The First Ska Hit in Britain | Reggae Britannia

Duration: 1'46''

Synopsis

Millie Small's cover of Barbie Gaye's song 'My Boy Lollipop' was the first UK ska hit, reaching number 2 in the UK singles chart.

Further Information

More clips from Reggae Britannia

Radio's Disregard of Reggae | Reggae Britannia

Radio's Disregard of Reggae | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'05''

Jamican artists settled in Britain were met with a snobbish atitude towards their music from radio DJs.

Reggae's Influence on Punk | Reggae Britannia

Reggae's Influence on Punk | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'37''

A new musical aligment was taking place that would radically change reggae's impact and acceptance in Britrain, almost overnight.

The Arrival of Bob Marley on the UK Reggae Scene | Reggae Britannia

The Arrival of Bob Marley on the UK Reggae Scene | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 4'24''

Very little was known about Jamican music in Britain before the launch of The Wailers album Catch a Fire,...

The First UK Reggae Number One | Reggae Britannia

The First UK Reggae Number One | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 2'33''

Israelites' by Desmond Dekker & The Aces, was the first reggae song to reach number 1 in the UK charts.

Radio's Disregard of Reggae | Reggae Britannia

Radio's Disregard of Reggae | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'05''

Jamican artists settled in Britain were met with a snobbish atitude towards their music from radio DJs.

Reggae's Influence on Punk | Reggae Britannia

Reggae's Influence on Punk | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'37''

A new musical aligment was taking place that would radically change reggae's impact and acceptance in Britrain, almost overnight.

The Arrival of Bob Marley on the UK Reggae Scene | Reggae Britannia

The Arrival of Bob Marley on the UK Reggae Scene | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 4'24''

Very little was known about Jamican music in Britain before the launch of The Wailers album Catch a Fire,...

The First UK Reggae Number One | Reggae Britannia

The First UK Reggae Number One | Reggae Britannia

BBC Four | 2011 | 2'33''

Israelites' by Desmond Dekker & The Aces, was the first reggae song to reach number 1 in the UK charts.

More resources about Music

...Sings The Beatles

...Sings The Beatles

BBC Four | 2009 | 58'43''

Recorded for the fortieth anniversary of Abbey Road, a journey through some classic and curious Beatles covers in the BBC archives, including Shirley Ba...

''Chariots of Fire'' score | Sound of Cinema: The Music that Made the Movies

''Chariots of Fire'' score | Sound of Cinema: The Music that Made the Movies

BBC Four | 2013 | 4'56''

Neil Brand speaks to composer Vangelis about his famous score from ''Chariots of Fire''; used re...

''The Birds'' soundtrack | Sound of Cinema: The Music that Made the Movies

''The Birds'' soundtrack | Sound of Cinema: The Music that Made the Movies

BBC Four | 2013 | 4'18''

Neil Brand explores how not a single orchestral instrument was used to soundtrack Hitchcock's terr...

1: Janet Jackson: Taking Control | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s

1: Janet Jackson: Taking Control | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s

BBC Four | 2011 | 59'05''

Film examining Janet Jackson's career from appearing in Diff'rent Strokes to huge g...

1: Jesus Walks, by Kanye West | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America

1: Jesus Walks, by Kanye West | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America

BBC Four | 2021 | 40'17''

In an era of excess, a Christian rap song challenges the Church and changes ideals about religion and r...

1: Magical Mystery Tour Revisited | Arena

1: Magical Mystery Tour Revisited | Arena

BBC HD | 2012 | 59'01''

The making of The Beatles' controversial 1967 film, featuring previously unseen archive footage.

1: The Foundation | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World

1: The Foundation | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World

BBC Two | 2023 | 58'53''

Public Enemy's Chuck D leads a cast of hip-hop icons as they chart the factors that led to the birth of th...

10: Hello, Goodbye or Come Together | The Beatles Story

10: Hello, Goodbye or Come Together | The Beatles Story

BBC Radio 1 | 1973 | 56'36''

Various interviews with and about the Beatles covering the period 1969. Refs. to the film 'Let It Be', John & Yoko's ...

10: Whigfield and Beyonce | Pop's Greatest Dance Crazes

10: Whigfield and Beyonce | Pop's Greatest Dance Crazes

BBC Three | 2011 | 28'31''

Whigfield reveals why she does not join in the Saturday Night dance. Plus an interview with Beyonce's Single Ladies c...

11: The End of The Beatles | The Beatles Story

11: The End of The Beatles | The Beatles Story

BBC Radio 1 | 1973 | 55'19''

Various interviews with and about the Beatles covering the period from November 1969 - December 1970. Lennon on sending back M...

12: The John, Paul, George and Ringo Show | The Beatles Story

12: The John, Paul, George and Ringo Show | The Beatles Story

BBC Radio 1 | 1973 | 56'53''

Various interviews with and about the Beatles covering the period of 1971. Interviewer: Johnny Moran. Presenter...

13: Paul & John Today | The Beatles Story

13: Paul & John Today | The Beatles Story

BBC Radio 1 | 1973 | 57'25''

Brian Matthew continues the story with a look at John and Paul's solo careers. Includes various interviews with and about the Beatl...

14: George & Ringo Today | The Beatles Story

14: George & Ringo Today | The Beatles Story

BBC Radio 1 | 1973 | 58'56''

Brian Matthew concludes the story with a look at George and Ringo's solo careers. First broadcast in 1973.

2: 'Beatlemania': 1963-1965 | McCartney on McCartney

2: 'Beatlemania': 1963-1965 | McCartney on McCartney

BBC Radio 3 | 1989 | 58'08''

In part 2 of an 8 part series first broadcast on Radio 1 in 1989, Paul McCartney discusses the 'Beatlemania' period from...

2: Alright, by Kendrick Lamar | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America

2: Alright, by Kendrick Lamar | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America

BBC Four | 2021 | 40'23''

Making protest music in the era of Black Lives Matter, Alright becomes the unsaid anthem for hope.

2: Getting it on Wax | The Beatles Story

2: Getting it on Wax | The Beatles Story

BBC Radio 1 | 1973 | 56'13''

Various interviews with and about the Beatles covering the period Summer 1961 - Summer 1962.

2: Prince: A Purple Reign | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s

2: Prince: A Purple Reign | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s

BBC Four | 2011 | 59'19''

Documentary exploring how Prince - showman, artist, enigma - revolutionised the perception...

2: The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour | Arena

2: The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour | Arena

BBC HD | 2012 | 53'20''

Fully restored and with a remixed soundtrack, 'The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour comes out of the shadows and onto the screen.

2: The Stevie Wonder Playlist | 6 Music Artist Collection

2: The Stevie Wonder Playlist | 6 Music Artist Collection

BBC Radio 6 Music | 2021 | 1'00'01''

A playlist celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder, as well as its roots and branches - including those he's been in...

2: Under Siege | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World

2: Under Siege | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World

BBC Two | 2023 | 58'30''

Chuck D and fellow rap stars chart the devastating impact of the crack epidemic, which becomes the spark that...