1987 Festive Fifty

Shows

 * 22 December 1987: #50-#41
 * 23 December 1987: #40-#31
 * 28 December 1987: #30-#21
 * 29 December 1987: #20-#11
 * 30 December 1987: #10-#01

Comments

 * 'Faintly ridiculous' was John's comment, made in hindsight, about this chart. The Smiths had recently split, and the result was that all but two of the songs from their final studio album 'Strangeways Here We Come' made the 50.
 * Other notable entries were at number two, with the Fall's highest placed session track, the high profile of rap, and a rare appearance for JP's beloved African music in the shape of the Bhundu Boys.

John Peel's Festive Fifty 1987

 * 50: Talulah Gosh, 'Talulah Gosh'
 * 49: Beatmasters ft Cookie Crew, 'Rok Da House'
 * 48: Gun Club: 'Breaking Hands'
 * 47: Colorblind James Experience, 'Considering A Move To Memphis'
 * 46: M/A/R/R/S, 'Pump Up The Volume'
 * 45: Smiths, 'Shoplifters Of The World Unite'
 * 44: Butthole Surfers, '22 Going On 23'
 * 43: New Order, '1963'
 * 42: Big Black, 'L Dopa'
 * 41: Jesus And Mary Chain, 'Nine Million Rainy Days'
 * 40: Smiths, 'I Started Something I Couldn't Finish'
 * 39: Jesus And Mary Chain, 'Kill Surf City'
 * 38: Public Enemy, 'You're Gonna Get Yours'
 * 37: Sonic Youth, '(I Got A) Catholic Block'
 * 36: Eric B & Rakim, 'I Know You Got Soul'
 * 35: McCarthy, 'Frans Hals'
 * 34: Smiths, 'Sheila Take A Bow'
 * 33: James Taylor Quartet, 'Blow Up'
 * 32: Prince, 'Sign O' The Times'
 * 31: Wedding Present, 'Getting Nowhere Fast'
 * 30: Bhundu Boys, 'My Foolish Heart'
 * 29: Smiths, 'I Won't Share You'
 * 28: Railway Children, 'Brighter'
 * 27: Eric B & Rakim, 'Paid In Full'
 * 26: Fall, 'Athlete Cured'
 * 25: Smiths, 'Death Of A Disco Dancer'
 * 24: Smiths, 'Half A Person'
 * 23: Smiths, 'Sweet And Tender Hooligan'
 * 22: Motorcycle Boy, 'Big Rock Candy Mountain'
 * 21: Smiths, 'Paint A Vulgar Picture'
 * 20: Cud, 'You Sexy Thing'
 * 19: Primitives, 'Stop Killing Me'
 * 18: Big Black, 'Colomboan Necktie'
 * 17: Barmy Army, Sharp As A Needle'
 * 16: Jesus And Mary Chain, 'April Skies'
 * 15: Smiths, 'Girlfriend In A Coma'
 * 14: Public Enemy, 'Rebel Without A Pause'
 * 13: Sonic Youth, 'Schizophrenia'
 * 12: Smiths, 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before'
 * 11: I, Ludicrous, 'Preposterous Tales'
 * 10: Wedding Present, 'Anyone Can Make A Mistake'
 * 09: Fall, 'Hit The North'
 * 08: Wedding Present, 'A Million Miles'
 * 07: New Order, 'True Faith'
 * 06: Wedding Present, 'My Favourite Dress'
 * 05: Smiths, 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me'
 * 04: That Petrol Emotion, 'Big Decision'
 * 03: Wedding Present, 'Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft'
 * 02: Fall, 'Australians In Europe'
 * 01: Sugarcubes, 'Birthday'

Availablity

 * All of the shows listed above are available in full: links are on the date pages.