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  » Tom Browne  

 

 

 

Tom Browne (front, centre) with The Stylistics in 1975. Note the 'Roadshow' posters in the background.

HISTORY

Born in Lymington in Hampshire, Tom Browne is an accomplished actor, starting with the National Youth Theatre then the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has appeared in several films, including Prudence and the Pill, Decline and Fall and the Vampire Lovers. He has also performed across the UK in repertory theatres and in plays for BBC/ITV.

Tom had worked for Danish Radio since 1965;  and was asked to replace Alan Freeman to present the Sunday evening Chart rundown.

His first show was on 1st October 1972; it was called 'Solid Gold Sixty' broadcast from 4pm-7pm. The last hour counted down the BBC Top 20 which was also carried by Radio 2 Long Wave and VHF. His first show found David Cassidy at number 1 with 'how can I be sure'.

Tom Browne presented the top 20 until March 1978. His shows are well remembered for his distinctive cultured voice.

On leaving Radio 1, Tom continued a career in acting and his voice was used in many British television commercials.

 

RADIO REWIND AUDIO CLIPS

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Audio© BBC

 

Top 20 Opening theme - Brother by CCS Mp3

 

Introducing Marie Osmond at Number 2 1973

Top 20 Countdown March 1975 32kbps mp3

The countdown bed Tom voiced over in 1975 is "Oh My My" by David Hentschel.  Prior to this track he used "Lady Madonna" by Apollo 100.

 

Tom introduces no.16 in April 1976 mp364kbps    32kbps

Tom introduces no.11 in 1976 mp364kbps    32kbps

Tom introduces no.3 in 1976 mp3

Kate Bush at Number  1; and Radio 1 closes down mp3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ex- R1 DJ and now BFBS presenter Dave Simmons wrote to Radio Rewind in 2007;

 

 "Tom was a newsreader for Worldwide Television News in the 80s, but then went off to the Far East, and was a great success fronting BFBS Radio Hong Kong's weekday breakfast show until the territory reverted to the Chinese in 1997. Now in Thailand with his Thai wife, he owns a farm where they grow rice and mushrooms. My wife and I visited them recently and my attempts to get Tom to put his great James Mason-soundalike voice to use again professionally fell on deaf ears. He's perfectly happy, thank you, leading a peaceful life as a farmer in an idyllic setting, with rice fields front and back of their house, and the mountains of North Central Thailand in the distance."

 

 

ARCHIVE TOP 20 SHOWS

 

Tom Browne's first Top 20 show having taken over from Alan Freeman, broadcast on Radio 1 and 2 (including VHF) 6PM - 7PM as the last hour of his 'Solid Gold 60' Sunday 1st October 1972. This was also the first Sunday BBC Radio chart show to use American sung jingles, marking an updated presentation style of the programme.

 

CCS Brother theme and the no. 20 sound is Junior Walker

The Happy Station - Peter Skellern is at No.18

If You've Got the Time - and Lynsey De Paul at No.15

No. 13 is a classic track from Jackie Wilson

Music Power - Roxy Music at No.10

Super Music- and the Drifters at No.9

The Friendly Station - The Sweet's at No.6

And the Beat Goes On - up to No.2 with T Rex

 

The Number One it Sounds Like This - David Cassidy is at No.1

 

A Rundown of the Top 20

 

Tom explains Radio 1 & 2 VHF separation - and Radio 2 News

 

 

 

Top 20 show broadcast on Radio 1 and 2 (including VHF) 6PM - 7PM on Sunday 9th March 1975.

 

No. 20 was Angie Baby by Helen Reddy

No. 19 - a new entry for Showaddywaddy

No. 18 and the Young Americans by David Bowie

No. 17 Your Kiss is Sweet by Syreeta

No.16 with Alvin Stardust

No.15 was a new entry for Slade

No.14 and Love Unlimited with It May be Winter Outside

No.13 finds Supertramp with a new entry - Dreamer

No.12 Dana with Please Tell him I said Hello

No.11 is up 8 places for Johnny Mathis - I'm Stone in Love with You

No.10 found Footsee by Wigan's Chosen Few

No.9 and the Average White Band's Pick Up the Pieces (countdown theme)

No. 8 was the Rollers - Bye Bye Baby

No.7 was Shirley and Company Shame Shame Shame

No.6 and the Carpenters

No. 5 with Frankie Valli up two places

No.4 - Only You Can by Fox

No.3 - Mud with The Secrets That You Keep

No.2 was last week's no. 1 Make Me Smile by Steve Harley

The Top 20 Countdown reveals Telly Savalas with If at Number 1

 

Tom Browne at Emmerdale

As well as presenting the Top 20 on Radio 1, in 1975

Tom played James Bonfils on YTV's Emmerdale Farm.

 

 

Counting down Top 20, 16th_Oct_77 - David Soul at no.1

Stephen Mills wrote to Radio Rewind;

"the backing track in the countdown is "From Here to Eternity" by Giorgio Moroder, which was sitting at Number 21, in the chart that week, but would have been on the top 20 the following Sunday, in full, as it rose up to number 16. "

 

Top 20 show broadcast on Radio 1 and 2 (including VHF) 6PM - 7PM on Sunday 19th February 1978.

 

Lift-Off with Samantha Sang at No.20 and Emotion

No.19 was a new entry for Starguard and Which Way Up

No.18 a new entry for the Bee Gees with Stayin' Alive

No.17 - new entry for Smokie and a Few Dollars More

No.16 - new entry for Yellow Dog and Just One More Night

No.15 - Tonight with Drummer Man

No. 14 found Heatwave with Groove Line

No.13 and Odyssey are down with Native New Yorker

No.12 for former No. 1 Mull of Kintyre by Wings

No. 11 finds Bill Withers still singing about his Lovely Day

No.10 with Baccarra Sorry I'm A Lady

Traffic News - No Petrol at Newport Pagnell. Sweet at No.9

No.8 with classic E.L.O. and Mr. Blue Sky

No.7 for Althia & Donna with Uptown Top Ranking

No.6 Rose Royce Wishing on a Star

No.5 Rod Stewart and Hot Legs

No.4 was Darts and Come Back My Love

No.3 Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley If I Had Words

No.2 was No.1 last week- Brotherhood of Man with Figaro

Top 20 Countdown - no ignition! No. 1 is Abba Take a Chance

The Day's News from Radio 2 reveals blizzards in the West

 

 

 

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