 'Top 20' show on my treasured reel to reel tape recorder.

However, when it came to a specific personal favourite hit of the day, 'Luxy' on 208 metres medium wave might frustratingly lose its signal halfway through a song. This would drive me mad.

The BBC was originally quite snooty about its own pop music input. It had launched a 'Hit Parade' programme in 1952, but insisted on using its own in house musicians rather than the original artists.